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SCUTTLEBUTT 3171 - Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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BACK ON TOP
Hayling Island, England (September 5, 2010) - With a fourteenth from a
dramatic, blustery 14th and final race off England’s Hayling Island
Australia’s Tom Slingsby clinched his third Laser World Champion title in
four years (2007, 2008, 2010). The title finale saw the strongest winds so
far of the seven day regatta, gusting up to 23 knots kicking up the big
waves that Hayling Bay is renowned for. Slingsby is delighted to have
returned to the top of the class after a disappointing 2008 Olympics where
he finished 22nd and sailing to a modest 17th at the worlds last year.
On his 26th Birthday, today his journey back from despair seems to be on
course. It is also his second world title in as many weeks, after winning
the Etchells worlds title last week on Dublin Bay crewing in the Etchells
with America’s Cup legend John Bertrand. Laser world champion in 2007 and
2008, he won the Olympic pointer, Skandia Sail for Gold off Weymouth last
month.
“It is amazing for me after four and a half months in Europe, to finish off
with two world titles in two weeks and today being my birthday, it could not
be better, said Slingsby. “ I’d say that this one is one of the most
satisfying for sure. After last year I was wondering if I still had the
drive and the talent to get back to the top, a few big questions asked of
myself. I’m not to sure what it is that kept me going. I love the lifestyle,
for me I love winning. I am the most competitive person you will ever meet,
whether that is table tennis or world Laser titles. The competition is just
great. The Laser is just the most exciting boat to sail competition-wise. I
am just rapt!
“In 2006 I lost out on the final day to my coach Michael Blackburn (AUS),
who won. We went up against for the 2008 trials and I got the nod, just, and
since then he has been in a coaching role and last and this year he has been
my full-time coach. He is great. We are very different people. I am a bit
lazy and naturally talented whereas he was a really hard worker, put in the
hours. He has taught me a lot about professionalism, how to be prepared. My
weaknesses are now some of my strengths and that is because of Michael.
“After the Olympics, going in as one of the favourites and coming away with
22nd, I was really destroyed. I wondered if I wanted to do it again. After a
few months I decided to go again but I would take it a bit easy, but then
last year I was taking it a bit easy, not training so much and I was just
getting flogged at every regatta so I decided to pick up the training and go
back to my schedule to win, and I have been working hard since and the
results are starting to pay.Victor Kovalenko, our head coach, always says
you learn more from losing than winning and so I learned a lot about China.
I learned how to lose and picked up the things I did wrong and how to
improve them, and I have to go through the motions, I’ve learned to tick
every box and go there as prepared as I can be.” -- Complete report:
http://tinyurl.com/2010-Laser-Worlds
Final Standings (top 10 of 159)
1. AUS, Tom Slingsby, 50 pts
2. GBR, Nick Thompson, 86
3. NZL, Andrew Murdoch, 96
4. ARG, Julio Alsogaray, 109
5. CYP, Pavlos Kontides, 112
6. NZL, Joshua Junior, 114
7. FRA, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, 118
8. BRA, Bruno Fontes, 125
9. GBR, Paul Goodison, 126
10. CRO, Tonci Stipanovi, 133
Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/2010-Laser-Worlds-Results
CANADA’S CUP CONTROVERSY
An announcement was distributed on September 3rd that the Chicago Match Race
Center (CMRC) would host a 2010 edition of the Great Lakes’ oldest and most
prestigious match race trophy, the Canada’s Cup, on October 15-17. The event
would be contested between two teams racing Farr 40 class yachts, Don
Wilson’s Convexity representing CMRC and Grant Wood’s Vincere representing
Port Credit YC in Mississauga
What the announcement did not disclose was what happened to the current
defender of the Canada’s Cup. The last competition for the Canada’s Cup was
in October 2007 also in Farr 40’s, held in Toronto where the Macatawa Bay YC
of Holland, MI, represented by Bob Hughes on Heartbreaker, defeated Honour
representing the Royal Canadian YC (RCYC).
No official explanation has come from Macatawa Bay YC, Port Credit YC, or
CMRC, though it is understood that MBYC is disputing the legitimacy of the
U.S. representative. The Canada’s Cup is a challenge Cup between the U.S.
and Canada, first held in 1896 between the Royal Canadian Yacht Club and the
Lincoln Park Yacht Club (Chicago, IL) in a race between top-notch cutters
that was won by the Canadian team.
CMRC announcement:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10477
MELGES ONE DESIGN RACING IS SUPER HOT THIS FALL
Hard to believe but the Fall Championship racing season is already here! The
2010 Audi Melges 20 U.S. National Championship just wrapped up on Macatawa
Bay, Michigan, while the 2010 Melges 32 World Championship (San Francisco,
CA) and Melges 24 North American Championship (Rochester, NY) will happen in
late September. Stay close to all the class websites and melges.com and
watch the entries and excitement build! -- http://www.melges.com
SAN FRANCISCO'S PLAN FOR HOSTING AMERICA'S CUP
San Francisco's conjoined piers at the foot of Bryant Street are essentially
a concrete slab on crumbling pilings fit for little more than a parking lot.
But if city officials are successful in their plan to host the next
America's Cup, the drab Piers 30-32 would be transformed into a striking
bayfront amphitheater and sailing showplace - a focal point of a revived
waterfront stretching from the Bay Bridge to south of AT&T Park - all
without tapping taxpayer funds.
Under a proposal that Mayor Gavin Newsom's administration recently presented
to race organizers, the city would provide free land and future development
rights on the property in exchange for the America's Cup event authority
paying $100 million to $150 million to shore up the piers, dredge the area
around them, and install new breakwaters and utility lines.
The Port of San Francisco would retain ownership of the property. Future
development would be under a long-term lease and still require governmental
approvals. Structures to house team headquarters, a public amphitheater and
new mega-yacht slips would be temporary and paid for by race organizers.
If the pitch works, it will restore two areas of the waterfront - Piers
30-32 and Pier 50 just south of the ballpark - that will otherwise sit
underused for years because of the cost of stabilizing their seismically
unsafe pilings, said Michael Cohen, head of the city's economic development
office.
The cup would also infuse an estimated $1.4 billion into the Bay Area's
economy - the vast majority of it in San Francisco - an economic prize
surpassed in sports only by the Olympics and soccer's World Cup, a recent
study found.
Race organizers could recoup their investment developing the site in the
future if the regatta moves to another locale. In the interim, they would
have the benefit of showcasing sailing's most prestigious event against the
backdrop of San Francisco Bay and the opportunity to create sailing fans in
the largely untapped U.S. market, city officials said.
"The stars are aligned at this moment to capitalize on a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity," said Kyri McClellan, the mayor's project manager on the cup
bid. "It would turn a broken asset into a showcase for the world - a
showcase not just of San Francisco, but of the competitive sport of
sailing." -- SF Chronicle, read more: http://tinyurl.com/SFGate-com
DEADLINE: The City must hand the team its proposal by September 30th.
MARK TURNER: British company OC Group, known for the involvement in the
Extreme Sailing Series, the Barcelona World Race, and The Transat
single-handed transatlantic race, and mainland Europe based ThirdPole have
been acquired in a non-cash deal to bring together their competences into a
global leading sports marketing and events company. OC Group’s Mark Turner,
who has been rumored to being recruited by America’s Cup defender BMW Oracle
Racing to administer their independent race authority, will remain fully
engaged in the overall business as Executive Chairman. When OC Group
Communications Director Lou Newlands was asked by email if there was any
connection with the new company configuration and the possibility of Mark
Turner being appointed as the event manager for the 34th America's Cup, Lou
replied, “I think the press release answers your question! The new merger is
a full-time commitment for Mark.” -- Press release:
http://tinyurl.com/OC-merger
WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR
St. Moritz, Switzerland (September 5, 2010) - Mathieu Richard (FRA) French
Match Racing Team won the ‘King of the Mountain’ title today in spectacular
style, taking a huge stride towards his quest to become the 2010 ISAF Match
Racing World Champion.
Having toyed with the teams all week at the St. Moritz Match Race, it was on
the final day that the Maloja wind truly kicked in, bringing with it a
supreme display of match racing for which the ISAF World Match Racing Tour
is renowned. Richard, despite not always being on top of his game throughout
the week, knuckled down when it mattered most, grinding out a series of
hard-fought victories against his nearest rivals today.
