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SCUTTLEBUTT 2947 - Friday, October 9, 2009
Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,
providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and
dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt
Today's sponsors are Holmatro and Quantum Sails
THE NATION'S SAILING CAPITAL
A recent story by Katie Arcieri in The Capital discussed whether the “nation’s
sailing capital” was Annapolis, Maryland or Newport, Rhode Island. Here are some
excerpts of the arguments presented in that piece.
The debate comes down to a matter of opinion in the two cities, which mirror
each other. Both once were important seaports, and their sailing industries
contribute immeasurably to their economies. Each is well known for their scenic
harbors, affluent communities and summer tourists. Both have organized sailing,
and are considered two of the world's most sought-after ports for regattas.
But there are also drastic differences between the two towns. In Newport, deep
ocean waters allow mega yachts to back right into Thames Street downtown.
Meanwhile, the flat shallow water of the Chesapeake Bay is ideal for smaller
sailboats that glide into Annapolis. Another difference is that Annapolis'
warmer climes allow the city's sailing season to extend through November and
there's even a growing "frostbite" sailing community that sails through the
winter months. But in chilly Newport, the docks are packed up by around October.
While both towns are home to internationally known sailboat shows, Team
Annapolis said Newport can't hold a candle to its events. Last year, the October
show was promoted as featuring 250 in-water boats and another 150 to 250 boats
on land. Separately, the U.S. Powerboat Show, which begins next week, featured
another 450 in-water boats. The Newport show, which combines powerboats and
sailboats every September, features more than 700 boats, said Nancy Piffard, the
show's director.
Both cities have long referred to themselves as sailing capitals, though it's
unclear when the phrase was coined. But officials from both towns said the
phrase is certainly part of their local lexicon. Tate Linden of Stokefire, a
branding agency in Alexandria, Va., said the tagline is about as effective as
calling a city the "meatloaf capital of the world." Debates aside, Linden said
he thinks there is room for a friendly competition between Annapolis and Newport
and "maybe even San Diego that drives traffic to all three." - To read the
complete story: http://tinyurl.com/ybydnxv
JUAN KOUYOUMDJIAN
The Valencia Sailing website has just posted a very interesting interview with
Juan Kouyoumdjian, the Argentinean yacht designer whose designs have won the
last two consecutive Volvo Ocean Races. Here are some excerpts from Juan K’s
quotes that deal with the race itself.
If this race exists it is because it creates a business and marketing platform
for all that invest in it. As a result, I think that these questions should be
answered by those that have an interest and make a profit out of it. Having
personally been involved with people like that I think they are very interested
in the format we had last time because having this contact with their clients in
different regions of the planet was the very reason they did it in the first
place. Although I'm not a marketing specialist, I sensed they were very happy
with it, so I will let them make the final decision.
On the other hand, what we sailors/designers like is a round-the-world race and
it has to remain a round-the-world race. For example when I hear that there is
the intention to have the final leg score double or triple points, something
like a medal race, so that the race is not won before it's finished, that to me
is nonsense. Imagine if that was the case in the last leg between Stockholm and
Saint Petersburg. Well, winning that leg isn't representative of winning a
round-the-world race. There is something that marketing and business people have
to understand. It is a marketing and business platform because, first of all, it
is a great design and human adventure and only because of that. It's not the
other way round.
I would love to have a Volvo Ocean Race with 15 or even 20 entries, who
wouldn't. But we have to be careful how low we are prepared to compromise
quality in order to achieve those quantities. In this game, quantity is
inversely proportional to quality. Just consider a simple fact. Is it feasible
to have 15-20 properly built VO70 yachts? For that reason I'm astonished how
long it's taking Volvo Event Management to come out with these rules because
even if we had 12-15 teams ready and able to get going on their process tomorrow
morning how are we going to do to have all those boats built in time? - To read
Kouyoumdjian’s comments about his last campaign with Ericsson, click here:
http://tinyurl.com/yhgvopu
THE REST OF THE STORY
Former ISAF President Paul Henderson has written to Scuttlebutt to set the
record straight about Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) - designer of the Australian 12
Metre, Australia II.
