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SCUTTLEBUTT 3431 - Wednesday, September 21, 2011Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: The Pirates Lair, BIC Sport, and Lewmar. WHEN FICTION AND FACT MEET It was 1994 when American Carol Cronin started writing the book 'Game of Sails', a story of the Olympic sailing world - liberally spiced with romance, intrigue, and suspense! But somewhere along the way Carol took a break from the project to pursue her own Olympic sailing path, which led her to represent the U.S at the 2004 Olympic Games. This past fall, Carol returned to her fictional tale of elite racing, which is now complete and available as an ebook. Here is an excerpt: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BANG! The loud but harmless warning gun blew an acrid whiff of smoke across my boat. Five minutes to the start of race two - and I was planning to win this next one as well. I felt like I'd been spun through a salt water rinse cycle. Water dripped off my waterproof top and neoprene shorts, and my arms and legs ached. But today's thumping southerly breeze rewarded my height and strength. So if I was a little tired, the thirty-four girls I'd beaten in the first race must be exhausted. This was the best place - the only place - to be, and even the thick buildup of salt on my cheeks couldn't keep me from smiling. Perched on my fourteen foot Solo in the middle of Miami's Biscayne Bay, surrounded by the best Olympic sailors in the world - and ready to show them all over again who was boss. "Your kind of day, Casey," Rachel had told me this morning as we rigged our boats, palm trees already thrashing overhead. "You'll make the team this year - easy." Four days and nine races from now, the top three boats - along with the top three from the men's fleet - would qualify for the national team, which meant enough funding to train full time for the Olympic Trials. That regatta would be in Newport, Rhode Island, where Rachel and I had spent summers since we were five years old. But only one of us (or, God forbid, someone far less deserving) would go to the Olympics. "Jenny Garcia's the only other girl who's been practicing at all," Rachel had told me yesterday. "And she doesn't have even half of your drive." I shook my head to clear it, chafing my thick braid against the back of my lifejacket. Time to focus on winning this race. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional information about the book and purchase options: http://carolnewmancronin.com/CNC/booksother.htm WHEN PREPARATION AND LUCK MEET When Hurricane Irene rolled up the eastern shores of the U.S., its wrath affected nearly everyone in its path. There were countless stories... here is one of from Newport, RI: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hurricane Irene's visit to the Herreshoff Marine Museum was a painful experience in many ways. Our Classic Regatta, the museum's second most important fund raising event of the year, was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th. On Wednesday morning, while the storm was still over the Bahamas, the weather forecasts were unanimous in predicting that Irene would come ashore in our area, perhaps still at category 2 strength, right at high tide on Sunday evening, coinciding with a moon tide. Storm surge was predicted to be as high as 12 feet, which would put the water at or over Hope Street. The Executive Committee reluctantly made the only prudent decision possible: the regatta had to be cancelled. Notice of the cancellation was immediately posted on our web site, and the office staff began calling all the expected participants to notify them. We successfully reached most entrants, although unfortunately some who were coming from as far away as Alaska and Europe did not learn of the cancellation before they departed for Rhode Island. Immediately after the departure on Friday morning of the American Yacht Club's fleet, which visited the museum as a part of its annual cruise, we began dismantling the waterfront. The tent came down. The floating docks were disassembled and the heavier ones towed to moorings and attached by special bridles that had been prepared long ago for just such an emergency. The lighter docks were pulled from the water and carried across Hope Street to places well above the predicted high water. For the first time ever the entire deck of the main pier was removed to protect it from the storm surge. The smaller boats were hauled and stored indoors. We had hoped to have KESTREL and LADY LUCK hauled, but could not get a commitment that they would come out of the water before the arrival of the storm. They were stripped of all sails and anything else that would increase windage and moved to heavier moorings where triple sets of bridles were attached