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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 870 - August 2 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.
ABANDON SHIP The ketch, which is expected to sink soon, had been chartered by a group of Newport Beach yachtsmen to sail in the Transpacific Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Hawaii. The college crew had flown to the islands to sail the boat back to its home port of Newport Beach. The group sailed out of Honolulu on July 15. But on July 23, the mast step, which supports the base of the 80-foot main mast at the keel, collapsed, causing the mast to drop a foot into the boat and threatening to punch a hole in the hull. It took two days to locate a westbound rescue ship. At that point, six members of the crew--five students and a first mate--were transferred to a Panama-bound German freighter. The captain and other first mate attempted to continue navigating the Bonaire for three more days before they gave up and were taken aboard a Japanese automobile carrier. * Newport Beach yachtsman Gil Jones, 73, whose group had chartered the 24-year-old Bonaire, skippered the boat to a fourth-place finish in the Aloha Division. "There were no problems whatsoever on the way to Honolulu," he said. "We were the fourth boat in out of nine. I'm very surprised. When I chartered it, I was confident it was a very sturdy boat." - Dennis McLellan and Dave McKibben, Los Angeles Times. Full story: www.latimes.com/news/local/communities/la-000062609aug01.story
MEET THE TEAMS Larry Ellison - Chief Executive Officer; Philip Simon - President ; Rochelle Ade - Sailing Base Admin Coordinator ; Thomas F. Ehman, Jr. - Rules Advisor ; Bill Erkelens - Chief Operations Officer ; Melinda Erkelens - Legal Counsel & Corporate Secretary; Justin Farr - IT Manager; Stu Harrison - Physical Trainer; Ruby Johnson - Sailing Base Admin Coordinator ; Bryn Nyberg - Sailing Base Admin Coordinator ; Christopher Perkins - Chief Financial Officer ; Eloise Poehler - Accounts Payable; Stephanie Poole - Accounting & HR Manager ; Kari Sims - Receptionist; Rachael Skinner - School Teacher; Douglas Smith - CORM Rep/Outside Counsel ; Ingrid Sommer - Sailing Base Administrative Manager ; Richard Gilles - Boat Building Manager; Tim Smyth - Boat Building Manager; Gina von Esmarch - Marketing & Public Relations Director ; Vince Casalaina - Videographer; Bob Grieser - Photographer; Joanna Ingley - Marketing & Communications Manager; Jeff Mott - Web Master ; Erik Egleston - Design Manager; Roberto Biscontini - Designer; Russ Bowler - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd ; Bruce Farr - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Steve Morris - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd ; Chris Todter - Designer; Britt Ward - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd ; Paul Bieker - Engineer ; Mat Bird - Designer; Greg Buley - Designer; Keith Carew - Designer; Bill Cook - Performance Analyist; James Criner - Designer ; Jaye Falls - Designer; Alon Finkelstein - Designer; Dave Fornaro - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Evan Gatehouse - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Wayne Haigh - Consultant; Peter Heppel - Designer ; David Hulse - Performance Analyst ; Richard Korpus - Designer; Chris Mairs - Designer; Bill Milewski - Consultant; Anita Oliver - R&D Office Manager ; Rob Pallard - Tank Testing Consultant; Mick Price - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Jim Schmicker - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Michael Selig - Consultant ; Pat Shaughnessy - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Luke Shingledecker - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Bruce Thompson - Designer; Graham Williams - Farr Yacht Design, Ltd; Mickey Ickert - Sail Design ; David Duff - Sail Loft Manager ; Chris Blunden - Sailmaker ; Kylie Hogg - Sailmaker ; David Little - Sailmaker ; Silke Martens - Sailmaker ; Ove Missen - Sailmaker ; Michael Thomson - Sailmaker; Paul Cayard - Director of Sailing Operations; John Cutler - Sailing Team Manager; Stuart Argo - Sailor; Bill Bates -Sailor; Kevin Batten - Sailor; David Brooke - Sailor; Ian Burns - Sailor ; Chris Cantrick -Sailor; Tommaso Chieffi - Afterguard ; Nic Clarke - Sailor; Stu Clarke - Electronic Tech ; Rodney Daniel - Sailor; Chris Dickson -Afterguard/Design Team Liaison; Eric Doyle - Mainsheet Trimmer; Cameron Dunn - Sailor ; Stuart Felker - Grinder; Graham Fleury - Sailor; Peter Holmberg - Afterguard; Mike Howard - Sailor ; Philip Jameson - Sailor; Brett Jones - Sailor; Mike Jones - Sailor / Electronics Manager; Brian Mac Innes - Sailor; Mark McTeigue - Sailor; Henry Menin - Rules Advisor; Robbie Naismith - Sailor; Jim Nicholas - Sailor ; Michael Sanderson - Sailor ; Brian Sharp - Sailor; Geordie Shaver - Bow; Matt Smith - Sailor; Phil Trinter - Sailor; Dave Ullman - Coach; Brad Webb - Sailor; Matthew Welling - Sailor; Bob Wylie - Sailor; Robbie Young - Sailor ; Johnathan Ziskind - Sailor ; Mark Turner - Shore Team Manager; Russell Durrant - Painter/Fairer; Mike Eldred - Shore Team Member; Rodney Ernst - Electronics; Steven Fergusson - Shore Team Member; Brent Foxall - Rig Technician; Brett Healey - Machine Shop Manager ; Jon Holstrom - Shore Team; David Hurley - Rig/Sailmaking Team Member; Phil Keester - Procurement & Shipping Manager; Harry Lynskey - Chef ; Chay McIntosh - Shore Team member ; Todd Pearce - Machinist; Mark Reihana - Chef ; Paul Roell - Electronics; Matthew Ulvr - Green - Electronics Technician ; Adrian White - Shore Team; Bob Wilson - Tender Operations Manager; William Benedict - Tender Driver; Craig Christensen - Tender Driver ; Nicholas James Cookson - Tender Driver; Bremen Schmeltz - Tender Driver ; Bob Rice - Meteorologist ; Rex Sellers - Weather Team Coordinator ; Simon Cooke - Weather Team; Aaron McIntosh - Weather Boat Operator. * The team for the Alinghi Swiss Challenge appears a bit smaller, but the syndicate's website is absolutely top drawer. Take a peak: www.alinghi.com/home2.htm
IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMER TIME
VOLVO OCEAN RACE Full story: www.sailnet.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * Abbi Seward (Charlie Ross' remark: "Have a good portion of women on the crew (We call them nieces)": Sorry for your crew Mr. Ross- here we call them 'Skipper'! But can go with the rest of the comment. Fun IS important! * From Raph Taylor: Seems to me that setting a starting line, the mere crossing of which causes a competitor to suffer disabling damage, is "an improper action of the race committee" under rule 62.1, entitling a competitor to redress. (Since the competitor was unable to complete the race, what redress should be given is a problem.) Once the organizing authority accepted the entries, it had a responsibility to allow the boats to compete fairly, which implies not requiring them to sail through inadequate depths. On the other hand, this isn't a matter that should be left until the RC has already set the starting line. At that point, changing the line for one or two competitors invites questions of favoritism by the RC. Should the boats requiring more draft than the typical entries have informed the organizing authority at time of entry? Should the organizing authority have asked? 'Spank Me BT's' analysis that "starting" outside the line wouldn't hold up to protest is correct. They would not have met the definition of starting and must be scored "DNS". For the RC to suggest such a remedy speaks volumes. Even a properly written and noticed sailing instruction cannot change the definitions in the rules. * From: David Tabor: Recently I was returning to the USA and had the CO2 Cartridge from my Life harness/PFD confiscated at security as I made my connection. Now having just flown through two major US airports w/in the previous two weeks, as well as other times I was not happy. After working my way up through a couple of supervisors, etc. the airline rep told me he couldn't do anything it was an FAA reg, tough. Now I know that other people have had no problem so I researched this and found this: Compressed air is not allowed... but... EXCEPTIONS 49 CFR 175.10a (25) :" With approval of the aircraft operator, one small carbon dioxide cylinder fitted into a self-inflating life-jacket, plus one spare cartridge, may be carried by a passenger or crew member in checked or carry-on baggage." Key here is the airline can decide for themselves. I also spoke with a regulation specialist at Dept. of Trans. and they are redoing all of Part 175 (HAZMAT) and will be soliciting public comment. So what does this have to do with sailing? Simple. Write and tell them you support removing the airlines input and just allowing 2 cartridges for safety purposes to be transported on the aircraft!! With the increasing popularity of auto inflating harnesses rules written 20-30 years ago inadvertently catch us. See http://hazmat.dot.gov click on RULES and REGS or Call 1-800-467-4922. * From Marc Anthony: It would seem that safety and sensibility go hand in hand. Safety is certainly a legitimate concern to RC's, who consequently factor a multitude of considerations in setting a course. It's not always possible to accommodate every yachting scenario, nor conclusively anticipate consequences of decisions made. I agree with comments that progressive education and attending seminars are important tools in furthering the cause. Safety is Rule 1 - and should not be taken lightly. Whether those safety concerns are perceived as positive, negative, whining, or praise, it is important that RC's and competitors be able to work in tandem to produce the best possible courses under the circumstances and derive the greatest amount of fun from the experience. After all, FUN is and should be an inevitable byproduct of a safe boating experience. * From: Mark Gaudio: While the popular thread of FUN is still a current issue, I would like to shed some extemporaneous light on the subject...On the way out to the racecourse it's soooo easy to have a crew meeting and over-use the word FUN. Its always fun to win! This is an obvious fact. What's important to remember is that Jonas Salk has already invented a cure for polio. What we accomplish on the race course, whether it be at the Olympic level or local club racer level, will not solve world starvation, and the key is to try to learn a trick or two along the way that we may pass along to future yacht racers. We must keep this SPORT in perspective. Put your pants (or skirts) on straight, do your best, and learn something each and every time your boat hits the water - that's the key. Follow this guideline and the fun (and pickle dishes) will overwhelm you beyond belief.
RANKINGS Full rankings: www.sailing.org/rankings/
MATCH RACING
SOG STAINLESS STEEL POWERLOCK MULTI TOOL
ENCORE PERFORMANCE
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * Aug 8-12: International 505 North American Championship, Kingston YC, Kingston, ON. www.int505.org/usa
A GOOD TIP
HOT IMAGES
PROTEST PENDING During the leg, Gartmore filed the second protest of the race. Hall alleged in his formal protest that ECOVER and Kingfisher had received routing information in violation of race rules. In part, Gartmore's protest alleged that competitors Kingfisher and ECOVER had been provided routing information from Jennifer Clark Gulfstream. Race rules forbid competitors from receiving outside routing help during a leg. No decision has been formally made on this protest and the results will be posted on the Web site when they become available. - www.edsatlanticchallenge.com
OUTTA HERE
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM |
