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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 539 - March 31, 2000OLAF HARKEN(There's an interview of Olaf Harken by John Gregg on the West Marine website. Following are some of Harken's observations in that story.) "America's Cup innovations have contributed significantly to the average sailor over the years. I think sail, hardware, and hull designs and materials have progressed at a much faster rate since we are forced to compress our R&D and we have someone to pay for it. The 1950 and 1960 twelve meters used bronze hardware and winches with no self-tailing and two speeds at best. Blocks were bronze with no bearings. By the 70's we were into stainless and aluminum. We introduced the first aluminum blocks with plastic bearings during the 1977 Cup for the Swedish Yacht, Sevrige, which decided to try our radical approach. We had discovered a plastic called Torlon made by Amoco that could take the huge loads of a twelve-meter main sheet. It was an instant success and by the 1983 Cup we had hardware on ten boats including Australia which won the cup. The ability of these blocks to take the use and abuse of six months of sailing on an AC boat gave us a test that was equivalent to ten years of use on a normal racing boat. We added Torlon Bearing (our peusdo name was Duratron to try to slow down our competitors) blocks to our line and finally had big boat blocks that had the performance of the small boat blocks we were known for. The average sailor got the benefit of this R&D and testing program which compressed the time by quite a few years. "Winches have seen huge changes. From Bronze we went to Aluminum drums and three speeds in the late 70's and 80's. Today we have four speed winches with carbon drums, titanium gears and carbon gearboxes and shafts. We introduced the twisted pedestal in 95, which is now standard equipment and eliminates the cost and weight of a gear box. Although the regular sailor will not use carbon drums the internal designs will become standard and are more efficient and simpler. Carbon gearboxes are now cheaper than aluminum ones for IMS racers. "Another innovation that will be standard is a new very high load traveler we developed for the AC boats this time. It is twice as small as the last ones and uses a patented combination of Torlon Ball and roller bearings in recirculating cages. It can be pulled off the track without losing the balls or rollers and its small size and high load capabilities are going to make it popular among racers. It is currently too expensive to make for cruisers. "In the 21st Century, I think the main innovations are going to be in the rig and keel. The new twisting masts are an example. The French used one in the Admirals Cup before they were thrown out but the idea is going to catch on. Canting keels will become more common because they make sense and the mechanics will become simpler as they are developed. The one we had on Procyon was very simple and effective and so hidden in the boat you would not know it existed. With wings it did not need separate dagger boards. "Another major area will be furling systems for racers. We and others are already in the development process. The objective is to make them much lighter and capable of telescoping or bending to go down wind so you can rake the mast forward. If this can be accomplished, you can keep the crew off the foredeck wrestling the genoa down when going downwind." - Olaf Harken Read the full interview: http://www.westmarine.com THE DEFENSE Sponsors of the successful Team New Zealand America's Cup defenders fear they may be squeezed out by other companies trying to lure the syndicate's new management with more money. The "family of five" sponsors - Toyota, Lotto, Telecom, TV One and Steinlager - have rights of renewal for the 2003 regatta but there are "out" clauses relating to market conditions. Second-tier sponsors include WestpacTrust, Line 7, SGI and Fletcher Building. Another set of sponsors was linked with the company AC2000, which was responsible for staging the finals regatta, the Cup defence itself. These included Fuji Xerox, Compaq, Ericsson, Telecom (again) and Air New Zealand. They also have renewal rights. Moves this week to begin the wind-up of the charitable trust and associated companies responsible for Team NZ and staging the event have hit a snag over how much, if anything, the new management team led by Russell Coutts should pay to take over. Last night, Sir Peter Blake revealed a further funding complication with the "family of five." When Team NZ needed more money during the campaign, the sponsors provided loans which would only be rolled over if their sponsorship continued for the next defence. The new management would have to accept this "commercial reality" and continue with the sponsorship arrangement or repay the debt. Sir Peter said that the new management was aware of this but "they suddenly want to do a different deal. If the new guys decide it's all too hard for them - then maybe there's another plan out there, I don't know." Employment contracts of the 85 Team NZ employees are due to expire today and the plan was to have transition arrangements in place. It is understood the Coutts team, which includes Brad Butterworth and Tom Schnackenberg, hope to keep the syndicate largely intact and are anxious that expertise is not lost to rivals. -- James Gardiner, NZ Herald Full story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ SWEDISH MATCH TOUR. Despite a controversy raging at back in Auckland about the future of Team New Zealand, Dean Barker and his team are concentrating on the job in hand, and have re-taken the top of the scoreboard at the Sun Microsystems Australia Cup. Barker and his