SCUTTLEBUTT #203 -- October 20, 1998

The J/125 IMS Rating (WINGS OF THE WIND) compared to a Farr 40 IMS Rating (HISSAR) highlights the problem. PHRF's life-size test tank, empirical conclusion after some 40 races this past summer shows the J/125 to be 6-9 seconds per mile faster than the Farr 40...NOT 46 SECONDS per mile as indicated by IMS.

Some might say that's the asymmetric spinnaker. Not so. Check out the following (J125/Farr40) ratings. IMS must think the J/125 planes upwind.

>Beat VMG at 12 knots (630/687)
>Beat VMG at 20 knots (590/666)
>135 Degree Reach at 12 knots (371/424)
>135 Degree Reach at 20 knots (274/315)
>Run VMG at 12 knots (493/537)
>Run VMG at 20 knots (470/531)

If IR2000 comes close to CHS history of providing "sprit boats" a fair chance to win (the J/90 won the Britannia Cup in Class 1 CHS at Cowes Week), then maybe that solution will be forthcoming soon from Richard Matthews and his team on IR2000 in the UK. Far better to shape the CHS adjusted reality into a formula than doing the reverse. If IMS can't start with being as good as PHRF in handicapping different types of boats around the world, then all the dynamic scoring, etc. is only to the benefit of a few willing to buy IMS class race boats.

From the J/125 and Farr 40 comparison it seems that IMS rule has a built in bias against stability, particularly in a narrow, light boat. And, it's quite something to imagine that these two race boats differing in overall length 5" and not at all in sailing length (the Farr has a more plumb bow) would be separated by a magnitude of approximately 7 IOR feet! So, there's something desperately wrong with the effective sailing length formula.

Here are the numbers: J/125 first mentioned then Farr 40 to the nearest 10th.

	J/105	FARR 40
LOA	41.1	40.7
IMS L	39.0	37.3
BMAX	10.5	13.0
B	8.4	9.7
GPH	512	558
Stability Index	143	128
Draft	8.1	8.5
Stability Ratio	12.5	5.6
RMC	1188	1237
DSPS	11557	13217
SA	891	1106
Spinnaker Area	2157	1379*

* J/125 spinnaker measures 170 square meters (1829 sq. ft.) under the America's Cup Rule.

The above dilemma is put forth in hopes that Tom Leweck's Scuttlebutt might serve as an effective platform for initiating reform. After all, if you only need half the crew with more stability, then there'd be twice as many boats sailing and twice as many boats built! Can't figure out why the designers on the ITC and IMS Committees hadn't figured that out yet. -- Bob Johnstone

Curmudgeon's comments: Although Bob's comments come close to bordering on a J/Boat advertisement, he raises a number of interesting points about measurement handicapping systems. OK 'Butt-heads, what do you think?

MORE HANDICAP RACING

The designers and builders of the new Champagne Mumm Admiral's Cup mid-range boat, the Sydney 40, have decided that the class will now be IMS Rule optimized as a standard. Four existing boats, including Ron Jones' Sledgehammer (hull No. 1), will be bumped to reduce the IMS rating. The hull molds at the builders, Bashford International, will also be modified so that all future production yachts come out with the same IMS fea- tures. "Originally we created a one-design that didn't completely en- compass the IMS Rule," said Andy Dovell of the design company, Murray, Burns and Dovell. "We didn't see IMS optimisation as being crucial to the success of the boat in its role as the new 40-foot class for next year's Admiral's Cup. "The market place is now telling us otherwise. Fortunately for all concerned the opportunity was still there for us to optimise the existing boats and the molds," said Dovell. -- Rob Mundle, Grand Prix Sailor

For the full story: http://www.sailingworld.com

BERMUDA GOLD CUP

Four teams have advanced from the Qualifying rounds to the Championship Round at the end of today's racing in the 50th edition of the Bermuda Gold Cup. Racing was postponed in the afternoon because of no wind, therefore delaying the outcome of Group 1 racing.

In Group 2, the teams that qualified for the first round of the Championship beginning on Wednesday were headed by Murray Jones (5-2) of New Zealand, Andy Beadsworth (5-2) from Great Britain, Andy Green (4-3) from Great Britain, and Bermudian Glenn Astwood (4-3). The biggest surprise of the day was the elimination of American Paul Cayard, winner of the recent Whitbread Round the World Race and four-time America's Cup competitor, who finished with a 4-3 record, but was sent home on a tie-break countback. Other Group 2 results were: American David Whelan (3-4), Swede Marten Hedlund (2-5), and Glen Foster of the USA (1-7).

When dawn broke this morning there was not a whisper of air across picturesque Hamilton Harbour, and very little evidence of any wind throughout the day. However, the race committee was able to get three flights in during the morning, enough to complete the round. The final four flights of Group 1 are scheduled for tomorrow, weather conditions permitting.

Match ups in the Championship Round settled today are Jones versus seventh seed Neville Wittey of Australia, Beadsworth against sixth seed German Markus Wieser, Green meets Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg who is seeded three, and Astwood goes up against Briton Chris Law, seeded two. Gay Larsen

Event website: http://sailing.org/goldcup

EVERYWHERE

They are absolutely everywhere. They're in Norway, Spain, the UK and Canada. There are two each in Japan, Australia and Mexico. Italy has three and there are 10 in the USA. San Francisco even has one now. And every one of these Ullman sail lofts will give an email quote on a new sail to show you just how affordable improved performance can be for your boats

http://www.ullmansails.com/

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON

>> From Mike Ingham -- I am on the ugly (financially), but rewarding Olympic trail in Tornados. I and many of my friends are having a hard time getting insurance over seas. Insurance is not only a good idea, but is required at most major events. Maybe some of your readers have some insight. -- mikeingham@compuserve.com

US SAILING OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP

Sailed at Long Beach YC in Catalina 37s for the Lloyd Phoenix trophy:

1. Mark Noble Area J 16.00
2. John Leitzinger Area H 16.00
3. Keith Ives Area D 18.00
4. Todd Greene Navy Gold 26.00
5. Mike Grisham Area G 28.00

Complete results: http://www.lbyc.org/98USOff.htm

RECORD RUN

Mari-Cha III, heading for the Trans Atlantic Speed Record, is flying. The heavy winds are there and pushing them in the right direction. Sailing on rhumb line to Lizard Point. At 09:45 UTC Monday they have 1.620 Nm to go. Just after sunset the wind start to build up to 47 knots. During the last night, Lione's choice was to sail conservative with speed and safety in mind.

Dropping mizzen, 3 reefs in the main and working jib. The night was impressing with huge waves and gusts. It is wet, wet, wet everywhere. Trim and ease is a must. Every second, every minute. For the first time the interior is a nightmare. Never can you rest in your mind because at any second you can be called on deck. The boat and crew are in perfect condition and coming closer the Phocea record of 8 days and 3 hours. But don't force your luck. MC-3's position Boat speed 22 kts (surfing at >30 knots). Wind speed 40-45 knots.

Event website: http://www.winning-edge.org

AMERICA'S CUP

(The following is an excerpt from New Zealand's DEFENCE 2000 - ISSUE NO. 73) Fast 2000's America's Cup training boat is now on its way to Auckland from Lake Geneva in Switzerland where the Swiss crew has been exercising over past weeks. Crew selection has been in progress during this period and those who make it can expect some intense training from skipper Marc Pajot in Auckland, December thru March 1999. Pajot says he is looking forward to some "great practising" with other challenging teams.

Meanwhile, the Swiss R&D team have completed a number of major steps in their development plan with members extremely excited about some of their results.Construction on the Swiss made yacht will start in Frebruary 1999, allowing the syndicate to take maximum advantage of their current research.

Aloha Racing's decision to rescind the agreement to purchase the compound of oneAustralia, has been based on the premise that it would better to have this money spent building a second boat. (The oneAustralia's inventory has subsequently been sold to the Cayard syndicate). John Kolius has revealed that he felt a second boat was more important to their challenge than the purchase of oneAustralia's assets. This Hawaiian syndicate has this week revealed that they plan to employ 22 builders on their two yachts which will now, not be ready until mid -June 1999. This will give their sailors less than three months of training. The syndicate news release goes on to say that no other team (Team New Zealand included) has tested as many models as Aloha and they believe that the other American teams are well behind in the progress stakes as they now stand. -- John Roake

CORRECTION

The J/24 winner at the Southern California J/Fest was Jim Zimmerman.

REGATTA IN PARADISE

Liz Baylis put together a 3-1-1 series to win the Richmond YC's annual Regatta in Paradise for women in Melges 24s.
1. Liz Baylis 5
2. Vicki Sodaro 9
3. Stephanie Wondolleck 10

SANTANA 20 NATIONALS

Rush Creek YC, Heath, Texas, Final Results (26 boats):
1 Chris Winnard 11
2 Tom Schock 16
3 Schertz 23
4 Rapier 31
5 Stephens 50

AROUND ALONE

Everyone expected Class II of Around Alone to be a two-man boat race, but few expected that it would be Brad Van Liew, not Mike Garside, challenging J.P. Mouligne for the top spot. At this morning's 0944 GMT update, Van Liew was enjoying his fifth consecutive morning at the head of the small-boat fleet. With 3,206 miles to go in the Distance to Finish column he was seven miles ahead of Mouligne and, finally, safely south of the Brazilian bulge.

On the morning Van Liew took over the lead, Garside was in second place by a slim eight miles. But then the hydraulic pump for his swing keel took a powder and life has gone from intense to intolerable. This morning he was in third place, some 154 miles behind Van Liew. With the keel still a liability, there is no reason to believe he will regain those lost miles anytime soon. -- Herb McCormick

CLASS I
1. Thiercelin 2656
2. Autissier 2690
3. Golding 2789
4. Hall 2789
5. Soldini 3028

CLASS II
1. Van Liew 3206
2. Mouligne 3213
3. Garside 3360
4. Davie 3586
5. Stricker 3669

Event website: http://www.aroundalone.com

AND THE WINNER IS

Only three of the entries to pick the top five finishers at the St Francis YC's Master's Invitational Regatta (OFR) correctly identified three of those skippers. Following are copies of their entries with the actual finishing place in parenthesis:

Jeff Madrigali submitted:
1. Don Trask (3)
2. Roy Dickson (2)
3. Pelle Petterson (10)
4. Bruce Munro (4)


5. Tak Takamura(14) Kent Pierce picked:
1. Roy Dickson (2)
2. Lowell North (6)
3. Dick Deaver (1)
4. Don Trask (3)
5. Malin Burnham (9)

Kent's entry had all of the top three finishers and his two "bad picks" both finished in single digits. Even though Madro actually picked two of the top five in the spot in which they actually finished, he overlooked the regatta winner completely and his two "bad picks" were both in double digits. So, after carefully weighing all of this, the judges have declared Kent Pierce the winner of the official Scuttlebutt shirt generously donated by Frank Whitton at Pacific Embroidery.

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION

When running a racing program, it's not the people who you fire who make your life miserable -- it's the people you don't fire.