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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 651 - September 21, 2000OLYMPIC RACINGSydney, Australia (September 21, 2000) - Sydney presented a sparkling afternoon for the fifth day of Olympic sailing, enabling regatta management to catch up on the competition in six classes and achieve some fine racing for sailors from 69 countries. After eight races in the 49er class, Seattle's McKee brothers have zipped to the top of the Olympic sailing scoreboard. Today, after following a 13th with a bullet, their second victory for the regatta, the McKee's were able to discard their sixth-race 14th to claim 34 points. Morning clouds dispersed to let a gentle 8-9 knot nor'easter fill in offshore and move slowly down Sydney Harbour where racing in the Europe class did not start until almost three hours after a scheduled noon gun. Other classes waited for more than an hour and a half to get going, and in the end, successful crews were those who best picked the wind shifts, both inshore and offshore. Courtenay Dey (The Dalles, Ore./Rye, N.Y.), the '96 Europe bronze medallist in Savannah, made the overall "play of the day" when she turned in race finishes of 5-8 to raise her overall position in the Europe fleet to 12th from 21st yesterday. Wearing gold bibs that identified them as yesterday's leaders, 470 Women's sailors JJ Isler (La Jolla, Calif.) and Pease Glaser (Long Beach, Calif.) turned in a15-3 today to fall to third overall. The fleet sailed an ocean course for its second day in a row. Turning in a 4-11 today, 470 Men's sailors Paul Foerster (Garland, Texas) and Bob Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.) improved their standing by one position to sixth. Portugal's Alvaro Marinho and Miguel Nunes still lead with 18 points, having turned in a 6-7. For Tornado sailors John Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Charlie Ogletree (Newport Beach, Calif.), a second followed by a tenth today dropped them to sixth overall from fourth yesterday.." In the Mistral Women's fleet Lanee Butler (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) has moved into fourth place today with finishes of 7-4; although, 29 points separate her from the bronze medal position. Seemingly locked on the podium positions are Germany's Amelie Lux, Italy's Alessandra Sensini and New Zealand's Barbara Kendall. For Mike Gebhardt (Ft. Pierce, Fla.), today's single Mistal Men's race, in which he finished tenth, firmly established him in ninth for a second day in a row. Laser sailor John Myrdal (Kailua, Hawaii) posted finishes of 40-21 today for a 21st position overall. Sailing again tomorrow will be the 470, 49er, Mistral and Tornado classes. Europe and Lasers will take a reserve day. STANDINGS: EUROPE -1. GBR (14) 2. DEN (29) 3. IRL (34) 12. (51) 470 M - 1. POR (18) 2. AUS (22) 3. GBR (25) 6. USA (32) 470 W - 1. GER (20) 2. NZL (23) 3. USA (25) 49er - 1. USA (34) 2. FIN (34) 3. GBR (35) LASER - 1. BRA (27) 2. GBR (28) 3. POR(34) 21. USA (85) MISTRAL M - 1. AUT (22) 2. ARG (26) 3. NZL 36 9. USA (58) Mistral W - 1. GER (12) 2. ITA (13) 3. NZL (15) 4. USA (44) TORNADO - 1. AUT (8) 2. AUS (16) 3. FRA (22) 6. USA (29) SOLING 1. NOR (16) 2. NZL (18) 3. NED (19) 4. USA (24) (Fleet Racing complete after six races - Match Racing begins 9/23) For more information: http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/2000 1D35 NATIONALS San Francisco YC, Belvedere, CA - Final results: 1. DAN CHERESH, EXTREME (19) 2. ROBERT HUGHES, HEARTBREAKER (28) 3. KARA ZYLSTRA, WILD THING (50) 4. DICK & DOUG DEVOS, WINDQUEST (54) 5. STEPHEN PFEIFER, NORTHERN BEAR (66) Complete results: http://www.sfyc.org/website/regattas/raceresults/natcsv1d35.htm SOLUTIONS FROM SAILCLOTH.COM Wish your spinnaker would dry off after dunking, hold its shape after a few heavy air days of sailing, and resist tearing during complicated maneuvers? Next time, ask your sailmaker to use AIRX, a revolutionary new spinnaker fabric from Bainbridge International. AIRX is stronger, lower in stretch and has an ultra water repellent finish. With zero porosity and less tearing, it has a wide range of use for both racing a cruising sailors. AIRX is exclusively from Bainbridge International, where power and performance are cut from the same cloth. For more information, visit http://www.sailcloth.com THE RACE The main hazard when sailing at high speed in rough seas is crashing into the back of waves as you catch up with them. In a conventional multihull, this is much like hitting a brick wall. The likelihood of breaking up or capsizing is then at its highest and you have to resort to reducing speed. Adrian's solution - which he has already applied to naval motor boats - consists in designing bow structures which instead of slamming into the wave, cut through it. This is the option adopted by Team Philips in which the elliptical sections, low stemmed hulls look a bit like torpedoes. The design has also dispensed with the forward crossbeam, which would have slowed her down considerably when submarining. In short the catamaran is simple and stripped down to essentials, true to the "organic" inspiration at the heart of Adrian's design. This impression is reinforced by the two revolutionary surfboard type wing masts. Lighter and more aerodynamic than a conventional catamaran of the same size would be, Team Philips' hopes to cause a sea-change in the accepted thinking of the sailing world. But developing and ensuring the reliability of such a 'concept boat' is no simple matter. The stresses that the hulls must withstand - when the bows can be up to thirteen