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SCUTTLEBUTT 2276 – February 7, 2007Scuttlebutt 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). AMERICA'S OLYMPIC CONTENDERS The 2007 US Sailing Team will be comprised of the top three in each class, which is a change from previous years, wherein the top five had received the recognition that the team status provides, and the benefits that are afforded team members. Selection for the team is based on performance in designated events, and with the Olympics next year, the 2007 group will be the final US Team before the trials are held this fall. Scuttlebutt provides here a class-by-class look at the current crop of America’s Olympic contenders: Star The era of Mark Reynolds and US Olympic domination in the Star have passed, with the 2007 team providing more questions than answers. While top ranked John Dane/ Austin Sperry made their mark by winning last year’s Bacardi Cup, the teams of Andrew MacDonald/ Brian Fatih and John MacCausland/ R. Schofield (second and third ranked, respectively) are largely on the team due to their consistent sailing in attending all ranking regattas. Missing from this list are skippers George Szabo (top ranked in ISAF standings), and Andy Horton and Mark Mendelblatt, who both are involved in America’s Cup campaigns. With the return of Horton and Mendelblatt, the trials could become very interesting, as both have shown the ability to compete with the best in the World. In 2006, Mendelblatt won Kiel Week and the Star European Championship, while Horton finished 4th at the Worlds and won the Gold at the Test Event in China. As in the past, this class will present the greatest depth of talent for the trials this fall. * 2004 Olympic rep: Paul Cayard/ Phil Trinter (5th place) Yngling Activity in this class has gotten so sparse that the US was forced to make some unprecedented decisions, such as canceling their pre-trials last fall, and creating a selection system for their Olympic representative that relied on performance in certain major events rather than within a controlled trials event. For those that are campaigning, the US remains very strong with past world champion and top ranked Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Capozzi winning the Miami OCR, and the return of 2004 Olympic rep Carol Cronin, who is now teamed with crew Kim Couranz and Margaret Podlich. Cronin ’s team has yet to find the consistency needed to topple Barkow, but historians will recall that it was Cronin that surprised all comers to get the nod for the last Olympics. * 2004 Olympic rep: Carol Cronin/ Liz Filter/ Nancy Haberland (10th place) Look for the next report to include the 49er, Tornado, and Finn classes. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0205 TAKING STEPS TOWARD THE GOAL Annapolis, Md. - The National Sailing Hall of Fame today announced that Comcast has agreed to become a Founding Corporate Member with a contribution of $50,000. The National Sailing Hall of Fame & Museum is a not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history of the sport of sailing and its impact on our culture, honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of sailing, inspiring and encouraging junior sailing development and providing an international landmark for sailing enthusiasts. The NSHOF is being located on the Department of Natural Resources property at Annapolis City Dock and will provide a significant new tourist attraction for the City of Annapolis and State of Maryland. The Maryland Stadium Authority is undertaking a Feasibility/Site Study that will look at economic impact, engineering and preliminary design for the National Sailing Hall of Fame. The Study is due for completion in April 2007. The National Sailing Hall of Fame plans to proceed from the Study with a RFP to solicit designs for an iconic building for the Annapolis waterfront and for cutting edge interactive exhibitions. -- http://www.nshof.org BACK AT IT AGAIN In September 2005 (Issue 1932), Scuttlebutt reported that maritime explorer Dom Mee’s attempt to become the first person to cross an ocean on a kite vessel had failed, and he had to be rescued in the Flemish Cap area, 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. There was extensive discussion about the responsibility of such challenges and who should bear the cost of rescue. Scuttlebutt conducted a reader poll on whether government rescue resources should be a complimentary service, or should those taking the risks pay the bill. The results were that 45% felt each incident should be viewed on a case by case basis, 38% believed that those embarking on an ocean passage should be prepared to pay for their rescue, and the rest felt that