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SCUTTLEBUTT 1594 - June 1, 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. RECOGNIZING A LIFETIME'S WORK Argentinean yacht designer Germán Frers was presented with the 'Life of Sailing' at a ceremony at the Teatrino di Portofino at the climax of Italy's Zegna Trophy. It was recognition of a lifetime's work, which has seen more than 700 drawings develop from board to berth ranging from Nautor's Swans and Hallberg Rassy ocean cruising production yachts to America's Cup contenders for the Il Moro di Venezia, Prada 2000, and custom-built superyachts such as the magnificent Stealth and Rebecca. The Life of Sailing Award is made every two years and honours outstanding contributions to the development and popularity of sailing. Frers' first boss Olin Stephens is the only other designer to have been honoured since the award was introduced in 1983 but the list of recipients includes the late Sir Peter Blake, Dennis Conner, Paul Cayard and, in 2002, Russell Coutts. SWEDISH MATCH TOUR Split, Croatia - Overcoming not only a tough competitor but also difficult sailing conditions, France's Bertrand Pacé and his Team France crew have won the 18th annual ACI HTmobile Cup, the sixth event of the Swedish Match Tour. Pacé and crew Benoit Briand (headsails), Tanguy Caidou (mainsail), Fabrice Levet (tactics and pit) and Romain Troublé (bow) defeated Peter Gilmour's Pizza-La Sailing Team, 3-0, in the final that was plagued by light and extremely shifty winds. In the petit final, Holmberg defeated Gram-Hansen 2-0. Wind shifts and patchy conditions had an impact on the outcome. Gilmour's second place finish was enough to clinch the Swedish Match Tour Championship for 2003-'04. Gilmour and his Pizza-La crew Rod Dawson (mainsail), Mike Mottl (headsails), Kazuhiko Sofuku (bow) and Yasuhiro Yaji (pit) have totaled 117 of a possible 150 points. In an amazing display of consistency, they have placed in the top four at all six Swedish Match Tour events. Gilmour has won two events, but he has placed second in the last two events. He lost to Russell Coutts at the Toscana Elba Cup two weeks ago. And he placed fourth at the Congressional Cup in April, after winning the round robin. - Sean McNeill, http://www.swedishmatchtour.com Final ACI HTmobile Cup Results: 1. Bertrand Pacé/FRA, Team France, 17-2, $12,000 2. Peter Gilmour/AUS, Pizza-La Sailing Team, 13-8, $8,000 3. Magnus Holmberg/SWE, SeaLife Rangers, 13-7, $6,000 4. Jes Gram-Hansen/DEN, Team Denmark, 10-8, $4,000 5. Gavin Brady/NZL, BMW Oracle Racing, 9-5, $2,500 6. Mathieu Richard/FRA, 7-6, $2,000 7. Mattias Rahm/SWE, Team Stena Bulk, 5-8, $1,500 8. Kelvin Harrap/NZL, Team New Zealand, 5-9, $1,000 9. Staffan Lindberg/SWE, 3-11, $750 10. Mate Arapov/CRO, 3-11, $750 11. Frano Brate/CRO, 2-12, $750 Swedish Match Tour 2003-04 Rankings after six of eight events) 1. Peter Gilmour/AUS, Pizza-La Sailing Team - 117 points 2. Magnus Holmberg/SWE, SeaLife Rangers - 64 points 3. Gavin Brady/NZL, BMW Oracle Racing - 55 points 4. Jesper Radich/DEN, Team Denmark - 43 points 5. Russell Coutts/NZL, Alinghi Team - 35 points = Bertrand Pacé /FRA, Team France - 35 points 7. Ed Baird/USA, Team Musto - 31 points 8. Jes Gram-Hansen/DEN, Team Denmark - 26 points COLLEGIATE NAs The Gorge - Yale University has won the 2004 ICSA (Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association) Women's North American Championship - a first for the Ivy League school. Women sailors from 18 colleges around the nation were in the Gorge from May 26-28 for the championship that was sailed in FJs, with each school fielding A and B-division teams. Yale's A-division team was sophomore skipper Molly Carapiet (Belvedere, Calif.) sailing with juniors Jenn Hoyle (Manchester, Mass.) and Julie Papanek (Woodside, Calif./Chicago, Ill.). Yale's B-division team -- freshman Emily Hill (Miami, Fla.) and sophomores Meghan Pearl (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Sarah Himmelfarb (Portland, Maine). Final Results: 1. Yale University, 80-74, 154 2. Harvard, 96- 79, 175 3. US Naval Academy, 99- 79, 178 4. U. of Hawaii, 77-105, 182 5. Dartmouth College, 109-75, 184 The Final Four in the ICSA Team Racing Championship are Hobart/ Wm. Smith, St. Mary's College, Dartmouth, and USC. - http://www.collegesailing.org/nwicsa/na/default.htm BEST DESIGN AND IDEAS What awesome ideas. Once you look at the shorts, you realize all the whazamacallits that have gone into the design of the different models of Camet shorts. The back abrasion resistant Cordura pocket to insert the optional foam pads, the