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SCUTTLEBUTT #268 - January 29, 1999MIAMI OCRWith 40 boats in the Star class, competition at the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta is tough for skipper Mark Reynolds of San Diego, Calif., yet he remains at the top of the leader board. Sailing with crew Magnus Liljedahl of Miami, Fla., the '92 Olympic Star gold medalist increased his lead on the fleet from two points after yesterday to 17 points today. "The windward-leeward courses are about 50 minutes, with tight mark roundings," said Reynolds, "so you can't make any mistakes. You've got to get off the line clean and be ahead early." Reynolds and Liljedahl, officially campaigning for the 2000 Olympics, put this theory into practice, rounding the first windward mark ahead of their competitors in all three races. Moving up the scoreboard from seventh to second today was Howie Sheibler of San Francisco with crew Rick Peters of El Segundo, Calif. The duo picked off Germany's Marc Pickel, who yesterday was nipping at Reynolds' heels. "There is an incredible depth of talent here," said Sheibler. "It's like a Star World Championship without the low end of the fleet." Continuing their winning streak in three races today were Tornado sailors Lars Guck and PJ Schaffer of Bristol, R.I. As well, Soling sailors Harry Melges, Hans Melges and Brian Porter (Fontana, Ill.) again swept their three races. Laser and Mistral classes each completed three races, while Finn and 470 classes each completed four. Under sunny skies, the 15-knot breeze weakened slightly at the end of the day. The Miami Olympic Classes Regatta attracts hopefuls for the 2000 Olympics and is known for its competitive international field. It is co-hosted by the U.S. Sailing Center; Coral Reef, Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne and Miami Yacht Clubs; and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club. Sailing concludes Saturday. -- BarbyMacGowan DAY 2 RESULTS (PROTESTS PENDING) FINN (18 Boats) 1. Rodrigo Meireles, San Diego, Calif., 1-(3)-2-2-1-1-1; 8. 2. Fabio Bodra, BRA, 2-1-1-3-(4)-4-3; 14. 3. Eric Oetgen, Savannah, GA, (7)-2-4-1-2-3-2; 14. 4. Geoff Ewenson, Annapolis, Md., 4-4-3-5-5-2-(6); 23. 5. Brian Huntsman, Drexel Hill, Penn., 5-5-5-4-3-(6)-4; 26. 6. Akif Maslubas,TUR, 3-6-6-6-(7)-5-7; 33. 7. Ben Beer, USVI, 6-(8)-7-7-8-7-5; 40. 8. Patrick Weaver, Redwood City, Calif., 9-9-8-8-6-(10)-10; 50. 9. Daniel Kurbiel, CAN, 10-7-11-10-10-(12)-8; 56. 10. Emil De Balthazar, Pensacola Beach, Fla., 8-10-9-9-(11)-11- 9; 56. 470 MEN & WOMEN (7 BOATS) 1. Graham Vials/Leask, GBR, 2-2-1-1-1-(4)-3; 10. 2. JJ Isler/Glaser, La Jolla, Calif., 1-1-(3)-3-2-3-2; 12. 3. Tracy Hayley/Van Voorhis, Miami, Fla.,3-(4)-2-2-3-2-1; 13. 4. Larry Suter/Donahue, Key Biscayne, Fla, 4-3-4-4-(OCS)-1-4; 20. 5. Peter Stanton/Stanton, ISV, (5)-5-5-5-4-5-5; 29. 6. Kevin Teborek/Ingram, Winnetka, Ill., (DNC)-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC- DNC-DNC; 48. 7. Peter Katcha/Elvart, Tampa, Fla., (DNC)-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC-DNC- DNC; 48. LASER (42 Boats) 1. Peer Moberg, NOR, 1-(3)-1-2-3-1; 8. 2. Mark Mendelblatt, St. Petersburg, Fla., 2-1-2-4-1-(5); 10. 3. Bill Hardesty, San Diego, Calif., 3-4-4-(OCS)-1-3; 15. 4 John Torgerson, Annapolis, Md., 4-(5)-5-4-5-2; 20. 5. Brett Davis, St. Petersburg, Fla., 5-2-3-(OCS)-2-9; 21 6. Ben Richardson, Gloucester, Mass., 6-7-6-7-(17)-6; 32. 7. Greg Skidmore, Riverside, Conn., 10-9-8-3-9-(11); 39. 8. Mattia D'Errico, San Antonio, Texas, 7-(DNF)-21-8-7-4; 47. 9. Tommy Wharton, CAN, 14-13-(20)-6-8-7; 48. 10. Jack Dreyfuss, Miami, Fla., 18-6-7-(OCS)-15-8; 54. MISTRAL Men (36 Boats) 1. Mike Gebhardt, Ft. Pierce, Fla, 1-(4)-1-1-2-3; 8. 2. Jerome Corba, NED, (8)-1-3-3-5-1; 13. 3. Alain Bolduc, CAN, 2-6-(7)-4-4-2; 18. 4. Martyn Van Geemen, NED, 5-(OCS)-2-6-3-4; 20. 5. Randy Somnitz, Cocoa Beach, Fla, (9)-2-5-2-6-6; 21. 