adventurers were entitled to the rescue service. Dom Mee is now back at it again, this time with his Team Quest trying to break the Atlantic Rowing Record, rowing east to west from La Palma in the Canaries and finishing in Barbados in less than 35 days - a record the French have held since 1992. Team Quest is approximately at the midpoint of their route, with an estimate of 84 miles a day needed to break the record. The weather looks to be absolutely perfect for the foreseeable future, providing a ‘wind lane’ of east, northeasterly winds of between 15 and 25 knots. In ocean rowing terms, averaging 84 miles a day is phenomenal pace, but they have been achieving very close to that for the last four days, and if they can keep it up, may have a good chance of breaking that record. -- Updates at http://www.dommee.co.uk/pgs/home/home.html CONGRATULATIONS TO 40 YEARS OF THE HARKENS!!! Peter and Olaf Harken have led their company along with Art Mitchell, Rose Sorensen, and Linda Otzelberger for 40 years! What a great job they have done. Team One Newport strives to emulate the fantastic Harken customer service and the expertise that Harken is known for. You can buy the Harken shoes, gloves, sunglasses, purses, wallets, duffels, and CD's at Team One Newport along with the greatest sailing gear. Look for the latest from Musto, Henri-Lloyd, Slam, Gill, Camet, Railriders, Kaenon, Native Eyewear and more! Call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) for a catalog or visit http://www.team1newport.com SELECTING SAILING AS NATIONAL SPORT Since taking over the responsibility for the sport of sailing, the Honorable V. Alfred Gray, Minister in charge of Local Government and Consumer Affairs, has done almost the impossible. He has unified the sporting community. Now, Minister Gray is scoring additional points among sailing enthusiasts, announcing that he will push for sailing to become the national sport of the Bahamas. "It is my intention to take my proposal to the cabinet for them to approve my ministry naming the sport of sailing the national sport of the Bahamas. There is no particular sport labeled the national sport. I think sailing has reached the stage where I feel that it is touching every island in our country. Every island has a sailing component at its homecoming events every year. I don't know of any other sport that deserves to be the national sport of the Bahamas. Basketball is not, football is not and softball is not. Sailing is everywhere," explained Minister Gray. -- The Bahamas Journal, full story: http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=123&a=11452 NEWS FROM THE CARIBBEAN La Romana, Dominican Republic (Feb. 6, 2007) - The inaugural Casa de Campo Regatta 2007 Presidente Cup is set to open Wednesday with 26 entries racing off the Dominican Republic. The overall winner will receive the Presidente Cup and a watch from event sponsor Corum. The regatta was created to help promote the Casa de Campo Yacht Club and Marina. The deepwater port features 400 slips and has a 120-ton TraveLift. It is part of Casa de Campo, a five-star resort on 7,000 sprawling acres on the south side of the eastern end of the Dominican Republic. Scuttlebutt founder Tom Leweck (aka, The Curmudgeon) is onsite, along with World Match Racing Tour President Scott MacLeod, whose company - Force10 Marketing - is providing organizational support. The event organizers are eager to establish the regatta as a featured event in the Caribbean, and hope to use the five-star Casa de Campo resort - with its four golf courses designed by Pete Dye, three polo fields, lighted tennis courts, and the only private airport that is serviced by a commercial airline - as a lure. Look for Tom’s report on this new event soon in Scuttlebutt. SMALL VESSEL THREAT (We found the following press release rather frightening, and have included it here in case any of the ‘buttheads would like to pursue this.) U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen, who has the responsibility to prepare for the possibility of a terrorist attack from a small boat, and who has publicly floated the idea that recreational boaters should obtain an automobile-type license as a security measure, will address the Boating Writers International (BWI) annual meeting at the Miami Boat Show. Allen, who became a national figure in the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, was quoted by Reuters last summer as saying, “We haven’t put nearly as much thinking in science and technology and general thought into the small vessel threat as we need to and I think that’s where we need to go next.” Allen is scheduled to speak on Friday, February 16 at the annual BWI membership meeting, which runs from 8 