SCUTTLEBUTT No. 700 - November 30, 2000
AMERICA'S CUP - Excerpts from a story in the New Zealand Herald.
* Yachting officials yesterday rejected any suggestion that a dispute
over whether the Russell Coutts-led Swiss Challenge could enter the
America's Cup was personal. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron commodore
Peter Taylor said the squadron and Swiss Challenge lawyers had worked
closely to try to resolve problems blocking the entry of the Swiss
syndicate. An America's Cup arbitration panel will now resolve the dispute,
which was sparked by Switzerland's landlocked status.
Coutts, who won and defended the cup for Team New Zealand, is skippering
the challenge of Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli for the 2002-2003
regatta. But the Societe Nautique de Geneve Yacht Club is based on the
freshwater Lake Geneva, and the cup's long-standing Deed of Gift requires
challenging clubs to hold annual regattas on the sea or an arm of the sea.
Coutts has been heavily critical of the squadron's failure so far to accept
the entry from his syndicate. He said conditions that were being applied to
the syndicate were stricter than for past Swiss syndicates. "I know we've
come under more grief than any other Swiss team and who knows why that is."
Coutts controversially quit Team NZ for the Swiss team this year, but
Taylor denied the delay over the Swiss entry was personal. "It's not. We're
not in the least bit interested, from the squadron's point of view, in
pursuing that sort of issue. It's been amicable all the way through."
Taylor said that if Coutts checked with his lawyers, he would discover that
it had been a Swiss idea to refer the dispute to the arbitration panel. The
squadron and the Swiss lawyers had worked closely together. While they
would be presenting separate submissions to the panel, the two parties had
liaised closely on key points.
Arbitration panel member Sir David Tompkins, a retired High Court judge,
said submissions from all interested parties must be received by Monday.
The panel would then consider arguments and probably consult by conference
call.
* Taylor said other Swiss entries had not had the same problems because
they had long-standing sea regattas. Coutts' club, one of the oldest in
Europe, held its first sea regatta this year, off France, after submitting
its entry to the squadron. - NZ Herald
Full story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ac2000/
MORE AMERICA'S CUP
(Following are excerpts from a story by Sean McNeill on the Quokka Sailing
website.)
Heralding a partnership of experience and initiative, Team DC, the New York
Yacht Club's challenge for the 2003 America's Cup, today announced Computer
Associates as its platinum level sponsor and technology partner. According
to Team DC director of operations, Bill Trenkle, the deal is worth $10
million in both cash and product. When added to private donations it puts
the Conner-led team, which will be mounting its eighth campaign for the
Cup, about halfway to its goal of raising at least $30 million for the next
campaign.
* As Team DC's only platinum level sponsor, Computer Associates will have
its logo on the bow of the next Stars & Stripes, all the spinnakers and the
mainsail.
* Computer Associates, the world's leading eBusiness solutions provider,
also is the world's third largest software company. The New York-based
company has 20,000 employees worldwide and had revenue in excess of $6
billion for the fiscal year ended Mar. 31, 2000.
* Team Dennis Conner will utilize CA's technology to ensure the optimum
performance of the yacht. The team will implement a variety of CA solutions
to gather, store, analyze, manage and distribute information about Stars &
Stripes during the many stages of the racing program.
* Ken Read returns to the team to serve as helmsman. The afterguard will
include Tom Whidden, Conner's long-time friend, and newcomer Terry
Hutchinson, who trimmed mainsail for AmericaOne in the last Louis Vuitton
Cup. Trenkle said the crew would be comprised of almost two-thirds of the
Stars & Stripes crew from the last LVC. Included in the line-up are Mike
Toppa and Trenkle as headsail trimmers.
One key person who won't return is Peter Holmberg, who served in the
afterguard of the last challenge. Although unannounced, it is understood
that Holmberg has joined Larry Ellison's Oracle Racing team. "Peter was a
great guy to have on our team," said Trenkle. "We're excited to have Terry
onboard. He more than makes up for the loss of Holmberg."
* Team Dennis Conner also is busy on design work. Reichel/Pugh have been
testing 26-foot models at the David Taylor Basin in Maryland. Two new boats
are planned and will be built at New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, R.I.,
which built the last Stars & Stripes.
According to reports, the boats won't be launched until early 2002, about
eight months before the expected start of the Louis Vuitton Cup. If that
seems late, remember that Team DC didn't launch USA-55 until a month before
the last LVC, and then almost made it to the finals. - Sean McNeill, for
Quokka Sports.