crew of Hamish Pepper, Tony Rae, James Dagg and Chris Ward, have a scoreline of 15.5 points, with 4 losses, the half point coming from a dead-heat on Thursday with Australia's James Spithill. The Team New Zealand crew are now assured of their place in the semi-finals, as is Peter Gilmour and his Pizza LA team from Japan. Within easy reach of a semi-finals place is Frenchman Bertrand Pace and Le Defi Francais team, "we have to win one more race tomorrow (Saturday) to be certain," he confirmed. Making the semi-finals also helps to assure both Barker and Pace of places in the ISAF Match Racing World Championships, the third event on the Swedish Match Tour. After their victory in Auckland's Steinlager Line 7 Cup last week, the Le Defi team only need a fourth place to make the top ten on the ranking ladder which will get them into the championships. Barker finished third in Auckland, and a top four place here will also lift him sufficiently to ensure a place at the world championships, to be stage in Split, Croatia. Gilmour too is fighting his way back up the rankings to try and qualify for the world championships, but his eighth place last week didn't help his quest. The big fight on Saturday morning in this event, will be the scramble for the one remaining semi-finals berth, with four skippers all with a chance of filling it. As the options get fewer in these double round robin eliminations, the racing gets more vicious, with every team fighting for survival and dollars. Chief umpire Russell Green commented at the end of the day, "there's some tight racing out there, and a lot of incidents, they are fighting for every point." -- John Roberson
Event website: http://www.rpyc.com.au LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree. -- From Jay Crum -- In reading Dobbs Davis' article on the demise of the "NSL", I was reminded of what it was that attracted me to high profile sailboat racing events when I was young, and impressionable. I read about, and saw firsthand some epic contests between boats such as: Baruna and Oreient, Blackfin and Windward Passage, Running Tide and Dora IV, Merlin and Drifter. I also followed the intense compitition between personalities such as Tom Blackaller, and Dennis Connor. Eric Tabarly and Alain Colais(?). By comparison: Health South vs Amway is pretty weak. There already is a huge number of events that fill the sailing schedules, what may be the catalyst, for popular interest, are two well matched programs, and a pair of committed rivals. More dramatic finals, fewer battle flags, and uniforms. -- From Tami Shelton -- Someone should tell Mr. Fisher to get a multihull. Our races are like the Caribbean races he describes, with the added bonus of SPEED. For proof I offer invitations to: the Granddaddy of Beach Cat Party Regattas, the Deep South Regatta held in Lake Charles, Louisiana, April 14-16; the 15th annual Slip to Ship Regatta, held at Ocean Springs YC, Mississippi, Memorial Day Weekend; or the Island Hop Regatta, also held at Ocean Springs, Mississippi July 4th weekend. The latter two are distance races, first to the island gets the chicken and beer. -- From Olin Stephens -- Two comments, re 'Butt #538, if I may: first a word of appreciation and agreement on the words of Bob Fisher and second: I also go whole hog with the sentiments attributed to me by Norrie Hoyt via Steve Moore, but the words are pure Hoyt; not Stephens. -- From Dave Millett -- As a sailor, Judge, and Umpire, I couldn't agree more with the comments of Bentley, Mason, Godfrey, Gaudio, et al.. It's amazing the events that have no active sailors on protest committee or umpiring. Many were good sailors but haven't set foot on a sailboat to race in years. Being on protest committee with some and listening in on hearings, the speed things happen vs. 10 or 20 years ago escapes them. Umpiring is also this way. Having attended, sailed in, and umpired in several Grade 1,2, and 3 events it is amazing the different interpretations of the rules and equally, the selective penalizing of competitors based on their skill level. Does it say in the rules that competitors in grade 3 events aren't as good as in grade 1 so calls are looser/tighter? Regarding attendance at the national and international level. Officials attending are often the same ones year after year. They attend because they are retired and can afford most of their own bills. Some will argue that they are the ones that accept the invitations, I would argue they are the ones that can afford it. Additionally, they've been doing it for so many years that invitations are virtually guaranteed by reciprocity, leaving little room for newcomers. U.S. Sailing and ISAF both need to address and remedy the attendance, skill level, and recruitment of officials in our sport, NOW. IT IS TIME for Pro and Semi Pro Officials! AROUND ALONE An Around Alone 1998-99 documentary film will be airing on PBS stations throughout the U.S. on Friday, June 23, 2000 at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The film, entitled BORN TO THE WIND, is narrated by Oscar-winning actor Peter Fonda, and produced by Laszlo Pal, the Emmy Award-winning director. -- Dan Miller LASER WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS The lay on Wednesday was a good call as the winds at the holiday resort in Cancun, Mexico touched 30 knots. When Thursday dawned there were still white caps on the bay and with the wind still blowing over 25 knots the Port Captain declared a prohibition on small boats going afloat. A four-hour postponement did not see any decrease in wind strength so the 146 masters sailors adjourned to the pool bar for margaritas whilst others got rid of excess energy playing United Nations water volleyball. Three races are scheduled for Friday