By winning the round robin, double ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian
Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar was guaranteed a spot in the semifinals.
Light winds yesterday precluded the completion of the quarterfinals, which
today saw Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN beat Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global
Team, Richard beat Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team, and Adam Minoprio
(NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing beat Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing
Team.
When the two British skippers won their first semi-final matches, the
prospects looked good for an all-British final. However, Richard squashed
plans for “"God Save the Queen” when he rode one of the many random lake
gusts to win his deciding match to dispense of Ainslie.
The scene was set for a fitting British-French finale, with the title going
to the first team to win two races. It was one all after two races and in
the deciding race, it seemed only right that the wind, so unpredictable and
challenging all week, should have the final say. Richard, playing a string
of gusts and shifts to perfection, pulling five lengths clear, a lead he
maintained to take the ‘King of the Mountain’ crown and CHF36,000 in prize
money. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/WMRT-090510
St. Moritz Match Race - Final Standings
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 35,565.35 USD
2. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar, 24,706.77 USD
3. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, 19,763.70 USD
4. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN, 15,810.96 USD
5. Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team, 12,845.88 USD
6. Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team, 10,869.59 USD
7. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 8,893.30 USD
8. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra, 5,928.98 USD
9. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 4,940.82 USD
10. Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Race Team, 3,952.65 USD
11. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 2,963.45 USD
12. Jerome Clerc (SUI) Team CER, 1,975.63 USD
Prize money listed above converted from Swiss Francs (1 USD = 1.01233 CHF)
Tour website: http://www.wmrt.com
NEXT UP: The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) now heads to Bornholm, Denmark
for the Danish Open on Sept 8-12, 2010, which has $50,000 USD to play for.
Twelve teams will sail the DS37, and while defending champion Jes Gram
Hansen (DEN) will not be there, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) will look to improve on
his 2009 bridesmaid finish. The Tour is the leading professional sailing
series, featuring 9 events across the globe, sanctioned by the International
Sailing Federation (ISAF) with "Special Event" status. Prize money is
awarded for each event, with event points culminating in the crowning of the
"ISAF Match Racing World Champion". Tour scoreboard:
http://www.wmrt.com/results/scoreboard.html
FINN WORLDS
San Francisco, CA (September 5, 2010) - Ed Wright (GBR) put a wrong to right
today in winning the Finn Gold Cup in San Francisco. It has been an enigma
of the class that the former world number one had never won a world title.
He had come close on a number of occasions, but this week in San Francisco,
he put together an incredibly consistent and winning performance to take the
Finn world title in the best possible way by dominating and winning the
medal race.
The strong conditions all week were ideal for Wright, renowned for being the
fittest sailor in the fleet. “I was surprised how fit the others guys were
out there,” said Wright. “But it does make a difference. It's nice to feel
fresh each morning. I have put a lot of effort into this year did quite a
lot of training over the summer and changed my body shape. Everything was
gearing up towards this event. I am really happy.” Oscar flag for free
pumping downwind was raised on each and every downwind leg of the
championship, giving the Jury very little to do.
As for American 2008 Olympic silver medalist, Zach Railey was philosophical
about his fourth place finish. “It's probably the best regatta I have sailed
this year and if I can build on that this winter and work on stuff, then
we'll get ready for the 2011 season. I think I averaged a fifth and that was
part of the goal coming in as we thought that would be enough for the
podium, but there were three other sailors here who just sailed a little bit
better than me. Ed, Rafa and Giles were the three best sailors here this
week.” -- Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/Finn-Worlds-090510
Event website: http://www.finngoldcup.com/
Photos by Eric Simonson, Chris Ray, Dave Keane:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0906/
Final Standings (top 10 of
1. GBR, Edward Wright, 22 pts
2. ESP, Rafael Trujillo, 53
3. GBR, Giles Scott, 56
4. USA, Zach Railey, 59
5. FRA, Thomas le Breton, 72
6. SLO, Gasper Vincec, 94
7. GBR, Andrew Mills, 107
8. CRO, Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, 107
9. GBR, Mark Andrew, 110
10. AUS, Brendan Casey, 112
Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/2010-Finn-Worlds-results
THE BEST ONE-DESIGN SAILS . . . FOR LESS!
