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SCUTTLEBUTT 2248 – December 21, 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). SPORTS AND COURTS (There were reports earlier this week in the sailing media about a conflict between the America’s Cup team BMW Oracle Racing, and a sponsor agent that they had worked with during the 2003 campaign. Whilst litigation has fortunately been largely absent amongst the competitors in the 32nd America’ s Cup, there apparently is a tangle behind the scenes for the American team. Here is their side of the story.) Mr. Spoeri’s press release of earlier this week is significantly inaccurate and misleading. Mr. Spoeri was a sponsor agent involved with the previous Oracle Racing campaign for the 2003 America’s Cup. He received a commission from the contract between Oracle Racing and BMW in that campaign. However, he has no rights, mandate or any involvement in the current campaign for the 32nd America’s Cup. Spoeri’s company K.Com has obtained a German declaratory court ruling that a certain commission is due in respect of the contract between Oracle Racing Inc., a USA corporation, and BMW for the 32nd America’s Cup campaign. The writ initiating this lawsuit was served publicly on the court information table to Oracle Racing according to national German civil procedural law because it could not be successfully performed in California in the specific circumstances. This ruling is being appealed. The proceedings were only advertised at the Munich Court and Oracle Racing Inc did not know about the proceedings until being advised after the ruling was made. The ruling is based only on the facts K.Com presented to the court and due to procedural issues, the court did not yet deal with Oracle Racing’s presentation of the facts. The ruling is not a judgment requiring payment of a specific amount, the plaintiff has to file further proceedings to seek such a judgment. Any such proceedings will be fully defended. There is currently no executable judgment and K.Com has no rights whatsoever against Oracle Racing Inc’s assets. The attachment claim sent to our sponsors last week was based on a court cost order following the declaratory judgment and has been formally terminated by the Munich Court on December 19, 2006. The matter is now with the Court, and we will present our case when the opportunity arises next year. We will have no further public comment until the issues are resolved through the proper legal channels. -- Jane Eagleson, BMW Oracle Racing GIVING IT ANOTHER WHIRL Old dogs can learn new tricks, or at least that's what John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree are hoping. In the midst of their fourth Olympic campaign, the 39-year-old Tornado veterans are faced with the challenge of adapting to the class' new carbon rig. "After sailing with the aluminum rig for so long, this is like starting from ground zero," said Ogletree, who has been crewing for Lovell since 1993. The 27th place finish the pair posted at the recent Tornado World Championships in Argentina served as a wake-up call that the competition has caught up since 2004, when Lovell and Ogletree won silver at the Athens Olympics. Still, nobody's counting them out for 2008. Before the disappointing Worlds finish, Lovell and Ogletree had been sailing well, placing first at the Miami OCR in January, fourth at the Good Luck Beijing-2006 Qingdao International Regatta in August, and first at the US Sailing Pre-Trials in October. In a recent interview with Sailing World, Ogletree spoke openly about his team's strengths and weaknesses, the state of Olympic campaign funding, and the abundance of volunteer labor in China. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/ylbee7 JUNIOR TRAINER TESTING Teaching sailing can be a tricky business. A class of 13-year-olds in 420s may seem harmless, but factor in the token rambunctious kid who loves to capsize, a somewhat complicated boat, and a curveball or two from Mother Nature and you have a recipe for potential disaster. Last summer I taught junior sailing (10- to-17-year-olds, from total beginners to experienced racers) at Sandy Bay Yacht Club in Rockport, Massachusetts. Like many junior sailors, our kids start out in Optimist dinghies and move into 420s as they get older, bigger, and more experienced. The transition can be challenging, if not completely overwhelming. All of a sudden there’s a jib, another person, lines running everywhere, and a spinnaker to deal with (the thought of which can be daunting to a beginner). What if there was a new boat (or boats) that could make the transition from Optis to 420s