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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 803 - April 27, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome.
THE RULES OF THE GAME Like so many rules in sailing, the prohibition on moving ballast during a race is difficult to enforce. It relies on the honesty and integrity of competitors rather than the constant attention of a referee or umpire. So why all the fuss about moving ballast in particular? Most sailing and certainly all sailing at club level relies almost exclusively on honesty and integrity. By and large nobody checks to see who has gone around the marks. Infringements between boats are mostly self-policing. When there is more serious disagreement, sailing has well defined rules and procedures for protests. But wait a moment, even in the protest room, the whole process relies on honesty and integrity. Both parties may well wish to present their case with a particular slant, but if either side simply decides to fabricate a story, the process begins to break down. Once witnesses start to behave dishonestly the whole process simply collapses. The simple fact is that everyone racing owes it to themselves and their fellow competitors to abide by the rules as they exist. If you happen not to like a particular rule that is no reason ignore it. Work instead to have the rule changed. It's easy to try things on a local level, most probably with a simple change in the sailing instructions. Individual classes need look no further than their own class rules. If changes are found to work then it should not be too hard to move things on to a national and ultimately international level. - Peter Bentley, Making Waves, ISAF Website. Full editorial: http://www.sailing.org/makingwaves/makingwaves76/
POSITION WANTED
CONGRESSIONAL CUP Green, only 26 but ranked 11th in the world, won all five of his matches to climb into a four-way tie for third among a group of higher-touted rivals. Peter Holmberg (Oracle) and Bertrand Pacé (Team New Zealand) remained on top at 8-2 after 10 of 18 flights leading to best-of-three semifinals and finals on Sunday. Green is at 6-4 with Rod Davis (Prada), Morgan Larson (OneWorld) and Ken Read (Stars & Stripes). Green is sailing for the first time with a core crew from Britain's new GBR Challenge that has some of the UK's best sailors: tactician Adrian Stead, bowman James Stagg, trimmers Julian Salter and Ian Fry and 300-pound Mark Covell in the pit. But . . . Rule Britannia? Perhaps not yet. "We're not kidding ourselves," Stead said. "We've got a lot to learn. We're not Oracle yet." The racing started an hour late when a wisp of wind emerged from under a thick marine layer, and the first match saw Holmberg breaking his first-day tie with a 24-second win over Pacé and his Kiwi crew. But then, after a 1-4 mark on Wednesday, it became Green's day. In succession, as the wind built from 4 to 14 knots through the afternoon, the Brits dispatched Luc Pillot (4-6), Sebastien Destremau (1-9), Read, Larson and Holmberg. They led at every mark except two against Destremau in a race that had four lead changes. Green thought the last win was the best one. "I started a little better but the whole crew was better, and Ado [Stead] was fantastic," Green said. "The way he called the shifts was brilliant. Especially against Holmberg we didn't match race or cover him at all. We went for the shifts." Green ignored Holmberg's move to the right side of the course - normally favored in a brisk sea breeze at Long Beach - and sailed left into a lifting breeze that put him two lengths in front when the boats converged and, Stead said, "We never looked back." Green's only serious error was when he accidentally hooked the inflated leeward mark during a pre-start sequence and dragged it 50 yards. CONGRESSIONAL CUP NOTES AND QUOTES: On a chilly day, crew from the boats of Jesper Radich and Luc Pillot stripped and dived into the 58-degree water between races to clear kelp from their rudders. Radich's volunteer was tactician Steve Flam, a Long Beach sailor. Radich said Bertrand Pacé told him he was dragging some weed - "after we lost to him," Radich said. . . . Ken Read found himself caught in the middle of the key match between Pacé and Rod Davis, which Davis won by 33 seconds after trailing early. "We probably did influence [the outcome]," Read said. "We couldn't seem to get out of the way. You'll notice Rod's buying a lot of beer for our crew tonight." . . . Dennis Conner watched some of the racing from his latest acquisition, Hasso Plattner's former 50-foot Morning Glory, now painted dark blue and renamed - what else? - Stars & Stripes. He'll start the annual Newport-to-Ensenada race from down the coast on Friday. - Rich Roberts STANDINGS (after 10 of 18 flights) - 1. Tie between Holmberg and Pacé, 8-2; 3. tie among Read, Davis, Larson and Green, 6-4; 7. tie between Pillot and Spithill, 4-6; 9. Tie between Radich and Destremau, 1-9. For details of each race, including mark rounding deltas: www.lbyc.org
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
