|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1975 -- November 28, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.RAW POWER In the South Atlantic Sunday, the raw power of the new Volvo Open 70s was demonstrated in spectacular fashion when ABN Amro One, skippered by Mike Sanderson, and Seb Josse's ABN Amro Two broke the 24-hour distance record for a monohull. Sanderson is now the holder of the outright record, having traveled an incredible 543 nautical miles in 24 hours, eight miles farther than the old record held by Bouwe Bekking's Movistar, which was damaged on the first night of the race and is undergoing repairs in Portugal. Simon Fisher, the British navigator on ABN Amro Two, which is in second position, 60 miles astern, described life on board as the boat rampaged across 537 miles in a day. "Without doubt this is definitely life at the extreme," Fisher said. "The whole boat is shuddering and shaking as we crash through one wave to the next. All the winches and blocks are screaming and cracking like cannon fire under the load. Water is pouring down the deck and into the hatch, so we have to bail out every half an hour or so to avoid turning the leeward side of the boat into a swimming pool. On deck it's like standing in front of a fire hose and you have to hang on to stay in the cockpit. Only an hour ago Bicey (Nick Bice) was swept off the stack (sails piled up on the windward side deck) and down the cockpit." -- Edward Gorman, Times on Line, complete story: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4041-1894005,00.html Position Reports -- Sunday, 2200 GMT 1. ABN Amro One, 1507 miles to finish 2. ABN Amro Two, +64 miles 3. Brasil 1, +135 miles 4. Ericsson Racing Team, +173 miles 5. Sunergy and Friends, +1306 miles 6. Movistar, Retired 6. Pirates of the Caribbean, Retired Event website: www.volvooceanrace.com DON'T BLAME DAVID In the Thanksgiving issue of Scuttlebutt we posted a rules quiz with an answer that did not match the question. It was not rules expert David Dellenbaugh's fault - blame the aging curmudgeon. Let's try it again. True or False? When a port-tack boat (P) crosses ahead of a starboard tacker (S), S is not permitted to change course if, as a result, P would have to change her course immediately to keep clear. (The answer - hopefully the correct one this time - is posted below.) GERONIMO The four days, 19 hours, 31 minutes and 37 seconds record for the Los Angeles to Honolulu transpacific passage set by Capgemini and Schneider Electric's maxi trimaran Geronimo has been ratified by the World Speed Sailing Records Council. The record for the fastest boat to sail the 2215 mile passage is now held by Olivier de Kersauson and his 10 man Franco American crew. The start and finish lines for this record are those that are also those used by the fleet that race in the traditional bi-annual Transpac race. Geronimo is currently on the way back to San Diego and is expected to arrive this weekend. The boat will be kept at Driscolls Boatyard on Shelter Island and will undergo maintenance and preparations for the next record - the WSSRC ratified Transpacific East to West San Francisco (USA) to Yokohama (JPN) record - which de Kersauson and his crew on Geronimo will attempt in early 2006 (weather dependent). This 4482 mile record currently stands at 19 days, 15 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds and was set by Steve Fossett (USA) onboard the 60 foot trimaran Lakota in May of 1996. Fossett averaged a boat speed of 9.51 knots when this record was set. -- www.superyachting.com FREE SHIPPING AND NEW PRODUCTS Team One Newport is offering free ground shipping for the month of November!! We have some really cool new items like the Ronstan light-weight Windbloc jackets, the Timbuk2's Bag In A Box, Kaenon sunglasses, Freestyle's navigator compass watch, Blue Performance Cockpit bags, Patagonia's baby bunting (can't forget those future sailors!), Henri Lloyd' North Sea jacket, Gill's Coast Warm jacket, Railrider's Micro-fleece tops, and Musto's MPX Race jacket. Don't forget Sharon Green's Ultimate Sailing calendar, Onne Van der Wal's World of Boating and lots more at http://www.team1newport.com - or call 800-VIP-GEAR and talk to us!! TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE Joe Harris, competing in the grueling 4,500 mile Transat Jacques Vabre, became the first American sailor to win a division of this premiere ocean race when he sailed his 50-foot yacht Gryphon Solo across the finish line in Salvador, Brazil. With his co-skipper, Briton Josh Hall, at his side both sailors kept racing hard until the red hulled yacht slipped silently across the line in All Saints Bay. "It feels great to be first across the line in our division," a jubilant Joe Harris said shortly after docking in Salvador. "This win has been a long time coming