|
SCUTTLEBUTT #476 - January 6, 2000CAPE TO RIO RACEThe 3460 mile Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro Brazil race will start this Saturday. A fleet of 90 is entered. Typically the race will be in downwind conditions. The majority of the sailing is expected to be in North Easterly flowing trade winds. Once near the Brazilian coast localized weather patterns may see a winner come out of this tricky end game. Likely to fall is the race record set by Morning Glory. This record is 14 days 14 hours and 52 minutes an average of 9.86 knots. There are three prime line honors contenders. Two are American boats, one a home country yacht. First of these contenders is Portugal-Brasil 500. This yacht is a new 80-foot design. Designer is Simonis/Voogd. Skipper will be noted offshore sailor Ludde Ingvall. Portugal-Brasil 500 is designed to the new IRM 2000 rating rule. She is named in honor of the 500th anniversary of Portuguese Admiral Pedro Cabral's voyage of discovery to Brazil. Next contender is Sagamore. Sagamore is a Lingan design which has been optimized for the Cape to Rio. Sagamore has been lightened and now features mast head spinnakers. The final contender is Zephyrus IV, a Reichel Pugh Maxi. -- Courtesy of the Torresen Sailing Site, http://www.torresen.com LOUIS VUITTON CUP From boisterous to becalmed. A millpond replaced the rowdy conditions on the inner Hauraki Gulf the last three days and conspired to postpone Race 4 of the Louis Vuitton Cup semifinal round. Replacing the high-roach mainsail profiles was the roach of a shark fin, which circled around the French boat 6eme Sens. The four challengers slated to race today drifted around behind their tow boats for three hours waiting for the wind to fill. During that time, between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., the wind averaged 1.9 knots and topped out at 4.2 knots during one 10-minute period. Finally, at 2:50 p.m., regatta operations director Vince Cooke fired the requisite two guns and hoisted the code flags Answering Pennant over Alpha, postponing today's races until tomorrow. When Le Defi BTT's 6eme Sens rammed Stars & Stripes on the port transom scoop gunwale, the impact broke the outer skin of the gunwale, and sent a crack down the scoop to the boat's centreline. Crew member Robbie Young could be seen placing a large patch over the crack as the team raced upwind. The international jury granted Team Dennis Conner a 24-hour delay to make repairs. Tonight the jury granted the San Diego team another 24 hours to complete the repairs. The scheduled race against America True will be postponed until the end of the round providing the other two scheduled matches are completed tomorrow. In a separate but related ruling, the international jury penalized Le Defi BTT one-half point for failing to avoid the collision with Stars & Stripes. This leaves the French team with a negative score of -0.5. But Team DC's troubles are not over. This evening, the Nippon Challenge filed a protest claiming that Stars & Stripes sailed its race against the Japanese on Sunday with an illegal appendage -- either a keel or a rudder. Japan claims the appendage was not manufactured in either the United States or New Zealand, in violation of Article 19 of the America's Cup 2000 Protocol. If the jury upholds the protest, it could cost the series-leading Team DC the point it earned in its victory over Nippon. The jury is scheduled to hear the protest at 5 p.m. Friday. Stars & Stripes', tactician Tom Whidden speaks glowingly of his boat's performance. "I love the boat. Considering that it's a one-boat programme and it was designed in a short period of time, it's hard not to like our boat. "In 10 to 12 knots it comes alive. Under that, maybe we're a little vulnerable. We're not sure. We made some changes for this round [the semis], nothing really big, but our sails are getting a little better, our rig's a little better. Maybe we'll do better," Whidden said. "It'll probably take an 8-2 record to make finals, maybe 7-3," he said. -- Larry Edwards, Quokka Sports. Full story: http://www.americascup.org/ * MORE INTERNATIONAL JURY -- In light of the controversy generated after America True declined to sail its final race in Round Robin Three, thus eliminating Young America and allowing Le Defi to advance to the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals, the International Jury has issued an interpretation of the Racing Rules. America True asked the International Jury to publish its interpretation to clarify the case in which a challenger that could no longer win sufficient points to become a finalist decides to race, or not to race, during