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SCUTTLEBUTT 1635 - July 29, 2004Powered 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, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. PERSPECTIVE Asked about the rift at the recent UBS Trophy regatta in Newport, (Ernesto) Bertarelli said: "It's not about money. I think, as people have found out, he (Russell Coutts) is a difficult guy to motivate. I'm not the first one facing this issue." If not money, is the squabble about Coutts being confined to running the sailing team and not being able to shape the 2007 Cup? His vision was to reduce costs and open up the series to the public. The Swiss, in the shape of Bertarelli's associate Michel Bonnefous, who runs the newly formed America's Cup Management, have set rights control and revenue-raising as priorities. "I think you've got to use people where they are best at," said Bertarelli. "And I couldn't see Michel Bonnefous helming the boat and Russell being in the office, drafting contracts. I thought the logical approach was to use Russell leading the team and yet contributing to overall construction and Michel drafting the contracts. Which basically is what they did with Alinghi in 2003. So it was a natural split." Coutts suggests Bertarelli puts his own narrow interests ahead of what is good for the event. Rewriting the rules in Protocol clause 13.12 on July 14 expressly to block Coutts from joining another team, a move which adversely affects other teams and sailors, "is pretty indicative of Ernesto's style when he doesn't get his way", asserts Coutts. A source close to the BMW Oracle team, with whom Protocol changes have to be agreed, said the amendments came after a phone call between Bertarelli and Larry Ellison, of Oracle. - Excerpt from a story by Tim Jeffery in the Daily Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/4a9l4 LEGAL OPTIONS Russell Coutts could have a variety of legal options to consider if he wants to be sailing at the next America's Cup, but the first hurdle is likely to be the hardest. Having been sacked by his Swiss employers, cup holders Alinghi, this week, Coutts is exploring ways to overturn the 180-day clause slipped into a rearranged cup protocol put in place just before the axing. The clause is understood to have been teed up in a phone conversation between Alinghi boss Ernesto Bertarelli and Oracle chief, software billionaire Larry Ellison, whose syndicate is acting as Challenger of Record for the next cup regatta. The move prevents a sailor who has spent 180 days working for a syndicate since the end of the previous cup regatta being hired by another for the 2007 event. Among the possible alternatives for Coutts' legal advisers to consider would be: * Applying to New York state, whose law governs the cup, with a view to restraint of trade issues. * Looking at European law and whether it had any jurisdiction in the cup. * Whether the 180-day clause, combined with the termination of his contract, amounted to an unfair restraint of trade. Alinghi last night put another stumbling block in place for Coutts. Syndicate spokesman Christophe Lamps said that Coutts would also be bound by a non-competition clause, which would prevent a sailor whose contract had been terminated from joining another syndicate. - Excerpts from a story by David Leggart, NZ Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/5abd9 OPINION Russell Coutts is going to struggle to sail for another team at the 2007 America's Cup. This is the opinion of Louis Vuitton Cup organizer Bruno Trouble, who believes Coutts will be left high and dry in Valencia. Trouble is sad to see Coutts fired as helmsman by Cup holders Alinghi, but he is not surprised, given their long term problems. He says Coutts is going to struggle to convince Alinghi's lawyers to allow him to sail for another team in 2007, because Ernesto Bertarelli is a tough businessman. Trouble says that knowing Bertarelli, there will be a wall of lawyers waiting, which will make life very difficult for Coutts to sail for another team. However, Trouble believes the decision to axe Coutts has done all the other teams a big favor as the brains trust has been taken away and therefore given all other teams a better chance of nabbing the Auld Mug. He says it will seriously weaken the defense of the Cup, which bodes well for the likes of Team New Zealand, as Alinghi will not be anywhere near as strong without Coutts, and their hopes of being the dream team are now over. - xtramsn.com, full story: http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,3971-3553858,00.html ULLMAN SAILS PROVIDE SPEED TO WIN! Scott Taylor's B-32 "Defiance" won both Class and Boat of the Week with eight firsts and a second at this year's Whidbey Island Race Week. Ed Feo's Schock 40 "Mad Dog" dominated the Crew of Two Around Catalina Island race. Finishing