“The real story about the Acapulco Olympics with BenBob, which is what his
friends were allowed to call him after he changed his name from Bob Miller to
Ben Lexcan, is as follows: The final night after the Medal Ceremony all hell
breaks loose. The Olympic Village was the wonderful Caleta Hotel. As usual the
Irish and Aussies were trying to outdo each other. Ben thought the Aussie party
needed more noise so he commandeered me to drive his Pink Jeep down to the
Tequila A Go-Go. Ben went inside and hired the seven-piece Mariachi Band, which
he crammed into the back of the Jeep.
“We drove through the security without stopping and Ben took his band to the
Aussie party, where he not only conducted the entourage but played the tuba.
Security finally caught up with the intrusion and expelled Ben's Band. It was
now 11 p.m. and Ben turned to me and squinting nervously said, "Henderson take
me to the airport. I am going to see Buddy Melges". My response was, since Buddy
did not sail in the 1968 Olympics, he was in Zenda Wisconsin. Ben, dressed in
his sandals with shorts and shirt bought at Goodwill and with only his
toothbrush, demanded I drive him to the airport, which I did.
“The conversation with the Airline Ticket Agent went like this: ‘I want a
ticket" demanded Ben. "To where - as there is only one more flight tonight,’ she
replied. ‘Good! I will buy it,’ announced Ben, and he disappeared.
“Three days later I got back to Toronto and was concerned about what happened to
my FD pal so phoned Buddy in Zenda, and asked if he had seen Ben. ‘Yea - do you
want to speak to him?’ Ben had flown to Bogota Colombia, Dallas, Chicago where
Gloria and Buddy took him to Zenda.
“What great memories I have of the bizarre characters I had the pleasure of
sailing against. BenBob and Buddy are at the top of the pyramid.” - Paul
Henderson
SEE HOLMATRO AT THE ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT SHOW OCT. 8-12
See why Holmatro is becoming the rigging hydraulic supplier of choice worldwide.
See and feel the quality of Holmatro at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Take
advantage of 10% off sale on Holmatro Emergency Rod Cutters when purchased from
Holmatro dealers at the show. Holmatro Extreme Winch Handles will also be
available at a very special price at the Holmatro Marine Equipment booth; Land
Space 59A. Those unable to attend Annapolis should visit our website to find a
nearby dealer or see us at METS November 17-19. http://www.holmatro.com
BOTY
Cruising World and Sailing World magazines announced their nominees for the 2010
Boat of the Year awards. Sailing World nominated 15 performance-oriented models
for its awards: Beneteau First 40, Corsair Dash 750, CW Hood 32, Eko 6.50, J
Boats J/95, J Boats J/97, K650, The Landing School 30, M65, Morris M29, Sensei
9M, Summit 35, Rustler 24, Topaz Race X and Weta 4.4m.
Cruising World nominated 20 boats, split into five categories: Weekender:
Corsair Dash 750; J/95; Morris M29; Sensei 9M; Midsize Cruiser, less than 40
feet: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i; Island Packet Estero; Hunter 39; J/97; Full-Size
Cruiser, 40 to 50 feet: Hunter 50CC; Beneteau First 40; Catalina 445; Premium
Cruiser, 50 feet and over: Morris M52; Tayana Annapolis 64; Passport Vista 615;
Oyster 655; Jeanneau 57; Multihull Cruiser: Sunsail 384; Leopard 38; Fountaine
Pajot Lipari 41; Lagoon 400
The nominated boats will now move on to the judging round. The Cruising World
judges will focus on production boats laid out and equipped for coastal and
offshore cruising and voyaging, while judges on the Sailing World panel will
concentrate on boats designed and built with racing in mind.
PERFECT, SO FAR
Hamilton, Bermuda (October 7, 2009) - Great Britain’s Ben Ainslie and his Team
Origin crew of Iain Percy, Christian Kamp and Matt Cornwell moved into the
quarterfinals of the Argo Group Gold Cup with a perfect 7-0 record thus far. All
of the top two teams in each group automatically moved up to the quarterfinal
stage. Joining Ainslie in the quarterfinals in second place at 4-3 is Adam
Minoprio. Group 1 is represented by Eric Monnin (SUI) at 6-1 and Ian Williams
(GBR) also 6-1. The top two in Group 3 were last year’s Gold cup winner Johnie
Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team at 6-1 and 2007 Gold Cup champion Mathieu
Richard (FRA).
The remaining slots in the quarter finals will go to the top two in the
repechage round robin which is yet to be completed. The third and fourth
finishers in each group made into the six-team round robin that will finish
Friday morning. - Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/ygwn7p8
REPECHAGE
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 1-1
Phil Robertson (NZL) 0-1
Blythe Walker (BDA) 1-1
Damien Iehl (FRA) 1-1
Dave Perry (USA) 0-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) 2-0
SPLASH
Rochester, NY (October 8, 2009) - After being blown out yesterday at the US
Sailing Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championships, Anna Tunnicliffe and
her crew had a good start to the regatta, finishing the day's three races with a
3, 6, 1 to hold a two point lead over Canada's, Jen Provan. “We initially pushed
off the dock around 8:40,” Tunnicliffe reported. “But while pulling up the main
halyard, I stepped off the boat and fell in the water. I was OK, but a bit wet
and cold, and my crew found it very funny. Luckily, I had a spare change of
clothes in the car and did a quick change into dry clothes and then headed out
to the race course.
“It was a good start and a lot of cobwebs have been blown away,” Tunnicliffe
said. “It has been a long time since our whole team has been fleet racing so it
took a while to get used to the big picture of fleet race tactics.” Three races
scheduled for Friday with a slightly lighter wind forecast.
1. Anna Tunnicliffe, Plantation FL, 3-6-1=10pts
2. Jennifer Provan, Toronto ONT, 6-3-3=12pts
3. Dominique Provoyeur, kodlenhof WC, 10-2-2=14pts
4. Kaitlin Storck, Huntington NY, 1-12-4=17pts
5. Lucy Cory Sertl Rochester NY, 13-1-5=19pts
6. Amanda Taselaar, 9-5-6=20ts
7. Donna Faust Webster NY, 4-9-15=28pts
8. JoAnn Fisher Annapolis MD, 17-4-8=29pts
9. Carol Cronin Jamestown RI, 11-8-10=29pts
10. Marieke Poulie Maarssen N.A., 2-11-17=30pts
Event website: http://www.riwkc.com/
TP52 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Palma de Mallorca, October 8, 2009 - A first and a second from two difficult
races today on the Bay of Palma sees the 2007 world champions Artemis (SWE)
emerge with only the slimmest possible lead after four races have now been
sailed at the TP52 World Championship. With Paul Cayard (USA) calling tactics
for Torbjorn Tornqvist (SWE), backed up by Hamish Pepper (NZL) and Chris
Nicholson (AUS), Artemis sailed smart in the difficult, unsettled breezes. With
small changes in wind pressure and direction through both races - the SSW’ly
breeze at between 9 and 12 knots - there were ample opportunities to make gains,
and losses. “It was a matter of metres if you could cross people or not, because
they were short beats and very smooth water,” Cayard explained. “And so I guess
we just got clean, we were able to cross most of the people and approach the
mark from the starboard side, which is great because you avoid all the ducking,
yelling and screaming behind you.”
The regatta schedule has been altered to allow more windward-leeward racing
Friday with the 1.5 points coastal race scheduled for Saturday.
TP52 World Championship - Day Two Leaders
1. Artemis (Torbjorn Tornqvist, helm; Paul Cayard, tactician), 8+3+1+2 =14pts
2. Bribón (Gonzalo Araujo, helm; Ross McDonald, tactician), 7+2+2+3=14pts
3. Quantum Racing (Terry Hutchinson helm; Morgan Larson, tactician),
5+1+3+6=15pts
4. Audi TP52 Powered by Q8 (Riccardo Simoneschi), 4+6+5+4=19pts
5. Cristabella (John Cook), 1+8+6+6+5=20pts
Complete story: http://tinyurl.com/yfn9q6w
SAILING SHORTS
* Yachting Australia has signed a long term sponsorship deal with apparel
manufacturer SLAM which will see Australian sailors wearing this brand until the
2012 London Olympic Games. The multi-million dollar agreement encompasses the
Australian Sailing Team, Australian Paralympic Sailing Team, Australian Sailing
Development Squad, OAMPS Australian Youth Sailing Team, coaches and staff.
* Alan "Doug" Scott is trying to learn the whereabouts of Finisterre, the famous
39-foot yawl that Olin Stephens designed for Carleton Mitchell 55 years ago.
Scott may be contacted at: adscott2@myfairpoint.net
* Over 100 individuals signed up for the eighth bi-annual Blue Water World Rally
which will set sail from Gibraltar on October 25. Over the next two years 21
yachts will sail with Blue Water Rallies from Gibraltar to the Caribbean, 32
yachts will cross the Pacific to Australia, where more southern hemisphere
yachts will join for the “Oz-Med” Rally. Blue Water Rallies will support this
fleet along 23 legs starting in Gibraltar and stopping off in Antigua, Panama,
Galapagos, Tonga, Darwin, Phuket, and Djibouti, to name but a few, before
finally returning to the Mediterranean. - http://yachtrallies.co.uk/
COMPETITIVE PRICES OR COMPETITIVE SAILS!?!
Ah the Fall ... when the only thing falling faster than leaves are sail prices
as sailmakers ‘traditionally’ race each other to the bottom. Unfortunately you
tend to get what you pay for. At Quantum they pride themselves on Quality… no
matter what the season. While now is the perfect time to get the best deal on
Quantum sails, be assured that this is one of those rare moments when you will
actually get more than you paid for! Contact your nearest Quantum representative
and get a truly good deal on the industry’s highest quality sails or visit
http://www.quantumsails.com.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt
include the Boxing Kangaroo, Scows at sunset, Islander 36 champs, Cascade Locks,
crew teamwork, Skiff high diving, and Bermuda fitted dinghies. If you have
images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are
this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/1009/
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
If you are lucky, well prepared, or both, every sailing outing will be without
accident. However, stuff can happen out of our control, so being prepared
includes being able handle the unexpected. Essential training for every sailor
venturing offshore, this week’s USCG Helicopter Rescue videos were produced by
the US Coast Guard and the Cruising Club of America and is part of the core
training for the Safety At Sea Seminar sanctioned by US SAILING. Click here for
this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/09/1009/
* The popular T2P ‘Crash & Burn’ series of videos has four new reels posted,
including classic match race footage from the Congressional Cup between Russell
Coutts and Chris Law: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/09/t2p/
* If you have a video you like, please send your suggestion for next week’s
Video of the Week to mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Please submit your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’).
Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words
(letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and
save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more
open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
-- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Angus Phillips
Anyone who missed Blue Robinson's profile of the late, great Ben Lexcen (Butt
2946) should go back and read it.
(http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/1002b/). What a hoot, and a perfect
reminder of what the America's Cup ought to be like. Who is Blue Robinson and
how did he get such a cool name?
* From Jeroen van der Beek
(RE: Hans "Oily" Liniger, President Swiss Sailing Promotion letter in
Scuttlebutt 8 Oct 2009.) It is reassuring to hear that Mr. Bertarelli does not
own" SNG or any other Swiss sailing club. Sadly appearances are that while he
may not own SNG, he does pull the strings. However some late but still welcome
action from SNG the current Trustee’s of the Americas Cup to reign in Team
Alinghi and return the Americas Cup back to the water and the spirit of the Deed
of Gift would be welcomed by this sailing fan.
* From Gunther E. Hering
If the story carried in the NY Post and reported by Curmudgeon is true then it
is high time to remove both SNG and Team Alinghi from any direct responsibility
for the 33rd defense of the AC. Let the NYYC work together with a neutral AC
Management group to restore the event to its proper place in sailing.
* From Bud Thompson
Everything I've read and heard (about the America’s Cup) seems to tell me that
the boys at the NYYC maneuvered an iron hand through the years.
* From David Munge
No more moaning about the America's Cup. If you have not noticed the Inaugural
Louis Vuitton Event organized by the World Sailing Team Association (WSTA) is on
its way to replace the event. It will not take long for the sailing
establishment to consign the AC to history. RIP: Bertarelli and Ellison. (Event
details at http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8191)
* From Fritz Mueller
Time was, that the Americas Cup really meant something. I suggest that
Scuttlebutt stop any further reporting on this drama which is turning into a
joke, and which has become so demeaning to everyone. By everyone, it includes
those of us sailors who have always had an interest in following the challenge,
supposedly the pinnacle of the sport.
Whether we like it or not terrorism in our world exists as long as there is an
audience, and principally as means by which the media can be swayed for a cause.
It's all about getting attention. The AC, in a parallel sense, has been headed
the same way. Maybe, if no one paid attention, they would seriously have to stop
whining and get their stuff together and have a regatta - or be forgotten. With
all respect due to the championship, and the level of sailors participating.
CURMUDGEON’S COUNSEL
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde
Special thanks to Holmatro and Quantum Sails
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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