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SCUTTLEBUTT 1400 - August 25, 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. ATHENS 2003 REGATTA Sunday's relative calm in the sea area of the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre caused delays in the competition schedule of the Athens 2003 Regatta. The races began on time for the 470 (men's and women's) and Star classes, but it was not the same for the Finn and Yngling classes, as Aiolos was …lazy and was barely breathing, let alone blowing strongly to fill the athletes' sails with wind. The craft in the Finn and Yngling classes returned to the hospitable marina of the Olympic Centre, hoping that a fair wind would blow at any moment and the races would finally take place. Indeed, after quite some time, they sailed out of the marina and headed for the race course. where the starting signal was finally given and, thus, one of the two races scheduled in each class took place. Nevertheless, in both the 470 and Star classes the relative calm made things difficult for athletes: proof for this is the fact that the two races finished late in the afternoon instead of much earlier, which would have been the case had the wind been more compliant. Both races in the 470 and Star classes, and one each (instead of two) in the Finn and Yngling classes, were run after a great deal of difficulty. - http://www.athens2004.com/ STANDINGS: Yngling (8 races- 1 discard): 1. Hannah Swett, USA, 19; 2 Wagner, GER, 26. 3. Shirley Robertson,GBR, 26; 10: Paula Lewin, BER, 42; 13. Clarke, CAN, 65 Star (8 races/ 1 discard): 1. Torbin Grael/ Ferreira, BRA, 28; 2. Peter Bromby/ L.C. White, BER, 30; 3. Pickel / Kolb, GER, 35; 4. Paul Cayard/ Phil Trinter, USA 37; 7. Ross MacDonald/ K. Bjorn, CAN, 51. 470 Men (8 races): 1. Molund/ Andersson, SWE, 49, GRE, 33; 2. Paul Foerster/ Kevin Burnam, USA, 53; 3. Rogers/ Glanfield, GBR, 55; 27. Russel/ MacDonald, CAN, 169 470 Women (8 races - 1 discard): 1. Bekatorou/ Tsoulfa, GRE, 30; Petitjean/ Douroux, FRA, 40; 3. Ward/ Ward, DEN, 46; 6. McDowell/ Kinsolving, USA, 66. Europe (6 races - 1 discard):1. Macky, NZL, 14; 2. Sundby, NOR, 17; 3. Smidova, CZE, 20; 4; Meg Gillard, USA, 33; 21. Marcil Bonneau, CAN, 82 49er (9 races - 1 discard): 1. Sibelo/ Sibelo, ITA, 42; 2. Martinez/ Fernandez, ESP, 45; 3. Nicholson/ Boyd, AUS, 48; 5. Wadkiw/Spaulding, USA, 60. Mistral Men (6 races-1 discard): 1.Kaklamanakis, GRE, 16; 2. Fridman, ISR, 17; 3. Zhou, CHN, 25; 21. Bolduc, CAN, 93; 23. Barger, USA, 99. Mistral Women, (6 races - 1 discard): 1. Senini, ITA, 5; 2. Lee, HKG;31; 3.Merret, FRA, 22. 14. Lanee Butler, 61; 19. Valee, CAN, 80. Laser (6 races - 1 discard): 1.Scheidt, BRA, 11; 2. Arapov, CRO, 25; 3. Geritzer, AUT, 30; 14. Luttmer, CAN, 61; 21. Richardson, USA, 86. Tornado (6 races - 1 discard): 1. Bundock/ Forbes, AUS, 11; 2. Lange/ Espinola, ARG, 20; 3. Booth/ Dercksen, NED, 26; 12. Holden/ Coakley, CAN, 47; 15. Daniel/ Jacobsen, USA, 55. Finn (7 races- 1 discard): 1. Ben Ainslie, GBR, 18; 2. Godefroid, BEL, 32; 3. Kusznierewicz, POL;34;17. Cook, CAN, 82; 24. Peck, USA 121. Website: http://www.athens2004.com/page/default.asp?id=10876&la=2 TRIVIA QUESTION What father and son were both gold medal winners in different classes in the 1984 Olympics? (Answer below) SNIPE US MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP The 2004 Snipe US Masters Championship will be held September 4-7 on beautiful Lake Quassipaug in Connecticut, a Snipe racing venue for over 50 years. The regatta is open to skippers who are 45 years old or older in the year of the regatta (2003), and whose age, combined with that of the crew, must equal at least 80 by the end of 2003. The Masters is legendary for both on and off the water fun. There are already more than 30 entrants pre-registered. For more information on how you can become part of the legend, check out http://www.snipeus.org VOLVO OCEAN RACE (The Daily Sail cornered Volvo Ocean Race CEO Glenn Bourke and Race Director Andy Hindley to get the latest from the round the world race. Here's an excerpt that discusses the new boats that will be used