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SCUTTLEBUTT 1897 - August 8, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.THE BIG ONE It is one of the longest established ocean races in the world and thanks to the latest monohulls, which now sail at multihull speeds, never has the Rolex Fastnet Race record been under such a determined threat. That assumes a decent breeze from the right directions. The portents were not good yesterday when 289 yachts laboured to get away from the 11.00 am Cowes start, down the Solent and out into the Channel. The 608-mile race passes the scalloped bays of England's south coast to Land's End and out across the St George's Channel to the Fastnet Rock, standing sentinel off south-west Ireland, before returning to Plymouth via Bishop Rock at the Scillies. Expectations have swung violently over the past week as the forecasts have suggested everything from a slow race to a tough upwind slog. The jump in technology in the last couple of years is staggering and it is a shame that the Fastnet multihull record won't see the likes of Bruno Peyron's 120ft catamaran Orange 11 or Ellen MacArthur's 75ft trimaran B & Q trying to crack Loick Peyron's record set in a 'mere' 60ft trimaran. The organising Royal Ocean Racing Club decided not to relax their 60ft length limit for the multis. -- Excerpts from a story by Tim Jeffery in the Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/9q8gn FOR THE RECORD Dame Ellen MacArthur's next target is the solo transatlantic record, recently set by Francis Joyon at 6 days, 4hr, 1min, 37sec. MacArthur will be sailing from New York to Plymouth and the 29-year-old knows she will have her work cut out. "It's a big challenge," she said. "The timing of the departure will be critical, everything will have to go right: the weather, the boat, and there'll be no room for mistakes. To stand a chance of breaking this record we'll have to go flat out sailing and just go for it all the way to the English Channel." Comparison with the round-the-world record is practically pointless: the challenges are the same, but different. "Think of the marathon and the 100 metres," MacArthur suggested. "Which winner could you say has to work harder?" Neither. They both have to do their absolute best, and so will MacArthur in the course of a voyage during which she expects even less than her standard, minimal ration of sleep. The boat will be lighter than usual, since there is no need for heavy provisions and little need to carry spares. "If you have to stop to repair something, you might as well abandon the attempt," MacArthur said. The trimaran will soon sail across the Atlantic with a back-up crew, and MacArthur will link up in Newfoundland for the 1,000-mile journey down to New York. There has not been much solitude since she broke the round-the-world record. Yet despite all the receptions, interviews, the investiture and public attention this quirky, introverted character seems more at ease with herself than ever. "I've had time out, time away," she said. "I've had time thinking. I feel ... it's not like I feel more myself. I just feel more in control than ever." MacArthur will need that feeling to remain intact during the transatlantic record attempt. On a voyage around the world, as she has dramatically revealed, there are passages of exhilaration and terror. But there are also moments of calm. The journey from New York to Plymouth promises to be almost 100 per cent exhilaration and terror. She has a two-month "window" for the attempt, starting at the beginning of September, and will be seeking the strongest possible winds. -- Excerpts from a story by Andrew Baker, The Telegraph, full story http://tinyurl.com/c6cjh KIWI CULTURE Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton believes the strong Kiwi culture within his team will be an advantage as they prepare for the America's Cup. Dalton and his team are preparing for the next lot of cup pre-regattas which start in Sweden on August 25. With the points now counting towards the 2007 challenger series, they are the top-ranked challenger after the year's first two acts in Valencia in June. However, with just under two years to go until the showpiece event, one of the great challenges in the ego-driven sport seems to be creating a happy and harmonious team. Already three-times cup winner Russell Coutts has been axed from Alinghi and more recently there has been a split between BMW Oracle Racing and American tactician John Kostecki. So after numerous round-the-world campaigns, does Dalton view managing a cup team any different? "I think all teams are bubbling under the surface and have issues because it is the America's Cup. It just seems to be the way it is. I think all teams in all sports have issues. I guess it is a matter of which teams are able to harness it