and it's all the more sweeter for it." American Kip Stone and Merfyn Owen aboard Artforms crossed the finish line today in second place at just one hour ahead of Vedettes de Bréhat in one of the closest finish of the 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre. Kip and Merf made the biggest comeback of the entire fleet after their pit stop in Lorient, France to replace a damaged mainsail on day three of this double-handed transatlantic race. They went from first to seventh place overnight, trailing class leaders Joe Harris and Josh Hall on Gryphon Solo by 400 miles. In the end, they finished just 17 hours 41 minutes behind their rival. -- www.jacques-vabre.com The four winning teams in the 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre are: - Open 60 Multihull: Pascal Bidégorry and Lionel Lemonchois (Banque Populaire) - Open 60 Monohull: Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron (Virbac-Paprec) - Open 50 Multihull: Franck-Yves and Kevin Escoffier (Crêpes Whaou !) - Open 50 Monohull: Joe Harris eand Josh Hall (Gryphon Solo) PASSION IS THE BIG ATTRACTION The French team K-Challenge is either going to be among the best stories of this 32nd America's Cup or one of immense disappointment and regret. Although not among the first teams to register its challenge, K-Challenge was the first new team to be founded with its eyes on this edition of the Cup, launching its campaign whilst the 31st America's Cup season was being raced in the winter of 2002-2003. The team competed in the 2004 and 2005 Louis Vuitton Acts achieving promising results, but is currently searching for a sponsor to secure its funding to continue. France holds the record for longest consecutive challenges for the America's Cup, but until now, it's generally been a record distinguished by quantity - every challenger series since 1970, rather than quality - no French team has advanced to participate in the America's Cup Match. K-Challenge, initiated by syndicate head Stephane Kandler and team leader and sailor Dawn Riley, set out to change this around. Although the team carries the support of the French government and is proudly French, it is a more international squad than any of its predecessors, with Kiwis, Americans, Australians and other Europeans filling out positions on the team. The hope is to retain the individual flair and vision that previous French challenges have been famous for, whilst adding some anglo-saxon directness and team spirit. Over the course of the 2005 season, K-Challenge demonstrated it may have just found that perfect balance. "We have the passion of the French, the Latin temperament, which is a key part of the team's make-up," Riley said, describing the team to a reporter in Malmö-Skåne. "Working for a team of such passion is a big attraction for many of us." -- America's Cup website, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/97ytb WORLD CHAMPION The winners of the FICO World Championship 2005 are the Briton Mike Golding and Ecover, his sponsor for the past two seasons. The FICO rankings table for skippers takes into consideration the oceanic events of the past two seasons with two transatlantic races in 2004 (The single-handed Transat Plymouth-Boston and the fully-crewed transatlantic from Quebec to Saint Malo) and four major races in 2005 (Vendée Globe, Faraday Mill Ostar, Route de l'équateur, Transat Jacques Vabre). The irony of the final standings this year is that Mike's closest rival is none other than the Swiss Dominique Wavre, Mike-Golding's crew member in the Transat Jacques Vabre who also finished just behind him in the Vendée Globe. Dominique finishes the year just ahead of Vincent Riou, the winner of the Vendée Globe 2004-2005. WHO'S YOUR SANTA? Hall Spars & Rigging is proud to announce that it's okay for "grown-ups" to write a letter to Santa. Download our Wish List, use our website as reference to fill in the boat parts you want, and send the list to your favorite "santa." Ordering is just as easy - Santa faxes or emails the form to Hall Spars & Rigging and we do the rest. The first 20 orders receive a bonus gift - a free 2006 Harken Ultimate Sailing Calendar by Sharon Green. http://www.hallspars.com NEWS BRIEFS * South Africa's America's Cup yacht race hopeful - Cape Town-based Team Shosholoza - has scooped the coveted "SA Sports Team of the Year" title. Team Shosholoza, formed less than two years ago as the African continent's first challenger for the prestigious 154-year-old America's Cup event, got the nod at last night's award ceremony in Johannesburg ahead of other favourites including the national cricket team, the Proteas, and the Currie Cup-winning Free State Cheetahs rugby team. -- http://tinyurl.com/cso32 * In the finals of the New Zealand Match Racing Championship Chris Dickson and Dean Barker went head to head for five straight