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SCUTTLEBUTT 2224 – November 15, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). MONDAY MORNING TACTICIAN (American Andrew Campbell is the top ranked Laser sailor in the US, and was the 2006 College Sailor of the Year. Below is an excerpt from Andrew’s blog, where he suggests a shift in umpiring priorities is needed.) (Nov 13, 2006) Often situations arise with rounding marks that can make or break an entire series. The rules are constantly revised to ensure that boats are able to get around marks smoothly and without incident, but things tend to be more congested and confusing than they need to be, especially at the windward mark. The introduction of the leeward gate instead of the leeward mark has changed sailing for the better, but the windward mark is consistently a source of chaos. I heard from a coach at the 2003 Laser Worlds in Cadiz, Spain that the gold fleet sailed a 19 minute beat (almost failed to make the 20 minute time limit) in 15-18 knots of breeze, and yet, the entire fleet of 45 boats rounded the weather mark within 60 seconds! ‘Congested’ doesn’t do it justice. Under the present umpiring system, one jury boat removes itself from Rule 42 duty and stations itself at the weather mark attempting to break up any chaos. This boat observes the mark rounding for most of the fleet and simply blows a whistle if it sees a foul committed. The implication is that the boats involved with that foul will either exonerate themselves properly or file a protest. I think that anybody who has sailed in the Laser fleet knows how many protests really end up getting filed in these situations (about nil). In my opinion the jury should be given a more powerful role in observing these types of situations. When a heinous foul occurs at a mark and one boat gains significantly, say by crash tacking in front of a stack of 20 boats on starboard tack layline, the jury sits by and blows a whistle hoping that the two boats will “police themselves” and do the right thing regarding the incident. But many times nothing happens. However, when a boat rocks more than twice on a run and gains the equivalent to “the stroke of a paddle” somewhere else on the racecourse (usually an insignificant amount in the context of a 65 minute race), that boat can be penalized by the jury to the likes of a 720 or DSQ. This process does not make any sense to me, and I propose that some changes be made in the umpire system at the top-level events. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/ygj7zb MISSING IN ACTION (Nov 15, 2006) Almost 10 years after he was plucked from the Southern Ocean by the Australian Navy in a rescue effort that cost $6 million, the English yachtsman Tony Bullimore has again sparked fears for his safety by failing to contact authorities for more than a week. The 67-year-old is skippering a 31-metre catamaran as part of a solo attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 70 days, but appears to have run into trouble on the way to the start line in Tasmania. Yesterday emergency authorities were trying to locate Bullimore's yacht in the Indian Ocean. His support team lost contact with him on November 6. He was headed from Doha in Qatar to Hobart, where he was due to begin his record-breaking attempt. -- The Sydney Morning Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/ylx3vg STARS IN MY EYES (Lynn Fitzpatrick last month finished her duty as chairperson of the Snipe Western Hemisphere and Orient Championship, and now files this report amid her volunteer duties at the Star North American Championship in Miami, FL that begins Wed, Nov 15th.) The Star Class can be a pretty intimidating Class. It’s not only full of hulking giants; it’s loaded with sailing legends. Living in Miami, I’ve grown accustomed to the North Americans Star sailors spending an inordinate amount of time at Coral Reef and the US Sailing Center during the winter months. Yet the international talent assembled here this week is nearly incomprehensible. The Schoonmaker Trophy was sailed this weekend. This annual regatta was used as a tune up by over 40 of the 80+ boat fleet that is registered for the NA’ s. Light air was forecast for the weekend, and late Friday afternoon a local fleet member asked me if I wanted to crew for the weekend. What a treat! I suited up in a droop suit and a harness that could never be made snug on me and went out with the big boys! For the first three legs of Saturday’s race, we were rounding marks with Olympic Star, Finn, Soling, Laser, and FD medalists, not to mention all of the America’s Cup skippers and crew! On the first day of measurement for the Star NAs, I was concerned that there may not be