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SCUTTLEBUTT 1911 - August 26, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.EMPTY CUP (Following is an excerpt from a story by Herb McCormick, the editor of Cruising World magazine, now posted on the magazine's website.) Of the 12 syndicates competing for the next Cup, four have a prayer of actually winning the thing. The two real favorites--the defender, Alinghi, bankrolled by Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli; and the top challenger, Oracle BMW, the sole U.S. representative, backed by software tycoon Larry Ellison--will have spent upward of $300 million before the first race is staged a little less than two years from now. Three. Hundred. Million. Dollars. Yes, the America's Cup has always been about money. But only recently has the money become so obscene. It'd be one thing if the Rich Boys had a little flair, some of the gumption of legendary Cup loser Sir Thomas Lipton or the controversy of Aussie rogue Alan Bond. But by all accounts, Bertarelli and Ellison are two, well, loathsome individuals. Want proof? Late in the game, they conspired to change the rules to suit their needs to ensure that Coutts, one of our era's most accomplished Cup sailors, doesn't sail in the next event. And for the first time in three decades, good old Dennis Conner will sit this one out; he's been priced out of the competition. The New York Yacht Club? Nowhere in sight. The Aussies? Not this time, mate. The Brits are taking a pass, even on the heels of back-to-back successful Olympiads and the wondrous exploits of a wee lass named Ellen MacArthur. For them all, it's the same old refrain: No cash, no splash. Don't get me started on Valencia, which was chosen over several windier, classier possible venues. Or the silly "Acts," which are supposed to generate interest in the interminable lead-up to the Cup itself but instead have been monumental bores. Or the fact that there are precious few Americans on Ellison's Kiwi-studded "American" team. Which is sad, because the America's Cup, to me, used to be pretty cool. All in all, I reckon the Swiss should've stuck to cheese. -- Complete story: http://www.cruisingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=38415&typeID=419&catID=0 THE ROAD SHOW IS UNDERWAY Racing for the America's Cup boats at the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts started with broken gear and surprises. Even the best teams weren't exempt from broken gear and disasters which you would expect from teams with less experience. Three broken, spinnaker poles, sailors overboard, and teams who couldn't finish gave everyone a reality check. The weather wasn't perfect -- the cool breeze with overcast skies and rain showers were a clear indication that the America's Cup was a long way from its host city of Valencia, Spain. But nonetheless, two full flights of races were completed … and there were no real surprises. BMW Oracle Racing's Jochen Schuemann looked very much at home on the helm, starting and finishing well against Sweden's Magnus Holmberg and Shosholoza's new helmsman Chris Law. The South African team looking much stronger than in Valencia. Although the South Africans lost to BMW Oracle Racing, it was a much better effort from Shosholoza, who held an advantage on the early part of the leg. There was plenty of action in the afternoon matches, with people falling overboard, blown sails, and dramatic start line maneuvers. The incidents were precipitated perhaps by an increase in wind strength with gusts approaching 20 knots. The most important incident concerned the +39 Challenge when two crew members were swept into the water as they tried to hold a spinnaker down on the deck when the wind began to blow it out of the sail bag. The sailors were plucked out of the water by the nearest Umpire boat, transferred to a support boat, and then back aboard the race boat. +39 was penalized for the incident as the Rules dictate it should be, and completed a 270-degree penalty turn before finishing. Emirates Team New Zealand had a fright rounding the leeward gate in its match against China Team. A broken spinnaker pole led to the sail falling into the water and the boat nearly stopping. China Team threatened to overtake the Kiwis but the Emirates squad recovered just in time. The Spanish team had a similar scare when its jib came down on the second upwind leg against United Internet Team Germany. A quick recovery by Spaniards meant the Germans couldn't overtake, but it certainly closed up the gap. Like the Kiwis, BMW Oracle Racing also broke a pole setting up for the final run, but had a secure enough lead over +39 to win the race easily. Finally, the Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team was unable to complete the second flight either, continuing to suffer from problems with its mainsail. Racing continues on Friday with similar conditions