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SCUTTLEBUTT 2111- June 8, 2006
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary,
opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
INVESTING SPONSORSHIP DOLLARS
New York--(Business Wire)--June 6, 2006--Which of the truly elite global
sporting events do America's highest net worth consumers think are the
most prestigious? Where should luxury goods and services firms invest
their sponsorship funds for maximum co-branding prestige effectiveness?
According to the 2006 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey of
Sporting Events, conducted by the New York City-based Luxury Institute
(www.luxuryinstitute.com), The Masters Golf Tournament, The
Championships Wimbledon Tennis, and the America's Cup sailing event are
the three most prestigious events in 2006, as rated by America's ultra
high net worth consumers.
"The Masters Golf Tournament ranks highest of all events on the 2006
Luxury Brand Status Index, and on each component dimension of the LBSI,
except exclusivity," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute.
"On being truly unique and exclusive, the Masters ranks second behind
the America's Cup. The Masters is the sporting event deemed most worthy
of a price premium and is the event wealthy consumers are most willing
to recommend. Not surprisingly, this event is also the most likely to be
considered a "must-see" or "must- attend" event."
Twenty-four high-end Sporting events were rated including: the America's
Cup (Sailing) Australian Open (Tennis), Belmont Stakes (Horse Racing),
Breeders Cup (Horse Racing), British Open Championship (Golf), Davis Cup
(Tennis), Del Mar National Horse Show, Formula One Auto Racing Series,
French Open (Tennis), Kentucky Derby (Horse Racing), Monaco Grand Prix,
NASDAQ 100 Open Tennis, Olympics- Summer, Olympics- Winter, PGA
Championship (Golf), Ryder Cup (Golf), The Masters Golf Tournament
(Golf), The Preakness (Horse Racing), Tour de France, US Open (Golf), US
Open (Tennis), Wimbledon (Tennis), World Cup Finale, World Series of
Poker (included to test the prestige qualities of poker).
A nationally representative sample of 500 wealthy consumers was surveyed
online. Respondents are required to have a minimum gross annual
household income of $200,000 and net worth (incl. home equity) of
$5,000,000. The survey results are weighted to match the demographic and
net worth profiles of the same audience according to the latest Survey
of Consumer Finances from the Federal Reserve. -- Story posted on AC 32
Challenger Commission Blog, http://tinyurl.com/jxxvc
NEW GIANTS
Franck Cammas’s new 105-foot giant trimaran (Groupama 3) has been
launched -- the sixth maxi-mulithull to have come out of the Multiplast
shipyard in Vannes since the year 2000. Cammas’ round the world attempt
at the end of 2007 will coincide with Francis Joyon’s next great
adventure, as he tries to better his record on board a new giant
trimaran, currently being built in Lorient (Idec II). In the
single-handed arena, Francis will be joined by Thomas Coville, who has
also turned to Nigel Irens and Benoît Cabaret for the design of his
giant (Sodeb’O). The respective measurements of Idec II and Sodéb’O are
not yet known.
Groupama 3 will make for her home base in Lorient (Southern Brittany).
There she will first undergo loading tests. This means that all of the
major traction points, such as the rigging chain plates or the sail
pulling points will be subjected to working loads which have been
calculated statistically by the architects. A final validation before
the first sea trial. The first series of sea trials will get underway in
the middle of June. All testing will be under the direction of
Multiplast, before the boat can be said to be handed over finally.
Franck Cammas and his team will then enter into the training and
apprenticeship phase of their platform, before setting about attacking
their programme of record attempts including the transatlantic records,
the 24-hour distance record and the round the world record. Facts and
figures:
LOA: 31.5 m
Bmax: 22.5 m
Mast height: 38.4 m
Draft: 5.7 m
Displacement: 18 t
ULLMAN SAILS POWERS VOLVO EXTREME 40 CATAMARANS
Ullman Sails are flying on all 5 Volvo Extreme 40 Catamarans in the
Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006. The fleet selected Ullman Carbon Fiber GPL
mains and jibs, and CZ asymmetric sails to give them the speed and
durability that is so necessary in this world class event. Ullman Sails
delivered! Powerful and fast, these sails are on the cutting edge of
design and construction for the all Carbon Fiber, high-tech catamaran
“fast machines.” For the “Fastest Sails on the Planet” contact your
nearest Ullman Sails loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com
NOT A VERY NICE PLACE
In a few hours, the pack of three at the head of leg eight of the Volvo
Ocean Race fleet will run the gauntlet through the narrow entrance to
the Pentland Firth. Not a very nice place to be in darkness when it will
be much harder to see the tidal eddies, rocks and islands. The Pentland
Firth is 11 miles long and currently the fleet is 30 miles from the
Duncansby Head waypoint in adverse westerly tide. The tide will change
at 0400 GMT which will put the leading group in the right place for the
advantageous tide.
Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) has clawed her way into the lead in the last six
hours, taking Ericsson (Neal McDonald) with her. Ericsson is now level
pegging with ABN Amro One (Mike Sanderson). Leading the second bunch of
three, 22 miles behind the pack, is Pirates of the Caribbean, and
skipper, Paul Cayard, is worried that the boat does not seem to have
good speed in the light air. “It is hard to believe because the Farr
boats are supposed to be fast in light air, but we haven’t been,” he
said. Cayard hasn’t been able to catch the first group, but they are in
sight every now and then and that keeps the Pirates hopeful. He also has
to watch out for ABN Amro Two (Sebastien Josse) and Brunel (Matthew
Humphries) who are only two miles astern.
The wind is still almost non-existent and there is very little wind
forecast for the remaining part of the leg to Rotterdam which is
predicted will finish on Saturday
Due to the lack of winds that have slowed the progress of the fleet on
leg 8 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 from Portsmouth to Rotterdam, the
decision has been taken to delay the In-Port race by a day to Sunday
June 11. The expected time of arrival of the fleet in Rotterdam will
probably be late Friday evening or Saturday morning. At a meeting with
race management, syndicate and port representatives, chaired by Volvo
Ocean Race CEO Glenn Bourke, all parties felt it prudent to change the
date in order to give the crews sufficient preparation time given the
late arrival into Rotterdam. --http://www.volvooceanrace.org
Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 on Wednesday:
1. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, 498 miles to finish
2. ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, + 1 miles
2. Ericsson Racing Team, Neal McDonald, +1 miles
4. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +22 miles
5. ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +24 miles
5. Brunel, Matt Humphries, + 24 miles
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
“We have been slating for the past six hours up here at a place called
"The Butt of Lewis". That says it all. After so much high intensity
sailing, 30,000 miles around the world, this leg has been agonizingly
slow for all the teams. The fleet has managed to sail 800 miles in 5
days. Not a good average for Volvo 70's. We have not gotten one splash
on the deck in 5 days. In conditions like these, you have all kinds of
situations where the wind magically evaporates, or shifts 90 degrees in
the opposite direction it was trending for the previous hour, etc. Last
night we also managed to snag two crab pots; we had to back down to free
ourselves of one and the other eventually ripped off. - Paul Cayard,
Pirates of the Caribbean skipper
SAILING SHORTS
* The Bermuda Race Centennial Exhibition will be open between 7 am –
2:30 pm throughout the month of June at the Seaman’s Church Institute of
Newport. Co-sponsored by the Cruising Club of America, the exhibition
focuses on the hundred-year history of the Bermuda Race. Curated by
Sheila McCurdy and David Brown, the story is told using images from the
Mystic Seaport photographic collections and contemporary marine
photographers Dan Nerney, Onne Vanderwal and Barry Pickthall. Half-hull
models of previous winners on loan from the New York Yacht Club and
private collections show the transformation of hull shapes over the past
century. -- http://www.seamensnewport.org
* Olivier de Kersauson’s Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran
Geronimo is expected to reach the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on
Friday or Saturday. However, weather could be a factor, as a huge area
of high pressure is positioned along the North American coast. The
system contrasts with the small low-pressure area that has been pushing
Geronimo along over the past four days. Geronimo is currently two days
ahead of the current record of 14 days, 17 hours, set by Bruno Peyron
with the 82-ft catamaran Explorer. -- http://www.superyachting.com
* The Single-Handed Sailors' Hall of Fame at the Museum of Yachting
located at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI has been selected as the
new home for the BOC Trophy for Single-Handed Sailors. The BOC
Challenge- a grueling 27,000-mile yacht race was established as the
first single-handed around the world race in 1982. The first challenge
got underway in August of 1982 with a fleet of 17 boats racing from
Newport, Rhode Island. Subsequent challenges were held in 1986, 1990,
1994, 1998 and 2002. Charlestown, South Carolina was the start/finish
port for the 1994 and 1998 races. -- http://www.www.museumofyachting.org
* More than 50 people joined Russell Coutts at the first RC 44 Class
meeting in Sardinia. The boat owners have agreed to be open minded about
sponsorship -- the yachts will wear commercial partner’s colours
according to the Class Rules. The first official RC 44 regatta will take
place on October 4-7 in Trieste. There will be two days of fleet racing
followed by two days of match-racing. The boat owners will be at the
helm during the fleet races; but they have the possibility to hand over
to a professional for the match race.
