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SCUTTLEBUTT 2394 - July 23, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday with the support of its sponsors. PULLING THE TRIGGER When Golden Gate Yacht Club, which is the club from which BMW Oracle Racing competes, submitted to defender Alinghi’s club, the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), on July 11th their dispute of the 33rd America’s Cup Protocol – with their challenge to compete in the event attached – it paved the road to an inevitable fork. Alinghi could either accept their dispute and challenge, and the Protocol would be rewritten to appease the Larry Ellison-led syndicate (and pretty much every other team as well). Or, Alinghi would ignore GGYC, and hope for (or orchestrate) another challenger to step in to get the ball rolling. It likely came as no surprise to anyone that in this game of chicken, SNG, the Alinghi team and its leader Ernesto Bertarelli were not about to blink first. So when the SNG accepted the South African challenge last week before responding to Ellison’s challenge, it was all GGYC needed to pull the trigger on a gun that likely had been locked and loaded since that initial July 11th correspondence. For when irreconcilable differences enter the realm of the America’s Cup, the Deed of Gift directs these conflicts to be sorted out by the Supreme Court of the State of New York. It is there that GGYC filed their lawsuit on Friday, July 20, 2007, and it within that lawsuit that the San Francisco club is asking the Court to: -- Void the purported challenge of the Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) because CNEV does not qualify under the Deed of Gift as a challenger; -- Declare the “Protocol Governing the 33rd America’s Cup” agreed between SNG and CNEV null and void because (i) CNEV was an invalid challenger, and (ii) SNG is engaging in self-dealing by accepting CNEV’s purported challenge and entering into a protocol which eliminates Challenger rights and omits basic information regarding match rules and conditions; -- Declare that GGYC’s challenge filed on 11 July 2007 for the 33rd America’ s Cup is valid; and -- Require SNG to accept GGYC’s challenge, and implement the terms of the Deed of Gift by participating with GGYC in the establishment of a proper protocol though a consensual process; or, failing that, to proceed with a match with GGYC under the rules expressly set forth in the Deed of Gift. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0722 NOBODY’S POODLE The Golden Gate Yacht Club’s legal action was precipitated by an announcement from ACM, last week, that “Shosholoza joins the Challenger of Record, Desafío Español and the Defender Alinghi, as the first confirmed participants in the 33rd America’s Cup.”. That announcement made it clear that Golden Gate’s challenge had not been accepted, but it may also have been the announcement that heralds an equitable solution. Shosholza is headed by Captain Salvatore Sarno, a very plain speaking man, who started life as a merchant seaman and is now a director of the world’s second largest container shipping company, MSC, and CEO of its South African branch. When you talk to Sarno, the immediate impression is of someone who makes things happen. The notion of starting off an America’s Cup Team with a small budget is very much at odds with the theories of the top teams, who see having a large budget, established at the beginning, as a major key to the sort of development flow that brings success. Yet Sarno started off Team Shosholza with no sponsors, just his own money. Speaking to the Spanish newspaper Las Provincias, last week Sarno said he was very optimistic about the next Cup and believed that, within 15 days, everything will be resolved; date, venue and protocol problems. The paper has him saying that there will be a solution for everything; Bertarelli is not a dictator, he is a reasonable man, who knows a lot about negotiating and that is why he is going to sit down with the challengers to renegotiate the protocol. – BYM News, full story: http://www.bymnews.com/july/americas-cup.html FAST – REALLY FAST (July 22, 2007) French sailor Franck Cammas claimed a new world speed record after logging 794 miles in 24 hours on Friday on his 105ft trimaran Groupama 3 during