easier and more fun? -- Read on for as junior sailors of all ages test six new kid-friendly boats, by Gretchen Curtis, SAIL Magazine, full story: http://sailmag.com/features/1206KidBoats.pdf REFLECTIONS ON KEY WEST RACE WEEK Invigorating ocean spray, awesome breezes, staggering comebacks, exhilarating victories, competitor camaraderie, tiki bars, sunsets...and a lot of cool rope. Nice. Brought to you by Rig Pro - Southern Spars. Onsite service trailer in Key West, January 11, 2007. Advance orders delivered, call 401-683-6966. Onsite Service: 401-855-0721. http://www.southernspars.com/rigpro WEATHER WARNING The Sydney to Hobart yacht race fleet has received a weather warning six days out from the start, with possible gale force southerlies on the New South Wales coast on Boxing Day. The Bureau Of Meteorology expects a low pressure system to develop to the east of Bass Strait on Christmas Day, leading to fresh to strong south west to southerly winds around Sydney on Boxing Day. "It is still possible at this range that the low pressure system will be closer to the New South Wales coast, and if that eventuality unfolds then there would be a period of gale force winds on Boxing Day for the start of the race," said Bureau Of Meteorology regional director Barry Hanstrum today. A southerly swell generated by the low pressure system will increase as the fleet heads south, Hanstrum said. Eighty yachts are entered in the 62nd Sydney To Hobart race starting on Sydney Harbour at 1pm on Boxing Day. -- The Sydney Morning Herald, http://tinyurl.com/ydrdvf PASSPORT REQUIRED The 20th edition of North America’s premiere regatta is loaded with international sailing talent and new designs, promising intense competition on all four courses. 54 foreign entries, representing a record breaking 23 different countries, and a domestic contingent from more that 30 U.S. states are sending their best to Acura Key West 2007, presented by Nautica. For two decades now the debut of new and exciting racing designs has been a staple for this showcase event. 2007 will be no different with the list of new boats including 3 IRC designs: Michael Brennan’s R/P45 Sjambok, the Ker 50 Magic Glove (IRL) and Rogers 46 Yeoman 32 (UK). Three other designs that will likely be one design classes in Key West beginning in 2008 include the Club Swan 42 (Esmeralda - hull #2), and the J/92 S and Beneteau 10R, both boasting 5 entries this year. International competition will be at it fiercest in the IRC fleet and the perennially hot Farr 40 class. 27 IRC boats (11 foreign), hailing from nine different countries, will race in three classes. -- Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/1220 JUD SHOULD WIN When the ‘buttheads were asked who should win the 2006 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award, the voters had no trouble deciding who to put their votes behind: Jud Smith. Nearly half the votes went for Jud, whose accomplishments in the Etchells class certainly make him a worthy candidate. It was interesting to note how the rest of the nominees fared in the vote, as their positioning likely had a lot to do with how aware the ‘buttheads were of their sailing honors (which might be a reflection on the event coverage that is included in Scuttlebutt). Regardless, here are the results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/06/1217 SAILING SHORTS * Photos and a report are up on the Valencia Sailing website regarding the latest boat to arrive in Port America's Cup, that being ESP-97 for Desafío Español. What is noticeable in the photos is a growing trend amongst the fleet: a bowsprit. -- http://tinyurl.com/yenjrg * The online entry system for the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal is now active. The Championships, taking place from 28 June-13 July will be the pinnacle event for the Olympic Classes in 2007 with 75% of all the national places for the 2008 Olympic Games to be decided. -- Full details: http://tinyurl.com/ynzckq * The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge (BEL), has been announced as the winner of the 2007 International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Beppe Croce Trophy, for outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing. Rogge, who has competed in three Olympic Sailing Competitions, is an outstanding recipient for the 2007 award presented in the Centenary year of ISAF. Rogge, elected as the eighth IOC President in July 2001, has a long and distinguished history in sailing. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/ylsp4l * 470 Internationale announces the continuation of its Sailors’ Support Programmes with the “2008 Olympic Pathway Solidarity Grant”. The new Programme aims at the support of talented 470 sailors with sailing ambitions and abilities on Olympic levels who find financial or infrastructural obstacles on their way to Olympic Qualification. The Programme will apply to the 470 World Championships 2007 in Cascais, Portugal (the ISAF Sailing World Championship 2007) and 2008 in Melbourne, Australia and aims at sailors, which have not participated in the 470 World Championships neither in 2005, nor in 2006. -- Compete story: http://tinyurl.com/ymovxm ULLMAN SAILS HOLIDAY GREETINGS! From all of us in the worldwide network of Ullman Sails lofts, we wish you and your families a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. Ullman Sails looks forward to meeting your sailmaking needs in the coming year. We value your business, and pledge to continue to bring you the latest and best sail technology that our industry can provide. “For an Investment in Performance” and “The Fastest Sails on the Planet,” please contact the nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit us online at http://www.ullmansails.com 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 Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Peter Campbell, Yachting Journalist: Did the 6-metre class yacht Saskia referred to in today's Scuttlebutt (#2247) come from Sydney? The late Sir William (Bill) Northam imported a 6-metre named Saska to Australia in the early 1950s to successfully win back the prestigious Sayonara Cup, an interstate competition that began in 1904, for the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. Northam won a gold medal in the 5.5 metre class at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics - Australia's first gold medallist in sailing. * From Derek Bouwer, Commodore, ABYC: Bertie Reed will be sadly missed by every sailor in South Africa. He was a yachtsman of note, a gentleman to boot, and a friend to all yachties. It was an esteemed pleasure to sit and just talk to Bertie. * From Rodger Martin: So sad to see Bertie go. Patty and I had supper with Bertie and Pat at his longtime friends the Pikes' house in Newport this past (Northern) Summer while Bertie was here to be inducted into the Single-Hander's Hall of Fame at the Museum of Yachting at Fort Adams. At the lunch Bertie was his gentlemanly self; our reationship as skipper and designer of "Grinaker," his 60' entry in the inaugural Vendee Globe, had been strained, yet in his book about the race, and our subsequent meetings, he showed only kind, restrained welcome. Our bond, at the time we designed 'Grinaker' was that we were compatriots, and that we had a common competitive fire for this 'new' race. We also shared a love of the Cape Grape! The induction ceremony this Summer, was moving: Nigel Rowe, the BOC representative who had organized the BOC Challenge, and was the 'Face of the Race,' (and a later entrant) with Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, presided and presented the glorious Garrard BOC trophy to the Museum's Single-Handed Hall of Fame. You really should see it. Minoru Saito was inducted, with Bertie, at the ceremony, and Tony Lush and Richard Konkolski, who were also entrants in the inaugural 1982 event showed that the bond these fellow adventurers had formed in that great race endures. My condolences to Pat, The Girls and Stanley, and a host of supportes and dream-adventurers who loved Bertie. * From Fredrick Lloyd: As usual, Tom Ehman hit the nail squarely on the head. To help drive home his point about how exciting it would be to see big names from different countries in an Olympic match racing event, add these to his list: BRA - Torben Grael ESP - Pedro Campos ISV - Peter Holmberg SUI - Russell Coutts ISAF, just do it! * From Liz Baylis: (re: Mr. Henderson's comments in Scuttlebutt 2247) There is really a much simpler and less complicated solution than what Mr. Henderson suggests: simply change the current Women's Keelboat from fleet racing to match racing for the 2012 Olympics. In fact, this is currently on the table at ISAF in the form of a submission to the ISAF Council by Brazil (078-06). This submission is scheduled to be voted on in May 2007. It keeps the women's participation percentage up for sailing, as wanted by the IOC, and just substitutes one format for the other. It also reflects the greater number of women and MNAs that are participating in match racing than those that are competing in fleet racing in the current women's keelboat. Let's give match racers a chance to compete! * From Chip Johns, President, Vanguard Sailboats: Here, here for