the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals. The interpretation would also seem to apply in the case of a syndicate who confirms one of the two Finalist positions and is then in a position to manipulate the results of its remaining races. The Jury referred to Racing Rule Two (Fair Sailing) which focuses on sportsmanship and fair play. Rule Two mandates that the participants will follow the rules of the sport. "A boat and her owner shall compete in compliance with recognised principles of sportsmanship and fair play. A boat may be penalised under this rule only if it is clearly established that these principles have been violated." The Jury also quoted Rule Four of the Racing Rules, which provides that the decision for starting or continuing a race lies solely with the boat. A boat is solely responsible for deciding whether or not to start or to continue racing." The Jury has confirmed that as long as a boat complies with the above-mentioned Rules, then they have the option of racing or not racing. In other words, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a team 'throwing' or not participating in a race. However, the Jury gave two examples illustrating when a boat could be vulnerable to a protest hearing. Namely, if the decision whether to race, or race at full ability, was determined by any inducements, influences or arrangements with another Challenger or Defender. Or, if any members of the syndicate were found to have bet on the outcome of the race, and then manipulated the outcome of that race. The Jury interpretations will be welcomed by all the Challengers as a way of clearing the air before these situations arise again. With only two boats transferring from the Semi-Finals to the Finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup, it won't be long before some boats are in the position of having nothing to lose. How they react, whether they continue to sail, or sail hard will no longer be subject to inspection. -- - Camen Pombo, Peter Rusch, Louis Vuitton Cup website, http://www.louisvuittoncup.com/ SEMIFINALS STANDINGS (1 point per win) 3 pts - USA 55 (Stars & Stripes) 2 pts - USA 61 (AmericaOne) 2 pts - JPN 44 (Asura) 1 pt - ITA 45 (Luna Rossa) 1 pts - USA 51 (America True) 0 pts - FRA 46 (6eme Sens) VOLVO OCEAN RACE At the London International Boat Show today, executives of the Volvo Ocean Race together with media partners, United Sport, announced two new and important television agreements for sports news coverage internationally. An agreement has been reached with Sunset and Vine, the producers of Gillette World Sport Special, the most widely distributed sports programme in the world, to include comprehensive coverage of the Volvo Ocean Race, beginning this year. Gillette World Sport Special is a half-hour weekly sports magazine programme broadcast to approximately 117 countries. The news section will carry regular updates on the Volvo Ocean Race together with special features and general race coverage. Gillette World Sport Special combines dramatic sports with high entertainment to take viewers to the very heart of the action. Also from the beginning of this year, Reuters Video News will distribute relevant news stories from the Volvo Ocean Race. This is a video, text and graphics service which is operated via a 24-hour designated global satellite network, feeding 450 broadcast clients around the world. There are seven designated sports news feeds in each 24-hour period giving an unrivalled reach directly into the world's leading newsrooms. Helge Alten, Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race, commented: "Television is an extremely important aspect of the Volvo Ocean Race and together with our partners, United Sport, we have commenced discussions with a number of major broadcasters around the world. We are now nearing the end of successful negotiations with several well-known television channels where we are continuing to focus on news as well as features. "Reuters Video News will enable Volvo's news feeds to be broadcast around the world, and Gillette World of Sport will compliment Sailing World, our Eurosport programme, giving our syndicates and their sponsors extremely wide-ranging and regular coverage internationally. We will continue to focus our attention on television coverage and we are looking forward to making subsequent announcements during the coming months." The Volvo Ocean Race will start from Southampton, England on September 23rd 2001. This professionally crewed event will cover 32,250 nm in approximately nine months, circumnavigating the world with the prevailing winds. The nine-leg race will visit 10 ports, racing through four oceans, and finish in Kiel, Germany in June 2002. -- Lizzie Green Even website: http://www.VolvoOceanRace.org LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree. -- From Mik Beatie (Re Jim Durden's letter about PYRA, although I think it was PYRO to make it sound hot) -- I was a charter member of this goofy association, and the Northern California Rep. We all did have plenty of sailing experience then and were sort of pros. Better with sandpaper and a varnish brush than Cayard will ever be, a few of us could steer a boat a little too. I too was young and excited to belong to an organization that recognized me as a pro, not just a B.N. I remember walking down the dock to sail my Laser one morning at the St. Francis Yacht Club and ran into this kid named John Kostecki. He saw my PYRO sticker and my new PYRO t-shirt and snickered. (Damn punk kids, no respect for a real pro...) He then went on to wax me badly in the Laser race. (Damn punk kids, no respect for a pro...?) Our plan was to get sponsors for the 40 footers we had planned, super fast, super light, big pro crews and big digital readouts on the booms for all to see. I went to the famous powerboat racer and inventor, Howard Arneson and he allowed me to sit in his grand office as I told him of our great plans. He listened politely to my spiel and finally he stood up and said, "Never work. Too slow. Too quiet." And that my friends was the end of that session, the end of PYRO and whoever ran off with the money couldn't have run too far. How far can you run on $101.93? -- From Mike O'Brien (re Chris Bouzaid's comment, 'If this does not change I believe we will see the Volvo Ocean Race supersede the America's Cup in prestige and viewer participation.') -- In my Opinion this has already taken place. -- From Tom Ehman -- Bouzaid is, of course, correct. -- From David Voss -- Open letter to ESPN: Last night's coverage of the America's Cup on ESPN2 was exciting to watch. Close races, contact between the boats and more are making it exciting. However, the TV ad you are running for the event is just flat dumb. Instead of showing some really bad comic book ad with Poseidon throwing a rock at a toy boat, how about using the 30-second montage that is the lead in for each night's coverage? It shows real racing action interlaced with Maori warriors and your theme music and graphic. As a racing sailor, I cringed when I saw the ad you now use with its old world font and sails out of trim while the sailors do their best Star Trek impression by running from side to side on the boat while the imaginary wave hits them from the rock. When it showed during NFL coverage I could only imagine the average viewer laughing at sailboat racing when if you showed them real racing they might want to tune in! Please! Get rid of this ad before it does more harm than good. -- From R.J. Magtanong -- I am sick of hearing people craping all over the America's Cup. If you don't like it, don't follow it. People are crying about the cost. Hey, its a development class. So many new INNOVATIONS (or not so new) have made their way to production boats that you and I could buy. If you put a cap on the costs, you may just stifle the creative ideas that are developed. I know someone is going to say you don't need to spend millions to develop new ideas, look at the International 14 class for example. Good point, but it takes something like the AC to get commercial boat builders to offer these innovations. Other people are moaning about how poorly built these boats are. Skiers know the saying, "If you don't fall a couple of times, you weren't skiing hard enough." Same could apply to the AC. The boat designers and builders tried push their assets to the max. When you do that, some things are going to break. Also, these boats are designed for a purpose, to race the AC according to AC rules. Just like you would not sail an Etchells for the Chicago to Mac race, you would not sail an AC boat for the Whitbread. Let's stop craping all over the AC. Let's just try to enjoy the racing. -- From Kitty Voos, ex-BN, 'IDLER' & 'FUJIMO' -- I agree wholeheartedly with Marc Carmichael's comments. BN most certainly is a term of honor, not a derogatory one. Sailing has always been full of colorful, larger-than-life characters; enough of the ridiculous white crayon PC stuff. -- From the San Diego CYC Jrs. -- Here we are a bunch of kids following the Cup and reading scuttlebutt together and as a group we think its wrong to use the word BN no matter how hard someone has worked. It should have gone away along time ago, and sailors who use the term are wrong! -- From JONATHAN MILLER -- We all know what BN means. The use of that racist, bigotted term in your publication is offensive, rude and