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SCUTTLEBUTT 2755 - Thursday, January 8, 2009Scuttlebutt 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. Today's sponsors are Ullman Sails and Morris Yachts. TUNNICLIFFE AND HUTCHINSON WIN ROLEX AWARDS (Jan. 7, 2009) - TP52 World Champion Terry Hutchinson and Laser Radial Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe today were named US SAILING’s 2008 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. A shortlist of nine male and five female sailors – determined from nominations submitted by members of US SAILING – was evaluated by a panel of sailing journalists who selected these two sailors for the noteworthy distinction. Members of the panel agreed that it had been “quite a year” for American sailors. * Rolex Yachtsman of the Year – Terry Hutchinson (Annapolis, Md.) has been named the 2008 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, earning the coveted award on the fourth time he was shortlisted for the honor. Members of the selection panel remarked that in 2008 Hutchinson had “redefined himself” after he “emerged from the America’s Cup to be an awesome fleet racer.” Hutchinson got the year rolling as tactician aboard Jim Richardson’s Farr 40 Barking Mad, which won Acura Key West and Acura Miami Grand Prix. Switching to the TP52 and moving into the skipper’s position, Hutchinson racked up four major victories in Europe to win the Audi MedCup series, followed a month later by winning the TP52 World Championship and Melges 24 North Americans. * Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year – Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) has been named the 2008 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. Nominated to the award’s shortlist for the fourth consecutive year, she was the unanimous choice of the panel, all of whom ranked her first in the voting that determines the honoree. Cited by one panelist for “an unbelievable year” culminating with victory in China, Tunnicliffe rose in the world rankings in the Laser Radial class as she worked toward fulfilling her goal of winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Complete report: http://www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex/ => Curmudgeon’s Comment: As a Rolex judge, I believe we got it right this year, but that does not take away from the tremendous accomplishments by Paralympic Champion Nick Scandone. What Nick overcame in 2008 went far beyond the limited scope of the Rolex award, and his story will not soon be forgotten. WHEN IS COACHING UNFAIR? by Paige Brooks, Etchells class correspondent (January 7, 2009) - In the Etchells class, the North American rules recently changed to limit coaching at all US events to before the warning signal through the end of the last race of the day. The first test of this rule happened at the Piana Cup in December, the first of four regattas in the Jaguar Cup Series on Biscayne Bay. The reaction of the competitors was mild, of the coaches, nearly vitriolic. This is not new to one design sailing, the Farr 40 rules do not allow contact with coaches after the boat leaves the dock. The Star class also recently decided to limit coaching in a similar fashion. At some point in their career, most sailors seek out coaches to work with their team to help them sail faster, trim their sails properly, more nimbly shift gears; essentially help them move from the so-called B-Fleet to the A-Fleet. We see the coaches motoring around the pre-start area, following the fleet up the course, recording the mark roundings, waiting at the finish, and eventually towing their clients in to the club. What we often don’t see are the pre-race huddles, the hour-long debriefs, the photos and video, and time and research the coaches put into making each race and regatta a good or better one for their sailors. The genesis of the rule change was the permission of coaches to work with their clients between races at the Annapolis YC hosted Etchells North Americans this past fall -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0107 NO MORE PROPER COURSE On January 1, 2009, the new edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing go into effect. Dave Perry, Chairman of the US SAILING Appeals Committee, explains some of the game changes that the new rules will create: * Rule 17.2 (On the Same Tack; Proper Course) has been deleted. This means that a windward boat or a boat clear ahead no longer has a proper course limitation when sailing near other boats. She can sail below her proper course if she wishes, for instance to make it more difficult for a boat astern to pass or establish an inside overlap nearing a mark. Windward boats must still keep clear of leeward boats under rule 11 (On the Same Tack, Overlapped). For a complete explanation of the racing rules, get Dave’s classic book Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing available from US SAILING’s on-line store at http://store.ussailing.org ULLMAN SAILS WELCOMES A NEW LOFT IN SWEDEN Ullman Sails is excited to announce the addition of Ullman Sails Sweden to its international group of sail lofts. The new loft will service the Swedish sailing community under managing owner Niels Flohr. Niels has been an active sailor in the Scandinavian countries, most notably competing for four years in the 49er class for the Danish Olympic Team. He also has been active in Sweden, serving as the Swedish National Coach for the 49er and 29er class and a member of the Swedish 470 Olympic committee. Ullman Sails - Make an investment in your performance. Visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com ERICSSON TEAM DODGES ONE BULLET, TWO MORE IN CHAMBER (Jan. 7, 2009) - Telefonica Blue has withdrawn its protest against Ericsson 3, with agreement from the International Jury. "We lodged the protest because Ericsson 3 fouled us but we withdrew it because it could effectively mean losing a point against Ericsson 4," said Telefonica Blue skipper Bouwe Bekking. The protest was one of three due to be heard on Thursday January 8th. Ericsson 3 will still face the Jury to answer a protest from the Race Committee regarding whether the team obeyed all the waypoints in sailing the course for leg three. In the afternoon, Ericsson 4 will answer charges brought by the Rule Management Group (the measurers) regarding a replacement 'false bow' that was fitted before the start. Current standings after Leg Three 1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 35 points 2. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 30.5 points 3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 27.5 points 4. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, 23.5 points 5. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 20.5 points 6. Telefonica Black (ESP), F. Echavarri/ESP, 19.5 points 7. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, 10.5 points 8. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 9 points Race website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 Race replay and tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com SIX THOUSAND MILE MATCH RACE (Jan. 7, 2009; Day 59) -- With lead boats Michel Desjoyeaux and Roland Jourdain having made the left turn at Cape Horn, they are now working northward in the Atlantic Ocean toward the finish at Les Sables d'Olonne, France, presently on the point of leaving the Furious Fifties, but they still have the Roaring Forties to deal with. Conditions are still not that different from being in the Big South, with two 45 knot squalls blowing Jourdain’s boat on its side and throwing him out of his bunk onto the chart table. With the help of some opportune gybing, Desjoyeaux shifted slightly to the East overnight and according to the routing, signs so far are that he did the right thing. Following the dramatic rescue of Jean Le Cam on January 6th just 200 miles west of Cape Horn, here is an account of the events that found Le Cam inside the upturned VM Matériaux for more than 10 hours: Le Cam was almost his back to his typical nonplussed self as he explained that he knew that had ‘only one bullet in the chamber’ – only one chance when he finally expelled himself out of the upturned hull. He explained that he had been on the phone to none other than Riou immediately before he hit something, what he said he believed to be possibly a container which caused him to lose the bulb off his keel and capsize. Le Cam said his reflex actions were to recover warm clothes, his survival suit but was trapped near the front of his boat, the only dry area with an airspace, while the stern sections of the boat were under water, presenting a very difficult and potentially dangerous escape route. Le Cam said he worried about his reserves of air, particularly on the principle he would not leave the boat unless he knew there was help there. -- Read on: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/8132/a-recovery-process.html Solo, non-stop, around the world race in Open 60s. Standings as of 18:30 UTC (Top 5 plus of 30 entrants; 13 now competing): 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia, 6254.9 nm Distance to finish 2. Roland Jourdain (FRA), Veolia Environnement, 116.7 nm Distance to leader 3. Armel Le Cléac´h (FRA), Brit Air, 686.3 nm DTL 4. Vincent Riou (FRA), PRB, 764.8 nm DTL 5. Samantha Davies (GBR), Roxy, 1861.0 nm DTL 9. Dee Caffari (GBR), Aviva, 3116.8 nm DTL 11. Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III, 4874.6 nm DTL Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html Race tracking: http://tracking.vendeeglobe.org/en TOUGH TIMES Bristol, RI - Eric Goetz Custom Sailboats, Inc. has been petitioned into Receivership, effective 1/06/09. The Receivership was the result of ongoing cash flow problems caused by the company’s inability to obtain refinancing and by the termination of a construction contract by one of the company’s international customers. The company is hopeful that this project will be restarted, however, in order to preserve its assets and to protect its workforce, the company laid off workers on 12/31/08 after having met its payroll and health insurance obligations. The company continues to work on ongoing projects while Eric Goetz is working with several lenders and investors to put together a group and obtain funding to purchase the assets of Eric Goetz Custom Sailboats, Inc. and/or to create a new company to continue in the custom boat market, and to develop other marine related semi-custom projects and high end commercial composite products. -- http://www.goetzboats.com * Goetz was the builder for the Volvo Ocean Race entry, PUMA. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL GIRL! Morris Yachts is happy to announce that Hull 1 of the new M29 was delivered out of the mold on December 12th. Chief Engineer Peter Smith reported that the resin infused hull even came in a little under weight at 709lbs 12oz. Since then, the M29 team has completed her interior, the deck is on and she will be handed off to Paint on Jan 12. After seatrials in Northeast Harbor she will be hitched to our tow vehicle and head to Miami. She will debut at Miami Strictly Sail, February 12-16. For more information: http://www.morrisyachts.com or call 1-207-244-5509 SAILING SHORTS * On January 1, 2009, Jeff Brown and his San Diego based company JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc. acquired Sail California Newport Beach from Jeff Trask, thus expanding JK3’s new boat offerings and territory to include 3 new lines of boats, with exclusive coverage in Southern California. In addition to its current line up of J Boats, Rivolta, Delphia and Hunt yachts, JK3 will now be offering Santa Cruz, Back Cove, and Sabre sailboats. JK3 will be launching their expanded business at the San Diego Boat Show is January 8-11th. -- http://www.jk3yachts.com * The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is inviting Member National Authorities (MNAs) to place orders for the Elliott 6m, the boat chosen as equipment for the Women's Match Racing event at the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition. ISAF will be controlling distribution of the Elliott 6m for the first 80 boats or until 1 January 2010. Elliott Marine Ltd. will not be taking orders directly before this time. -- Read on: http://www.sailing.org/26648.php (Jan. 7, 2009) - Team Origin and Royal Thames YS, the club Origin represents, have filed a late Amici Curiae brief (the apparent deadline was several days ago). Origin argues that, by virtue of not being a submitted challenger under the protocol, Golden Gate YC has no basis to judge whether the protocol or the management of the regatta are fair, and suggests certain historically accepted candidates for challenger were not valid under the Deed, either, when they submitted their notices of entry. -- http://www.cupinfo.com * Royal Thames Yacht Club, the challenging yacht club for the first America’s Cup in 1870, and Team Origin have filed a Amicus Brief in New York State Court of Appeal in support to Société Nautique de Gèneve/Alinghi arguments. -- http://www.zerogradinord.