feet below water - are phenomenal. All the more so since the absence of a forward crossbeam entails extreme side forces. The entire project therefore rests on the latest advances in composite building technology and structural calculations. The loss of the port bow after only 1000 miles at sea also serves as a reminder that innovation involves its share of risk. After her relaunch on September 23rd, the repaired and strengthened Team Philips must first demonstrate the validity of her design in the Atlantic, before introducing herself officially to the heavy seas of the Southern Ocean. - Excerpt from a story on The Race website. Full story: http://www.therace.org/asp/une1.asp?NewsId=838&LangId= LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) Letters selected to be printed are edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. -- From Paul Hendereon, President, International Sailing Federation - This is a brilliant Olympics. The venue is spectacular and the boat park the most efficient ever. The Aussies are true sportsmen and the friendliness of the volunteers unbelievable. Measurement was very well done and the reason for doing it is to find those boats that were out of class. The sport is moving from bland white to exciting colours and personal identification. The 49er spinnakers challenged Sailing to get out of the past and into the modern world. They were brilliant and the Soling and 470 have also decided to follow. Very sad at the technical problem but the sailors are very inventive and the Brits are painting their new one with magic marker to ensure the Union Jack is well publised. To my good friend Bob Fisher and the others, it is time to start promoting the skills of the best sailors in the World who are competing in the magnificent Sydney Olympics. Paul Henderson -- From J. Joseph Bainton (edited to our 250-word limit) - Apparently those who advocate excluding the most talented sailors from certain competitions in certain boats premise their argument solely upon the notion that this practice makes it possible for "ordinary people" to win. For the price of any new sail on a Farr 40, its owner can go to Tiffany's and purchase at full retail a collection of silver items upon which he can have engraved whatever he chooses. Thus if the object of the exercise is the collection of "silverware", why not buy the "silverware" of one's choice and save the expense of the boat, sails and crew? On the other hand, if the goal is competition, then I have yet to read how it is diminished by the participation of the best people. I think Peter Isler has it exactly correct when he suggests that we sailors should rejoice in the fact that our sport routinely affords us the opportunity to play head to head with its best and then socialize with them following competition. Those who complain about being beaten in large, moderately maintained boats by similar boats better equipped and better sailed (at a significantly higher expense) should address the real problem, namely that they are racing in boats bigger than they or the people with whom they crew can afford. The answer is to move down as small as is appropriate to their budgets, even if that means sailing a Vangurd 15, a snipe or a laser. -- Joshua R. Summers (Regarding US Sailings category definition) - Everyone glosses over the system by saying "it is far from perfect." The fact is the system is deplorable and irrational at best and actually encourages elitism and further stratifies the sailing community. Sure there are a few gray areas but US Sailing has grouped everyone who is paid ten dollars an hour to wet sand a bottom with the true professionals who earn any where up from 1,000 a day, either directly or indirectly. Is some guy on the cutting room floor of a sail loft as important as Tom Whidden on race day? Of course not. Who is more important on a day to day basis? Who gets the boats ready, makes sure they are safe, drives a trailer through the night, delivers an extremely uncomfortable boat short handed in thick fog? We are, quite honestly, talking about the individuals who are the backbone of the yachting industry. It is not some wet lay up guy at Goertz or some masochistic wing nut delivering a race boat for $150 a day who is driving up the cost to owners. Yet he is unfairly restricted from participating in the sport that he loves and receives very little or no direct compensation from. Who are you going to take on a Farr 40, a 1000 dollar a day tactician or a joiner from NEB. In a very real way, the rule restricts, and in many cases, eliminates the very people who make sail boat racing possible. -- From Bob Johnstone (heavily edited to our 250-word limit) - If asked to counsel 'King' Pedro Isler, this loyal subject would plead with him to reconsider two of his edicts. (1) Top down SELECTION of "royal" classes by self-appointed experts doesn't work nearly as well as the more democratic, bottoms-up, process: RECOGNITION of classes that "the people" demonstrate they want to sail. Being consumer-oriented is a proven marketing concept. Even in their small AC fiefdom, the RORC had to back into recognizing the Farr 40 (maybe 100 boats worldwide) after having rejected the Farr in favor of their initial selection of the Sydney 40 (about 25 boats worldwide). Including the x-Corel 45, such "royal" classes don't add up to more than 150 boats worldwide that must be shipped AWAY or OVERSEAS to major races at great expense to find good one-design racing. Contrast that to nearly 400 of the 34.5 foot J/105s now sailing (plus another 100 orders backlogged into 2001) with weekly one-design racing in