Full story: http://www.quokkasailing.com/stories/11/SLQ_1129_teamdc_WFC.html
Other websites: http://www.ca.com, http://www.stars-stripes.com,
http://nyyc.org
WELL DONE
Ullman Sails congratulates the Olympic Sailors for outstanding performances
in the 2000 Olympic Games. They trained hard to get to Sydney, and then
competed at one of the highest levels in our sport. The Olympians bring
great credit to competitive sailing worldwide, to their Countries, and to
themselves. Ullman Sails is especially proud that United States Silver
Medalist in both the Women's 470 (JJ Isler and Pease Glaser), and in the
Men's 470 (Paul Foerster and Bob Merrick) used Ullman Sails, exclusively.
Additionally, Ullman Sails were used by the Silver and Bronze Medalist in
the Tornado Class.
http://www.ullmansails.com/
VENDEE GLOBE - By Philippe Jeantot
Leader of the pack, Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) can nevertheless
feel the hairs on the back of his neck rising. He himself admitted today
that, " . . . the four boats right behind me are eagerly waiting for me to
make a mistake." Among those four, is Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool), who
celebrated her 38th birthday today and received a check list as a present
from her shore team. She is now only separated by just over two degrees in
longitude to the East of fellow female competitor Ellen MacArthur
(Kingfisher) on this -highway, nevertheless on identical latitudes. Ellen
follows the route of Desjoyeaux and Jourdain (Sill Matimes La Potagere) as
they curve round the St. Helen anticyclone, whereas Catherine is forced on
to a straight route South to avoid adverse effects of the high pressure
system. The pace continues to be infernal, as the fleet hurtle down the
Atlantic at immense speed, obviously exhausting for the skippers and an
indication that the change in weather systems will come fairly soon.
Bringing up the rear of the front 9 boats, Josh Hall (EBP - Gartmore) has
regained a better boat speed after his incident with the fishing net. He
admits to a change of tactic though and to target the other boats ahead, is
now going for maximum speed in order to keep in the same weather system. He
maintains that "in the next two days the wind will ease off to 10 knots
coming from the North to slow the front boats up a little."
Mike Golding (Team Group 4) seems to be suffering one problem after
another, but nothing that the man can't handle. Today he recounted that his
water-maker, like so many other skippers, recently stopped working and has
in fact contaminated some fresh water supplies. Otherwise he is finding the
going steady, sailing in a 12 knot S/SE wind, 8 degrees North of the
Equator, and to minimise the distance between himself and the fleet he
declared, "If I can see a corner, I1m going to cut it!"
For the leaders however, they are revving themselves up for the roaring
forties. Parlier, twice an unlucky veteran of this race, is ambitious to
enter his favourite part of the course: "We will be exposed to the
elements, gross waves, icebergs, for a good month, all of which raises the
blood, the game, the excitement - it would be boring if there was no danger."
For certain the Southern Ocean is history waiting to happen.
Standings: 1 Aquitaine Innovations, Yves Parlier, 2 PRB, Michel Desjoyeaux
(+152 miles) 3 Whirlpool, Catherine Chabaud (+175m) 4 Sill Matines & La
Potagere, Roland Jourdain (+198m)
5 Kingfisher, Ellen MacArthur (+275m)
Website: www.vendeeglob.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words
max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a
bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so
give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.
-- From Vince Cook (vecooke@gulftel.com) - In response to David Redfern's
query re denial of challenger entries: The introductory Background explains
that the Protocol has been agreed between RNZYS (the Defender) and YCPA
(the Challenger of Record). Article 1.1 allows multiple challenges by the
operative phrase: "shall accept every bona fide notice of challenge. You
can read the full Protocol for America's Cup XXXI at:
http://www.rnzys.co.nz/americas/protocol.html
-- From Tom Ehman (tfe@compuserve.com) - Michelle Master Orr asked: "If
Computer Associates is backing Stars and Stripes, who gets to keep the Cup
if DC wins? The NYYC or Wang?" The Deed of Gift states, "It is distinctly
understood that the Cup is to be the property of the Club subject to the
provisions of this deed, and not the property of the owner or owners of any
vessel winning a match." Displaying the Cup is, of course, another matter.
Since RPYC won it in 1983, clubs holding the Cup have allowed it to be
displayed in appropriate settings including the White House, various houses
of parliament, public and private club/team/sponsor functions, etc.,
consistent with the tradition and dignity which should be accorded the
world's oldest, and arguably grandest, international sports trophy.
-- From Dee Smith (deesail@csi.com) - Arriving in Miami for the American
Admiral's Cup Trails for the Farr 40 class expecting around 15 to 20 boats
from the states having a friendly competition. Walking down the dock, I
noticed almost as many countries represented here as in the last Admiral's
Cup. Besides about 15 boats from the US we have Germany, England, Italy,
Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and I believe France. Counted 24 boats at
the dock and notice many very good sailors getting their boats ready. This
regatta has a world championship atmosphere around.
