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SCUTTLEBUTT 1280 - March 6, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. THE NUMBERS If Team New Zealand is looking for solace in the rout it suffered at the hands of Ernesto Bertarelli's Swiss challenger Alinghi, they can look to the numbers for some justification that they weren't far off the mark. A number of America's Cup firsts were set in the 31st Match. Alinghi won the Match 5-0, but only had to complete three of the five races. Team New Zealand gifted the challenger two races it dropped out of due to breakdowns, a first for the Defender. Team New Zealand dropped out of Race 1 when it was just 17 minutes old. Their boom was broken, two genoas pulled out of the luff groove and NZL-82 was taking on large amounts of water. They were forced to retire from Race 4 when their mast broke about halfway up the second beat due to a failed spreader tip cup. In the three races that both boats finished, Alinghi won by an average of 25 seconds, which ranks as the closest average delta and a bright spot for the young New Zealand squad. The closest average delta for a full series was the 1992 final between William I. Koch's America3 and Raul Gardini's Il Moro di Venezia. That five-race series produced an average delta of 52 seconds. Alinghi's 7-second, come-from-behind victory in Race 2 ranks as the fourth closest in Cup Match history. The closest was the dead heat between Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock IV and the Nathanael G. Herreshoff-designed Resolute in Race 3 of the 1920 Match. Alinghi won three of the five starts, all five first crosses and led at the first windward mark in every race. They lost one lead, in Race 2, before staging the dramatic comeback on the run to the finish. Alinghi led at 13 mark roundings and Team New Zealand at four. - Sean McNeill, America's Cup website, full story: http://americascup.yahoo.com/story2167.html LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD The new America's Cup protocol announced by the defenders Alinghi and Challenger of Record Oracle BMW, on Tuesday evening, indicated a leveling of the playing field between the defender and the challenger for future events. In the past the defenders have had advantages, such as being able to delay declaring their racing yacht and collecting all the funds generated by the event. Not any more. "It's not a radical departure but we haven't just tacked," Oracle rules advisor Tom Ehman told reporters at Tuesday's press conference. "We're going downhill to a new era. A lot of us have been talking about and writing about these ideas for many years," he said. - Fiona McIlroy, nzoom.com, http://americascup.nzoom.com/americascup_detail/0,2523,172836-296-297,00.html ROPE NEWS AND MUCH MORE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! If you have not checked out Samson's website recently, take a few minutes to see all of the information available to you right now. Not only can you research the entire line of sailing lines but you can also download splicing instructions, find your local dealer and review the latest product literature! To help with your evaluations, there's even product comparisons and a 3D version of the best-selling WarpSpeed line that allows you to zoom in, flip it over and twist it - virtually! Check it out at http://www.samsonrope.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * March 28-30: International Rolex Regatta, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Multi-class regatta for keelboats and catamarans. - www.rolexcupregatta.com * April 7-11: US Sailing's Multihull Championship (Alter Cup), Clearwater Community Sailing Center and the Clearwater YC. To be sailed in Bimare Javelin 2 (B). - http://ussailing.org/alter * June 14, 2004: Liberty Cup Transatlantic Race, Blue Water Sailing Club and Corinthian Yacht Club, Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA. - www.libertycup.net JULES VERNE TROPHY - DAY 54 The Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran crossed the Equator at 12:37:48 GMT today (13:37:48 French time). After 22,000 sea miles and 53 days, 9 hours, 37 minutes and 39 seconds of racing against the clock, Geronimo crossed the 0° parallel for the second time just 4 hours and 48 minutes behind the record set by Orange last year. The current record stands at 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 27 seconds. So to break it, Geronimo will have to cross the finish line in less than 10 days´ and 23 hours´ time. "The Doldrums are developing ahead of us. The weather system that we're now in continues up to 3° or 4° North. There's no wind in the North Atlantic because the trade winds are not established. The Doldrums cover an enormous area, at least 