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SCUTTLEBUTT 2173 - September 5, 2006
Scuttlebutt 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).
PRE-WORLDS SHAKEDOWN
(Sunday, September 4) "Hopefully we didn't jinx ourselves, but I think every
time you go out to race you've got to go out to win," said Terry Hutchinson,
after a hair-raising, but exhilarating day of racing that led to Jim
Richardson's Barking Mad (Boston, Mass./Newport, R.I.) winning the Belle Mer
Farr 40 Pre-Worlds Regatta. Barking Mad sits in pole position going into the
Rolex Farr 40 World Championship this week in Newport, Rhode Island (racing
starts on Wednesday), following a solid performance on the second and
concluding day.
With tropical storm Ernesto creeping every closer to Rhode Island, there was
doubt as to whether there would be any racing today. Gale force winds and
driving rain were predicted, but Principal Race Officer Peter 'Luigi' Reggio
(Essex, Conn.) was determined to see the 38-boat fleet competing, so he set
a course in the shelter of Narragansett Bay. As it turned out, the rain
never arrived although Hutchinson said he saw the wind top out at 32 knots
in the most severe gust. There were accidental gybes, broaches and flailing
spinnakers aplenty, but fortunately no serious damage to crew or
equipment. - Complete report:
http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1488&lang=1
Belle Mer Farr 40 Pre-Worlds Final Results (top 10 of 38 entries)
1. Barking Mad, James Richardson, Boston, MA/Newport, RI, USA, 34 points
2. Warpath, Fred & Steve Howe, San Diego, CA., USA, 41
3. Ichi Ban, Matt Allen, Sydney, AUS, 44
4. Mascalzone Latino, Portoferria, Italy, 54
5. Fresh Guidance, Simon Williams, Greenwich, CT, USA, 54
6. Opus One, Wolfgang Stolz, Frankfurt, Germany, 55
7. Heartbreaker, Robert Hughes, Ada, MI., USA, 60
8. Norwegian Steam, Oslo, Norway, 62
9. Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, Valencia, ESP, 62
10. Flash Gordon, Helmet Jahn, Chicago, IL, USA, 64
Complete results: http://farr40worlds.com/images/pdf/pwoverallresults.pdf
EXCEEDING TARGETS
(Sunday, September 3) The Americans complained about the food, the Spanish
complained about a lack of success, and the British came back to home soil
yesterday covered in glory after what was not so much a takeaway as a ram
raid, 10,000 miles away in China. The 2008 Olympic authorities also chalked
up a notable success after the first full test event for 2008 at the regatta
in Qingdao. Hubris has never been a trap into which the UK's sailing
administrators have fallen, so their pre-regatta announcement of a
three-medal target was very much on the cautious side. After all, this has
been the country's most successful medal event at the last two Games, five
in each.
But a final tally of eight - four gold, two silver, two bronze - has left
rivals from 43 countries shaking their heads and wondering how they can grab
their share of glory. Yes, there is plenty of muttering about the level of
UK Lottery funding, but it is unjustified. Many European countries have
comparable budgets. - by Stuart Alexander, The Independent, full story:
http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article1319319.ece
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION
The smallest performance change matters on board the (America’s Cup
challenger) Emirates Team New Zealand racing yacht. All the crew keep an eye
out for the smallest gear and design detail that could give them an
advantage. Each nuance offers the possibility of getting the jump on the
opposition and a possible gear failure or design mistake not spotted could
spell disaster. In a sport where the slightest advantage over the opposition
means the difference between winning and losing, getting this information to
the people who need to know matters especially when the boss is sailing
legend Grant Dalton.
The latest tool is not a new computer or even an extra crewman or expert but
a radio that won its spurs with police and emergency services the world
over. The radio is the digital Tait APCO P25 which has two things in its
favour. Like any radio used by police forces it is hardy. To survive aboard
the Emirates Team New Zealand racing yachts it has to be. Here all gear has
to be able to stand up to seaspray, rain and the sea itself, as well as
wind, sand and the knocks and bangs of everyday sailing. As well the radio
does what so many radios do not do. It removes wind noise, improves voice
accuracy and has a strong signal. This means the navigator can hear what
each crewman is saying without having to waste time asking them to repeat
what they have already said. - by David Dickens, ICT Business News, full
story: http://m-net.net.nz/content/view/597/373
PERFORM TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS!