Jay Cross' comments (in ‘butt 2247). Sailing is a wonderful participant sport. All of us who read this newsletter love it. But, there are far more sports that are more attractive to TV producers and TV audiences. Whenever I think about trying to put sailing events on TV, I think about whom my competition will be when I try to sell my idea to some producer and what my obstacles will be. Let's see, there are very few sailors in the possible audience, the race spreads out just after the start so that it is difficult to see who is winning, oh, and this makes it harder to film as well. Oh, the guys coming in after me at the producers office are pitching beach volley ball, snowboard cross, badminton (exciting to watch!), ski racing, etc. Seems like a no brainer decision for the average TV producer. Are there really lots of non-sailors who want to watch little plastic objects move around at 5 to 10 mph? I am with Jay; make our sport the best participant sport out there. We have small levels of marketing resources in our sport and we should not be swinging for the wall with those resources, use them wisely and conservatively to slowly rebuild our sport from its core. * From George Chapman: Regarding the letter from Malcolm McKeag, I can finish his sentence: “and the problem with that is…?” ‘that ISAF, which is an essential to our sport, derives 75% of its income in any four year period from the Olympic regatta.’ Does Malcolm, (currently Principal Sailing Officer of the Royal Thames Yacht Club as well as a professional scribe) really want to put his entry fees up that much? PS - Loved the Dear Abby piece! * From Bobby Frey: (regarding Team Tsunam thread, beginning in Issue 2241) I am the Race Committee Chairman for the Annapolis Yacht Clubs' Wednesday Night and Frostbite Series. We work closely with our Junior fleet program in getting kids out on boats competing during our summer Wednesday Night Series. I believe this effort helped to spawn the idea for the Team Tsunami program. AYC has made a very large commitment in boats, coaches, and support equipment, not to mention the amount of time and effort expended by the kid’ s parents to foster our sport of sailing. Getting the kids on everything from Opti's to Etchells to J/105's and bigger keeps the sport fresh for the kids, and maintains their interest. It is one of the best ways to assure the future of our sport and our Club. For the record, of the 102 boats signed up for our Frostbite Series, our largest one design fleets are the J/105's with 18 followed by the CAL-25's with 16. There is a smattering of kids racing in that fleet as well. Team Tsunami is currently in 4th place, two points out of 3rd. As they say in the credit card commercial, "priceless". * From Alex Stout: In response to Roger Jolly, I have removed the name of sailor, but he was a young man who, through another charitable organization for “at risk” youths centered around sailing, got involved with Team Tsunami. This is what his guardian sent to me when this appeared on Scuttlebutt with the young sailor’s picture: “So cool! Thanks. I need a copy of that picture. He's going to be psyched. He has already told his teachers that he is a famous sailor. On Sunday morning we were at Boatyard for brunch and someone asked him, ‘what do you think you'll do after high school?’ His reply, ‘I think I'll do the America's Cup.’ Team Tsunami rocks. Thanks for working hard to promote it. It's been so amazing for his confidence.” How do you put a price on that Mr. Jolly? We’re talking about life changing experiences. Currently, we have 27 sailors involved and as they matriculate through the program over the years, we are talking of positively affecting 100’s of young sailors. I myself can only afford dinghy sailing, but do I enjoy sailing on the Farr 395 Tsunami? You bet. Some of these kids may never own a J/105, but they’ll have the skill set to get into other programs, and who knows, maybe the America’s Cup! I think Santa’s dropping coal into someone’s stocking this Christmas… Curmudgeon’s Comment: Alex provided Scuttlebutt with the information on Team Tsunami, is intrinsically involved in the program, so he’s biased. However, every other letter in this thread has supported the concept behind Team Tsunami. We declare this thread dead, with our Christmas wish being that one more program like TT is launched in 2007 (and if so, let us know about it). CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You might be a sailing bum if you think girls look "hot" in foul weather gear. Special thanks to Southern Spars and Ullman Sails. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
