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SCUTTLEBUTT 1678 - September 29, 2004
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welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.
THE LEADING EDGE
You would be forgiven for mistaking a room full of C Class catamaran
sailors for aeronautical engineers. In some cases they are. The native C
Cat speaker talks about Reynolds numbers, induced drag, camber, and angle
of attack. They spew numbers and theories and formulas for speed.
The fraternity of international C Cat sailors spent much of September at
Bristol Marine in Rhode Island. They were on a quest to remove the
International C Class Catamaran Championship trophy from the grip of its
defender, Cogito, which is sailed by Duncan McLane and Steve Clark. Present
were a British challenge (Team Invictus), Team Australia, and Patient Lady
6, a relic of the C Class past. Each team had a posse of engineers,
designers, friends, and fellow speed aficionados. They went sailing, broke
things, and spent a lot of time in the parking lot repairing hulls, foils,
and their radical 40-foot-high wing masts. Oh, and there was racing
Without much of a challenge (or fanfare), Clark and McLane held on to the
trophy, losing only one race in a weeklong series. The result is a subplot,
really. Always has been. The story is about a small community of cat
sailors and designers in pursuit of speed. And considering recent setbacks
in the class, just having a challenge was a step in the right direction. -
The 385-pound (including rig, hulls, and foils) Cogito remains the
benchmark. In 8 knots of wind off Bristol, she was powered up more than the
other cats, even with the heaviest crew on the wire; crew weight is nearly
the same as a boat's all-up weight. Her carbon-fiber wing is clean and
simple; the boat can double the windspeed in moderate winds and has a
top-end speed of 24 knots. A better measure of the wing's performance is
lift coefficient. The C Cat has an LC of 2.1, compared to a soft-sail
boat's LC of 1. Working within three basic dimensions (25 feet long, 14
feet wide, and 300 feet of sail area), McLane and Clark have created a cat
that is not only the fastest of its kind, but one that doesn't
self-destruct. Keeping a C together, the Brits and Aussies have learned, is
the hard part. - Two excerpts from a major piece by Josh Adams on the Sail
magazine website, full story: www.sailmagazine.com/cclasscats/
ORYX QUEST 2005
(In Scuttlebutt 1677 we ran stories about the Oryx Quest 2005 round the
world race in maxi-catamarans. However, one of the world's premiere
maxi-catamarans was never mentioned in that coverage. James Boyd discusses
that boat as part of a major story now posted on the Daily Sail website.)
A boat that remains in the back of everyone's minds is Cheyenne, Steve
Fossett's non-stop round the world record breaker and at 125ft LOA, the
world's largest racing catamaran. While Fossett has given up sailing to
concentrate on his numerous avionics projects one wonders if the challenge
of racing for a $1 million first prize could coax him out of retirement,
especially if it involved taking on de Kersauson, a man who is currently
claiming the Jules Verne Trophy record as his own (Fossett, despite sailing
a faster time on a longer course, refused to pay the whole entry fee for
the Jules Verne Trophy prior to his departure).
According to the press pack David Scully, who was effectively boat captain
on board Cheyenne when Fossett was campaigning her, has the boat entered in
the Oryx Quest, but he is not present at the moment here in Qatar. The
boat, currently on a mooring in Devon, is known to be in need of a major
refit if she were to take part and there is the no small matter of stumping
up the cash to purchase or charter the boat from Fossett. Tracy Edwards who
has been attempting to oil the wheels with local sponsors says that two of
these teams are currently in active negotations with Middle East sponsors,
one of them by all accounts very close to signing a deal. - James Boyd, The
Daily Sail, full story: http://tinyurl.com/4fnek
QATAR
(In his coverage of Oryx Quest 2005 posted on the Yachts and Yachting
website, Magnus Wheatley looks at the race venue. Here's an excerpt from
that story.)
Qatar itself is a pretty awesome place to come to although it does look a
bit like a building site at the moment with skyscrapers being erected at a
frenetic pace and the City of Doha getting ready to host the Asian Games in
2006. The desert-state is rapidly undergoing a transformation as the
new-blood in the Royal family seeks to attract outward investment with a
mission statement that proclaims "we're open for business" as other states
in the Gulf struggle with militancy and dictatorships.