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expert, or place your order online at http://www.onedesign.com
VAN LIEW READY FOR THIRD SOLO TRIP AROUND GLOBE
Charleston, SC (September 6, 2010) - The boat is ready, the trial runs are
over and the bon voyage party has ended. For (American) Brad Van Liew, there
is nothing left except the water. More than 30,000 miles of it, to be exact
-- all that stands between him and circumnavigating the globe alone for the
third time.
Today (Monday), Van Liew sets sails for France on Le Pingouin, his re-fitted
Open 60 racing yacht. For most people it would be the trip of a lifetime,
but for Van Liew it is merely a commute. Along with a member of his shore
crew, his brother-in-law and a volunteer, he will cross the Atlantic to
reach the starting line of the Velux 5 Oceans race.
This will be his third solo sailboat race around the world. He is 2-0 in
these punishing races, and knows that no American has ever finished three.
But he doesn't like to think about the odds. Van Liew knows he's already
beaten them.
"I'm definitely ready to get out there and do some sailing," he said last
week, lounging on Le Pingouin after a two-hour sail around the harbor. "It's
tough. I wish we had more time and money, but we got the cards we got, and
we're going to play them."
As yet, the campaign has not picked up a primary sponsor, a corporate
support network to defray the cost of the $2 million campaign. But he will
not turn back. If you build it, they will come -- it always has worked
before. He's put together a top-notch team and boat, and he is nothing if
not a proven skipper. If not for the recession, he no doubt already would
have a primary sponsor, and may yet. -- The Post and Courier, full story:
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/sep/06/sailing-away/
BACKGROUND: The Velux 5 Oceans is the longest running solo round the world
race, and has 28 years of rich heritage as the BOC Challenge and then the
Around Alone. For the eight entrants, this edition features five ocean
sprints over nine months. After setting off on October 17 from La Rochelle
to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador
in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic
to France. -- http://www.velux5oceans.com/
SAILING SHORTS
* Ridgeway, ONT (September 3, 2010) - Americans Ernesto Rodriguez and Mary
Hall won the final race of the Snipe Western Hemisphere & Orient
Championship, putting an exclamation on their overall title victory by 15
points over second place Augie Diaz and Kathleen Tocke (USA). This is
Rodriguez’ first major international Snipe class win, and have earned them a
berth to the 2011 Snipe Worlds to be held in Rungsted, Denmark. Top junior
competitor Raul Rios and Marcos Teixidor of Puerto Rico, while top female
team was the sister duo Trixy Agusti and YuYu Agusti from Argentina, who
were also the 2nd junior team and finished 18th overall. -- Daily
reports/results:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10459
* The Coast Guard will conduct an investigative hearing Tuesday for three
crewmembers from Coast Guard Station San Diego charged with offenses under
the Uniform Code of Military Justice in connection with their involvement in
the December 20, 2009 collision between a Coast Guard Station San Diego
small boat and a civilian boat in San Diego Bay that resulted in the death
of a child and the injury of other passengers on the civilian boat. -- Full
story: http://tinyurl.com/Coast-Guard-090310
* Torbole, Italy (September 5, 2010) - Six countries were represented in
this year edition of the 5.5 Metre Class Gold Cup hosted by Circolo Vela
Torbole on Lake Garda: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Norway, The Netherlands
and Switzerland. The rule is simple: the boat that first wins three races is
the winner and after three races, a boat that has not won a single race no
longer competes. After three races Kristian Nergaard from Royal Norwegian
Yacht Club and Bernard Haissly from Société Nautique de Genève faced off for
the final where defending champion Nergaard deployed his match racing
tactics to win the event for the third time consecutively. -- Full report:
http://www.5.5class.org/news/files/0eeb4c077e04bb2098d765055920c2e3-14.html
* Sardinia, Italy (September 6, 2010) - Forty-seven maxi yachts took to the
waters off the Costa Smeralda today, for opening encounters at the 2010 Maxi
Yacht Rolex Cup. It was a good day for most with more breeze than expected,
affording all classes some quality racing. For some, of course, it was a
really good day. Notables include Alegre (GBR) in the Mini Maxi Rolex World
Championship with two wins out of two: a perfect opening salvo. Hamilton II
(GBR) took Supermaxi, Ranger (CAY) won the anticipated battle of the J-Class
and J-One (GBR) put one over her bigger rivals in Wally. -- Full story:
http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=100400&lang=1
EIGHT BELLS
Groton, CT - As an avid sailor, Donald "Donzo" Wilkinson of Noank raced hard
and had an infectious laugh. At 54, he had decades of experience on the
water and had captained private yachts and sailboats. But all of Wilkinson's
experience did not prevent what happened during a sailboat race in Fishers
Island Sound Saturday afternoon (September 4, 2010).
