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SCUTTLEBUTT 3573 - Thursday, April 19, 2012Scuttlebutt 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: Ullman Sails and Southern Spars WHAT WILL MIAMI BE LIKE? By Ken Read, PUMA skipper It is amazing how the sport of sailing is treated differently in every part of the world. The Volvo Ocean Race is a nine-month, 39,000 mile race that takes the fleet to 10 different ports around the world. What is fascinating is the reception at each port. Some places sailing is huge, and others it is treated as a small market sport. Examples? First of all there's Alicante, Spain, the starting port for this year's race. Sailing in Spain is a major sport. Walking down the streets being asked for autographs is both ego boosting and a bit annoying. You can see where the major sports stars in the U.S. want their peace and quiet from time to time. But, all in all it is pretty cool seeing our sport treated so highly and the people being so knowledgeable. Spain, and Europe in general, treats sailors like celebrities. On to Cape Town, Abu Dhabi and Sanya, China. Abu Dhabi and Sanya are newcomers to the competitive sailing world. Huge spectator turnouts to the stopover race villages and to watch the In-Port Races and leg starts. But they not as knowledgeable about sailing and who the players are. They are big crowds that need to be told when to cheer. I think most come down to the ports to see the spectacle. Cape Town on the other hand had smaller crowds but they were extremely educated. The port was a bit spread out, which isn't perfect, but the surroundings (Table Mountain in the background) are absolutely spectacular. Then to Auckland. When we came in, there were more people than I had ever seen waiting along the city coastline and in the viaduct basin. Auckland isn't called the "City of Sails" for nothing. Auckland is really the perfect size city for a Volvo Ocean Race stopover port as well - large enough to be cosmopolitan and small enough not to drown out the event with other major activities in town. You really feel good about yourself and the sport when you are there. Itajai, Brazil, was a stop that we had zero expectations about. None of us had ever been here. The reception we got when we won the leg here was beyond any we had ever seen. Tens of thousands of people lined the waterfront, breakwaters and race village. A human chain of people was needed to keep the fans from stopping our progress once we left the boat. Photos, autographs, cheering fans everywhere. Itajai, like Auckland, fits into that small city category where the Volvo is the biggest event in town and a must-see for all. I was just shocked how educated everyone was on the race and who we were. Talk about a boost to the ego. And finally, we are off to the next stop Miami. Read on: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-041812 CHANGES: Puma Ocean Racing powered by Berg announced that Shannon Falcone will join the team for Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, Florida, USA. Falcone, who was with Puma for the 2008-9 edition, takes the place of bowman Casey Smith who injured his back during the last leg of the race from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajai. Helmsman Kelvin Harrap, who missed Leg 5 due to carpal tunnel syndrome in both arms as well as bursitis in his elbow, has returned to the sailing team. ABU DHABI UPDATE: Since leaving Puerto Montt, Chile by ship on Apr 10, the team's original arrival estimate of the evening of April 18 has been pushed now to the morning of Apr 19. Once in Itajai, the team needs to repair areas of hull delamination, but have now reduced their repair estimate from 72 hours to 55 hours. For the shore team, completing the repair in time for the In-Port Race on April 21 could be more brutal than anything the sailing team saw that caused the failure. PROTEST UPDATE: The International Jury has moved up their hearing this week from Thursday to Wednesday (2100 UTC) to review a report from the head of the Measurement Group over the sails carried by Team Telefonica during Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland. The protest concerns an alleged breach of the Notice of Race 5.2.2, which specifies the sail requirements and limitations while racing. PUMA skipper Ken Read discusses the issue on Sailing World: http://tinyurl.com/SW-041512 SCHEDULE: Racing will commence in Itajai with the Pro-Am Race on April 20, the In-Port Race on April 21, and the start of the 4800 nm Leg 6 to Miami on April 22. -- http://tinyurl.com/VOR-2011-12-schedule Overall Points (after 5 legs) 1. Telefonica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 147 pts 2. Groupama 4 (FRA), Frank Cammas (FRA), 127 3. Camper (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 119 4. PUMA Ocean Racing (USA), Ken Read (USA), 113 5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 55 6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), 25 Tracking/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html Video reports: http://www.youtube.com/user/volvooceanracevideos BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain (Oct. 29) and concludes in Galway, Ireland during early July 2012, six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles around the world 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 SURVIVOR'S REFLECTION ON FARALLONES TRAGEDY Bryan Chong, 38, of Tiburon (CA) was one of three sailors who survived Saturday's tragedy at the Farallon Islands. He made this public statement this week: "I am absolutely devastated at the sudden and tragic boat accident on Saturday afternoon during the Full Crew Farallones Race. I'm in shock at the loss of my five sailing companions Alan Cahill, Marc Kasanin, Jordan Fromm, Alexis Busch, and Elmer Morrissey. Alan and Marc were dear friends and longtime sailing mates, both true watermen when measured by practice and spirit. "The ocean is powerful and lacks the compassion that has been so generously bestowed by friends, family, neighbors and the sailing community. We'll spend years looking back on this weekend, asking questions that may never have answers. Sailboat racing is about making the best decision with the information at hand. Organizers strive to create the best routes and race environment. Captains and crew strive to get around the race course as quickly and safely as possible. "The entire crew of wet smiles that went sailing toward the Farallon Islands on the Low Speed Chase would not want this tragedy to overshadow the rewards of sailboat racing." -- Latitude 38, read on: http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2012-04-18 BUILT ON A TRADITION OF ONE DESIGN The Ullman Sails group is often perceived as a one design sailmaker. In reality, this distinction is the reason why we are the ideal sailmaker for both racing and cruising sails. After years of racing and testing sails in one design fleets, our designers and sailmakers use the same development techniques to build and deliver consistently fast big boat sails. Our sailmakers also follow a "one design" standard, closely monitoring the quality of every sail from design to construction to finishing. You can be confident that every detail is built to the highest standard. Invest in your performance. http://www.ullmansails.com AMERICAN TEAM MOVING DOWN UNDER Marsden Point, the Northland port renowned for its oil refinery (in New Zealand), is about to gain fame for refining the skills of America's Cup defender Oracle Racing in the build-up to the 2013 Cup defence in San Francisco. Sir Russell Coutts' campaign has announced it will run its 2013 training programme out of Northport, the new deep-water port facility near Whangarei. The American-based syndicate will bring its two AC72 monster catamarans to Northport next January and train through to the end of April, ready for the America's Cup match to be sailed on San Francisco Harbour in September. Oracle's decision to bring the yet-to-be-built boats to Marsden Point for trials was influenced by its close proximity to Core Builders Composites in Warkworth - an hour's drive south - where many of the key components for the wingsail catamarans are being built. Under the new rules of the America's Cup to contain costs, Oracle will be able to sail their first AC72, likely to be launched in July, for only 30 days through to January 31, 2013. Much of that sailing will be done from the team's base at Pier 80 in San Francisco. When their second AC72 is launched, Oracle will be allowed to sail each yacht for 45 days through until April 31. -- Boating NZ, full story: http://tinyurl.com/BNZ-041812 COMMENT: Since there is only one American on the sailing team, this move appears like another example of the American defender not acting very American. However, the sailing conditions during the winter in San Francisco are not very conducive to quality training, nor is any venue in California. Given the training limitations, they needed to move somewhere, and being near their builder eliminated that relocation need. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt GREEN COMM: While it was announced this week that the Spanish team representing Club Nautico de Valencia had withdrawn its challenge to compete in the 34th America's Cup, we now learn this may have come just before they were disqualified. The team was liable for costs of nearly 89,000 euros stemming from a collision in the AC World Series last September, and was past due on paying the bill. Here is the jury notice: http://noticeboard.americascup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/JN038.pdf COUNT DOWN TO THE OLYMPICS With the 2012 Olympic Games just over three months away, the Canadian Sailing Team has completed their team qualifiers in six of the ten events. While they failed to qualify as a nation for the Women's Match Race, they have confirmed their candidates in the following events: Laser Radial - Danielle Dube Laser - David Wright Star - Richard Clarke/Tyler Bjorn RS:X Men - Zachary Plavsic RS:X Women - Nikola Girke The representatives for the remaining four events will be determined at each of the class world championships in May: 49er (Qualification and Selection), Men's and Women's 470 (Qualification and Selection), and Finn (Selection only). In the events where qualification must occur, this means that Canada has not yet earned a berth in the event. Being the best team in Canada isn't good enough if the country is not among the best in the World. In December 2011 at the ISAF Perth Worlds, 15 nations qualified for the 2012 London Olympics in the 49er event, leaving the remaining five spots up for grabs at the 2012 49er Worlds in Croatia in May 5-12. Shockingly, Canada did not qualify in Perth, meaning that Canadian 49er sailors still need to battle it out for the last five Olympic spots. The annual Trofeo Princessa Sofia in Palma, Spain (April 2-7) was among the last tune up events before the big show in Croatia where so many dreams will be made and shattered, especially for the Canadian 49er teams. It is certain that at least two teams, with thousands of hours and dollars spent campaigning, will be packing up and heading home with their dreams unfulfilled. Canada presently has three 49er teams with an approximately equal chance of qualifying for the Games. -- Read on: http://www.pitchpoleenterprises.com/49er-class/?p=998 SAILING SHORTS * (April 18, 2012) - American Matt Rutherford today became the first person to solo, nonstop circumnavigate both North America and South America. Sailing a 27-foot Albin-Vega, Mark crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (MD) at 10:48 eastern time this morning to complete his challenge in just over 309 days. He began the journey on June 13, 2011. -- http://www.solotheamericas.org/ * Qingdao, China (April 18, 2012) - The nine teams competing in Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series went into stadium sailing mode today, with plenty of close calls, contact between the boats, penalties and an incredible 11 false starts from the 8 races. Austrian skipper Roman Hagara of Red Bull Sailing Team retains the lead, with Brit Leigh McMillan and The Wave, Muscat (OMA) in second with American Morgan Larson and Oman Air (OMA) in third. America's Cup challenger China Team, with skipper Phil Robertson (NZL) competing for the first time, is in ninth place. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/ESS-041812 * The state of Connecticut has declared the 2013-2014 academic year the "Year of the Charles W. Morgan". The Charles W. Morgan, originally launched in 1841, is the last remaining wooden whaleship in the world and the oldest American commercial ship still afloat. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13585 CONGRATULATIONS CAMPER - SOUTHERN SPARS Southern Spars would like to congratulate Southern' rigged CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand for an outstanding effort of human endurance, during Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race. The CAMPER crew have sailed almost 2500 nautical miles further than any of their competitors and have taken over ten days longer. This crew of 11 have had it tough over the last couple of months and that's certainly not going to stop. With only two days to recover in Itajai, Brazil, the team will be out racing again on Sunday, bound for Miami. Please visit http://www.southernspars.