ten minutes in front of the first catamaran and 5 1/2 hours in front of the next monohull to capture first boat to finish, first in class and first overall. Are you ready for the "Fastest Sails on the Planet"? Visit your nearest Ullman Sails loft or on line at http://www.ullmansails.com MATCH RACING RANKINGS ISAF has just released their new match racing rankings … and it is really fun reading. For instance, now that Ed Baird (USA) has won the ISAF Match Racing World Championship for the second consecutive year, he has finally displaced Karol Jablonski (POL), in the rankings. But even though Jablonski finished second to Baird at the World Championship, he dropped into third place behind James Spithill, who did not even compete in this year's World Championship. Huh? What's even more ridiculous was the second paragraph of the ISAF story, which reads in part, "Peter Gilmour (USA) who has recently been seen on the ISAF Grade 1 circuit wearing the colours of his new Syndicate, Alinghi, has been conquering almost everything." For the record - Gilmour grew up in Australia and lives and works in Australia. And with his Australian accent, it's very hard to think of Gilly as an American. If he has in fact joined the Alinghi syndicate, someone should probably tell Ernesto Bertarelli … and also Pizza-La, who has sponsored Gilmour's match racing team for some time now. The new rankings are now online: http://tinyurl.com/3tgyv WATCH FOR THE MAIL The production of The Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, including US Sailing Prescriptions, is on schedule, and will be available before the end of the year. The Racing Rules are effective on January 1, 2005. Members of US Sailing will receive a free copy of the new rules before the end of the year and additional copies will be available for purchase through US Sailing's online store. Dave Perry's Understanding the Racing Rules Through 2008, a companion to The Racing Rules of Sailing, is currently being produced and will also be available by the end of the year. The Racing Rules of Sailing are revised and published every four years by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the U.S. rulebook includes rules adopted by US Sailing for events held in the U.S. www.ussailing.org/rules SWEDISH MATCH TOUR Cascais, Portugal - With northerly winds blowing up to 20 knots, the quarterfinalists are nearly set at Stage 1 of the Swedish Match Tour 2004-'05. Group B completed its five flight round robin this morning, with crews led by skippers Russell Coutts (NZL), Bertrand Pacé (FRA) and Peter Holmberg (USVI) advancing to the quarters by placing 1-2-3. Coutts won the group with a 5-0 mark, followed by Pacé at 4-1 and Holmberg at 3-2. They joined Ed Baird (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS) and Jesper Radich (DEN) in the quarterfinals of the inaugural Portugal Match Cup. The Group A skippers advanced after yesterday's racing. All that's left to decide is the two remaining quarterfinalists, which will be determined from the five flight repechage round that was suspended this evening after two and two-thirds flights. The repechage round is scheduled to be completed tomorrow. Chris Law praised the new Swedish Match 40s that are in use at this first stage of the sixth Swedish Match Tour season. "They're fantastic boats. The teething problems they're having are mostly gear related. They're a great concept." The narrow 40-footers designed by Pelle Petterson of Sweden were on fire in today's stronger winds. Upwind, they leaned over on their ear, dug in and powered up. Downwind, the steamed along at a good clip. "I like the boats a lot. They're a good match-racing boat," said Coutts, who has a strong knowledge of yacht design. "They've got a nice open layout and handle like a bigger boat. I think they're pretty nice. They're physical boats. They're quite hard to tack well. Anything that adds skill to it is good." - Sean McNeill, www.SwedishMatchTour.com MACKINAC STORIES This Scuttlebutt contest is calling for the submission of race-related stories from the two classic Great Lakes events: Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race and Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. When Genuine Risk lost their rig a few days before the Bayview race, we looked forward to many tales of high drama. But now with predominately light air prevailing for both races, contest entries might now include the details of food rationing and glassy lake swims. Regardless, Scuttlebutt wants the scuttlebutt. Stories of overcoming obstacles. Stories about stuff that isn't very funny when it happens, but we can all laugh about afterwards (maybe after all the bills are paid). We'll post the best of them, and pass out a few Scuttlebutt caps to the most worthy. Deadline is August 4th. Ready to share your story? Go to the following