|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1872 - July 1, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest 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. RADICAL WAVE PIERCER (The Daily Sail subscription website spoke to the A-Class World Champion Pete Melvin about his boat and the series he won in France last week. Here are a couple of brief excerpts.) Design-wise the A2 has wave piercing bows that first featured in the A-Class back in 1999 with the Flyer. "It was much faster upwind especially in chop and breeze and the reason it is fast is that the boat doesn't pitch nearly as much - it just penetrates through the waves," says Melvin. "It ends up being quite a bit faster. This design is our take on a wave piercer. It is more radical - the bow is lower and more raked back." Any boat with a wave piercing hull sounds akin to a submarine, and therefore very wet to sail, but Melvin says this isn't really the case. "You are standing out on the trapeze, 10ft from the leeward hull, so it doesn't really make any difference. It would not work well for a larger racing catamaran or trimaran because the sailor weighs as much as the boat does so you can shift the CoG aft quickly and keep the bow out. It would be a disaster on a larger race boat." The mast is a wing built by Hall Spars, Ben Hall being actively involved in the class. Melvin says that the size and shape of the masts have become pretty standard over the last 10 years. While it would be possible to build a C-Class style solid wing rig for an A-Class no one has yet done this. . At present the boat costs $19,000 in the US while European distributors Jan de Boer catamarans in Holland haven't finalized a price yet. - The Daily Sail, www.thedailysail.com A GREAT EQUALIZER The America's Cup Meteorological Data Service (MDS) will be available to all 12 competitors in the Cup, following breakthrough mediation by the Jury resulting in a change to the Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup. The Protocol amendment involves the costing and payment by the event organizers for the service and specifically bans teams from combining the information provided with GPS, radar or lidar systems to assess another competitor's performance. The MDS was an initiative created in the Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup by the Defender (the Société Nautique de Genève) and the Challenger of Record (the Golden Gate Yacht Club). It will be an overall cost saving measure for the teams by avoiding duplication of similar data gathering programs as we saw in the last several editions of the Cup, where several of the better-funded teams deployed up to seven weather boats each. The Protocol directed the Regatta Director to implement an MDS and work began early in 2004 on the project. The MDS is a state of the art program providing raw weather information (wind direction, speed, barometric pressure, humidity) through a system of 21 purpose-built buoys placed on the North and South race course areas off Valencia. 11 of the met buoys have already been deployed and up to six land-based stations will be part of the network. As part of an agreement with Consorcio 2007, a vertical wind profiler that provides wind shear information every 50-metres up to an altitude of two-kilometres will also be available to the competitors. Through a close partnership with Puertos del Estado, two additional buoys will be added to the network to provide wave and current information for the race course area. The MDS program is a great equalizer in the sense that all 12 teams will be given the same raw material from which to base their weather forecasting, their yacht design work, and also to decide the crucial first windward leg tactics. Teams can still gain a competitive advantage through their forecasting models and ability and the way they utilize and interpret the raw data. The MDS team has also developed a software package that displays all the data collected and allows the teams to do a visual analysis of the wind field on and around the race course. - Official AC Website, full story: www.americascup.com COLLEGIATE SAILING AWARDS The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) recognized the contributions of three individuals by inducting them into the ICSA Hall of Fame. The ICSA Lifetime Service Award went to Michael S. Horn - a contributor to ICSA from the first day he started racing as an undergraduate at Harvard University, through his graduate student years and on to his continuing development of programs -- both at the college level and for the general public. With his election as ICSA's Executive Vice President in 1988, Horn's focus turned to attracting the first title sponsors of the ICSA championships, while also making rules, instruction and coaching developments a top priority. The ICSA awarded their Outstanding Service/Volunteer Award to Joseph Sullivan - the guiding force behind the resurrection of the Fordham Sailing Team in the last six years. He has served as volunteer coach since the inception and has gathered a team of alumni and faculty to assist. Over $100,000 has been raised between 1999-2004 by the Fordham Afterguard, a group of alumni, parents and friends of Fordham Sailing, all coordinated by Sullivan. ICSA's Student Leadership Award went to George Yioulos, University of Oregon, '05. Yioulos has taken the University of Oregon Sailing Team from two sailors in his freshman year to over 20 sailors competing and practicing in his senior year. He also successfully raised over $10,000 to fund the purchase of two new FJs. He has been a tireless advocate for the development and expansion of the Northwest district while serving as undergraduate vice-president for the past two years. - http://www.collegesailing.org/mailman/icsa.shtml IT'S GREAT TO GO FAST, BUT . . . We make blazing fast sails, but we also know it takes more than raw speed to win - you have to sail smart, too. That's why Doyle sales reps not only make sure that your sails are right, but they work with you to help you race smarter. Ask the Doyle-powered trophy winners at the Chicago NOOD (Farr 40, Beneteau 36.7 & 40.7, J/105, J/109, J/130, PHRF 3, S2 7.9) and Block Island Race Week (Beneteau 36.7 & 40.7, IRC-1, Farr 395, J/105, J/120, PHRF Blue 4). They found the Doyle edge. You can find it too at 1-800-94-DOYLE; http://www.doylesails.com YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS For the first time in the 23-year history of the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, an all-female team has won the doublehanded Club 420 fleet. Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, Conn.) and Leigh Hammel (Warren, Vt.) won the event hosted by Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Conn. with a four point edge over Tyler Sinks and Myles Gutenkunst (San Diego, Calif./Mill Valley, Calif.). San Diegans Adam Roberts and Nicholas Martin finishing third, just two points further back. In the Laser fleet, competing for his third time in the Championship was the charm for Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI), who defeated 34 competitors to take home the National Championship title. With 23 points total, Barrows finished seven points ahead of the second-place finisher Robert Noonan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and ten points ahead of current US Youth World Team-member Royce Weber (Surf City, N.J.) who finished third. With a total of four wins in seven races in the 25-boat Laser Radial fleet, Kyle Rogachenko took the lead on the first day and held on to it throughout the Championship. This event served as great practice for Rogachenko who was recently named to the 2005 Laser Radial Youth World Team and will represent the U.S. at the Laser Radial World Championship in Brazil in December of this year. David Hernandez (Miami, Fla.) finished in second place overall, one spot higher than last year's event when he finished third. John Moulthrop of Middlebury, Conn. finished third overall. * The David M. Perry Perpetual Sportsmanship Trophies were awarded to the sailors voted by their peers as most sportsmanlike in each fleet. The awards went to Fred Strammer (Nokomis, Fla.) in the Laser fleet, Zeke Horowitz (Sarasota, Fla.) in the Radial fleet, and to Club 420 skipper Tyler Sinks and crew Myles Gutenkunst. - Marlieke de Lange Eaton, www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/youthchamp CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar NEWS BRIEFS * Sailing the IDEC trimaran, Francis Joyon crossed the starting line of the Transatlantic record (W to E) Thursday at 08:42'26'' GMT. To beat Laurent Bourgnon's transatlantic solo record, IDEC must reach the Lizard before July 7, at 11:16'08'' GMT. You will be able to follow Francis Joyon's progress on: www.trimaran-idec.com * Oliver de Kersauson's 34 metre (111 feet) trimaran Geronimo is speeding southwards, more than half way through her 6485 nautical mile Round Australia journey. She is speeding south at 21.6 knots, having passed the half way mark around midnight. She now has 3089nm to sail back to Sydney, with a computed ETA of the morning of July 9th, making for a 17-day circumnavigation of the world's largest island. - Al Constable, Sail-World.com website, full story: www.sail-world.com/geronimo/index.cfm?Nid=17903 * Last weekend the Treasure Island Sailing Center hosted its annual Sailor's BASH, presented by West Marine, and raised over $23,400 for its youth and adaptive sailing outreach programs. For the first time, this event was held at the TI Sailing Center and included the West Marine Fun Regatta. TISC hosted 118 youth and adult competitors for two days of racing and over 300 party-goers Saturday night. Racing took place in seven dinghy and keel boat classes on three race courses around San Francisco Bay. - http://www.tisailing.org/ * The Herreshoff Marine Museum/America's Cup Hall of Fame and the New England Section of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers jointly announce the second Classic Yacht Symposium™, to be held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol on March 31 - April 2, 2006. The event will feature guest speakers, papers, and presentations on a full range of subjects related to classic yachts by many of the well-known names in the field. The papers committee has announced a "Call for Papers" from any persons interested in presenting their classic yacht restoration project. - http://www.herreshoff.org/ *On the first race day of the Trofeo Challenge Roberto Trombini match race series in Marina di Ravenna, Italy, more than 40 matches were sailed in the Tom 28s in excellent conditions with 10 knots wind and flat water. The favorite James Spithill is already on top, with 7 wins on 7 sailed, together with the Britain Ian Williams. In third place is Italian Paolo Cian, who lost just one race, against Ben Ainslie, who is 4-3. Tomorrow the Round Robin will be completed, and eight skippers will advance to the quarter finals. - www.matchracetrombini.com * Paul Cayard made his return to match racing by sailing in the ISAF Grade 2 Match Race Lugano in Switzerland. Cayard finished fourth behind Evgeny Neugodnickov (RUS), Matteo Simoncelli (ITA) and Eric Monnin (SUI). http://www.matchracelugano.ch/ * Back-to back on the tube -The ICSA/ Gill North American Coed Dinghy Championship will be broadcast on ESPNU: July 2 at 12:00pm (noon); July 6 at 9:00pm and July 21 at 5:00pm. Airdates for the ICSA/Layline North American Team Race Championship on ESPNU: July 2 at 12:30pm; July 6 at 9:30pm and July 21 at 5:30pm. All airdates are eastern times. - http://www.jobsonsailing.com/ * Sixty four 29er have gathered on San Francisco Bay for the NAs. Day One started at about 14 knots and just steadily built to 22-24 knots. Waves also got up and boat where launching upwind as well as down. The Australian team of Scott Babbage and Dave O'Connor lead with the local boys John Heineken and Matt Noble only 4 points adrift. Then came the Canadians, Argentines and more Americans. Friday looks like more of the same for the finals then it's off to St Francis 3nm up the Bay for the Worlds starting on July 4. - Julian Bethwaite, http://tinyurl.com/e4lnm * Boat speeds across the Global Challenge RTW fleet have increased as the teams are maintaining an average of over 11 knots in healthy winds of 25 knots and above from the west-southwest. Team Stelmar is holding first place with a 15 mile edge over Imagine It. Done. The next five boats are tight - all within eight miles of each other. The fleet is now just 800 miles from the finish of this leg. - http://www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/ THE ONLY SHOE NEEDED Summer is the time to take to the high-seas, mains unfurled charging across open waters. And when the day ends with warm breezes and fiery sunsets, the one shoe to take you from leeside to dockside with performance, style and comfort is the Sperry Top-Sider Billfish. Featuring an EVA-cushion mid-sole and shock-absorbing heel cup, padded tongue and air-mesh uppers, the Billfish cradles the foot in ultimate comfort. Featuring Sperry Top-Sider's signature non-marking, wave-siping™ outsole for wet/dry traction, 360-degree lacing system™ for secure fit, and rust-proof eyelets for corrosion resistance, the Billfish is a classic. Available for $89.95 at http://www.sperrytopsider.com/mens_nautical.asp OUTTA HERE As is our custom, there will not be an issue of Scuttlebutt on the US Independence Day holiday. Instead, our entire staff plans to enjoy the day off. Our next issue will be on July 5. LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (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 David Stiles: I think that picking Olympic classes by drawing from a hat is absolutely ridiculous. How would you ever train for such and event if you don't know what the regatta classes will be until 4 or even 2 years before the event. Not to mention the fact that the Olympic classes allow a person of any size to train and compete. what happens when the classes pulled from some ratty old mount gay hat in the OC meeting are snipe, Hobie 16, Sunfish, Flying Scot and a couple other random classes that are lame and any old dolt can sail? Olympic class boats should be the fastest and most demanding to sail and should require an athlete to race. I think that Olympic sailing needs a tune up but it not dead. Why would you throw away a perfectly good car that needs a little work and buy a new concept that's battery will probably need to be replaced in a couple years for 8 grand? * From David Villiers-Child: In origin and in purity the Olympics are man against man - no equipment except a stone or spear! No clothes. The major reason for excluding sailing from the Olympics is that there can be no absolute standard and thus there can be no certainty that the second placed is the second best in the world, The Olympics in sports such as sailing, equestrian and team games has sadly declined from a person against person to nation against nation competition. Some years ago there was a move not to play National anthems for winners but the Olympic Hymn, - good thing? In 1968 for instance the silver medallist in the Flying Dutchman class was certainly not 2nd best the best 6-12 FD's being British at that time. So let's try to a lot Olympic Places on the international rankings? I'm sure as a Yachtsman Jacques Rogge would approve. Olympic Politics are bad enough without getting them involved in International Politics. I'm sure Mr Jardine with his breeding from a very distinguished international yachting family, Olympians all would think again. Television is not and never can be a spectator sport it's like watching paint dry. Except when watching paint dry one can watch the runs and speculate as to which will go furthest! * From Scott MacDonald: What is a three time America's Cup sinner?" I look forward to this thread. Curmudgeon's Comment - We can't tell how thrilled we were to go through the hundreds of 'really clever' email notes from sharp-eyed 'Buttheads who picked up that typo. Our apologies to three time AC WINNER - Russell Coutts. * From Chris Wentz: What a shame that Hugo van Kretschmar felt the need to impugn Britt Hughes in order to make his worthwhile point. If Mr. van Kretschmar knew Britt Hughes at all, I doubt that he would have written Britt is lacking "backbone". I do know Britt Hughes and I can tell Mr. van Kretschmar that our race courses would be better places if there more sailors like him. * From Jean de Fontenay: Regarding the Block Island incident, it really does not help to cry and not take action; just report the boat names to the proper racing authorities and they will act upon it; that's one of their duties. * From John Glynn: Regarding the MOB incident at Block Island, while I agree in principle with some of the draconian opinions of how those who neglected to render assistance should be dealt with, I also agree with Dave Pelissier's observation that the MOB should probably have been wearing her own personal flotation. There is a whole generation of kids coming up who have been trained to wear a PFD the second they step on the dock. Older generations are setting a bad example by not donning safety gear when the conditions might warrant. * From Michael (Mike) K. DeVries: In sharp contrast to the view put forth by Roland Schultz, I believe that righteous breast beating is exactly what the doctor ordered on the whole topic of rendering assistance. Until we have more boats than are needed responding to man over board situations, outrage is the proper response. In far too many man over board situations, boats continue racing on the assumption that everything will be ok. Boats claiming that the conditions were "too harsh to respond" need to consider how they would recover one of their own crew in these conditions. In extreme condition, several boat should try to respond on the assumption that a couple will have difficulty dropping sails and reaching the sailor in need. After the fact rationalization is easy but in nearly every case, it is possible, though sometime difficult, to stop racing and render aid. The immediate reaction of every skipper should be to disregard their position on the leg, the race, the series and the season and respond. This is an obligation, not a matter of choice. Racing is a hobby - nothing more. A sailor in the water can be a matter of life and death. * From Terry Bischoff: Last week I was the PRO of the MC Class National Championships on Clear Lake, IA. We had 75 entries, and in the first race a consistent 12 to 15 kn breeze, which kicked up pretty good waves on the shallow lake. A few of the competitors had problems downwind in the waves, resulting in a couple of capsizes. After reading the last few issues, instead of complaining about those who may or may not have lived up to their obligations at Block Island, I thought it might be nice to recognize a racer who did. Lenny Crawshank, from Charleston, SC, sailed off the course to assist a capsized competitor who was calling and gesturing for help. His unselfish actions may or maynot have averted a catastrophe, but the simple fact of the matter is, he did not hesitate, but did what he knew he had to. Lenny asked for redress, which he richly deserved, and was awarded average points for that race by the Protest Committee. This is just one example of what the "good guys" do when necessary. So, instead of railing against those who don't understand their responsibilities, let's celebrate one who did! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have thousands of old ladies walking around with tattoos? This is way scary. |
