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SCUTTLEBUTT 2731 - Monday, November 24, 2008Scuttlebutt 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. Today's sponsors are Ultimate Sailing, Atlantis WeatherGear, and MyBoatsGear.com. KITEBOARDERS CAN NOT CLAIM OUTRIGHT SPEED RECORD Things just got complicated… again. As kiteboarding evolved, and a focus was given to speed sailing, it was learned that the shallower the water, the faster their speed. Think air hockey, and how fast the puck travels on a thin layer of air. Or a skim board on the beach, floating on a thin layer of water. Same theory. With rumors of speed records being considered on swampy fields, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) stepped in mid year, and stated that a minimum water depth of 50 cm would be required for any speed record to be ratified. It is the WSSRC’s job to manage this part of the sport, and if they don’t ratify a speed run, it is not official. With all the interest right now to break the 50 knot speed barrier on the official 500 meter course, and now that two kiteboarders have exceeded the mark last month at the Lüderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia (Sebastien Cattelan, 50.26 knots and Alexandre Caizergues, 50.57 knots), the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has now decided that a “kite-powered craft” cannot be recognized as the holder of the Outright World Sailing Speed Record. The WSSRC works for ISAF, and while they have now ratified the 50.26 knot speed (and are working to ratify the 50.57 mark), all these guys can claim is that they are the fastest kiteboarders, and that these remarkable runs are not the overall fastest “performances under sail”. -- Scuttleblog, http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/11/kiteboarding-records.html APPROACHING THE DOLDRUMS…AGAIN! (Nov. 23, 2008; Day 9) - “It is amazing that only 3 days ago the clothing call was thermals, boots, gloves, crash helmets and double fleece sleeping bags, said Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker. “Now we are happily in shorts, UV tops, shoes, sunhats and sun cream.” The winds are now to the southeast at 20 knots, and with the fleet gybed to starboard, they are aiming just above layline to the finish. Said Telefonica Blue skipper Bouwe Bekking, “Three more days of fast reaching and then the casino of the Doldrums will start again, only this time we can’t use any previous information learned from the past, and it will be interesting to see how we are all going to tackle this obstruction, there will be sure different opinions for sure.” Unfortunately for Bekking, he will have the added burden of a broken boat to factor into his decisions. “We were going so nicely, and all of a sudden, A BIG BANG changed everything,” recalled Bekking. “We snapped of one of our daggerboards (side boards) which prevent the boat sliding sideways. We destroyed it and had to stop the boat for 45 minutes. Hammers, chisels, hacksaws, everything was out, and in the end, we lowered Pepe (Pepe Ribes/ESP) into the water, to get rid of all the bits and pieces, so that we could lift the board up again. We are now underway again, but way slower than we liked.” The length of Leg Two from Cape Town to Cochin, India is 4,450 nm, with the leader expected to finish by November 29th. Current positions (as of Nov. 24, 1:00am GMT): 1. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, 1665 nm Distance to Finish 2. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 5nm Distance to Leader 3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 28 nm DTL 4. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 37 nm Distance to Leader 5. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 53 nm DTL 6. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, 105 nm DTL 7. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, 160 nm DTL 8. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 169 nm DTL Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 Race website: http://volvooceanrace.org * Guy Salter, Ericsson 4 media crew member: “Pirates come in all shapes and forms, from the fully organised terrorist style, which we are reading about so much, to the opportunists. I have sailed many, many miles throughout SE Asia and piracy was one of the big worries in this area, all too often curiosity is reported as piracy. Many a time I would be several hundred miles from land and a small fishing boat would follow you - sometimes for hours on end. On the odd occasion, the fishing boat would come right alongside - often with the occupants fully clothed - even the face covered up - and in 30 degrees or more heat. “Now this always looks a worry when confronted by masked assailants, but in reality, the fishermen cover themselves completely to protect themselves from the sun, they can’t go and buy sun cream - no matter what factor! They