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SCUTTLEBUTT 1830 - May 3, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections,
contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting
viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal
attacks for elsewhere.
GUEST COMMENTARY - Bruce Kirby
Too few people in the sailboat racing game today will realize the impact
Knowles Pittman had on their lives. Knowles died last Thursday after months
of struggling with heart and respiratory problems. He was 82.
With his decision start One-Design Yachtsman (now Sailing World) in 1962
the exchange of information within the sailboat racing game changed
dramatically. Until then there had been publications that published stories
on big boat events on the east and west coasts, with perhaps an annual
mention of the Chicago Mackinaw Race. The middle of the country, and the
small boat sailors that swarmed over the lakes and rivers of this vast
area, were pretty well ignored.
Then in 1962 One-Design Yachtsman was created and yachting journalism
changed radically. Not only did the new publication provide reports of
small boat events, but also in- depth articles on how to go upwind,
downwind and across the wind, how to tune your rig and shape your
centerboard - tactics, strategy, seamanship. The magazine was a smorgasbord
of information for the small sailors, and they gobbled it up.
The need for a grass roots sailing magazine had been with Knowles for many
years. He had a strong background in the weekly and daily newspaper fields,
but entered the arena of magazine publishing on a shoestring. The
advertising base was small. No big boat builders bought ad space, no engine
manufacturers, and few spar makers, electronics makers, or big boat
brokers. But sail makers and fittings manufacturers recognized from the
beginning that OD-Y was a direct route to their market.
With much soul-searching, the word Offshore was added to the title in 1967
in an effort to attract advertisers with the big bucks. So the publication
became One-Design & Offshore Yachtsman. But with Knowles'¹ hand still
firmly on the helm, the heartland remained the chief source and focus of
the publication. In the early 70s the magazine was sold. It became Yacht
Racing and then Yacht Racing/Cruising, and finally Sailing World. But no
matter what name has been on the cover, the publication has retained the
signature of Knowles Pittman, who opened a dialogue with the racing sailor
that remains to this day.
MAKING THE CUT
It was like a cross between "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," with a trip
around the world in a 70-foot yacht as the grand prize. From a field of
more than 1,800 applicants, George Peet made it through an online
questionnaire and qualifying competitions in Miami and Portugal without
hearing "You're fired." Peet was one of the final eight sailors chosen to
complete the crew of TEAM ABM AMRO's second boat for the 2005-06 Volvo
Ocean Race.
Peet, 24, was one of 16 Americans at the Miami qualifier Feb. 23-26. The
competition included various sailing tests and evaluations from Maurice
Paardenkooper, the trainer of the 2004 Dutch Olympic sailing team, and Hans
Horrevoets, a Volvo Ocean Race sailor. Five of them advanced to Portimao,
Portugal, where they were joined by competitors from other parts of the
world to make a field of 20 sailors for the final tryouts March 15-24. The
eight that were chosen are all between the ages of 21 and 30.
While the elimination process may have been the stuff of reality TV, some
of the reality Peet and his compatriots face on their voyage around the
world may not be so entertaining." You hear all these stories. It's not
that I don't believe anyone or think that they're embellishing anything.
It's just that I haven't been there. I can't really relate to it," Peet
said. "I personally think that I've been in some pretty horrible
situations. But who knows? Maybe I haven't." - Mike Batista, Newport Daily
News, full story,
http://www.newportdailynews.com/articles/2005/04/25/sports/sports1.txt
THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING
At all the regattas around the world, just look at what the crews are
wearing. It is no surprise that the Camet Padded Shorts, Bermuda Shorts,
Cargo Shorts and Pants are everywhere, from Opti sailors to the Farr 40's,
Maxi's, and cruisers. The comfort of the pads, the reinforced Cordura seat,
the quick drying breathable Supplex fabrics, and the 97.5% UV protection is
the solution to hours on the water. Check out the Shorts, Coolmax shirts,
Neoprene Hiking pants, Bubble Tops, Rash Guards and the New Canvas
Collection of shorts and pants at http://www.camet.com
OUCH
Highways aren't the only places with traffic congestion. San Diego Bay can
be an obstacle course, which was evident during a casual San Diego Yacht
Club race last week. Dennis Conner's painstakingly restored 1920s racing
yacht locked sails with a boat that wasn't even in the competition; it was
being motored into the bay from Newport Beach. The visiting boat, with an
aluminum mast, fared far better than Conner's historic wooden sloop, Cotton
Blossom II, which had just undergone 17 months of work. "We're not sure
what (the other skipper) was thinking," said Bill Trenkle, longtime aide to
America's Cup winner Conner. "We don't know if he was tired, or on a cell
phone, or what. We waited for him to alter course. When it was clear that
he was not altering course, we took evasive action."
