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SCUTTLEBUTT 1530 - March 2, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. OUTSIDE OF THE BOX March 1, 2004, San Francisco, CA. - The Sausalito Challenge for the America's Cup in Valencia 2007 today (Monday) announced it's plans to make its exclusive sponsorship available for bidding on eBay Motors April 2-9, 2004. eBay Motors is a specialty site on eBay.com where people buy and sell boats, cars, motorcycles, other vehicles, and parts & accessories for these items. eBay Motors is visited by nearly 10 million people every month. The Exclusive Sponsorship is a comprehensive marketing package offered by the Sausalito Challenge team, which will provide brand exposure not only in Europe but also in the U.S., starting in June 2004. The minimum bid will be $30 million USD with a Buy it Now price of $45 million USD. The sponsorship will be listed in the "Boats & Watercraft" category on eBay Motors where currently more than 1,000 boats are available for sale. Details and terms and conditions applicable to the package will be included in the eBay listing and made available as of March 1, 2004 to qualifying prospects. Syndicate co-chairpersons Tina Kleinjan and John Sweeney lead the Sausalito Challenge. "Our team was designed specifically from the sponsor's point of view," said Kleinjan. "We just think differently. Our team philosophy is to look at the entire America's Cup from a different perspective. From marketing to sailing we will be the team to watch from day one." eBay was chosen based on its worldwide reach and global image. "The bidding will be eagerly watched by the sailing world and Madison Avenue," says Sweeney. "This is the fastest way to reach CEOs and decision makers worldwide. The fact that eBay brings together buyers and sellers in an open environment to trade goods at the market price has been the basis of countless trades for everything from collectible antiques to autos. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first times that the eBay model is being applied to a major sports sponsorship package. We could spend months trying to reach potential sponsors, but on eBay, everyone can instantly see what we have to offer." Auction dates are April 2-9 on eBay Motors (keyword: sailboats). Auction package preview can be viewed on http://www.challenge-series.com/ CAROL CRONIN Carol, along with teammates Liz Filter and Nancy Haberland, recently won the US Trials for the Yngling class. Here are some excerpts from an interview she provided North Sails) NS: The trials is a long event...8 days and 16 races. You started out well the first couple days but not at the top of the fleet. Later in the week, especially after the lay day, you came on very strong. How did you and your team pace yourselves and "pour it on" as this grueling series wore on? Carol: It was actually great to not be in the lead early on since it took a lot of the pressure off. I had predicted months ago that the leader of the regatta after the first day and maybe after the first half would not be the eventual winner, and that turned out to be true. Our plan all along was to focus on racing, and on improving every day on the basics of boat handling, communication, and tactics. That kept us from getting too wrapped up in the hoopla. NS: How did you prepare differently for the actual Trials vs. any other major championship? Carol: The biggest difference was the amount of time and effort we poured in for the Trials. For the final two months before the event, we never left the dock without a coach, never practiced with tired sails, and made the regatta our complete focus. It is hard to do that for any other event. NS: You worked with some of the very best coaches before and during the trials. How did you utilize them and what do they do to help such a talented team as yourselves? Carol: We were very fortunate to work with Greg Fisher, Ed Adams, and Ben Cesare in our final preparations for the event. Each of these three talented sailors brings a different approach to helping us and we tried to absorb everything they told us. The coaching talent we had definitely made the difference in our final preparations. Everyone can benefit from coaching since there are always things that are more obvious from off the boat. NS: What's coming next, and how are you planning to prepare your self to the Olympics? Carol: We head to Europe on March 31 and will spend more time there than home through the Games. We plan to race as much as we can against the teams we will be competing against at the Games. It was very helpful to know our competition so well at the Trials, so we could predict what each team was likely to do in a given situation. Complete interview at http://tinyurl.com/2wrw5 BIG MONTH February was a big month for the Club Library, with eighteen new books getting added to the shelves. For those frequent library goers, the books from February are profiled at the top this week, with March submissions taking over next week. If you are looking for a good read, or would like to share one with the 'Buttheads, head to the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Library at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/books NAVIGATOR'S DREAM WEEKEND! Deckman for Windows tactical & routing software and North U "Weather for Sailors" present back-to-back seminars in Newport, RI. What a great way to spend a weekend learning how to interpret weather and incorporate optimum routing and performance of your racing yacht! Graeme Winn, originator of DfW, and Bill Biewenga, author of North U's "Weather for Sailors" will present their respective seminars on March 20th and 21st. For further details or to sign up online visit http://www.protechmarine.com/news.htm for Deckman, the leading tactical/routing software and http://www.northu.com for upcoming weather seminars. Visit Bill Biewenga at http://www.WxAdvantage.com FOR THE RECORD * 444 nm E of Heard Island (Aus): Although a respectable distance of 207 nm has been covered during the past 12 hours, lighter winds are now the order of the day as the small ridge of high pressure