in case the first ones failed. Contents of the dock house and anything else that was movable were transferred to safer places. -- Read on: http://www.herreshoff.org/news/newsletter1.html TEAM TECH TEES BY THE PIRATES LAIR Get your custom designed moisture wicking tees. ProTech, ProFit, Gill and Sport tek. Call or email today for information and orders. (888) 724-5286 or ken@pirateslair.com CASH + COMPETITION = CHICAGO MATCH CUP Chicago, IL (September 20, 2011) - After a triumphant trial event last month at Chicago Match Race Center's Grade 2 Invitational, which drew crowds of 30,000 over three days of racing, Stadium sailing returns to Navy Pier for the ISAF Grade 1 Chicago Match Cup. For this event, held over September 28th - October 1st, 12 teams from 7 nations will be fighting for their share of the $65,000 prize money purse, the largest offered in any sailing event in the US since 2002. The lure of cold hard cash has brought the most talented field yet to square off against each other at Navy Pier in CMRC's eight equally-matched TOM 28 class boats. Among this field are numerous past, present and future Olympic, National and World Champions, as well as current players on the World Match Racing Tour, whose Argo Group Gold Cup starts the following week in Bermuda, with four teams warming up in Chicago. But besides the prize money, skippers are also keen to earn valuable Grade 1 points to advance their places on the world ranking list, which has five teams from the top 20 entered in this event: - Pierre-Antoine Morvan from France (5th), Phil Robertson from New Zealand (10th), Reuben Corbett from New Zealand (15th), Alvaro Marinho from Portugal (18th), Keith Swinton from Australia (20th). - Rounding out the field is Taylor Canfield from the US Virgin Islands (32nd), Dave Perry from the US (39th), Don Wilson from the US (44th), CMRC Grade 2 Invitational winner Bill Hardesty from the US (67th). - Two aspiring Women's match race Olympians from the US are also in this field, Sally Barkow and Genny Tulloch. Read on: http://chicagocup.org/news/article.asp?n=1075 TRUTH IS... Wind strength myth: In colder weather 20 knots of wind is stronger than 20 knots of wind in warmer weather. True or false? Answer below. PHOTO GALLERIES * Yachting photographers follow the sizzle, and the America's Cup has always been a steady source of bacon. From the latest America's Cup World Series event in Plymouth, Scuttlebutt has posted imagery from Guilain Grenier, Chris Cameron, Christophe Favreau, Sander van der Borch, and Rick Tomlinson: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0920/ * For those of you seeking the 'crash and burn' highlights from America's Cup World Series event in Plymouth, photographer Sander van der Borch had his finger on the trigger when both Artemis Racing and Team Korea stuck their bows in and went down the mine. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0920a/ * The Express 27 is a child of the eighties, born during the 'fast is fun' era of boatbuilding in Santa Cruz, CA. This ultra-light displacement sloop from the design table of Carl Schumacher thrives in the breeze, so having its U.S. Nationals in San Francisco seems about right. Photos from Leslie Richter: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0920B/ * Leave it to Carlo Borlenghi to be in phase. While the army of sailing media is chasing the latest and greatest, Carlo is in the French Rivera for Monaco Classic Week. And we wish we were with him. Here is his photo gallery: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0919/ ARE YOU IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY? The Marine Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides companies with guaranteed online exposure of their personnel, product and service updates. Plus each week the Scuttlebutt newsletter selects a sampling of updates to feature in the Thursday edition. Are you in the marine industry? Post your updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news SAILING SHORTS * Palma de Mallorca, Spain (September 20, 2011) - The opening day of the 2011 Melges 32 World Championship, hosted by Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP), was remarkable. Brilliant sunny skies, 10-12 knots of breeze and lumpy seas set the stage on Palma Bay. After two races, American John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti with tactician Vasco Vascotto (ITA) holds the lead by one point, ahead of Italian Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino and tactician Francesco Bruni (ITA) in second overall. Seated in third is American Alexis Michas on Zetiana with Brian Ledbetter (USA) onboard calling tactics. -- Read on: http://www.melges32.com/?p=news&id=818 * The World Sailing Speed Record Council has ratified two new world records that