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SCUTTLEBUTT 1480 - December 17, 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 focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. THE RATING GAME - Don Finkle It was an eye-opener when we walked into the Paris show and saw the new Farr designed Beneteau First 44.7 with what looked to me to be a cruising mast. I asked the first factory person I ran into, "why did you display the boat with a cruising rig?" His response was "this is the IRC rig." The discussion that followed centered on the changes taking place in handicap racing rules and where they are headed. It seems that the Europeans are divided on where to go. Those on the Med, especially in Italy, are still proponents of the IMS system. When first introduced, IMS was hailed as a genuine improvement, as it initially fostered healthy designs that were fast, stable and wholesome. In fact I can recall personal conversations with designers such as Bill Tripp, who were delighted at that time that they could draw boats that were fast and fun and could still have interiors. Fast-forward to today, and the designers have figured out how to beat the rule (they always do, given enough time) with boats that are anything but fast and fun. The purpose-built custom IMS racers of today are rule-beaters that are slow and tender by comparison. The Italians seem to have this down pat, and they are happy because they are winning. The rest of Europe is not happy with IMS at all, and they seem to be enamored of IRC. So with this background, the designers are making their newest boats IRC-compatible. This rule penalizes anything that makes a boat more "racy", such as rod rigging, triple spreaders, removable cockpit lockers, and so forth. This complicates matters for the builders. Take Beneteau for example. In the US most of our racing takes place under PHRF, and there are no specific penalties for construction or equipment (with a few exceptions such as the propeller). Therefore, to be attractive to US buyers, they will have to offer boats with rod rigging, tapered masts, more spreaders, and so forth. For Europe, they need to have clunky rigs with cable shrouds. Fortunately for us, Beneteau will do this on their larger boats, and the 44.7 for example is available both ways. It was precisely this kind of nonsense that drove many of us to one design in the first place! - Don Finkle, RCR Yachts' Performance Newsletter #45, December 11, http://www.rcryachts.com/newsform.htm AUSTRALIAN INQUEST The NSW Coroner has recently completed his Inquest into the deaths of two (of the six) members of the crew of the yacht Rising Farrster, a Farr 38 owned by a UK based organization, and built in 1993. The Coroner found that both deaths occurred as a result of drowning when the keel of the yacht separated from the hull causing the vessel to capsize. The Coroner has recommended that a précis of his summing up, findings and recommendations be distributed to owners of light displacement yachts fitted with fin keels built subject to pre 1994 ABS approval. His Worship made this recommendation so that appropriate decisions can be made by owners as to checking and/or modification of yachts. In conclusion, the Coroner found that "The expert evidence is, however, that there was a combination of design, build and ABS requirements that resulted in the hull shell being inadequate for this type of keel. This is of concern to me, assuming there are other yachts constructed and designed similarly. Accordingly, I propose to make a Recommendation pursuant to Section 22A, Coroners Act 1980". His Worship's relevant recommendation is "The Australian Yachting Federation (now known as Yachting Australia), in conjunction with the Yachting Association of NSW, and yacht clubs endeavor to contact owners of light displacement yachts fitted with fin keels subject to pre 1994 ABS approval, to provide them with a précis of my summing up, findings and recommendations at inquest in order that appropriate decisions can be made by owners as to checking and/or modification of yachts." - Excepts from a story posted on the ISAF website; full story: http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=6018 TRIVIA QUESTION What country has the longest coastline? (Answer below) SPAIN IS WAITING Spain is waiting for the arrival of the Raider RIBS. Just as in the last America's Cup, where the Raider RIB from Aquapro proved to be tough and capable support boats for Oracle/BMW Racing, Prada, and Stars & Stripes, syndicates will again be looking for the reliability of the Raider RIB. You have a choice when it comes to Raider RIBS: the tough/versatile Center Console or the tough/luxurious Cabin Model with a Galley, Head/Shower and hot water. Either style provides you a great boat at an appropriate price. Call Toll Free 1-877-7RAIDER or check it out online: http://www.raiderboat.com GUEST EDITORIAL - Bob Merrick I'm a bit of an Olympic history buff. As I send in my meager donation to the US Olympic Sailing Teams current fundraising effort I'm thinking about one of the greatest Olympic Sailing Teams ever, the 1964 team. Prior to the 1960 Olympics sailors had to pay their own way to the Olympic games. The USOC had the view that sailors were all wealth individuals who could easily afford to pay for themselves. Realizing that the USOC policy was eliminating some our countries best sailors before the trials even started, Olympic Sailing Committee chairman James 'Tip Trenary decided to do something about it. In 1960 it was announced that money would be raised to send American sailors to the Olympics so that the inability to pay ones own way would not keep anyone off the team. The fundraising campaign didn't have an immediate effect but by the 1964 trials more of Americas best sailors had moved into the Olympic classes. The result was an Olympic medal in every class. The team roster reads like the legends of American sailing. - Bronze, Dragon: Lowell North, Charles Rogers, Richard Deaver - Bronze, Flying Dutchman: Harry Melges, William Bentsen - Silver, Finn: Peter Barrett - Bronze, 5.5 Meter: John McNamara, Francis Scully, Joseph Batchelder - Silver, Star: Richard Stearns, Lynn Williams The US Olympic Sailing team was ahead of the curve and we managed to stay there through the '92 Olympic Games. I have every reason to believe we could get there again given the proper resources. http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/2004/Winning/index.htm DEFI ATLANTIQUE After a 'heinous night' at sea last night in 30 knots of breeze, the focus is to get to the finish and complete qualification for the Vendée Globe. The fleet has clocked up some serious miles over the last seven weeks racing in two transatlantic races in succession - 4,340 miles in the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre and now 4,100 miles back. Standings at 1700 UT on December 15: 1. Mike Golding, Ecover, 83 miles to finish 2. Vincent Riou, PRB, 21.3 miles to leader 3. Alex Thomson, AT Racing, 22.5 mtl 4. Sebastien Josse, VMI, 28.2 mtl 5. Nick Moloney, Team Cowes, 86.3 mtl Event website: http://www.defi-atlantique.org/fr/ WOMEN IN WIND The Canadian Yachting Association is keen to actively promote the opportunities available to women and girls in sailing through its "Women in Wind" Awareness Campaign. The goal of this presentation is to: ·- Heighten people's awareness of the opportunities available for women in sailing ·- Discuss success stories/best practices from clubs, and programs such as the CYA "women in wind" and/or provincial sailing association initiatives ·- Promote the regattas, events and other avenues which currently exist for women striving to become involved in the sport of sailing ·- Explain the CYA Women's Committee mandate - Increase the database of women in sailing ·- Ultimately this campaign is in place to increase the participation of women in all aspects of sailing, to increase the success level of female athletes, and to ensure there is an organization in place to ensure "women in wind" type programs run from one year to the next! - ISAF website: http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=5997 The presentation can be found online: http://www.sailing.ca/competitive/events/wind.shtm ULLMAN SAILS GET A+ FOR SPEED On November 11th through 14th, Ponchartrain Yacht Club hosted the A Class catamaran North American Championships. Thirty-nine A Cats from across North America came to compete for national honors. Congratulations to Pease Glaser for winning the title of 2003 A Class National Champion. Ullman Sails won all five races and finished 1st through 4th overall. Ullman Sails also won both the Grand Masters and Masters Divisions. If you and your crew are ready to install the Ullman Sails Speed Advantage into your 2004 Racing Program, call or visit your local Ullman Sail loft. http://www.ullmansails.com REACTION Team New Zealand's managing director Grant Dalton said his financial backers can sleep easy - he won't be knocking on their door seeking money to cover the changes to the America's Cup design criteria revealed yesterday. AC Management, which is running the event in Valencia, Spain, has changed the design regulations to fit the event to the conditions in the Mediterranean. Dalton said the changes would not mean an increase in the New Zealand budget, believed to be $150 million. "It will have no effect on our cost," he said yesterday. "We haven't gone, 'Oh we have to add on $10 million'. It is cost neutral for us. "They had to be careful not to make the boats obsolete and put costs through the roof, and they have done that. "Change is constant. The new America's Cup rule will not stifle development. The cup is about development. It will confine experimental areas, but I still think you will still see quite different boats from what you did last time." Dalton said the sails and rigs were two areas in which he expected to see development. - Excerpts from a story by Julie Ash, NZ Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/zihv NEWS BRIEFS * Eight yachts have withdrawn from the original list of 65 that had lodged applications to enter the 2003 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This leaves 57 starters - the same as last year. Line honors looks to be a transTasman duel between the two 30 metre super maxis Skandia from Australia and Zana representing New Zealand, but at least ten grand prix ocean racers have a chance of winning top handicap honors. - www.rolexsydneyhobart.com *After several days of light and non-existent wind on Florida's Tampa Bay, the 10-boat Tornado catamaran National Championship ended with four races in 7-13 knots of breeze on the final day. Final results (five races with no discards): 1. Johnny Lovell/ Charlie Ogletree, 6; 2. Robbie Daniel/ Keith Notary, 14; 3. Lars Guck/ John Farrar, 17. - Complete results: http://www.tampabaycatsailors.com/day_4.htm * There are three official Mini Class US events presently under development for 2004: a Mini Celebrity race in Boston Harbor in June following the Transat finish (the former OSTAR race); a June 500 nautical mile Mini Qualifier from Boston to Seal Island off Cape Sable, Nova Scotia and back, with a stopover in Portland, Maine on the outbound leg; and the inaugural triangle race in July - a 2,275 nautical mile, three-leg race that will start and finish in Boston, stopping in Bermuda and Charleston, South Carolina. An official Notice of Race announcement will be made in January. - www.miniclassus.com * Jean Luc van den Heede currently sailing his 85-ft aluminum cutter Adrien on a Westabout solo non-stop global record attempt, has left Cape Horn in his wake and is now six days ahead of schedule. His aim is to beat the current record of 151 days, 19 hours and 54 minutes, held by Philippe Monnet. - Sue Pelling, Yachting World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/zks5 * Flying in the Andes Mountains, Steve Fossett (USA) and Terry Delore (NZL) last weekend capped a highly successful 2003 southern hemisphere summer gliding season with one of the top flights ever in the sport of gliding - the first ever 1500 kilometer triangle - simultaneously establishing three new world records for speed and distance, bringing their season record total to 6 and their career partnership total to nine. Their aircraft was a two-seat, German built ASH 25 Mi high-performance sailplane of carbon-composite construction, with a 25 m (82 ft) wingspan and a 60-1 glide ratio. - http://www.fossettchallenge.com/ * The Scuttlebutt staff wants to share our Christmas card with all of our readers: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/03/happyholidays.jpg TRIVIA ANSWER Canada has the longest coastline of any country. It is 56,453 miles long. KEY WEST CREWING CLINIC Sign-ups are now open for the half-day West Marine Big Boat Crewing Tune-Up at Key West RW on January 18th. (Re) learn the mechanics of the major positions on a modern race boat (bow, mast, pit, trimmer), including all the tricks used by the pros. Details at 410-353-3332 or TuckerT2P@msn.com SCUTTLEBUTT WEBSITE LINKS Classifieds: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/classifieds Event calendar: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar Photo gallery: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos News & Extras: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news 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 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 Bruce Thompson: Following our discussions in the fall, the recommendation I made to Dick Rose for the ISAF Annual meeting was to introduce a First Amendment for sailors to re-introduce hailing. It is my belief that more hailing is better. It would help cut down on the Rashomon aspects Mr. Taylor mentions. Over the years, many hails have been excised from the RRS (e.g. "Starboard"). Some of this was a response to arguments over whether the hail was made/ heard. So we had the jury room driving the debate. What we need is an improved glossary which could offer standardized hails. In the old days you called "Room". Wouldn't it be better to have "Overlap" available? You establish the applicable rule(s) well before reaching the 2 boat length circle. And you get enough time to ensure your hail is heard & understood. My experience is that hailing is a great benefit to defining the situation and alleviating protests. They'll also work in your favor in the jury room. We also need to extend this to race committees. My favorite hail is "All Clear", an action the judges frown upon! * From Jim Mahaffy (Regards to Craig Coulsen, Butt 1479, on throwing out the rules and making them "simpler"): That was done a while back, what does he want to do? Stop with RRS 10 & 11? I started my judging and umpiring under the old rules, and these are a great improvement. A long time ago after playing High School baseball and some college I thought about being an umpire. After reading the rules for that I decided that being a nuclear physicist would have been easier. Lord knows what they are like now. Yes! Anything can be made simpler, but at what cost. * From David Lackey, Australia: I may be old fashioned, but I while I can see that making an AC boat "lighter; one that will accelerate better; respond to gusts more quickly" will add to the sailors' enjoyment and, indeed, enhance the spectacle, I cannot see how those new rule parameters will achieve the stated principle aim of "making racing closer". Quite the opposite, I would have thought. * From Ed Sherman: (Re definition of a yawl): It is easier to remember that both a ketch and a yawl have two masts. Each has a main forward and a mizzen aft. On a ketch the mizzen is in front of the rudder post meaning a tiller could "ketch" on the mast. A yawl's mizzen is behind the rudder post so the rudder post says to the mizzen, "yawl catch up." * From Bruce Parsons, Newfoundland: A yawl originally, in a wooden boat, had the aft mast stepped aft of the stern post. This could aft or forward of steering or end of waterline, but was most likely ahead of the latter. The Boatmans Manual, C.D. Lane, 1979 edition, says a yawl has the mizzen stepped aft of the rudderhead - virtually the same thing as the stern post on a wooden boat, and a good reference for any other type of construction. He goes on to say the area of the mizzen on a yawl is usually one fourth that of the main, wheras on a ketch it is one third to one half. He also states that the yawl is essentially a racing rig (?!?) and that since the rating rules ceased favouring it, it has rarely been built. * From David Munge: A yawl has the aft mast aft of the rudder post, is what I was taught. Interesting enough in Master and Commander, by Patrick O'Brian I seem to remember that the master of the ship always had suffiencient latitiude to call his ship what he wanted within certain realms. * From John Williams: Hats off to Hal Pickering, mates - he worked tirelessly for the betterment of the sport, was a heck of a competitor, and let us multihullers walk through the front door of the YC, belly up to the bar and swap fabrications. He'd've been a classy buccaneer in an earlier time. He'll be greatly missed here in P'cola and in the world of weekend-warrior sailing. * From James M. Haupt: It is with great sadness when I first heard of the loss of Hal Pickering. The Melges 24 group, Pensacola Yacht Club and the entire Gulf region has lost a good man at way too early of an age. CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATIONS Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. - Charles Schulz |