disgusting. Your publishing of a letter using the term and then publishing a letter that dismisses it as a dockside joke is unquestionably wrong. -- From Matthew L Thomas -- I just read the BN debacle. As an African and a BN, I personally don't think it is demeaning to me. BN came from the understanding that we all work our tails off, for not much money, I'm proud to be a BN, but remember, use the "N" word out of context and you'll deserve the consequences... -- From Scott Collinson -- Please put an end to the "B_" thread. As one who enjoyed some wonderful years, building, maintaining, and delivering boats; I am here to say that it is politically incorrect - period! Some of the rationalizing I have read here is pathetic. I know you are just printing comments like, "I am sure the people against the term are probably bitter because they can't afford a BN . . ." to illustrate how ignorant these people are, but lets not dignify their responses by printing them. CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: Well said Scott. This thread is now officially dead. PHRF SAN DIEGO-Citing difficulties with its parent Southern California Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, San Diego PHRF has joined the US Sailing Association for the year 2000, officials said Dec. 20. It is not known whether the change will affect San Diego sailors racing in other SoCal PHRF areas or sailors from other areas racing in San Diego. SoCal PHRF officials claim out-of-area racers will be burdened with an extra organization with which to contend. San Diego PHRF officials claim the burden to racers continuing to maintain both memberships will be negligible. Among reasons cited by San Diego PHRF for the changing to USSA were lack of voice with the SoCal PHRF, lack of local final approval in rating and rule changes, and information access issues. Present SoCal PHRF president Robert Plant and 2000 president John Thawley criticized what they termed a "split off from PHRF SoCal" in a Dec. 15 memo to all PHRF racers. "PHRF or any similar organization exists to establish rules and handicaps for dissimilar boats and to keep records," said PHRF San Diego fleet captain Wayne Coulton. "The reality is SoCal has not done a good job." Record keeping and boat data became so bad that "we were getting embarrassed. We could not provide yacht clubs with ratings and the data base was not accurate," he said. SoCal's Plant agrees that the SoCal database is not in the same league as San Diego's. "It's something we're still having difficulty in. We've made a lot of strides in the last five years, but we're asking for them to give us time." Much of the erroneous data generated by SoCal can be attributed to incorrect input by yacht clubs and race organizers, he said. "When you have a 55-foot boat (listed as) weighing 2,000 pounds, you know something's wrong." An accurate database is important to yacht club racers to help equalize boat speeds between boats; even those of the same model but with different equipment and modifications. "Early in (1998) it became obvious that serving the needs of the yacht racing community in San Diego could be best served by moving more control to the local level in terms of the governing and handicapping activities of the fleet," said Coulton. Using the talents of four working database managers that sail within the organization, PHRF San Diego worked on developing a better data base over the last year with the aim of avoiding such conflicts, said Coulton. "We've made tremendous progress through the year," he said. "As we did so, the shortcomings of the SoCal database became more and more obvious." Coulton denied that PHRF San Diego is splitting off from SoCal but stated "there is no national authority that gives SoCal power over San Diego." He also offered to share the database software with SoCal and other organizations wishing to upgrade their systems. The Southern California PHRF stretches from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border as is one of the largest geographical PHRF areas in the nation. It is divided into seven sub-areas. San Diego PHRF has been under the jurisdiction of SoCal PHRF since the San Diego PHRF fleet was incepted in 1985. More than 800 boats are believed to have raced in San Diego competitions in recent years. -- Jack Innis, San Diego Bureau Chief, The Log Full story: http://www.thelog.com/pages/12-29-lead1.htm QUOTE / UNQUOTE AmericaOne's Terry Hutchinson after Prada's dismasting: " Prada is still the benchmark." -- SpinSheet magazine Full comments: http://www.spinsheet.com/ THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUMS Do people in Australia call the rest of the world "up over"? |