occurred during the 2011 Fastnet Race (Aug 14-15). Ian Walker (GBR) and his crew on the Volvo 70 "Abu Dhabi" set a new monohull record when they completed the 595 nm route in 1 day, 18 hours, and 38 minutes (14 kt avg). Additionally, Loick Peyron (FRA) and his crew on the 131-foot trimaran "Banque Populaire 5" set a new outright record for the course of 1 day, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds (18.1 kt avg). -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/WSSRC-092011 * Alicante, Spain (September 20, 2011) - Team Telefónica today became the first Volvo Ocean Race crew to make their formal arrival into Alicante ahead of the 2011-12 race start on October 29. The cut-off date for all six entered teams to arrive is October 3. The Race Village in Alicante opens to the public on October 14 with the Alicante In-Port Race kicking off on October 29. The first of the nine ocean legs, from Alicante through the Atlantic to Cape Town in South Africa, starts on November 5. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-092011 * Skipper Bruce Kuryla (Milford, Conn.) of the New York Yacht Club has high hopes of defending his U.S. Offshore Championship against six teams on September 23-25. This US SAILING National Championship event will be raced on Chesapeake Bay in Navy 44 sloops and hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy Sailing Squadron in Annapolis, Md. Each team consists of a crew of nine, including one skipper and seven crew members, plus one U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman provided from the varsity offshore racing team. -- Full report: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2011/USOC_2011_Preview.htm DO YOUR KIDS USE TYPEWRITERS OR KEYBOARDS? The O'Pen BIC and Techno 293 Classes enjoyed a very successful summer of growth, leading into a full series of events in Florida this Fall/Winter. But competition isn't the primary reason why more and more Junior Sailing Programs are adding these classes. The kids LOVE them and are excited for sailing. The O'Pen BICs and Techno 293s are modern, less expensive, amazingly durable, and completely self-bailing. Capsizing becomes fun. Check these new videos at O'Pen BIC and Techno 293 One Design. Contact info@bicsportna.com or 508 273-1141 for attractive JSP packages. BIC also offers great Stand Up Paddleboards for your program! -- http://www.bicsportna.com GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Todd M. Hiller: With the qualifying limit lifted for the Rochester J/24 Worlds next year, we would be remiss not to mention Wayne Bretsch as an integral part of the success PRO Hank Stuart had running the 103 boats at the 2008 J/22 Worlds. Since the two joined forces, I have to say that they have both provided exceptional racing for competitors, in multiple classes. Their knack for communicating to the fleet has revolutionized conduct on the water with knowing what the heck is going on. It's nothing just shy of frustrating when RC's have been tight lipped of their intentions. Hank and Wayne complement each other in their abilities and it's no wonder that the two have been highly recommended to run top level, high quality championship caliber races. For the J/24 class, not to worry, the decision not to split the fleet will indeed make for some very exciting starts and you'll be in good hands knowing these guys are looking out for you. Be prepared for the "India Zulu" if you all encroach their starting early in the series. * From John Diggins: Regarding the rules quiz in Scuttlebutt 3430, the error on the Race Committee's part is in the coding. The correct code for the boat that hit the finish line mark is DNF. See the definition of "finish". The points for DNF and DSQ are the same. Woe be tide the sailor who would seek redress for this; he will only see a change in the letters next to his name on the score sheet. * From Michael Borga, Point Pleasant, NJ: From the rules question in Scuttlebutt 3430 it said, "Since the Race Committee did not protest and the boat did finish, the race Committee's only option is to score the boat where she finished." This answer given should not, in my humble opinion, be considered correct due to the fact that a basic principle of The Racing Rules of Sailing has been disregarded. Sportsmanship And The Rules: Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire. This rule/principle should take precedence over all others, the boat that finished while hitting the mark should not be rewarded in any way shape or form, whether a protest is lodged or not. * From Bruce Nelson, University of Michigan (1975): Congratulations to the Wisconsin Hoofers Sailing Team for winning the Harry Anderson Intersectional at Yale last weekend, which is indeed a rare and stunning achievement for a team from