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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 893 - September 4, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
AMERICA'S CUP - Herb McCormick, NY Times During an interview in Cowes, it was clear that Bertarelli is already having a fine time pursuing it. "Sailing's a passion for me," he said. "It's the only reason I'm in the Cup. I'm not here to spend money or to get my name out there. I don't need that." Sailing aboard a chartered 12-Meter with Coutts and others during the Jubilee - the Alinghi team easily won the 12-Meter Grand Prix division - Bertarelli was in the thick of the action. It is where he hopes to be when the next Cup regatta is contested in Auckland, New Zealand, starting a year from October. "If things are going well for Serono and I have a good management team in place, I should be able to do it," he said. "I might be navigating, so this week was good for me to start working with Brad and Russell to see what information they want on the racecourse." Bertarelli, who has been sailing competitively since his early 20's, knows good sailors when he sees them. He seemed in awe of the interaction among the seasoned New Zealand crew members. "It's another world," he said. "But when you put them all together, Russell doesn't stick out. There's no question he's the leader, but when everything comes together with them you can see the machine at work." * Should he win, Bertarelli says he will keep an open mind about where to defend the Cup. "I would consider the United States or even Cowes," he said. "But the Mediterranean is where I learned to sail and that's where my heart is. So probably there." - Herb McCormick, NY Times Full story: www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/sports/02BOAT.html
MAKO ETCHELLS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP There were two general recalls before the black flag appeared and then another before the fourth start was sufficiently clear for the race officer to let them go. A total of 12 boats were disqualified for early starts. They included John Bertrand (AUS) who had been fifth overnight, and Dirk Kneulman (CAN) who sailed round the course in second place to a silence from the committee boat as he crossed the line. Childerley was not to be drawn into this and without putting the championship at risk started in the second rank. It resulted in him rounding the first mark in 21st place. However, Childerley finished in sixth place which gave him the championship by seven points from the day's race winner, Cameron Miles. - Bob Fisher
FINAL RESULTS: Complete results: www.rlymyc.org.uk/Sailing/Etchells/etchos.html.
THERE'S A RUN ON OUR NYLONS!
VOLVO OCEAN RACE
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Paul Kamen: Chris Bouzaid in 'Butt #891wrote: "Announcements such as 'Standby for the warning signal for the 12 meter classic class, 10, 5 4 3 2 1 now' was so well done that being in a position to have to see the RC boat was not an issue." Kudos to the race committee for keeping everyone so well informed, but what does it say about System III when our idea of a well run regatta is one in which no-one ever needs to look at any of the official System III signals? By using the UTC time on everyone's GPS, we've found a way to eliminate RC starting signals entirely. For a good time, check out "System IV," at www.berkeleyyc.org/Friday/system4.htm. * From Peter Harken (Re. Dan Dickison's Sailnet article on the Jubilee): Does the Indianapolis 500 have redeeming values for the Joe Blow in his go to work Chevy? Does the Super Bowl teach our youngsters good Christian values of sportsmanship and be kind to your fellow man? Do all the great fireworks on the 4th of July do any real good for the peoples of this Earth? So why these great events? Simple, they bring joy, fun, one of the great values we seek in life! The Jubilee was the greatest celebration of our sport that I have ever seen. It was fun and how! Isn't that why we sail, for the joy and fun of it? Man, it was super, it was magnificent, it was a real hoot, fun, don't try to read anything else into it. Thank you the sailors of Britain, Thank you the peoples of Cowes, Thank you all that put such great efforts into restoring all those 12 meters of yesteryear, the J boats, the gorgeous old classic boats of the 1800s and early 1900s and a huge Thank you for all those that worked so hard to pull this magnificent celebration of sail off. Good on ya, it sure was fun! * From Joanie Garrett (edited to our 250-word limit): I was "Joe Winchgrinder" at the Jubilee - on the primaries of the 12 mtr. Kookaburra. There were no press releases about us, and rarely a picture - our sails were patched and we were not elegant. We had no names everyone would recognize on board, and we were at the bottom of the fleet. "Bobby Bowman" and all of the crew spent extended time in the hole taping up kites and genoas, doing our jobs in silence, awestruck at the surroundings, awestruck at the opportunity. We had travelled from all over the world, never having sailed together before, and by week's end, had a syncopation to our crew work that I have rarely experienced on other boats. Not one of us left Cowes with a dry eye, or without an absolute commitment to keep at the greatest sport in the world. Was this a meaningful event for Joe Winchgrinder - you bet, and for the thousands who lined the shores to watch the RTI race, and for the 11 and 5 year old children of my Cowes landlord who are now pestering their Dad to get them a