Conner's yacht, which was under sail, had the right of way. As to the
damage: "It looked worse than it was because the top spreaders were broken
and hanging there," Trenkle said. "From a sailor's standpoint, it was
minor. Dennis has had a lot worse happen." Cotton Blossom II, which Conner
has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars restoring, motored to shore and
is being repaired. "We should be back out by next Wednesday," Trenkle said.
- Diane Bell, SD Union,
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/bell/20050430-9999-7m30bell.html
FOR THE RECORD
Ellen MacArthur and her 4-man crew on board the trimaran B&Q started the
Record SNSM at 15:08:47 GMT (16:08:47 BST) Monday off St Nazaire, France.
They are hoping to establish a new record for the Maxi class category so,
in effect, there is no time to beat but they are hoping to complete this
short record in around 24 hours. The Record SNSM is a 284 miles passage,
passing the coasts of Loire Atlantique in Pays de Loire then the coasts of
Brittany. Already an ORMA 60 trimaran class record was set by Thomas
Coville on Sodebo on the April 20 in a time of 1 day, 1 hour, 37 minutes
and 17 seconds at an average speed of 11.04 knots. www.teamellen.com
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
DIVERSITY
With 11 challengers representing nine countries, America's Cup Management
chief executive Michel Bonnefous said it was not just one of the biggest
America's Cups in history but by far the most diverse. "We have three
countries participating for the first time - South Africa, Germany and
China - and five continents are represented, reinforcing the global appeal
of the America's Cup," he said. "This is exactly what we wanted for the
first America's Cup in Europe. It is very gratifying to see the hard work
that the teams and organizers have put in come to fruition."
There were 13 challengers from six countries in Australia in 1987 and 11
challengers from seven countries in 1999 in Auckland. Initially it was
thought the 32nd event could attract as many as 20 challengers but the
exorbitant cost of competing - holder Alinghi's budget is estimated at 100
million ($176.4 million) - has forced several potential challengers,
including Australia's Oz Boyz and America's Sausalito, to drop out. - Julie
Ash, NZ Herald, full story:
www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10123296
B&G & DECKMAN FOR WINDOWS SHINE IN TRICKY ENSENADA RACE
B&G equipped boats using Deckman for Windows software top the fleet in
difficult conditions in the 2005 Newport to Ensenada race. Congratulations
to Dale Williams & Mike Campbell, owners of Peligroso, the new Tim Kernan
designed Dencho 70 for first in fleet in only their second outing! 2nd-
Pendragon IV, a Davidson 52; 3rd- Flash, (originally Jaybird III) Alan
Andrews designed TP52; 4th- Taxi Dancer R/P70 (navigated by B&G's Bob
Congdon); and 5th- the SC 70 Mongoose. Get the tactical advantage of B&G
and DfW on your boat and join us in the winner's circle:
mailto:sales@bandgusa.com
NEWS BRIEFS
* Former US Sailing President (and one our sport's good guys) Bill Martin
received the United States Olympic Committee's General Douglas MacArthur
Award. Martin was honored for his leadership as Acting President of the
U.S. Olympic Committee during one of the most critical periods in the
organization's history. History will note that Martin's leadership had a
monumental impact on the U.S. Olympic Committee. The landmark governance
reform he helped to bring about enables the USOC to better fulfill its
mission of supporting America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes in
achieving sustained competitive excellence and preserving the Olympic
Ideals. - Full story: http://tinyurl.com/94myc
* The first entry received for the 2006/07 5-Oceans Race was "Hugo Boss,"
the Open 60 skippered by 30 year old Alex Thomson. The event has received
nearly 90 enquiries from prospective skippers considering entering the
IMOCA Open 60 and Open 50 classes. The 5-Oceans Race began as the BOC
Challenge in 1982, and is raced every four years. It is the longest
singlehanded event, taking place in a series of points scoring legs between
global stopovers, the course spanning over 28,000 miles. The race