the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association (MCSA). Wisconsin clearly has a very talented team and an outstanding on-campus sailing venue on Lake Mendota with a wide variety of boats and great competition - amongst the best in the country. As a past MCSA sailor (and commodore), it is always gratifying to see the district perform well in intersectional competition and carry forward its great tradition which, for the record, does include some previous out-of-district intersectional regatta victories. Long-serving MCSA officer George Griswold is probably the best source for such historical records, but I do recall MCSA team victories at the Kennedy Cup and Trux Umsted intersectional regattas at Navy (Michigan 1973 and 1975), and the ICSA Sloop Championships in California (Michigan 1972). Also, back then the Walter Wood Team Racing Trophy was a competition amongst districts, rather than individual school teams, and the MCSA team won in California in 1972, and again in 1975 in Chicago… technically not an out-of-district event but nonetheless it was an exciting win at the time. I would be surprised if some of the other MCSA powers from that era and before, including Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio Wesleyan and others, had not won an intersectional regatta or two… nonetheless, congratulations to Wisconsin for re-starting the tradition! * From Wes Oliver The Intercollegiate sailing dynamic is complex, and happens to favor the Northeast in some ways. A point not yet highlighted is the difference between university supported Varsity teams and unsupported club teams. I suspect there are more varsity sailing programs in the Northeast than anywhere else in the country. Some very good sailors, even from the northeast, choose Midwest schools for the education value et al, but sailing in the Midwest doesn't rank high as a varsity sport. Average travel time is something like 6-7 hours each way for the U Michigan team to travel to Wisco (Wisconsin-Madison) for a regatta. This weekend they will drive 14 hours each way to race at Tufts, and in 2 weeks 11 hours each way for the IOR at Larchmont. The only university support they get is the ability to rent University vans for the trip. All that and manage their studies (we hope). No coaches, small practice site, but very dedicated sailors from Michigan, Indiana, Connecticut and even Kansas. Kudos to those sailors outside the northeast who compete wherever they can! * From John Wade: On the topic of buoy racing, windward-leeward courses can boring too, especially if it's the same course year after year after year. I sail in the Puget Sound, and all the clubs use the same north-South course over and over again. Only once in a while we get a reach. Reaching is fun and challenging. With the reaching leg a whole new aspect of handicap racing is introduced. The reach may appear to be a parade, but the subtleties of reaching well (or badly) can make the difference of a few seconds or even a few minutes, i.e. the difference between winning and losing. There can be nothing more enjoyable than rolling a competitor that has kicked your butt to windward, and now put you back into contention. Or, sailing that leg to perfection and gaining those several seconds necessary to beat your nemesis. I think those that find reaching boring are not paying attention. WIND STRENGTH MYTH This factoid regarding wind strength and air temperature comes from Ari Barshi of the Laser Training Center in Cabarete, Dominican Republic: "I actually had a NASA rocket scientist help me on this one. His conclusion was: As the air is denser in colder weather, and assuming you hold everything else constant (i.e. sail size and sea conditions, as changes in the roughness of the water will change the boundary layer and affect the actual wind pressure on the sail), a change in temp of 5 degrees C will bring about a 2% change in total wind energy. So 20 knots of wind in 25 degrees C does feel like just 19 knots in 8 degrees C. (corrected 9/22/2011) More here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/0920/ COUNTDOWN TO ANNAPOLIS The Lewmar and Navtec Team are busy preparing for the United States Sailboat Show at Annapolis, where they will be showing the latest innovations in marine equipment and rigging hydraulic technology. Come along to Stand Land 64 to catch up with the latest news, or click on http://www.lewmar.com CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION If you consult enough experts, you can confirm any opinion. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Quantum Sails - Morris Yachts - North Sails - Harken LaserPerformance - The Pirates Lair - BIC Sport - Lewmar Hall Spars & Rigging - Ullman Sails - Interlux - APS Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