to 10 a.m. in the Miami Beach Convention Center, rooms A101/102. The event is open to the marine community and requires no ticket for admission. For information, contact Greg Proteau, BWI Executive Director, 847/736-4142 or info@bwi.org USHERING IN A NEW ERA Goetz Custom Boats of Bristol, RI ushers in a new era with the groundbreaking on their new facility. This will be the new home of the aerospace-caliber, composite construction technology for which Goetz has been known, in a more energy efficient and environmentally friendly building with expanded capabilities. The shop will be on-line by late summer 2007. To stay in touch with the latest happenings at Goetz, including the current construction of the IRC 55’ by Juan Kouyoumdjian, updates on CAM’s TP52, and information on the progress of the new facility, visit http://www.goetzboats.com SAILING SHORTS * Last Wednesday, a storm with winds up to 70 mph came knocking at the marina at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe, HI. From a look at this photo, the result wasn’t pretty: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0206.jpg * Key West champions and other top caliber sailing talent will be in attendance for the 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix (March 8–11). Three high profile one design classes - the Farr 40, Melges 32 and Mumm 30 - along with a ‘big-boat’ IRC class, will see plenty of action in this 10-race series just south of Miami’s Government Cut. The first entry deadline (for no late fee) is February 9. Information, details and results on the 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix will be posted on the Premiere Racing web site: http://www.Premiere-Racing.com * As the IMOCA 60 Class (open 60 monohull) continues its unprecedented growth, with up to 30 competitive professional campaigns expected by 2008, the skipper run International Class Association has taken a key step to successfully manage its future. Gregoire Metz has been appointed Executive Director for IMOCA, and will take up this position full time from April 2nd. Supported by the Class Secretary, Isabelle Jacquet, this full time team are expected to significantly increase the professionalism and efficiency of the IMOCA 60 governing body, as the demands of its members, skippers, sponsors, event organisers and the media continue to increase. -- Full report: http://www.imoca.org/uk/default.asp?m=da&id=50539 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Brian Hancock: I was so sad to hear that Mitch Neff has sailed his last race. Sailing has always been a sport for gentlemen yet these days we seem to be getting further and further away from that simple tenet. Mitch was one of the true gentlemen of the sport and he will be sorely missed. * From Paul Kaplan, Keefe Kaplan Maritime, Inc.: As you know, our industry is a pretty a small community and many of us knew that Mitch was sailing a very tough windward leg. There are many wonderful and enjoyable facets of in being involved in the marine industry. From the projects we work on to our diverse and interesting clients, it’s a wonder we get paid for this too! However, without a doubt, for me personally and I know for many others, one of the most rewarding aspects of this business has been the opportunity to call someone like Mitch, a colleague. Whenever we spoke, no matter what the topic, Mitch would, “tell it like it is”. His knowledge and professionalism delivered with his unique sense of humor, made even the shortest of conversations very memorable. The sailing community and the marine industry have lost a positive role model, a true sailor and good friend. Mitch, get some rest and we’ll see you again at the change of the watch. * From Mark Weinheimer, Doyle - Inner Banks: As a member of the “We Be” sailmaking team with Stars & Stripes, the exploding genoa story took me back as well. We were watching the race on TV at the loft in Fremantle, commentator Bruce Kendall had just made some reference to our sailmaking work and to our horror, the 6 hour old jib went to tatters. We had delivered the sail to the boat that morning. Our first reaction was to run to the cloth rack and check stock for a replacement – we had the cloth and started on a new sail. Upon inspection of the remains, we found that the thread in the bottom 5 feet of the center seam had simply vanished. The needle holes hadn’t distorted at all. Farther up, the force had dissipated somewhat and the cloth began to tear. The exemplary crew work and calm in the back of the boat were not just happenstance either. The team had practiced for just such an event when we were in Hawaii – researching traveler settings and polars for sailing with just a main. Such was the