Wilkinson was aboard the 30-foot sailboat One More Time when he was struck
on top of his head by the boat's boom. It knocked him unconscious. A fellow
crew member among the half dozen on board the Farr 30 performed CPR on
Wilkinson until emergency personnel arrived, according to his father-in-law,
George Hohenstein. Wilkinson was brought to shore and then to Lawrence &
Memorial Hospital in New London where he died. An autopsy is scheduled to be
performed by the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner.
Described by Hohenstein as a "lifetime sailor," Wilkinson was not an
amateur. He was the founding commodore for the Mystic River Mudhead Sailing
Association, serving from 1979-1980 and again from 1999-2001. He also served
on the Board of Managers from 1981-1983. A celebration of Wilkinson's life
will be held Saturday at the Mystic Congregational Church. The family is
asking those planning to attend to wear flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts
because he was "most-comfortable in that," Gilmartin said. -- Full story:
http://www.theday.com/article/20100906/NWS01/309069924/1018
Additional info: http://tinyurl.com/Don-Wilkinson
Commenting on the tragic accident is event participant Peter Rugg:
“Fishers Island was spared Hurricane Earl who fizzled on the way by. With
the passage of the cold front, today came with a blustery westerly for the
annual Fishers Island Yacht Club 54th Annual ‘Round Island Race on September
4th with 73 boats entered. The committee set a short course inside Fishers
Island Sound due to the huge swells at the Race and on the south side of the
west end of FI. Disaster felled several boats as Pursuit (S2 9.1) grounded
on Horseshoe Reef off Groton, CT and lost her rudder. Then Showdown (J/29)
broached under spinnaker in 30-35 knots, lost control of the vessel and
careened up on South Dumpling. All hands are safe, but the boat is a
significant loss.
“Shortly thereafter, One More Time (Farr 30) jibed at the North Hill Buoy to
run to the finish. A respected seasoned sailor, Don (Donzo) Wilkinson of
Noank, CT was struck with the boom and suffered a substantial skull
fracture. VHF to the race committee pulled in emergency services. A trained
first responder on a RIB boarded the boat and administered CPR. The boat
went directly to shore to be met by the Fishers Island EMT squad and an
emergency room doctor who administered stabilization and resuscitation
treatment. Don was then whisked to a mainland New London hospital by the Sea
Stretcher emergency vessel run by the Fishers Island Fire Department. He was
pronounced dead at the hospital. In lieu of prize awards, the chaplain of
one of the local churches prayed for Don. He will be missed.”
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LETTERS AND FORUM
Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The
Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer
than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One
letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for
elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is
available on the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
-- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From John Rumsey: (re, 34th America’s Cup)
On television car racing is dull. On television sailboat racing is dull.
Unless you can get the cars or boats to crash and burn there will not be
much to watch for the fans so whether there are mono hulls or multi hulls
racing the only ones who it will not be dull for are the competitors and
their teams. And there better be some wind.
* From Tim Patterson: (re, Video of the Week in SBUTT 3070)
Just watched all three of the clips from the 2010 Etchells Worlds. Watching
all the smiling people as the award was presented to John Bertrand, I cannot
help but remember when JB won the America's Cup in Newport. As he stepped
ashore someone stuffed a mike in his face and asked, "How do you feel? You
have just ended 132 years of domination of the Cup by the United States."
Bertrand replied, “If I could make my countrymen as proud of their flag as
you are of yours, then I shall have done a great thing.” He showed himself
to be not only a great sailor, but a great statesman and ambassador of our
sport, and clearly, he is still all of those things.
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department
usually uses water.
Special thanks to Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, and
LaserPerformance.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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