6. Guido Willems, NED, 6-(DNC)-4-5-8-5; 28. 7. Olivier Carteret, FRA, 3-3-10-(11)-7-7; 30. 8. Kevin Stittle, CAN, (10)-8-6-9-1-8; 32. 9. Peter Wells, La Canada, Calif., 7-(OCS)-9-8-9-12; 45. 10. Jean Raas, Seminole, Fla., 4-10-8-13-(18)-16; 51. MISTRAL WOMEN (14 Boats) 1. Lanee Butler, Aliso Viejo, Calif., 13-7-13-7-10-(17); 50. 2. Caroll-Ann Alie, CAN, 14-(OCS)-16-14-12-9; 65. 3. Helen Cartwright, GBR, 18-14-21-19-14-(24); 86. 4. Cara Reid, Cocoa Beach, Fla., 26-22-23-22-27-(29); 120. 5. Kimberly Birkenfeld, Myrtle Creek, Ore., 24-23-(32)-25-25-31; 128. 6. Dominique Vallee, CAN, 32-25-35-36-(38)-22; 150 7. Beth Powell, Cocoa Beach, Fla., 27-(OCS)-30-28-30-35; 150. 8. Gabriela DaSilva, VEN, 34-28-(40)-31-35-30; 158. 9. Mariel Devesa, Torrence, Calif., 29-24-34-(43)-37-43; 167. 10. Laura Chambers, Cocoa Beach, Fla., (41)-27-41-35-36-41; 180. SOLING (11 Boats) 1. Harry Melges/Porter/Melges, Zenda, Wis., (1)-1-1-1-1-1; 5. 2. John Gochberg/Enos/Boston, Miami, Fla., 3-2-2-(5)-2-3; 12. 3. Andrew Horton/Herlihy/Buttner, Shelbourne, Vt., 2-(4)-3-2-3- 4; 14. 4. Adam Barbosa/Jones/Davis, BER, 5-6-(8)-8-5-2; 26. 5. Richard Grunsten/Flynn/Olson, Chicago, Ill., (DSQ)-3-5-4-4- 10; 26. 6. Tom Brown/Wilson/Hale, NE Harbor, Me., 6-5-4-7-(8)-5; 27. 7. Kent Heitzinger/Manion/Culver,Wilmette, Ill., (OCS)-7-6-3-6- 6; 28. 8. Alex Abell/Kinney/Niemann, Somerville, Mass.,4-(9)-9-9-7-8; 37 9. Warner Montario/Findlater/Toth, CAN, 7-(10)-7-6-10-7; 37. 10. Andrew Moon/Whittaker/Farrington, CAY, (OCS)-8-10-11-9-9; 47. STAR (40 Boats) 1. Mark Reynolds/Liljedahl, San Diego, Calif.,1-(7)-1-1-3-1; 7. 2. Howie Sheibler/Peters, San Francisco, Calif., 2-2-(21)-11-2- 7; 24. 3. Marc Pickel/Auracher, GER, 3-3-5-9-(10)-5; 25. 4. John MacCausland/Iverson, Medford, N.J., 5-1-8-6-6-(9); 26. 5. Eric Doyle/Terhar, San Diego, Calif., 12-(14)-2-12-1-2; 29. 6. Colin Beashel/Giles, AUS, 6-4-3-13-7-(OCS); 33. 7. Alex Hagen/Helmert, GER, 8-6-9-29-(OCS); 34. 8. Mats Johansson/Moller, SWE, 9-10-6-8-(14)-3; 36. 9. Ross MacDonald/Bjorn, CAN, 11-5-7-7-(19)-6; 36. 10. Mark Neeleman, NED, 7-9-(16)-4-5-13; 38. TORNADO (21 Boats) 1. Lars Guck/Schaffer, Bristol, R.I.,(1)-1-1-1-1-1-1; 6. 2. Robbie Daniel/Bernier, Clearwater, Fla., (OCS)-2-3-2-2-4-2; 15. 3. John Lovell/Ogletree, New Orleans, La., 3-3-4-(5)-4-2-3; 19. 4. David Sweeney/Smith, CAN, 4-4-2-(6)-3-3-6; 22. 5. Mike Ingham/Goethert, Rochester, N.Y., 2-5-6-4-5-(9)-7; 29. 6. Richard Feeney/Smith, Bristol, R.I., (9)-9-7-3-8-6-4; 37. 7. Bob Hodges/Liebl, Metairie, La., 5-6-5-8-(10)-7-8; 39. 8. Doug Camp/Jones, Boerne, Texas, 7-8-8-7-6-5-(9); 41. 9. Hans Barth/Livingston, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., 6-7-(11)-9-9-8- 5; 44. 10. Brian Lambert/Curtis, Birmingham, Ala., 10-11-9-10-(12)-10- 10; 60. Complete scores will be posted at: http://www.sailing.org INTERNATIONAL SAILING The Royal Ocean Racing Club, in a long-term strategic move, announced that the Rolex Commodores' Cup, the biennial alternative to the Admiral's Cup will be held over a condensed eight day period in 2000. There will be the same number of races and it will be held later, in mid-August, based at Cowes, using the new IR2000 handicap formula. More professional sailors, up to 50% of each crew, will be allowed, which should raise the standard of the racing. - Bob Fisher AMERICA'C CUP Four-time America's Cup veteran meteorologist Chris Bedford joins the NYYC/Young America Challenge to develop climatology data for use in design and to develop weather forecasting models for New Zealand, John K. Marshall, president of the NYYC/Young America Challenge announced. Marine industry veteran Dave Hulse also joins the NYYC/Young America Challenge technology team as technology data manager. In an exclusive arrangement, Hulse, president of Hi-Tech Composites, formerly Sparcraft, manages the on- water data collection program and provides the design team, sailing