often come and try to sell you very, very fresh fish - usually for next to nothing or some western food. These fishermen have probably been on the ocean every day of their lives since their early teens and have not seen a state-of-the-art yacht, which we are so used to in our world. If they are ‘for-real pirates’ - then they will have so much fire power that you would not be able to do anything even if you wanted to.” -- http://www.ericssonracingteam.com A CAPTIVATING IDEA FROM ULTIMATE SAILING “Hold on to your hat”... the retractable strap on your Ultimate Sailing cap allows you to tether it to your shirt or jacket. Navy or Beige at $19.95 each. Available online with other cool products that won’t break the bank: Sharon Green’s Ultimate Sailing Calendar, t-shirts & notecards. -- http://www.ultimatesailing.com ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST (Nov. 23, 2008) - The Vendee Globe fleet is following classic south of the equator tactics as they aim south along the Brazilian coast, eager to both avoid the South Atlantic High and to gain a low pressure system that will blast them east past Cape Town and on their way to the Southern Ocean. The latest victim in the war of attrition is Jérémie Beyou on Delta Dore, who while lying ninth, now faces a huge challenge as he heads for Brazil with damage to two upper spreaders. Comments Beyou, “I was inside during the night sailing upwind in 22 knots of wind under staysail and full mainsail. I heard a cracking sound…. on the leeward side, the second spreader was hanging off: The whole spreader root (the attachment point to the mast) was broken. The shroud got entangled in the runner and then the top spreaders broke away too. I immediately slowed down and bore away, making sure I didn't gybe, as that would have caused the mast to fall. I have stuff to repair everything except the mast and the keel. I'm not the only one with this system: Generali, BT, Gitana Eighty also have the same fittings. I'm doing all I can to make sure the mast stays up until we reach Brazil.” -- Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ Solo, non-stop, around the world race in Open 60s. Standings as of 18:30 UTC (Top 5 plus of 30 entrants): 1. Loïck Peyron (FRA), Gitana Eighty, 20774.8 nm Distance to finish 2. Sébastien Josse (FRA), BT, 29.2 nm Distance to leader 3. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), Paprec-Virbac 2, 37 nm DTL 4. Vincent Riou (FRA), PRB, 54.9 nm DTL 5. Armel Le Cléac´h (FRA), Brit Air, 56.5 nm DTL 14. Samantha Davies (GBR), Roxy, 271.6 nm DTL 16. Dee Caffari (GBR), Aviva, 434.5 nm DTL 21. Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III, 695 nm DTL 25. Derek Hatfield (CAN), Algimouss Spirit of Canada, 1426.6 nm DTL Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html WILL THERE BE A MULTIHULL EVENT IN THE OLYMPICS? Efforts to get multihull competition back into the 2012 Olympics have not halted, but the only remaining avenue is to regain an 11th event (if you recall, sailing was asked to trim from 11 to 10 events for 2012). While Goran Petersson, President of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), confirms “ISAF would do everything in its power to secure the 11th Medal”, Rod Carr, CEO Royal Yachting Association, comments on the situation, and how getting the 11th event might still not guarantee that it will be awarded to the multihull discipline: “The president said that he is working really hard to retain the number of events that sailing had in China [i.e. 11]. He said that the issue is that several other sports were also campaigning for extra events and that if President Jacques Rogge of the International Olympic Committee, just rolled over and gave sailing what we want, his political opponents would say that because he was a sailor, he is favoring our sport. “He strongly advised the Events Committee not to discuss possible equipment for the 11th medal, and they agreed with Carolyn and Olivier withdrawing their submissions. Goran thought that the IOC might make a decision anytime between this December and next August! If there was a favorable decision over the winter he thought the executive should deal with it…and in any case the Council should formally sign off ISAF’s position at next year midyear meeting in May. The cat people here said they trusted his judgment on the matter and everyone agreed not to make life more difficult for Goran and Jacques by overt and noisy campaigning for an 11th slot.” Complete report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6706#6706 NEWBIE GETS KNACKERED By Mike Steere, CNN London, England -- I have always dreamed of winning a medal at the Olympic Games -- and sailing seemed like a good sport to target. By choosing sailing, I figured, I wouldn't have to take on people like Michael Phelps in the pool, Usain Bolt on the track or Chris Hoy at the velodrome. I wouldn't need brute strength like weightlifters, the amazing accuracy of target shooters, nor the endurance of a marathon runner. I have also loved sailing for a long time, and watching the competitors at the Beijing Games I remember thinking to myself -- "this can't be that hard. Can it?" To test my theory, I traveled to Weymouth and Portland's National Sailing Academy, the venue for the London 2012 Games sailing, to have a go in an Olympic-class Laser yacht.-- Read on: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/11/20/olympic.speed/ DISCOVER: A GIFT SHE DOESN’T ALREADY HAVE You can’t afford jewelry, and kitchen appliances will only get you hurt. But don’t worry - we’ll make it easy for you. Get her the new women’s Numbers softshell jacket from Atlantis. Great for sailing and for wearing around town, and at $185, it won’t make too big a dent in your already dented net worth. You can find the Numbers jacket and other great holiday gift ideas in the Atlantis Holiday Gift Guide, and you can also find a list of the stores you should visit this Friday. -- http://www.atlantisweathergear.com/Gift_Guide Discover: Your Atlantis BACK WHEN THE AMERICA’S CUP WAS FUN Rhode Islanders of a certain age, and yachtsmen everywhere, may remember a younger, brasher Ted Turner, the America’s Cup skipper aptly nicknamed “The Mouth of the South,” aka “Captain Outrageous” and “Terrible Ted.” Turner, who had been kicked out of Brown University in 1960 (girls weren’t allowed in men’s dorm rooms in those days), returned to Rhode Island in 1974, to enter the defense trials for the America’s Cup in Newport that year. He went down to defeat at the helm of Mariner, a “breakthrough” design that broke nothing but its backers’ spirits as it went down to resounding defeat. Turner came back in 1977, more terrible than ever, roistering up from Atlanta and tossing verbal cherry bombs into Newport society’s gaily-striped party tents, as if determined to avenge Sherman’s March to the Sea. This time his boat was Courageous, one of the best 12-meters ever. Turner sailed it to new heights of grandiosity on the way to a convincing Cup victory. “There will never be a time in my life as good as this time,” he told a reporter. “I’m so hot I just tell my guys to stand by me with their umbrellas turned upside down to catch the stuff that falls off me and onto them…. My biggest problem now is to keep from getting a big head. You don’t think I have one, do you?” At his memorable victory press conference, Turner, who had been accepting an astonishing variety of alcoholic beverages since reaching the dock, slid blissfully beneath the table as the world watched. -- Providence Journal, read on: http://SButt112308a.notlong.com DISABLED SAILING PROGRAM TO COMPETE IN 12 METER WORLDS (Newport, RI) - Shake-A-Leg Newport – a national leader in therapeutic sailing programs allowing children, adolescents and adults of varying abilities to dramatically improve their lives –announced the donation of the 12-Metre Easterner (US 18) to the world famous disabled sailing program. Donated by Arthur Shlossman (Jamestown, R.I.), the classic yacht best known for its America's Cup history, will be adapted by Shake-A-Leg to allow people with disabilities to compete alongside able-bodied sailors. The yacht’s steering and sail trim features will be reengineered to allow disabled people to compete in an arena that no one could ever have dreamed during the era when the magnificent America's Cup boats were originally commissioned. “It's a breakthrough of monstrous proportions, not only for disabled people, but for the whole sailing world,” said Paul Callahan, Shake-A-Leg CEO and a member of the 2000 U.S. Paralympic Team who has served as guest tactician aboard the 12-Metre Valiant since 1998. Once Easterner has been modified, Callahan will lead a team of both disabled and able-bodied crew members aboard her to the starting line of The 12-Metre World Championship, hosted by the New Yacht Club in Newport, R.I., next September. -- Full story: http://www.shakealeg.org/news.html PHOTOS AND NEWS * St Petersburg, FL - With ten teams competing in a ten race series, the University of South Florida won their first ever College Sloop National Championship on a tiebreaker over SUNY Maritime, with St. Mary's in third. No protests, no yellow flags, no breakdowns. Sailing for USF was Mitch Hall '10, Tim King '09, Simon Sanders '10, Darby Smith '11 (1-4,8-10), and Dave Weaks '10 (5-7). Photos and results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1122 * Miami, FL - Doug Douglass’s Goombay Smash, assisted by tactician Morgan Larson, won the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 North American Championship. This was Douglass’ regatta to lose as he led former world Champions Nerone and Barking Mad by four and five points respectively going into the final day of racing. He finished today’s races with scores of 2-3-2 