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SCUTTLEBUTT 3287 - Monday, February 28, 2011Scuttlebutt 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: Team One Newport and Doyle Sails. A DYNAMIC FORCE OF CHANGE In Scuttlebutt 3267, there was a report of a newly launched initiative called the All American Offshore Team. Scuttlebutt checked in for more details, and received this update from Jesse Fielding. If his name is familiar, it could be due to his being part of Disney's Morning Light film documentary, or when he skippered the University of Rhode Island entry in the 2009 Student Yachting World Cup. Here Jesse responds to a few of questions: * Tell us about your mission. JESSE FIELDING: The mission of the All American Offshore Team is to create seaworthy, high-performance, offshore training opportunities for the next generation of American ocean racing leaders. To reach that end we focused on being a dynamic force of change with regard to the level of exposure young people have to keel boat sailing. We are working hard to create more opportunities by setting a new bar in the U.S. for young sailors to achieve. * How does this compare to youth sailors outside of the U.S.? JESSE FIELDING: We see evidence that young sailors outside the U.S. have more exposure to ocean racing and are therefore taking advantage of that. We as a team are looking to provide as many opportunities for young sailors in the United States as our budget allows. That being said, we are excited to work with organizations outside our borders to create a more dynamic youth offshore sailing environment around the world. * Is the All American Offshore Team a 'for-profit' venture? JESSE FIELDING: To be successful, the All-American Offshore Team needs a large capital infusion to get off the ground and gain traction in the sailing world. Our goal is to generate enough support to create an endowment to fund future projects and create additional offshore racing opportunities for youth American sailors. We are looking for substantial support to perpetuate our mission to develop the future of ocean racers of the United States. Any and all financial support committed to the All-American Offshore Team will be invested in making this goal a reality. Please see our blog for opportunities to help our team financially and provide other types of material support. * What is the plan for 2011, and how is this expected to evolve for 2012? JESSE FIELDING: The plan for 2011 is to put our best possible foot forward and most importantly secure the funding to put that foot forward. We are actively soliciting donations from private donors and searching for synergies within other giving communities. We are also seeking corporate sponsors in the form of both suppliers and financial partnerships. We feel there is something our program can offer to the entire community. That being said we hope to be intact and racing in 2012, with a more stable financial future and the ability to provide more offshore racing opportunities to young Americans. Additional details here: http://allamericanoffshoreteam.org/ SPECIFIC STRATEGY RELATED TO PIRACY With the recent killing of four Americans aboard their hijacked yacht off the coast of Oman, and the statistical data showing that attacks are occurring throughout the northernmost region of the Indian Ocean, the focus now turns to the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race. The second leg of the race extends 5430 nm from Cape Town, SA to Abu Dhabi, UAE, with the route heading directly through this zone of piracy. The first leg of the VOR from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town begins November 5th, with the second leg to begin December 11th, thus delivering the fleet to this area of concern later that same month. Curious what measures race organizers were considering, Scuttlebutt checked in with Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race. Here was his reply: "This is a topic we obviously take seriously, and in fact it was already very much on the agenda in the last race, as our route through the area was not that different (Cape Town to Cochin, India). Obviously now we are going further north and as well the piracy activity has increased. "Our Race Management has a specific strategy related to piracy. In brief we are relying on professional advice and monitoring to make the right decisions. We work with a global risk management company as well as an agency specialised in piracy. Both were also working with us in the last race. "Our most important measure is to avoid the critical areas as much as possible by amending the route through adding gates and exclusion zones. This we can do up until the boats leave Cape Town. We did exactly this also in the last race. In addition we are cooperating with Official and Military organisation for monitoring and support. "Part of the measures we will take will be publicly known and parts will be