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SCUTTLEBUTT 3465 - Tuesday, November 8, 2011Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Harken, Summit Yachts, and North Sails. THE JUEVOS ARE WINNING (November 7, 2011; Day 3) - After two boats experienced leg ending damage within the first 24 hours of the Volvo Ocean Race, it did not take long to remember that to win this first leg from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa you had to first finish it. The exit out the Mediterranean called for an upwind course of 30+ knots - a route the Volvo Open 70s are not well designed for. Their hull form, more suited to reaching angles, does not land well. Launching off the back of waves is a ticket to an early exit. Watching the fleet during the first two days was an early education on how hard each team was willing to push their boat. Sailing under the European coast insured flatter seas and calmer winds, while moding the sail plan and keel cant allows the boat to endure a sizeable sea. Go slow and survive, or risk breakage for better performance? At times like that, experience counts. Another nugget gleaned in these early days was that among the remaining four boats was one French skipper who would not let the fleet dictate his actions. While the Franck Cammas led Groupama may not look well prepared for the closed course racing, he may know this section of the race track better than the others. When three of the teams hugged the Spanish coast on their approach to the Strait of Gibraltar, Groupama split towards Africa for advantage. And when all four boats regrouped as they entered the Atlantic Ocean, three boats headed offshore for wind while Groupama stayed along the coast. Clearly, Cammas is comfortable in his own skin. "This is a part of the race that he has done, I don't know, 12 to 15 times," notes Stan Honey, who navigated for Franck to help set the round the world record in 2010. "And Franck is not afraid to follow his instincts and play a hunch. Assessing weather and tactics, Franck is definitely involved. He is a guy with a ton of experience and extremely smart, and is particularly skilled in that part of the world. And he is fearless." So while the rest of the fleet has mounds of keelboat ocean racing experience, the first three days of the race has shown that Cammas has juevos. And right now, the juevos are winning. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Standings as of Tuesday, 08 November 2011, 1:01:53 UTC 1. Groupama Sailing Team, 6010.7 nm Distance to Finish 2. Team Telefonica, 11.1 nm Distance to leader 3. PUMA Ocean Racing by BERG, 12.2 nm DTL 4. CAMPER with Emirates Team NZ, 13.1 nm DTL Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - Suspended Racing Team Sanya - Did Not Finish Tracking/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html Video report: http://youtu.be/o7A5Ptuo9oc BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in Alicante, Spain and concludes in Galway, Ireland, during early July 2012, six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world's most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient. Teams accumulate points through nine distance legs and ten In-Port races. - http://www.volvooceanrace.com UPDATES FROM PIT ROW The Volvo Ocean Race was not a day old before damage struck two teams. Here is an update on Monday, November 07, 2011: * Following their dismasting after six hours of racing, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is now hoping to have rejoined the race by Thursday morning at the latest. With the entire team working flat out to repair minor hull damage and rig the new mast, Skipper Ian Walker admits to feeling slightly redundant."We have a fantastic team and I feel like a spare part at the moment. I think I should have learned more about rigging as a nipper. I can't do much more than make cups of tea and go round and check with people and encourage them to get it all done quick." Walker says that there have been plenty of logistical knock on effects from the dismasting to deal with. "We are now using all our spares, so we won't have any spares and we will have to get stuff manufactured. Stuff is in the wrong containers. Plus all the shore guys who would now have been having time off are here working double overtime. Logistically it's a very big challenge, but everybody is very motivated to make it all happen." Under the rules, Abu Dhabi can motor to the spot where they suspended racing to restart the leg. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/AD-110711 * Team Sanya, the Volvo Ocean Race's first-ever Chinese entry, announced their official retirement from Leg 1, after sustaining serious damage to the bow of their boat, reported at 0834 UTC November 6, not yet a day after leaving Alicante, Spain for Cape Town, South Africa. Mike Sanderson, CEO and skipper of Team Sanya, now face a major logistical challenge to get their boat to Cape Town and effect repairs before the in-port racing and the start of Leg 2 to Abu Dhabi. "We need to take the time to do some serious thinking and planning, assessing the logistical options and making the right choices that get us back in the race as soon as possible," explained Sanderson. "We need to repair the hull perfectly; a rush job is not an option." "The repair is no small task. We have to chop out a large section of the boat and replace it - normally a two to three week job, we will have to shoehorn it intto seven days. Our worst-case scenario is that we ship to Cape Town but are not able to fix it in time, meaning we are late starting from Cape Town and consequently miss the ship from our stop point during the second leg." -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/TS-110711 HARKEN BALLISTIC ECO PANTS NOMINATED FOR DAME AWARD Try on the stretchiest pair you'll ever wear - see for yourself why Harken Padded Ballistic Eco Pants are nominated for the biggest design award in the marine industry. With super stretch, eco-friendly materials, and quick-drying fabric, they're perfect for freedom on the foredeck or comfort in the cockpit. Even the knee/rear reinforcements are made of a custom Harken fabric that stretches with you. Pads are included, but no worries if you get hooked on their feel - both shorts and pants have non-padded versions for everyday wear. Check out the selection at http://www.harkensport.com/cat/PantsShorts.html SOMETHING TO CONSIDER The recent release of the US SAILING inquiry into the youth sailing accident that occurred in Annapolis, MD on June 23, 2011 revealed a sequence of events that resulted in the drowning death of 14-year-old Olivia Constants. Scuttlebutt legal consultant Cory Friedman files this report that focuses on the trapeze system - a key contributing factor in the fatality: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A few years back Julian Bethwaite came out with an innovative trapeze system that might well have saved Olivia Constants' life had she been using it. Instead of a hook on a spreader, the harness has a slot in the spreader, which is a curved aluminum plate. Instead of a ring on the trapeze adjuster, there is a semi rigid plastic tube with a plastic ball on the end. The ball goes into the slot at the bottom of the spreader and stops at the end of the slot halfway up the spreader. Compression of the plastic tube between the edges of the slot keeps the ball from slipping out when not under tension, but makes it easy to unhook. This system is less likely to accidentally unhook than a hook and ring. It is also easier to learn than the hook and ring and transition to a hook and ring if desired should be no problem. Because there is no hook, it is virtually impossible to accidentally get hooked to something and the mechanics of the system make it virtually impossible to get twisted around so that you can't unhook, as Olivia did. The ball simply rotates in the slot and you can intentionally unhook even under tension, unlike a conventional hook. The system is quite elegant from a design and engineering perspective, as well as cheap to manufacture. Unlike quick release hooks, the system is virtually foolproof, has no mechanical parts, and can't unexpectedly fail. I'm a little surprised John Rousmaniere didn't mention the system in his report, which might have led to a different conclusion. I bought two sets. Naturally, there was no way I was going to convince the family teenagers that they should use a system none of their friends were using and might put them at some theoretical competitive disadvantage, although I think it might actually be a competitive advantage. Luckily nobody drowned. It might make sense to consider making such a system mandatory for junior trapezing. If it was mandatory, no one would be at a disadvantage. Obviously, someone can still get tangled in rigging, but, as the two other examples in the report demonstrate, that is less likely to be fatal. It is the hook that is really dangerous. The commercial existence of such a system gives Olivia's family a substantial leg up in a defective design products liability/wrongful death suit against the harness manufacturer, boat builder, vendors, etc., as it proves a safer system is practical, an element of a products liability case. It also bears on the potential negligence of any junior program that continues with existing hook and ring systems. Junior programs may think their form releases and the RR's will protect them, but don't bet on it. The fact everyone uses the existing system is no defense. Just ask the owners of The T.J. Hooper in Judge Learned Hand's famous admiralty case every first year law student reads. Sailing has inherent risks, but there is no reason to fail to minimize them. More importantly, nobody wants another avoidable junior sailor death. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The US SAILING report can be found here: http://media.ussailing.org/AssetFactory.aspx?vid=16941 HOW THE CIRCUS CAME TO CHOOSE SAN DIEGO In a few short days, the America's Cup returns to San Diego, the Auld Mug's home from 1987 to 1995, when Team New Zealand and Black Magic snatched it away in a dominating performance. But this time around the action won't happen out at sea, out of mind of all but the most hardcore sailing fans. "Stadium sailing" is coming to San Diego, promising enough thrills, chills, and spills to entice a whole new generation of fans. John Laun, lifelong sailboat racer and owner of the San Diego Yacht Club-based J/120 Caper, watched the America's Cup making its "victory tour" around San Diego in 2010 and knew the city still had the interest and the ability to run a Cup regatta. He and Chuck Nichols, former SDYC commodore and 1995 AC President, formed Sailing Events Association (SEA) San Diego to make that goal a reality. On the eve of the America's Cup World Series in San Diego, Laun talked to CupInfo about the steps they took to secure the regatta, lessons learned, and what it will take for the event to be a success in his view: "We formed the Sailing Events Association San Diego to pursue America's Cup regattas," explained Laun. "It was clear early on that if we could demonstrate our capabilities and showcase San Diego -- our team, our environment, our stadium sailing concept -- that it would promote ourselves as a viable venue." Step one was to host an event to demonstrate to the America's Cup Event Authority (ACEA) that SEA was capable of staging a major regatta inside San Diego Bay, including providing facilities for teams on the downtown piers, spectator viewing options on and around the race course, on-the-water race management, and plenty of waterfront entertainment. Enter the RC44 class; for their first event SEA signed the international one-design fleet for a west coast stop. The regatta in March, 2011, featured the top RC44 teams from around the world, with names familiar to America's Cup fans, such as Russell Coutts, Paul Cayard, Cameron Appleton, and Paolo Cian. "We wanted to host a spectator event that people could enjoy, something that would energize the San Diego community around sailing. It was our first event and it was exactly on spec for what we wanted -- spectator-friendly and exciting. We had a meeting with the ACEA the night of the trophy presentation and were up in San Francisco the next week and it was a done deal." -- CupInfo, read on: http://tinyurl.com/CI-110711 PREVIEW: The America's Cup World Series Event Village in San Diego will be open to the public on Wednesday, Nov 9th. Get an insider's look of the village after 3:30 pm and you'll also get to see the AMERICA'S CUP TROPHY. Unveiling the trophy will be Tom Ehman, Vice Commodore of Golden Gate Yacht Club, who will be joined by Ian Murray, Bruno Trouble, and Terry Hutchinson for 'Cupdates' at 4:00 pm (youth sailors) and 5:30 pm (open). No RSVP necessary. Ehman will also be providing presentations (but no trophy) this week for yacht club members at... Nov. 8 - Los Angeles, California YC at 7:30pm Nov. 9 - Newport Beach, Newport Harbor YC at 12:00pm (rsv. required) Nov. 10 - Long Beach, Long Beach YC at 7:30pm (rsv. required) THERE'S THUNDER DOWN UNDER Melbourne, Australia (November 7, 2011) - Now in its fourth edition, the 2011-2012 ISAF Sailing World Cup began its seven event tour today at Sandringham Yacht Club, host to Sail Melbourne. With the London Summer Olympics looming large next year, the focus is now down under as most countries solidify their qualifications between now and the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Perth, Australia (Dec. 3-18). With only the Star and Women's Match Race teams absent among the 10 Olympic sailing events, a steady 10-12 knot breeze from the south-west allowed the fleets to complete 2-3 races to commence the six day event. Quick out of the gate today from North America were Americans Stu McNay/ Graham Biehl who lead the Mens 470, and Canadians Zac Plavsic (3rd - RS:X Men) and Lee Parkhill (4th - Laser Men). Daily report: http://www.sailing.org/37359.php Event website: http://sailmelbourne.com.au/website SUMMIT 35'S AVAILABLE FOR KEY WEST Summit Yachts has two 35's available for immediate delivery in time for Key West Race Week. What a great time to be able to enjoy one of the greatest winter regattas in the World, with one of the best Racer/Cruiser's on the market. These US built, Mark Mills designed boats have a well earned reputation for race winning speed and easy cruising. Check out the Summit fleet at http://www.summit-yachts.com SAILING SHORTS * The Canadian InterCollegiate Sailing Association (CICSA) hosted its inaugural CICSA Team Racing National Championship in Kingston and CICSA Fleet Racing National Championship in Montreal. Queen's University won both titles, which were attended by a total of 7 of the 12 CICSA member Universities. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/CYA-110711 / * Ft. Walton Beach, FL (November 7, 2011) - An international field of 59 teams from four countries are competing on the gulf waters in the Hobie 16 and Hobie 20 North American Championships. Day 1 saw winds from 5-10, where two races were completed before the wind died. In the Hobie 16 class there were a few general recalls as the sailors were pushing on the line. After the first two races Greg Thomas/Karen Sikora (USA) lead followed by Wally Myers/Isabelle Strasser (USA). In the Hobie 20 class Kevin Smith/Rundell Curtis (USA) lead followed by Phil Collins/Bev Collins (USA). Racing continues through Friday. Full results: http://tinyurl.com/Hobie-110711 * Sailing enthusiasts are invited to vote for their favourite image from a shortlist of photographs selected for the 'Yacht Racing Image of the Year 2011' presented by Mirabaud & Cie Private Bankers. The winning image will be announced during the 4th World Yacht Racing Forum from 13-14 December in Estoril, Portugal. The shortlist was chosen from over forty images submitted by professional yacht racing photographers from around the world. Vote here: http://tinyurl.com/Photo-110711 * Ten teams from USA and Great Britain raced for three days at Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans this weekend, competing for the Southern Soiland Cup Team Race. Sailed in Flying Scots, New York and Newport Harbor had each stumbled only twice after two days of racing. On the third and final day, NYYC swept the field while NHYC fell a third time to finish second in the event. Southern's SYC-2 placed third. NYYC was lead by skippers Colin Gordon, Pete Levesque and Brian Doyle. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12854 FREE CLASSIFIED ADS The Scuttlebutt Classified Ads provide a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. Post ads here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/classified_ads SOCIALIZING HAS ITS ADVANTAGES If you're among the billions of people using Facebook and Twitter, getting connected to Scuttlebutt has its advantages. Not only can you share your updates and photos, but you get reports that aren't published in the newsletter, you get the jump on breaking news, and this week you will learn about an epic bargain to be posted this Friday. If Facebook and Twitter isn't your thing, you can get these same updates as a text message too. If you're in the United States, send a text 'follow scuttbutt' to 40404. Other country codes are listed on the Scuttlebutt Twitter page. Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From David Storrs: Regarding the Volvo Ocean Race, are the boat designers/sponsors crazy to build boats that - two out of six - blow up within one day of the start in winds of - oh, my goodness - 30 knots? Do they think it will not be windier than that at some point over the next 30,000 miles? Should we be sympathetic to the teams that are knocked out or lose time and points, or just think they are not thinking clearly? COMMENT: It will be interesting to learn the cause of Abu Dhabi's mast damage as the spar came from Future Fibres' newly launched mast building division. Team Sanya also has a Future Fibre spar. The remaining four boats have masts from Hall Spars, Southern Spars, and Lorima. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt * From Laurence Mead: I can't imagine what it was like for David Greene to lose his son at 18 (letter in Scuttlebutt 3463), it is of course a parent's worst nightmare, and he has my deepest sympathy. But, as a father of two mad keen sailors who were 29er sailing at 11 years old, I would say that his proposal is entirely wrong and surely is symptomatic of our modern flight to a culture of safety above all else. I am not sure Scuttlebutt is the forum for the debate, but the search for something bigger in life than merely surviving is surely buried deep in man's psyche and blocking it off is both impossible and wrong. On that day, Olivia Constants was searching out her own freedom as an individual, and while I mourn her loss, I am sure she would not have wanted the chance to sail at her limits restricted by an age limit. * From Chuck Bolduc: Perhaps a deeper explanation of which 60 "ships" are needing a waiver for the AC? Is Sen. Pat Toomey implying the little support 'boats' and the competitor 'boats' themselves? Anyone remember why the real reason the Jones Act came into being? Mr Toomey is an opportunist. COMMENT: The Jones Act limits the commerce of foreign built boat on U.S. waters. As for Mr. Toomey, he saw a vine and swung on it...frightening to think how much of this occurs in U.S. government. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt NEW ITEMS IN NORTH SAILS GEAR Looking to freshen up your sailing wardrobe? North Sails Gear has some exciting new items including a windproof & water-resistant fleece jacket in red or navy ($86), Ladies Long Sleeve Tees ($21) and Batik Shirts ($42) along with Batik shirts for men ($48) and our ever-popular Aramid Duffel in a new square-end design ($49.50). For shoppers who place an online order between November 8-13, we'll include a free North Sails grocery tote! http://www.northsailsgear.com CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Why do gorillas have big nostrils? Because they have big fingers. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Doyle Sails - Team One Newport - Harken - Summit Yachts - North Sails New England Ropes - JK3 Nautical Enterprises - LaserPerformance Ultimate Sailing - Ullman Sails - Camet - The Pirates Lair Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