to clinch the championship and be named boat of the day for the second day in a row. -- Photos and event details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1123a/ * Sailing a F18 Hobie Tiger, Mitch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis (NED) officially won the Aruba Heineken Catamaran Regatta for the second time. They were already secured of this year’s victory, but they still came out for the last race and took the bullet in style. -- Photos and event details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1123/ GARMIN HD RADAR REVIEW We have taken a look at the Garmin HR radar which is perfect for sailboats with its small dome diameter. Look for the MyBoatsGear review of the GMR18 and discover how a radar chartplotter combination does not have to cost a fortune. -- http://myboatsgear.com/featured_product/garmin%2018.asp SAILING SHORTS * The 2008 King Edward VII Gold Cup, held October 7-12 in Bermuda, saw Johnie Berntsson/SWE win his second World Tour event with a 3-1 victory over Adam Minoprio of New Zealand. Fox Sports Network will air the event on Monday November 24 as follows: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar/shows/#11 * After each Newport Bermuda Race, the Bermuda Race Organizing Committee conducts a survey of all skippers with the double aim of understanding what happened on the course and improving the next race. The survey of the 2008 race fleet indicates that sailors are happy with the race, but with a few qualifications. -- Full report: http://SButt112308b.notlong.com * Sail America is the trade association for the US sailing industry, and had their General Members Meeting October 10 in Annapolis during the US Sailboat Show. A video of the meeting can be viewed here: http://www.sailamerica.com/annapolis/chapter1.asp * US SAILING will be accepting nominations for its Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards through November 30, 2008, allowing US SAILING members the opportunity to nominate the one male and one female sailor they think has had the most outstanding on-the-water sailing performance during the 2008 calendar year. At the conclusion of the nomination period, a shortlist of nominees is presented to a panel of sailing journalists to determine the individual award winners. Sally Barkow and Jeff Linton were the 2007 winners. Submit nominations here: http://www.ussailing.org/awards/rolex * The National Sailing Programs Symposium 2009 will be held in San Diego, CA on January 7-11, 2009, with topics covering the full spectrum from the nuts and bolts of starting a new program to the intricacies of keeping a successful program running smoothly. Keynote speakers include Joni Palmer, Dean Brenner, Stan Honey, Anna Tunnicliffe, Craig Leweck, Dave Perry, and Robbie Haines. Full details at http://www.ussailing.org/training/nsps/2009/ * The leaders from the sailing industry will be convening at the 9th International Sailing Summit on December 4, 2008 as a lead-in to the Paris International Boat Show. Topics will include successes in the French sailing industry and successes in promoting sailing around the world. Keynote speakers include yacht designer Ron Holland and ISS Patron Gérard Petipas, founder of the Pen Duick company. There will also be a screening of the movie ‘Tabarly’ by Pierre Marcel. Full details at http://www.iss2008.org * Last week at a gala event in Brussels, OC Events was celebrating at the European Sponsorship Awards, as their joint entry for the iShares Cup, submitted in conjunction with iShares' sponsorship agency Progressive Sports & Entertainment Marketing, won the Business to Business Category. -- http://www.isharescup.com/container.asp?id=18566 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar HOW MANY SPITHILLS ARE THERE? (New South Wales, Australia) - Event organizers at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club had a cracking field of local, interstate and International competitors for the 2008 ISAF Grade 3 Harken International Youth Match Racing Championships held on Pittwater from the November 20-23, 2008. For teams under 21 years of age, among the group of twelve entrants was Tom Spithill, sibling to James Spithill of America’s Cup fame, and Katie Spithill, currently placed 9th in the ISAF match race rankings. James won in 1998 and Katie won in 1999, and for Tom, a veteran of this event having first competed as a very young crew back in 2000, finally laid claim to the title on his final attempt. “It’s pretty special to have all three of us on that Trophy,” said Tom “I would never have lived it down otherwise.” -- Event website: http://SButt112308c.notlong.com CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Whenever possible, say whatever you have to say during commercials. Special thanks to Ultimate Sailing, Atlantis WeatherGear, and MyBoatsGear.com. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