deep side pockets, big cargo pockets on some models, belt loops and the very fashionable designs and colors all make the Camet shorts the best on the market. Coolmax shirts, Mylar bags, Belts, Bubble Tops, Neoprene Hiking pants, RashGuards, etc. European dealers in Greece, Great Britain and Sweden. Camet website: http://www.camet.com THE TRANSAT Grey skies, rain that varied from drizzle to torrential and a brisk 20 knot wind were the conditions the 37 competitors taking part in The Transat enjoyed as the historical single-handed race the 'wrong way' across the North Atlantic got underway Monday from Plymouth Sound. The first casualty prior to the start was Yves Parlier's new catamaran Médiatis Région Aquitaine who returned to port at 1230 her skipper reporting that there was a problem with his boat's autopilot system. Some water had seeped into the electrics, but after 20 minutes of intense work by Parlier's shore team, the radical catamaran was heading out to the race course again. Also before the start Alain Gautier's Foncia was forced to return to Plymouth Yacht Haven with a broken fitting in her rudder system. This was rapidly fixed by her shore team who sent her on her way at 1640. Watched by a sizeable spectator fleet braving the bleak conditions, the fleet started simultaneously, but on a line divided in three with the ORMA 60 multihulls the furthest east, the IMOCA Open 60 monohulls in the middle and the 50s westernmost, close to Penlee Point. Marking the divide between ORMA and IMOCA fleets was the Committee Boat, the Royal Navy's HMS Tyne. Hot competition in the monohull fleet saw five boats over the line prior to the start including Conrad Humphreys on Hellomoto and Nick Moloney on Skandia. The first non-premature starter was Swiss Around Alone race winner Bernard Stamm sailing Cheminees Poujoulat-Armor Lux. Meanwhile on the multihull start line Marc Guillemot's Gitana X was penalized for a start line infringement. Multihull order at the Lizard - 1. Geant (at 1730UTC) 2. Groupama 3. Banque Covefi. Mike Sanderson on Pindar AlphaGraphics was holding onto a 1 mile lead over Mike Golding and Ecover as the Open 60 yachts approach The Lizard. VMI (Sebastien Josse) and Cheminees Poujoulat-Armor Lux are only three miles behind the leading pair. - www.thetransat.com SPA REGATTA The ISAF Grade 1 SPA Regatta finished Sunday in Medemblik, Netherlands, closing another phase in the build up to the Olympic Games in Athens in two months time. The American 470 Men's Team of Paul Foerster and Kevin Burnham were able to sit out the last race after having mathematically secured their win. Peter Bromby from Bermuda won the last race in the Star Class and with it the Gold Medal - four points ahead of Canadian Ross MacDonald. Final results: - Yngling (23 boats)1. Kristin Wagner / Anna Hoell / Veronika Lochbrunner, GER, 32; 2. Giulia Conti / Alessandra Marenzi / Angela Baroni, ITA, 36; 3. Shirley Robertson / Sarah Ayton / Sarah Webb, GBR, 36; 5. Barkow/Howe/Capozzi, USA, 49 - Star (33 boats); 1. Peter Bromby/ Lee White, BER, 32; 2. Ross Macdonald/ Mike Wolfs, CAN, 36; 3. Mark Neeleman/ Peter van Niekerk, NED, 38; 7. Cayard/ Trinter, USA, 59 - Europe (63 boats): 1. Siren Sundby, NOR, 20; 2. Blandine Rouille, FRA, 38; 3. Petra Niemann, GER, 44; 8. Meg Gaillard, USA, 94; 14. Tania Elias Calles, MEX, 115; 36. Jennifer Spalding, CAN, 156 - Mistral Men (38 boards): 1. Joeri Van Dijk, NED, 13; 2. Julien Bontemps, FRA, 32; 3. Max Oberemko, UKR, 39; 18. Benjamin Barger, USA, 114 - Mistral Women (21 boards): 1. Faustine Merret, FRA, 15; 2. Jessica Crisp, AUS, 22; 3. Amelie Lux, GER, 22; 9. Lanee Beashel. USA, 57 - 49er (49 boats): 1. Jonas Warrer / Peter Kruger Ander, DEN, 45; 2. Iker Martinez / Xavier Fernandez, ESP, 45; 3. Michael Hestbek / Dennis Dengsoe, DEN, 66; 4. Tim Wadlow Pete Spaulding, USA, 69. - Finn (54 boats): 1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz, POL, 20; 2. Ben Ainslie, GBR, 23; 3. Sebastien Godefroid, BEL, 40; 24. Kevin Hall. USA, 131; 31. Christopher Cook, CAN, 170 - Laser - Gold fleet (54 boats): 1. Zbogar Vasilij, SLO, 14; 2. Karl Suneson, SWE, 32; 3. Gareth Blanckenberg, RSA, 47; 14. Michael Leigh, CAN, 109 - Tornado (28 boats) 1. Roman Hagara/ Hans Peter Steinacher, AUT, 42; 2. Olivier Backes/ Laurent Voiron, FRA, 47; 3. Santiago Lange/ Carlos Espinola, ARG, 53; 4. John Lovell/ Charlie Ogletree, USA, 53. - 470 Men (31 boats): 1. Paul Foerster/ Kevin Burnham, USA, 40; 2. Sven Coster/ Kalle Coster, NED, 63; 3. Gabrio Zandona/ Andrea Trani, ITA, 73 - 470 Women (10 boats): 1. Lisa Westerhof / Margriet Matthijsse, NED, 20; 2. Sylvia Vogl / Caroline Flatscher, AUT, 35; 3. Vlada Ilienko / Natalya Gaponovich, RUS, 38 Complete results: http://sparegatta.org/2004/results/default.asp BERMUDA RACE WEATHER ADVISORY! Combine weather & currents. Strategize early. Bill Biewenga is bringing Commanders' Weather and OPC meteorologists together Learn about the trends and options in a new online interactive weather seminar convenient to your schedule. Other races available. Be part of the June 10&11 online interactive events. http://www.weather4sailors.com/seminars.htm HARKEN LASER MASTERS Bitez, Turkey - After the challenging - almost survival conditions of the previous day 141 sailors at the Harken Laser Masters Championship enjoyed close tactical racing in a 9-12 knot westerly on the final day of racing. Only one race was completed when the north westerly backed 65 degrees whilst the Radial and Apprentice fleet were racing forcing an abandonment of their races and the two remaining fleets were unable to start because of a time limit cut off. Final overall results after 9 races and one discard Apprentice (standard rig) Brett Beyer AUS 20pts Master (standard rig) Colin Dibb AUS 21pts Grand Master (standard rig) Mark Bethwaite 18pts Apprentice (radial rig) David Early HKG 13pts Master (radial rig) Goran Bonacic 17pts Grand Master (radial rig) Poopy Marcon FRA 15pts Great Grand Master (radial rig) Peter Seidenberg USA 14pts Full results: www.laserinternational.org NEWS BRIEFS * In an effort to evaluate rating rules currently in use and to explore alternative rules for handicap racing at their events, the Storm Trysail Club is conducting a day long seminar on July 21 at Larchmont Yacht Club. Among the presenters will be Mike Urwin of the RORC and Jim Teeters of the Offshore Racing Club of America. Representatives from US Sailing, the Cruising Club of America, northeast and mid-Atlantic Yacht Racing Associations and yacht clubs will participate. Other sailing groups and race organizers interested in attending should contact the Storm Trysail office: StormTry@aol.com. * Team New Zealand plan to take part in the first America's Cup pre-regatta in Marseille in September but have yet to officially enter. Team New Zealand's managing director Grant Dalton has said the syndicate were planning to take part in this year's events but would first weigh up the logistics of attending as well as which teams were competing. http://tinyurl.com/2wxyg * GBR Challenge's America's Cup campaign could be sunk before it has left the pontoon. Just a month remains before the expiry of the founder and chairman Peter Harrison's deadline for sponsorship funding to arrive. The team, who were beaten in the quarter-finals of the qualifying regatta for the last America's Cup, launched a quest last May for a sponsor willing to inject £3.25m a year (around €5 million). But though "significant conversations" are under way with a number of "global brands", Harrison has indicated he will pull the plug on the operation if funding is not secured within five weeks. - Cup in Europe, www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/2007GBR-LN3.htm * Mirabella V, The world's largest single-masted yacht (247 feet) - with a price tag of more than £30m - set out on its maiden voyage on Sunday. The superyacht was handed over by shipbuilders VT - formerly known as Vosper Thornycroft - to its US owner Joe Vittoria earlier this month. Mr Vittoria was expected to take Mirabella to Naples - the home town of his wife Luciana. The former head of car hire firm Avis then intends to charter the yacht out at a cost of £140,000 a week. - BBC News, http://tinyurl.com/29xdr READ THE BREEZE Brad Butterworth calls them "magic." Paul Murphy says "thank you," and credits them with winning the J/22 Worlds last week. It's the lens technology. The reason Kaenon Polarized is worn at every level of the sport today. Put on a pair - then compare. There is no equal. Kaenon Polarized. Evolve Optically. Available at TeamOne, APS, Vanguard, Island Sports, East of Maui, Boat Locker, FT Brown's, Sailing Supply, Svendson's, Seattle Sunglass Company, Fisheries Supply, Alain Mikli NYC, Paragon NYC, Crook & Crook, Melges Boatworks, Sunglass and Optical Warehouse, Lombardi's, Sport Chalet, Cabela's and Boater's World. http://www.kaenon.