|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2105 - May 31, 2006
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary,
opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO THE SPORT
A few years ago after the annual Newport to Ensenada Race I noticed a
curious group just outside the courtyard of the Bahia Hotel where
post-race celebrations were under way. One man was in a wheelchair, a
much smaller one was standing by his side and a third---apparently
blind---was standing behind them with a cane. In my most tactful manner
I asked who they were and what they were doing there. They told me they
had just sailed the race---and, furthermore, they intended to sail the
next Transpacific Yacht Race from L.A. to Hawaii in 2003. Right, I
thought to myself.
By now the Challenged America team has sailed two Transpacs. Last year,
although one crewman short on their Tripp 40, B'Quest, they placed
fourth overall among eight boats in Division 5. "Disabled, my eye!" one
beaten rival declared.
More than its glamorous Transpac rivals and even the America's Cup or
Volvo Ocean Race, the significance of Challenged America's successes has
brought sailing substantial exposure in American mainstream media. But
as the tally of more than 18,000 American casualties in Iraq and
Afghanistan accelerates the organization's inspirational role in the
rehabilitation process for all citizens with disabilities, the rising
costs of its programs has depleted its limited resources to where it was
unable to compete in this year's Ensenada race, and its prospects for
returning for the next Transpac in 2007 are dim. Thus, co-founder Urban
Miyares, the blind Vietnam veteran who co-founded the organization in
1990 and sailed Transpac as bowman, and his volunteer staff have
restructured the organization, as announced this week.
The key part of the announcement is a "wish list," offering a special
opportunity for people with means or without who love sailing to give
something back to the sport, as well as humanity. Some key points on the
list: corporate sponsors; boat slips/facility, affordable, permanent
location, San Diego and elsewhere; clubhouse or office/storefront
location, 400 sq. ft. or larger, San Diego; Transpac sailboat(s) over 40
feet in length; tax-deductible donation of quality boats and vehicles
for program use and/or resale; pro bono services in office, mechanical
and other non-sailing skills; airline tickets or frequent flyer miles
and lodging facilities for sailors with disabilities. Contact Challenged
America: (619) 594-8805 or Port@ChallengedAmerica.org -- Rich Roberts
NO GENERAL RECALLS
What can your regatta do for you? How about, no general recalls? Mark
Townsend is competition director and principal race officer (PRO) for
Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week, managed jointly by the Long Beach and
Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs. A trademark is his aversion to general recalls
when some boats cross the start line early but all are called back to
re-start---thus penalizing those who started properly but not those who
jumped the gun.
"This is probably the single action that’s most critical to a race
committee's success or failure on the water," Townsend said. "What’s
required is a script that your line boats know and use effectively and
quickly regardless of the starting situation. You should predetermine
what you will use and rehearse it on the practice day, so that your team
can execute flawlessly in the heat of battle when the entire class
charges the line."
Townsend wrote such a script. It offers radio procedures for clean and
not-so-clean starts (M is the private RC channel; VHF is broadcast to
the racers):
Case 1: All Clear.
-1:10 SB: (M) “Ten seconds to P flag drop.”
-1:00 SB: (M) “Drop.”
-0:10 SB: (M) “Ten seconds to start…5, 4, 3, 2, 1, start.”
+0:02 SB: (M) “Clear here, go.”
+0:05 PL: (M) “Port-line clear.”
+0:10 SB: (VHF) “All clear.”
Case 2: A few boats are over.
+0:02 SB: (VHF) “X-ray.” Follow with two-second horn blast.
+0:08 PL: (VHF) “Port-line has 6-0-0-0-6 break, 5-3 break, 2-5-5-5-5
done.”
+0:16 SB: (VHF) “Repeat, boats over are: 6-0-0-0-6 break, 5-3 break,
2-5-5-5-5 done.”
+0:29 PL: (VHF) “2-5-5-5-5 clear, 5-3 clear, done.”
+0:45 PL: (VHF) “6-0-0-0-6 clear.”
+0:51 SB: (M) “X-ray down, all clear.”
Case 3: Many boats are over.
+0:02 SB: (VHF) “X-ray.” Follow with two-second horn blast.
+0:08 PL: (VHF) "Port-line has many boats, they are: 5-3-1-8-4 break,
1-5-2-9-6 break, 2-8-3 break, 6-3-0-4-5 break, 6-3-3-1-4 break, 1-0
done."
+0:25 SB: (VHF) after checking off duplicates, “Signal boat has:
5-3-3-0-3 break, 4-0-4-4-5 break, 2-5-7 done."
Two options: call boats clear or repeat the list. Let’s start with
calling boats clear.
+0:35 PL: (VHF) "5-3-1-8-4 clear, 2-8-3 clear, 1-0 clear, 4-0-4-4-5
clear, 5-3-3-0-3 clear, done.”
+0:50 SB: (VHF) “The following are still over: 1-5-2-9-6 break,
6-3-0-4-5 break, 6-3-3-1-4 break, 2-5-7 done.”
+1:10 PL: (VHF) “6-3-3-1-4 clear.”
+1:25 PL: (VHF) “1-5-2-9-6 clear, 6-3-0-4-5 clear, done.”
+1:40 SB: (VHF) “2-5-7 is still over.”
Second option, repeat the list first, then call boats clear as they
clear.
+0:35 SB: (VHF) “Repeat, boats over at the start were:…”
Note the word “were” instead of “are” as some boats will have returned
by this time.
Story by Rich Robert, complete schedule of events for Ullman Sails Long
Beach Race Week: http://www.lbrw.org
OUT THE DOOR FOR UNDER $100?
Camet or Clew Gear shorts, a Dryshirt or Permawik technical UV shirt,
and a SUN-X sunscreen towelette for under $100…now that is an unbeatable
combination! Get ready for a summer in the sun with UV gear that will
keep you more comfortable and better protected than ever before. We also
offer the new Olukai sandals, Native eyewear, Blue Performance, and the
latest harness/ lifejacket combinations from Mustang Survival. Make this
year your best ever on the water with premium products from the leader
in sailing gear: Sailing Pro Shop. Call toll free 1-800-354-7245 (in
US), 562-594-8749 (international), or
http://www.sailingproshop.com/combo.htm
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
May 30, 2006, Portsmouth, United Kingdom – Tuesday, the Volvo Extreme
40’s did what they are designed to do - entertain. Spectators along
Southsea seafront saw the true power of the 40ft extreme catamarans,
which form part of the in-port entertainment package for the Volvo Ocean
Race 2005-06, and witnessed the carnage of the final race of the day.
In 15-25 knots the final race saw two of the teams, overall series
leaders Tommy Hilfiger and Volvo Ocean Race, upside down. Tommy Hilfiger
helmed by Randy Smyth performed a spectacular cartwheel after they dug
the front of the boat in whilst they were leading the race. The boat got
to the point of no return and all of the crew members tumbled from the
high side, through the air and into the water. Unfortunately Tommy
Hilfiger were unable to finish the race but still managed to hold on to
second place overall after scoring two seconds and a first in the three
earlier races of the day.
In exactly the same spot, just one lap later, Volvo Ocean Race helmed by
the class designer Yves Loday mirrored the mistake and although they
didn’t do a complete cartwheel, they did capsize the boat causing them
to forfeit a result from that race. Team Basilica, helmed by 49er sailor
Alister Richardson managed to keep their heads above water. The all
British team scored four results inside the top three to pull out an
eighteen point lead over second placed Tommy Hilfiger. Racing continues
tomorrow. Results, Day 2 (after 8 races): 1. Basilica, Alister
Richardson, 72 pts; 2. Tommy Hilfiger, Randy Smyth, 54 pts; 3.
Motorola-CHR, Conrad Humphrey, 53 pts; 4. Holmatro, Mitch Booth, 46 pts;
5. Volvo Ocean Race, Yves Loday, 38 pts. --
http://www.VolvoExtreme40.org
SUCCINCT
International yachting Journalist Tim Jeffery insightfully analyzed
Monday’s Volvo in-shore race with 73 well-chosen words: ‘The 2½-hour
race encapsulated much that has unfolded since the Volvo's start last
November. The well-developed ABN Amro One still has new sails to use,
has latent speed and a determined crew. The canny Cayard, who was late
to launch his boat before the start, has analyzed his rivals' best
practice and leapfrogged past them. Ericsson, hampered by poor sail
choices and a lack of pre-race testing, is still struggling seven months
later.” -- Tim Jeffery, The Daily Telegraph, full story:
http://tinyurl.com/pwuo7
COLLEGIATE NATIONALS
Charleston, South Carolina (May 30, 2006) – Over the last three days,
competition for the ICSA/ Layline National Team Racing Championship
progressed from the opening rounds among 14 colleges (who qualified for
the championship through conference eliminations), first eliminating six
schools, and then to the “final four” before Georgetown University
(Washington, D.C.) emerged with their second national team racing title.
In the first round of the series, Georgetown posted a 6-0 win-loss
record. During the championship rounds among the top-eight schools, the
Hoyas gave up only three races out of 14 for a number one slot into the
final round among the top-four schools.
Graduating seniors Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) and Ed du Moulin
(Larchmont, N.Y.), and sophomore Chris Behm (Hampton, Va.) skippered for
the Hoyas, while graduating seniors Nick Deane (Boston, Mass.), Kelly
Lanzara (Great Falls, Va.) and Dan Monico (Winnetka, Ill.), junior
Caroline LaMotte Jr. (Oxford, Md.) and freshman Carly Chamberlain
(Newport Beach, Calif.) handled the crew duties.
Racing under mostly sunny skies with a consistent easterly breeze
between 8-12 knots, the course, which was set close to the Ravenel
Bridge, afforded the large spectator crowd perfect viewing from the deck
of the USS Yorktown. Joining Georgetown in the contest for the title
were Tufts University (9 wins-5 losses), Hobart/William Smith Colleges
and the University of South Florida (both with 8 wins-6 losses). In the
end it came down to who would win the final race of the day to break the
tie between Tufts and Georgetown. -- Media Pro Int’l,
http://collegesailing.org/nas/spring06/
Hot Images: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/icsa-tr/
THERE’S NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN A FAST YACHT
When the venerable Six Meter “Nada” beat 21 other classic yachts in the
Small Boat Class and won Class A in the Spirit of Tradition division in
the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta a few weeks ago, she turned a lot of
heads. Launched in 1930 and beautifully refit this spring, the
bright-finished “Nada” flew a full complement of Doyle sails on the way
to her classic performance. Take a look at the story and photos:
http://www.doylesails.com/news.htm#nada
FOR THE RECORD
Things are not going well for Adrian Flanagan as he sails the 38-foot
Barrabas towards the Bering Strait on his ‘North-South’ solo
circumnavigation record attempt. “Not since I set off on the Alpha
Global Expedition have I felt as pressured as I do now,” he wrote. “The
thumbscrew is the clock - seconds dribbling inexorably into the infinite
void never to be recovered. With each moment of time that ticks by, my
window for making the Bering Strait and the Arctic shinks. I have now
been effectively becalmed for five days, a full fifty percent of the
time since I departed Honolulu. I accept, albeit grudgingly that I am at
the mercy of some greater power and my mind bends to a Taoist belief
that I must be as water and flow easily around obstructions rather than
try to hard to roll them aside. But flow as I might, my eye is still
drawn to the clock and the sweep of the hands around its face, leaking
time.” -- http://www.alphaglobalex.com/?q=950
SAILING SHORTS
* The search for the Spanish Volvo Open 70, movistar, has been resumed.
An aircraft took off at 6.30 am local time (on Tuesday) to attempt to
find the yacht, which was abandoned by the crew last week after keel
damage had caused significant water ingress. --
http://www.bymnews.com/new/content/view/29924/48/
* It was at 4 minutes and 39 seconds past two GMT on Monday morning that
the Capgemini and Schneider Electric trimaran set sail from Yokohama Bay
to head for San Francisco. For this attempt at the Pacific record from
West to East, Olivier de Kersauson and his 8-man crew on board Geronimo
will have to beat the record of 14 days, 17 hours, 22 minutes and 50
seconds held by Bruno Peyron. Listen to Olivier de Kersauson on a
Scuttlebutt podcast prior to his departure:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/0530-odk/
* Sea Scout Ship 711 of Newport Beach has received the BoatU.S. National
Sea Scout Flagship Award as the top performing Sea Scout unit in the
country. The record of the “Ship” and its two dozen Sea Scouts, aged 14
to 20, included 36 days of on-the-water activities, including 22 days of
cruising. BSA's Newport Sea Base is Ship 711’s homeport and its
principal vessel is a Columbia 43 named Del Mar. The Ship also sails on
3 Scout Spirit, a 77-ft. Reichel/Pugh maxi ocean racer, which the Sea
Scouts recently sailed to a second-in-class finish in the Lexus
Newport-to-Ensenada race.
* Number 1 ranked Claire Leroy of France tops the list of skippers who
will compete in the second Mayor’s Cup match racing regatta in Long
Beach, California this coming July. She will be joined by Katie Spithill
of Australia, Caroline Bejar from Brazil, plus US sailors Sandy Hayes,
Katy Lovell, Louise Bienvenu, Charlie Arms and defending champion Liz
Hjorth. The ISAF Grad 2 event will be sailed in the Catalina 37s used in
the Congressional Cup.
* The Scuttlebutt website received an infusion of photos from recent
racing. Photographer Max Ranchi sent images from the opening event of
the the Breitling TP52 MedCup Season, the Punta Ala Trophy, while
frequent sailing media contributor Fiona Brown provided images from a
Dragon regatta in Cowes, England:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/
* Match Race Germany is one of three events that has been part of every
World Match Racing Tour schedule. It starts this year on June 1 as the
tour’s penultimate stage, and offers approximately $25,000 in prize
money. The skippers who will race Bavaria 35 Matchs on Lake Constance in
Stage 7 of the 2006 Tour are: Ian Ainslie (RSA), Jesper Bank (DEN), Tino
Ellegast (GER), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Björn Hansen (SWE), Michael
Hestbaek (DEN), Staffan Lindberg (FIN), Sten Mohr (DEN), Eric Monnin
(SUI), Evgeniy Neugodnikov (RUS), Mathieu Richard (FRA), Ian Williams
(GBR). -- http://www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com
* North Sails has partnered with expert meteorologist Chris Bedford and
his team at Sailing Weather Services to provide free weather forecasts
for the Lands' End Detroit NOOD Regatta from June 2-4, 2006, hosted by
the Bayview Yacht Club. To sign up, visit North Sails' online weather
center: http://na.northsails.com/ew/ew_main.taf
SAILFLOW.COM - WEATHER WHERE YOU SAIL!
SailFlow, the leader in real-time and forecasted marine weather,
announces the completion of a new website. Their FREE service eliminates
all your weather bookmarks and gives you everything in one convenient
location. Plus SailFlow deploys proprietary weather stations where you
sail. -- http://www.SailFlow.com/new
EIGHT BELLS
Paul Kettenburg was barely old enough to know a stem from a stern when
he saw the first boat take shape in his family's Point Loma backyard. As
his father and older brother built a 24-foot speedboat in 1918, the
young Kettenburg eagerly played the role of gofer, handing them tools,
pieces of wood and fasteners. It was a valuable lesson in boat building
for the future president of Kettenburg Marine, which became known
nationally for designing and manufacturing superior sailing and racing
vessels. Mr. Kettenburg, a lifelong sailing enthusiast who became
commodore of the San Diego Yacht Club and president of the San Diego
Maritime Museum, died May 21 at his Point Loma home. He was 92. The
cause of death was heart failure, said his son, Tom.
Known for his hands-on mastery of all things nautical, Mr. Kettenburg
brought technical and engineering skills to his family business. He
joined what was then Kettenburg Boat Works on Shelter Island in 1943 as
a systems engineer after working in the heating and air-conditioning
business for nearly a decade in the Chicago area. When his brother,
George Jr., died of cancer in 1952, Mr. Kettenburg became the senior
partner in the family-owned company. Teaming with Charles Underwood, he
designed a series of boats beginning with the K-38, a cruising yacht.
“He had a gift as a designer and was a very fine sailor as well,” said
Mark Allen, an author who is chronicling the history of the Kettenburg
business. “His boats were exceptionally designed, won a lot of races and
are still very much treasured today.” Whittaker Corp., a Los
Angeles-based technology and chemical company, bought Kettenburg Marine
in 1969. Mr. Kettenburg remained as president until his retirement in
1979. -- Jack Williams, San Diego Union-Tribune, full story:
http://tinyurl.com/qp4uy
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. 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, and personal attacks for
elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thought at
the Scuttlebutt website:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi)
* From Chris Ericksen: I could not agree more than I do with Ralph
Taylor when he says that, "the rules are supposed to be enforced by we
sailors, not outside authorities" ('Butt 2104). It has been my
experience that, barring fouls caused by inattention or error, the
majority of infractions seem to involve a minority of sailors, most of
whom are well known for this behavior. They also seem to prey on less
aggressive sailors in the hope that these sailors will let them get away
with it, and they universally cast a, "Who, me?" look on anyone who
dares to call them on it. I sure wish I could figure a way to make this
behavior stop, but it seems to escape not only me but others.
* From Bud Thompson (Re: Volvo 70's): As I follow the problems involved
with some of the Volvo 70's I am reminded of the days when fiberglass
boats came on the scene and I was writing a good portion of that Marine
cover on Oahu. We had losses where just the levering motion with the
keel going through the waves at 4 to 5 knots caused the glass to crack
for and aft where it attached to the hull. I picture in my mind a 70
footer emerging through a wave at sometimes well over 20 knots and
marvel at where we are today!
* From Robbie Dean: In addition to Morgan and Pete's victory in
Medemblick, 49er sailors Dalton Bergan and Zack Maxam (USA 795) finished
fourth place overall at the Holland Regatta last week. Remarkable
performance by the US 49er squad placing three boats in the Top 10.
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATIONS
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat
them.
Special thanks to Sailing Pro Shop, Doyle Sailmakers, and SailFlow.
|
| |