confidential for obvious reasons. In addition it's important to take into account that we through our race control setup in Alicante can monitor the fleet constantly as well as also be directly in contact with the relevant authorities who is providing information to us." VOR schedule: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-022711 TRACKING: It is interesting to note that Blue Water Rallies, which organizes groups of boats to safely transit areas of piracy, does not update the fleet location on their website when piracy is a threat. -- http://www.yachtrallies.co.uk/ NEW HENRI-LLOYD SHOCKWAVE AND DECK ARMOUR GEAR HAS ARRIVED! Get it while it's HOT! Team One Newport has just received the new Shockwave and Deck Armour Gear from Henri-Lloyd. This innovative lightweight, breathable gear was designed for the fast and furious Sport Boat sailor. Features include a thigh pocket window on the salopettes and shorts so your sailing instructions are always visible. Add the really cool Deck Armour pads (made of silicone elastomer which disperses the shock energy over the entire pad) to your cart and get extra protection in the knee, seat and hip areas! Visit http://tinyurl.com/Team-One-Newport-022811 or call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) Team One Newport has been the Foul Weather Gear experts since 1985. QUOTE / UNQUOTE "It's a humbling experience to be included on this Rolex Yachtsman of the Year list of legends and a tribute to all transoceanic sailors and navigators in our sport. I also think it is a unique characteristic of sailing that we can pursue it throughout our lives and be honored, at age 55, with an award like this." - Stan Honey, upon accepting the 2010 Rolex award last Friday, recognized for his victory in the Jules Verne Trophy as navigator on an otherwise all-French crew aboard Groupama 3. Full report: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2010_Y_of_Y_Ceremony.htm VIDEO: Here's a replay from the presentation of US SAILING's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year that was held on February 25, 2011 at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan, NY: http://bcove.me/jx7t5mg5 CONSISTENCY IS KING (February 26, 2011) A courageous fight back in the penultimate race of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship by Guido Belgiorno-Nettis' Transfusion and a second place in the decider has seen the Australians once again crowned world champions in their native habitat. In race nine Transfusion's crew were coughing dust for the first upwind leg and appeared to lack boat speed while defending champion Nerone was sailing hotter angles out in front on the first downwind run. Transfusion's US tactician, John Kostecki, now a three-time winner in the Farr 40 Worlds, lived up to his reputation as one of the world's best as the local boat clawed its way back to finish second behind Nerone. Transfusion needed to finish two places ahead of Nerone to take the title. Belgiorno-Nettis, a second generation Italian based in Sydney, gave himself the tiniest margin for error, finishing four places ahead to take the title. Five different boats won races during the series. Surprisingly, Nerone won five in total, while Transfusion won only once. However, Transfusion never dipped below a seven, with all other results in the top five. The last time Sydney played host to the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship back in 2005, local Richard Perini's Evolution took the victory from the internationals and once again the Aussies have proven themselves too good for the rest of the world. -- Event website: http://www.farr40worlds.com/ Final Results - top 5 of 20 (10 races, no drops) 1. Transfusion, AUS, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis, 4-4-2-1-7-4-4-5-2-2, 35 pts 2. Nerone, ITA, Antonio Sodo Migliori/M. Mezzaroma,2-1-10-8-1-1-6-1-1-6, 37 3. Barking Mad, USA, Jim Richardson, 15-10-5-9-2-3-10-2-5-1, 62 4. Flash Gordon, USA, Helmut & Evan Jahn, 11-2-9-2-8-5-11-3-4-9, 64 5. Estate Master, AUS, Lisa & Martin Hill, 1-8-1-5-9-10-12-12-8-4, 70 Results: http://www.farr40worlds.com/2011results Crew list: http://www.farr40worlds.com/images/stories/crewlist2011.pdf Photos/Videos: http://www.regattanews.com/event.asp?id=255 COLLISION COURSE WITH CAPE HORN (February 27, 2011: Day 59) - As the lead two boats closely follow each other's tracking position, they will both be dealing with some tough weather for the next few days. "It is icy cold and it is raining, sleet on the deck," said Loick Peyron (FRA) on Virbac-Paprec 3. "The weather is cold so Jean-Pierre is in the sleeping bag resting. And so I currently play with the pilot, push button sailing. MAPFRE sails well and they are very serious customers. We watch their position, their speed and course, one imagines their sail combinations and their weather. The race is full of excitement, it is thrilling." One hopes for manageable conditions for rounding Cape Horn, but the current outlook presents some doubt. "The routings suggests we could get to Cape Horn on 3rd March," explained Iker Martinez (ESP) on MAPFRE. "For the moment we have to face a weather situation, because we are going to have a heavy storm. Looking at the routings we see that this storm is coming and if we go fast we could arrive to the Horn just as it is starting, but if we end up behind it could take us full on and there is no escape because we have to round the Cape and this should be done just before or at the beginning of this great storm and that doesn't look good at all." Race Tracker: http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org Standings (top 5 of 14 as of 20.01.08) 1. Virbac-Paprec 3, Jean Pierre Dick/Loick Peyron (FRA/FRA), 8,352 nm DTF 2. Mapfre, Iker Martinez/Xabi Fernandez (ESP/ESP), 26.3nm DTL 3. Renault, Pachi Rivero/Antonio Piris (ESP/ESP), 1361.5nm DTL 4. Neutrogena, Boris Herrmann/Ryan Breymaier (GER/USA), 1441.4nm DTL 5. Mirabaud, Dominique Wavre & Michele Paret (FRA/SUI), 1594.1nm DTF Full rankings: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/ranking/ BACKGROUND: This is the second edition of the non-stop Barcelona World Race, the only double-handed race around the world. Fourteen teams are competing on Open 60s which started December 31st and is expected to finish by late March. The 25,000 nautical mile course is from Barcelona to Barcelona via three capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, Cook Strait, putting Antarctica to starboard. Race website: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org VISIT DOYLE SAILMAKERS IN BOSTON! Come join Doyle Sailmakers at the New England Boat Show through March 6, 2011. Visit us at Booth 430 and see for yourself why the Doyle StackPack is the simplest, easiest way to handle your mainsail. Not going to be in Boston? Call 800-94-DOYLE to learn more about the Doyle StackPack and the latest developments from Doyle. WANT TO BE A SAILMAKER? Doyle Sailmakers is seeking permanent full time sailmakers at their Salem, MA headquarters. Sewing skills are helpful but not required. Will provide training. Email resume to careers@doylesails.com. SAILING SHORTS * Miami, FL (February 27, 2011) - The 2010-2011 Etchells Jaguar series wrapped up over the weekend with the sailing of the Midwinter Championship. The series is comprised of four regattas, the Piana Cup, the Sid Doren, Florida State Champs, and Midwinter Championships. Each boat may count two of the first three, and must count the Midwinter Champs. The Midwinter Champs were sailed over Friday through Sunday, with the winner being Tony Rey driving George Andreadis's boat. The Jaguar Series win came down to the last race of the Midwinter Champs, where Jeffrey Siegal won the race and the overall title. -- Reports, results, and photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0227/ * Tampa, FL (February 26, 2011) - After stumbling out of the blocks on the first day of the Layline J/22 Midwinter Championship, Jeff Todd of Annapolis, MD topped the rankings after day two and hung on after the third day to narrowly win in a tie-breaker over Chris Doyle of Kenmore, NY. Seven teams had a strong chance to win the event going into the ninth and final race, and in the end only eight points separated the top seven finishers. Twenty-five teams participated in the event on Tampa Bay. -- Daily reports, President reports, and photos here: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11320 * Clearwater, FL (February 27, 2011) - One hundred and ninety five boats competed at the Laser Midwinter's East on February 23-27, 2011, hosted by Clearwater Yacht Club. Amid the fleet of 77 Lasers, Brad Funk (USA) narrowly beat out Canadian David Wright for the win. On the Radial course, American Paige Railey conducted a clinic on the 106 boats to dominate the event. Traveling from Switzerland was Sebastien Schneiter who won the 12-boat 4.7 fleet. -- Results: http://www.regattaprocessing.com/CLWYC/LMWE11/index.php * (February 27, 2011; Day 22) - It's the final stretch for the third leg of the VELUX 5 OCEANS, with leader Brad Van Liew (USA) now only 356 nm from the finish in Punta del Este, Uruguay. With an ETA of Tuesday morning, Van Liew's position looks secure but, the fight for second may go down to the wire as only three miles separates Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski (POL) and Derek Hatfield (CAN). -- http://www.velux5oceans.com * (February 27, 2011; Day 30, 22:00 UTC) - The weekend has helped Thomas Coville (FRA) on the 105-foot trimaran Sodebo, as he has reduced his deficit on the solo round the world record by nearly 100 nm, and is now 1142.9 nm behind the record set by Francis Joyon (FRA) set in 2008 on the 97-foot trimaran IDEC. Coville's approach to Cape Horn may soon find himself amid the Barcelona World Race fleet that are on their approach as well. -- http://www.sodebo-voile.com/ * America's Cup competitors last week amended the AC 72 class rule, the design rule that will govern the development of the Cup class wing-sailed catamarans for the 34th America's Cup and the America's Cup World Series events in 2012. The single most notable change is the reduction of the number of wing masts required, simplifying design and logistics as well as saving time and costs. Initially the rule called for both a small and large wing. -- Full report: http://www.americascup.com/news/ac72-class-rule-amended_69 SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 * From Doran Cushing, Sarasota FL: No easy solution to piracy...are you kidding? If the "ships" being hijacked in the Gulf of Aden were US military vessels would the response be "no easy solution?" No F**ing way! So what if a few "renegade sailors" (and it is no secret even on Scuttlebutt that "cruisers" are not mainstream sailors) are killed while doing what they love. With the technology available to read the hull numbers of a yacht in Havana's Marina Hemingway via a spy satellite, you can't tell me the US can't protect any vessel it DESIRES to protect anywhere in the world. It all comes down to dirty politics and dollars...the mantra of the US system. Look around you, boys and girls...the sky HAS fallen. * From Scott Boye, Friday Harbor: I've got to vehemently disagree with Wetabix0947 regarding the CPR story in Scuttlebutt 3284. The statistics are clear; average citizens with CPR training save lives. According to the American Heart Association's website, - Studies have repeatedly shown the importance of immediate bystander CPR plus defibrillation within 3-5 minutes of collapse to improve survival from sudden VF cardiac arrest. - In cities such as Seattle, Washington, where CPR training is widespread and EMS response and time to defibrillation is short, the survival rate for witnessed VF cardiac arrest is about 30 percent. - In cities such as New York City, where few victims receive bystander CPR and time to EMS response and defibrillation is longer, survival from sudden VF cardiac arrest averages 1-2 percent. Nobody plans on having a heart attack, but it happens. In fact, it's the largest killer of people in the demographic that are out sailing - us middle-aged folks that work stressful jobs and go sailing to relax. It only takes a few hours to get the training and the chances of saving a crewmate's life increase dramatically. I've had opportunity to perform CPR and it scared the hell out of me, but there is a person alive today because of the training. As I've slipped into middle age I realize that nowadays it's more likely that I'll be on the receiving end. A few weeks ago a group of us took the CPR class at the local EMS station. It was a good refresher for those of us that had taken the class before and it had the side effect of being a team building exercise. Take the class; be thankful you've had the training. By the way, I live north of Seattle and the survival rate in San Juan County is over double that of Seattle. Yet another reason I prefer living here. * From Damian Christie, Melbourne, Australia: I am disappointed in David Fuller's comments in Scuttlebutt 3285 about the Team Australia challenge for the America's Cup. There is enough cynicism about the Cup in Australia without David adding fat to the fire! Anyway, if he had checked his facts, David would have known that the earliest announcement of Team Australia came in a feature in the December 2010 issue of Sails magazine - three months before the official announcement last week. Team Australia did not just appear out of thin air overnight! I believe it has been under serious consideration for over a year. As a lay person who has followed the America's Cup since the 1980s, I am excited that someone in Australia has finally had the foresight and guts to launch a Cup challenge. I am pragmatic though about our chances - this is effectively a start-up team. It is not blessed with the resources of a patron like Alan Bond of old and its sailors are certainly not yet as talented as Jimmy Spithill, arguably Australia's best sailor. As Team Australia's principals have acknowledged, it will take at least two to three Cup cycles for the syndicate to become a serious contender. How about David volunteer his services as a sports marketing professional to assist the new team? Team Australia deserves the encouragement and support of all Australians. I for one will be more than happy to make a modest donation or to join a supporters club should Team Australia establish one. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Do you know what really makes me smile? Facial muscles. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Team One Newport - Doyle Sails - IYRS - North U - LaserPerformance North Sails - Melges Performance Sailboats - Lewmar Summit Yachts - Ullman Sails - Morris Yachts Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