preparation and attention to detail that went into that campaign. We also asked Bruce NEVER to mention us again on TV…. * From Glenn Selvin, President of the United States of America Finn Association: Peter Hinrichson states (in ‘butt 2275), and I quote, "However, I am sad that the fine art of sailing, not propelling, in light airs, will be lost if kinetics rule the day." Apparently he needs to be better informed. In the Finn class, as well as in the 470 class, the Q flag is hoisted only when winds go above 12 knots, allowing unlimited pumping downwind. Pumping downwind in Olympic boats such as the 470 and the Finn just makes sense, and it is high time that the Laser class adopts these rules as well. Mr. Hinrichson is worried about the art of sailing in light air should kinetics take over, however, kinetics in the above mentioned classes are only allowed in breeze-on conditions. In light air, yup, we're forced to learn to sail our boats, guiding them gently through the water, as fortunately, the rules don't allow "air rowing" as he states. But in medium to heavy air, where pumping is allowed, it’s just another extension of sailing the boat towards its maximum potential. Perhaps if the Laser class didn't hold back its athletes such as Paige, she wouldn't have to work so hard to learn where that fine line starts and ends. * From Gail Turluck: Today's college sailing programs face great difficulty. Thirty to fifty years ago, boats were bought for $100-500, a suit of sails was used for both instruction and racing, and boat rotations were the accepted means for "making things fair" for regattas. Students joined clubs for low fees ($10-50 a year), paid for regattas on their own ($.40-$1.00/gallon gas), and went in their own cars (yes, beaters). Except for the 20-30 "elite" programs in the US, which have had dedicated fundraising volunteers that have established and continue building endowment funds (except Navy and Coast Guard, "universities" are not paying for sailing teams), the remaining 150+ "teams" now face needing boats at $5,000+; suits of sails at $500+ that must meet spec; gasoline at $2.00-$3.00/gallon; utilization often of fleet cars (administration required due to liability of using student beaters); mandatory uniforms; not having time to do the instruction to the 100's of "regular club members" a year who ponied up those low club fees that paid for everything resulting in today's lower memberships and lower club funds; students having to be employed more hours a week to pay for higher education costs; and, the ongoing mentality of college sailors -- do it for four years and never look back. If every sailor who ever sailed with a college sailing program made a donation of $20.00 a year to their former club, we would not be seeing racy fundraising attempts. We are the solution, if we choose to be. * From R. G. Newbury: (re David Doody's comment in ‘butt 2273: ...”But perhaps there is a place-maybe at the higher levels of racing-where it comes down to the basics-not the latest in computational gadgetry.”) How about that place being an Etchells or a Star .The maximum of 'computational gadgetry' allowed on either of those is a digital compass and a digital watch. * From Daniel Forster: In ‘Butt 2274, it was stated how Farr Yacht Design had announced the launch of the Open 60 Paprec-Virbac. When one goes to the provided link, one gets to the Farr11s canting keel racer. In the FAQ section on this boat, Farr calls the side boards “canards”. I thought canards were forward rudders? Please somebody answer this FAQ. Concerning the keel they say: “The keel is activated by a hydraulic ram/electric pump system.” My personal question to Farr design: What is the advantage of having a configuration with canting keel and two boards compared to a simple keel on a 11 meter yacht? To keep the six crew busy? How much battery power do you need and how often do you have to run the motor to charge the batteries? Are there any other factors, like more speed thanks to a bit more sail area? And, is it worth it, since this is a one design? Imagine quick tacking this 33 footer. Can you quick tack? Sorry, I forgot, it is called: Forward thinking. Interesting comment in the design description: “The design team has been thoroughly engrossed by this project.” Engrossed, according to the dictionary: the complete absorption of somebody’s attention with something. But also: the purchasing of enough a commodity to control the market in it. -- Link: http://www.farrdesign.com/613faq.htm CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You can't unsay a cruel thing. Special thanks to Team One Newport and new advertiser Goetz Custom Boats. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
