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SCUTTLEBUTT 2472 – November 9, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. 33RD AMERICA’S CUP FORMAT REVEALED (November 8, 2007) At a press conference in Barcelona today, AC Management (ACM), the event authority for the 33rd America’s Cup, presented the new Competition Regulations, including the event format and schedule, and elaborated on the new AC90 class. Here are some excerpts: * ACM aims to limit costs for competitors through outlawing two-boat testing (the only permitted opportunity for one AC90 yacht to sail alongside another is when racing in ACM organised Practice Race or the Event), introducing “no-sail periods” and limiting the total number of sails produced. * A further major difference to previous America’s Cup events is the competition format. The 33rd edition will be divided into four phases: Acts, Trials, Challenger Selection Series and the America’s Cup Match, with the Defender being able to compete in the Acts, the Trials and the Match, but not in the Challenger Selection Series. Results from the Acts do not carry forward into the Trials, but there are bonuses with regards to sail allocation for 2009. If teams compete in the 2008 Acts, they gain five sails on top of their 45 sail allocation for 2009. The overall winner of the 2008 Acts gains an additional two sails and the second placed competitor gains one extra sail. Event format and schedule (based on a 10 team scenario) Act 1: End of June/July 2008 in Valencia (fleet & match race in ACC V5 yachts) Act 2: September 2008, location in Europe tbc (fleet & match race in ACC V5 yachts) Act 3: April 2009, in Valencia in AC90 (fleet race) (tbc) Challenger Trials: May-July 2009 33rd America’s Cup Match: July 18, 2009 Full report: http://33rd.americascup.com/en/index.php?idContent=28&idPage=1 * Curmudgeon’s Comment: In case the above confuses you, this is the plan assuming that the court case in NY ends favorably for the Alinghi team. If it does not, and Justice Cahn finds in favor of Golden Gate YC/ BMW Oracle Racing, the event format for the 33rd America’s Cup will likely be something altogether different. WHO ARE THE TOP US YACHTIES IN 2007? Now that American Ed Baird has won the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award, does that make him a lock for the US men’s award? Can you think of the men and women who have had dominate years in the class of boat you sail? U.S. Sailing is accepting nominations for its Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards through November 30, 2007, where every member of U.S. Sailing can nominate the male and female sailor they think has turned in the most outstanding on-the-water performance during the 2007 calendar year. Last year ’s winners were Jud Smith and Paige Railey. Not a member of U.S. Sailing, but still want your voice to be heard? Scuttlebutt has a Forum thread that is seeking your advice. Post your sentiments here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5338 TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE Reporting on the Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,300-mile doublehanded ocean race from Le Harve, France to Salvador, Brazil, that started last weekend: (November 8, 2007) The analysis of the weather information has proved to be a real challenge, but it appears that none of the skippers took the opportunity to make gains trying a western option in a stubborn low-pressure system, still centered in the Azores. The ORMA fleet are now level with the Canaries, heading for the trade winds and the leaders of the IMOCA fleet are approaching Madeira. The boats off Cape St. Vincent and beneath will benefit from more pressure in upcoming days than the boats located between Cape Finisterre and Cape St. Vincent, which have been battling light winds since the Spanish Cape. The mood was quite down onboard some of the boats at the rear, but they were using the time to rest, make necessary repairs and dry off. -- Daily update: http://tinyurl.com/37xv2e Current Standings - Monohulls * IMOCA Open 60 (17 entered): Safran, Marc Guillemot/Charles Caudrelier * Class 40 (30 entered): Télécom Italia, Giovanni Soldini/Pietro D'ali Current Standings - Multihulls * ORMA 60 (5 entered): Groupama, Franck Cammas/Steve Ravussin * Class 50 (8 entered):Crèpes Whaou!,Franck Yves Escoffier/Karine Fauconnier Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/2jvkt4 Event website: http://www.jacques-vabre.com/en FROM CALIFORNIA TO NEW JERSEY AND WISCONSIN TO TEXAS You’ve seen them on the race course setting marks, on the water coaching your children, or just hovering around the races. Ribcraft RIBs were everywhere this summer and are here to stay. This season alone, a record number of junior sailors were coached from a Ribcraft coach boat and countless marks were set from Ribcraft mark boats. The same versatility, safety, and performance that make Ribcraft RIBs an excellent asset for any yacht club or sailing program makes them a favorite among sailors, parents, and boaters. Contact Ribcraft to learn more about their Professional Grade RIBs. Ribcraft - The Sailor's RIB. http://www.ribcraftusa.com HIGH VOLTAGE Imagine using a diesel generator with a finite and very small reserve of fuel to supply all the power to your house for three months. This is the dilemma facing skippers in the Barcelona World Race that starts this weekend. A major obsession for an IMOCA Open 60 team when preparing for an offshore race is the issue of the yacht’s overall weight: a factor that equates directly with the boat’s speed and sailing efficiency. As the more recently built boats are rapidly approaching eight tons all-up weight, every kilo that can be trimmed from the original design is vital and represents a large part of the yacht’s total cost. Indeed, as soon as the design is drawn, research into which areas can be refined begins with most skippers aiming to lose around 500 kilos from the initial design through altering the carbon structure and laminate schedules: an undertaking that is estimated to cost around Euro 1,400 per kilo lost. A key part of the equation revolves around two compulsory features that appear to have no rightful place on a Formula 1 racing yacht: a diesel engine and fuel to power the unit, the two heaviest objects found on board an IMOCA Open 60. They are, however, an integral part of the boat and are essential to run the boat’s vital and complex electronic systems. -- Read on: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com/default.asp?section=10&sid=10113 US SAILING KICKS OFF 2007 ANNUAL APPEAL U.S. Sailing has launched its 2007 Annual Appeal to further strengthen youth sailing initiatives in the United States with a goal of raising $75,000. These initiatives include providing more resources for the countless volunteers that organize U.S. Sailing -sanctioned youth regattas. In 2006, U.S. Sailing raised over $53,000 through its Annual Appeal to develop a curriculum, community sailing handbook, and rating database for disabled sailors. On average, US Sailing Team members have each participated in 6 U.S. Sailing Youth or Junior Championships and/or Junior Olympic events. These events are where new sailors are taught, nurtured, and encouraged. Each event includes seminars and coaching. In 2006, over 4,000 youth sailors participated in 25 USA Junior Sailing Festivals and 7 Junior Championships held across the country. The goal of the 2007 Annual Appeal is to encourage and develop the next generation. You need not be a U.S. Sailing member to contribute, and a gift of any size is tax deductible. -- Details at http://www.ussailing.org/donations * Curmudgeon’s Comment: There were 448 names listed as contributors to the 2006 campaign, which works out to be an average of about $118 per contributor. Scuttlebutt has donated $500 to the 2007 campaign, partly because it is the right thing to do, and partly because we’ll receive a limited edition custom knit U.S. Sailing blanket. Winter is coming, and so is the end of another tax season. Join us in supporting youth sailing. MATCH RACING RETURNS TO BALTIMORE Former state senator John A. Pica Jr. founded the Senator’s Cup 17 years ago, and though the match race event was dormant last year, it is being resurrected this week in Baltimore, MD, with racing taking place Thursday, November 8th through Saturday, November 10th. Comments Race Director Dobbs Davis, “With the Volvo Ocean Race abandoning Baltimore and Annapolis for Boston, the time was right to revive the Cup and bring it back to the Inner Harbor.” Being sailed in J/105s, the skippers are John Bertrand, a veteran of four America's Cup campaigns and a 1984 Olympic silver medalist; Terry Hutchinson, a three-time Cup sailor; Chris Larson, Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and a helmsman in the Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race; Dave Dellenbaugh, the helmsman and tactician aboard Cup winner America3; Cameron Appleton, a two-time Cup helmsman; and Dave Perry, a member of Sweden's 2007 Cup challenger. "John [Pica] and I want to expand this into a larger event, one that will eventually become a world-class competition," Davis said. "We think Baltimore can support that, and we hope this year's event plants the seeds for success." -- Excerpts from the Baltimore Sun, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/37lxyp * The first day of racing on Thursday was foiled by light winds, with improved conditions expected for Friday. Event website: http://www.senatorscup.com CONGRATS J/105 NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONS Congratulations to Tom Coates and his team aboard "Masquerade" for winning their second straight J/105 North American Championship with North upwind sails. "I've always been happy with my North sails, but never happier than I am now," said Coates. When performance and durability matter, head North. -- http://na.northsails.com * Among the many North Sails lofts is the One Design Zenda loft in WI, which is part of Melges Performance Sailboats. The buzz lately in the Midwest has been surrounding the development of the Melges 20, which has now updated its website to include