an attempt at the transatlantic record - and then improved it yesterday with an amazing 795.2-mile run. That's an incredible average speed of 33 knots. If this is officially ratified, it's much more than a small improvement: it will shatter Bruno Peyron's 2006 record of 766.8 miles on the maxi catamaran Orange 2. One of the refinements that has allowed the team behind Groupama 3 to push sailing to within a hair of the 800-mile day is curved daggerboards designed to reduce drag and generate lift. They have long been a feature in the super-powerful ORMA 60 trimaran class from which Cammas hails. – Elaine Bunting, Yachting World, full report: http://tinyurl.com/2hylmr WINNING WITH OCKAM IN JULY Ockam Instruments congratulates great July performances. Bob Towse’s Blue Yankee was 1st to finish/ 1st overall in the Marblehead-Halifax race. In the Chicago-Mackinac Race, Nightmare and Evolution were 1st and 2nd in the GL70 class, and Natalie J was 1st in Class 2. Ockam had eight NYYC42’s in the top ten at the Swan American Regatta, with Bandit, Amelia, Tsunami, and Arethusa claiming the top four places in class.. All of these winning yachts rely on Ockam Instruments' superior processing and display technology to provide a useful and accurate competitive advantage. At Ockam, we have race winning solutions for everyone. Contact mailto:sales@ockam.com TRANSPAC (July 22, 2007) A flying finish almost made the first half of the 44th Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii forgettable as Pyewacket's bid for the record fell 9 hours 7 minutes 44 seconds short Sunday. Roy Pat Disney, co-skipper with Gregg Hedrick, described the race in brief as "frustrating and exhilarating . . . and sad." Frustrating in the first 600 miles of light wind struggling, exhilarating in the final days to the finish that saw them blowing past the landmark finish line off the Diamond Head volcano at 26 knots, and sad that his dad, Roy E. Disney, wasn't along for the ride. Pyewacket missed Morning Glory's record of 6 days 16 hours 4 minutes 11 seconds set in the previous race in 2005. Chip Megeath's Santa Cruz 52, Kokopelli 2, had a three-day head start and led until late on the final morning when the 94-foot Pyewacket swept past to finish first, 1 hour 42 minutes ahead of its older and smaller rival. Kokopelli 2 set the tone for a resurrection of the Santa Cruz 50s and 52s that turned out in nine boats to form their own class this year and currently stand third through eighth on overall corrected handicap time among boats still racing. The leader is an even smaller boat, the J/125 41-footer Reinrag2, which has logged mileage (280, 256) second only to Division 1 leaders Pyewacket (391, 345) and Magnitude 80 (291, 317) on Friday and that pair plus Kokopelli 2 (269) on Saturday. All of those smaller boats started on Thursday, three days ahead of the big boats, a point not lost on Pyewacket's noted navigator, Stan Honey. Asked what he would do differently, Honey responded, "Start on Thursday." -- Complete report: http://www.underthesunphotos.com/Press%20Releases/tp07pr37.htm * Look for the ETAs from the yachts as they near Hawaii, the actual Finish Reports, and then the Daily Standings at http://www.transpacificyc.org YOUTH WORLDS Kingston, Ontario (Canada) – 20 July, 2007 – Australia has won the Volvo Trophy at this year’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship with 259 points, breaking France’s domination of the event. Denmark was second (248 points) and New Zealand was third (230 points). Awarded by Volvo to the best performing nation taking part in the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, the Volvo Trophy was first offered by Volvo in 1999 and has been presented every year since, with the exception of Madeira 2003. Australia last won the event in 2003. Top North American performance was in the girls 29er fleet, where the American duo of Emily Dellenbaugh (17yrs) and Briana Provancha (18yrs) claimed the gold medal with a race to spare in a fleet of 18 boats. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” exclaimed helm Dellenbaugh, the daughter of top America’s Cup sailor David Dellenbaugh. “We didn’t expect to do this well,” said an elated Dellenbaugh, but Provancha, who claimed the silver in Korea two years ago with Megan Magill says they were always aiming for a top five finishing position. -- Complete report: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=ju,FnipCw&format=popup Top Three plus Top North American 29er Girls (18 boats) 1. USA -Emily Dellenbaugh/Briana Provancha,1-(9)-3-1-5-2-9-3-1-1-1-(DNS), 27 2. GBR -Sophie Weguelin/Sophie Ainsworth,8-5-2-3-2-(DSQ)-(11)-1-9-2-3-1, 36 3. AUS -Hannah Nattrass/Michelle Muller,2-(10)-8-2-3-5-5-2-6-(10)-2-3, 38 Laser Radial (34 boats) 1. AUS - Gabrielle King, 3- (25)-1-1- 2-2-(12)-4-2-5, 20 2. USA - Anne Haeger, 2-8-(12)-10-1-(OCS)-8-2-3-6, 40 3. DEN - Sarah Gunni, (20)-(10)-3-6-9-5-3-9-4-3, 42 Windsurfer Boys (21 boards) 1. FRA - Pierre Le Coq, (3)-3-3-(5)-2-3-1-1-1, 14 2. ISR - Ron Asulin, 2-2-8-(15)-1-(12)-6-4-2, 25 3. GRE - Dimitris Vlachakis, 4-(7)-1-3-3-7-(11)-5-4, 27 6. CAN - David Hayes, 11-11-2-1-6-2-9-(14)-(21), 42 29er Boys (23 boats) 1. DEN - Henrik Sagaard/ Soren Kristensen, 2-3-1-1-3-4-4-3-6-3-(9)-(13), 30 2. NZL - Paul Snow-Hansen/ Blair Tuke, 1-2-(10)-4-5-3-3-2-8-5-6-(24), 39 3. GBR - James Ellis/ Robert Partridge, (17)-(13)-5-6-12-8-6-7-2-9-2-3, 60 6. USA - Oliver Tool/ William McBride, 7-11-(14)-2-4-11-13-6-9-(22)-5-10, 78 Hobie 16 (15 cats) 1. GBR - Richard Glover/ Andrew Glover, 1-1-(4)-4-2-3-2-(7)-3-2, 18 2. DEN - Emil Landry/ Jacob Dannefer, 2-4-3-2-4-2-1-4-(7)-(6), 22 3. AUS - Jason Waterhouse/ Michael McCormick, 3-2-(8)-1-1-7-6-(9)-5-4, 29 8. USA - Eric Raybon/ Jason Bilow, 10-5-10-6-(RAF)-5-12-2-2-(DNC), 52 Laser (38 boats) 1. CYP - Pavlos Kontides, 3-6-1-3-3-1-(24)-2-1-(DNC), 20 2. NZL - Josh Junior 2-(18)-3-6-2-4-4-7-(13)-4, 32 3. GER - Philipp Buhl,1- 7-5-9-1-6-(11)-(OCS)-5-5, 39 11. USA - Luke Lawrence, (OCS)-9-4-1-7-10-22-(28)-28-1, 82 Windsurfer Girls (15 boards) 1. ITA - Laura Linares, 1-1-(3)-(3)-2-1-3-1-3, 12 2. GER - Moana Delle, (RAF)-2-(4)-2-4-2-1-2-2, 15 3. POL - Nina SZYMCZYK, 3-4-5-4-3-4-(11)-5-(6), 28 13. MEX - Mar Campos, 11-5-12-(DNC)-12-11-9-11-(16), 71 Complete results: http://youthworlds2007.org/results.shtml SEAMLESS TRANSITION At Hall Spars & Rigging, we’re proud that our spars made a seamless transition from successful America’s Cup Challenger in 2003 to successful Defender in 2007. While the venues were very different, one thing remained the same – our ability to provide the best performing spars on the racecourse. Our construction technique is the most refined in the industry and we put the same technology and energy to work on every spar we build. If you’re ready to transition to seamless, visit either our U. S. or European factory or find us online at http://www.hallspars.com XV PAN AMERICAN GAMES Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (July 22, 2007) - After still winds delayed starts Sunday, the initial two races of all nine sailing classes were cancelled on the first day of competition at the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The opening race of the Games will now be held Monday, July 23, beginning at 1 p.m. local at Glória Marina, and the sailors will look to complete three races in what appears to be a more promising weather forecast. Here is a report from American Lightning sailor Bill Fraude about the practice race on Saturday: “The tide had just started to flow (come in) about the time we were to start and during the slack tide time, somehow our starting line was placed in the middle of a liquid garbage dump. There were plastic grocery bags semi submerged all over the place. There were palm frons. There were leaves. There was a window frame with a screen still installed in it. I'm going to assume the rest of the house must have sunk. This is mildly off-putting, but one of the Hobie-16 sailors reported seeing what was either a dead dog or a dead pig floating somewhere near the port layline. Anyway, this racing is going to present some unique challenges because while there is a very long starting line to provide room for the Hobie 16s, the big line for most everyone else means that immediately there is lots of potential separation. If two boats tack away right off the line and sail for 5 minutes they're a LONG way away.” -- Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/2dmdnh SAILORS HELPING SAILORS Bill Ward, a good friend and hard working race committee volunteer for the Mendota Yacht Club in Madison, WI, needs