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SCUTTLEBUTT 2178 - September 12, 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 America’s Cup coverage provided by UBS (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). SCRAPING ALONG (Sailing World senior editor Stuart Streuli interviews Tim Troy, a Maryland-based businessman struggling to put himself on the starting line of the Velux 5 Oceans race.) Tim Troy's story isn't unique. In fact, it seems like it's impossible to run a singlehanded round-the-world race without one underfunded American sailor with big dreams and even bigger credit card debt scrambling to make the start line. From Tim Kent, Bruce Schwab, and Brad Van Liew back to Mike Plant and beyond, it's almost like a stock character from some formulaic Hollywood movie. So it was with a certain amount of cynicism that I picked up the phone and dialed Troy's number last week. I caught him in Boston where he was, surprise, hunting for money. Despite the fact that I've heard Troy's story, or a version of it, a few times before, he quickly won me over with his honesty and his passion. When you take a step back, it's easy to see why his story, as predictable as it may be, is so engaging. He's a middle-aged man, a successful businessman with a family, who's been dreaming for years about racing around the world by himself. It's a crazy dream, and committing one's own money to achieving it is ever crazier. But Troy, from Crownsville, Md., has already leapt so many of the hurdles that it's impossible to discount him as a daydreamer or a crackpot. He's got a boat and he's got the experience, he just needs a few more dollars. The problem is, time is tight and if he doesn't raise the money soon he may not make it to the starting line. – Sailing World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/j87gl SCUTTLEBUTT GOES BAREBOATING This summer, the Scuttlebutt team did a bareboat charter to Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands. Eleven people – six adults, two teens, a twelve year old and two tens – on a boat. One boat. Traveling together for two weeks. Crazy? Perhaps, but it was an adventure of a lifetime, and provided an unmatched ability to discover areas that can only be explored by boat. During the trip, we maintained a daily log of the journey, which we are presenting in Scuttlebutt this week as a five part series. If you have ever thought about bareboat chartering but have been hesitant to pull the trigger, or if you are interested in some insight into this Pacific Ocean destination, pay attention as this adventure unfolds. Here is Part 2: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/tahiti BOND It really was the event that stopped the nation – Australia II’s magnificent win in the America’s Cup in 1983, a victory that ended the longest winning streak in the history of sport. Alan Bond was the remarkable man behind the Australia II syndicate. He backed Ben Lexcen’s radical, winged-keel yacht that took the coveted prize, and then he went on to become one of Australia’ s richest entrepreneurs – a billionaire. The corporate world came to his door and by the late 1980’s he was the head of a global business empire employing 25,000 people in more than 20 countries. Then came the bust. After all the glory, including being named Australian of the Year, Bond found himself jailed for corporate fraud. For the first and only time, Alan Bond has told his inside story in a book. - Sail World, full report: http://tinyurl.com/gukv6 BETTER TO BE THE DOG In every sport where the competition is tight, some days you are the dog and some days you are the hydrant. For Robert Hughes’ Farr 40 team Heartbreaker of Holland, MI, they were seemingly the hydrant at last week’s Farr 40 Worlds, finishing 32 out of 38 entrants. After a fifth at the 2006 Acura Key West in January and a win at the Acura Miami Race Week two months later, they had every reason to believe that they would be one of the big dogs to contend for the title in Newport, RI. But as crewmember, Wally Cross explains, remaining consistent is not always easy: “We were hopeful for a better result based on more wind, yet we continued to sail poor. We were also not the fast boat I am used to sailing and it was really hard for me to pin point why. I need to look at every piece of the boat that contributes to speed and determine what first went wrong and how to get our speed back prior to Key West.” - Destination One Design: http://tinyurl.com/hc7cn GOING THE DISTANCE Ockam celebrates fantastic performances in the 2006 Vineyard Race. Congratulations to the crews of Bob Towse’s new R/P 66 Blue Yankee (1st to finish, 1st overall) and Rich DuMoulin’s Express 37 Lora Ann (3rd overall) for enduring gale conditions throughout the race. What do these winning yachts have in common besides determination and