forecast and two more full flights scheduled. -- www.americascup.com Flight One Alinghi beat Victory Challenge by 0:54 BMW Oracle Racing beat Team Shosholoza by 1:33 K-Challenge beat +39 Challenge by 0:38 Emirates Team New Zealand beat United Internet Team Germany by 1:39 Desafío Español 2007 won -- Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team retired Luna Rossa Challenge beat China Team by 1:38 Flight Two Alinghi beat Team Shosholoza by 3:07 Victory Challenge beat K-Challenge by 0:24 BMW Oracle Racing beat +39 Challenge by 1:48 Desafío Español 2007 beat United Internet Team Germany by 1:14 Luna Rossa Challenge won -- Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team retired Emirates Team New Zealand beat China Team by 0:32 Leaderboard Alinghi, 2-0 Emirates Team New Zealand, 2-0 Luna Rossa, 2-0 BMW Oracle Racing, 2-0 Desafío Español 2007, 2-0 Victory Challenge, 1-1 K-Challenge, 1-1 Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team, 0-2 +39 Challenge, 0-2 United Internet Team Germany, 0-2 China Team, 0-2 Team Shosholoza, 0-2 QUOTE / UNQUOTE "It was cold out there. Not only the water, but the air, too. We won't ever complain about Valencia being too hot. We miss sailing in shorts and t-shirts. The guys' hands were especially cold, and we all will be adding a layer or two of warmer clothing tomorrow." -- Paraphrased quote from Craig Monk posted on BMW Oracle Racing's blogsite: http://bmworacleracing.twoday.net/ CLASSIC CAL The Orange Coast College Sailing Program is conducting a sealed bid sale on its 1966 Cal 48 sloop. Donated by her original owners eight years ago, "Glin de Mar" is hull #7 of 24 built and is now probably the most "stock" of these beautiful Bill Lapworth designs. Never raced. OCC has added a Yanmar diesel, dodger, self-tailing winches, roller furling, and sails. A great looking SoCal classic with a big cockpit and three cabin interior. Additional details at 949-645-9412 or http://www.occsailing.com/pages/boatsforsale/Cal48/Cal48.html LIKE RIDING THE PERFECT WAVE Following the safe delivery of the 75-foot trimaran B&Q to New York earlier this week, Ellen MacArthur has announced her plans to officially go on standby September 1 for her assault on the west-east solo transatlantic record. The B&Q skipper will be working with the same weather routers from her solo round the world record, Commanders' Weather based in the States: " Normally, you need to start just ahead of the advancing weather system then you hook into it and try and sail fast enough to stay with it, and hope that it takes you on the most direct and shortest course across the Atlantic. If the weather system deviates too much from the direct course it will not help our cause as we will have to sail more miles," MacArthur said. It is a bit like riding the 'perfect wave' - you must get on it at Ambrose Light and not fall off until the finish, and hope the wave goes all the way to the English Channel without tapering out or heading north which is what happened last June as B&Q missed out on the record by just 75 minutes. And this time MacArthur is not the only player... Also waiting in the wings is another French skipper, Thomas Coville and his 60-foot trimaran Sodebo. After establishing a new Miami-New York solo record in July, Coville has been on standby in New York since the beginning of August and there is every possibility that Sodebo and B&Q will end up starting together both grabbing the same weather system when it comes along. MacArthur will not sit-out the standby period in New York but will return to Europe and monitor the weather situation daily, only returning to the States once a favourable weather system has been identified. -- www.teamellen.com 470 WORLDS Two races of the final series of the 470 World Championships at St. Francis YC in San Francisco were sailed on Thursday, but no North Americans qualified for the men's Gold Fleet.. With race scores from the qualifying series carried forward to the final series, defending World Champions Nathan Wilmot and Malcom Page are still very much in charge with just 12 points -- a 13 point lead over Gildas Philippe/ Nicolas Leberre from France. Great Britain's Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield are three points further back in third place. The USA's Stu Mac Nay and Graham Biehl lead the men's Silver Fleet with 88 points -- the same total as Ronan Dreano/ Ronan Floch (FRA). Michael Mitterlig-Anderson/ David Hughes are three points back in third place. Marcelien de Koning/ Lobke Berkhout (NED) continue to lead the Women's Division with 14 points -- 11 less than Lenka Smidova Elizabeth Kratzig (CZE). Genny Tulloch/ Lauren Maxam with 121 points are the top USA team in 17th place in the 34-boat fleet -- just ahead of Canada's Jennifer Provan/ Carol Luttmer in 18th place with 121 points. The regatta ends on Sunday. -- Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/eyky6 Updated photo gallery: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/470worlds/ FINAL RACE WILL DECIDE 505 WORLDS In the 7th and 8th race of the the CSC 505 Worlds in Warnemünde, Germany, the leaders Wolfgang Hunger and Holger Jess (GER) lost nine points of their 20 point lead. In a puffy fresh to strong Southwesterly that increased to about 28 knots, Mike Martin/Jesse Falsone (USA) jumped from nine to two in the scoreboard with a first and a third place. displayed the most consistent performance throughout the wind range. With two fifth places, Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin/Rainer Görge moved up to third overall. The second discard has now kicked-in, and there are three other USA teams are in the top nine places -- Mark Ivey/ Shane Illidge (5th), Howard Hamlin/ Cam Lewis (8th) and Andy Beeckmann/ Jeff Nelson (9th). The regatta ends Friday with one final race. -- http://www.worlds505.de/Results-Worlds,1,26.htm NEWS BRIEFS * Twelve teams are at the Knickerbocker YC in Port Washington, New York to compete in the ISAF Grade 2 Knickerbocker/Abilities! Cup. Qualifying Rounds began on Thursday with the finals scheduled for Sunday. The participants are: Brian Angel (USA- ranked 119), Martin Angsell (SWE-25) Mark Campbell-James (GBR-21), Scott Dickson (USA-27) Christian Hamilton (GBR-41), Laurie Jury (NZL-49), Terry McLaughlin (CAN-168), Simon Minoprio (NZL-23), Matteo Simoncelli (ITA-12), Jonathan Singsen (USA-175), Peter Wibroe (DEN-17) and Ian Williams (GBR-7). Sorry -- no results were posted at our distribution time. http://www.kyc.net/KCup/KYC%20Cup%202005/kyc_cup_2005.htm * For the third year in a row, BoatU.S. Magazine has received an Apex Award, this time for its editorial column, Behind the Buoy. An additional Apex Award was received this year for a feature article on Cape May, New Jersey, written by Travel Editor Tony Gibbs and designed by Art Director Carla Shamblen. Now in its 17th year, the Apex Awards are based on excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the ability to achieve overall communications excellence. Nearly 5,000 entries were received by the judges. -- http://www.BoatUS.com/news IT'S A RACE: IT'S MUSTO'S MPX GORE-TEX RACE It's exclusive, it's light, it's Gore-Tex. Musto's MPX Gore-Tex Race gear is extremely breathable, waterproof and durable whilst also providing maneuverability for high activity, high performance sailing - such as match racing or round the cans. It incorporates Musto's revolutionary HPX Stretch fabric in areas that require instant and high levels of mobility. Check it out at one of the following retailers: Annapolis Performance Sailing, Fawcett Boat Supplies, Fisheries Supply, Layline, Pineapple Sails, Sailing Supply, Team One Newport, The Sailing Pro Shop, or West Marine Stores. Check out http://www.musto.com/usa for product information and a store finder. 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 neither 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. And please save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.) * From Marc Herrmann: There is a picture on the Pegasus Racing web site that shows an individual at the back of the boat has his feet outside the lifelines yet his upper torso is inside the upper lifeline. Either nobody was watching or everyone was/ is too busy to look back and inform this individual to get his %$#@ whole butt back in the boat. Based on this pic, I am assuming the boat is well into double digits in speed. At 5 kts one travels at approximately 10 feet/second. Assuming they are going 3 times as fast, it won't take long for someone who "slipped" through the lifelines to be 100's if not 1000's of feet away from the boat in a matter of seconds. Not a good example of safety at sea no matter how close to land. Take a look: http://www.pegasus.com/gallery/transpac52_2005/Philippe_Kahn_Pegasus_Racing_Transpac52_20 * From Bruce Campbell: Interesting responses from the president of US Sailing and Ralph Taylor in response to Glenn McCarthy's note on the proposed re-org of that institution. I wish President Baxter would have addressed some of the concerns that USOC is voicing about the re-org and the fact that it may not meet their approval. The proposal that was put together in Newport was not acceptable to many and only passed because of concessions to the Council of Sailing Associations. Concessions that allayed fears that the Sailing Associations and Clubs were being disenfranchised by the proposed re-org. The ability of the House of Delegates to put forward names for three of the positions on the board was an important part of negotiations aimed at making the proposal acceptable. The House of Delegates also had the duty of voting on any future changes to the By-Laws. It's my understanding that Mr. Gary Johansen, counsel to the USOC, has voiced objection to the House of Delegates control of the By-Laws. If I'm misinformed, I'd be happy to be corrected. Mr. Taylor missed a great speech by John Bonds, Sr. in Newport, RI. John's summation of US Sailing's organization and the source of its authority (the Clubs and Regional Sailing Associations that came together to form US Sailing in its original form) should be required viewing for anyone who cares about sailing in the US. And, anyone who thinks sailors need US Sailing more than US Sailing needs sailors is wrong. * From Jerry Clifford: That new America's Cup logo is totally inappropriate and unprofessional. The committee could do better and save mega-bucks by just using a fancy font out of the choices on Microsoft Word! I'd ask for my money back, fire whoever approved such poor taste, and send the media company to counseling. An institution of such dignified stature, proud heritage, and professional leadership in advanced sailing innovation such as the AC should be represented with a logo in accordance with those significant attributes. * From Peter Hinrichsen (edited to our 250-word limit): I found the comments on the problems with weighing AC boats in Malmo interesting, and will include them in the measurement manual. I have been pointing out this effect on weighing and swing tests at a number of ISAF measurement symposia. It's the mass of the boat that one really wants to control, and this does not change. The gravitational force on the boat changes because due to the rotation of the earth while it was cooling the earth is elliptical, not spherical, and so the distance of the boat from the center of the earth changes with latitude and hence the gravitational force changes. There is a similar effect with height. Another effect is that due to the rotation of the earth the boat, even when tied to the dock, is accelerating towards the earth's axis of rotation, and so the residual gravitational force is reduced. This is usually described by inventing a centrifugal force in the rotating earth system, which is outward and thus reduces the net force more as you approach the equator. The problem arises because scales actually measure the force on the boat, not the mass, but are calibrated in terms of the mass on which this gravitational force would act if the scale is at the calibration location. If they were calibrated in Newtons, as they really should be, then Rod could have divided by the local value of the gravitational force per unit mass and had no problem. * From William F. Cook (edited to our 250-word limit): I want to thank the contributors to Scuttlebutt 1909 for the most entertaining set of letters I have yet seen. First, I would like to point out that the AC rule does in fact specify "kilograms" instead of "pounds", and if you don't know why it's funny that someone should suggest that it makes a difference with regard to a "scale", then I suggest you ask an engineer how a scale actually works. Second, I have reason to suspect that at least one office currently involved with AC design work spent a good portion of their billable hours this morning doubled over in stitches of laughter while various employees took turns attempting to sketch the apparatus that would be required to measure the mass of a 24-ton, 80-foot yacht using a balance beam. Heck, I would like to know if there are any yacht classes anywhere that use such a system. How many people are required to stabilize the thing if the wind is above zero knots? The problem of varying gravitational constant is not new. As I recall, it crept up in Perth, San Diego, and New Zealand, and rears its ugly head every time a yacht is measured in one place and then transported to another. It is considered when the syndicates (or the Navy, for that matter) run models down the towing tank. My guess is that this is merely the first time some marketing person has realized that it would make a good story. * From Mark Eustis: Gravity is in fact quite different at various regions around our "oblate spheroid." However, the force is not necessarily correlated with latitude, as Ken indicated. It's more strongly (sorry about that) connected (oops) to regional massing/density of the crust. Your two-scoops are no more prone to fall off the cone in Malmo than Valencia because of it, although I'd suspect solar gain will have a more substantial effect. Perhaps the next iteration of the AC rule should include series of local constants by which entries would "normalize" their massing to the host venue's gravimetric profile? I must say, the head of this technological pin is getting mighty crowded. For them's what's interested, there's an attractive (geez) map at: http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace/gallery/animations/ggm01/ggm01_gif-455.html CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION China has a population of a billion people. One billion. That means even if you're a one in a million kind of guy, there are still a thousand others exactly like you. |