-- From Bob Fisher (TheFish@compuserve.com) - Congratulations on reaching
No.700. Scuttlebutt is eagerly looked forward to first thing every weekday
morning on this side of the 'Herring Pond.' It saves us the necessity of
surfing the net, and simply points us in the right direction should we want
to know more, but above all it clearly stimulates thought (sometimes
misguided in my opinion) by other sailors, who, after all, are the
constituency of which the establishment should take note. And I have
evidence that the establishment is a reader.
WOMEN'S MATCH RACING CHAMPS
St. Petersburg, Fla. (November 29, 2000) - After a long and light day on
the water, the world's top 16 skippers have been narrowed down to the top
eight contenders for the quarterfinal round of the Rolex 2000 ISAF Women's
World Match Racing Championship. Reigning champion Dorte Jensen (DEN)
easily progressed along with Paula Lewin (BER), Hannah Swett (USA) and
Katie Spithill, the 18-year-old match racing sensation from Australia.
In the other group, Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson and Marie
Bjorling (SWE) both won six of their seven matches to advance. They are
joined by Klaartje Zuiderbaan (NED) and Betsy Alison - the second- and
third-seeded skippers - respectively.
Results after Day Four - Round Robin 2A: Dorte Jensen, Denmark, 6
wins, Paula Lewin, Bermuda, 6, Hannah Swett, USA, 6, Katie Spithill,
Australia, 4, Cordelia Eglin, Great Britain, 3, Cristiana Monina, Italy, 2,
Dru Slattery, USA, 1, Carolijn Brouwer, Netherlands, 0.
Round Robin 2B: Shirley Robertson, Great Britain, 6 wins, Marie Bjorling,
Sweden, 6, Klaartje Zuiderbaan, Netherlands, 5, Betsy Alison, USA, 5,
Christine Briand, France, 3, Gwen Joulie, France, 1, Malin Milbourn,
Sweden, 1, Amy Waring, New Zealand, 1.
Eight skippers qualifying for quarterfinal round robin Shirley Robertson,
Great Britain, Marie Bjorling, Sweden, Klaartje Zuiderbaan, Netherlands,
Betsy Alison, USA, Dorte Jensen, Denmark, Paula Lewin, Bermuda, Hannah
Swett, USA, Katie Spithill, Australia.
Event website: www.spyc.org
SANTA NEEDS HELP!
Choose your favorite Ultimate Sailing products for Holiday
gift-giving. Sharon Green's Ultimate Sailing Calendar, note cards,
t-shirts, poster, book, screen savers and custom prints will make perfect
presents for the sailing enthusiasts on your list. www.ultimatesailing.com
THE RACE
* November 30, 2000 - 'The Race' is a one-off circumnavigation starting
from Barcelona on New Year's Eve for seven multihulls of a size and potency
not yet seen. But with 31 days to go, the real race is simply to be ready
for the start. Pete Goss's Team Philips has managed three days' sail trials
out of Dartmouth since her relaunch. If conditions in the Western
Approaches moderate, Goss will set off tomorrow for his 2,500-mile
qualifier. Also tomorrow in Bristol Lenny Henry, the comedian, will
christen Tony Bullimore's Team Legato, put in the water on Monday after
being lengthened from 92ft to 100ft.
Team Legato's new, taller wing mast will be stepped today if the wind
permits. The former TAG Heuer/ENZA/Royal & Sun Alliance is one of two old
boats. The other is Roman Paske's Polpharma-Warta (previously Commodore
Explorer) which went back into the water yesterday in Brittany. Steve
Fossett's PlayStation was also relaunched in Southampton on Monday.
There has been widespread concern about the lack of preparation for a fleet
of such potent boats. But as Grant Dalton, competing with the 112ft Club
Med, points out, victory in The Race will not go to the fastest boat, but
the one which follows Juan Manuel Fangio's famous axiom: to win by going as
slowly as possible. - Tim Jeffery, Daily Telegraph,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=001648423620749&rtmo=VD8JrMJK&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/00/11/30/soyots30.html
* Bruno Peyron, organiser of The Race, the first crewed race round the
world non-stop, has announced that a maxi-monohull (the ex-Merit) skippered
by yachtsman Alain Gabbay, will leave Marseilles at the end of the week to
take up station during the race in the Indian Ocean, south of Cape Town
(South Africa). The boat will then head for southern New Zealand before
sailing for Cape Horn. The presence of this boat is part of an overall
refection on safety pursued by all the skippers and the organisers of The Race.