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this weekend: Apr 19-23 - Charleston Race Week - Charleston, SC, USA Apr 21 - North U. Racing Trim Seminar - Coos Bay, OR, USA Apr 22-27 - Bermuda Race Week - St Georges, Bermuda View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES The Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides an opportunity for companies to announce new products and services. Here are some of recent postings: * Steve and Linda Dashew Books for sale * New Owner at Colie Sails * Kristen Berry returns to J World in Annapolis View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news 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 Mike Brown, Chicago: Mother Nature again reeks havoc upon another sailboat and their crew. I am truly sorry for the families and friends of the lost sailors. It seems as we move forward with our sailing endeavors, we can be prepared, skilled, and competent...but that can be thrown out the window when nature and it's fury decide to challenge us and put us in a life or death situation. Many will be asking, "Did they round the island group too close? Did they not notice the sea state and current and take that into consideration while passing the Farallon Islands?" I am confident in saying that these experienced sailors knew the risk and felt safe up to the point that the catastrophe happened. They basically never saw it coming, and like what transpired in the Race to Mackinac 2011 when two lives were lost when a freakish storm blew up in the northern part of Lake Michigan, people die and the all the experience in the world will not save anyone. My thoughts go out to them all, especially Nick Vos. Could not imagine losing someone so dear, so quickly. Keep sailing Nick and dedicate your endeavors to Alexis.... NOTE: Nick, along with James Bradford and Brian Chong, survived the accident that took the life of Marc Kasanin. Four others remain missing: Alexis Busch, Alan Cahill, Jordan Fromm, and Elmer Morrissey. * From Jeremy Pape: I take issue with the Palmer's assumption of the lack of interest in NASCAR by sailors. (Butt 3572) As a past Seattleite who is now almost a southern redneck, I can attest to being skeptical at first. But please Palmers, don't judge til you've walked in another man's (cowboy) boots. NASCAR is fun to watch! Take a poll! I love layin on the couch recuperating after a hard weekend of sailboat racing, watching them do what they do, go round and round, mostly left turns, crashes, spinouts, flips, wipeouts, beer, pretty women, big sponsors, sometimes just complete carnage. It's awesome. Hey wait, that was the Americas Cup World Series I watched this weekend! * From Captain Paul Warren: To Norris & Karen (SButt 3572): FYI, the America's Cup has ALWAYS been about technology. And, the technology DOES filter down to the average sailor: witness the "invention" of the Cunningham ("sly pig") sail control; the development of Dacron sails, Spectra lines, winged keels and asymmetrical spinnakers. All sailors benefit from the tech advances that come out of the America's Cup. Stay tuned.... there's more to come in 2012/2013! To Peter Brown (SButt 3572): I couldn't agree more! Larry Ellison has made a substantial contribution to the overall AC stage. The new boats are exciting. The AC72s even more so. The athleticism of the video racing documentation is exciting and comparable to soccer/football and/or Formula 1 Racing. As sailors, we need to get behind this effort and push our non-sailing friends to check out the action. * From Eric Sorensen: Peter Brown said it well in 'Butt 3572! Thank YOU Larry Ellison et all. During the San Diego ACWS, China Team had a spirit ceremony to bless their team and boat. I happened to be standing next to Russell Coutts during the event. It was quite a choreographed show. Near the end, I leaned over and said to him "What is Oracle going to do to top this?" After reflection over the course of two days, I was able to run into Russell again and apologize as I realized that Larry E had put on the greater show of the ACWS. It really doesn't get slicker than this. It translates to the non-sailing public too which Russell said was the goal. So far so good! The 72s will be breath taking and on the edge. Good luck to all involved with AC34! It will be hard to beat the spectacle of AC33 with the 90 x 90 multihulled spaceship like rocket boats but this format and presentation will be watched by WAY more audience than any previous Cup! * From Tim Dick: This week, let's commit to being on the water in the spirit of Low Speed Chase. To do what they loved, what we love. Turn out for your beer can race - make it the biggest ever, or a Saturday sail. Bring everyone you love. Stay for the party, hug everyone who is there. This week, instead of awards for 1, 2, 3, just raise a glass: to Low Speed Chase and all who sailed aboard her. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "If you need a shoulder to cry on, pull off to the side of the road." - Maxine SPONSORS THIS WEEK Team One Newport - Harken - Gowrie Group - North U - Soft Deck North Sails - Hall Spars & Rigging - Ocean Racing - Ullman Sails Southern Spars - The Pirates Lair - New England Boatworks Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