team and boat-building teams with data analysis from the two-boat testing program. In an exclusive arrangement, Bedford will provide the daily forecasts for racing in New Zealand. Bedford, who was the meteorologist for Team Dennis Conner in the last four America's Cups, provides climatology information for all aspects of the NYYC/Young America program including sail design, boat design, and will provide information critical both to sail selection and tactics on the race course. Bedford recently provided all the forecasting for the team's two months of testing on the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland, New Zealand. A graduate of the University of Michigan in Atmospheric & Oceanic Science, Bedford has provided meteorology forecasting services for a range of teams, events and sports including the 1992 and 1996 US Olympic Sailing Teams, the Chessie Racing team in the 1997-98 Whitbread Round The World Race, ballooning, soaring and surfing events, the Boston Red Sox, PGA Golf and professional auto racing. Dave Hulse brings 25 years of marine industry experience to the NYYC/Young America Challenge, allowing him to liase effectively between the sailing team and design team. As general manager of the custom sparbuilding operation for Sparcraft, Hulse was involved with supplying 41 rigs to America's Cup boats during the 1987 America's Cup. During the 1992 Cup, Sparcraft, in a joint venture with mastmaker Omohundro supplied 21 rigs to Cup teams. NYYC/Young America website: http://www.youngamerica.org THE LAYERED LOOK Whether you're a serious competitive sailor or you just like to cruise, there is a universal need to stay dry and warm. Douglas Gill's three-layer system 'wicks away' perspiration while it traps in air to keep you warm. To learn how Gill's layering system can make your sailing more comfortable-much more comfortable--check into their website: http://www.douglasgill.com. CURMUDGEON'S QUESTION In recent years, Volvo has probably become the world's most visible sponsor of yacht races and racing activities. Will that level of involvement change now that Ford Motor Company has purchased Volvo's passenger car division? Although Ford is a sponsor of Paul Cayard's AmericaOne syndicate, providing computational fluid dynamics capabilities and computer-aided engineering, they certainly have not been as involved in yacht racing circles as Volvo has been. MORE AMERICA'S CUP Just when you thought nothing was happening with Australia's challenge for the America's Cup, this week trucks are rumbling towards the northern beachside suburb of Mona Vale in Sydney, delivering boat building materials to John McConaghy's facility. By the end of the month work will have started there on Syd Fischer's America's Cup contender, which is due to be launched by mid-year. Fischer's attitude toward the campaign is one of low-key confidence. He's not fazed by the fact that the leading contenders for the Louis Vuitton Cup (the challenger selection series) are already training in Auckland. And he's not concerned about not having named a skipper or crew for his yacht. As far as he's concerned everything is on target--except maybe major sponsorship support. - Rob Mundle, Grand Prix Sailor For Mundle's full story: http://www.sailingworld.com (after 9 AM PST) LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON We read all of your letters, but simply can't publish them all. Those that we do publish are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks. -- From Keri Shining -- O.k.! I have to comment as someone who has actually run a local yacht club's website and a local PHRF results website. The reason I was able to create and run these websites as a volunteer was because various directors and class reps gave me their trust and didn't ask to proof read every page before it was posted. Those persons who run class websites will probably agree that