All over the world, and at the Farr 40 World’s, you’ll find Camet Padded
Sailing Shorts. The leading teams are using the shorts in combination with
our Code Zero shirts, made from a breathable fast drying fabric with a UVA
certification (97.5%) for sun protection. With our closed cell foam inserts
available for a variety of different styles of shorts, we’ve redesigned
comfort, giving you the ability to hike hard without losing feeling in your
legs. This will allow you to go longer and not suffer from fatigue, helping
you to think clearly and perform to your expectations! http://www.camet.com
GLOBAL OCEAN CHALLENGE
Global Ocean Sailing Ventures (GOSV) announced that they are now formally
accepting entries for the 2007 Global Ocean Challenge. With just one year to
go until the start of the inaugural event, race organizers Josh Hall and
Brian Hancock have formally opened up race registration and accepted the
first three paid entries. “We sent an email to the 89 skippers who have
contacted us to express interest in racing around the world in the Global
Ocean Challenge, and not surprisingly there was an immediate response,” said
Race Director Josh Hall. “Up until this point we have resisted taking entry
fees. We wanted the race to be on a firm financial footing before we
accepted anyone’s money, but we are very close to a formal announcement on
Title Sponsorship and in order to give potential competitors as much time as
possible to prepare, we decided to start accepting entries.”
The Global Ocean Challenge format hopes to provide sailors the chance to
participate at an attainable budget. Entries will include any monohull
yachts which can comply with Category 0, meet the GOC safety rules, and fit
into one of their classes: Open 50s, Open 40s and Class 40 yachts. However,
any prospective entry that is considering entering the event with another
type of monohull is urged to contact the GOC. The Global Ocean Challenge is
a five leg course that will start and finish in Europe with stops at South
Africa, New Zealand, Brazil, and the USA, and is the first ever global ocean
race where single-handed entries and double-handed teams will be competing
on the same around-the-world race course. Details at
http://www.gochallenge.net
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
In a world first for endurance sailing, skippers of the Velux 5 Oceans yacht
race will undergo a full scale study into the physiological, psychological
and emotional responses demanded by the event, the most challenging
single-handed race on the international calendar. Clipper Ventures PLC,
organisers of the Velux 5 Oceans yacht race, today announced a scientific
research partnership with the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Sport
and Exercise Science to evaluate the 10 skippers’ performances. The
30,000-mile three-leg race begins in Bilao in October and will stop in
Freemantle, Australia, and Norfolk, USA, before returning to Bilao
approximately six months later.
A research investigation by a world class educational institute will deliver
in-depth evaluation of a skipper’s performance across the entire fleet and
reveal the key factors affecting it. The results will provide a better
understanding of how skippers might improve and maintain performances at
sea, illustrating differences between the competitors. All the participating
skippers of the Velux 5 Oceans have agreed to take part in the project,
which will see them undergo detailed tests in each port of call (after
arrivals and before departures), as well as tests at sea every three days.
The study will focus on four key areas:
-- Anthropometry, measuring skipper height, weight, fat mass and limb and
torso lengths and circumferences.
-- Physiology, measuring fitness, strength, endurance, postural stability,
flexibility and nutritional analysis.
-- Psychological, measuring alertness, boredom, mental demand and
motivation.
-- Medical, measuring general health, cold injuries, salt sores and
physical impacts.
Complete rate details at http://www.velux5oceans.com
B&G – WHY CONSIDER ANYTHING ELSE?
Considering who uses B&G, why consider anything else? Dee Caffari – the
first woman to sail non-stop around the world against the winds and
currents. Dame Ellen MacArthur – the fastest round the world non-stop
single-handed sailor. Bruno Peyon Orange II – fastest round the world
non-stop crewed. They all did it with B&G. Then, of course, there’s every
Volvo Ocean Race boat; winner of the last America’s Cup, and every current
America’s Cup team; 80-percent of the Farr 40’s and all but two of the Med
TP52 fleet. And B&G is the official RC44 supplier. For more information,
contact mailto:bob.congdon@sim.net.
SAILING SHORTS
* US Sailing has announced that its two popular Symposiums, the National
Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) and the One-Design Sailing Symposium
(ODSS), will be held together over a five-day period in New Orleans, La.,
January 17-21, 2007. The National Sailing Programs Symposium, presented by
Vanguard Sailboats and geared towards sailing program organizers, will kick
off the events on Wednesday, January 17 and run through Sunday, January 21.
The One-Design Symposium, created for one-design class organizers, will take
place January 20-21 at the same hotel, the New Orleans Marriott at the
Convention Center. Details:
http://www.ussailing.org/news/2006/symposiums.htm
* Team Bete, owned by Ezio Amadori of Italy, helmed by Nicola Celon and
crewed by Manuel Giubellini, Ralmondo Tonelli and Alberto Bolzan, overcame
an 11 points deficit on the last day to win the 2006 Melges 24 World
Championship in Hyeres, France. After the final race, a Rule 2 (Fair
Sailing) protest was lodged by second place finisher DRP Partner & Partners,
owned by Frenchman Philippe Ligot and helmed by Francois Brenac with William
Thomas, Christian Ponthieu and Thomas Allin crewing, but was later
disallowed. Complete results: http://www.m24world2006.com
* Californian professional sailor Dee Smith will leave America’s Cup
challenger Team Shosholoza on October 1, 2006. Smith sailed with the team in
2005 and officially joined them in February 2006 as general manager and
tactician. Instead of extending Smith’s existing contract, Team Shosholoza
and Smith have agreed to continue the American’s support of South Africa's
first America's Cup Challenger as a consultant. –
http://www.teamshosholoza.com
* A video on YouTube.com by Michael De Kort, a Lockheed Martin engineer, has
gained national attention, where De Kort provides a statement outlining the
critical security flaws he has found in a fleet of refurbished Coast Guard
patrol boats. To view the whistle-blowing ten minute footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd3VV8Za04g
* UK investment company Artemis announced that Brian Thompson and the
Artemis Ocean Racing Team officially launched their new Open 60 ‘Artemis’.
Thompson will be the only British competitor amongst 13 in the Open 60 class
in the Route du Rhum, one of the most established single-handed
transatlantic races in the world. The 3510-mile dash across the Atlantic
starts October 29th in St Malo and finishes in Guadeloupe. Artemis is also
supporting the development of the ‘Artemis 20’, which can be sailed by
disabled and able-bodied sailors alike, and hopes to achieve paralympic
status for the 2012 Olympic games. - http://www.artemisoceanracing.com
* Forget the price of gasoline when all some people need to fuel their
ambitions is stiff competition and the brisk Long Beach, CA sea breeze
delivered for Alamitos Bay Yacht Club's annual Labor Day Regatta last
weekend. Winners among 177 boats in 13 classes included Nick Dugdale of San
Francisco in the Laser Radial class, the largest fleet of 38 boats, and
local Howard Hamlin with Australian Euan McNicol as crew in the
International 14 class, likely providing a handy tune-up for next week's
I-14 Worlds on the same waters. - Rich Roberts, full results:
http://www.abyc.org/upload/2006LaborDay1.htm
* (September 4, 2006) The 17th edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup,
organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda kicked off today with a record
fleet of 46 yachts and beautiful sailing conditions. A light northeasterly
breeze of 8-10 knots, flat seas and warm sun were the feature of the day.
For all five divisions, the Race Committee for organiser's the Yacht Club
Costa Smeralda, selected a 26-mile long coastal course. –Complete story and
results: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1490&lang=1
* BMW Oracle Racing skipper Chris Dickson sealed victory at the Trieste
Challenge - La Sfida on Italy's east coast, beating Areva Challenge 3-2 in
the finals. The final series came down to the wire, when BOR outpaced the
team of Sébastian Col, current leader of the World Match Racing Tour on the
final run of the decisive race to win by a boat length. Five America's Cup
teams participated, which took place in Trieste's harbour. Besides the
Challenger of Record, Luna Rossa Challenge, Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia
Team, China Team and Areva Challenge also competed in the regatta. -
http://tinyurl.com/kavcz
FREE GEAR FROM VANGUARD SAILBOATS
Free gear is here! Purchase and take delivery of a Vanguard boat between
September 1st and December 31st and receive your choice of a Seitech dolly,
Storm covers, or a Magic Marine gear package with your new boat. For more
details and to find your local dealer, visit http://www.teamvanguard.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.
--> Letters to the Curmudgeon: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
--> Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Alfred Poor: Peter Huston’s piece on the decline of racing was great.
I don’t have first-hand experience with today’s racing scene, but when I
think of a successful one-design program, I think of the Annapolis Cal 25
fleet. These are affordable boats, so you don’t enter an arms race to
compete. Much of the fleet is berthed along the same pier, which encourages
a sense of community. And there is at least one spark plug that livens up
the group and pushes it forward; Charlie Husar is a memorable character.
Information and assistance on repairing and maintaining the boats are
exchanged freely, helping newcomers get up to speed in more ways than one.
The underlying theme here is “individual attitude.” If competition is a
serious matter of you against the rest of the fleet, then I expect that
casual sailors will find the experience a bit grim and unrewarding and won’t
return for a second helping. On the other hand, if you take the attitude
that a rising tide raises all boats, and go out of your way to help your
competitors have a good time and improve their skills especially novices
then you build a community where individuals are committed to each other.
When you can find joy in another’s first bullet, or helping add another boat
to the fleet, or introducing new recruits to crewing, and you take the time
and effort to help such things happen, then you’ll attract new participants.
* From Russell Painton: In response to Chip Croft's comments (in Issue 2172)
about why sailing is not growing. He suggested that we need to market to
Hispanics and Blacks. I must inquire as to how these folks differ from the
"melting pot" of American citizens that we hear so much about. Would such
marketing programs differ? Regarding Hispanics, doing it in Spanish,
perhaps? Please excuse the snide remarks, but if there are material
differences, this contradicts all the feel good liberal nostrums offered up
by the left.
* From Tim Gregoire, Associate Editor, SAILING Magazine: In regards to Chip
Croft’s comments (in Issue 2172) concerning the need to market sailing to
non-white minorities, Mr. Croft brings up some very good points and I agree
that for sailing to remain vibrant and healthy we need to look beyond our
immediate circle to bring in new recruits.
In our August issue of SAILING Magazine we run a wonderful article on the
Black Boaters Summit, written by ASA instructor and writer Joan Gilmore.
This is an annual event held in the BVIs that introduces African Americans,
and anyone else who cares to join the fun, to the joys of sailing, and where
they can learn to sail or just enjoy a couple weeks on the water.
Of particular interest, BBS organizer Paul Mixon in the article notes that
the greatest crossover of any sport is between downhill skiing and sailing,
and that the fastest growing segment within skiing is African Americans.
Here’s the potential market Mr. Croft mentions, let’s hope we can do the
right thing and tap into it.
* From John Rumsey: (re, Simon Perry letter in Issue 2172): You wouldn't be
honored, you would be dead. In the old racing rules, a yacht had to finish
with the crew you started with, so if a crew were lost at sea you would be
DSQ. Bringing the body back would keep you in the race.
* From G. E. Kriese: I read about Bill Joy’s new 190 foot super yacht (in
Issue 2172), and it’s so called “green technology,” in Fortune. Joy says he
wants “Ethereal” to be the most efficient, eco-friendly boat afloat - an
ambassador for the "green tech" he and his venture capitalist partners at
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers are championing.
That sounds nice and I’m sure Joy has the best of intentions, most first
time boat owners do. However it seems a bit disingenuous to assert that
whatever modest savings of energy he might engineer into his new toy could
possibly offset the gigantic amounts of aluminum, carbon fiber, lead,
stainless steel, glass, leather, varnish, rubber, plastic, tank cars of
paint, miles of wiring, the tremendous amount of energy required to create
the building materials and then fabricate them into a 190 foot super yacht.
There is nothing wrong with having a 190 foot boat, I wish I had one too.
But Joy shouldn’t feel he needs to justify his with some eco-babble because
his “green tech” stuff doesn’t add up.
* From Alun James: Chris Wicks point is well made (in Issue 2172) but jargon
is jargon. Does he refer to his credit/ debits cards digital ID as his “Pin”
, “Pi Number” or “Pin Number”? I suspect the last…
* From Jack Griffin: Chris Wick, in Butt 2172, bemoans the redundancy of
"beating to windward" in the media, including Scuttlebutt. He can expand his
list of offenders to include the RRS, specifically RRS 17.2 and 18.1(b).
Curmudgeon’s Comment: We took a peak at RRS 17.2, which starts out stating
“Except on a beat to windward, …”. Rule 18.1(b) makes a similar reference.
* From Barbara and Ray James: (regarding the Labor Day holiday) Now it is
appropriate to recognize your labors and thank you. Even when we disagree
with something you put in, or left out, we enjoy and appreciate. Up here in
Canada on a small lake (Duchesne -- where? Ottawa. Wherezat? 2 hours north
of the great lakes), we have active racers and your items are frequently
discussed.
CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that
something new to eat will have materialized?
Special thanks to Camet International, B&G Instruments, and Vanguard.
America’s Cup coverage in Scuttlebutt is brought to you by UBS.
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