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SCUTTLEBUTT 2963 - Monday, November 2, 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. Scuttlebutt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Scuttlebutt on Facebook: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/facebook Today's sponsors are Harken, Ultimate Sailing, and Speed & Smarts. LARSON WINS MELGES 24 WORLDS Annapolis, MD (October 31, 2009) - The fifty-one teams competing in the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 World Championships finally got the welcome opportunity to race in double-digit breezes on the final day of the regatta. Chris Larson at the helm of 'West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes', who had led the regatta on-and-off for much of the week, took a seventeen point lead into the final day and looked odds-on to take the title. However, nothing was certain with the potential for three races to be sailed to complete the 12 race schedule. If Larson was in fact feeling the pressure of leading the championship into the final day, there was no visible evidence at the start of the first race. With several of the top teams including Gabrio Zandona, Lorenzo Bressani and Terry Hutchinson on 'Quantum Racing/Gill Race Team' being called OCS soon after the start, Larson was able to pick his way through the melee at the pin to round the top mark in second, holding that position to the finish. When the announcement came that there would be no third race, Larson along with crew Mike Wolfs, Curtis Florence and tactician Richard Clarke, had mathematically won the event without sailing the final race. The battle for the 2009 Corinthian Melges 24 World Title came down to the final race between California's Bruce Ayres and Annapolis local Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron, where Ayers just edged Mueller Von Blumencron in the race, and then in the tie-breaker, to gain the title. Said Ayres of his crew, "I'd like to particularly thank Don Smith and John Pinckney for hanging with me for ten years and of course Dave Navin. We don't sail a lot but when we get to these regattas our goal is to hang in there with the best and we're delighted to have achieved that goal." -- Complete daily report: http://www.melges24.com/?p=news/&id=1735&SID=06t5dsils3el4h06neskmmok51 Final Standings (top 10 of 51; 11 races) 1. Chris Larson (USA), West Marine/NER, 5-2-6-4-2-3-12-2-8-2(52/DNS), 46 pts 2. Gabrio Zandonà (ITA), Joe Fly, 6-18-3-1-1-4-17-8-7-(39/ZFP)-6, 71 3. Eivind Melleby (NOR), Full Medal Jacket, 8-4-4-22-5-1-6-16-(27)-3-2, 71 4. Nicola Celon (ITA), Fantastica, (23)-23-8-5-6-2-5-10-6-7-1, 73 5. Flavio Favini (SUI), Blu Moon, 3-6-9-21-11-23-(52/OCS)-1-1-5-3, 83 6. Lorenzo Bressani (ITA),UKA UKA racing, 26-10-1-2-4-(30)-1-6-2-21/ZFP-12, 85 7. Brian Porter (USA), Full Throttle, 2-12-5-12-12-13-21-(27)-15-4-4, 100 8. Carlo Fracassoli (ITA), Gullisara, 9-1-10-13-8-14-(35)-14-25-1-7, 102 9. Terry Hutchinson (USA),Quantum/Gill, 1-(38)-14-10-10-7-8-5-3-32/ZFP-19, 109 10. Bill Hardesty (USA), Atlantis, 19-3-2-7-7-(37)-22-23-18-13-5, 119 Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/yh3ra64 Event website: http://www.melges24worlds2009.com PHOTOS: A photo gallery from the event profiles images from photographers Pierrick Contin, Leighton O'Connor, and Stefano Gattini: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/1101 LIVE UPDATES: A special thanks to the people in Annapolis providing continuous updates each day during the Worlds: Justin Chisholm, Fiona Brown, Ed Furry, Becky DaMore, Chris Love, and of course, Tucker Thompson. Here are their sites: *T2P.tv: http://tinyurl.com/T2P-tv * Melges 24 class blog: http://www.melges24worlds2009.com/IMCABlog.asp * Sail22: http://sailingupdates.com/?page_id=3 * SailGroove: http://tinyurl.com/yjw2qe6 THE WAY IT SHOULD BE By Paul Cayard, professional sailor (Virgin Gorda, BVI) - I am down here at the world's best regatta. Why is it the world's best? Great sailing conditions, independent race management, fair rules, friendly environment, great shore side facilities, top level competitors. The Bitter End Yacht Club has welcomed me and my family here 10 times in the past 18 years. My daughter Allie joined me this time. The staff remember her being a little girl playing in the sand and flapping around the pool. Now she is writing college papers in her room before dinner, then ordering Rum Punch at the Pub after dinner, while we shoot pool and listen to Reggae. She also looks like a young woman, so I have to be quick to introduce her as my daughter because we have both gotten some nasty stares. The trade winds blow here consistently between 10-15 knots. The sun is plentiful and the temperature is 82 degrees day and night. I know that is hard to take. There was no time spent arguing about the rules or the Notice of Race. There was zero money spent on lawyers or travel expenses to a New York court. But we did spend some money on rum drinks. Finally, the competitors. This is a Pro Am, the Pros skipper the boats and the hotel guests do the crewing. The Pros: Ken Read (what did her ever do?), Zach Riley (some kid from Florida who went on a trip to China last year to pick up a piece of metal), Anna Tunnicliffe (some chick who likes to sail and went to China as Zack's friend, saw his chunk of metal and decided to get a better one...just like a chick), Keith Musto (who won a piece of metal in the 72 Oly's), and yours truly who is a journalist masquerading as a sailor. There is a new addition to this year's skippers format; an amateur! One of the division winners from Block Island Race Week last summer won the right to race against the Pros and his name is Craig Albrecht. This should be a cool new innovation down here. So the point is, the Bitter End Pro Am is a lot about what sailing is and should be; FUN. -- http://www.cayardsailing.com * The Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship are held as part of the Bitter End Pro Am Regatta, where the amateurs get on the helm and sail for prizes and glory. Event information: http://tinyurl.com/yehx8p3 THE BEST KEPT SAILING WEAR SECRETS Unless your last name is Leweck you might not know ALL the scuttlebutt. For example - did you know Harken sunglasses tested better than some of the biggest names out there, but cost only half as much? Or that Harken makes “hands down the best pair of sailing shorts” around? Or that Harken Vortex shoes are not only the favorite of the foredeck gods, but also had the best grip tested of 14 leading deck shoes? Now you’re in the know. Lead the trend and pick up yours now at http://www.harkensport.com RULES EXPERTS TO ADVISE NY COURT (October 31, 2009) - After months of circling and jabbing, America’s BMW-Oracle sailing team landed some legal body blows this week that bode ill for the Swiss Alinghi team’s efforts to avoid racing for the America’s Cup at Valencia, Spain, on Feb. 8. The latest ruling came last Friday afternoon, when New York State Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich said that the rudders on BMW-Oracle’s 113-foot trimaran won’t be included when the Yankee boat is measured for the best-of-three America’s Cup grudge match. Alinghi, the defender, had tried to reinterpret the measurement rules to include the rudders, which would have disqualified the American challenger before the boat could reach the starting line. Justice Kornreich also decided to bring three former international America’s Cup jurors into court this Wednesday (Nov. 4th) to help her decide the remaining rules and technical disputes. The challenging club Golden Gate Yacht Club and defending Société Nautique de Geneve will each nominate one expert former America’s Cup juror, with those two experts to select a third expert between them, and Justice Kornreich will hear testimony from those three on five questions still to be decided: * Should movable water ballast be included when the boats are measured for the race (the Americans say yes, the Swiss no)? * Is it safe to race off Valencia in February? * Was it legal for the Swiss to change the racing rules after the Americans announced their challenge and built a boat? * How should the international jury be selected for the race? * Does a once-secret agreement between Alinghi and the International Sailing Federation on changes in racing rules preclude selection of an objective jury? Detroit Free Press, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/ydorohq SNG statement: http://tinyurl.com/ybjbnw3 GGYC statement: http://tinyurl.com/y8ur2t3 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: GGYC has elected as their jurist Bryan Willis, who’s CV includes being the International Jury chairman for the past three America’s Cups. AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE By Cory E. Friedman, America’s Cup legal analyst (November 1, 2009) - Every once in a while you see a move so deft and unexpected that you can only stand back and marvel. After confessing near complete bafflement as late as October 27, 2009, Justice Kornreich’s October 30, 2009 order on at Golden Gate Yacht Club’s (GGYC) rules motion is just such a move. The beauty of her order is that it appeal proofs her ultimate decision. While Justice Kornreich made a point of facilitating an appeal of her RAK decision, that decision, anchored firmly in the Deed, is safe from appeal. The rules motion raised a bunch of thorny issues, however, and her solution will deal with all of them in a way that no appellate court will touch. What is equally remarkable is that Société Nautique De Genève (SNG), which finished AC 32 a two time winner at the top of the sport has taken a series of legal drubbings with few parallels in the history of litigation. Thanks to extraordinarily poor judgment, it stands to end up far worse off than if it had chosen to settle at any point in this litigation. How anyone could take this many losses and not realize that something is awry in the decision making process is beyond me. Making wild claims that easily will be shown up, like the claim that Valencia is dangerous in February, are not going to improve its record. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/#p49 STONE / DEWEESE WIN J/105 NORTH AMERICANS Rye, NY (November 1, 2009) - Bruce Stone and Scott DeWeese racing Power Play secured victory at the Subaru J/105 North American Championship at American Yacht Club in Rye, NY. After stumbling out of the gate on the first day with a 6-15-10, the San Francisco-based team’s comeback hit overdrive on the third day when they won all three races to take them to the top of the standings. A manageable 5-4 on the final day guaranteed their win. Final Standings (top 10 of 29; 11 races, no throw-out) 1. Bruce Stone/Scott DeWeese, San Francisco, CA, 6-15-10-3-8-1-1-1-1-5-4;55 2. James Rathbun, Toronto, Ontario, 2-5-1-18-9-2-7-7-6-4-3;64 3. J. Esdorn/D. Hennes, Katonah, NY, 5-4-3-1-1-3-2-3-30/DSQ-2-19;73 4. Josh Burack, New Rochelle, NY, 1-7-13-9-2-8-5-4-5-10-10;74 5. Damian Emery, Shoreham, NY, 4-22-2-8-7-16-3-6-7-6-2;83 6. J. Henderson/H. Edegran, Larchmont, NY, 15-6-7-7-10-18-6-12-18-1-1;101 7. Brian Keane, Weston, MA, 3-2-6-22-11-12-11-9-9-8-12;105 8. Kenneth Colburn, Dover, MA, 7-9-5-14-6-6-16-11-16-3-18;111 9. David Greenhouse, Rye, NY, 17-30/DSQ-9-6-3-9-12-5-4-9-9;113 10. Kevin Grainger, Rye, NY, 21-1-11-16-15-5-14-18-2-18-15;136 Complete daily reports: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8512#8512 SHARON GREEN PRESENTS THE 2010 ULTIMATE SAILING CALENDAR Take a wild ride on a Volvo Open 70 at turbo speed, levitate on a wing and foil sailing a Moth in Sydney, plunge into the Med on a TP52, soar off a wave on a Farr 40 in Miami, take a flight on a Melges 32 in Key West, and call tactics in the world’s largest yacht race in Italy. From a birds-eye view and underwater, Sharon joined by four of her esteemed colleagues brings you an ULTIMATE and magical 2010 calendar: Check out our new calendar and new products: http://www.ultimatesailing.com OPENING DOORS FOR NEXT GENERATION The Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 saw the introduction of the rule requiring two crew members to be 30 years old or younger at the start of the race, to bring young blood into the class and subsequently into the world of offshore racing. This rule was seen as such a positive addition that in the 2011-12 Volvo Open 70 Rule, published earlier this month, the number of young crew has been increased to three. Spain's Antonio Cuervas-Mons, "Neti", is a product of this rule, which gave a new generation of sailors experience of offshore sailing at the highest level. For Cuervas-Mons, an under 30 crew member on Telefonica Black in 2008-09, life has changed forever after his first Volvo Ocean Race. "I am aware that the under 30 rule opened a door for me and if it wasn't for the current rules, it would have been really difficult for me to get on a Volvo Open 70," he said. "I had little experience of offshore racing and thanks to the Rule, I could compete in the Volvo Ocean Race. "My colleagues and I are really grateful for the rule. I think it is really positive, otherwise my generation would not be able to move up into a top class event like the Volvo. I did not have very much experience before the start, it was limited to a double-handed race from the UK to Santander (Spain) and a lot of sailing in the IMS fleet, TP52 circuit and other big boats. "I found out about the 'under 30 rule' when I was sailing with Bouwe Bekking on board the TP52 Bribon and I was thrilled when the announcement was made public in 2007. The only thing I could think about was, 'I want to be there'. I went to Alicante to try out with the team and things went well and they called me back. -- Complete story: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2009/OCTOBER/ANTONIO/index.aspx SAILING SHORTS * Ft Myers, FL (November 1, 2009) - Thirty-eight boats competed in the 2009 2.4 mR US National Championship hosted by the Edison Sailing Center on the Caloosahatchee River October 28-30. Therry Schmitter of the Netherlands won with top North American Carl Horrocks (USA) finishing fifth. The nationals were a tune-up for the 2009 2.4 mR World Championship that begins on Monday. -- http://24mrworlds09.edisonsailingcenter.org/index.php * Marseille, France (October 30, 2009) - The Student Yachting World Cup 2009 hosted 12 teams from 10 countries competing in the Grand Surprises for the 14 race series. The CUS Milano representing Italy dominated the event, beating second place Czech Republic by 21 points. The lone North American team, University of Rhode Island, finished fourth overall. -- Final report: http://sywc2009.blogspot.com/2009/10/day-6.html * Utrecht, Netherlands (October 30, 2009) - A Dutch court has ruled that a 14-year-old girl is not yet experienced enough to set off on a record-breaking solo sailing trip around the world. Judges at Utrecht District Court also placed Laura Dekker under the guardianship of child protection authorities until next July. The ruling on Friday means Laura can keep living with her father but her parents must consult child protection authorities about all major decisions in her life and she cannot begin her planned solo trip. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/yzxfh89 * Four intrepid adventurers who set sail across the Irish Sea in a modified Renault Laguna car have arrived safely in Scotland. Crowds cheered the men as they pulled into Portpatrick harbour almost seven hours after having set off from Donaghadee in Northern Ireland. Inspired by the BBC's Top Gear programme, Peter Martin, 38, from Bangor, Co Down, adapted the car - which he bought for 100 pound - with foam, an outboard motor and a bilge-pump. -- http://tinyurl.com/yf35k7h MASTER THE 2009-2012 RACING RULES! Improve your knowledge and application of the rules with Dave Dellenbaugh’s new ‘Learn The Racing Rules’ for 2009-2012! This two-part DVD set uses live sailing and animation to explain the right-of-way rules and their limitations (Part 1) plus all the rules at marks and obstructions (Part 2). To order or get more info: http://www.LearnTheRacingRules.com SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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 Will Baillieu: After reading Ed Baird’s ridiculous comments (in Scuttlebutt 2959) about the benefits of racing with an engine powering the sails, I am left dumbfounded. Spectacular as these DoG match boats might be, they should not be racing for America’s Cup. They are making it a freak show. Maybe Ed would like bow thrusters to assist tacking? Others have already suggested that because sails themselves are a bit inconvenient, perhaps he could get rid of the rig altogether and use propellers. Given the current state of play, why not? He could sail zero degree angles. Fantastic! The current farce is a blot on the history of this great event, and should be cancelled. The rolling court cases are an embarrassment. Both sides have brought America’s Cup into disrepute. It’s time for the rest of the sailing world to wrest control of this great event out of the hands of these two recalcitrant teams and restore it to its rightful position as the premier sailing event in the world. * From Jeroen van der Beek: Does a win in the court equal a win on the water? - Location 1 nil to Oracle - Rudder 1 nil to Oracle Two nil to Oracle with 3 experts to help the judge and 5 questions to go. I guess it must be best of 7 and it’s all over. There’s a board game in here somewhere. * Chris Parker: Oh c'mon guys! You got my drool working with that blurb (in Scuttlebutt 2962) about "Eileen", the Fife ketch which is being restored and supplied winches by Holmatro with the note to go to their website for more information but there's nothing about "Eileen" there, even in their search box! Any links or contacts you know of for this restoration? I know the boat and have been aboard when she was pristine years ago and would love to see the restoration. . I tried to Google the boat, the owner, his company, and anything else I could think of to no avail.....any clues? * From Tim Patterson: I know that this thread is closed, but I just wanted to remember the first words out of John Bertrand’s mouth after winning, when he was asked, "How do you feel - you have just ended 100 plus years of domination of this event?” [or something like that ]. Bertrand's reply will long remain in my mind as one of the best, most sportsmanlike I ever heard: "If I could make my countrymen as proud of their flag as you are of yours, I shall have done a great thing." * From Bruce McPherson: Your presentation of relevant documents regarding the design of AUSTRALIA II, taken all together, present a very familiar scenario of the yacht design process when tank testing is involved. It describes exactly my experience when tank testing at Stevens Institute in the 1970's. Pete Desaix, with much testing experience management, was always anxious to share ideas that might improve a design. Note well that such encouragement often inspired further testing and thus vastly enhanced his business at the tank. This is exactly what is evidenced by your well chosen evidence. Pete would offer suggestions, but, at least at Stevens, the designer had to draw the modifications and get the outside model maker to make the new model for testing.... Thanks for the note from John Bertrand; very level head, always! Many thanks for airing that thread so well! => Curmudgeon’s Comments: For future reference, the prominent documents are in the News index: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/#news A Forum thread is available for additional discussion: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8353 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.” - Bill Maher Special thanks to Harken, Ultimate Sailing, and Speed & Smarts. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