* The strong increase of interest for double handed Olympic sailing has
reached another record of participating teams at the 470 European
Championships Men and Women, to be held June 10 - 18 at Lake Balaton in
Hungary. The current entry list shows 171 teams from 38 countries from
six continents. The 470 Men’s fleet counts 114 teams, 57 in the Women’s
Fleet. Many Athens 2004 athletes show on the entry list, as well the
reigning 470 World Champions. Four USA teams have entered the event
along with two Canadian teams. -- http://www.470.org/champ06/euro/
* It all came down to the final race at the Red Funnel Quarter Ton Cup
off Cowes. The 2006 Red Funnel Quarter Ton Cup went to Ed Dubois and his
Enigma crew of helmsman Andy Beadsworth and crew Neil Mackley, Anthony
Haines and Michael Boniface. Just one point back in second place was
Peter Morton and Espada's crew Kelvin Rawlings, John Welsh, John Newnham
and Jamie Boag with Tony Dodd's Purple Haze crewed b y Jim & George
Webb, Tim Reese and Derek Morland in third. --
http://www.rcyc.co.uk/da/25971
* Sporting all single-digit finishes, Dalton Bergam and Maxam Zack are
the top North American team at the 92-boat 49er World Championship in
Aix-les-Bains, France. They are in 11th place with Tim Wadlow/ Chris
Rast and Morgan Larson/ Peter Spaulding both just three points further
back in 16th and 17th respectively. -- Complete results:
http://tinyurl.com/z5rjp
* The '32nd America's Cup on Tour', a traveling 'Embassy' for the
America's Cup has arrived in Paris at Place de la Bastille. The
installation was inaugurated on Wednesday evening and will remain open
through this weekend, closing on Sunday June 11. This represents the
start of a European Tour which will see the '32nd America's Cup on Tour'
travel to 12 Mediterranean cities in July and August before going on to
six more European cities in September and October. Earlier this spring,
the installation traveled around Valencia, Spain - which is the host
city for the Cup. -- Complete schedule: http://www.americascup.com
MELGES 24 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - PREPARE NOW
There is some electric Melges 24 racing coming up and you need to get
ready now! Melges Performance Sailboats is currently building boats for
the 2007 World Championship in Santa Cruz, California. This major
championship takes place in May 2007 - just one year away! Prepare now
as Melges is cranking out these beautiful new rocket ships. Upcoming
majors include the Gold Cup in Newport this July, US Nationals in
Jacksonville, FL this November and of course, the Midwinters at Key West
Race Week. Prepare now and let's build you a new Melges 24. -
http://www.melges.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may
be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter
per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others
disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for
elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thought at
the Scuttlebutt website:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi)
* From R. C. Keefe: The language of the sport has evaolved pretty well
over the years, but every once and a while something creeps in that we
could do without. "Calling Tactics" -- what meaning has that? Someone
stands up in the back of the boat and yells, "tack", or whatever. Could
we get by with John Smith is or was the tactician, rather than, "John
Smith called tactics”? We would still get the idea, and the language of
the sport would be a little better served.
* From Henry H. (Harry) Anderson: Re Bob Fisher's comment on the
America's Cup Deed of Gift: need to correct the terminology. The 1852
version with date change to 1857 is the "first draft" vis-a-vis the
original deed. The latter official version of the deed incorporates a
half dozen changes that were hand inserted by Schulyer in the 1852 draft
re-dated 1857 and presented to the NYYC for approval. In final official
form it remains buried (currently not trievable) in the archives of the
New York Yacht Club.
* From Randy Tankoos: Since I had an association with Cotton Blossom IV
and with Walter Wheeler as a teenager, I'm always interested when I see
the name Cotton Blossom come up. Mr. Wheeler did own Cotton Blossom II
and sold her when he traded up to a 12 meter Cotton Blossom III. III was
destroyed in a fire in Stamford CT and he purchased Hallowe'en, a 72'
Fife cutter built in 1926. Hallowe'en was built, as I remember the
story, to win the 1926 Fastnet and was the first marconi rigged cutter
with a sailtrack to the top of the mast. Mr. Wheeler converted
Hallowe'en into a yawl and renamed her Cotton Blossom IV. She sailed on
the East Coast out of Stamford Yacht Club for many years until Mr.