and control it and make it not disrupt the team. I would hope that the people we have employed today will still be the same people we have at the end, but I sure as hell wouldn't be scared of making a change if it was necessary." With the nationality rule now lapsed, teams can employ people from various countries more easily, and Dalton said he had not found integrating people difficult. "The core philosophy here couldn't be more Kiwi if it tried. It is more a case of those nationalities blending in with the Kiwis and they are doing it well. More and more we are returning to our original culture of Team New Zealand that [Sir Peter] Blake set up." -- July Ash, NZ Herald, full story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10339417 LADIES, LADIES, LADIES… Team One Newport is celebrating their 20-year Anniversary and we have some great new products for active women! And with all the women who make up their team, they should know the awesome cool items. Some of their favorites are the Harken Trimmers, Timbuk 2 bags, Henri-Lloyd Axis Jackets, Patagonia body wear (guys look at these items for your female friends!), Extrasport Cienne lifejackets (on Sale too!), Teva Helms, Musto Windward jackets, Gill Coast-lite jacket and lots more. And of course they have even a better selection for guys! Call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) or visit http://www.team1newport.com IN THE MED Palma de Mallorca, Spain -- Lexus/ Quantum Racing has won the TP52 class at the prestigious Copa del Rey in a tight regatta that saw four boats very much in contention on the final day of racing. The last leg of the final race turned into a true match race between Atalanti XV, led by Paul Cayard, and Dean Barker, and the Lexus-Quantum Racing team with Russell Coutts, Mark Reynolds and Peter Isler. When the regatta ended, only two points separated the top four boats. After the regatta Atalanti XV tactician Paul Cayard said "I think the plan worked well. Dean (Barker) is a very good sailor, that helped, and I felt comfortable being a tactician, looking at the other boats. We have made a lot of efforts to improve our boat during the week. During the season Lexus has sailed better, but in this Class, as it's so new we all have to work hard to improve the boat. The problem, to be honest, is that we don't have the fastest boat." Final standings in the Copa del Rey-Agua Brava (High point scoring): 1. Lexus Quantum Racing, (66); 2. Atalanti XV (65); 3. MoviStar (64); 4. Caixa Galicia (64); 5. Orlanda-Olympus (59); 6. Bribón (51); 7. Cristabella (48); 8. Bambakou (42); 9. Siemens (28); 10. Aifos (24); 11. Balearia (17). In the Breitling Medcup series rankings, Pisco Sour- Movistar still leads the standings with Caixa Galicia, owned by Vicente Tirado second followed by Lexus/ Quantum Racing, owned by Jaime Yllera. For 2006, the TP52 owners decided that five or six scored events would be held -- many of new creation -- aimed specifically at the needs of the increasing Transpac 52 fleet in Europe. Over 20 offers were handed in to the Mediterranean TP52 Fleet Association to host the events for the second Breitling Medcup TP52 season. The calendar, which is not yet confirmed is as follows: Ibiza (Spain) - A Regatta would be planned for the end of April-, Punta Ala (Italy) -end of May-, Porto Rotondo (Italy) -beginning of June-, Barcelona (Spain), Palma de Mallorca (Spain) -with the Breitling regatta and the Copa del Rey, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary- and Athens (Greece). The definitive calendar for 2006 will be announced in the coming weeks, following final discussions with the Clubs proposed for the Circuit. There will also be six to eight TP52s heading towards the USA early next year, to begin preparing for the first Transpac 52 World Championships. The TP52 Med fleet has nine new boats under construction and will soon have 20 vessels, with the added incentive of the 2007 World Championships to be held in European waters. -- www.medcup.org NEWS BRIEFS * The Thistle Class held its 60th National Championship last week at the Lavallette Yacht Club on the Barnegat Bay. Mike Ingham, with crew of John Baker and Delia Ingham, finished on top of the 80 boat fleet. Bruce King, with Mark Makielski and Ashley Jerman as crew, finished in second place, and David Dellenbaugh, with Will Brown and James Whitcomb, finished in third. All top three skippers are former national champions of the Thistle Class. Seven races were sailed over 5 days in light to moderate winds. -- http://www.thistle2005.com/Results.html * 97 sailors from 16 countries are entered in the 2005 Laser 4.7 World Championship Regatta at Barrington Yacht Club in Barrington, Rhode Island. This marks the first time that the Laser 4.7 Worlds have been held in North America; 50 of the entries are from the