the philosophy behind the design, along with drawings of the sail, deck and hull plan as well as a full listing of features. -- http://www.melges20.com SAILING SHORTS * (November 8, 2007) The World Council of the International J/24 Class Association approved a new initiative for World qualifying entries to encourage the development of youth and all-women teams in the J/24 Class. Each National J/24 Class Association (NJCA) is granted one World Championship entry for an all-youth team (all crew under 25 years of age on the day of the first race of the World Championship) and one entry for an all-women’s team. The entries are granted in addition to the normal allotment of world’s slots presently granted under Class Rules. -- http://www.j24class.org/News/tabid/59/newsid374/76/mid/374/Default.aspx * Twenty-six high school teams from thirteen states will descend upon Southern Yacht Club this Friday through Sunday, November 9-11 to vie for the 9th Great Oaks Invitational title for High School Sailing. The Great Oaks regatta was created to provide national-level experience for developing High School teams that have not qualified for either the Mallory (doublehanded fleet racing nationals) or Baker (team racing nationals) Regattas in the previous four years. -- http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org * The USA Pavilion at the 2007 Marine Equipment Trade Show (METS) has been booked to capacity, according to a statement by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Of the more than 130 US companies attending the show, 84 will be part of the NMMA-organised pavilion. The event is scheduled to have more than 1,100 exhibitors during its November 13-15 run next week in Amsterdam. It is the 20th anniversary of the show. About 17,000 attendees from nearly 100 countries visit METS annually. -- IBI Magazine, full report: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20071008135404ibinews.html * SEIKO Watch Corporation has confirmed that it will continue as the Official Partner of the International 49er Olympic Class until June 2009, where it will support the Association with further finance and with material in the hope that the class will continue to grow in global popularity. SEIKO’s support of the 49er Class in 2007 was the first global sponsorship deal with an Olympic sailing class. SEIKO used the partnership to launch its brand new marine range, “Velatura” to the worldwide sailing community. In addition SEIKO used the opportunity to run successful internal hospitality at key 49er Class Championships in Portugal and Italy. -- http://www.49er.org PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Moth World Champion sailing ‘around the world’ in Dubai, the resurrection of a SoCal race to Mexico, Intercollegiate Sailing’s Big Boat National Championship at Navy, humorist Don Allen’s suggestion that it is time for sailboats to install seatbelts, Dan Meyers’ new Judel-Vrolijk 66.5-foot Numbers, and the much revered Paul Elvstrøm. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week’ s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/1109 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 Ken Redler: (regarding Homeland Security thread beginning in Issue 2468) Within the last 6 months we have had 10 to 15 small boats abandoned on our shores in San Diego (see Union-Tribune article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20071107-0940-bn07boat.html). On one occasion this past summer, a group of illegal aliens swam ashore at La Jolla Cove (about 25 miles north of the Mexican border), and they would have successfully made it into our country if it hadn't been for a homeless man who alerted a police officer. Simply put, Homeland Security is totally inept at preventing terrorists from entering our country. In order to hide that fact, Homeland Security is going to board pleasure boats so as to give the impression that they are protecting us. This is just like TSA confiscating harmless nail clippers so that you won't realize that a terrorist can easily smuggle C4 explosives onto a plane. If you do not want to take part in this stupid charade, then you need to write, call, throw a rock, etc. at both your local and national politicians. There are a lot of affluent people in boating; the politicians will listen. * From Ray Tostado: Here in Los Angeles harbor, our vigilant protectors have been doing a great job of inspections and boat-to-boat queries. At times I would prefer just to be arrested and interrogated. I'm at the age where a little headline might get me a date. A friend on his way to the 05' Ensenada start was stopped twice before getting out of LA Harbor on his way to Newport Beach. The purpose of this was evident when during the second stop, a female officer went below and asked to see the engine. So, the engine box was disassembled and the engine exposed; at which time the officer asked of another, who was observing all this from the cockpit, "Is this it?" I wonder if she knows what box cutters look like? My buddy and his boat and crew are aerospace and real estate development