Wheeler retired from racing and crusing. Her most famous moment may have
been finishing the final 200 miles of the 1960 Bermuda Race without a
rudder.
Eventually she was purchased by a Dutch naval architect, restored to her
cutter configuration and renamed her Hallowe'n. She races actively in
the Med. Point of the story is that when I googled the Antibes Panerai
Regatta where your article said CBII was racing, the entry list showed
Hallowe'n on the scratch sheet in class EM with Stormy Weather, aboat
CBIV competed against on the East Coast for many years. Interesting that
two boats who shared the same owner are racing against each other after
so many years.
* From Nicole Weaver: I agree that more protests would probably produce
cleaner and fairer racing, if only because a DSQ is a big incentive to
learn a lesson. One reason that may limit the eagerness of a skipper to
pursue a protest is that most racers have little experience in
presenting clear concise and relevant facts, which in turn can lead to
decisions that they do not understand, leading to a loss of confidence
in the process.
Is there then a case for having open protest hearings, where interested
racers from other boats can observe and listen to the arguments
presented by both sides, and then hear the decision (and hopefully the
explanation of the decision) by the judges? Surely this would be a
valuable learning tool, and it would also demystify the process so that
people with valid complaints would know how to present a clear case to
the committee.
I like to think that most racers want to race fairly, but most have not
made a project out of studying the rules in depth, and in any case, it's
a subject far easier learned by case study.
* From Andrew Hurst, Editor, Seahorse (re multihulls): Well done to
those sticking up for the lead-frees. In particular I have to say that
Ian Farrier is a genius. Period. We are on our second Farrier design, a
Corsair F31R, and it is even more fun than the first. We can race at
over 25 kt, trail at over 60 kt, behind a regular 'European' car, and
have had huge fun with family, children and dogs, cruising in places
where my marginal navigation skills (heh I'm a racing sailor) really
should not allow us to play (until you have experienced cruising with a
yacht that can run up the beach you have missed out).
And last summer a hopelessly-planned rush back to work saw two adults
and two young children beating against 25 kt of wind and more than 4 kt
of tide out through the Alderney Race. Try that in a monohull... naah
forget it. And yes, we were back in the UK for dinner (ditto). As I
said, Ian Farrier is a genius.
* From Pete Sherwood: The America's Cup sailed in Cats! Come now,
please! Multi's have always been to sailing what drag racers are to
motorsport - Very, very close to a different sport all together. Can you
imagine entering a top fuel drag racer in the Monaco Grand Prix? I'm
sure you would be first to the first corner but then you would crash
through the armco and possibly a few buildings at 350 mph!
Match racing, much like the Monaco Grand Prix, has a hell of a lot of
corners. Mulitihulls, much like top fuel drag cars don't turn corners,
and they don't stop very well either. It is, quite simply, impossible to
have any sort of meaningful match racing in multihulls. End of story.
If the greater public is suffering a terrible injustice by not seeing
multi-hulls compete on such a grand scale, then start you own event. I'm
certain that with all the obvious benefits of multi's, it will be a
roaring success! *cough*
* From Bill Munster: In response to your "Butt" about MOB, I would have
to disagree with Kim Livingston. I think it comes down to the type of
boat. I ask a prominent offshore skipper of an 86ft-canting keel-full on
racer the following "how long would it take you to get back to a MOB
crew in the middle of the TransPac if your going 20-25 knots with big
seas in full surfing mode." After some thought he estimated 35-45
minutes. By the time you/hit the MOB-GPS button/release the MOB
gear/assign a crew to watch the MOB/ get the full crew on deck/center
the keel/drop the chute in a seaman like manner/turn the boat around and
get back the "the spot" which could be miles, considering safety for all
the crew and the time involved/ and keeping the rig in the boat/ a quick
stop would have caused major damage and possible further injury to the
crew. This is a problem that takes a lot of thought/ and common sense
and practice, practice practice - and stay as calm as possible.
* From Roger Vaughn: Back in 1975, Joan and Art Ellis won the Fireball
Worlds. Joan was at the helm, and the heavier Art was up front, where it
made sense, calling tactics.
Special thanks to Ullman Sails and Melges Performance Sailboats.
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