HOME waters all over the country, or 160 (equal to all the "royals" combined) of the 40 foot dual-purpose J/120s with one-design racing NEAR HOME (get there on their own bottoms) in Southern California, Detroit, and LIS. (2) An arbitrary 8-year racing-life limit creates even greater obstacles for one-design growth. The J/105 is enjoying its 9th and best year in terms of sales. The Star and J/24 aren't doing bad at 23-90+ years, either. It takes time for a good boat to be recognized and for the administrative/event backbone of a Class to get established. -- From Ross Werner (re: Peter Isler's idea on "royal classes") - Interesting, but what happens when a compelling new design arrives - e.g. J/24, Melges 24, Farr 40? You'd have "royal" regattas where no one showed up, they'd all be across the bay running their own races with their new boats. Fortunately fleets form and thrive based largely on the merits of the boat and the class association. Instead of one-designs by decree every 5 feet, a better idea is level rating classes at 5-foot increments. Then sailors are free to choose the boat they feel will make them most competitive within a class. And if one particular design comes to dominate a class, is that a bad thing? Not in my opinion. -- From J.W.Tyrrel (re One Design vs. Handicap) - Sorry but I think you all miss one very fundemental point here. Maybe it is your veiw of sailing that so clouds your prespective. I like my boat, in fact I love my boat and many different people love many different boats of their own. That is why we have handicap systems, flawed yes, but at least we aren't all forced to eat vanilla just so we can compete! OLYMPIC TRIVIA * In two cases, if U.S. sailors bring home medals, they will add to a collection started by their spouses. 470 Women's crew, Pease Glaser (Long Beach, Calif), would add to the 1984 Tornado silver medal won by husband Jay. Soling crew Craig Healy (Tiburon, Calif.) would display his next to wife Pam's 1992 470 Women's bronze. And Then There's Mom...Soling crew Hartwell Jordan (Discovery Bay, Calif.) makes his Olympic debut 44 years after his mother swam for the U.S. team in the 1956 Melbourne Games. - Jan Harley * According to the September 16 issue of The Economist, 752,000 condoms were provided to the Olympic athletes. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION When you need the latest high-tech gear for your boat, you: A) Get in the car, drive to the store, wait for someone to show you a catalog. B) Dig out the "Old Boat Supply" catalog, and call for pricing on obsolete products. C) Visit ?????.com, and learn how to tie some knots or dock your boat. D) Call Performance Yacht Systems at 1-877-3pyacht. Click below for answers. http://www.pyacht.com hardware / rigging / sails / clothing / marine electronics MARK REYNOLDS (Competing in his fourth Olympics, Star boat sailor Mark Reynolds aims for a third medal in Sydney with his new crew Magnus Lijedahl. Reynolds won a silver medal in 1988 and a gold in 1992, and finished eighth in 1996. The 44-year-old father of three from San Diego, California, is looking to improve on that in Sydney. CNN Sports Illustrated interviewed Mark Reynolds for their website, and here is an excerpt from that interview.) CCCSI: How will these Games differ from your previous three? Mark Reynolds: I am more relaxed now due to my experience. My crew, Magnus, is at the Olympics for the first time. He is wide-eyed and excited. It is nice to have Magnus with such a high energy level. Often the Olympic sailing venue is in another city, but here we are in the middle of the action. We get to be with the other athletes. It is a lot more fun! CCCSI: Do you still get nervous? Reynolds: I still get a little nervous. I'd like to think I'm less nervous than my competitors. I've been doing this a long time. I do well under pressure. That's why I am successful. I try to stay cool. I think we are going to medal this year. CCCSI: What is your relationship with your crew, Magnus? Reynolds: A boat with two people makes you have to work together. A lot is done without talking about it. We know what each other is going to do next. He is real high energy, which is great to have on the boat. I am a lot more laid back and relaxed than Magnus. We are a good balance, a good team. We trust each other knows what we are doing and we interact well. CCCSI: Will this be your last Olympic Games? Reynolds: It is always possible that they will change the boats in the Olympics. If that happens, I most likely would not continue. If the Star stays in, I will probably try out for Greece and hopefully Magnus will as well. People are getting older in all sports. People are remaining more physically fit and use their experience to their advantage. I certainly wouldn't count out 2004. CNN Sports Illustrated website: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2000/sailing/news/2000/09/20/10_qu estions_mark_reynolds/ BBS REPORT It was blowing dogs of chains in San Francisco today - 30-35 knots true. We (the 1D48, It's Ok) went out for a practice day, but got in very little useful practice. Before we ever went upwind, we'd destroyed the vang system and watched Kevlar runner (that the curmudgeon was hanging onto) self-destruct with a huge explosion that ripped off the wand supporting masthead instruments. After we returned to the dock we also found a cracked carbon spreader. So we worked on the boat instead of sailing, but we hope to be back on the racecourse tomorrow. Not so for the Farr ILC 46 Wasabi - they came back to StFYC with a broken rig. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. |