leweck@earthlink.net * From Pete Lawson: It was interesting to read Paul Henderson's recent comments, particularly in light of a phone call I received, first from a low-level employee and then from the executive director himself at US Sailing two weeks ago. In effect, they told me that US Sailing had selected the RIISA regatta for drug testing of participants. RIISA (Rhode Island International Sailing Association) is the organizing authority for a 28-year-old regatta for nine one-design classes with substantial junior participation. The organizing authority has never asked for, nor does it intend to ask for US Sailing's involvement in any aspect of regatta management. We operate under the RRS provisions spelling out those rights. We were also informed that there would be costs involved and RIISA might be liable for those costs. For US Sailing to assume such an intrusive posture without precedent is deeply disturbing, not to mention that there appears to be no authority or precedence for doing so. As we see it, if US Sailing were the organizing authority, or if RIISA had requested Olympic qualifying status for the event, then testing might be done by agreement between the organizing authority and US Sailing. This is not the case for RIISA, and we intend to fully protect our rights. Perhaps US Sailing should read the ISAF Presidents latest comments, and sing from the same sheet of music. Imagine them showing up at Block Island Week or you local Wednesday night races; they say they have the right to do so. * From David F. Clinnin (edited to our 250-word limit): Mr. Henderson suggests that in order to "ban sailors caught cheating by using performance enhancing drugs, the ISAF must have the structure to ban them from all aspects of sport," and implies that the new Reg. 21 membership requirement for all races using the RRS is necessary to accomplish this ban. What he doesn't say is that the sanction for being caught doping may include a suspension or ban on participation in competition under the International Olympic Anti-Doping Code ( http://www.olympic.org/ioc/e/org/medcom/pdf/doping_code_e.pdf) and a suspension of eligibility (under Reg. 21) but, except in cases of drug trafficking, does not include a termination of the offender's membership in either the ISAF, a MNA or an affiliated club. Requiring MNA membership under the eligibility code does not enhance in any way the ISAF's power to prohibit a "cheating" sailor from participation in a race. In fact, such a sailor could still be a member in good standing of US Sailing or the New York Yacht Club and be prohibited from participating in competition. Mr. Henderson is or should be intimately aware of the contents of both Reg. 21 and the IOADC and does or should know that his comments in Scuttlebutt No. 801 are at least misleading. Respect for this forum and for all sailors requires that he admits that the new membership requirement of Reg. 21 would not be effective or even useful to bar drug using sailors from sailing in regattas and therefore must have been implemented for other reasons entirely. * From Ralph Taylor: Let me see if I have correct what Prez Henderson is saying: In order to be sure that elite (i.e., Olympic) sailors don't use performance-enhancing drugs, we have to force all sailors, everywhere, into the control system; although most won't be tested. Is that right? What's next? The Peruvian Air Force shooting at Sunfish? * From Vic Snyder: Our increased communication via the internet is a beautiful thing, but is a double edged sword. Scuttlebutt, along with other links, has increased my sailing awareness dramatically. It's very existence has opened discussion about many issues that need attention, but at the same time it accentuates the negatives because that's what push people's buttons. Of course there are areas in which U.S. Sailing can improve, but has it really deteriorated to the point that we need a new organization? How can anyone be so naive as to think they can create an organization that would perfectly represent all the varied interests of our sport? I understand that many changes (e.g.. - membership, new start sequence, etc.) are to keep consistency with worldwide competition. U.S. Sail addressed the membership concerns with the ingenious response of making the penalty for violation a warning. If competitors in casual racing use inappropriate rules to reduce our fun, the proper response is to treat them as the jackasses they are and ignore them socially. If you choose to move up into more competitive regattas then the game does change and you need to adjust. I personally intend to support my yacht club, class association, and friends as I am able and continue to have fun with sailing as I always have. Let's not fall into the 24 hour news syndrome of highlighting everything that's bad, ignoring what's good. To paraphrase a sailor I respect, "Let's go sailing. F*** the politics!" That be my 250 words. * From Ben Towery; I enjoyed Mr Fink's analogy regarding one-design vs. handicap racing. I see the analogy completely opposite, though. One-design racing can be like masturbation. It's the same thing over and over again. No room for creativity or change. Whereas handicap racing is more like "the real thing" in that it allows for development, experiment and variety. All in all, there is a time and a place for both. Even the one-design boats that get out dated will need a handicap venue to continue racing. Handicap racing, especially at the grand prix level, is good for advancing technology and creativity and gives an arena for those who do want to spend some money building a fast, unique boat. * From Mike Nash: I find it interesting that Jesper Radich can reach a world wide match racing ranking of No. 7 yet has never driven a sailboat with a wheel. I find it even more amusing that LBYC would invite such a skipper for its event that takes place in the largest boats on the circuit. One thing for sure is Mr. Radich will get plenty of practice this week and I imagine post some wins in the process. * From William Rothschild: What disappointment for TNZ and New Zealand when the reality of SAP's offshore sponsorship hits town. You cannot expect Hasso Plattner to put up 40 mill when the old partners are only in for 5 each. History has already shown team members leaving because of big business wanting to own the team. This has flagged a serious problem where the greedy old partners want their sweetheart deals of the past and are preventing TNZ from securing the funding they need.