stamina? Ockam Instruments! Ockam goes the distance by providing superior processing power and graphical display technology for a distinct competitive advantage. We have instrument solutions for everyone. See our displays at the Newport International Boat Show in booths Land D8-9 & Tent C29. For information, contact mailto:sales@ockam.com DORADE Last week in Issue 2176, there was a story about the 1929 S & S designed Dorade making her triumphant return to the East Coast at the Museum of Yachting's 27th Annual Best Life Classic Yacht Regatta. A Scuttlebutt reader wrote, “Thanks for your story on Dorade. It is my all-time favorite boat, although it’s also the source of my fear of spinnakers. As a child in the 30's, I was on my father's boat off Treasure Island when Dorade jibed under spinnaker and her wooden mast exploded in what seemed like a million pieces. She was and still is my dream boat.” Another reader, Gary Beck, chimed in, “I enjoyed reading about the Classic Yacht Regatta in Newport. After reading Scuttlebutt, I went back to the event website to hopefully find some photos of these wonderful boats. I was particularly looking for photos of the yacht Dorade. My hopes were dashed, as I could not find any photos from the regatta. As a very young man before I got into sailing, I remember seeing a photo of Dorade in the USYRU magazine (US Sailing to you young sprouts). It was a photo that stuck in my mind till this day. How about putting some photos on your site?” Scuttlebutt contacted photographer Cory Silken, who was pleased to provide some recent images of Dorade: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/dorade I-14 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Long Beach, CA - A few of the 71 competitors in the International 14 Class World Championship took one look at the big wind and waves and did U-turns back into the harbor Monday. Australia's Lindsay Irwin and crew Andrew Penny and 17-year-old Samuel (Shark) Kahn and crew Paul Allen from Santa Cruz had different ideas. Irwin, the defending champion said, "We had a few days just like that" when they won the Worlds on the Hauraki Gulf in New Zealand last year. Young Kahn noted, "This is just like Santa Cruz. We said, 'OK, let's be conservative and win this race.' " So they finished 1-2 in conditions as wild as Sunday's opening race was mild: 22 knots of sea breeze that stirred up a heavy chop and roller coaster swell that tossed the little boats like teacups. But Irwin and Kahn couldn't overtake Howard Hamlin and crew Euan McNicol, who despite spotting their closest rivals 25 to 50 pounds in body ballast in the heavy going put a fourth place next to Sunday's win to remain on top with five points---two ahead of Kahn/Allen and five ahead of Irwin/Penny. At least at this early stage, Hamlin and Kahn---Team Pegasus in skiff competition---have duplicated their finish in last month's 18' Skiff International Regatta at San Francisco. - Complete report: http://www.abyc.org/upload/I14worlds06pr5.doc Standings (71 boats; after 2 of 7 races): 1. Howard Hamlin/Euan McNicol, Long Beach, 1-4, 5 points. 2. Samuel (Shark) Kahn/Paul Allen, Aptos, Calif., 5-2, 7. 3. Lindsay Irwin/Andrew Penny, Australia, 9-1, 10. 4. Michael Lennon/Jon Blackburn, Great Britain, 4-78, 12. 5. James Fawcett/Dave Dobrijevic, Great Britain, 8-6, 14. Complete results: http://www.abyc.org/upload/2006_I_14Worlds.htm US TEAM RACE NATIONALS * After US 470 sailor Kevin Burnham did his well documented back flip after winning the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal, all the crews of the winning US Team Race Silver Panda team (Amanda Callahan, Liz Hall, and Lisa Keith) gave their rendition of the victory splash. A three-photo sequence of Amanda’s flip is on the Scuttlebutt website: -- Kevin’s version: http://tinyurl.com/h4ulv -- Amanda’s version: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/tr-v * From the US Team Race Nationals last week in San Diego, CA, Bryan McDonald recorded a number of audio podcasts with some of the top sailors in attendance, plus he had conversations with major team race supporters and US Sailing staff. Listen in for inside information on the next Team Racing World Championship from ISAF's designated event director, hot tips from the world champions, the scoop on the Bay Area Babes of team racing, etc. - http://homepage.mac.com/sailing/uschampionship06.htm Curmudgeon’s Comment: Bryan looks to be one of the good guys in the sport, and was recognized this week by US Sailing as their “US Sailor of the Week.” Read on: http://www.ussailing.org/news/Sailor_of_the_week/index.asp DON'T YOU WANT FREE GEAR?! Who doesn't? Here's how to get the gear: Buy and take delivery of a Laser 4.7, Radial, Laser, Pico, Sunfish, RS Feva, V15, Zuma, Nomad, or Vector from now up until December 31st and receive your choice of a Seitech Dolly, Storm Covers, or a Magic Marine Gear package with your purchase. As an extra bonus, buy and take delivery of your new Vanguard sailboat before October 31st and receive a free blade bag. For more details and to find your local Vanguard dealer, call 1-800-966-SAIL or go to http://www.teamvanguard.