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SCUTTLEBUTT 3579 - Friday, April 27, 2012Scuttlebutt 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 RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: North Sails and Melges Performance Sailboats. REMEMBER WHEN... The Full Crew Farallones Race tragedy in San Francisco rekindled memories of the 30th Annual Doublehanded Farallones Race from two years ago. For most of the 79 competitors, the race on March 28, 2009 was a bust. Light winds led to nearly 90% of the fleet dropping out. But for the handful that stuck it out, their offwind ride home had winds in the low-20s with gusts to 30 knots. Dave Wilhite and David Servais had invested too much preparing their J/80 to quit, and now were reveling in the conditions. Until their keel ripped off. Here is an excerpt from Latitude 38 of the race... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "By a little after 8 p.m., we were beam reaching under jib and a reefed main," Wilhite recalls. He noted the waves were 12-14 feet with a fairly long period between, a fact the Coast Guard confirmed, though they put the wind speed closer to 40 knots. "Dave (Servais) was setting us up on a wave, reaching across it, when we heard a whuump," said Wilhite. "The helm turned to slush, the boat slowed and the wave we were shooting broke over us. Then we heard a cracking sound like a tree falling over - that was the sound of the keel ripping off." The boat immediately turned turtle, submerging the pair, who were tethered to the boat and wearing PFDs. Wilhite had a short tether while Servais was attached with a long tether. Once the boat settled and they popped up, Wilhite realized his tether was keeping him too close to the water so he pulled out the knife he had stowed in his pocket and cut himself free. "It was weird not to be attached to the boat," he said. "Dave was holding onto the rudder and there was nothing else to grab, so I held onto the lifelines underwater. My hands are really cramped and cut up today." It was then that they noticed why they had flipped - nothing at all was left of the keel. "It ripped off at the root," Wilhite said. "The only thing sticking out of the bottom of the boat was the bilge pump." He says he has no idea why the keel fell off - "It's not something you're prepared for" - saying there was no evidence they'd hit anything. Some wonder if it's possible they hit a large sea mammal that was moving in the same direction, but the question quickly becomes irrelevant when you're holding on for your life in the North Pacific. Just moments after getting their bearings, the duo realized a Moore 24 - they have no idea which one - was screaming by about 100 yards away. They yelled but went unheard. "My first thought was, 'Oh my God, we're going to die.'" Instead of panicking, the two experienced sailors discussed their options. They had a knife and a compact but powerful waterproof LED flashlight that Wilhite had stowed in his pocket. But without a way to communicate, things would turn ugly fast. Wilhite knew there was a waterproof handheld VHF in a sheet bag in the submerged cockpit. "I was presented with a choice," Wilhite said. "I remembered a line from Shawshank Redemption: 'Get busy living or get busy dying.'" So he took a deep breath, let go of the lifeline and swam back under the boat! Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/Lat38-042612 UNPRECEDENTED: The U.S. Coast Guard in San Francisco has temporarily suspended all marine event permits for offshore races in the wake of the Full Crew Farallones Race tragedy on April 14th in which five sailors perished. The USCG will request US Sailing to determine if safety regulations for offshore races need to be changed. The investigation is expected to take about a month. Never before has the USCG canceled permits after an ocean tragedy. -- Latitude 38, full report: http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2012-04-26 TEAM RAGIN' PERFORMS IN CHARLESTON Bob Moran and team aboard his J/111 'Ragin' might be new to the sailing scene, but their performance at Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week certainly wasn't amateur. Scoring three bullets in their nine-race series put them on top, winning their class by 8 points. "Simply put, we have a great team of individuals and supporting organizations that don't mind working hard to achieve a goal. Mike Coe, hailing from North Sails in Annapolis, not only helps us 'set up' our boat, he makes sure the trimmers understand what the sail is trying to accomplish and how to get the most out of it." For full article visit: http://na.northsails.com BEASTLY CONDITIONS Hyeres, France (April 26, 2012) - It was another day of extreme weather in the Semaine Olympique Française (4th event on ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit), limiting racing among the Olympic and Paralympic events prior to the final day on Friday. While the North American contingent remains in medal contention in the Star, 470 Women, and SKUD fleets, it is the Women's Match Race event where the U.S. is dominating. Currently undefeated is the Americans team of Anna Tunnicliffe/ Molly Vandemoer/ Debbie Capozzi who are already assured a berth into the Finals. Here is their report from today... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- One race was all we were able to do today due to the wind and wave conditions but we were able to win the race to take our record to 14-0, and with the format change for tomorrow, we are locked into a medal. Today's racing was supposed to start at 8:30am. We headed down to the boats around 7:10am to start rigging, but the boat park was 'dead' and we thought we had the time wrong but I think three days of 6am wake up calls and 8pm dockings were getting to all of us. The timing was correct and shortly after we arrived, everyone else showed up. The teams all rigged and then we were told to wait onshore while the race committee went out to check the conditions and to get set up. The first report that came in around 8:15am was that it was blowing 20-25kts and the waves were very big. We sat around waiting until around 11am when we were finally given the OK to leave the dock. We got out to the race course to find 4-6ft waves with the wind in the mid-twenties. We had a chance to do an upwind and a downwind to get comfortable (it's all relative) in the conditions and then the sequence started. We were first match, so we didn't have too much time to sit around. -- Read on: http://www.annatunnicliffe.com/content/view/551/1/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The extreme winds have forced a revision to the Women's Match Race schedule, with the top two positions from the 17 team round robin series going straight to the finals, while the next two teams compete in the bronze medal match. The forecast for the last day of racing is for very strong winds that could further compromise racing. Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.fr/ AND THEY'RE GOOD FOR YOUR FEET TOO (April 26, 2012; Day 5) - The Volvo Ocean Race turned into a sprint today, with the shoe boats logically leading their telecom, tourism, and insurance rivals. And what better gear to have on your feet than PUMA's. The trade wind fuelled fleet is now aimed north to Recife on the corner of Brazil where the course will turn north west towards the Caribbean's Windward Islands, the only remaining landfall before the Leg 6 finish at Miami. "This doesn't seem like the Volvo Ocean Race," reports PUMA skipper Ken Read. "Not one single bit! It is comfortable on deck; the water is warm, amazing temperature, starry night, heading reasonably toward the next mark. What is up with all of this!?!?! "I can't get used to it. No thrashing, bashing, soaking, freezing, boiling, upwind hate mission. Maybe I am just dreaming. So I pinch myself, and sure enough this is reality. And we are doing all right as well. Extra bonus for being with the lead pack." The fleet is on starboard, but not yet laying Recife. PUMA's position ahead and to windward of the pack should help them manage their lead, though Volvo meteorologist Gonzalo Infante noted how the trade winds are expected to ease, compressing the fleet as they near the point. Once the fleet rounded the final corner, they would be in more stable southeast trades that would herald better angles that would suit strong reaching teams. The latest estimated time of the fleet's Miami arrival is on or around May 7. -- Event media Leg 6 - Itajai, Brazil to Miami, USA (4,800 nm) Standings as of Thursday, 26 April 2012, 22:02:27 UTC 1. PUMA Ocean Racing (USA), Ken Read (USA), 3764.6 nm Distance to Finish 2. CAMPER (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 18.7 nm Distance to Lead 3. Telefonica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 39.5 nm DTL 4. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 40.9 nm DTL 5. Groupama 4 (FRA), Frank Cammas (FRA), 80.9 nm DTL 6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), Did not start Tracker/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-2011-12-schedule Video reports: http://www.youtube.com/user/volvooceanracevideos BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain (Oct. 29) and concludes in Galway, Ireland during early July 2012, six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles around the world via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient. Teams accumulate points through nine distance legs and ten In-Port races. - http://www.volvooceanrace.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE "Blazing hot sun, no wind, black carbon boat, eleven guys. You do the math!" - Shannon Falcone, PUMA "F*@k!! This is waay better than the Southern Ocean." - Brad Jackson, PUMA GET YOUR NEWS PUBLISHED Yachting New Zealand, the sailing federation for that country, is making a plea for its constituents to submit more 'grass roots' stories from Yacht Clubs around New Zealand. The tips they provide are repeated below, and are worthy for anyone seeking media coverage for their event... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Avoid writing a creative novel - we'd prefer something short and snappy of around 200-300 words. Here are a few 'media writing' tips which may help you: 1. Start with the date and where/who it's coming from 2. The most important information should be in the first sentence or two - no one wants to have to read through to the end to find out who won 3. Start by covering... WHO, WHEN, WHAT, WHERE, HOW 4. Supporting info follows in descending order of importance 5. Timeliness is important - don't let it become 'old news' before you send it 6. Word economy is important - make it short and snappy 7. Limit paragraphs to around one to three sentences 8. Include quotes from key people if possible 9. Put the report in the email, or attach it as a word document 10. Attach one or two images to the email if you have them (With photo credit note if required) 11. Accuracy - proof read it and use spelling and grammar check ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Included in the list should be promptly posted online results. Scuttlebutt has additional tips, along with distribution lists for North America and International media, here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/pr AUDI MELGES 20 WRAP UP Over 60 Audi Melges 20's participated in this year's Winter Series of events. The class Audi Melges 20 continues to grow internationally allowing Melges Racers to experience exciting racing in North America and in Europe. Race to melges20.com to check out regattas, photos and the latest information. New boats are already being built for next season's Winter Series! -- http://www.Melges20.com SAILING SHORTS * One hundred and two incidents of piracy and armed robbery have been reported for the first quarter of 2012, with dangerously increasing numbers in West African waters, according to figures released this week in the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) global piracy report. In total, 11 vessels were reported hijacked worldwide, with 212 crew members taken hostage and four crew killed. A further 45 vessels were boarded, with 32 attempted attacks and 14 vessels fired upon - the latter all attributed to either Somali or Nigerian pirates. -- Read on: http://www.iccwbo.org/index.html?id=48110 * The America's Cup World Series heads to Venice, Italy with racing on May 17-20. The format has been compressed to four days, with adjustments to the match and fleet racing schedule to improve event scoring. The daily broadcast will focus on fleet racing for Thursday through Saturday, with the Sunday broadcast to include both the match and fleet racing finals. Details: http://tinyurl.com/ACUP-042612 * Hamilton, Bermuda (April 26, 2012) - Will Thompson and Tim Patton battled all week for Etchells bragging rights and the Trimingham Trophy awarded to the winner of the class in Bacardi's Bermuda International Invitational Race Week. Today Thompson snatched the prize with a third and a first on the final day. Bermuda's Malcolm Smith put a ten-point lead on Brett Wright in the 13-race Laser Class series to win the International Race Week Championship Trophy. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13643#13643 * St. Petersburg, FL (April 26, 2012) - While winds were too light today at the Contender World Championship, four races have been completed since the regatta began on Tuesday. Joachim Harpprecht of Germany is the current leader with American Ethan Bixby seven points back in fourth. Racing concludes Saturday. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13607 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include sinking, yesteryear, conspiracy theory, the 'other' San Francisco Bay, Comets in Bermuda, ski and sail, serious fun, match racing, and kids having fun. Here are this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/12/0427/ SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week 2012 is America's fastest growing regatta with nearly 250 boats. Held on April 19-21 in South Carolina, the event featured major one design, PHRF, IRC and boats to 70 feet. T2P.tv was onsite, producing daily regatta shows ...all in HD. This week we highlight the music production from the event along with the daily shows. Click here for this week's video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/12/0427/ Bonus Videos: * This week on America's Cup Uncovered Episode 36, we are in Naples, Italy for the fourth stop on the AC World Series. Commentators Gary Jobson and Mitch Booth highlight the spectacular moments on the water, including record breaking crowds lining the shore of Naples by the tens of thousands to cheer on home team Luna Rossa Challenge. Artemis Racing experienced thrills and spills in Naples as they capsized on the first day of racing, pulled an all-nighter to replace their wing and came out the other side victorious in the Match Racing Championship. Tune in on Saturday April 28 at approx 0800 PDT 1600 BST: http://www.youtube.com/americascup * This week, April 27, the "World on Water" global sailing news show features the Volvo Itajai In-Port Race, the New Zealand Young 88 Championships, Transat AG2R La Mondial Start, Act 2 Extreme Sailing Series in China, Leg 6 start of the Volvo and in our regular "Fresh to Frightening" segment the failed attempt by Sir Richard Branson in Speedboat to break the Transat record. See it on http://www.boatson.tv 1000 BST, 0500 EDT. * This week on Chalk Talk, the team recaps a wild weekend of women's college qualifiers. We've got nasty weather, districts snatching Nationals berths, and a handful of stupid-fast sailors who trounced their competition this weekend. With only a month before College Nationals, you'll also want to know who's left to qualify and make your predictions for this weekend. All that, plus Better Know A District, College Sailor of the Week and some funky tunes to guide you through it all. View here: http://ussailing.blogspot.com/2012/04/chalk-talk-episode-7.html SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * Alistair Murray, CEO, Ronstan: My friend Nick Hayes hit the nail so soundly on the head in his article titled "At the Pinnacle of Sailing" (in Scuttlebutt 3578), that I had to add my words of agreement. Pinnacle events like the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race excite sailors immensely and get us viewing the videos and reports in awe, while talking to our sailing mates about how exciting it all is. The next edition of the AC, with its 72ft catamarans blasting around SF Bay will be no exception, and I for one will be glued to it. But that's as far as it goes. In my opinion, few people outside of sailing will show more than a passing interest and none of them will buy boats as a result of the exposure that sailing gets through this medium. Australia II's victory in 1983 stopped the nation, and united the nation like no other event before or since. Aussies everywhere went crazy and celebrated our underdog, come from behind win, like there was no tomorrow. All Australians over a certain age still remember that day vividly. But how many of them took up sailing as a result of it? Having tracked the fortunes of the sailing industry so closely through Ronstan, I would say that there is no evidence that this fabulous achievement had any impact on our sport at all. Like Nick Hayes says, "sailing isn't a spectator sport.....it's time spent with friends". Take a friend or family member out sailing today. One day they might be excited about the America's Cup too.......... because you introduced them to sailing. * From Frederic Berg: The answer to the question in Scuttlebutt 3578, "what will it take to convert dreamers..." is simple - opportunity. The opportunity to go sailing, try it out, get to know the players, etc. When I walk into a private Yacht Club like my own, "opportunity" for the average Joe is not the message that comes screaming out at me. Compared to a game of pickup basketball on the municipal court, we have a long way to go. EDITOR'S NOTE: There are more comments about growing the sport on the Scuttlebutt Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt/posts/10150780635098839 * From Keith Mackeown: Regarding the letter of Patrick Blaney (SB 3578), there is a recent report of the sinking and subsequent rescue of all crew of the yacht Inception during the annual Melbourne to Port Fairy ocean race on the 6th of April 2012. This account of the rescue by the yacht TryBooking.com given by the skipper of TryBooking describes a truly remarkable rescue - replayed as if the whole thing was as easy as 1,2,3. To find six sailors in the water, at night, in the middle of a full gale and recover them all on board was a truly heroic act of seamanship. Not to mention they only had four on board, one of whom was seasick, and another who is technically a geriatric!! Hats off to you Grant Dunoon, Peter Fetch, Ross Fisher and Kim Walker- a stunning achievement. Read about it here: http://www.dunoon.com.au/ * From James King: Your recent observation on the origins of the phrase 'Sleep Tight' is almost certainly wrong. A quick bit of research on the web shows that the expression was not recorded until at least the late 19th century, making it extremely unlikely to have come from Shakespearian times. Instead, 'It seems that tight in this expression is the equivalent of the only surviving use of the adverb tightly meaning 'soundly, properly, well, effectively''. As with many other examples of netymology, urban myths and back-formations, this one has an element of plausibility, which in turn gives it 'legs' out there on the interweb. EDITOR'S NOTE: Too bad no one is disputing the validity of "Don't let the bed bugs bite". Those critters are horrid! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you really make them think they'll hate you. 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