for the next race.) "It's going to be 70ft long, with a canting keel, relatively high sail area for its displacement, aft Venturi-filled ballast tanks on the centreline for downwind in heavy airs, carbon ABS specification scantlings and rudders and unlimited with what you can do on foils," Glenn Bourke recaps the concept for the new beast. As mentioned previously, the foils will only be allowed one degree of movement - they can rotate, lift or cants - hence with a swing keel, they are likely to end up with one rudder, a canting keel and one or two daggerboards. "There will be a bulb restriction," says Hindley. "And a maximum angle for the keel canting but it will be nothing to do with boat heel. It will be about how much you can cant it from one side to the other. We took that steer from talking to a myriad of designers who work in the Open 60 class." The main type-forming part of the Open 60 rule is limiting the static heel angle to +/- 10degrees with all movable ballast deployed, thus huge hull form stability is required to 'beat' the rule, resulting in the typically beamy Open 60 hull shape. The carbon fibre mast for the new boat will be of the same proportions as an America's Cup boat rig so that the existing plugs and moulds can be used, says Bourke. - http://thedailysail.com/ CLIPPER 2002 Simon Rowell and his victorious Jersey crew today crossed the finish line of the fourteenth race of the Clipper 2002 Series at Ambrose Light House at 15:45 GMT, Saturday. This 4,078 nautical mile race from Salvador to New York has been dominated by the Jersey Clipper team, who have led the eight-strong fleet since August 6. Nearly 24 hours later the next boat across the finish line was the Hong Kong Clipper, which had to beat into strong 30 knot headwinds to the Ambrose Light-tower finish line in New York. That leaves only three boats still racing because London, New York and Cape Town have all retired. Bristol seems cued to take the final podium position for this leg. www.clipper-ventures.com J/24 WORLDS Medemblik, the Netherlands - Final results of the J/24 World Championship (nine races with one discard - 66 boats): 1. Lorenzo Bressani, ITA, 29 2. Andy Horton/ Rudi Wolfs, USA, 43 3. Gabriele Benussi, ITA, 44 4. Albert Kooijman, NED, 47 5. Mauricio Santa Cruz, BRA, 47 Website: http://www.j24.nl/worlds/ NEED A RIDE FOR SAN FRANCISCO? The best ride for the NOOD, Big Boat Series or the Moet Cup in San Francisco this fall may not be on a race boat, but on the 22' Raider RIB by Aquapro. Superb handling no matter the conditions combined with a comfortable cabin or stylish console model guarantees your passengers the most comfortable ride around. Aquapro RIB'S deliver it all at the most affordable prices. Still not convinced? Come take a test ride during any of the San Francisco events this fall. Call to schedule your ride at (877) 772-4337 or view online at http://www.raiderboat.com NEWS BRIEFS * Twenty three boats completed eight races in Melges 24 Gold Cup Regatta this past weekend in Traverse City, MI, in conditions ranging from light North winds on Saturday to medium to strong South winds on Sunday. The final race saw 20+ knots on the last leg with lots of wild surfing and plenty of wipeouts. 1. Tom Freytag; Lake Geneva, WI, 31 pts; 2. Buddy Melges; Fontana, WI, 34 pts; 3. Mike Dow; Traverse City, MI, 36 pts; 4. John Bertrand; Annapolis, MD, 49 pts; 5. Bob Clark; Traverse City, MI, 64 pts. http://tinyurl.com/l2nk * Corrie Clement, a three-time ICSA All-American (2001-2003) from Old Dominion University and recently named ICSA's Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year, has accepted a special invitation to compete in the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC) this September. The invitation, reserved for the country's top female college sailor, includes the waiving of the regatta's entry fee and assistance in securing a J/22 and housing for the regatta. Rolex IWKC is part of US Sailing's national championship series. * Fickle northerly winds and intermittent showers of rain greeted the semi-finalists of the Whirlpool Match Racing European Championships in Helsinki, Finland. The northerly wind trickling through the Helsinki skyline was full of holes. Outguessing the wind was just as important as outfoxing the competition. Final Results: - 1) Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen - Caroline Clausen - Anne Mörup - Mia Nielsen - Sille Christensen, Skovshoved YC, Denmark. 