enough volunteers to accommodate everyone. Before I knew it, I went from handing out measurement forms to weighing everybody in. There are four women sailing in the regatta and 160 guys. Nearly 70 of the 80 all male teams are concerned about being within 100 grams of the weight maximum. After they have starved themselves, worked out, and relieved themselves, the last resort is to strip down to everything from tighty whities, to Brooks Brothers boxers, to Speedos – in front of me! They’re all very friendly. I can’t wait for the rest of the week to unfold. -- Lynn Fitzpatrick THE “ADMIRAL” HAS LANDED “After using Admiral Dyneema for jibsheets on Barking Mad, it would be my first choice every time. It doesn’t kink as easily, it’s nicer to handle and seems to last as long as the alternatives. They are the best yet." - Morgan Trubovich, trimmer on Barking Mad (Farr 40 & Mumm 30) and BMW Oracle Racing. FSE Robline’s Admiral Dyneema is legendary on the European racing circuit for its extremely high breaking strength and abrasion resistance. FSE Robline ropes are now available in North America, Australia, and New Zealand; exclusively distributed by Ronstan. For details, click ROPE on http://www.ronstan.com BOXING DAY BONANZA A fleet of 87 yachts has been nominated for the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race including the defending line and handicap winner, and race record holder, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI, which is out to rewrite history with a back-to-back line honours win.With less than two weeks to prepare for last year’s Boxing Day bluewater classic, Bob Oatley’s canting keel 30m maxi made an unprecedented debut in ocean racing - setting a new race record and winning the JH Illingworth Trophy for line honours and the Tattersall’s Cup for first place overall. This year Wild Oats is preparing to defend her turf against Grant Wharington ’s turbo charged Skandia, a former line honours winner, and New Zealand based Charles St Clair Brown and Bill Buckley’s Maximus, making its Hobart debut, and become the first yacht since Astor in 1964 to achieve consecutive wins over the line. For the first time in the event’s history, the 30m maxis will go head to head with two Volvo 70s which are hoping for a taste of the conditions for which the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait are renowned. -- Race website, full report: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com//news.asp?key=2848 * Graeme Wood announced Tuesday that he will be entering two boats in the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart, with one being entered as part of a new exciting youth programme. Following his IRC divisional win in the 2005 Rolex Sydney Hobart with his Sydney 47, Wot’s Next, he is embarking upon a new challenge by entering his new Transpac 52, Wot Yot, as well championing a new youth programme with Wot’s Next, (which will be) steered this time by a crew of experienced and talented youth sailors selected from a group of keen candidates from the CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy. The twist for the Wot’s Next youth crew is that in order to earn their place in the race, they are also required to participate in a mentoring program with students from Blacktown Tutorial Centre and to teach them how to sail. -- Full report: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/news.asp?key=2845 ARE YOU A BLOGGER? When Scuttlebutt launched its blog, we could hardly spell it, let alone know what to do with it. However, since the launch of Scuttleblog nearly a year ago, we have found it a handy place to post items that we had not previously found space for in the newsletter. We have also learned of many other sailing blogs, and the great commentary that is occurring amongst those that sail. If you would like Scuttlebutt to know about your blog, please send us an email at mailto:blogger@sailingscuttlebutt.com VOLVO WINNER'S SOLO AMBITION "I want to win a single-handed transatlantic race," says Volvo Ocean Race winner Mike 'Moose' Sanderson of his next big ambition. His new Open 60, funded by British print company Pindar, began building last month at Cooksons in New Zealand, and it could considerably raise the stakes of a class that is seriously on fire. The Open 60 class is being infused with huge influx of new skippers and design teams, but even the old hands are anticipating something a bit different -- and extra-potent -- from the collaboration of Sanderson and designer Juan Kouyoumdjian. It will benefit from the R&D process carried out for the all-conquering ABN Amro boats, plus some. "We towed nine models for the ABN AMRO black boat and five are 100% relevant to the Open 60," Moose says. "The 60 was model 6 and we've done another four since then." The new Open 60 is for a three-year programme of Atlantic races: next year's two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre and the solo Transat and Route du Rhum races. But there's a marketing element, too, and he says: "It will definitely be a Vendée race winner. My idea is for me to be heavily involved in a second boat. The development cost is $1.5 million and we've paid a third of the costs, so we're committed to Juan selling two more Open 60s." -- Elaine Bunting's blog, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yn7252 RACES IN PROGRESS * (Nov 14, 2006) On day 24 of the Velux 5 Oceans race, the pendulum swung back in favor of leader Bernard Stamm, who has opened up significant distance on second place Mike Golding. A day ago, Golding was optimistic about gaining the final 200 miles on this leg that separated the two. Now, Golding’s position is over 400 miles back of Stamm, and his second place standing may soon be lost too. Alex Thompson could launch an end-around on the three boats ahead of him, but for now he laments his significant detour around a blocking high-pressure zone. As for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, he was able to repair all the broken battens in his main that he reported yesterday, but now says that the internal splint he used to repair each batten has failed in each instance. Stamm’s position now places him at the midpoint of this 12,000-leg from Bilbao, Spain to Perth, Australia. -- http://www.velux5oceans.com * (Nov. 13, 2006) Reports American Kip Stone, who leads the Open 50 Monohull division in the Route du Rhum race: “I haven't been getting much sleep in the last two days as I've been watching my lead over Servane Escoffier vanish like an ice cube in the Caribbean sun (Stone leads Escoffier by 98 miles at the latest poll). Since the start of the race, Servane has not been afraid to go for the corners which makes her hard to cover and, in the last 24 hours, created the opportunity to cut my lead by over 100 nautical miles. Like one of those bad dreams where your legs are like rubber, I've been struggling in soft conditions to work my way to the west while she's descended towards Guadeloupe on a conveyor belt of stable breeze. Finally, at about 1400 this afternoon, I broke through one squirrellier band of breeze into the wind she's been enjoying - just in the nick of time. Fabulous racing! “The pressure is not off yet as there are soft conditions ahead for the next day or so until we finally break through to some light but steady easterly breeze to the south. In those kinds of conditions, anything can happen so now, it's back to keeping the boat moving along and squeezing in some sleep where I'm able. Less than 400 miles left in this race. In a very short time, I'll be back in the land of palm trees and Pina Coladas.” -- Note: Kip Stone is the sole American entry in the Route du Rhum La Banque Postale, a 3,500 nautical mile solo transatlantic race that started October 29 from St. Malo, France, to Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe. Current record for the Open 50 Monohull division: 18 days, 16 hours, 23 minutes. For more information visit http://www.routedurhum.org THE NEXT GENERATION … WELCOME TO H3000 B&G’s evolutionary H3000 instrument system is set to take the sailing world by storm with an exciting combination of unique functionality, superb flexibility, and uncompromising performance. H3000 is the first instrument system to use revolutionary bonded-screen technology for the new Graphical Function Display. The introduction of the GFD brings unrivalled clarity and a highly intuitive user interface allowing new ways of visualizing sailing data. The sophisticated Central Processing Unit has multiple software levels in one box for maximum flexibility and easy upgrades. B&G AutoCal routines have been added to make the well-proven calibration procedures quick and easy. http://www.bandg.com/H3000 SAILING SHORTS * The BVI's Hirst brothers powered through a strong fleet of international competitors to win the second annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup held this weekend off Nanny Cay Marina in the British Virgin Islands. The Hirsts, last year's clear winners too, teamed up with last year's second place helm, Colin Rathbun, to make an unstoppable force. Counting nothing worse than a third place in their 10 races the Hirst/Rathbun "Team BVI" finished the regatta with a mere 17 points. Simon Manly and his Team St Martin finished in second place ten points behind and Team USVI with Chris Curreri at the helm was third. -- Full report: http://www.caribbeanracing.com/artman/publish/article_821.shtml * (Nov. 14, 2006) US Sailing, national governing body of the sport, and Vanguard Sailboats, a leading manufacturer of small sailboats, have announced a partnership expansion. The expansion consists of sponsorship of the 2007 U.S. Junior Triplehanded Championship and, under the new agreement, Vanguard will supply new Nomad sailboats for the event as well as provide additional support. The new agreement comes a year after US Sailing and Vanguard announced an extension and expansion of its previous partnership. -- Full report: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2006/vanguardtriple.htm * Wired - the latest racing design from the Bakewell-White design office was launched recently in Auckland, New Zealand, and they have had Sailcam.tv recording video of this stunning new 50fter. We have posted on the Scuttlebutt website three links: the christening and launch; designer Brett Bakewell-White explaining the design brief; and heli footage of Wired out sailing. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/wired * (Nov 15, 2006) Southern Spars announced the appointment of David Glen as Group General Manager. The company recently merged with Marten Spars and now employs over 230 people, spread across four continents, in sales, design, manufacturing and service. Southern Spars is backed by the international North Marine Group, a company renowned for investing in leading marine technology companies. -- http://www.southernspars.com/index.cfm?sector=4&shownews=78 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forums. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Pat Bradley: Thanks to Morgan Larson and J. Mark Sims for their kind words about my friend Harvey Kilpatrick. I have sailed thousands of miles with Harvey since 1958 on a whole lot of different boats, and when I got to adding it up, I spent well over half a year of my life within 70 feet of this guy! He was the Vince Lombardi of sailing. He never quit -ever - and he keep the whole crew focused - thus all his successes over the many years. He was one of a kind - a true Corinthian - and a person truly loved by the many he touched - worldwide. * From Adrian Morgan: (regarding Robin’s Velux 5 Oceans race troubles as reported in Issue 2223) Robin Knox-Johnston is not the first (nor will he be the last) to suffer from the insidious pressure of the media, and the need to "keep in touch". While he's down below giving an interview, his boat wipes out, and his chances in the race for which he needs sponsorship, and thus publicity, are perhaps fatally damaged. This is a self-inflicted wound. Remember Mike Golding, who hit the bricks while posing for a helicopter camera crew off New Zealand? And running aground nearing the finish of his solo race in order to time his arrival artificially with that of the sponsors' VIP guests? This is madness. No one blames RK-J or Golding, who are consummate seamen. It's that giving interviews and posing for photographers is in conflict with their innate seamanship. R K-J may be able to fix his problems. It could have been much worse. So why don't we just leave them alone. As we did when Robin first made his name, before the days of constant communication and media harassment. We don't need to provoke news stories; just report them. My advice to Robin next time is: if the phone rings, don't answer it. * From R. Geoffrey Newbury: I know that your (Curmudgeon's) Observations are basically randomly selected, but this juxtaposition (in Issue 2223) is priceless! (From a Letter to the Editor, regarding the classic yacht 'Dorade') ......He turns to his lissome companion and says..."What sort of idiot would name a boat after a deck vent?" Curmudgeon's Observation: It's best to stop talking once you've said all you know. * From hookinnhangon: (from the Forums, regarding the Morning Light crew as mentioned in Issue 2223) Looked up their website and saw a list of sailors with a few pics per and one line like, "Racing Boat Captain" or "Sailor"....seems the interest for all of us is the people and I can't believe that with the all the resources and planning for the Morning Light project and all they put forward is a grunt of recognition. C'mon Morning Light, make it interesting for us! Tell us more about who you chose (and even why). Great ideas in a black hole will stay great ideas and not have the impact they could...this is a media project, right? -- Forums link: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3578#3578 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION The ugliest personality trait.............Selfishness Special thanks to FSE Robline ropes / Ronstan and B&G Instruments. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