their class representatives have given them the freedom to post information as it becomes available -- approval channels can often DOUBLE or triple the time it takes to post material. This becomes very tiresome for volunteers, particular given the ease and simplicity of HTML. In my experience, web pages that are updated frequently have either one or two things in common, either 1) a huge staff that is able to maintain several development servers and has a separate programming, reporting and editorial staffs or 2) one person whose only task is to collect and post new material, and who is talented, respected and trusted to post responsibly without a lot of oversight. Given the cost factors at issue with U.S. Sailing, which sounds like the better answer? -- From Art Engel -- Recently, Glenn McCarthy seemed to suggest that because US Sailing has a $3 million annual budget, 40,000 members and over 35 committees it can't communicate with its members and the public effectively and I guess shouldn't be expected to. As I think the PFD issue clearly points out (and I suspect we would all agree) US Sailing has a very serious communications problem. A lot of people dislike the PFD rule but it seems a lot more dislike the way in which it was apparently shoved down their throats without any input from "customers" of the rule. This should have been a proposed rule, reported in American Sailor (and Sailing World), with action a year later. Process IS important. There was no recent event forcing immediate action and the result of acting without input is the current controversy (which, like Dracula, won't die). US Sailing must move into the modern era and utilize all of the newest technology to communicate with the public and its members. And, must understand the importance of doing so. [I won't even get into issues as to why I think they are "selling" a product nobody seems to want - partly explaining why I understand there are more members in "tiny" countries like Denmark!] -- From Mike Schoettle, Vice President, US Sailing-- I thought I might clarify for you and readers of Scuttlebutt what is going on at US SAILING to upgrade the website. A task force was formed last year that delivered a report and recommendations at the Annual General Meeting in October. Since then I have been leading a small working party that has been working with Bill Kirk on the staff to bring our needs into sharper focus and to select a website developer and ISP. We want a much more robust website than US SAILING currently has. We think it should provide much more information and be more interactive with our members. We plan to structure it so that the committees and coucils can post information. It should have hot links to other sites. We envision that someday the website will be the go-to place in cyberspace to find out what is happening in our sport in the USA. This would include information for recreational sailors, community sailing organizations et cetera. It will not happen overnight, but we hope to make a good start with the redesigned site and new ISP. We sent out requests for proposals in late December, and eleven website developers and four ISP's have give us written proposals. We are in the process of analysing these, and we plan to select a developer by mid February. This should give us time to work with the website developer prior to the Spring Meeting in Dallas where we start the dialogue and discussion with the committees and councils of US SAILING. You make a good point that there are many people within our sport that could help with the website. Bringing them in in a productive way is not so easy. When I lead the working party last year that developed a strategic vision for US SAILING I first worked with a relatively small group and then put what we had developed out for comment and suggestions. We got some very good ones. We further made sure that any one interested could comment at the Annual Meeting prior to presenting the final version for adoption. I think the process worked well. I am following a somewhat similar process with the website. I would be interested any suggestion about the structure and content of the new website that readers of Scuttlebutt might have. I can be reached at mbs@h-s.com. -- From Danno, BJ Caldwell, AND OceanFriends VOLUNTEER webguy -- Hear here for the curmudgeon!!! 'specially after we've (mutha and I) put on the web over 2800 pages (over 8000 files total) on holoholo.org over the past 4 years (and just getting going.... ;) NEARLY ALL OF IT AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE - for little/no compensation what-so-ever tween me, Doug Vann, Walt Niemczura (and Peggy) and the action we've put online since for TransPac since 95?? I will personally attest that US SAILING should have no trouble finding locals to handle the stuff for their communities - LOCALLY and then all the Nat'l org site has to do is link em up along with the news materials etc they already are putting up - and let the locals in their respective districts handle the rest of the load. Tthe technology, expertise and ENTHUSIASM to make it happen is in place. All they have to do - IS ASK - (hell... some of us will JUST DO IT anyway ;) cuz it's FUN -- From Chris Welsh -- Along the lines of Bruce Kirby's report re:one design growth, a new fleet has sprung up in Newport Beach in the Harbor 20 class. This boat was designed expressly to meet a need. The design goals: simple, easy to rig daysailer, esp. for older sailors who have left racing. No hiking, and minimal crew skills required. The resulting 20' keel boat is raced with 1-4 aboard, is kept in the water with a roller furling jib and jack stayed main, and has a small electric motor to get to other clubs for racing. Over 50 boats sold and typically 25+ boats at a given weekend event. It is noteworthy that most of the sailors racing (as many as 60-75 including crew) had not been in a boat for years. The sailing is very competitive with guys who have not competed in years getting their competitive juices going again. My Dad bought one and now actively races again after 15+ years away, and the boat is excellent for taking his grandchildren out as well. This may not be the type of sailing we are all looking for, but it is convincingly answering a need and drawing people back into the sport. Over 50 boats have been sold in the Newport area, and Schock boats is now working to establish fleets in other areas. -- From Besheer, Andrew -- In light of Alex Pline mentioning the tremendous growth of the IC fleet in Annapolis over the last several years (largely through Jesse Falsone's Pied Piperish efforts), I thought it might be worth letting any 'Buttheads who are IC sailors know that the 1999 IC MidWinter Championships will be hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club on Feb 13-14. We have a great lineup of sponsors who are helping to ensure that you will have a memorable weekend and if the weather gods smile on us even just a little, the racing promises to be fabulous with at least 60 boats in the fleet. Talk about bucking the trend in participation - that's 60+ boats, 120+ sailors in February, in 11 foot boats in the Northeast - this is truly an area where the sport is showing great strength! -- From Charlie Barthold, Editor, Yachting magazine -- Thanks for the kind comments (about Key West Race Week) in the Jan. 25 Scuttlebutt. Few people realize that Yachting founded that regatta, still owns it and takes the financial lumps when it doesn't make money (more often than not.) Four years ago we fired the past race committee and hired Peter (Craig) for the very reasons you outlined - Peter knows how to make two very distinct groups happy - the sponsors and the competitors. It's great to see that Peter's skills are recognized. SPANISH CHALLENGE Last Tuesday, the Spanish Challenge lost one of their best crew members while sailing in Valencia on their training boat. Martin Wizner died because of a fatal accident on his beloved duty. The block of the genoa halyard, which was at the mast step, broke releasing its sheave, which hit Martin in the head. The tremendous impact caused him an almost immediate death. At the time of the accident the boat was sailing peacefully in a twelve-knot breeze. We would like you to transmit this bad news to all your crewmembers and the sailing community and ask them all to pray for his soul. Martin was crewmember of the Spanish Challenge in the last America's Cup. He was one of the best sailors in Spain having won numerous international awards. All condolences may be sent to The Spanish Challenge e-mail: cade99@readysoft.es and will be forwarded to his brother Laureano who is also one of our crewmembers. -- Luis S E1enz Mariscal UPDATE -- DARWIN AWARD CANDIDATES [A website discussion about Hans Bouscholte and Gerard Navarin who are attempting to set a speed record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean (without assistance) in an open 19' Inter catamaran made by Performance catamarans in Santa Ana and designed by Morrelli & Melvin. The current record -days and 22 hours] "The boat hit an object very early in the voyage that impacted both daggerboards and kicked up both rudders. There was no apparent bow impact. The port hull is leaking more than the starboard. The wind is from the starboard stern quarter. The waves I believe are a beam. The boards were in a 1/2 up position at the time of impact. The polyester sea going resin is almost used up. They sealed the 4" ports behind the rear beam and the daggerboard areas with it. The bulkheads are allowing water to flow the entire distance of the hull. The hose they have on the bilge pump is too short to be used as a siphon. They have access to the daggerboard wells through the center hatches. They have infected blisters from pumping for long periods of time to get the water out. They are taking antibiotics for the infection. "I have suggested the following based on my discussions the previous day with Roy Seaman (Worrell GURU), Pete Melvin (boat's designer), and Jack Young (boat's builder), and other highly experienced sailors: To drain the hulls by removing the stern plugs and sailing at an angle with the sterns down. If the boat is moving, this will allow the hulls to drain without the extensive efforts previously expended on dropping the sails and pumping out with a manual bilge pump. There are NO SPARE PLUGS on the boat so I need ideas on how to plug the hulls should they drop one in this effort. They have duct tape and some other simple objects on board. Again, the leak rate is 100 litres every 12 hours. "My choice at this time (although I have not spoken with them yet) would be to alert the Long Range Rescue Operations Center at the US Airforce base in New York (details to follow) and apprise them of the situation. It is best to at least allow them to begin strategizing an effort should one become necessary." Website: http://www.bouscholte.com/default2.asp REPORT FROM AUCKLAND A windy day at the office today. 20-27 knots on the track. Prada raced with their two boats, Team New Zealand tested for about 1.5 hours and we did a few laps around the track by ourselves to get our crew work sorted a bit more. It was really very nice sailing. It is just a bit tricky sailing boats that were designed and built for San Diego conditions when it gets windy and rough. We did a nice job of it, not breaking anything and getting a few valuable hours in conditions that we will definitely have to race in come October. - Paul Cayard, AmericaOne For Cayard's full report: http://www.ac2000.org/ THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUMS If you're born again, do you have two bellybuttons? |