and two for Saturday the final day. -- Eric Mehlbaum Schagen Event website: http://www.laserinternational.org TORNADO OLYMPIC TRIALS (Special report from Charlie Ogletree and John Lovell) Today was day five of the Tornado Olympic Trials. Racing was canceled today due to no wind. We left the dock on time this morning eager to race only to drift for a few hours under postponement. The race committee finally canceled for the day. The scores remain the same and we resume racing tomorrow. Jay Glaser, our coach, was the hero on Tuesday. Three Tornado teams capsized during the race and Jay assisted the teams in righting their boats. One team from Annapolis, MD spent and hour capsized in the 50 degree water. The sailors were very cold, tired and sick. The skipper lost his contacts and was unable to see. The rescue boat was having a hard time helping them right their boat. Jay left our race to go help them. He pulled the sailors out of the water and then helped them right their boat. They sailed back to the dock and all the Tornado sailors helped them pull their boat out of the water. Jay ended up tired and bruised also after his day helping the capsized sailors. Event website: http://www.tornado.org/ EXCELLENCE IN RACE MANAGEMENT As you plan this season's sailing events, please take time to consider your top event for the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy. This is a way to bring recognition to your club and race management personnel for their hard work on the race course. Emblematic of excellence in race management, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Trophy was awarded originally by St. Petersburg Yacht Club in the late 1960s to recognize the club which ran the best regatta. The trophy was retired for several years, then was donated to US SAILING in 1977. The winner is selected on the basis of race management superiority as evaluated by participating skippers. The regatta may have any number of yachts entered, consist of at least three closed-course races, and have nonprofessional race management. The 2000 award will be for events conducted between September 1, 1999 and August 31, 2000. Regattas held after August 31 will be entered in the year 2001. The following information must be received for an event to be considered: 1. Completed skippers' ballots-responses must be received from 60% of the participating skippers or 40 completed ballots- whichever is fewer. 2. Report from the Protest Committee Chairman. 3. Notice of Race. 4. Sailing Instructions with all amendments. 5. Regatta Results. Additional Information: http://www.ussailing.org/racemgt/stpete/Info.htm ISAF MATCH RACE RANKINGS (Issue Date: March 28th 2000) - Open Rankings: 1. Sten MOHR, DEN; 2. Magnus HOLMBERG, SWE; 3. Luc PILLOT, FRA; 4. Jes GRAM-HANSEN, DEN; 5. Morten HENRIKSEN, DEN; 6. Jesper BANK, DEN; 7. Bertrand PACE, FRA; 8. Andy BEADSWORTH, GBR; 9. Jesper Radich JOHANSEN, DEN 10. Dean BARKER, NZL. Curmudgeon's comment: You have to go down the list a bit until you uncover any Americans in the top 100 match racers in the world: 47. Peter HOLMBERG, ISV; 86. Ed BAIRD, USA. The situation on the Women's side is considerably better: 1. Shirley ROBERTSON, GBR; 2. Betsy ALISON, USA; 3. Dorte O. JENSEN, DEN; 4. Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN, NED; 5. Paula LEWIN, BER; 6. Dru SLATTERY, USA; 7. Christine BRIAND, FRA; 8. Malin KALLSTROM, SWE; 9. Cordelia EGLIN, GBR; 10. Cory SERTL, USA; 16. Sandy GROSVENOR, USA; 25. Dawn RILEY, USA. Complete rankings: http://www.sailing.org/iyru/mrranking.html HELP The web link to provide feedback on the life jacket issue is simply not working. If anyone knows a way to let the Coasties know how we feel about this issue, please let us know by email - leweck@earthlink.net. US YACHT CLUB CHALLENGE It was Chamber of Commerce type weather for the ten yacht clubs teams assembled at Newport Harbor YC for the US Yacht Club Challenge. There were bright blue skies and 10-12 knot of breeze solidly out of the West - conditions that placed a premium on starting and boatspeed. Each yacht club team sailed a Laser, CFJ and a Catalina 37 provided by the host club. And members of the host club quickly showed that they knew how to sail all three, as they jumped out into an early lead in the seven race series. STANDINGS: Catalina 37 - 1. Annapolis YC, 3; 2. Long Beach YC, 6; California YC 6; Newport Harbor YC, 6; CFJ - Newport Harbor YC, 2; 2. San Diego YC 7; 3. St Peterburg YC 8; California YC 8; Laser - SDYC, 2; StPYC, 4; Rochester YC, 6 Overall standings: NHYC, 17; Annapolis YC, 18; California YC, 20; LBYC, 25. Event website: http://www.nhyc.org TEAM PHILIPS Forty eight hours to the minute after the 'big bang' which signalled catastrophic damage to her port hull, the wounded catamaran began to move from her temporary moorings in St. Mary's Sound off the Isles of Scilly. The 45ft detached portion of the hull, retrieved 35 miles South West of the Island of St. Mary's by local ship The Voyager, was attached to a line off the catamaran's bow soon after 05:00hrs. It remained buoyant floating with the team's slogan of "Let's Make Things Better" clearly visible. As light began to break the tug Mentor from Penzance, Cornwall attached lines in a bridle system to the stern of the carbon fibre catamaran, which had 70 tonnes of water pumped out of the port hull by local firemen in the last twelve hours.When the tow got underway building gently to a speed of 5 knots, Team Philips meteorologist Lee Bruce predicts perfect conditions for the 116 mile hourney back to Dartmouth. Winds will be in the range 4-10 knots over the next 24 hours and wave heights will be negligible. Full story: http://www.teamphilips.com/ THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive |
