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SCUTTLEBUTT 3115 - Thursday, June 17, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt Kindle: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/kindle RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Team One Newport, Ullman Sails, and LaserPerformance. TRANSFORMING ATHLETES INTO ENTERTAINERS The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is an organized series of 10 events providing professional sailors with the opportunity for income and elite competition. The third stage of the tour - Korea Match Cup - had 12 teams competing last week at Gyeonggi, Korea, where eventual winner Mathieu Richard (FRA) earned just over 60 thousand dollars. Increasing the prize money has required the events to expand both their commercial and spectator platforms. But making the events more 'fan-friendly' has come at a cost. Much like the Medal Race at the Olympics, course locations at WMRT events may be great for observers but not so great for the sailors. Here is a report from Australian Torvar Mirsky's Mirsky Racing Team (MRT), who is ranked fourth in the Tour standings, and was eliminated by Richard in the Korea Match Cup semi-finals: "The race committee was eager to race the semi-finals before the Live TV broadcast came on, so racing began in unfavourable conditions. The first race against Richard saw MRT dominate the prestart, before a big windshift forced both boats under the start line, and putting Richard in the lead. MRT managed to work their way back into the French Match Racing Team, but it wasn't enough and they went down one race. "The second race was in a completely different wind direction, with shifty winds plaguing the race course once again. MRT dominated the race, and held onto a substantial lead, however Richard followed their line on the final run, and managed to take advantage of a private gust which took them down to the finishing line, winning the quarterfinals by a mere seconds." Made for television events transforms athletes into entertainers, which is fine for the athletes when their income is guaranteed. But on the WMRT, the only guaranteed money is from each team's sponsor. Tough way to make a living when a winning prize purse can get snatched by the random will of the wind. -- Scuttleblog, http://tinyurl.com/Scuttleblog-06-16-10 WHAT TO WEAR Dressing for the 635-mile Newport Bermuda Race 'Thrash to the Patch' can be a challenge. Experienced sailors bring clothes that will dry quickly, are versatile, and most of all - stow easily. Mike Toppa, America's Cup winner and owner of North Sails Florida notes, "First of all, no cotton. Cotton is like a sponge and doesn't dry quickly. I have a medium size West Marine dry bag that will hold everything, except the foul weather gear." Here is the list Mike will be using for his race onboard Tom Hill's Reichel-Pugh 75-foot Titan XV: 2 pr Patagonia Capaline boxer shorts 1 pr Capaline long john pants 1 pr Camet quick dry shorts 1 Capiline long sleeve T shirt 2 Capiline short sleeve T shirts 1 Capiline Patagonia Synchilla pullover 1 pr Sealskinz waterproof socks 1 pr Sperry boots 1 set Gill foul weather gear (bibs and jacket) - Sunglasses, toothbrush, toothpaste, contact lenses and eye shades like you get for on an airplane (great for getting important sleep during the daylight hours). - Depending on the forecast, I might add a fleece salopette or ski hat it will be cold the first night out. Full report: http://tinyurl.com/N-B-R-06-16-10 RACE COVERAGE: "If the Newport Bermuda Race is any one thing, it's historic," writes yachting historian John Rousmaniere. "Founded in 1906 as the first ocean race for amateur sailors in normal boats, it has inspired other long-distance races, and has attracted almost 4,500 boats crewed by some 46,000 men and women who have raced nearly 3 million miles to Bermuda. It's a blue-water habit obsession." But when the race begins June 18th, the test will be if this classic ocean race lives up to its website billing as being 'almost a spectator sport'. In the new era of Internet information, the Newport Bermuda Race has historically lagged behind its distance race brethren, but a heightened emphasis this year on race communication is eagerly anticipated. Read here on what is being done to help the online viewer: http://tinyurl.com/Scuttleblog-NB-Race LET THE SUMMER BEGIN! Team One Newport is ready to welcome the summer and all the activities that go with it! The Newport Bermuda Race starts on Friday and we will have the store open until 8 pm Thursday and then open up early (8 am) on Friday for those last minute items. With 25 years of experience, we can help you with your gear from your head to your feet and everything in between! Ask about our promotions from Atlantis, Musto and Henri-Lloyd. Also visit the Henri-Lloyd trailer in the IRYS parking lot. And for those of you who can't make it to Newport, you can visit us at http://www.team1newport.com for the best service, selection and knowledge in the sport of sailboat racing. Or call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327). Happy sailing. BREAK THE TRADITIONAL MOLD! BE AN ALL-AROUND SAILOR In Scuttlebutt 3097, WindCheck magazine interviewed Windsurfing Task Force member Nevin Sayre about windsurfing for junior sailors in the USA (Youth Windsurfing Gets a Reboot, May 2010). Ned Crossley, a US SAILING certified Windsurfing Instructor Trainer, says clubs and sailing centers can develop better sailors by integrating this exciting sport into their programs. What is an all-around sailor? Can you rig, sail all points of sailing, and tack and jibe a: Laser? Keelboat with spinnaker? Optimist? Windsurfer? Catamaran? If you can check all of the above then you are an all-around sailor, like the all-around gymnast that works every event or the decathlete in track & field. If you think you can basically sail all ten of the Olympic one-design classes but are unable to sail a windsurfer, then you're immediately astern because Men's and Women's Windsurfing comprise 20% of the Olympic sailing events. If you love to hear the hull "hum" on a Laser, then you'll find that sailing "hooked in" with your feet in the straps on a windsurfer - while going much faster - delivers an even greater buzz. What sailboat can you jump, pivot, twist, carve, or do flips with? What sailboat has no stays, tiller, rudder or seat? Do you want to represent the USA at the Olympics or the Worlds sailing? Well, your chances of doing so on a windsurfer are much better than in any other class. So, become an all-around sailor...learn to sail on a windsurfer! Youth windsurfing is huge worldwide, with 300 13- to 17- year-olds competing at the Techno 293 Worlds at Weymouth, England last August. Holy Cow! The USA, however, is approximately ten years behind other countries in producing windsurfers who are competitive at international youth regattas. Do we want to be 20 years behind? Why are yacht clubs and sailing centers in the USA not producing windsurfers with abilities equal to Opti and Laser sailors? Is there burnout in our junior sailing efforts? If so, is it because youngsters in most programs have no choices other than the traditional "Optis to Lasers or 420s" mold? Some programs buy windsurfing gear, pray for a windsurfing instructor, and then hope! Others have a "one-year wonder" program. That's not it! What they really need is to first create a three- to five-year plan with a "windsurfing team" that will organize, get educated, actually learn windsurfing, and lead the club into producing real windsurfers who become instructors, race, travel to events and love the sport. -- WindCheck, read on: http://tinyurl.com/2fqdthe CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this weekend: Jun 19-27 - Cleveland Race Week - Cleveland, OH, USA Jun 19-20 - J/Fest Northwest - Seattle, WA, USA Jun 21-25 - Buccaneer 18 North American Champs - Solomons Island, MD, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar "THEY WERE AFRAID SHE WAS GOING TO DIE" The father of Abby Sunderland has finally admitted his family planned to cash in on the teenager's solo sailing trip with a reality television series. Reversing denials he made yesterday, Laurence Sunderland told CNN's Larry King the family had signed a deal with a Los Angeles-based production company but it later fell through. He said the production company, Magnetic Entertainment, was very enthusiastic about turning the 16-year-old sailor's solo voyage into an "inspirational" series. The show was also to feature a solo journey made last year by Abby's 17-year-old brother Zac. Mr Sunderland claimed plans for the show collapsed when Magnetic Entertainment could not find a distributor. But a spokeswoman for the production company, Susan Hartman, gave a different reason for the show stalling, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. ''The networks didn't want to touch it because of the very thing that happened,'' she said. ''They were afraid she was going to die.'' Abby, who set off on her solo voyage around the world in January, was rescued by the French over the weekend with the help of Australian authorities after her mast snapped in the Indian Ocean and she activated her emergency beacons. Magnetic Entertainment also claimed Mr Sunderland had rushed the teenager's departure date in order to fulfill sponsorship obligations. -- MSN News, http://tinyurl.com/296yyt4 => Curmudgeon's Comment: Opinion may waver on parental responsibility regarding the overall concept of Abby Sunderland's trip to be the youngest to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation, but the experts seem