matches leaving the decider to the fifth and final match. The lead changed numerous times but Barker sailed home to win the final race by 12 seconds and the New Zealand championships for the third time. Cameron Appleton beat Simon Minoprio two straight in the Petit Finals to capture third place, and the last available spot in the ISAF's Grade 1 Auckland Match Racing Cup. Barker and Dickson had previously been invited to compete. -- http://www.rnzys.org.nz/ * Club de Yates Higuerillas, Chile -- The website for the Lightning World Championship has the "Preliminary Results" posted for eight races. Nine races were scheduled, but the regatta ended Saturday, so these could be the final results: 1. Alberto Gonzalez (CHI) 20pts; 2. David Starck, (USA) 39pts; 3. Pablo Herman (CHI) 41 pts; 4. Jody Swanson (USA) 48pts; 5. Allan Terhune (USA) 55pts; 6. Amanda Clark 60pts; 7. Jody Lutz (USA) 62pts; 8. Ched Proctor (USA) 63pts; 9. Juan Eduardo Reid (CHI) 68pts; 10. Bill Mauk (USA) 75pts. -- http://www.lightning.cl/2005Worlds/ * The ten yachts competing in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race set sail on leg 3 Sunday-- heading for the Southern Ocean to visit Australia for the first time in the ten-year history of the event. More than 50,000 well wishers lining the coastline for the start in Durban, South Africa. Leaderboard: 1. westernaustralia.com: 24.5 pts; 2. Liverpool 08, 19.5 pts; 3. New York, 18.5pts; 4. Cardiff, 18 pts; 5. Uniquely Singapore, 14 pts; 6. Durba, 13 pts; 7. Qingdao, 11 pts; 8. Victoria, 6.5 pts; 9. Jersey, 6 pts; 10. Glasgow, 3.5 pts. -- www.clipper-ventures.com * At its annual board of directors meeting in Phoenix, AZ, the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) elected their 2006 officers and a new member to the board of directors. The newly elected officers are President, Valli Cook of Manhattan, NY; Vice President, Joan Thayer, Marblehead, MA; Secretary, Elizabeth S. Corl, Marblehead, MA; Treasurer, Nancy Parrillo, Cumberland, RI. Linda Newland of Alameda, CA was elected to the board to serve with continuing board members Susan Epstein, Sharon, MA; Gail Hine, Murietta, CA; Elaine Dickinson, Annapolis, MD; Becky Squires, Alexandria, Va; and Julie Teetsov, Albany, NY. . -- www.WomenSailing.org CORRECT ANSWER TO RACING RULES QUIZ False -- Rule 16.2 now applies only when a port tacker (P) is passing astern of a starboard tacker (S). When P tries to cross in front of S, S can 'hunt' her within the limits of rule 16.1 (Changing Course). See how well you really know the new 2005-2008 racing rules -- there are 99 more questions like this; check out the Racing Rules IQ Test. -- www.SpeedandSmarts.com SAILOR'S SHOPPING SIMPLIFIED AND ON SALE Sit still & shop easily by sailin' over to vanderwal.com and save on gifts for your favorite sailors. All prints are on sale Nov. 25-Dec. 20 on the website and in the Newport, RI gallery. Limited Edition Prints, Mini Prints, calendars, notecards, posters… and more on the expanded website. http://www.vanderwal.com/scuttlebutt.asp LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Paul Miller: In response to the comments about the VOR 70s having problems, we all have to realize that technology development is mostly evolution and evolution includes some Darwinism. Today we can better predict what will happen in a new design, but engineering is an inexact science and until we can quantify the urge to win, we can't figure everything in to the equations used to develop a boat. "How strong is strong enough?" is still the biggest question in structural engineering. Extra structural weight increases reliability at the expense of performance. If the weather during the race is benign, then the boat was "overbuilt" and slow. Minimum scantling rules (such as ABS) can equalize the playing field while providing acceptable structural reliability, but the trade-off is the stifling of new ideas and technology. The Wright brothers didn't get it right the first time; just ask Langley! * From Kenneth Voss: Jordan Murphy stated, "Last time I checked none of the smaller local or 'Superpower' Yacht Clubs have an 'open to the public' sign above the front door." I know in Southern Florida, and I think Southern California, any child is welcome to join the sailing program ... usually costs a little bit more if they are not members. The exclusion aspect comes in that none of the programs are free, most clubs try to get the programs to pay for themselves, so financial constraints enter into the picture for parents. At CGSC we often have a free (or almost free) learn to sail program for anyone in the community. When we were running our junior program we would try to work out a deal for parents whose kids loved to learn to sail and wanted to continue on in the program to the racing part. At the same time we would warn the parents that the program fee was really not the expensive part...one or two away regattas cost almost as much in housing and such as half a years fee (which included coaching). Any sport that involves traveling gets expensive, but I wouldn't trade the close family time we got during the traveling for anything. * From David M. McClatchy, Jr.: Junior Sailing is doing great. It is the brightest star on US Sailing's horizon. Give credit where credit is due. The Optimist is a good product. Suzie Sailor and her child had a bad experience. Has it occurred to any one that there are 3.000 Optimists members in the US with 10.000 boats out there and someone may have had a bad experience? Is it the class' fault? Could it be Suzie's fault? Or maybe, consider this, her sailor's fault? Who has not wanted to invite back a bad crew or stopped socializing with an over-amped parent? But please, let's stop pontificating and give everyone the benefit of the doubt and a second chance. So one Laser sailor out of how many comes to a regatta reeking of a cash. Stop the presses and let's make sure every kid can tie a bowline. We are fortunate to have such good problems. Participation at the junior level is at an all-time high. Can it be tweaked? Sure. * From Woody Glenn: I wonder how many of the nay sayers about the new scoring system at the Olympics have tried something similar. I've been part of a team that has raced against the Dering Class at Cowes on and off over the last few decades. The teams have been mostly 'off the porch' sailors and as a result sometimes the results have been lopsided. About ten years ago we started weighting the scores: 1 point per race the first day, 1 1/2 the second and third days, and 2 points the last day. In general, going into the last day there is 'always a chance', so we race. Before the weighted scoring, the last day was often a letdown with little to do till the Awards. I personally like the new system better as we race till the end. I do feel for the group below tenth who don't race on the last day and wonder if that cut is necessary. * From Chris Upton: Dieter Loibner likens the Columbus voyage to offshore cruising in that speed is sacrificed for safety. We may have forgotten that most ships of the day did not travel much beyond the sight of land. I'm not sure if I would have sailed off the edge of the world in the Santa Maria. Those boats were more cutting edge in terms of design versus known conditions than what we see in the VOR. We have been having this race for 30+ years. The designers, engineers, builders and crew all know what they are doing. The VOR rule is for a boat to travel downwind in the southern ocean, not uphill on the continental shelf. The sea conditions in relatively shallow water are much more extreme than running before the trades in 3,000 feet. Even down wind is much more dangerous on the shelf. It was only recently that the ARC and solo races saw a high number of damaged boats when getting clobbered close in. They all survived the rest of the trip. New technology at the extreme of the sport coupled with unexpected conditions is going to break boats. * From Chris Ericksen: In an answer to Mark Weinheimer ('Butt 1974), we do know the names of most of the explorers from the Age of Exploration, especially those who were lost. Perhaps the most romantic was Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse. A French explorer of the Eighteenth Century, he visited both Hawaii and Alaska, and La Pérouse Bay in Maui is named for him; his fate was unknown for nearly two centuries until the wreck of one of his two ships was found near Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. Another was Sir John Franklin, the legendary English explorer of the Nineteenth Century whose expedition in search of the Northwest Passage ended in his death from heart attack after most of his crew had died of scurvy; the mystery of his disappearance and the dozens of rescue missions launched to find him animated the spirits of mid-century Europe. So continuing on is no guarantee of being remembered--not coming back is. * From Spencer Rutherford: I must correct Jesse Deupree with regard to Playstation/ Cheyenne. While the boat did do a 'near pitchpoled' on one occasion, that she did not break is a credit to Steve Fossett and his design and build teams -- and bears out the point made earlier by John Harwood-Bee. The extending of her hulls was development and not a reaction to a fragile design. Her withdrawal from 'The Race' was as a result of hitting a very solid and very large underwater object at speed, not as a result of a design fault. That she was able, albeit slowly, to divert to the US for repairs rather than somewhere much closer is testament to her sound construction. CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM Can an atheist get insurance for acts of God? |