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/origin_ac_070109.pdf LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Paul Henderson: I must be getting old or maybe senile but I agree totally with the new Star Class rules. The coach’s involvement and influence on sailing must be reigned in. Coaches are totally out of control and have escalated the cost of the sport. When Andy Kostanecki and I wrote the original Rule 42 it was meant to keep the integrity of the sport and stop "Air Rowing" in light winds and not stop the joy we all have in good winds planning down waves. We did incorporate in the first rule allowing this but the Rule Gurus took over. The new Star Rule is excellent. This is another reason why ISAF must keep strong keelboat classes in the Olympics, as they are strong enough with the "Stars of Sailing" confident enough to provide leadership. Media likes heroes and the keelboats are where the dinghy sailors gravitate. Putting a women's keelboat in the Games with no strong class association or tried format is fraught with danger and against which has served sailing so well for decades. Paul Elvstrom once said, "It is easier to design a new boat then to build a strong class organization." I also agree with the NYYC trying to put some sense back into the America's Cup.Go back to Valencia with the same boats and format building on what was such a great success including Louis Vuitton and the ACTS. * From Jamie Leopold: Regarding Chris Caswell's column (SBUTT 2743) about Brodie Cobb and Nick Scandone, I'd like to offer the following anonymous quote: "Everything you do says something about you." Thanks to Chris for his column, and to Nick for being who and what he was. I wish I had enjoyed the honor and pleasure of Nick's acquaintance. * From David Brayshaw: A client informed me about the comment by Arne Ruse (in #2753) describing the (Advantage Racing) special routing program for the VORG Game, and the response by Pascal Desmarets (in 2754). As the author of the Advantage software (the latest culmination of some 12 years of development), I want to correct a misleading statement by Pascal. Our regular program, like DFW and all routing software, uses predicted wind data in the most realistic way possible, so that wind at a given point varies slowly and continuously over time, and there are no sudden jumps at a certain hour or when you move a very short distance. The VORG Game, like all of the "virtual regatta" sites of which I am aware, modifies "wind" in a way that makes it discontinuous, to simplify their Game. Our "Special Edition" for the VORG Game "dumbs down" our standard software so that it computes wind and possible routes by exactly the same rules as the VORG Game. Applying standard routing software will produce poor results, and could confuse the user about the true merits of these programs, which are in universal use among actual ocean racers. Aside from this change to adopt it to the VORG Game, the operation of our Special Edition is the same as the regular edition, so the user gets the feel of how a routing program works in practice. We have tried to clarify this by updating our announcement on http://www.goflow.com/advolvo.htm. * From Tom Whitmore, Stockholm, Sweden: I read Arne Ruse's comments regarding weather routing and the virtual VOR and Vendee Globe races with interest. For those interested in trying out weather routing at a good price I can recommend and even less expensive alternative. Go to http://sailplanner.net/ and download the program for free with polars for VOR 70s and IMOCA 60s. There are also a number of other standard polars to try out. * From the Forum (San-Juan): In reference to the pro an cons of each system I would like to put in my two cents (US currency). PHRF is based on OBSERVED performance - not measurements - and the course being windward leeward in aproximately 10 kts of air with NO current. Under those conditions either ToD or ToT will work relatively well (assuming the PHRF spreads are limited to around 20 secs/mile). When those conditions are NOT sailed then ToT will give more accurate results. What happens is when you are sailing in a current, the length of the course sailed OVER the water is NOT = to the distance between the bouys therefore the results will be skewed. If you are sailing against a 1 kt current and your boat is doing 4 kts., then you are really going 3kts ( a 25% decrease) where a boat doing 5 kts. would go 4 kts or a 20% decrease. I have made a web page with a lot of information. http://www.914barcode.com/phrf-tot-tod.html Look at it this way. Five miles between bouys with a current running parallel to the line between the bouys: 1) You could be tacking against the current and running with the current. 2) Or, Tacking with the current and running against it. ToD would treat these races as the same, when in reality they are two totally different races! All things being equal, race 1 would take longer since you would be tacking against the current. -- http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6842#6842 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffeemaker. Special thanks to Ullman Sails and Morris Yachts. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