separating 2 weather systems overtakes Cheyenne. Speeds averaging 10 kts are predicted through the night and into Tuesday, when the approaching large Low pressure system will pick them up, accompanied by winds of 25 kts+. Commanders Weather Ken Campbell advised this afternoon: "I talked to (navigator) Adrienne at 1430z and the wind had dropped right down to 6 kts. They'll be waiting until tomorrow (Tues) for winds to pick up significantly - meanwhile they'll be working back North to 50 - 51 degrees, setting up for the much stronger winds to come, when they'll be trying to stay ahead of the front. Look for big breeze until next weekend. Lots and lots of wind." - http://www.fossettchallenge.com * All continues to go very well on board the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran. It's true that the number of sea miles covered point-to-point is not spectacular at the moment, but their progress towards the Equator is regular and very fast. Under one-reefed main and gennaker, the trimaran was making an effortless 25 knots plus this morning as she headed just east of south. "We don't want to keep on moving west" says the skipper, who goes on to explain that since the Doldrums are not clearly established to the east, there is no longer any reason to go for the longitude option to cross the Equator. "Heading dead south, Geronimo is making very reasonable progress in the right direction. We're occasionally hitting 30 knots, but not all the time. Racing before the wind at these speeds beneath the moon on a silver sea is absolutely wonderful- really something!" - http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com/index.php?lang=en * Since yesterday, the Orange maxi-catamaran has been picking up speed and covered more than 500 miles over the past 24 hours, which is the giant cat's best performance since the start. 502.2 miles at 20,9 knots of average speed for the 4th day at sea. Orange has cleverly dealt with the trap of the high-pressure zone by sliding along the Moroccan coast before sneaking between Lanzarote (Canary) and the coast of Mauritania. "True, this route is not what one would call academic, yet it was justified by the position of the high," said Bruno Peyron today. "Now we're back in the west, and we've just done 20 straight hours at 21 knots of average speed. We're currently sailing in 20 knots of north-easterly wind, with gusts at 25. We now have to take a look at how to manage the passage of Cape Verde, and tomorrow we'll take a closer look at the Doldrums. "The sea is rather predictable, and we sent up all the canvass the boat can hold - which means we're under full main and gennaker. There's no way we can hoist more sail surface," says Bruno, who confirms this already represents 1100 square metres! "We had to take everything down during the night as we felt a slight impact, which caused the boat to stop quite sensibly. We checked around and discovered we had hit a big shark, maybe 2 or 3 metres long!"- http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com/ COMPARISON The relative positions given this morning for Geronimo and Orange II require some clarification in terms of how far the two multihulls are from the Equator. The Jules Verne Trophy route is marked by a number of theoretical waypoints, although none of them is compulsory. One of these waypoints is at the point where the Equator (0° latitude) crosses 25°W. This is agreed between Jules Verne Trophy competitors as being the average longitude used by previous attempts. This waypoint is one way of allowing competitors to measure their performance against that of others and provide a common reference point when calculating their own "Distance from the Equator". On Day 4 - Distance to the Equator for Geronimo: 1,382 nautical miles - Distance to the Equator for Orange II: 1,484 nautical miles - 2002 Record set by Orange: 1.298.6 nautical miles Geronimo is 102 nautical miles ahead of Orange II and 83 behind the 2002 record. - http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com NEWS BRIEFS * Entries are now being accepted for the 2004 U.S. Youth Championships to be held in Lasers, Radials, and Club 420s at Carolina Yacht Club and College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. Application deadline is April 1st, with applications available at http://www.ussailing.org/youthchamp/2004 * 161 boats competed in the Laser Midwinters East hosted by Clearwater Yacht Club and sailed from the Clearwater Community Sailing Center in Clearwater, FL. Canadian Michael Leigh and Americans Paige Railey and Emily Billing won the Laser, Laser Radial and the Laser 4.7 classes, respectively. Complete results at http://clwyc.org/LaserMidwintersEast04/index.htm * The increasing number of very large record setting utilizing powered sailing systems has caused the World Speed Sailing Record Council to create a separate category. Rule 21c states, "Vessels with powered sailing systems can apply for ratification of any record but will be listed as a separate category. A vessel is so categorized if any of the sail-setting, reefing, furling or sheeting functions employ mechanical power. Natural forces must always remain the sole means of propulsion." The first entry in this separate category was the October 2003 Monaco to Porto Cervo record by the 105 foot Nariida of Sweden. * Bids were due Monday to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for cities desiring to host a combined World Championships, similar to the 2003 ISAF World Championship in Cadiz, Spain, which brought all the Olympic Class World Championships to three venues at the same time. The next event will be held in 2007, with a possible increased frequency thereafter. Bids will be revealed Tuesday, with an evaluation panel appointed to make a recommendation on the 2007 venue to the ISAF Council at the 2004 ISAF Mid-Year Meetings, 5-6 June 2004. - ISAF, http://www.sailing.org CAMET SPORTSGEAR ETCHELLS MIDWINTERS WEST/ PCCs. Camet International is proud to be the sponsor of one of the biggest Etchells regattas on the West coast. Everyone is invited; it should be a fun and competitive regatta. When you are planning your gear for a regatta like this, it is so important not to have to think about comfort or pain on the race course. The Camet Shorts with Pads are essential, fast drying, extremely abrasion resistant. Find the information on the website for different models and colors of Shorts, Pants, Coolmax shirts, Rash Guards,Mylar bags etc. http://www.camet.