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SCUTTLEBUTT 3268 - Monday, January 31, 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: Summit Yachts and Doyle Sailmakers. ISAF SAILING WORLDCUP - ROLEX MIAMI OCR Miami, FL (January 29, 2011) - It was “do or die” today for sailors in the final medal races of US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR. Reserved for top-ten fleet racing finishers in Finn, 49er, Men’s 470, Women’s 470, Laser, Laser Radial, Men’s RS:X, Women’s RS:X and Star classes, the medal races also included “knock-out” Finals and Petit Finals, with two boats each, from the Elliott 6m (women’s match racing) class. The racing formats replicate those that will be used at the Olympic Sailing Regatta in the 2012 Games, and as so designed, they did not fail to deliver a final punch of excitement to six days of racing here for 716 sailors from 53 nations. “In the final medal count, 14 different countries won 39 medals, with eight different countries sharing Gold,” said US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee Chair Dean Brenner (Wallingford, Conn.) at the final Rolex Prizegiving, held at Coral Reef Yacht Club. He explained that while 10 Olympic classes determined podium positions today, three Paralympic classes completed racing yesterday to determine medalists. US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR 2012 started Monday and has returned to Biscayne Bay annually since 1990. The USA had the largest contingent of sailors with 198, followed by Canada (97), Great Britain (39), and then Italy (36). This was the second of seven stops on the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup circuit, with the fleet now moving to Europe for the third stop in Spain at the Consorrcio Trofeo S.A.R. Princesa Sofia in Palma de Majorca (April 2-9). Daily reports: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/News/2011_Press_Releases.htm Final Results (top North American included) 470 Women (24 Boats; 9 Races) 1. Ingrid Petijean/ Nadege Douroux (FRA), 36 points 2. Penny Clark/ Katrina Hughes (GBR), 37 3. Maria Fernanda Sesto/ Consuelo Monsegur (ARG), 41 12. Anne Haeger/ Briana Provancha (USA) 470 Men (41 Boats; 10 Races) 1. Nic Asher/Elliot Willis (GBR), 45 2. Matthew Belcher/ Malcolm Page (AUS), 51 3. Luke Patience/ Stuart Bithell (GBR), 51 6. Stuart McNay/ Graham Biehl (USA), 71 Laser (104 Boats; 11 Races) 1. Rasmus Myrgren (SWE), 38 2. Julio Alsogaray (ARG), 41 3. Paul Goodison (GBR), 43 7. Luke Ramsay (CAN), 82 Laser Radial (58 Boats; 11 Races) 1. Paige Railey (USA), 33 2. Sarah Steyaert (FRA), 56 3. Evi Van Acker (BEL), 56 Finn (37 Boats; 10 Races) 1. Giles Scott (GBR), 29 2. Ben Ainslie (GBR), 30 3. Andrew Mills (GBR), 33 6. Zach Railey (USA), 58 Star (57 Boats; 11 Races) 1. Robert Scheidt/Bruno Robert (BRA), 48 2. Fredrik Loof (SWE), 97 3. Richard Clarke (CAN), 99 RS: X Women (10 Races; 9 Races) 1. Marina Alabau (ESP), 26 2. Bryony Shaw (GBR), 31 3. Laura Linares (ITA), 37 10. Nikola Girke (CAN), 75 RS: X Men (31 Boats; 9 Races) 1. Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED), 24 2. Nick Dempsey (GBR), 26 3. Julien Bontemps (FRA), 36 7. Zachary Plavsic (CAN), 59 49er (29 Boats; 15 Races) 1. John Pink/ Rick Peacock (GBR), 39 2. Paul Brotherton/ Mark Asquith (GBR), 58 3. Dave Evans/ Edward Powys (GBR), 74 4. Gordon Cook/ Hunter Lowden (CAN) 96 Women’s Match Racing - Elliott 6m (24 Boats) 1. Claire Leroy/ Elodie Bertrand/ Marie Riou (FRA) 2. Anna Tunnicliffe/ Molly Vandemoer/ Debbie Capozzi (USA) 3. Sally Barkow/ Elizabeth Kratzig-Burnham/ Alana O’Reilly (USA) 2.4mR (30 Boats; 6 Races) 1. Damien Seguin (FRA), 18 2. Thierry Schmitter (NED), 22 3. Allan Leibel (CAN), 29 SKUD-18 (7 Boats; 6 Races) 1. Daniel Fitzgibbon/ Liesl Tesch (AUS), 12 2. Scott Whitman/ Julia Dorsett (USA), 18 3. Alexandra Rickham/ Niki Birrell (GBR), 22 Sonar (12 Boats; 7 Races) 1. John Roberston/ Hannah Stodel/ Steve Thomas (GBR), 30 2. Bruno Jourdren/ Eric Flageul/ Nicolas Vimont Vicary (FRA), 36 3. Udo Hessels/ Mischa Rossen/ Marcel van de Veen (NED), 37 4. Rick Doerr/ Brad Kendell/ Hugh Freund (USA), 38 Complete results: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/Results.htm Video: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/video.htm Archived race updates: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/live.htm SPRING IS AROUND THE CORNER Sure, we are just moving beyond January 1, 2011, but spring is coming, and now is the time to start planning your summer sailing program. Summit Yachts can still build a Summit 35 or Summit 40 in time for summer delivery, and what better way to assure a winning season! Both of our Mark Mills designed IRC Racer/Cruisers have some of the most enviable race records, World Wide, and you too can cash in on the silver. Check us out at http://www.summit-yachts.com FOR THE RECORD - CREWED (January 30, 2011; Day 9) - Since crossing the equator on Friday, skipper Pascal Bidegorry and his 13 crew on the 131-foot trimaran Banque Populaire V have been following a similar track toward Brazil as current