link for details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/contest/04mac/info.asp HAVE FUN EVERY DAY Summer means fun and sailing. For a new take on both, try singlehanded sport boat sailing in the Bongo. Lots of sail options and an ergonomically designed cockpit makes the Bongo enjoyable for kids from 8 to 80. http://www.sailabongo.com PRIORITIES Ernesto Bertarelli knows the sweet taste of victory. Last year, the 38-year-old billionaire won the America's Cup for landlocked Switzerland, taking the trophy from New Zealand. In contrast, shareholders in Bertarelli's company have tasted the sourness of defeat. Late last week, shares in his Geneva-based Serono, Europe's largest biotechnology company and the third-largest in the world, dropped as low as 746 Swiss francs ($923), down two-thirds from a peak of 2146 francs on August 15, 2000 - before Bertarelli began training for yachting's biggest prize. In that time, the value of Bertarelli's 55 per cent stake has tumbled by more than half to US$5.2 billion (NZ$8.15 billion) from about US$11 billion. - Kim Frick and Vernon Silver, NZ Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/3rb25 NEWS BRIEFS * Following Wednesday's afternoon windward - leeward race and the evening's short offshore race, Ireland has regained the lead in the Rolex Commodores' Cup. After three races the team is now on 21.5 points just half a point ahead of GBR Black. France Blue is in third place with 26 points and GBR Red has 26.5 points. On Wednesday, two windward-leeward races are again scheduled, but the Race Committee are expected to try and run at least one more to make up for the three races lost on Monday and Tuesday. www.rorc.org/comcup/index.php * ISAF President Paul Henderson will sit on the evaluation commission that will analyze the candidature files that Paris (FRA), New York (USA), Moscow (RUS), London (GBR), and Madrid (ESP), will have submitted to the IOC to host the Olympic Games in 2012. Henderson is well known to the Olympic Family, having dedicated five years as a volunteer in his leadership of the Toronto Olympic Bid, for the right to host the 1996 Games. Paul is also a member of the Sports and Environment Commission, and the Women and Sport Commission of the International Olympic Committee. - www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=7717 * Over one hundred boats competed in Whidbey Island Race Week, known locally as the adult summer camp of the Northwest US - British Columbia region. Plenty of non-sailing activites, though our latest Scuttlebutt photo gallery is limited to only the on-the-water action: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/whidbey/ * The organizers of Travemuende Week are more than happy with the first half of the event. Up to Tuesday evening around 400,000 visitors have visited the world's second biggest sailing event and the festival mile with more than 150 stalls and twelve stages. In seven of the 37 boat classes, the winners have already been named, plus 40,000 litres of beer and 20,000 grilled sausages have been consumed. - www.travemuende-woche.net * The Laser Masters Pacific Coast Championship Regatta was held this year at Huntington Lake, CA. Mature Laser sailors were treated to six races with a variety of conditions from zero to a few 20 knot stingers that lasted for 30 seconds or so, but mostly 6-12 knots of beautiful sailing. Chris Rabb won the Masters Championship and the new Don Trask Perpetual Trophy, while Brodie Cobb (4th overall) took the Apprentice title, Bill Symes (2nd overall) won the Grand Masters Division and Jim Christopher (6th overall) convincingly was the top Great Grand Master. Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/6grm9 LAST CHANCE Today will be your last chance to vote in the Scuttlebutt survey - a poll designed to help Ernesto Bertarelli decide who Alinghi should hire to drive the syndicate's "B" boat. The nominated candidates (in alphabetical order) are: Ed Baird, Paul Cayard, Peter Gilmour, Chris Larsen, Chris Law and Ken Read. To vote, go to: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com. We'll let you know tomorrow who the 'Buttheads have selected. BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS There you are, racing upwind in 20 knots of breeze when -- oops! -- a winch handle flips over the side, caught by one of the lines during a sail adjustment. That's the bad news. The good news? You can replace the handle as fast as you lost it. Simply go online to Hall's web store and click "Accessories." Hall also sells replacement halyards, messenger line to run those halyards, and lifeline cushions for your tired crew. The best news? Hall gets you back in the race -- fast. http://www.hallspars.