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SCUTTLEBUTT 1325 - May 8, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. OLYMPIC SAILORS The Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) of US Sailing has announced the athletes it will send to the 2003 Athens Regatta. Scheduled for August 14-28 at the Aghios Kosmas Sailing Centre in Glyfadha, the 2003 Athens Regatta is the sport's dress rehearsal for the 2004 Olympic Games. The event will offer competition in all nine Olympic classes (11 divisions), with participating nations allowed only one entry per class. To select the athletes attending this event, the OSC determined that the top-finishing U.S. sailor at its respective Olympic Pre-Trials would earn the coveted slot to this event: - Europe: Meg Gaillard - Finn: Greg Skidmore - 470 Men: Steve Hunt / Michael Miller - 470 Women: Katie McDowell / Isabelle Kinsolving - 49er: Tim Wadlow / Pete Spaulding - Laser: Ben Richardson - Mistral Men: Peter Wells - Mistral Women: Lanee Butler - Star: Paul Cayard / Phil Trinter - Tornado: Robbie Daniel / Eric Jacobsen - Yngling: Hannah Swett / Joan Touchette /Melissa Purdy All of the athletes named are members of the 2003 US Sailing Team. Membership on the US Sailing Team identifies sailors as strong contenders for an Olympic berth and provides them with coaching, training opportunities and financial assistance in addition to national recognition. - Jan Harley, www.ussailing.org/Olympics AROUND ALONE The first Open 40 to finish in Newport RI, and in third place for Leg 5 was Spirit of yukoh, skippered by Japan's Kojiro Shiraishi, when he crossed the line at 16:41:41 GMT (12:41:41 local time) on 7th May. Shiraishi was the youngest person to have solo circumnavigated the globe before, and had already sailed half way round the world from Japan to Newport to get Spirit of yukoh here. His inspiration and mentor was the late Yukoh Tada, previous Class 2 winner of the BOC Challenge, who committed suicide during the 1990/1 BOC Challenge: "When I was a boy, I read about Yukoh Tada doing the first BOC Challenge race and since then I wanted to follow in his footsteps. When he took part in the 3rd BOC Challenge I was his apprentice, but he killed himself during the race and so I decided to take on the mantle and achieve his ambitions for him. With 572 miles to go Alan Paris on BTC Velocity unfortunately passed the closest landmark on his homeland of Bermuda 50 miles offshore and at midnight. Instead he will have to wait until he flies back there to take up a new job at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Meanwhile, Class 2 skipper Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada restarted Leg 5 from Salvador to Newport RI today. His start time is in fact the same as the other boats, 13:00 local Brazilian time on 13th April 2003. - Mary Ambler, http://www.aroundalone.com TURN YOUR BOAT INTO A WORLD-BEATER Brad Van Liew did just that, with the help of Phil Garland and the team at Hall Spars & Rigging. Prior to the Around Alone, Phil worked with Brad and his shore crew to upgrade all of their standing and running rigging. Brad then sailed a fantastic race, winning all five legs and the Class II title. Congratulations, Brad! If you're ready to conquer the sailing world (or your local fleet), call Hall for the latest in standing and running rigging. Or use our "Running Rigging Quote" form in our online store. http://www.hallspars.com ADMIRALS CUP The UK's Peter Harrison will enter two teams in this year's Admiral's Cup Regatta under one name - the Sailability Admiral's Cup Team. One team will sail under the RORC burgee and a second team sailing under the Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club banner. The RORC entry is packed with GBR Challenge and Olympic medalists. They will be sailing on the Farr 52, Chernikeeff 2 skippered by Marc Fitzgerald, and a Rodman 42, skippered by Ian Walker, with 15 and 10 crewmembers respectively. The team pairs Walker with another of Britain's foremost sailing talents, fellow double Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie, for the first time. The Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club entry will be sailing on the Farr 50, Chernikeeff, skipper to be announced, and a Sinergia 40, skippered by Paralympic Gold Medallist Andy Cassell, with at least half of the 25 strong team having disabilities. "This project combines my two main interests - supporting sailing and disability sport," explained Team Captain, Peter Harrison. Both teams will work to create fundraising events for the benefit of RYA Sailability. The Admiral's Cup takes place in Cowes from the 10th - 23rd July 2003. Despite being cancelled in 2001 due to lack of interest, this year's regatta already has eight other teams entered from around the world. Event website: http://www.rorc.org/admiralscup/index.php STAR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP In contrast to the first day's sailing, race 2 in the Star European Spring Championship was started in a fantastic 12 knot northerly breeze on Lake Ballaton in Hungary. It was, however, not to last. Frederick Loof and Anders Elkstrom (SWE) were leading at the first leeward mark, and had been for the duration of the race, when the breeze dropped to nothing, before filling in from the South-east. With half the fleet becalmed at the leeward mark. Mark Mansfield and Killian Collins (IRL), far enough behind the becalmed fleet at that stage of the race, to see what was going on, sailed the long way round the fleet, caught up from 50th position, to round the leeward mark in third, and finish race 2 in second place, Loof and Elkstrom finished first, with Han Spitzauer and Andreas Hanakamp (AUT) in third. Standings after two races (65 boats): 1. IRL Mansfield Mark/ Collins Killian, 3; 2. GER Koch Michael/ Koy Markus, 11; 3. SUI Marazzi Flavio/ deMaria Enrico, 14; 4. SWE Lööf Fredrik/ Ekstrom Anders, 16; 5. FRA Presti Philippe/ Saliou Jean-Philippe, 18. http://www.spartacus.hu/en/read.php?tma=star TEAM NEW ZEALAND America's Cup Minister Trevor Mallard is warning that other sponsors will have to be signed up before the Government puts up cash for a yachting challenge overseas. "They've got to go out there and get some other people first and then come back (to us). We might be the last on board, but we certainly won't be the first." Mr Mallard confirmed yesterday that he would meet new Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton this week. He refused to be drawn on reports the Government might put up $30 million in a "$2-for-every-$1-raised" sponsorship deal. "I made it very clear on March 6 when announcing $5.6 million (for Team New Zealand) that, if a challenge went ahead and a robust business case was made, then the Government would give its consideration. I'm a great sporting nationalist, but this is not a sporting decision. This can only be an economic decision. Any sizable contribution has got to be economically justified." The Government's initial contribution was to help secure key team members and avoid the defections that marred the end of the 2000 event. - Jane Boland and Tracy Watkins, Waikato Times, full story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,2457321a6412,00.html SORE BUTT = SLOW BUTT Fiberglass Butt. Flaming Toosh. It is the sailor's nemeses, and when you have it you are unsettled, not-in-the-groove and moving slow. Sailing Angles' double seated sailing shorts and long pants (with double knees) not only have optional pads to protect your butt from deck abuse but have double Cordura seats to protect against the most aggressive non-skid decks. Practical, no-nonsense designs to help you win by Sailing Angles. Mens, womens and junior sizes available. New color: Aloha Silver! Also Khaki, Navy, Red, Black and Khaki/Navy combo in 10" and 7" inseams. Buy them today at APS, Layline or http://www.sailingangles.com ETCHELLS NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP The first race of the 2003 Etchells North American Championship, hosted by Annapolis Yacht Club, was delayed for two hours while waiting for fog to lift and the wind to fill in on the Chesapeake Bay. At 1pm, a one and a half mile course was set at 195 degrees. with winds of 5-8 knots. During the first beat the wind shifted 50 degrees to the right but filled in on the left. Jud Smith of Marblehead, MA, gave the fleet a sailing lesson, leading around the course and finishing with a comfortable lead. - Melinda Berge Race One Results (58 boats): 1. Jud Smith, Marblehead, MA 2. Jose Fuentes, Annapolis, MD 3. Marvin Beckmann, Houston, TX 4. T. J. Pascalides, East Greenwich, RI 5. Wade Edwards, Concord, MA Complete results at: http://www.race.annapolisyc.com/uploads/results/2003_Etchells_North_American_Championship-2003/2003_Etchells_North_American_Championship-2003-3-3-1.html FATAL AUSTRALIAN ACCIDENT A ship builder allegedly patched over a keel he had accidentally cut in half on the doomed racing yacht Excalibur before it sank, claiming four lives. The $1 million yacht sank in 10 seconds about 110km off the coast of Port Stephens on September 16 last year with suspicions it lost its keel after a collision with sea debris. But a police investigation has found the keel snapped in half on a fatigued crack which had been patched over. It is understood a worker at a Melbourne yacht building firm had accidentally drove an angle-grinder into the three-tonne, bulbed stainless steel keel before welding over his mistake. Metallurgical tests on a 1.4 metre part of the keel retrieved on the yacht, found the cutting error caused massive stress and fatigue and it would have only been a matter of time before the remaining two metres of the keel snapped off. This was despite the stainless steel keel having a SAF-225 rating -- the strongest steel grade available. It is understood the finding -- including extensive interviews with yachting experts, the ship's builders and the worker allegedly involved in the error -- has forced the NSW Coroner's Court into the unprecedented move of considering having a full jury for its inquiry into the disaster. That inquiry, scheduled for later this year, could include a number of legal representations with a raft of negligence charges possible. - Charles Miranda, Sail-World website, full story: http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=9747 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Jeff Conery: By my view Team New Zealand was the second fastest boat down under, the three races they finished were very close with lead changes and final margins of only 7, 22 and 30 seconds. We don't reward 2nd place but to call it a "calamity", "less than professional", and say "the NZ public was badly let down" is simply not accurate. They had a good team but were beaten by a better one. * From Mark Jamieson: Oh dear! The worst excesses engendered by hosting the Americas Cup continue to plague us. The Black Heart campaign brought to light parts of the national psyche we would rather never have brought out into the open. Now that a very full and frank review of the limitations of the 2003 Team New Zealand campaign are open for all to see, the usual "everything is a disaster" merchants get their time in the sun. Don't forget that Peter Bidwell and the Dominion Post (Scuttlebutt 1324) come from Wellington. The rest of us are still proud of what our team did and especially their honesty in fronting up to their shortcomings. Despite the issues they were competitive: Did we not see one of the most exciting races ever in Race 2? Was it good sport? It was certainly not predictable at the time, one of the more important factors in holding our attention. The losing margins (when the boat held together) were close. The regret is for what could have been: they were capable of retaining the cup, just as they are more than capable of getting it back. Let us see the true meaning of Loyal: it is easy to support a winning team, but the real test is when the going is tough. We can either focus on what is wrong and lose heart, and show what we are really made of and get it back. * From Robert Constable: (Re Peter Bidwell's editorial concerning TNZ's failures) (Edited to our 250-word limit): I thought the Scuttlebutt Policy Board guarded against personal attacks. This piece rang of such spite that it seemed the author grew giddy as he worked himself into a heated rage. We can all sympathize with the disappointment being felt by the people of New Zealand, and certainly TNZ's sponsors, but, hey, the Cup has one winner and many losers. What about the failed efforts of Team Dennis Conner, or Le Defi, or the Latin Rascals, GBR, Swedish Victory--or even the once-mighty Oracle, for that matter? Would not a public bare-all post-mortem of those campaigns also expose significant shortcomings? The microscope being applied to TNZ might be natural, since they have had such a long and successful hold on the Cup, but frankly all of the competitors failed to measure up when compared to Alinghi's juggernaut. Ten tried; one succeeded. And that one looks about as intimidating now as TNZ did in 2000. Perhaps the national stakes were higher for TNZ, but in the America's Cup, the loser's aren't ranked by the ignominy of their loss--none of that matters once they've departed the field. Besides, as hosts of commentators have pointed out, the Challengers have four months of battle-testing before they have to face the real foe, and the Defender is left alone to practice, plot, and pray that their campaign is up to the task. So much for high expectations--fail at your peril, the knives are quick to come out. * From Larry Law (Re; Butt 1324): They came, they raced, they lost. It's sail boat racing - it happens. While the TNZ issues unravel, I'm sure it's helpful for them, but for the rest of us - who really cares. NZL has great sailors and wonderful people - everyone loses. It's not a crime to have made mistakes and not won - there are all sorts of teams that faced the same end - just much earlier in the game. To TNZ and the people of NZ, "come back out swinging with the rest of the world and have at it - this next Cup is going to be very interesting and not having you there would be a shame". However, I for one don't need to be dragged through the internal analysis. Let that remain in the hands of the powers that survive the "inquisition". * From Charles Smith: I was troubled initially about the evenness of the playing field between Great American and Sea Witch. The difference is like the difference between a fleet race and record attempt. When Sea Witch was sailing there were, I'm assuming, hundreds of ships trying to get there the fastest. Sea Witch happened to have great conditions on one voyage. It could have been any one of the others and their name would be in the record books. So for hundreds of vessels over tens of years we pick the fastest passage. Great American is one vessel on one voyage trying to beat the best of thousands of voyages. Two guys on a multihull with weather satellite against a fully crewed full size ship who have made the passage frequently and can compare their experience with other vessels. It may not be a perfectly level playing field but it is at least comparable. * From Ian Duff: Let's see, Great America is 56 feet long, with a crew of two. Sea Witch was 192 feet long, 165 ft on the waterline, with a crew of thousands. Well maybe not thousands, but enough for a legitimate watch system. GA, on the other hand, has two lunatics (my hat's off to you, boys!) sailing watch and watch. For a 14,255 mile course covered in 74 days 14 hours, Sea Witch would have covered just under 200 miles a day. This would have required an average speed of roughly half her hull speed. Great America has much higher potential top speed than Sea Witch, but requires the utmost diligence to attain it, even more so for an extended period. In lighter breeze, her significantly smaller size limits her to a much lower ultimate speed, increasing the need for diligence even more. Tough to be diligent when exhaustion is your constant companion. I call this a worthy target pursued by two determined men. Bully Waterman certainly used every means at his disposal to beat his competitors to New York, Great America is following suit. * From Rich Wilson, skipper Great American II (Lat. 04:29S Lon. 22:27W): Times change! That today we read out here in the South Atlantic Ocean Ken Brooke's comments about a level playing field (Scuttlebutt 1324) attests to that. The simple fact is that the extreme clipper ship Sea Witch, a spectacular example of the technology of her time, has held the Hong Kong to New York record for a century and a half. Anyone attempting to beat that record must either build and crew a historically comparable vessel or make their bid in something more contemporary. It speaks volumes for Sea Witch's legendary speed and the seamanship of Captain Robert "Bully" Waterman that we are barely a day's sail ahead of Sea Witch's time, even though aided by daily weather routing, autopilots and other modern aids, Rather ominously, we still have to cross the doldrums. Those weather routers at the heart of Ken Brooke's concerns are consulting their satellite-fed information streams and advising us that the short term picture is far from rosy. But all of the above misses the point that this extended exercise is all about education - a way to focus kids in grades K-12 on a real-life adventure with real-life lessons delivered through: www.sitesALIVE.com. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. |