to agree that her decision to cross the Southern Ocean in the winter was dangerous. If this was Abby's decision, she was ill-informed. If this was someone else's decision, the Court of Public Opinion is justified in pressing charges. CLASSIC 8M "YUCCA" WINS DELTA DITCH RUN In a Delta Ditch Run that was anything but ordinary, Ullman Sails customer Hank Easom and his crew powered their classic wooden 8 Meter "Yucca" to first place in the Monohull division. Typically a downwind drag race, the 2010 Delta Ditch Run saw big breeze and a lot of upwind sailing along the 67.5nm course from Richmond Point to Stockton, CA. Hank's team won on corrected time after 8 hours 34 minutes of racing. "Yucca" was powered by Ullman Sails upwind gear, including a new GPL Carbon mainsail and a Carbon genoa. Ullman Sails - Invest in your performance. http://ullmansails.com LIVING THE DREAM? The downturn in the economy has put the squeeze on the professional sailing profession, but Paul Cayard (USA) has maintained a full schedule amid his employment with Torbjorn Tornqvist's Artemis team. But maybe too full. Could balancing the Louis Vuitton Trophy events and races with the RC 44 and the TP52 classes be too much? Here are comments from Paul before and after the first day of the Marseille Trophy, the second of the five event TP52 Audi MedCup Series: * "This is my eighth week in a row and I'm counting down the days. We have to just suck it up a bit this week. We have talked about it a little bit as there are a number of us who have been on the eight week tour. We are going to grunt up and put it out one more time." * "Tough day for Artemis in the light winds of Marseille. We did not have good speed upwind or downwind in the sloppy seaway. With scores of 7, 10, 9 we are firmly in control of last place. In fact in the second race we will probably get another point of penalty for racing with a gennaker that wasn't "carded". The sail was measured but not declared and that is a technical violation. Apparently a mistake was made when loading the sails this morning." Living the dream? REKINDLING THEIR WINNING MOJO Marseille, France (June 16, 2010) - It was a day of sharply contrasting fortunes for past and present TP52 Audi MedCup Champions on the Rade Sud today as the Marseille Trophy opened with three races which proved a very different test to last month's breezy curtain raiser in Cascais, Portugal. As 2008 champions Quantum Racing rekindled their winning mojo with back to back wins in Races 2 and 3 to lead the regatta at the end of the first day, the reigning champions (Emirates Team New Zealand) came off the water in ninth of ten and 2007 circuit winners in tenth. Breezes rarely topped ten knots but it was the changes in strength and direction which made life especially testing for afterguards. -- Full report: http://www.medcup.org/news/quantum-racing-s-marseille-mojo-working_3278 Terry Hutchinson, skipper Quantum Racing (USA): "It's been a great day, actually one of the best days we've had in a lot on Quantum Racing. In the first race what happened is that it got a little light and funky, and everything we did was a little bit off, but we made it up in the next two. The wind was shifty, tricky and puffy, and very hard to read, actually that was the hardest part in the first race, was trying to see the wind. It was a tricky day." Dean Barker (NZL), helmsman Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL): "It was shifty, puffy and big holes and we certainly did not sail particularly well. It is always hard to focus on any one thing we did wrong, but we did not get to the best side of the course at the right time. I think that basically the other boats sailed better than us today. There is nothing too much to get stressed about, we just need to have a good consistent day tomorrow, and get some consistency into it." Additional quotes: http://www.medcup.org/news/quotes-of-the-day_3279 Video race replay and daily highlight shows: http://www.medcup.org/replay/ HAVE FUN WITH THE BUG AND PICO The LaserPerformance World Open Regatta (June 26-27) is almost here and there are still spots left for the Bugs and Picos on the "Fun Circle". There are boats available for charter through LaserPerformance and Sail Newport. The World Open will be an awesome event complete with fun racing, great food, prizes and entertainment. For details: http://na.laserperformance.com/special-events/worldopen Sail Legendary LaserPerformance.com LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Michael H. Koster (re, Sportsmanship and Integrity story in #3114): I'm sure that those who know John are not surprised at his decision to forfeit his team's spot in the ICSA Coed Dinghy Championship last year. I've been very fortunate to be able to sail with Johnny on his dad's boat since he was in high school. Back then, Johnny was the type of kid that parents all hope their kids turn out to be. He was bright, competitive, honest and respectful of his elders. During his college year's you knew Johnny knew a lot more about getting a boat around a course than we did, but he never rubbed your nose in it. Much like his dad, he had a gentle persuasive manner of getting his point across. Johnny has always been a pleasure to sail with and against. In 2006 Johnny helmed Four Stars to a Newport Bermuda IRC victory in the professional division. He drove the crew hard and the boat. The more senior crew would complain at times about all the hiking encouraged by Johnny, but those inconveniences seemed small when one looks at the outcome. To this day, I look forward to competing against Johnny on Thursday nights in Newport's Fleet 50 J/24 race series. Over the past three years I have been able to observe Johnny coaching his team at Edgewood Yacht Club. On more than one occasion, other coaches have commented to me on how helpful he has been to their programs. This is probably the best accolade one can receive, the respect of one's peers. * From Richard Hazelton, Editor 48 degrees North Sailing Magazine: Regarding John Mollicone, head coach of the Brown University, no doubt the young sailors would have learned a lot from their experience of sailing in the Dinghy Championships (story in Scuttlebutt 3114). But I think they learned a lot more from their coach about perspective and "doing what it right," that will serve them forever. It should give everyone pause for thought that we live in a world where doing the right thing is a cause for celebration. He certainly deserves the accolades and every sailing program should feature a page from his book. * From Steve Pyatt, Auckland, NZ: Reference "CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF SAILING" in SB 3114, how can "...the whole world do a Summer Sailstice on the same day when it is only summer and the longest day of the year in half of the World? Many of us in the 'Winter' hemisphere will sail on that day but it is our shortest day! * From Ted Christensen: It was great to see you run an update on this weekend's Summer Sailstice (in Scuttlebutt 3114). John Arndt, founder of the event, deserves full marks, and more, for continuing to strive to create events and keep momentum moving forward in the sailing industry, in the current economy. He's worked incredibly hard to promote this annual "holiday" for sailing, and it's something I hope that we all can support one way or another, best of all by going sailing this weekend! * From Tom Priest: Chris Welsh mentions (in Scuttlebutt 3113) that he is impressed by Abby's blog: "I read Abby's blog; she was totally composed throughout as things got nasty, and she responded as well to the crisis as well as a 40 year old would have." Gee...any chance the blog is actually written by (or at least edited and/or filtered by) someone else? It's quite easy to sound cool, calm, and collected from the comfort of mission control. The editing of inbound public commentary for that blog makes the North Koreans look downright liberating! I can only imagine what the REAL commentary from Abby looked like, because you and I will NEVER know. Laurence Sunderland is making the 'balloon boy dad' look like a real gem in comparison. * From Chris Boome, San Francisco, CA: It's interesting that because Abby Sunderland lost her mast that suddenly her age is such a big an issue. Admittedly, I did follow Jessica Watson's adventure more mainly because I found her website presentation easier to use. The thing that struck me about these two adventures was that Jessica's boat was simple, sturdy and had lots of back up, and very simplified and conservative routing. Perhaps Jessica was cruising and Amy was racing, but I think in this case, simplicity won out over complexity and I doubt those decisions were made by a 16 year old in either case. * From Rich Hayes, Suffolk, England: For some time I have been trying to figure out what's behind the Sunderland issue, but now I think I have it! If the US newspaper reports are reasonably accurate, in (Old) England this family would be known, for multiple reasons, as 'nutters'. One can't legislate against the idiot, but what really annoys me is the family's apparent indifference to the consequences of their actions. That sort of arrogance is not very attractive at best, and foolhardy at worst. Southern Ocean in the middle of winter? No plans for a jury rig? Minimal experience of the skipper? CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "At 20 years of age, the will reins; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment." - Benjamin Franklin Special thanks to Team One Newport, Ullman Sails, and LaserPerformance. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
