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SCUTTLEBUTT #242 - December 22, 1998AMERICA'S CUPIn the December issue of Seahorse magazine Rod Davis ranks the top America's Cup syndicates. For this evaluation he used a matrix, with admittedly subjective values placed on SAILING (all of the on the water operations but most importantly, racing ability) FUNDING, DESIGN, plus an X-FACTOR (which quantifies Davis' gut feelings about potential, desire and doing the extraordinary). Davis emphasized these are strictly his personal views and do not have anything to do with his position as coach of Italy's Prada America's Cup syndicate. And you'll notice he did not include Prada in the ratings, because as he put it, "it just did not seem like the right thing to do." But he did add, "I would not be with a team that I did not think would be in the hunt." So here are the total points from Rod Davis' matrix: Team NZ 19 Team Paul Cayard 17 Team NYYC 16 Team Dawn Riley 14 Team Aloha Racing 14 Team Switzerland 13 Team Japan 13 Team Dennis Conner 11 Team Syd Fisher 9 Check out Seahorse magazine for the whole matrix and Davis' insightful remarks. But it's not on the Internet - you'll have to buy a copy. OK - We now know how Rod Davis feels. What are your thoughts on the matter? SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL REGATTA The final day of the Sydney International Regatta proved to be a day for the underdogs, in stronger conditions of 15-18 knots blowing from the south. With over 400 boats from 32 nations, the regatta brought world class sailing action to Sydney Harbour, as athletes prepare for the World Championships in Melbourne during January. With all Olympic Classes appearing at this regatta, and nine current Olympic Class World Champions going through their paces on the Olympic venue today, the Harbour was a truly magnificent sight, awash with sails. Continuing their stunning form in the final day of the regatta, Australia's Adam Beashel and Teague Czislowski sailing Smiths Kodak Express won the 49er class, ten points ahead of fellow countryman and current World Champion, Chris Nicholson and his new partner Ed Smyth sailing Skilled. Beashel and Czislowski capped their win by crossing the line first in the final race of the day. (Curmudgeon's addendum: The USA teams of Morgan Larson / Kevin Hall and Jonathan / Charlie McKee finished in third and fourth place respectivelyand respectably.) The Lasers were another example where the underdog has succeeded. Australia's Michael Blackburn has finished in first place, five points ahead of current World Champion Robert Scheidt of Brazil. Great Britain's Ben Ainslie has finished in third place, ahead of Australia's Brendan Casey. However, not all the World Champions were toppled today. In the Star Class, current World Champions, Col Beashel and David Giles of Australia were the victors, whilst Australia's most recent World Champions, Darren Bundock and John Forbes were also successful today. Bundock and Forbes won the Tornado World Championship only a month ago, and have backed up again at this regatta to fight off a strong challenge from fellow-countryman and fierce rival Mitch Booth. Bundock and Forbes finished the regatta five points ahead of Booth. In the Solings, Australia's Neville Wittey has been defeated 2-1 in the final series by Andy Beadsworth of the UK. -- Megan Seton Event website: http://www.aussailing.org SKIP ETCHELLS E.W. "Skip" Etchells, designer of the international racing boat that bears his name, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Easton, Maryland, on Sunday, December 29, 1998. He was 87 years old. Skip was active in the Star Class on Long Island Sound. High point of his career was his winning the 1949 Star Worlds with his wife Mary as crew. They remain the only husband-and-wife team to ever have achieved this pinnacle of sailing excellence, and Mary remains the only woman ever to have won a Star Worlds as either skipper or crew. In 1965 Yachting Magazine sponsored a design competition based on IYRU specifications for a three-person Olympic keelboat. Skip designed and built a 30-foot sloop named "Shillalah" for the sail-off, held in Kiel. "Shillalah" won eight of the ten races sailed that year and 10 of the 13 races sailed in Travemunde, Germany, the next year, showing exceptional performance against a new 5.5 Metre and a Dragon, Olympic classes both; while it did not perform as well as "Shillalah" in the series, the Soling was chosen as the three-person Olympic keelboat, which it holds to this day. While "Shillalah" did not impress the Olympic selection committee, it did impress a number of sailors in the western Long Island Sound who knew Skip and his work. What started out as "Shillalah" became the Etchells 22, so named for its waterline length; the boat gained IYRU international status in 1972 and became the "International Etchells" (dropping the "22" from the name) in 1990. Now, thirty years later, the class is active in the US and Canada, Australia and Europe, with builders on three continents. The 1998 Etchells Worlds was the biggest ever, with 105 entries. It is a tribute to Skip Etchells and his timeless design that the class has owners ranging from Olympic medallists and America's Cup winners to at least one Southern California sailor too old and fat for dinghies anymore. Skip's wife, Mary, was with him when he died. A Roman Catholic funeral will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 1998, in St. Michaels, Maryland. - Chris Ericksen MONTE LIVINGSTON Monte Livingston died on Sunday at the ULCA Medical Center from the affects of a cerebral brain hemorrhage. He was 85. A funeral service will be conducted on Sunday, December 27 at the Leo Badck Temple located at 1330 N. Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles. THE RACE The official launch of Steve Fossett's giant catamaran PlayStation took place in Auckland with an announcement that the American adventurer's plans for the 32m supercat culminate with an entry in The Race at the end of 2000. Fossett could not be at the launch because he is in mid-flight with Richard Branson in a joint bid to become the first people to fly around the world by hot air balloon. But, in a videotaped message, Fossett listed the programme for the boat which included attempts at the 24-hour speed record, the transAtlantic record , the Trophee Jules Verne round the world record and The Race. PlayStation was officially launched by the Mayor of Auckland, Christine Fletcher, who said she was delighted that New Zealand's boatbuilding expertise had been selected for this high-tech project. Both main contractors, Cookson Boats and Southern Spars, are Auckland-based companies. PlayStation is expected to sail for the first time before the New Year, although it is likely to be mid-January before she is ready to really stretch her legs and explore her full potential, reckoned to be in excess of 35 knots. The bid for the 24-hour record, first on the list of targets for the yacht, is likely to take place towards the end of January, weather permitting. Steve Fossett is expected to be on board for the attempt. Photos of PlayStation are on the ISAF website: http://www.sailing.org/today/whatsnew.html Information on THE RACE: http://www.therace.org Curmudgeon' addendum: While Fossett's new boat was being launched in NZ, Steve and the crew of a hot air balloon attempting to fly non-stop around the world were trying to get permission to fly over China. Hours from an anticipated border crossing, an intense diplomatic crusade, that included the personal appeal of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, failed to convince the Chinese government to permit the balloon to continue its current course into China. Chinese officials have indicated that should the balloon cross the border, the balloon pilots must obey all instructions. If China orders the balloon to land, it will do so, according to a statement by ICO Global, a mobile telephone company sponsoring the balloon trip.
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