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Dave Curtis: The long awaited decision (two years- thank you Paul Henderson) of George Iverson vs. the Star class weight limit has finally arrived. I want to congratulate the Star class and ISAF for deciding that 275 lb. crews are bad for the sport, but 275 lb. skippers are worth their weight in gold (as in gold medal???). So now the heavy crews are on the sidelines with no possible Olympic sailing event. But joining them are the 170-210 lb. skippers who can no longer compete on an equal competitive basis with heavier skippers. People like John Kostecki come to mind. If it's fair for the majority of the Star class to vote out the minority, then I guess the basketball players should vote out anyone over 7 ft. tall since they have an unfair advantage. I don't see any difference. If you want a weight limit, pick a number, add up the skipper and crew weights, and then people like me (175 lb.) can sail with guys like George Iverson. Skippers like Peter Bromby will still outweigh us by 40 lbs. * From Steve Brownsea: Hey big guys, come sail an International Soling with no weight limit (I agree all basketball players should be under six foot). * From: Anton Huggler: In past and renewed "Scuttlebutt" discussions re Olympics, among numerous comments, these issues stand out: - Cost of campaign: The limited financial support available to our top sailors and aspiring youngsters is widely recognized. It obviously keeps many from launching Olympic campaigns. There certainly is as much sailing-talent in the US as in Britain, or anywhere else. - Youth-Programs: A coherent dinghy sailing/racing program appears nonexistent in the US. While the ISSA (Inter Scholastic Sailing Association) is working hard to promote high school racing, most collegiate programs are poorly funded, voluntary and using antiquated non-Olympic boats. I do not believe American youngsters are drawn to big boats; for many there is no attractive alternative. Besides Lasers, yacht clubs have Club 420's or Vanguard 15's. Non-tuneable and sailed only in the US. They are not suitable to train motivated and advanced young sailors. US Sailing and yacht clubs should promote Junior, High School and Collegiate sailing in international class dinghies and make a well-funded effort to raise the programs to a higher level. A goal must be to retain more young sailors after their initial experience in Optimists. Currently, the follow-on programs in the US are just too fragmented to produce a broad base of internationally competitive dinghy sailors. Youth racing programs need to add tuneable class boats to their fleets: International 420, Europe's and the 29er's, a physically demanding and excitingly fast boat, excellent for the thrill seeking adolescents to keep them sailing. * From Mark Lammens: The Olympic Games happen only every 4 years but the preparation and work to prepare for it is continuous. Sailors and teams are working for 4, 8 and sometimes (as with Kevin Hall) 12 years. The media needs to develop relationships with our sailing stars (in Olympic Classes) so there is a chance to get sponsors some exposure. Why would they sponsor something that gives them very little or nothing back in advertising,.........charity? National sailing federations (Canada/US) need to address issues to get sailors to this level, recruiting the very best young sailors/athletes to Olympic classes, give them skills and knowledge with high level camps, get more of them doing it and develop a good national racing circuit. The issues that we are talking about today are the same as 2000 and 1996. * From Peter Buzzini: In defense of Fred Applegate's comments in Scuttlebut 1524, it appears to me that Mr. Applegate's comment points directly at the US Olympic trials, the selection process, rather than the ability of the team or individuals who won to represent the USA in the Olympic games. Shouldn't we focus on the heart of the matter, analyzing and debating the process and whether it best serves the goals of USA's participation in the Olympic Games? Also, if our goal is to best simulate Olympic racing pressure isn't allowing a throw-out race contradictory to that goal? If we're going to create the pressure-cooker environment, shouldn't each individual or each team survive on the merits of each and every race within that one regatta selection window, regardless of whether the throw-out race rule is allowed at the Olympics or not? If we are going to agree to the merits and concept of a throw-out race, shouldn't there be a throw-out regatta? * From Liz Cabrall: During an Olympic Trial in the '80's, my then twenty-something son had dreams of Olympic glory in the Star class. With almost no money and a less than perfect crew, he headed off to Long Beach. He finished DFL in all 10 races and was sorely disappointed and you couldn't even say the word "Olympics." Several years later he was recounting his one perfect upwind leg when everything was wonderful and he felt like he owned the world. Surprised, I asked him how he felt about the experience. I hadn't dared to ask before. He said, "Mom, you know that even if I had had a brand new boat, new sails, a motor home on that beach, a great meal every night, I would have lost." Twenty some years later he is still sailing. Has a Lightning now - "A better family boat." Still goes to the Nationals, although his performance is only somewhat better. He is at peace with himself, a productive member of society, and still loves the thrill of competition. I hope that today's Olympic hopefuls had as great an opportunity that open trials gave him. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION It is easier to walk through doors that open, than to break down locked ones. |
