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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 793 - April 12, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome. America's Cup The earlier model was used to help develop Team New Zealand's winning formula in the 1995 and 2000 America's Cup campaigns. Professor Richard Flay said the new tunnel, which was housed in a Mt Wellington warehouse, was bigger than its predecessor. The walls could be moved to adjust the width, which allowed for a smaller outlet and more speed. The tunnel, which is made out of wood and has two fans at either end, could also be used to test wind force on small aircraft, model buildings and skiers. "The fans blow air over a model and then we measure the forces or pressures on the model," he said. His colleague Professor Peter Jackson said the tunnel provided an economic advantage for sail designers because they could test out their ideas for "just a few hundred dollars." A full-size racing sail costs between $20,000 and $50,000 to build, plus then you have to tie up the whole syndicate for a day testing it." NZ Herald. Full story: www.nzherald.co.nz/ MORE America's Cup Stuff WOMENâS MATCH RACING The Rolex Thompson and Osprey Cups are International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 1 events, which allow the greatest number of ranked international entrants, while the Alpena event is Grade 3, which encourages participation by ranked as well as unranked skippers. The U.S. Womenâs Match Racing Championship, one of 11 US SAILING adult championships to receive sponsorship from Rolex, is expected to be a Grade 3 event. For information: tfarquhar@compuserve.com, www.wimra.org LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON leweck@earthlink.net * From Vin Mc Ateer: I know the name of the challenge is "OneWorld" but the American campaign for the 2003 America's Cup based out of Seattle is truly maddening. Is nationality completely gone from crown jewel of our sport? The piece on Craig McCaw's challenge for the AC was disheartening at best! It feels as if Mr. McCaw doing his best to "buy" talent from any corner of the globe in order to satisfy his fantasy. His purchase of just about anyone that has won anything anywhere is truly diluting the Super Bowl of yacht racing. * From Fredrick Berringer: Yesterdayâs story about Craig McCawâs Seattle-based One World AC syndicate read like a full-page distress sale ad. Could it be that the crash of the NASDAQ has transformed one of the ãBsä into an ãM?ä Is the party over for this once formidable syndicate? * From Keith Mackeown: A point to ponder: At the 1979 Admirals Cup there were 19 teams and no sponsors. * From Craig.K.Yandow (Tacking the interior) - The mention of 201 water containers in Butt No. 792 reminds me of a current fashion that could invade sailing. Hikers, bikers, skiers and skaters are wearing "hydration" packs. Today, I would not go for a bike ride without my "bike" pack which contains candy, tools, jacket, water, lock, money, phone and my prescriptions. Kind of like my sea bag, and the ice chest, but wearable. All a prudent sailor would need is a wearable life jacket with pockets. That way, anyone who fell overboard could have flotation and a survival kit. If they make it to the beach, they can dress for the press. OSHA would love it if we made them mandatory and included strobe, smoke, flares, EPIRB, GPS and VHF. It could spawn an industry, perhaps even turn around the economy. Imagine the trickle down benefits of waterproof cell phones and the like. And besides, it is far more effective than leaving all that important gear down below where it is hard to tack. * From Nelson Stephenson: (Drastically edited to our 250-word limit) - The enthusiasm I read in Phillipe Kahn's recent posting evidences the general attitude which is present in One Design Racing today. As I approach 50 and after having sailed in many types of sailboats over the past 18 years (I started much too late in life), I believe that the very best racing is now taking place in One Design Fleets. I agree with Phillipe (and have the battle scars from the past four years to prove it) that racing against the best and getting better every time out is what its all about and more important than winning. Which One Design Fleet you are in is less important, they are all highly competitive and team skills matter more than budget at the top end of each One Design Fleet. The modern One Design concept was developed by owners and builders who felt that level racing in equally matched boats would produce better racing, more fun and at a lower overall ownership cost (replacing obsolete boats gets expensive). All that is true. But then the Owners also decided to restrict themselves to predominantly amateur Owner/Drivers, annual sail budget limitations (3 per year in a Mumm 30), restrict the number of Category 2 and 3 sailors (no more than 2 Cat 3's and one Cat 2) and organize the National schedule to be cost effective. The result has been more competitive, lower cost racing which is also more fun. Less politics, more racing and every time out you get better. * From David Redfern (Re Ballast): I seem to remember reading in a pamphlet called the 'True America's Cup' that one of the contestants in the 1851 race was disqualified for moving canvas bags of water around as ballast in the race. VOLVO OCEAN RACE The illbruck Challenge team will depart from Charleston, SC at 11 a.m. on Monday April 23 with expected arrival in Baltimore the afternoon of Wednesday April 25. The finish will be off Fort McHenry, the same finish line for Leg Six next year. The team will attend the Opening Ceremony on Thursday April 26 in Baltimore at noon at the Harborplace Amphitheatre. ESPN sailing commentator Gary Jobson will host the ceremony. illbruck Challenge skipper Kostecki will speak to Eastport Yacht Club members in Annapolis on Thursday evening. On Friday, the illbruck Challenge sailing team will race in the Inner Harbor starting at 11 a.m., allowing lunchtime crowds to enjoy a sneak preview of the grand prix race boats coming to Baltimore next year. The team will be sailing the two green-and- white-hulled Volvo 60 racing yachts both named illbruck. The sisterships competed in the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World Race as EF Education and EF Language, the latter winning the race. On Saturday, April 28, visitors to the Waterfront Festival can meet crew members and take a close look at the race boats docked at the Finger Piers along the West Wall of the Baltimore Inner Harbor. On Sunday, April 29 Festival visitors can watch the restart of the two race boats for their sail back to Charleston, South Carolina. Visitors can view the start at 2 p.m. from the shores of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The team then continues its Volvo Ocean Race preparations in Charleston, SC. The team's new race boat will be delivered in May. The race crew will train from Charleston until July when they will cross the Atlantic in final preparations for the Volvo Ocean Race, starting September 23 from Southampton, England. - Jane Eagleson, www.illbruckChallenge.com. * After an extensive training and crew selection period in Sydney, the ASSA ABLOY Racing Team has appointed four experienced sailors to the race crew for the Volvo Ocean Race: Sidney Gavignet (FRA), Mike Joubert (RSA), Richard Mason (NZL) and Stu Wilson (NZL). Previously appointed crew are: skipper Roy Heiner (NL), co-skipper and navigator Mark Rudiger (USA), bowman and construction manager Jason Carrington (UK) and trimmer Klas Nylof (SWE). The four remaining crewmembers will be selected after training and sail testing this spring. - Josefine Lemmel, GROWING THE SPORT Emma, who was named Most Improved Junior Sailor last year at the Port Madison Yacht Club (PMYC), has a busy schedule planned for the 2001 season. She will return to the PMYCâs sailing school for a second summer and she will participate in as many PMYC racing clinics as possible. Emma will also race in the Dinghy Series, which runs from April to October and she hopes to race Northstar in enough Northwest Circuit Regattas to be eligible for a trophy. Emma will have Northstar until November when it will go back to North Sails to be fitted with new sails and some general upkeep so that it can be given to another local youth sailor for the 2002 season. - Veronica Brown NO CHICKEN TENDERS RORC RORC web site www.rorcrating.com THE RACE THE CURMUDGEONâS CONUNDRUM Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool? |