celebrates its 25th anniversary when it starts from Bilbao, Spain on 5th
November 2006. - http://www.5-oceans.com
* The qualifying entries for the 2005 ICSA North American Women's Dinghy
Championship regatta is now complete. Hosted by the University of Texas at
the Austin Yacht Club on Lake Travis, June 1-3, the teams are (listed by
district) MAISA: St. Mary's College of Maryland, US Naval Academy,
Georgetown University, Old Dominion University, Hobart & William Smith
College; MCSA: University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota; NEISA:
Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Connecticut College; NWICSA: University of
Washington; PCIYRA: Stanford, USC; SAISA: College of Charleston, Eckerd
College; SEISA: Texas A&M University at Galveston. -
http://www.collegesailing.org and http://www.texassailing.org
* There will be live web-casting of the F18 North Americans at Buckroe
Beach, Hampton, Virginia from August 8-12. Rockledge Engineering Inc
Multimedia Services will provide real-time updates including video, audio,,
photos, results, text updates, and interviews will be hosted on the
multimedia website www.F18NAOnline.com
* The 2005 U.S. Youth Championship applicant acceptance and wait list is
now posted on the US Sailing website: http://tinyurl.com/cg3uj
* The look of the first Brazilian boat to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race
has now been revealed. The boat's graphic design features predominantly
blue and yellow emphasizing the unique Brazilian identity of this project.
The graphics were developed by Gad'Design to emphasize her Brazilian
identity, without specifically using national symbols. The logo design
consists of a yellow diamond shape, as found on the Brazilian flag. To
enhance the connection with water, the outline of the logo is formed by
water drops, a shape that reflects energy and movement. The Farr-designed
boat is scheduled for a June launch. -
www.brasil1.com.br/site_ing/home/home.aspx
* On Monday, the Global fleet was experiencing 20 knots from the southeast
and the rolling motion of the yachts sailing downwind has been the cause of
some seasickness as the Crew Volunteers rediscover their sea legs. Over the
next 24 hours the wind will shift to the south and slow to around 5-10
knots. Team Stelmar has a very slim single-digit lead over BP Explorer,
Spirit of Sark, SAIC, Samsung and Barclays Adventure, in that order. -
www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/
* Phil Trinter's sailing career has taken him all over the world from
Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda and even Athens, Greece to compete in last
summer's Olympics. While the professional, world-class sailor has been to
numerous exotic places, he learned how to sail while growing up in his
childhood home in Lorain, Ohio. For his sailing accomplishments and various
football achievements, Trinter is being inducted into the Lorain Sports
Hall of Fame.
"MAN OVERBOARD!"
Looking for the best marine locator beacons for your crew? Insist that they
are fully automatic…manually activated beacons are of absolutely no use to
an unconscious or hypothermic victim. SeaMarshall water-activated beacons
are the accepted standard in overboard recovery gear for racers, cruisers,
and powerboaters. Contact Chip Barber: mailto:admin@chbarber.com;
http://www.chbarber.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. This is not a chat room nor a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Terry Hutchinson: I just finished competing in the Annapolis NOOD
this weekend. It was a great three days of sailing in somewhat cold and
shifty conditions ... the reason for the note is I wanted to let you and
everybody who does not already know that Gary Jobson won the very
competitive Etchells 22 class. For anybody who is not already in awe of
Gary and what he has done for the sport of sailing should now hold him in
even higher regard. I felt compelled to write because I just think that
what he has accomplished; not only on the race course, but with life is
simply amazing! He has long been a mentor to me and lots of the younger
generation in Annapolis and I was so psyched to see him win. Funny, a long
time ago he said to me that sailing will not always be the most important
thing in my life, as always Gary was right.