ORACLE RACING What tipped the balance toward Ventura was not only its superb sailing conditions but also the area's tranquil environment, making it a perfect place for the team members and their families, said the 35-year-old Erkelens, who started sailing with his parents off the California coast when he was 10. "There's a real community feeling here," Erkelens said. Having a tranquil environment to train in is key to building morale and team spirit among crew members, he said. "That's a big part of what we're doing, building a team where everyone does their part, where if you run into something unexpected, you can adapt without even thinking about it." - John Scheibe, Ventura County Star Full story: http://www.staronline.com/vcs/news/article/0,1375,VCS_121_347475,00.html
ONE WORLD CHALLENGE "At a certain point, time becomes your enemy," Jonathan (McKee) said. "In the last Cup, the New York Yacht Club built their boats too late and never learned to race them well." (Craig) McCaw's investment so far suggests he isn't about to let that happen. "He's been a keen study of the America's Cup," Jonathan said. "He's a sailor, and he's passionate about it. He seems intrigued by the race from the intellectual and technical aspects, rather than the emotional side. He sees winning as a solvable puzzle." - Art Thiel, Seatle Post-Intelligencer. Full story: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/thiel/20131_thie25.shtml
A NICE PROBLEM TO HAVE The Musto has huge numbers (about 3/8" tall), but the numbers on the Ronstan are simply humongous (about 5/8' tall). Interestingly, the simple-to-use controls on both watches work exactly the same. (Hmm - could the same manufacturer have produced them both?) Both have the same four optional starting sequences: 5, 4, 1,0 - 5 minute - 3 minute, or any one minute interval program you choose to set up. After each timer goes though the countdown sequence, it will either repeat the countdown sequence again or start the stopwatch counting up. And both have the great sync button feature that allows you to use a subsequent sound signal to get the timer spot-on. The similarities end there. The Musto product is a true watch that you can wear every day of your life if you choose. The Ronstan timer is really just a yacht timer. While you can toggle back and forth between the time of day and the countdown / count up displays, it doesn't display the date, there is no alarm function and it doesn't have a night-light. But it's a great timer that you can wear on your wrist or strap onto the mast or the boom with its nifty elastic band. It also has a rotating face that makes it easy to read from any angle. But the Ronstan is nearly the size of a hockey puck, so you're not going to wear it on your wrist when you go out to a movie. Functional? Absolutely. Handsome jewelry? No way. So now you know why I'm confused. Both units are better than anything I've ever used before. And while the two are very similar, they are also very different. Without question, both will win over lots of fans.
ORC REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED. ARE YOU IN COMPLIANCE?
SWANS
INTERCLUB NATIONALS Final results:1. Jim Bowers & Myrna Chan MacRae (16), 2. Neal Fowler & Mike Collins (23), 3. Ben Cesare & Kim Cesare (26), 4. Andrew Kaplan & Storm Snaith (24), 5. Chad Demarest & Chick Fagan (42) Complete Results: http://www.interclub.org/nationals2001/
THE CURMUDGEON'S DEFINITIONS |
