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SCUTTLEBUTT 1294 - March 26, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. SEA SICK If you get car sick, you'll probably be seasick too. If you can read in a car without feeling queasy, chances are you won't get seasick. Seasickness happens when the body, inner ear, and eyes all send different signals to the brain, resulting in confusion and queasiness. Hints on how to avoid seasickness --The evening prior to boarding avoid alcohol, fatty and spicy foods and get a good sleep. --Read medication directions - you are advised to take most seasickness medication before boarding. --Find the part of the boat with the least motion - usually in the center at the back of the boat on the lower deck. --Stay in fresh air and take a few deep breaths. --Look at the horizon. --Keep away from engine fumes. --Don't do any close work, look through binoculars, read a book or magazine. --Avoid cramped spaces. --Avoid anxiety and fatigue. --Occupy your mind, focusing on something other than being seasick. --When you first start feeling queasy eat a snack of dry savoury biscuits, ginger biscuits, bread or non acidic fruit. Ginger and honey may help. Avoid fatty or salty foods. --Drink plenty of water or ginger ale. A small beer may help you relax. --If really ill, lie on your back and close your eyes. Sip water to avoid dehydration. --Seasickness may disappear without treatment when the brain learns to compensate for the swaying and pitching. Remedies, including herbal, drugs and bands are discussed on the following websites: --Seasickness - http://seasickness.co.uk --Worried about seasickness? Some Suggestions www.hmlanding.com/maldemar.htm --Gusto Charters - www.alaska.net/~gusto/asst.html --Travel-Ascending.com www.travel-ascending.com/seasick.htm --What is seasickness? www.jimbaughoutdoors.com/SeaSick.htm Story by Kathy McKenzie, Boating OZ Editor, www.boatingoz.com.au/articles/seasick.htm VIADUCT BASIN Auckland City Council has the jump on developers to keep Syndicate Row at the Viaduct Harbour in public hands. The council wants to secure the Halsey St land used for six America's Cup bases, with the idea of creating more open space and a marine stadium. The marine stadium would be an on- and off-water facility for entertainment, yachting and other events. The idea is not linked to secret plans for a memorial to Sir Peter Blake. The six bases are publicly owned by the funding agency Infrastructure Auckland through a subsidiary, America's Cup Village Ltd (ACVL). Now that the cup has left Auckland, Infrastructure has no need for the land. Developers are already turning the "log farm" at the southwestern end of the Viaduct, which was home to four syndicates, into apartments. The log farm is privately owned by Viaduct Harbour Holdings. Auckland City recreation and events committee chairman Scott Milne said the council was talking with ACVL about the Halsey St land but it was too early to say how a deal would be structured. Story by Bernard Orsman, NZ Herald, full story: www.nzherald.co.nz/marine/marinestorydisplay.cfm?storyid=3250659&reportid=57034 MY PRESENT TO YOU Today marks my daughter Sierra's 10th birthday and we here at Sailing Pro Shop have a party gift for all Scuttlebutt readers! The new Rudy Project glasses are in and if their style and value weren't enough of a present, we are sweetening the pot further by throwing in a hard case, soft case, free shipping and no sales tax anywhere in the US and Canada for orders placed this week. Rudy Project glasses (Rx also available) are the choice for many of today's top professional A-Cup sailors and Olympic racers. To order call (800)-354-7245 or online at http://www.sailingproshop.com THE NEXT STEP Junior women sailors, 13 to 19 years old are invited to participate in the Rolex Next Step Program, September 26-28 in Annapolis, Md. The event will be held in conjunction with the Rolex IWKC, part of US Sailing's adult championship series, to be held September 27-October 3 at the Annapolis Yacht Club (AYC). The Rolex Next Step Program was established in 1997 to expose juniors to international women's sailing in a mentoring atmosphere. This year's program begins on Friday, September 26 with a welcome party and workshop at J Port Annapolis, featuring asymmetrical spinnaker sailing with Rolex IWKC competitors aboard J/80s provided by J Port Sailing Club and J World Annapolis. Saturday, September 27 features a keelboat clinic with America's Cup campaign veteran Tucker Thompson and US Sailing Instructor Trainer Nan Leute Walker, director of J Port Sailing Club. A barbecue and informal conversation with elite-level women sailors at AYC will follow. On Sunday morning, September 28, there will be a breakfast for the Next Step juniors with a talk by sports psychologist Jessica Mohler. Applicants should write, in 250 words or less, what they enjoy about sailing, their sailing experiences, and what they think they will gain from spending a weekend at the opening of the Rolex IWKC. The deadline for entries is August 1, 2003. Entries should include a letter of recommendation from a sailing coach or instructor. Junior women can also apply online at www.annapolisyc.org/rolexkeelboats SAILING SHORTS * Neville Crichton's New Zealand Reichel/Pugh-designed super-maxi Shockwave will compete in her first Rolex Fastnet Race. Shockwave (as Alfa Romeo) achieved line honours at the most recent Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. Shockwave was launched in August 2002. For the Fastnet, free of any rating restriction, she will be configured with water ballast and a lighter keel, and is expected to rate 1.708 (from the 1.600 cap in Australia). - Event Website: www.rorc.org * The notice of race for the Athens 2003 Regatta is now available in English, French and Greek on the Athens 2004 Website. Sailed from the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre in Hellinikon, Athens, from 10 - 28 August, the event will be a final opportunity for organizers and sailors alike to test the venue and sailing waters of the 2004 Olympic Games in a competitive environment. The event is held in all eleven Olympic disciplines. - ISAF website, full story: www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=4164 * With the unveiling of Liguria and Lombardy's joint bid to host the America's Cup 2007, a stronger candidate was born in Italy. Sandro Biasotti et Roberto Formigoni, respectively President of Liguria and Lombardy Region, presented a new project during a press conference. "Unity is strength", said Sandro Biasotti. Ernesto Bertarelli said earlier this year that city of Savona (on Liguria Cost) is a possible venue but there are many ports and coastal towns in Europe who want to bid for the privilege of hosting the 32nd America's Cup. - Cup In Europe website, www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/Where3.htm * Light air continues to plague the attempt of the trimaran Great America II to break the Hong Kong to New York speed record set in 1849 by the schooner Sea Witch. Today, skipper Rich Wilson wrote, "We are becalmed as Sea Witch sails away. Only made 105 nm in the last 24 hours. Midnight to 4 a.m.watch covered seven miles. 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. covered 12 nm. Have sailed two full circles for lack of steerage way. Ultimate in frustration." - www.sitesalive.com/ DEDICATION Have you ever wondered what kind of dedication it takes to do an Around Alone campaign? Let me give you a few examples starting with Alan Paris aboard BTC Velocity who is currently just under 600 miles from the finish in Salvador sailing is light headwinds. Since this race started on September 15 last year, Alan has been at sea for 170 days. He has been on land for 19 days. For every day spent on land, Alan has spent nine at sea. On top of that he sailed a qualifying voyage from Bermuda to the Canary Islands and then back to Bermuda before sailing to Newport for the start. Which ever way you cut it, that's a lot of time away from home, yet Alan's story is bettered, if that's the right word, by Kojiro Shiraishi. In order to get to the start of the race Kojiro had to sail half way around the world. He started from Japan and sailed across the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, then to Panama before crossing the Caribbean Sea and sailing up the eastern seaboard of the US to New England, a voyage of around 10,000 miles, Kojiro left this morning with some friends for two days vacation. Tomorrow will be the first day off he's had since leaving Japan - Brian Hancock, Around Alone website, full story: www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/archive/ BIG Yet another new maxi hit the water recently in Auckland: the new Bols, brainchild of skipper/manager Gordon Kay and designer Hugh Welbourn. Unlike maxis such as the new Wild Thing and Alfa Romeo, Bols looks like it is going to be much too fast to take part in the Sydney-Hobart race. The CYCA's annual Boxing Day race south is limited to boats with an IRC rating of less than 1.6 (this was recently increased to 1.61) but in her present configuration the new Bols weighs in at a pacey 1.745. Gordon Kay explains their reasoning: "The rating was of no importance whatsoever. IRC will rate anything. The reality is that the only race there is with a rating limit is the Hobart. So why would you build a one race boat? You can do the Reichel Pugh - turbo the boat up but it was clear if they had had bad weather with that bulb on the boat [Shockwave/Alfa Romeo] they would have struggled, because the boat was seriously nose down. But credit to them and Neville [Crichton] got exactly what he wanted and he'll probably move it on. Our philosophy is different. We have got a 93ft sportsboat and they have a 90ft Soling. Theirs is a long thin IMS derivative and ours is not. Shockwave is a lovely boat, but they are apples and pears." Another significant difference between Bols and her other maxi brothers is that she is built as an out-and-out offshore racer with round the world potential. And it has trim tabs. - From a comprehensive story on The Daily Sail website, full story: http://thedailysail.com/ J/105 SPEED SEMINAR Join the Ullman Sails team for an on the water speed seminar. Owners and crews are invited to tune up and maximize their J/105's performance in Newport Beach, CA on Friday, April 11, 2003. The seminar will include the new J/105 tuning guide, an open classroom forum followed by lunch and then an on the water racing clinic. Ullman Sails and Sail California are hosting this seminar and encourage all J/105 owners and crews to attend. To reserve seating for both you and your crew, please call Ullman Sails Newport Beach at (949) 675-6970 or visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (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 or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Jeremy G. Walker: I saw with dismay your announcement in 'Butt 1293 of US Sailing's night-time harnesses and PFD prescription for Cat 0 & 1. Well, this looks like yet another encroachment into good sense and seamanship decisions, where we must be forced to help ourselves, rather than choose to do so for our own survival. What next? Mandatory helmets, because that boom is oh so dangerous, isn't it? And no spinnakers at night, because they are such a handful, aren't they? And standard lifelines are really too low, as an average person can easily topple over the top wire, even with a harness attached. So let's mandate that they must be shoulder height. We could go on and on, and sadly, we probably will. There's another nasty issue hidden here. How does USSA propose to ensure such a rule is controlled and enforced? Written declarations of compliance from all hands? Night sights on roaming rules compliance chase boats? How about this scenario - a race boat drifting at night to the light-air finish line of the Bermuda Race, whose owner or cook happens to come on deck harness-less to witness the great event, and gets spotted by the Chief Compliance Officer lurking in St. David's Head Lighthouse with a night scope. Instant DSQ? * From Geoff Newbury (Re: Steve Greene's comment to Malcolm McKeag): Maybe Steve should read the html version of 'Butt, (www.sailingscuttlebutt.com) since it was clear to me that Malcolm's comment was printed in the font 'Sarcastics'... * From Andrew "Besheer: Ouch, somebody might want to point out to Steve Greene the definition of satire. If he resolves his issues with subtle humor he might save a lot of wasted time ranting at the keyboard and be able to focus more of his efforts on his "small sailing business. * From Tina Blaise: Oh dear. Steve Greene really doesn't understand irony, does he? I commend his efforts to increase participation in sailing, and so I will give him the benefit of the doubt by assuming that he has never heard of the esteemed Mr. McKeag and knows nothing of the great work he has done over many years to promote our beloved sport. * From Wells Pile: I can't imagine that anyone thinks Sir Thomas Lipton kept challenging for the AC unless he knew that his Shamrocks were giant floating billboards boosting sales of Lipton Tea in the US. Yes, the boats carried no written advertising on them, they didn't have to because the publicity generated by them and Sir Thomas ensured Lipton Tea's predominance in the US mass market. * From Gregory Switlik, Jr.: In the early 90's at the College Nationals in Charleston, SC one of the sponsors was Piggly Wiggly, and we were very happy for the free water they supplied. Sponsorship is more than big logos. * From Frank Betz: George Bailey's comments on "wind rowing" score a resounding bulls eye with me. My (sometimes fuzzy) recollections go back 30 years to when Peter Commette was probably the best Laser sailor on the planet. I was an obsessed weekend one-design competitor in a couple of other classes when interpretation of the propulsion rules suddenly emerged and became, as they remain, contentious. What's wrong with encouraging each class to determine its own standards, and let the competitors choose in which they wish to compete? Making the sport "more exciting"? Baloney! There were lots of times when my adrenaline raced as hard in close "drifters" as in over 25 knots. Does anyone else out there recall when ice hockey (amateur and professional) was an elegant game based on skating skill and finesse? Then the "Let's make it more exciting for the spectators" advocates turned the sport into little more than organized gang warfare on skates. That was about the time I quit playing hockey (and buying tickets to NHL games) in favor of involving myself in competitive sailing. * From Ted Germann: "Rock Stars", and sponsorship. Sailboat racing is not a cheap sport. Many Olympic champions have not had fully funded campaigns. You have heard here about some of them living out of vans and spending food money on equipment. Many people sacrifice careers, family and goals to pursue the dream. Sponsorship is a necessity to fill the void in any serious campaigns check book. Pros are pro's because they have devoted many hours to sailing, Like a golf or tennis pro has. Sailing is a popular sport and will always have people complaining about compositeness and pros and sponsorship. I haven't checked, but I'm sure you don't see this kind of stuff on the curling web pages, Is there one? Please don't knock sponsorships, pro's, and the investors who keep this kind of thing going. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat. |