* From Magnus Wheatley: Whoa, Whoa, Whoa Michael Panosh! Where did that
little bit of anger and fury come regarding the Sausalito Challenge? John
and Tina are two of the nicest people in sailing who gave it their very
best shot but found corporate America closed for business. That doesn't
mean you need to take a cheap shot at them for trying. Its people like John
and Tina that make the AC fun and you can't deny that it's been interesting
to see the way they went about raising funds. What if the e-Bay auction had
worked or what if a corporate mogul had stepped up to the plate? Then, no
doubt, you'd be heralding them as entrepreneurs in the spirit of Lipton,
Morgan and the Vanderbilts.
I'd wager a small bet that John and Tina are there on the start line in
2007 in some form and it won't be down to snide swipes like Mr Panosh
printed today ... rather more it will be from sheer guts and determination
and a belief from my friends in Sausalito that they can achieve the
impossible. If nobody tried, we wouldn't have competition...save the
remarks for the leeward mark not Scuttlebutt.
* From James Robinson: Could Michael Panosh be bitter because it snows 11
1/2 months out of the year in Wisconsin? I always thought we were supposed
to root for the underdog in a sporting event - not subject them to ridicule
for trying.
* From Andre Glasberg: The note by Michael Panosh reminds me of the
children's story about the emperor with no clothes - substitute the
Sausalito Challenge - it had no clothes at all from the very beginning. I
would remind the principals of that "challenge" - and I use the term
loosely - that press releases are (1) not bankable, and (2) no one
remembers yesterday's headlines! Smoke and mirrors have rather limited range.
* From Charlie McLaughlin: According to representatives of the Sausalito
Challenge, it will take $150,000,000 for each syndicate to "get to the
starting line". $50,000,000 is the minimum to play. Doing the math, the
twelve syndicates will spend between 600 million and 1.8 billion (that's
right, billion) dollars in the quest. This expenditure is nothing short of
obscene. Put the twelve syndicates aboard chartered, identical Farr 40's
not sooner than a month before the Cup and let's find out who the best
sailors are, not who has the deepest pockets. Take the savings and create a
charitable trust. God knows, the savings could be put to better use. So do
your readers.
* From Dan Dickison: I thought it might be interesting to point out that
those two boys who miraculously remained alive for almost six days while
adrift off the coast of South Carolina last week weren't on board a
Sunfish. It was actually a JY15 that sustained them all that time. They
also didn't have a sail, or a rudder, or a daggerboard. The fact that it
wasn't a Sunfish is only important because the JY offers a tiny cuddy area,
under which they took refuge from the sun during the day and the cold at
night. And the JY is probably more stable since its occupants can get their
weight down in the boat instead of on the deck as it would have been with a
Sunfish and its tiny cockpit. Anyway, it's almost unbelievable that two
kids (18 and 15) would go to sea without even paddles or PFDs when the wind
at the time was in the mid 20s. Just tells us that we've got a long way to
go in this country regarding water safety education.
* From Jim Champ: (re racing water drops) Nice experiment Jim, but
unfortunately it doesn't help much. The rate at which drops of water roll
down a "dry" surface doesn't tell you anything useful about the boundary
layer behaviour of the water when that surface is immersed, which is the
important point. One is all about surface tension, wetting and all that,
the other is about laminar and turbulent flow.
* From Alan Blunt: Chris Ericksen and Peter Isler hit the nail on the head
when it comes to prams in California. There are way too many options, and
our kids end up sailing in 30 boat fleets instead of 100 +. They are
missing out on the essential skills involved with racing in huge fleets.
Also the opportunities to travel to distant venues and all the experiences
that go with it. In the future I can see this effecting California's
influence at yachting's top levels.
* From Graham Kelly: JH Peterson suggests (in "Butt 1829) that the optimum
course would be a beam reach, sailing back and forth across the river. But
we should keep in mind that the wind is entirely current induced, and
therefore it would be "on the nose." As a result, the optimum course would
be the heading (or TWA) that gave the competitor an optimum VMG to windward
in 3kts of wind, with frequent tacks to stay in the fastest current. A 90
degree True Wind Angle would be about the same as drifting with no sails set.
* From Nelson Chaffin: All these complainers need to get a life ... they
probably piss more pollution in a season than the lube causes all year.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Sign in a restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in
and get fed up."
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