professionals. Clean-cut crew and a well maintained boat. No moss hanging from main boom or rigging, or bats flying in and about. Not very suspicious. * From Lynn Fitzpatrick: I am in Miami where the highest concentration of sailors who are affected by Wednesday’s recommendation of the ISAF Events Committee are training for the Olympics. The harsh reality is that a large part of their decision to consider eliminating keelboats from the 2012 Olympics may have boiled down to politics and timing. Who would have thought that a Hollywood strike would have kept US rep Hal Haenel, an avid and respected keelboat sailor, from being in his chair at the Events Committee meeting in Estoril? Who would have thought that right on the heels of two keelboat sailors and exceptional match racers being awarded the ISAF 2007 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards, that keelboat sailing might get eliminated as an Olympic discipline? Given the growing popularity of the women’s match racing circuit and great arguments in favor of women’s match racing, I was surprised to find that the one of the first things that the Events Committee did was dismiss the Women’s Committee recommendation. That killed the support for keelboats completely. While there is quite a bit of politicking going on during the final meetings, my hope is that the council will put the politics aside and really consider what is best for the future of the sport and is truly representative of the demographics of sailors throughout the world. I’m sure when all is said and done, someone will have made it clear to me why the Olympics is likely to have four classes that favor the same weight range, two of which don’t showcase athleticism. * From Marc Jacobi: (regarding lead story in Issue 2471) While I can understand ISAF's desire to reduce facility use/cost, dropping the Star from events slated for the 2012 Olympics leaves only one option for sailors over 190 lbs: the Finn. Light sailors can choose either the sailboard, 470, 49er or Tornado. Seems kind of unfair, even to this lightweight. * From Derek Blancké: (re: Are Keelboats Out Of The 2012 Olympics? in Issue 2471) It seems a shame that we cannot get the Laser SB3 as the keel boat for the 2012 Olympics at Weymouth in the UK. They have been a fantastic success in the UK with 100 boats forecast for Cowes Week next year. They are fast, fun to watch, modern, and will make young people watching aspire to have a go as they plane downwind. They are a reasonable cost, easy to transport on a trailer and readily available in most countries. Much more "now" than the weird mutated keel boats they use at present. Keel boat racing is an essential skill in sailing. It links dinghies to yachts and forms a progression for sailors to get to the higher echelons competition. Come on ISAF, give it some consideration... PS - I am not a Laser salesman, just a pragmatist. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: As reported in Issue 2472, the Events Committee passed on their recommendation to the ISAF Council, who will decide the events for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition in their meeting from November 8-10. The recommended changes was the elimination of the men’s and women’s keelboat, and the addition of a women’s two person high performance dinghy. * From Malcolm McKeag: As a designer, Julian Everitt was rightly famed and praised for his imaginative creativity, even if the result sometimes appeared a little bizarre to the conventional eye. As a writer, Julian clearly has lost none of his creative ability nor talent for lateral thinking - but I must say that including the words "Bernie Ecclestone" and "impartial" in the same sentence is one of the most bizarre semantic juxtapositions I have ever clapped eyes on (from Issue 2470). When compared with Formula One, America's Cup Management (with both a small and a capital M) is a model of democracy and Corinthian goodwill. * From Eric Hall: Heartiest congratulations to Ed Baird on the Rolex Sailor of the Year award! In this age of self-promotion, Ed is a pleasant exception. Ever quiet and modest, he just lets his performance blow the horn. I could only marvel watching the Cup as Ed's incredibly focused and steady hand kept Alinghi ahead, especially in those tenuous, unsafe windward positions. Although he clearly shares his award with the entire Alinghi team, I cannot imagine anyone else sailing as well he did in those tight races. BEST PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD Since 2003, the Scuttlebutt website has been hosting photo galleries from some of the supreme events around the world, providing an event archive that we believe to be unmatched. We are extremely fortunate to have the support of the best photographers in the world, who continually look to Scuttlebutt to share their images. All the events are listed by date, and a link to all the photographers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATIONS A schoolteacher is a disillusioned woman who used to think she liked children. Special thanks to Ribcraft RIBs and North Sails. |