"For centuries, it has been a tradition that boats always go to the rescue
of a vessel in difficulty in the same zone, it is a primary means of
providing assistance. Then the rescue services of the navies of the nearest
countries are called. For the first time, on the occasion of The Race, we
will have at our disposal a new means, complementary and independent, of
providing assistance for a vessel in distress", explained Bruno Peyron.
Refitted for this mission, the maxi-monohull will be manned by a doctor
proficient in emergency medicine and professional divers. It will be
equipped with diving gear and a Zodiac for recovering eventual survivors in
the case of a capsize. It will also be carrying new equipment for launching
a self-inflating buoy developed by the company RESTECH NORWAY, specialists
in warp launchers, especially for deep sea tugboats.
The big assistance boat will take up station between Cape Town and the
Kerguelen Islands, in the track of the boats of The Race. Once the last
competitor has passed, the safety boat will head for New Zealand without
passing through the Cook Straits. By this time the boat will be 4 to 5 days
behind. She will then proceed on towards Cape Horn 9 to 10 days behind the
competitors and will sail back up the Atlantic normally behind the fleet.
This arrangement will enable assistance to be provided in the shortest
possible time to the crew of a possibly capsized boat whose
self-sufficiency has been estimated at several weeks. www.therace.org
STEVE FOSSETT
November 27, 2000 - Los Cabos Mexico - Steve Fossett has just flown to
another aviation 'round the world record:
- New Westbound Global Speed Mark for Medium Weight Aircraft
- 500.55 mph (805.56 kph) average speed including 9 fuel stops
- 25822.26 statute miles (41556.79 km) in 51 hours 35 minutes 13 seconds
Nine fuel stops and headwinds along most of the route always meant that the
goal of a 500 mph record average was going to be a close thing. But with
only 3 minutes to spare, pilot Steve Fossett (USA) and his two co-pilots -
Alex Tai (UK) and Pierre d'Avenas (USA) - landed back at Los Cabos, Mexico
Friday afternoon November 24 - 51 hrs 35 mins 13 secs after departing on
Wednesday afternoon - with their new Westbound 'Round the World Record in
hand (FAI medium airplane - certification pending).
Steve knew timing was tight: "Air Traffic Control reserved the runway so we
could make a straight in approach. If the headwinds had slowed us any more
we were prepared to make a high speed touch-and-go to finish in time".
Each stop for up to 6 tonnes of fuel had ranged from 23 to 35 minutes -
from touchdown to takeoff. "Our system upon landing was for Alex Tai to
race to get the fuel truck hooked up, Pierre d'Avenas would radio for
flight clearances, and I would handle customs. It's tough to make nine
consecutive pit stops like this without a hitch, but we did well."
Universal Aviation in Houston made all ground handling arrangements.
Fossett's twin-engine Citation X is the fastest type of private jet (.92
mach), but experience, planning and meteorology played a large role: "We
wrung all the performance out of this airplane all the way around. And we
couldn't have done this without the experience of our prior record
attempts," Fossett added.
In February 2000, Fossett and Tai (with Darrin Adkins) set the medium
airplane Global Record (Eastbound) with an outstanding average speed of
559.89 mph (901.05 kph). (Westbound is more difficult, flying against
prevailing winds. Records are stated in average speed on a declared course
rather than elapsed time.) Also in this year, Fossett and Adkins set U.S.
Transcontinental Records - both West to East (693.14 mph/1115.51 kph) and
East to West (593.37 mph/954.93 kph) for private (non-military) aircraft.
The official observer for the NAA (National Aeronautic Association) and FAI
(Federation Internationale Aeronautique) on this flight was Stan Nelson
(USA). Meteorologist Chris Bedford forecast winds for the optimal time to
make each of the record flights.
The nine stops were Kona Hawaii, Majuro Marshall Islands, Palau Micronesia,
Singapore, Maldives, Nairobi Kenya, Abidjan Ivory Coast, Fortaleza Brazil,
and Barranquilla Columbia - a colourful itinerary, but the crew had no time
to sightsee. "I'd certainly like to fly this route again," Fossett smiled,
"but taking 2 months instead of 2 days!"
That trip will have to wait a while though, as Fossett - equally known as a
multiple world record setting solo balloonist and ocean yachtsman -
skippers his 125' (38m) maxi sailing catamaran PlayStation with 11 man crew
in the 'no-limits' The RACE around the world starting on December 31 -
non-stop. - Fossett Challenge website, http://www.fossettchallenge.com/
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
If you think small things don't make a difference ... try sleeping with a
mosquito in your room.
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