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 Chris Ericksen: What great news that Kevin Hall has been invited by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) to be a spokesperson for the Cancer Survivorship Advocacy program ('Butt 1633). It has been my great pleasure to know Kevin over the last ten years and to have seen him in action as an instructor and speaker at the annual California International Sailing Association (CISA) Advanced Racing Seminar every spring. He has inspired hundreds of kids on the possibilities of excellence in sailing; now he can reach thousands of Americans on the possibilities of success over cancer. Like the better-known Lance Armstrong, Kevin Hall is a profile in courage and determination. I am thrilled that his courage and determination will not only be recognized outside of the sailing community but that he can expand his reach to inspire others outside the sailing community. * From Aaron Housten: In the past, I have found that I rarely agree with Mr. Wheatley's opinions but on this one I have to agree whole heartedly. To have what some might argue is the greatest AC helmsman ever (and if not, certainly top 5) not participate in the '07 AC will be one of the greatest injustices in the events history. And considering the bar for injustice in the AC is set so high... * From Dieter Loibner: Coutts vs. Bertarelli, another sequel of a classic soap. Sure, the hired hand will finish second in this dispute, but if his (former) boss should finish second at the end, snickering will be heard from the gallery. With Cayard "parked" by Larry Ellison in 2003 and Coutts sidelined in 2007, arguably two of the world's top sailors were/are relegated to spectators at sailing's "marquee" event. Sounds kinda funny, doesn't it? * From David Cook (Re: Russell's future in the A/C) How about this... Ernesto helm Alinghi and Russell join one of the underdog teams like the Auzzie Boys or the South African team? It's a win/win/win situation. Ernesto can prove to the World he is a talented sailor, Russell can still be part of the game that he deserves to play in, he can prove once and for all that his management style is the best, he can be the ultimate role-model, and at the same time, help out the newcomers. Imagine the PR benefits to the A/C and the overall sport of sailing! * From John Senger: Am I the only one wondering how well Mr. Bertarelli's contract with Russell Coutts really was if he had to resort to changing the Protocol in order to keep Russell from sailing with someone else? * From John Rousmaniere: As Robin Knox-Johnston says, the possibility of colliding with a rogue wave is perpetual. Rogues don't have to be immense 80-footers, just unusually high and nasty in comparison with the surrounding sea state. And there are plenty of them: in his text book Oceanography and Seamanship, William G. Van Dorn estimated that one deep-water wave out of 20 is a rogue. One cause is a collision of nonparallel waves, some running at one angle due to the local wind, others running at another angle from a storm many miles beyond the horizon. Rogues may also be caused by rapidly shifting, gusting, or otherwise irregular winds. The British meteorologist Alan Watts ascribed the violence of the 1979 Fastnet storm in large part to 'corridors of extremely strong winds.' That such events are more likely than our concept of 'steady breeze' admits was made clear by NOAA meteorologist Joseph M. Sienkiewicz when he said, at a safety-at-sea seminar, 'Wind is not a blanket. It is, rather, like a colander.' Curmudgeon's Comment: The book that John refers to is in the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Library: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/books * From Paul Hansen (re rogue waves): For anyone worried that rogue waves are not being taken seriously take a look at the following article on a possible cause of shallow water extreme waves. http://www.copernicus.org/EGU/npg/10/2003/6/npg-10-503.pdf. Don't try to follow the math as it might hurt your head but rather look at the extensive list of references at the end and realize that the scientific community is trying to understand them. Only when you understand something can you work with it constructively with a view to forecasting high risk conditions. Note that superposition of waves is not completely accepted as the cause. Something keeps them together for much longer than superposition would allow. A soliton doesn't seem to fit either. What would be really scary is to see the superposition of two of these waves, one overtaking the other. Trough and crest cancel initially to reduce the first wave (that's good) and then immediately add on top of each other. (150' wave anyone?). I wish some of the people listed in the references would read this newsletter and chime in with some real insight. Al Osborne of Texas perhaps: http://www.physicscentral.com/people/people-02-6.pdf THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. - W.C. Fields |