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar SAILING SHORTS * During the Newport International Boat Show, the Bitter End Yacht Club is inviting Scuttlebutt readers for some tropical cheer on Friday September 15th from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Vanderbilt Club (41 Mary Street, Newport, RI; just three blocks from the show). Join BEYC owner Dana Hokin, General Manager Mikhail Shamkin, and Special Events Director John Glynn. Hear the latest on the 20th Anniversary Pro Am Regatta, and the 5th Annual Musto Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championships. RSVP to mailto:binfo@beyc.com. If you can't make it to the party, visit the BEYC booth at "B-8" during show hours. * Brian Porter of Lake Geneva, WI defended his 2005 title by winning the E Scow National Championships sailed on Lake Minnetonka, MN Sept. 8-10. The event featured the biggest fleet in the 48-year history of the event, with 92 boats lining up on a half-mile long starting line. Dave Magno of Lavallette, NJ won the final race and vaulted into 2nd overall, just ahead of local Lake Minnetonka boats helmed by Gordy Bowers and Tom Burton. - Blake Middleton, PRO, final results and photos: http://www.mycsailing.org/Schedule/Regattas/2006/ENationals * (Newport, RI) Even though the Robert Tiedemann Memorial 12 Meter Regatta was back in July, images of these boats still evoke great memories from a “simpler era.” Thanks to photographer Cory Silken for providing the photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/0729 * (Narragansett, RI) The Hobie 16 North Americans got underway on Monday as a cold front brought strong winds from the North East, gusting to 25 knots. Combined with a large South East swell generated by hurricane Florence, the challenging conditions durint the four races resulted in a few broken masts, plenty of capsizes, and some very tired sailors. There is plenty of boat repair activity in the boat park, as everyone is expecting Tuesday to be more of the same. Complete results will be posted at http://www.HCA-NA.org * (South Dartmouth, MA) In the final tune-up for the Etchells North Americans on September 20-23, defending champion Jud Smith outpaced Phil Garland (Barrington, RI) and Wade Edwards (Marblehead, MA), and overcame two bullets on the final day by local favorite Rob Hitchcock (Dorcheser, MA) to win the Buzzards Bay championship, organized and presented by the New Bedford YC and Concordia Company, Inc. Other notable entrants who will be vying next week for the NA title include Cameron Appleton, Simon Williams, Hank Lammens, Buddy Cribb, Gary Gilbert, Marvin Beckman, Robert Wray, Bruce Burton Tom Hughes, and Joe Bainton. Complete results: http://www.durantgroup.com/BBC.htm * If you were sailing down the Oakland-Alameda Estuary in northern California on September 3 and saw the Express 37 Mudshark, pop the chute with the big question, "Will you marry me?" emblazoned on it, you will be pleased to know that she said yes. - 'Lectronic Latitude, for photo and story: http://www.latitude38.com * (Rizhao, China) With only two Medal Race qualifying races to go, the 470 World Championship seems far from being decided in both the Men’s and Women’ s Fleet. During two races on Monday in light winds, 470 Men Nathan Wilmot/ Malcolm Page (AUS) take back the lead that they lost on Sunday, while Ai Kondo/ Naoko Kamata (JPN) take advantage of the bad scores of their rivals and catch the lead. Top North Americans men are Mikee Anderson/ David Hughes (USA) in 6th and women are Amanda Clark/ Sara Mergenthaler (USA) in 8th. - http://470.rz.gov.cn/sfsjg/ * On the request for information in Issue 2177 about the Magellan FX324 chart plotter, there are some knowledgeable posts made in the Scuttlebutt Forums. If interested, they can be read at http://tinyurl.com/lugfl THE OFFSHORE WATERPROOF LAPTOP BACKPACK New from Ocean Racing, features include a cushioned neoprene laptop case, plus room for foulies, boots & a fleece. Polyurethane-impregnated fabric, RF welded seams, waterproof zippers, external mesh & waterproof pockets. Cushioned straps & back for comfort. Waterproof & sailcloth duffels, countdown sailing watches, synthetic shirts, accessories & more. http://www.oceanracing.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or space (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 please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, you can post your comments on the Scuttlebutt Forums, wherein we may include your submission in the newsletter. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Donald T. Rave, Jr.: As a sailor and a maritime lawyer it makes me sick every time someone looks to lay off responsibility to a third party for his or her own decisions. This is the reason that our courts are clogged with frivolous lawsuits, causing insurance to be virtually unobtainable for some businesses and activities. This is where sailing is headed if we allow comments like Kurt Lowman's (in Issue 2175, accusing the SYC Race Committee of being "irresponsible" for starting this year's Vineyard Race in heavy weather) to go unchallenged. Rule 4 says that the responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or continue in a race is hers alone . . . not the Race Committee's. This is as it should be. It recognizes the fact that all boats and crews are not similarly prepared (or willing) to meet the conditions expected and that the participants themselves are in the best position to determine their preparedness. Once we start saying that the race committee is "responsible" for making this decision for all boats in the fleet, we are reducing the sport to its least common denominator, and no one would ever experience heavy weather sailing. Don't get me wrong. I am not criticizing anyone's decision not to race. We ripped our main on the starting line and sailed home under storm sails but I am glad that it was our decision and not Big Brother's. * From Brenda Lewis (member of the winning Vineyard Race crew of Lora Ann, Rich duMoulin’s Express 37): I strongly disagree with Reynald Neron’s comment in Butt #2177 re: experience failing to prevent injury and death at sea. As a venture manager for 25 years, I know a bit about risk management and racing offshore is a set of calculated risks. For us on Lora Ann, those risks are much reduced by the boat itself, Rich’s excellent race preparation and the crew’s extensive heavy weather sailing experience. Lora Ann is a great sea boat, designed by the late Carl Schumacher for the Transpac. Rich has 3 times sailed her to victory double-handed in the Bermuda Race. In the 10 years I have sailed aboard her, we have had two 50-knot knockdowns (one off Matinecock Point in Long Island Sound and the other within sight of the Salt Pond entrance at Block), both while flying a 3/4 ounce chute known as the “Broacher”. After each, we kept on racing and stayed in the silver. Our crew had absolutely nothing to prove on this Vineyard Race: most of us have done it 25+ times and we have all sailed in worse weather offshore (top of my own list a 1988 Bermuda return in a 42 hour Force 7 storm complete with 500 foot high waterspout). I think experience in heavy weather is vital not only to staying safe and injury free at sea and but also to deciding not just when you’ll sail offshore, but on what boat and with what crew. * From Steven Levy: (Re letter in Issue 2177 - Fishers Island Yacht Club): This is not the first time here I've seen 30 to 40 knots described as "extreme conditions." In Seattle, which has a justifiable summer reputation as a light-wind venue, it is not uncommon for races from October to March to see these kinds of winds, yet when I was racing regularly in the 90s I don't recall a dropout rate anything near 77% (60 entries/14 starters); 25%-30% was more the norm. While 30-40 knots certainly increases the risk of broken equipment and carries a higher "pucker factor," it's part of the normal scene that every regular Puget Sound racer learns to deal with. You reef (except some boats don't), perhaps you fly the "chicken chute" or none at all, you ensure everyone wears a life jacket and maybe a harness, and then you get out and sail. You still have to dodge freighters and ferries, but at least in this weather you can be pretty sure the Sunday powerboaters aren't there to forget boats under sail have the right of way. Puget Sound sure is cold when the green water hoses you down, though. Curmudgeon’s Comment: It is time to move this thread onto the Forums. Any further comments should be posted at the thread, “Heavy Weather Racing”: http://tinyurl.com/ny4rg * From Donald Shaw: Locally the lack of growth in sailing has several contributors. A marina with only one sailboat for rent, and employees who don't know anything about sailing. A lake notorious for light winds, which means that competitive sailors don't want the extra weight. Finally, other than a minimal Boy Scout outreach, the local sailing club makes absolutely no attempts to increase local interest in sailing. While the rumor is that people are always looking for crew, the reality is that they aren't looking unless the wind kicks up. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Life is a do-it-yourself project. Scuttlebutt brought to you by Ockam Instruments, Vanguard and Ocean Racing. America’s Cup coverage in Scuttlebutt provided by UBS. |