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 Rory Paton (re boats for the Olympics): How about doing away with the 470 for men and women and going for two-boat Team Racing fully umpired and using reasonably small boats. It could be stipulated that each team must consist of two male and female competitors and that one of each sex must helm. Cheaper to enter, much more entertaining to watch, no waiting for hours to find out who's won and with two boat, close racing is more likely. * From John Skinner: I am disappointed that the ISAF selected three single-handed events while only selecting two keelboat events. I think the open single-handed event will end up not being much different that either women's or men's single-handed event, depending on the optimum weight for the class of boat eventually selected for the event. I think it would have been much better to assign that event to open keelboat. That would allow the Olympics to include both a 2-man keelboat and the 3-person open keelboat event. I know there has been a bias toward including more dinghies in the Olympics. I think this is short-sided, doesn't recognize the skills needed be successful in keelboat racing, and results in an under-representation in the Olympics of the style of sailing that a large segment of the boating population does * From Paddy Boyd Chief Executive/Secretary General Irish Sailing Association: One of the great things about sailing is that those of us who want to can compete at the very highest level of the sport against the world's greatest sailors. And we can do this at no extra cost. The World and Continental Championships of all classes are normally open to all entrants, albeit there may be some district or national qualifying scheme first. So if I want and if I am fit enough I can sail in a Bacardi Cup, a J24 Worlds, a Finn Gold Cup. In these and many other events I am going to come across a Cayard, a Reynolds, A Percy and many others who are at the top of their profession. To me that is a great thrill and privilege that doesn't happen in other sports. Can you imagine how much you would have to pay just to get in to a pro-am with Tiger Woods or Vijay Singh! However, if your club or class decides that it wants to keep the nature of its racing at a certain level it can do this by opting to use the classification code. The decision is made at that level, not by ISAF or the MNA. They have provided the option and should not be blamed for club and class decisions. But we must make sure, for the benefit of the sport, that we still have plenty of opportunities to sail against the world's best and to learn form that great experience. * From Mark Mattison: Stephanie Helms' letter on sexual reassignment surgery comments, "To think anybody would undergo sex reassignment in order to achieve a competitive advantage in some sporting contest is such a ludicrous notion it hardly bears comment." Perhaps Ms. Helms is too young to remember the hefty and eyebrow-raising physical specimens that Soviet bloc countries put forward for international competition in the 1950's and early 60s. A number of these, including some bulging Bulgarians and the famed USSR Olympic medallist "sisters" Tamara and Irina Press suddenly retired from sports competition because of "grave illness" just before the European championships in 1966 and the introduction of chemical testing for femaleness. On the other hand, Polish-born American sprinter Stella Walsh, gold Medallist in '32 and world record holder for 20 years, was discovered to be a male upon "her" death in 1980. At the 1984 Games, Canadian grandmother Hilda Strike, who had finished second to Ms. Walsh in '32, had her silver medal upgraded to gold. It ain't over until the fat lady is proved to be a lady. * From Ted Beier: Sounds like the Open 60s are suffering from one of two instabilities seen on aircraft for many years. The keel could be exhibiting a limited amplitude flutter which is caused when the lateral bending and torsion frequencies of the keel get close enough to couple. The solution is not to move the weight aft, which will make things worse. but to move it forward, stiffen the strut in torsion, and/or add tail fins to move the aero center aft. The other instability is an aerodynamic response oscillation which large bodies of revolution suffer when attached by a flexible strut, and is a single degree of freedom issue. This motion can be stabilized by the addition of fins to the tail of the body. Small vertical ones are best, but fins at 45 degrees have worked also. Suggest the Open 60s try some tail fins on the keel to stabilize the oscillation hydrodynamically, or increase the torsional stiffness of the keel strut significantly. Curmudgeon's Comment: Why didn't I think of that? THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS You know you're getting old when going bra-less pulls all the wrinkles out of your face. |