USA, and an additional 10 are from other parts of North America (Canada, US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico). After a practice race on Sunday, August 7, racing continues Monday, August 8 through Saturday, August 13. -- http://www.barringtonyc.com/2005laser4.7worlds.htm * In their first head to head battle, the Kiwi supermaxi ICAP Maximus has emerged a clear winner over the Australian supermaxi Skandia Wild Thing. The occasion was a 50 mile race consisting of a long leg into Poole Bay and return to Cowes, Isle of Wight, and was the first and final meeting before the Fastnet Race. By the time they reached the finish line, ICAP Maximus had a lead of 8 minutes and completed the 51nm course in an elapsed time of just over 4 hours, 20 minutes. -- http://www.kiwispy.com/ * High winds and big seas delivered the thrill rides boats come to expect at the Waikiki Offshore Series in Hawaii. The latest photos on the Scuttlebutt website from photographer Sharon Green provide a glimpse of why this is such a premier sailing venue: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/wos * Big breeze never materialized for the 138 boats in the Santa Barbara to King Harbor race. Bill Gibbs' Afterburner -- the scratch boat in the multihull class -- took nearly ten and a half hours to travel the 81 miles, finishing seven minutes in front of Mike Campbell's Kernan-designed Dencho 70, Peligroso. The best corrected time was posted by Keith Lorence's modified Hobie 33 Magic Light that spent nearly 14 hours on the race course. Many boats did not finish until well after the sun came up, and it was afternoon when the last two boats finished. -- http://tinyurl.com/8y9ez * It (Skandia Cowes Week) has been a tremendous week, full of highs with something for everyone. The sailing has seen all conditions from gales to flat calm (and quite a lot in between) to test the sailors to the limit and shore-side the welcoming town of Cowes has been alive with parties and general bonhomie. Just coming to the regatta is a treat and now with sailing firmly established as a sport for all, Skandia Cowes Week is truly regarded as one of the pinnacle events in world sport. -- Yachting World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/bhn5q * The participation of Skandia Wild Thing in the Rolex Fastnet Race was in doubt just hours before the start, when a routine check of the rig revealed serious damage to the top of the mast. The crew made a makeshift repair to the mast using carbon and epoxy, and a crewman was still perched aloft just minutes before the start, using a hot-air gun to dry the hardening epoxy as much as possible. -- www.rorc.org * 320 sailors representing 23 nations competed for the 420 World Championships in Brest, France. Maria Stella Turizio/ Maria Carolina Rendano (ITA) won the Women's Division ahead of Marie Lumean/ Claire Bossard (FRA) and Maria Stanley/ Catherine Alton (GBR). The top North American team was tenth place finisher Megan Magill/ Briana Provancha (USA). Adam Roberts/ Nick Martin (USA) were the top North Americans in the Open Division, finishing eighth. Tomas O.Da Silva/ Francisco Gomes (POR) are the new 420 World Champions followed by Alfredo Capodanno/ Vittorio Papa (ITA) and Pablo Santurde/ Abelardo Quevedo (ESP). -- http://420worldchampionship.srbrest.com/ VANGUARD AT 2005 C420 NORTH AMERICANS Vanguard is a sponsor of the 2005 C420 North Americans. Vanguard Team Riders Charlie Buckingham/ Chase Ayres and Michael Menninger/ Charlie Ramser will also be competing at the event later this week in Marion, MA. To follow their progress and to find out more, go to http://www.teamvanguard.com 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 Chris Bouzaid (edited to our 250-word limit): The passing of Edward Heath brings back happy memories of times past and the camaraderie that was a large part of ocean racing that seems to have disappeared in our professional world. I spent many memorable hours with Ted. I made many of his sails and I recall being asked to meet with him prior to his winning the Sydney Hobart Race. This was quite an expedition for me from the antipodes. I had won the race for New Zealand two years before and he wanted to find out more about the race and the spinnakers I used which were written up as a big factor in our success. Ted was as intense about his sailing as he was about his politics. We became friends and the following year we sat together on a protest committee at the end of the 1969 Fastnet Race. The protest was over the finishing times of Max Aitkin's Crusader and Dick Carter's Red Rooster. After much deliberation the Finding was: The 100 year old clock was to blame and both the minute hand and the hour hand were a little loose. The decision was: To leave the places as is and to buy the timekeeper (also the lighthouse keeper) a new clock, Electric with a second hand. We then adjourned to the local pub, and along with Owen Parker, Max Atikin, Jack Knight and Peter Dove told sea stories over a few pints until almost dawn. * From John Rumsey: The Cal 40 Holiday II won the 1967 Transpac with Skip Allan (age 22) just graduated from Stanford and brother Scott was 21. Bob Allan let them take the boat in the race as a graduation present. We discovered that sailing a Cal 40 to Honolulu is a lot like rowing across. * From Bob Hofmann: Looking for some input regarding having inspections of safety gear for offshore events such as the just completed Transpac. Some people feel that is an absolute necessity and the other side feels that having an inspection certified by a member of the RC leaves the RC more open to liability. Any comments regarding your experiences with safety inspections and liability would be appreciated, especially from any admiralty lawyers, not "sea lawyers". * From Brett Phillips, Hawaii: What hasn't been said in the Joe Cochran and Chris Upton debate is the differences in market. Although Hawaii is arguably the best place to sail in the world (warm, wind, waves . . . everyday), we who race here are a relatively small group and surely near the bottom of the per capita list. As a result, growth is an important aspect of sailing in Hawaii. Additionally, we have not had a new Marina built here for 30+ years which makes "start-up" an arduous task. I have no idea where Chris is from, but if it is a large market (SoCal, SF, Annapolis, etc.) there is more room for various "levels" of competition. Needs dictate perspective. * From Michael A. Rosenauer: I must agree that sailing tight reaches does increase boatspeed and heel. They are simply a one tack leg, identical to sailing on a very long layline from the corner. You have no options other than boatspeed. Boats are more apt to round up if the person on the vang is asleep and the kite trimmer reaching for his sandwich. It is correct that reaching legs do permit consolidation of one's position relative to the competition. This is true based upon the fact that additional course is sailed with little opportunity for passing, playing shifts etc. There is less distance to the finish, therefore less of an opportunity for the trailing boats to pass. What the reaching advocates miss is the fact that with a downwind course, every skipper must sail the optimum angle for their boat, whether it be a Melges 24 with a pole or a Mumm 30 with a traditional spinnaker. The Melgi may still be reached up and planing while the Mumms are sailing deeper and more directly toward the mark. Overlay this requirement upon the fact that unlike triangle courses, wind shifts clearly present passing lanes and better angles. Because passing is far more possible, as are losses, the game is much more interesting and still has all the "Yee Ha" and "Woo Hoo" one could wish. * From Matthew L. Thomas: In reading all the comments about reaching it great to see how much fun people have after racing a course with power reaches. Anything that makes racing more fun is a good thing. Sure, an AC boat and many of the new IMS boats are not designed to reach, but that's a symptom of the courses they race. Most club racing is done using predetermined marks or actually go to another harbor. We're seem the growth of sport boats over the years and there is nothing quite as much fun than popping a huge kite and blasting past the slower boats. Ask any Hobie sailor why they don't sail keelboats and they'll think you're daft... Simplified handicapping systems allow us all to compete and it's the power reaching and subsequent spills that everyone talks about in the bar late. Having sailed for the last 20 odd years, I can't remember anyone really talking about the downwind legs with any relish. This is very simple to change. Race committees and clubs always want to attract more boats, ask them to set courses with good reaches and then get everyone involved. This is or sport, managed by us, not by some elite group of people (even though it sometimes seems like that). * From Andy Rose (re: reaches): I second Jeremy Walker's comment but would add that reaches were also great isometric exercise on the old IOR boats if you were steering and trying to keep the boat on course. In the old Kenwood Cup in Hawaii, Jim Kilroy used to let me steer on the reaches---he is and always was a lot smarter than me. * From John P. de Regt: I agree totally with Jeremy Walker's comments. I did bow for years on an IOR boat, and many are the races we won, and a few that we lost, on screaming reaches. They require great crew work, real skills all around, and they are great fun. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION What's the use of happiness? It can't buy you money. -- Henny Youngman |