Jules Verne Trophy holder Groupama 3. Just not as fast. “As you might have seen though, our progression towards Cape Town is hardly spectacular,” said crew Brian Thompson (GBR). “And unfortunately we have more time of going slowly and not in the right direction, before we get a low pressure to send us eastwards. “So do not expect us to break any records from the equator to Cape of Good Hope. The dream scenario is to be able to sail directly from here as Orange2 and Idec did, when they set their respective fully crewed and solo RTW records. But that happens rarely and the rest of the time, we have to take the long way around the St Helena High, and now we are even going the longer way than most. Such is sailing, and we are just racing as fast as we can to do those extra miles quickly. “What is it like on board? To describe it to a non sailor it would be like a mix between driving in a F1 Qualifier each day, together with a 2 hour gym session daily, whilst touring the world’s most remote islands and undertaking a French immersion course all at the same time. It’s certainly a special experience and I have been very lucky to be part of the team.” Current position as of January 30, 2011 (23:00 UTC): Ahead/behind record: -117.7 nm Speed over past 24 hours: 16.5 knots Distance over past 24 hours: 397.1 nm Tracking: http://tinyurl.com/BP-JVT11-Tracking Team website: http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/ Brian Thompson’s blog: http://www.brianthompsonsailing.blogspot.com/ BACKGROUND: The 131-foot trimaran Banque Populaire V is seeking to win the Jules Verne Trophy, a fully crewed round the world record attempt under sail. Skipper Pascal Bidegorry and his 13 crew began their attempt Jan. 22nd and must cross the finish line off Ushant, France before March 11, 2011 at 19:55:37 (Paris time) to break the record (48:7:44:52) set by Franck Cammas and crew in 2010 on the 103-foot trimaran Groupama 3. FOR THE RECORD - SOLO (January 30, 2011; Day 2) - Thomas Coville, skipper of 105-foot trimaran Sodebo, crossed the start line off Ushant, France on Saturday January 29th in an attempt to beat Francis Joyon’s solo round the world record. His aim is to return to the same spot by March 28 to pass the mark of 57:13:34:6 that Joyon (Idec) set in January 2008. Conditions at the start promise to be lively with a 25 knot NE’ly wind followed by fairly steep seas in the Bay of Biscay. If the forecasts are confirmed, the skipper could hold onto the NNE’ly air flow for a considerable time and even as far as the equator. As such, on the computer, Sodebo’s schedule is rather favourable. “This decision to set off was an easy one to make given the stability of the weather conditions,” admitted Coville on the eve of his third round the world record attempt on this boat. “The weather models have been in agreement for several days and if conditions remain ‘vigorous’, the situation enables a quick and easy descent to the equator, which I could cross in about 7 days, which isn’t bad.” Current position as of January 30, 2011 (23:00 UTC): Ahead/behind record: +18.6 nm Speed over past 24 hours: 18.6 knots Distance over past 24 hours: 447.2 nm Tracking: http://sodebo-voile.geovoile.com/tourdumonde/2011/ Team website: http://www.sodebo-voile.com ENTERING THE INDIAN OCEAN (January 30, 2011: Day 31) - Thundering along at over 23 knots, Barcelona World Race leaders Virbac Paprec 3 are showing little sign of conservative tactics this evening, with second-placed MAPFRE slipping five miles from the leaders after the 150-mile gains they earned over the past two days. Further into the fleet is Neutrogena in seventh place, but their position for co-skipper Ryan Breymaier (USA) is not as concerning as his environment. “What really sets me off is ... that everywhere we sail we pass plastic floating in the water,” said Breymaier. “Where we are in the ocean just now, every day we still pass some kind of shit floating in the water and it is terrible. There is so much plastic trash in the water, there is so much plastic fishing rope, so many plastic bags, plastic containers, jerry jugs, water bottles it is just absolutely everywhere. It is really, really disgusting. I have sailed across the Atlantic five times and the last trip back from Costa Rica was pretty bad with the plastic, but now crossing the Equator and down into the Southern Hemisphere, all along the periphery of the South Atlantic high it has been nothing but trash in the water constantly. That to me is much worse.” Foncia co-skippers Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) and Francois Gabart (FRA), which broke their mast on January 26, arrived in Cape Town Saturday afternoon. Race Tracker: http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org Standings (top 5 of 14 as of 20.01.07) 1. Virbac-Paprec 3, Jean Pierre Dick/Loick Peyron (FRA/FRA), 17,113nm DTF 2. Mapfre, Iker Martinez/Xabi Fernandez (ESP/ESP), 597.6nm DTL 3. Estrella Damm Sailing Team, Alex Pella/Pepe Ribes (ESP/ESP), 679.7nm DTL 4. Groupe Bel, Kito De Pavant/Sebastien Audigane (FRA/FRA), 716.8nm DTL 5. Renault, Pachi Rivero/Antonio Piris (ESP/ESP), 821.0nm DTL 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 DOYLE EXPANDS! Doyle Sailmakers is pleased to announce the addition of Daniell Diekema / DOYLE NETHERLANDS and Johnny Jorgensen and Jacob Olsen / DOYLE DENMARK. The experienced local sailmakers bring extensive racing and cruising experience to Doyle. Since 1978, Jorgensen and Olsen operated as EuroSails in Skovshoved Harbour, north of Copenhagen. Diekema brings 11 years of sailmaking experience to Doyle, 6 years with Gaastra Sails and 5 years with UK-Halsey. With the addition of Doyle lofts in the Netherlands and Denmark, Doyle continues to expand its unparalleled, comprehensive service worldwide. To contact your local Doyle loft, call 800-94-DOYLE or visit http://www.doylesails.com COUTTS PROMISES EIGHT TEAMS The 34th America's Cup should be exhilarating, with its high-speed, on-the-edge catamarans - as long as everybody turns up. While Oracle Racing CEO Sir Russell Coutts says he is certain the event will attract at least eight entries, the deadline is now only two months away and yachting circles are busily speculating about whether the holders will attract enough challengers to the starting line. That is the backdrop to Coutts' presence in Auckland to sail the new AC45 wing-sail cat (the 45-footer designed to race in the pre-Cup 'World Series') which will give teams multi-hull experience before graduating to the full 72-foot version in the America's Cup in San Francisco in 2013. Coutts took time out to promote the catamaran racing, opposed by many old salts who do not agree with ditching the old monohull Cup-class yachts. Some also say Oracle's multi-hull experience, courtesy of last year's demolition of previous holders Alinghi, is too big an advantage. While America's Cup organisers are claiming there are already six entries, and Coutts predicts 8-10, not all are guaranteed of making it to the start line at this stage. Counting Oracle, entries so far include challenger of record Mascalzone Latino (Italy), Aleph Team France, Artemis Racing (Sweden), YuuZoo (Australia) and one who is yet to be named - but whom most assume is Emirates Team New Zealand. However, YuuZoo are a long way yet from getting the financial backing to get them to San Francisco and America's Cup insiders say even Mascalzone Latino is feeling the financial pinch. Among the rumours are: - That ETNZ are finding it hard raising the cash. Certainly team boss Grant Dalton is not talking yet, although few have a better track record in fundraising. - That Mascalzone could even drop out and resign as chall-engers of record, meaning Artemis will take over. - That Coutts is under some pressure to get entries up. "I am sure Artemis would like that [becoming challenger of record] and there is no doubt that Mascalzone, like everybody, have had a tough few years,” said Coutts. “But I will tell you this - I am positive about there being eight teams and there could be up to 10." -- Read on: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10703053 TIME WILL TELL: Amid the legal dispute after the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007, Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli said in 2008 that he had 18 challengers willing to enter. At the time Scuttlebutt questioned how many of those entries would actually make it to the start line, and of those, how many would be legitimate competitors. Looking toward the 34th America’s Cup, these questioned have not changed. AC45: It’s been a few weeks since the prototype AC45 took its first splash in the Hauraki Gulf, in New Zealand. Over the weekend, Russell Coutts (ORACLE Racing CEO), and Jimmy Spithill (ORACLE Racing Skipper), talked about their impressions of the AC45 program thus far. When asked whether the new multi hull was a handful in 25 knots, Spithill’s enthusiasm spilled over, “It’s awesome mate! I think we’ll be able to race these in 30 knots and it will be a handful. Who knows, maybe there will be a few boats who will be right on the edge and perhaps someone will capsize one, but look, that’s what I think the sport is all about, it needs to have that element of risk…read on at SailBlast: http://sailblast.blogspot.com/2011/01/30-knots-no-problem-mate.html SAILING SHORTS * Newport, RI (January 27, 2011) - David Pitman, secretary of the J-Class Association, announced that the first event in the J-Class Global calendar will be staged in Newport, Rhode Island (June 15-19). Racing in the fabled waters of the America’s Cup, the J-Class will use this regatta to kick off a four-regatta series culminating in a race around the Isle of Wight in July of 2012 for the finale regatta, which will be for the newly-minted Hundred Guinea Cup. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11179 * Annapolis, MD (January 30, 2011) - Sixteen teams (32 skippers, 32 crews) brought their Interclubs south for the class's Midwinter championship, hosted at Severn Sailing Association. The event is unique among Interclub regattas as it is sailed in a "college-style" format with an A and B division team. Paul-Jon Patin and Felicity Ryan from the Larchmont IC fleet won A fleet by nine points with a dominating 1,1,3,1,3 scoreline, and his B team, Mike Ingham and Max Lopez from Rochester, sailed well enough to give the team the overall win. -- Full story: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11180 * The Cruising Club of America (CCA) will award The 2010 Rod Stephens Trophy for Outstanding Seamanship to Alessandro Di Benedetto for his seamanship in jury rigging a mast after being dismasted near Cape Horn on his solo, non-stop circumnavigation on the 21-foot (6.5-meter) monohull Findomestic. This award is given “for an act of seamanship which significantly contributes to the safety of a yacht, or one or more individuals at sea.” The award will be presented on March 4, 2011 by CCA Commodore Sheila McCurdy during the club’s annual Awards Dinner at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11178 SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar EIGHT BELLS Marvin H. Green Jr. has passed from these oceans to those beyond on January 27 in Florida. Marvin is most notable for his accomplishments on his 81 Foot, Pedrick designed Maxi Yacht Nirvana, which when launched from Palmer Johnson in April 1982 went out to the east coast to set a new record in the Newport to Bermuda race. Nirvana broke the old record by more than 5 1/2 hours and stood as the fastest elapsed time for 14 years. Under Marvin’s command, Nirvana went on to set several more records including, breaking the Fastnet Race record in 1985 by more than 12 ½ hours. This record also remained unbroken for 14 years. Nirvana broke many more records in her brief tenure form 1982-1987 when Marvin sold her. She still participates in offshore races under new ownership. Marvin Green was a remarkable man who exuded the qualities required of great men. He always had a clarity of purpose, the drive to achieve the purpose and the humility to accept that history would always better his achievements. When George Coumantaros’s Boomerang toppled Nirvana’s record in 1996, Marvin was the first to congratulate Mr. Coumantaros and his crew personally and publicly. Marvin had wider aspirations for the ocean thoroughbred that he owned. During his ownership Nirvana would travel to places no other US flagged vessel would get permission to visit, including Mainland China and Cuba. Many notables including Kings, Princes, Princesses, Knights, Senators, Congressmen, actresses, actors, and on and on had the privilege of sailing on Nirvana. Marvin also had a large group of close friends who remained loyal to him in his time here. He was generous with his friends but I know that he felt that it went both ways. Marvin was always a gracious host who was at ease with the elite and crew alike. His booming laughter could often be heard from boats near and far. Marvin was one of the rare owners who could surround himself with capable and competent crew and be always able to bring out the best in his crew while also being able to relate to them on an equal level. Marvin supported a long list of professional and amateur crew who because of his generosity had great accomplishments in the world of yachting and the marine industries. The sport of sailing and world of yachting is much diminished with the passing of Marvin Green. -- Michael Keyworth 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 Lindsay Foster, T2P: I have watched Premiere Racing in action at Key West Race Week, organizing the venue, the race committee, the docking situations, the media, the sponsors, etc. It is a huge job, and I agree that the classes need to step up and organize within themselves. The organizers, and Peter Craig, made every effort possible to leverage all opportunities to all classes to make the regatta affordable and easy. Key West is a bit of a logistical nightmare, and slightly expensive, but that is the trade off to sail in such a great location. He can't move the island closer; he doesn't control the airlines, the shipping and trailer companies. What he can do is provide an excellent spot, work as hard as he can with the hotels and marinas not to gouge prices, make sure the drinks are strong and the media coverage is awesome, that the vendors provide everything a boat could want. At some point the one design classes need to decide that they want to take advantage of this event, that the owners love sailing against each other and agree to participate in such a fun regatta. When I hear people criticize the event organizers, it sounds more like an excuse for the class not coming together and a justification for missing out on a good time. I think everyone would do well to quit whining, complaining, arguing and fighting, and just go enjoy themselves. This is supposed to be fun. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Summit Yachts - Doyle Sails - North U Melges Performance Sailboats - Lewmar - Morris Yachts North Sails - Sail1Design - Team One Newport - Ullman Sails - USSTAG Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