However for sailing it looks like the perfect, and I mean perfect, venue to
start hosting major grand-prix events. The Qatari's have a 'no-problem'
attitude and will have a full marina and race village set up for the start
in February. Furthermore they're internet savvy and will be beaming
semi-live pictures and interviews back from the racecourse and into the
lives of the Qatari people by setting up huge video screens in the shopping
malls of downtown Doha. - Magnus Wheatley, Yachts and Yachting, full story:
www.yachtsandyachting.com/default2.asp?section=11&article=14937
GBR CHALLENGE
Britain's GBR America's Cup challenge team seems to have lost HSBC as title
sponsor. Last Friday the team members were told in a confidential update
that a principal commercial backer was on the brink of signing up, yet a
senior figure at the bank said: "As we stand today, we will not be
sponsoring the GBR Challenge." GBR's internal briefing told the team that
the deal was expected to be sealed several weeks ago, but had been delayed
by the detail of what the sponsor wanted in the three years building up to
the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia. HSBC's move counts as a significant
setback for GBR. Contact has been maintained with two would-be other
sponsors, thought to be Barclays and HP. - The Daily Telegraph,
http://tinyurl.com/69emp
* Curmudgeon's Comment: Hopefully, no one has forgotten that on Monday HSBC
outlined its multi-million dollar commitment to the Oryx Quest 2005.
WHATS ON YOUR CARD?
Shouldn't your instrument system feature the powerful technologies enabling
desktop and laptop PCs? Ockam's Tryad does. With an embedded Pentium level
PC104, the T1 CPU features a CF card for operational code (a vast increase
in storage space over burned EPROMS), and special functions like no other
instrument system. Targets and Polars including target angles sent straight
from the T1, tailored calibration from resident autocal tables, Ethernet
capability - Tryad leads by a wide margin. Step up to a higher level, step
up to Tryad. For information and a quote, contact sales@ockam.com or
sales@ockameurope.com
FACT FINDING
US Sailing's Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) has gone to the officials of the
involved racing class for input regarding the ISAF proposals to select
equipment for the 2008 Olympic Games:
- Multihull Open: Hobie 16 or Tornado
- Keelboat Women: Soling or Yngling
- Keelboat Men: Soling or Star or Yngling
- D/H Dinghy Open: 49er or Snipe
- D/H Dinghy Women: 470 or 49er or Snipe or 49er
- D/H Dinghy Men: 470 or 49er / Snipe [whichever loses vote 4]
- S/H Dinghy Men: Finn or Laser - whichever is not selected is the only
option in vote 8
- S/H Dinghy Open: Finn or Laser
- S/H Dinghy Women: Byte or Europe or Flash or Laser Radial or Zoom8
- Windsurfer Male: Hybrid or Mistral or Mistral Derivative
- Windsurfer Female: Hybrid or Mistral or Mistral Derivative or outcome
windsurfing equipment evaluation trials
The Sailor Athlete Council represents all racing sailors, and is interested
in learning how the US Sailors in these classes feel about the choices. SAC
member Louise Gleason (LouiseVV@aol.com) is collecting this information
prior to discussions at US Sailing's October Annual General Meeting in
Portland Oregon.
The ISAF submissions are posted online at:
www.sailing.org/meetings/2004november/subs.asp.
(Olympic equipment submissions start with #46-04)
SHOW ME THE MONEY
Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera yesterday demanded an urgent meeting in
order to finally sort out the finance for the infrastructures necessary for
the Americas Cup, adding that it was urgent that she be informed of exactly
under what conditions the money would be forthcoming. "The most important
thing is that a meeting take place in which Jordi Sevilla, the Public
Administrations Minister, Gerardo Camps, the Conseller for the Economy and
I can sort out agreements and contents, as well as the structure of the
company that will administer the Americas Cup."
Not making matters any easier was the daily paper ABC who yesterday
published another story to the effect that the Socialists are dragging
their feet over the finance for the Americas Cup in the hope that it will
be removed from Valencia and staged in Barcelona. In an angry retort
yesterday, a statement from the Americas Cup Management Committee added
that no members of AC Management had been contacted by any member of ABC,
and accused the paper of writing 'more fantasy'. - www.valencialife.net
SUCCESSFUL REPRISE
After an absence of several years, the return of Newport Harbor YC's March
Race to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico seems to have struck a responsive chord.
The early entry list shows 26 paid entries and another 20+ boats that have
expressed keen interest making the 800 miles dash down the coast. Also, a
long standing West Coast record set by Blondie of 2 days, 22 hours could be
in serious jeopardy as Pyewacket, Magnitude 80 and a vintage Merlin have
already entered, and the word is that they will be joined by Genuine Rick
and Windquest. Racers have just one more day until September 30th to take
advantage of the 50% discount on the $800.00 entry fee. For more details
and complete entry list. www.nhyc.org
CITIBANK J/24 WORLDS
Jens Hookanson (USA) is leading after two days of racing at the 2004
Citibank J/24 World Championships, having won the first and only race on
Tuesday, September 28. The shifts continued to cause casualties, and kept
the RC busy making course changes at each mark. For most of the race, the
fleet was spread out over the course, but the wind dropped to almost
nothing by the last leg, and many of the fleet were caught in a traffic jam
at the finish line. The day one leader, Dave Curtis, finished 58th to drop
into 13th place. Race two had three general recalls, then the RC committee
abandoned the race due to weather conditions. - Andrea Watson
Preliminary Results after Day Two:
1. Jens Hookanson, USA, 17 pts
2. Steve Lopez, USA, 20 pts
3. Andy Horton, USA, 30 pts
4. Skelley/Crockett, USA, 32 pts
5. Al Constants, USA, 42 pts
6. Satoshi Kume, JAPAN, 45 pts
7. Andrea Fornaro, ITA, 47 pts
8. Tomomi Hatakeyama, JAPAN, 49 pts
9. Scott Collinson, CAN, 51 pts
10. John Mollicone, USA , 59 pts
For more information, see www.j24worlds.com
For video clips of the regatta, go to www.t2p.tv
IT'S A RACE: IT'S MUSTO'S MPX GORE-TEX RACE
It's exclusive, it's light, it's Gore-Tex. Developed for the America's Cup,
Musto's MPX Gore-Tex Race gear is extremely breathable, waterproof and
durable whilst also providing manoeuvrability for high activity, high
performance sailing - such as match racing or round the cans. It
incorporates Musto's revolutionary HPX Stretch fabric in areas that require
instant and high levels of mobility. Check it out at one of the following
retailers: www.apsltd.com; www.fawcettboat.com; www.layline.com;
www.fisheriessupply.com; www.pineapplesails.com; team1newport.com;
www.sailingproshop.com; www.sailingsupply.com; or www.westmarine.com. You
don't need to be a professional sailor to experience Musto. Give it a try
next time. http://www.musto.co.uk
NEWS BRIEFS
* The World Sailing Speed Record has quickly acted to ratify the outright
Trans-Med record of Bruno Peyron and a crew of 10 aboard the maxi-catamaran
Orange II for the 458 mile course from Marseilles to Carthage. The new
record is 17 hours 56 minutes 33 seconds - 50 minutes faster than the
former standard set by Steve Fossett on PlayStation in 2002. The official
average speed for this record run was a blistering 25.53 knots. -
www.sailspeedrecords.com/
* Douglas USA LLC, an award-winning strategic advertising, marketing, and
public relations organization specializing in business development and
promotions formulated around community and lifestyle-optimized
communications announces the ramping up its America's Cup sponsorship
campaign. "We represent one of the most experienced and well-managed
syndicates, comprised of business, financial, sailing, and technology
leaders," says Doug Kilarski, CEO and president of Douglas USA LLC. "If
you're interested in low-risk European and Asian marketing, then Douglas
USA has a sponsorship program with your name on it." - Atlanta Daily
Business News, http://tinyurl.com/6a7e7
* AC Management, the event organizer for the 32nd America's Cup has
announced a collaboration with Ford under which the car manufacturer will
become a Supporter and Official Car of the 32nd America's Cup. Ford has
supported several America's Cup teams in the past, most recently with the
OneWorld Challenge in 2003, but this is the first time in the recent
history of the America's Cup that the company has backed the event
organization. Under the agreement, Ford will provide the transport services
at each event in locations across Europe. - www.americascup.com
*BMW Oracle Racing was sailing on in Valencia Sunday. The boat was carrying
sail number USA76. We are not sure if this IS 76 or if it is USA71 with
76's sails up. Chris Dickson has been saying that BMWO would be using USA71
for the Acts. He was quoted as saying, "Absolutely BMW Oracle will compete
with its second boat in Act II of Valencia" and "...it has all the damage
inside which visually is not bad but structurally is very bad. We know that
the boat is bad but we do not know how bad" - Mariantic website, full
story: www.mariantic.co.uk/ac/six.htm#76or71
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(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 Jim Champ: In 'Butt 1677, you carried a story about the Oryx Quest
2005 by Stuart Alexander that stated, "Then there is the British sea-dog
Tony Bullimore, whose main claim to fame is his astonishing feat of
survival when he waited for five days in his upturned yacht for an
Australian warship to pluck him out of the Southern Ocean." While that
might be Tony Bullimore's main claim to fame in the eyes of the popular
press sailors should know better. Sailing his boats Apricot and Spirit of
Apricot he was one of the founders and leaders in modern short handed
offshore racing. His career race wins include Round Britain & Ireland Race,
Singlehanded Transatlantic race, the Quebec/ St Malo transatlantic race,
Plymouth/ Vilamoura Race, Round the Island Race, Round Europe Race and
2-man Transatlantic Race. In 1985 he was voted 'Yachtsman of the Year'
jointly with Apricot's designer Nigel Irens, and he stills has the 2nd 3rd
and 7th fastest ever times in the Round the Island race.
* From Gordon Livingston: Am I the only one who thought it odd that
Philippe Kahn would protest his son out of first place in the Mumm 30
Worlds? I'd love to hear the details of that foul and what was going
through the minds of the participants.
* From David Barrow, UK: I suggest that we should categories our stars a
little more. We don't have rock stars we have good sailors and world class
sailors - I would have thought that the likes of Ainslie and company would
much rather be called world class rather than a rock star. Rock star seems
much more ego based so I propose the following Ones with small ego's could
be called pebble dash Medium sized ego's could be rock stars Big ego's
would be elevated to black hole status and hopefully they would do what a
black hole does best - disappear into it
* From Jef d'Etiveaud (re the rock star): Big Mike Howard Is right! We hear
him sing every now and again on the Mari-Cha IV... believe you me that does
not sound like a rock star! In French we do not call these guys rock stars,
we call them mercenaries. They have balls, talent, no fear and are one day
on your side and the next in the opposition.
* From Peter Schweizer (edited to our 250-word limit): I club race and am
bored watching this sport on TV. Since I know a little about racing I can
justify suffering thru it. But honestly, if I were not a sailor I would
fall asleep quicker then I actually do. How about showing some interesting
facts like, how important crew work is to gaining important seconds.
Possibly some demonstrations comparing a 20 footer vs. a 30 ft vs. a 70
footer thru tacks and even a jibe set at the mark. These learn about racing
spots could be shown just a minute before it actually happens. So the
viewer can study the actual maneuvers and have a better understanding what
the heck is going on. After the rounding a nice review of what went right
and what went wrong and what if, any options the team could have made.
We need to keep those that are not sailors, channel surfers, and those that
are beginning sailors interested to build the TV audience and thus the
sport. Show special interest items as how a hull is formed, ropes made,
visit a factory making spars, guys scurrying up a rig while underway,
Bloopers Interesting celebrity sailors guests. Make it fun to watch not
boring. We all know there is plenty of time between legs to show these
types of interesting segments and more viewers mean more sponsors, more
coverage, longer shows, equals more sailors more boats and equipment sales.
CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM
How come we choose from 50 people for Miss America but just two for president?
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