help from the Scuttlebutt community. Bill was working on the MYC race committee boat last May when he fell from a ladder and landed on his head, becoming partially paralyzed from the accident. He has been in several health care institutions since that time and is currently at Vallhaven Nursing home in Neenah, WI. Bill’S friends and family are working hard to get Bill Ward back into his own place here in the Madison area. That will require the sale of his home and the purchase of something not full of stairs and barriers. Unfortunately, it means he has to dispose of a lot of great things, so they are conducting a home-made internet auction on July 21-28. So, if you are thinking you might need a great power tool, a genset or a wheelbarrow… look over this website…. get a great tool.... and support a very good cause. -- http://mycward.com SAILING SHORTS * (July 22, 2007) It was the same successful formula that served them well through the three previous days on the Bay of Palma which today ensured Vicente Tirado’s Caixa Galicia the win in the famous TP 52 Regatta Breitling Illes Balears. With John Kostecki calling tactics for helm Roberto Bermudez de Castro, the new Botin and Carkeek design came off the start line close enough to the favoured left of the upwind track to benefit, but was able to keep their nearest rivals, the Russell Coutts skippered Artemis, at bay from mid-way up the windward leg. -- Full report: http://2007.medcup.org/news/?langPost=EN&id=1284 * Newport, RI (July 20, 2007) - After a second place in the final race, Andrew Fisher's Bandit wrapped up the NYYC Swan 42 division in the Swan American Regatta. Alexander Jackson's Amelia continued their fine run from yesterday, taking victory in the race around Conanicut Island today. However, Bandit stuck close to her rival on the race course to finish just 46 seconds behind and take the title by four points. In the other classes, Pioneer Investments by Cuordileone won the long distance race, but couldn't prevent Jim Swartz's Moneypenny adding the Swan American Regatta to his list of trophies. -- Complete report and results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0720/ * Long Beach, CA (July 21, 2007) - Saturday’s light breeze forced the cancellation of the semi-final and final races of the third annual Mayor’s Cup presented by St. Mary Medical Center – giving the victory to San Francisco Yacht Club’s Liz Baylis and team, based on cumulative points. It was a sweep for the American contingent, with Sandy Hayes in second and Charlie Arms in third, with the first foreign team being led by Katie Spithill (AUS) in sixth. -- Complete story: http://tinyurl.com/2cq7rg * Due to the deteriorating health of 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Nick Scandone, who suffers from ALS, he found the need to make the switch from the 2.4mR to the Skud 18 class to pursue his dream to compete in the Paralympic Games. His first event in the Skud 18 was two weeks ago at the Newport Regatta, where he had the chance to team up with his new crew, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, and compete on the same waters as where the Paralympic trials will be held this fall. The new team enjoyed a successful outing, winning the event, and will be heading to Marblehead, MA for their next regatta. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/2gavbk * (July 22, 2007) The United States skipper, Sally Barkow, was the leader at the end of the second round robin of the Troia Portugal Women’s Match Cup, a Grade 1 event at the Portuguese resort at Troia. Sailed in Swedish Match 40s by a team of six, the event continues through Monday. Barkow is followed by Klaartje Zuiderbaan (NED) in second and Jenny Axhede (SWE) in third. -- Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/23vfy6 "AN EXCELLENT BIT OF KIT." - SAILING WORLD Ocean Racing's waterproof Offshore Backpack keeps your laptop and gear dry when everything else gets wet! Polyurethane-impregnated fabric with sewn, taped & RF welded seams. The removable neoprene computer sleeve cushions large screen laptops. Add the matching Offshore Duffel & you'll have the driest & best looking sailing luggage anywhere. http://www.OceanRacing.com PHOTO GALLERIES * The Transpac racers begin in Los Angeles, CA and pass Catalina Island on their way to Honolulu, HI. Press officer Rick Roberts provides images from the beginning, and Ultimate Sailing’s very own Sharon Green rode the helicopter out to catch the fleet making the Catalina turn. As for finish line photos, Sharon also sent Scuttlebutt some pretty sweet images of Pyewacket flying in the trade winds off Diamond Head, and hopefully more will be forthcoming. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/transpac * Conditions were challenging at the Swan American Regatta in Newport, RI for both sailors and photographers, but shooter Daniel Forster busts out a stand-up performance in capturing all classes, one of which was the first one-design event for the new Swan Club 42. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0721 * Photographer Thierry Martinez brings us onboard the TP 52 at their latest class MedCup circuit event this past weekend in Puerto Portal, Spain. These boats have serious sex appeal, and Thierry’s aerial shooting shows the closeness of the racing, the layout of the boat, and the shape of the sail. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0722 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Jim Fulton: In retrospect, I think that Ernesto Bertarelli may have revealed his intent in his comments after New Zealand's second win in fluky conditions. He said something to the effect that likes to gamble in Las Vegas, but he doesn't like to gamble on the water. What we see now is that he's willing to compete only when he's pretty sure that the odds are stacked in his favor. And if they're not, he'll stack them. From this perspective, Golden Gate Yacht Club's appeal for neutral event management and close competition are not likely to have a favorable reception. * From Jim Katz: I don't know what everybody is all upset about. Bertarelli is just following a successful sports model. This method of running a competition has worked for the Boston Globetrotters & Washington Generals for many years. * From David Champtaloup: I sent the Curmudgeon’s Observation from #2393 ("There is only one word in the English language whose pronunciation changes when you capitalize the first letter: polish.") to a friend who teaches at one of the better schools here in Sydney, Australia. She thought it was so clever she posted it on an internal noticeboard. Within an hour she received the following: Capitonym is not a word that you will find in the dictionary, but it has been used to describe words that change their pronunciation and meaning when capitalized. They are thus a form of heteronym. Here is a selection of capitonyms, complete with brief definitions: Ares: God of War; ares: Plural of metric unit of area. August: Eighth calendar month; august: Important. Begin: Russian-born Israeli politician; begin: To start. Bund: Federation; bund: Irrigation embankment. Chou: Chinese dynasty; chou: Type of pastry. Degas: French painter and sculptor; degas: To remove gas. Embarrass: River in eastern Illinois; embarrass: Mortify. Ewe: A people and language Africa; ewe: Female sheep. Job: Author of a Biblical book; job: Employment. Junker: Member of Prussian aristocracy; junker: Old car. Lima: Capital of Peru; lima: Type of bean. Liver: Comedy duo The Liver Birds; liver: Human internal organ. Magdalen: Oxford college; magdalen: Reformed prostitute. Male: Capital of the Maldives; male: A gender. Manes: Deified spirits of Roman dead; manes: Plural of mane. Natal: Region of southeast Africa; natal: Relating to birth. Nice: French City; nice: Pleasant. Polish: Relating to Poland; polish: To make shine. Rainier: Volcanic peak in Washington; rainier: More rainy. Reading: Borough in England; reading: Comprehending writing. Said: Egyptian port; said: Spoken. Scone: Village of central Scotland ; scone: Biscuitlike pastry. Seat: Car manufacturer; seat: Chair. Slough: A borough in England; slough: Dead skin of reptile. Tang: Chinese dynasty; tang: Sharp Flavour. Worms: City in southwest Germany; worms: Plural of worm. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION How the concept of “entertainment” varies for women and men: Female.... A good movie, concert, play, or book. Male... Anything that can be done while drinking beer. Special thanks to Ockam Instruments, Hall Spars & Rigging, and Ocean Racing. |