1400 kilometers across. No information we have at the moment gives any reason to think that we'll be able to go quickly in the days ahead," said skipper Olivier de Kersauson. Distance traveled in the last 24 hours: 336 nm - www.grandsrecords.com BUYERS MARKET Yachting syndicates from around the world could poach Kiwi sailors under new America's Cup rules unveiled last night. The changes mean crew will be able to sail for any country. Previously crew members had to live in the syndicate's country of origin for at least two years. That means Team New Zealand potentially faces a poaching frenzy as teams from other countries try to lure Kiwi sailors to their syndicates. Two of the world's richest men, Alinghi's Ernesto Bertarelli and Oracle's Larry Ellison, were involved in drawing up the protocol. Ellison's involvement is because Golden Gate Yacht Club, with which Oracle BMW Racing is affiliated, is the challenger of record for the next Cup. "We spent literally millions of dollars having empty apartments in Geneva simply to comply with the (nationality rule)," Alinghi lawyer Hamish Ross said at a press conference to announce the changes. But Mr Ross rejected fears that the changes would allow those with the biggest chequebooks to secure the best sailors, saying instead that it would "open up possibilities for young sailors to look for berths". Under the new protocol sailors must sign on with their designated syndicate for at least 18 months before the regatta starts. - Mary Jane Boland, The Dominion Post, full story: www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2307040a7313,00.html BUTTERWORTH WINS! KAENON POLARIZED Brad Butterworth, Warwick Fleury and Simon Daubney insisted on wearing Kaenon Polarized to win the America's Cup. John Kostecki insists on Kaenon Polarized, as did illbruck. Over the past several months Kaenon Polarized has been mandatory equipment winning the America's Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, Youth Worlds, 18' Worlds, 505 Worlds, Pre-Olympics, Miami OCR…and on, and on. This week, we're all over the leader board at the Bacardi Cup. Some call our lenses magic. We call them Advanced Technology for the Human Element. Results speak. Available at TeamOne Newport, West Marine, Solstice, Alain Mikli NYC. http://www.kaenon.com SAILING SHORTS * The World Sailing Speed Record Council have today officially ratified Playstation's new world record from Cadiz (ESP) to San Salvador (BAH). Steve Fossett and his crew of twelve completed the discovery route in 9 days, 13 hours, 30 minutes and 18 seconds. One minute faster than was originally claimed, thanks to the WSSRC ratification process. www.sailspeedrecords.com * The New Zealand Government has stepped in to provide Team New Zealand with $NZ5.6 million to seed the formation of an America's Cup Challenge in 2007. "The new funding will allow Team New Zealand to start the process of re-signing key team members," said Minister for the America's Cup, Trevor Mallard. "Without it, the human capital and intellectual property built up by Team New Zealand could disperse, putting at serious risk New Zealand's ongoing participation in the America's Cup. If this happens, all our best sailing, design and boat building talent will be forced to join foreign syndicates and related industries, which would be a tragedy for New Zealand yachting and for New Zealand." - Ivor Wilkins, America's Cup website, full story: http://americascup.yahoo.com/story2170.html * Australia's America's Cup veteran Syd Fischer is looking at taking part in another assault on the Auld Mug. Encouraged by cost cutting changes unveiled for Alinghi's 2007 defense in Europe Fischer yesterday said he was "looking at" organizing a crack Australian syndicate after the Swiss revealed a new format designed to encourage more challengers for the world's oldest sporting trophy. They have changed the rules so that any syndicate buying a used yacht before October 2004 can also buy its technical data, making it easier and cheaper to enter. - NZ Herald, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/sportsstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3199273&thesection=sport&thesubsection=latest&thesecondsubsection= HULA REPORT CARD In reality, the hula may have caused more trouble than it was worth. Certainly, its weight meant that there was less weight in the ballast bulb, lowering the boat's stability. To compensate, Team New Zealand created a low and long bulb, trying to lower the centre of gravity. But that didn't seem to help. NZL-82 appeared more tender than SUI-64 in the windy conditions. Team New Zealand also spent many hours in the boatshed assuring the measurers that the hula wouldn't touch the hull, which would contravene the rules. The extra time in the shed meant less time on the water. Team New Zealand also had breakdowns, which was uncharacteristic of its five-year domination. NZL-82 dropped out of two races due to a variety of reasons, including a broken boom and damaged genoa head foil (Race 1) and a broken mast (Race 4). When asked what he learned from this campaign and what he would do differently, syndicate head Tom Schnackenberg said they "could afford to be more conservative in the design." He mentioned that they didn't manage the risk-to-reward benefits properly. "We don't have to be the lightest here or there," Schnackenberg said. "The lesson is to be more conservative. We don't have to be the lightest." Many of Team New Zealand's problems can't be attributed to the departure of Coutts and company, but Alinghi's clinical dismantling of the Kiwi defenders can be. Alinghi has been rock steady in its performance, never missing a beat. Design coordinator Grant Simmer and lead designer Rolf Vrolijk produced a solid design that had plenty of room for development. The crew, led by Coutts and tactician Brad Butterworth, then squeezed every available second out of the 25-metre yacht. No part of the boat went unnoticed in the quest for development. That's the difference that tilted the balance in favour of Alinghi. - Sean McNeill, America's Cup website, full story: http://americascup.yahoo.com/story2134.html COMMAND OF THE WEATHER Cold fronts are windy with sudden shifts. Sea breezes start on the beach, work outward, then die outside first. Racing or cruising, weather affects every aspect of our sailing. Learn to understand the weather at the daylong seminar presented by Commanders' Weather and Bill Biewenga. Sponsored by Ockam Instruments, Blue Water Sailing, and Spinsheet Magazine, the interactive classes are available in Chicago, Annapolis, Detroit, Newport, and Marblehead this March and April. Ockam U sessions are scheduled on the day following in Chicago and Newport. For Weather Seminar details visit http://www.WxAdvantage.com or e-mail billbiewenga@compuserve.com. For Ockam U information, email tom@ockam.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (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 or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Christian Fevrier: To explain the ban of the nationality clause in the new Protocol, the Alinghi lawyer explained on Tuesday that the historical support exists. "The schooner America had sixteen English sailors aboard !" he said. According various sources they were 21 people onboard for the race, may be 22. From my notes, there was: the NYYC Commodore John Cox Stevens, Edwins Stevens, (his brother), Colonel James Hamilton. Henry Steers, 15, the James Steers's son (maybe also George, 17, his brother). The Royal Yacht Squadron had a representative aboard. One source reports also three guests without giving their names. The schooner was skippered by the New York and Sandy Hook pilot Dick Brown. The Porsmouth US consul had strongly recommended to use Robert Underwood, a Solent pilot. The American crew were seven, including the cook and the steward. George Schuyler was in New York. Strangely, the yacht designer George Steers and his brother James had returned to New York by steamer before the race, following a dispute with John Stevens. Five English seamen only had been lent from the schooner Surprise. Not sixteen! * From Big Mike Howard: It will be interesting to see where the Cup ends up. Happy that Oracle BMW/ Golden Gate Yacht Club are the Challengers of record. I think coupled with Alinghi will make for a great event next time around. I thought that the best place you could hold the America's Cup would be Hawaii. The state would bend over backwards to host the event. There is plenty of water down around Pearl Harbor. The TradeWind blows 15-25 knots 340 days a year. For Television that would be a good thing. A major TV contract could be based on the fact a race would start at 1:15 P.M. on the day scheduled. There are plenty of accommodations available. A major international airport handy. A huge shipping and container port for all the gear. Average yearly temperature of 80 degree's. There are plenty of golf courses to keep Brad and Russell happy in there leisure hours, not to mention the surfing and water sports for us sailors to add to our fitness regime( 78-82 degree water). Just my two cents from a guy who has done his share of sailing around the world. There is a reason they call it paradise. The Media would love it. * From Tim Prophit: While I don't disagree that broad public interest is driven by patriotism, it doesn't necessarily mean lack of nationality requirements will result in any diminished public interest in the AC. Look at the NHL; here in Detroit, where the Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup 3 of the past 6 seasons, there are only two US born citizens on the team, with the remainder of the team coming from Canada and Europe. Red Wings fans are very happy to have the non-US players we have. Yet, during the Olympics, this same group played for their "home" countries, and there were Red Wings on all final four teams. I suspect most US Red Wings fans (I know I did) rooted for the US team during the Olympics, and, once the Olympics were over, rooted for the same Olympic players from Canada, Sweden, Belarus, and Russia who play for the Red Wings to go win the Stanley Cup. The AC is analagous in the respect there are teams assembled with sailors from all over the world; if any of them were to sail in the Olympics, they may very well sail for a country (their "home" country) that is different than the country of their AC team. * From Steven Pendleton: I have watched and enjoyed the America's cup for many years and whilst I agree that the protocol needs change I am disappointed about the decision to eliminate nationality for crews. The founding document of the regatta, the Deed of Gift, calls for a "friendly competition between nations." This works with the other major sports competitions around the world such as Rugby and I see no reason why it needs to change for the America's cup. Unless of course TV rights and money are far more important that the competition itself. People have spoken about the "restriction of personal liberties" if the protocol is not changed. This is a competition between nations, I am sure Italy would love to have Martin Johnston in their second row on March 9th but it is not going to happen! * From Alex Watters: After suffering through five months of sporadic LV / Am Cup racing, coupled with lengthy periods of inactivity, I think even the most avid yacht racing fans were losing interest by the last race. I know I was! Most of us don't care about the picky new details of the proposed protocol changes. All we want to do is watch these boats race. Alinghi can do whatever they feel will improve the cup. But waiting until 2007 is a huge mistake. Both cups have just completed their most trying and, from a spectator's point of view, aggravating series in a long time. The cup is in a bit of a slump, and waiting 4 1/2 years to do it again certainly won't help matters. Sailing will never compete with the World Cup, we're not in their league for fan appeal. That said, sponsors should be encouraging Alinghi to run the event concurrently with the WC, Europe will be full of sports fans who will inadvertently either read about or watch some of the racing. The WC will enhance the profile of the Am Cup simply by sharing press space. Who knows, we may pick up some converts. * From Jon.Alvord: If Coutts wants to shorten race time by shortening course, why not just change the boat and make it faster. Maybe time for multihulls is near. Open 60 Tri's could easily fly around the course at twice the speed of the AC Boats. They would be finished sooner, be more exciting to watch, and always have the spectators wondering if they will go over! * From Larry Law (Re: Butt 1279): I don't care how many "tombstones" are on a sail or hull. No matter how it gets financed let's make sure we have great competition and not thwart any effort to compete - no need to get "snooty" just cause "it's not pretty." Blowing off nationality rules is a mistake (just like wasting money on empty apartments). It is a matter of patriotism that keeps interest up. Look at the national pride of NZ - very impressive (some may have been over the top) and the other challengers. We've lost it in the US, we can't seem to get fewer focused efforts to get the cup back - "individual" seems to have completely replaced "nation". Some of that's reality - some of that's a crime. The roots of any prestigious event are important and should not be totally abandon for convenience - but capitalism is a great system. Is there some way to balance tradition, patriotism, capitalism, individualism and a great event together - I hope there is, otherwise it's just a complete loss of nationalism, I'd miss that. Make the LVC races shorter, but don't take away the thrill of a hard fought longer battle when the titans make it to the semi's and the finals - sail them long and hard. * From Sue and Bob Kellogg: Four years is too long to wait for the next Cup. The cost of your next campaign will be directly proportional to the amount of time available to spend it. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Stress: The confusion created when ones mind overrides the body's basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some idiot who desperately needs it. |