2) Malin Millbourn, KSSS, Sweden. 3) Marie Björling, GKSS, Sweden. 4) Malin Källström, Sweden. 5) Marie Faure, France. * The Sonar Class' Team Racing Championship, The Kirby Cup, was sailed for in Oyster Bay, NY on August 23rd. Participating teams were from; Houston, Texas, Manhasset Bay, NY, Noroton, CT, Oyster Bay, NY and Rhu, Scotland. 29 races were run virtually back-to-back by in a double round robin won by Noroton. In the best of five finals the wind ran up from 8 to 20 knots and Oyster Bay bested Noroton 3-2 to win the regatta. Full results: http://www.seawanhaka.org/sailing/sonar/kirbycup.htm * George Szabo with Shelly Suarez as crew won a heavy air Snipe North Americans sailed on the Columbia River Gorge - a natural wind tunnel that extends about 100 miles from the cool Pacific Ocean at Portland Oregon, through the Cascade Mountains. Second place went to Henry Filter & Kim Couranz with David Tillson & John Fretwell finishing third. - http://www.snipeus.org/ TRIVIA ANSWER In the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Americans Bill and Carl Buchan shared similar podium results. Father Bill Buchan skippered his Star to victory with Steve Erickson crewing, while son Carl Buchan crewed for Jonathan McKee to win the gold in the Flying Dutchman. "DEAR HENRI . . . HOW DOES IT KNOW?" How does GORE-TEX know to keep water out while letting air in and out? How do I care for my beloved foulies? Why are there ceramic particles imbedded in the Pulse waterproof coating of my Horizon jacket? You've got questions. Henri Lloyd has the answers at http://www.thehlanswer.com 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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Paul Henderson, ISAF President: I totally agree with Peter Harken. I have been trying to get Race Officers to talk to the sailors especially with regard to keeping them back at the start so as to stop OCS and General Recalls. To tell a sailor at that end of a race they are OCS is ridiculous. They should start warning sailors with 1 minute to go. They also should use the communications to relay mark changes. I am at Athens for the Olympic Test Event and they are using a small horn and writing on a chalk board that you cannot see. We want sailors to have fun with good as possible racing. With modern cheap technology it can be done. I am not sure I will live long enough to see the "olde" mentality replaced. I am sure Harken will not. * From Simon Walker, Managing Director, Challenge Business (In response to Jamie Sterns letter, about his concern of a 'conflict of interests' with Offshore Challenges management of the STAR): Challenge Business, as one of the world leading marine event organisers has been successfully managing major events such as the Global Challenge, where we own the yachts, employ the skippers, secure over $30m of sponsorship and deliver extensive benefits to those sponsors without any conflict of interest. In fact we find that to meet the needs of all these stake holders that we work especially hard to provide a transparent and level playing field for all. The standards of independence are of the highest possible order with any disputes settled by a full ISAF International Jury. We have no influence whatsoever on their rulings, nor should we. I feel Jamie's concerns are unfounded and that fair play will only be enhanced by good event management which I am sure Offshore Challenges will bring to this classic event. * From Ted Jones: For the record, it was not Commodore Vanderbuilt, but Ring Lardner, a sportswriter more interested in boxing and resenting the fact that he was sent to cover a sport in which he had no background or interest, who made the "watching grass grow" analogy. * From: Johnny Starr, Sydney Australia (edited to our 250-word limit): I was astonished to read Peter Campbell's comments "we pride ourselves on our media coverage here in Australia". The fact is, Australian coverage of our sport is far more pathetic than any country I know of. Granted the Coverage of the Sydney to Hobart race is good at the start with a two hour broadcast live on T.V. and then it is about a 10 sec slot at the end of the sport news until the first boat has reached Hobart then that's the end of it for another 12 months. What about the Americas Cup? Only the biggest event on a yachties calender! Yet sadly there was nothing heard this side of the Tasman. Just because there was no Australian boat doesn't mean there is no interest in Sailings greatest prize. There were plenty of Aussies scattered amongst the teams but little if not nothing was heard about these guys. Australian Sailing magazine is a monthly magazine but somehow they are four months off the pace. Also, it seems the editor and journalists haven't updated there little black books for the past 10 years, as it seems to be the same people interviewed and talked about each month - kind of boring! As for the website he mentioned it is far from interesting, don`t waste your time. Sorry Peter but I can't agree that Yachting Coverage in Australia is something to be proud of. If it is so good, then why do you need to read scuttlebutt every day? * From Keith Wheatley [no relation to Magnus]: Magnus Wheatley has identified a problem but I'm afraid his solution won't fly. Paul Cayard proved to be an excellent and instinctive communicator during the VOR - but he was a skipper not a journalist. He had an extraordinary freedom to write or not write, tell the truth or the part of it that suited the campaign that day (Paul admits this himself) and it was very much part of his leadership role. No journalist crew-member could expect the same latitude, be it Fastnet or VOR. Everyone in the this role follows the basic human instinct and becomes a team player. This is hopelessly at odds with the reporter's need to be an "outsider". All campaigns demand a loyalty that subverts good journalism. Even shore-based reporters get sucked into the "come aboard" syndrome during an America's Cup - ask the Italians who covered the two Prada campaigns in Auckland. I'm afraid Magnus has skillfully described a difficulty but not an answer. Crews are partisan, journalists aren't crew. * From Ed Reed: Even before I reached the Curmudgon's comment at the end of the Athens pre-Olympic regatta info, I was wondering why I was reading about Iain Percy's problems and not Hannah Swett's lead in the Ynglings. Why don't Warren St. John and Angus Phillips cover these events? This week's thread hit the nail on the head - the interest starts on the bottom and works its way up. Once junior results from the local regatta, and pictures from events such as North Sails Race Week make the papers, the stick & ball editors will take notice. * From Paul V. Raposa: I've been reading all the chat about how poorly sailboat racing is being covered and how this will somehow lead to the demise of our sport. Instead of finding ways of making sailboat racing more "interesting" and media friendly, we should be concentrating on getting people into boats and showing them the joys of sailing and racing. The problem with sailboat racing isn't poor coverage, (in fact, there's probably more media coverage now than ever before) it's accessibility. * From Big Mike Howard: It comes with great sadness to hear of the death of Bruce Kendell. I was blessed to be part of the Kialoa Family when Bruce was Captain of Kialoa lll for Jim Kilroy. Bruce was an inspiration to me and taught me much about what it took to be not only a racing sailor but a seaman. Through Bruce and my association with the Kialoa family I have gained many friendships that I will always cherish. We have lost a very special part of that family and the sailing community as a whole. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Definition of Insanity - Repeating the same actions over and over while expecting different results. |