little Opti after my daily adventure telling and trips to the docks with them to tour the boats. BTW - I wholeheartedly agree with Chris Bouzaid about the quality of race management provided by the RYS - they deserved the resounding 3 cheers they received at the end of the regatta from nearly every boat. * From Harry Anderson: As Olin Stephens observed, the America's Cup Jubilee was a confluence of yacht design through the ages, i.e. a display of technology that would have enthralled Prince Albert. Hence, nostalgia cobbled with the camaraderie mentioned by others alone made the Jubilee worthwhile. CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: How better to end this thread - which is now officially dead! * From Dick Tillman: I can't let me good friend, Paul Henderson, off the hook without commenting, as a windsurfer, on his guest editorial. Keep in mind that Paul and I are aged sailors and have raced each other in Finns, Lasers, perhaps Snipes and FDs, and that I have great respect for his views. Nevertheless, his thinking on pumping is directed at the Olympic level of windsurfing, which is a minuscule number of racers compared to the sport itself. Having just returned from the USWA Nationals, held in the typically windy Columbia River Gorge, I can say pumping is not an issue in the Formula class, as race wind minimums were 8 MPH, and most races were 15-25 MPH. Formula boards have no centerboards and don't react well to pumping in any wind strength. Long boards do respond to pumping, just as dinghies, including sport keel boats, respond to kinetics. I mention equipment, as Formula boards do not favor pumping to the degree of long boards. The new Mistral Prodigy board, introduced last week in North America at the Nationals at Hood River, is a combination Formula type board (short and wide) and long board (centerboard with lots of flotation). This could be the raceboard of the future, ideally suited to a variety of wind and sailor combinations, and the answer to Paul's concerns. * From Marc Herrmann: Lets assume for a minute that kinetics were made legal in competition. How does one adjust for the physical component of each competitor? Through personal experience racing Lasers a number of years ago, my smaller physical makeup certainly was proof in having less impact using kinetics than my fellow competitor who not only was taller but considerably heavier in conditions that would not be biased one over the other and both of us with similar sailing/racing abilities. We both have a reasonable comprehension of application of kinetics. By discussing this after racing, we both agreed that he was able to minimally "adjust" his movements to obtain the desired result, whereas my effort required considerable demonstrative movements and adjustments to maintain an equal latitude. Had we raced in conditions that would favor my fellow competitor, there is no question that the outcome would be considerably different. How does one factor this into the equation when considering legalizing kinetics? This might be a minor point but certainly not one to overlook. * From William F. Cook: The reason kinetics are illegal is that it is possible, under certain circumstances which are not very uncommon, for a sailboat to go faster if the sails are taken down and the boat is rocked. I for one would hate to see that legalized. * From Michael McCutchon: The curmudgeon is obviously not from Texas. Cow chips just get drier on hot days. Never kick one on a rainy day.
* From Harvey Handler: I am an avid racer and Dermatologist and must respond to the earlier comments regarding various skin cancers:
MATCH RACING The semi-finals were cancelled because of wind conditions, and the four teams - Peter Gilmour, Ed Baird, James Spithill and Ken Read - match raced for final standings. It was Gilmour against Baird, and Spithill vs. Read. The first two races gave one win to each of the four skippers, forcing a third and final match. Even with fluky wind, this was exciting match racing, with each team working hard to gain advantage at the start and trying to predict where the wind might be best on the race course. Twice the RC used an alternate rounding mark as the wind kept shifting all over the bay. The final match found Gilmour on the right side of the bay with a little wind that carried him to the finish line before Baird. Spithill and Read were close at several points in their final match, but it was Spithill who took the honors at the finish line. - Andrea Watson
FINAL STANDINGS:
STAR NAs
MASTERS (22 boats)
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * October 3-6: Mumm 30 World Championship, YC Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. - mumm30.org * November 16-18: Lewmar Cup, Farr One Design Invitational, Mumm 30 NAs, Farr 40, Farr 395, Miami Beach, Florida. - farr40.org
OLSON 30 NATIONALS
BIG BARGAIN?
NOOD Dave Ullman, of Newport Beach, CA, in his Melges 24 USA 3, won the competitive 21-boat Melges 24 class which is warming up for the Worlds, scheduled to take place in Ft. Lauderdale in November. Olympic silver medalist Peasie Glaser called tactics on USA 3. Jeff Littfin and Steve Pugh, of San Mateo, in Wild Dance won the biggest class in the regatta - the J/105 with 35 boats. The 13-boat Farr 40 class was won by Brack Duker sailing Revolution. - Stu Streuli Complete results: www.sailingworld.com/nood/
29ER NATIONALS
ANNAPOLIS RACE WEEK
WIND WARRIOR PACIFIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
MEAD BATCHELOR
THE CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL |
