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SCUTTLEBUTT 1717 - November 23, 2004
Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is a
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talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press
releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always
welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS
Steve Tupper has been a member the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club for fifty
three years. He represented Canada in the 1966 Olympics in Acapulco, coming
fourth in the Dragon class. Since then he has missed just one Olympics ...
in 1980 in Moscow ... the year nobody went. Otherwise he went as a
competitor, a coach to the Canada team, or as a judge, to every other
Olympics from then to now.
He coached the Canadian challenge to the America's Cup. He has sailed an
international regattas too many to mention. Here's a few: The 1979 Fastnet
Admiral's Cup. Sardinia Cup. SORC. CORK. St Francis Big Boat series. He's
the current Executive Director of BC Sailing, a position he's held for 20
years and from which he will retire in the next year. Before that he was a
sail maker, managing Hood Sails Vancouver. He's also a seated director of
the Canadian Olympic Committee.
He has been a member of ISAF for many years. His intense involvement in the
Rules Committee has been instrumental in writing, polishing and explaining,
the racing rules we all now sail to. He's been both member and vice chair
of the Events Committee which sanctions the Olympics and virtually every
other international sailing event in the world as well as many other
committees of ISAF. He's been head judge at so many regattas he can't list
them all but I'll list a few. The Star regatta, Bacardi Cup, has been a
regular event for Steve for over 20 years. He's judged at national and
international events all over the world for boats from 70 footers to one
meter. Three years ago he was a judge for the Volvo Cup Around The World
Race. And he continues to be in demand for judging events all over the world.
Two years ago he won the Rolex Canadian Sailor of the Year award for his
years of service to the world of sailing. And for RVYC he has been
instrumental in the administration of the Corinthian fund and working with
our young sailors at every level, from Opti juniors to Star Silver Medalist
Ross MacDonald: anyone who wants advice and counsel on sailing gets help
from Steve.
And yes he does actually sail too. For the last five years he helmed and
called tactics in the Little Ensenada race from San Diego, most recently on
a Reichel- Pugh 50. Nobody loves sailing like Steve. He's never happier
than when he climbs into Trincomali, his beloved C&C 27 and sails off to
murder prawns and bottles of wine in places unknown. Racing, cruising or
administrating: Steve is truly an all-around sailor.
At the ISAF meeting in Copenhagen a little more than a week ago, Steve
Tupper was awarded their gold medal for service on the occasion of his
retiring form his major responsibilities on the Rules Committee and the
Events Committee. On Thursday November 18 the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
recognized the tremendous contribution made by Tupper to the world of
sailing and to the reputation of RVYC by awarding him an Honorary Life Member.
TRANSPAC 52
(The Daily Sail spoke with Russell Bowler, Bruce Farr's main partner and
principle engineering talent at Farr Yacht Design, about the Transpac 52
class. Here's an excerpt from that story.)
While the TP52 appears to be hitting the spot with owners and crews at
present Bowler feels it is hard to gauge whether the class being a box rule
rather than a one design will give it more or less longevity. "There is a
plus and minus with a box rule. The minus is that it becomes a development
class so the boats you see around now will inevitably be superseded by the
ones that come in next. You can modify them, but there may be hull shape
developments or some issues that you can't get to - you saw that a bit at
the [Rolex] Big Boat series, where Yassou and some of the first generation
boats were just off the pace. And it is our responsibility as designers to
make sure that a development class develops. And the players there should
understand that and want that - it is really down to them and how
interested they are in that game as to how long it will last.
"A good one design takes that development issue out but it embeds an aging
in that class which is inevitable as well. The Farr 40 class is interesting
because that is still considered a contemporary race boat and it was
introduced in 1997 and the Mumm 30 is older. So there are two classes that
are okay and have survived." - www.thedailysail.com
BONUS TIME
In recognition of their outstanding performances and personal achievements
in the summer, Britain's Athens Gold medallists, and 'Team Volvo for Life'
sailors, Shirley Robertson and Ben Ainslie have been presented with a Volvo
each. Volvo Car UK set Ben and Shirley the added challenge of winning a car
of their choice from the range if they achieved top honors of Gold medals
in Athens - and they achieved these goals in true winning style.
The award-winning XC90 was the natural chose for Shirley, as she had
already put one to the test, fully laden and towing a boat across the
Continent with her team during their training campaign; Meanwhile, Ben
chose the sleek, high-performance, 300bhp S60 R with Volvo's active Four-C
chassis. - Yachting World,
www.yachting-world.com/auto/newsdesk/20041022121226ywnews.html
THE VARIANT SERIES
Featuring the award-winning SR-91 polarized lens, coveted by the world's
greatest sailors, the new Variant Series from Kaenon Polarized takes you
from the city to the boat. A stylish, rimless and lightweight metal alloy
frame chassis, the Variant is available in three unique lens shapes and our
proprietary polarized tints and light transmission levels. Minimalist and
comfortable, the Variant allows you to simply enjoy the lens. Kaenon
Polarized. Evolve Optically. Visit the Kaenon website to view the new
Variant Series and locate an authorized dealer nearest you. Available at
finer locations around the world. http://www.kaenon.com
A WAITING GAME
Since Ellen MacArthur's 75-foot trimaran 'B&Q' arrived in Falmouth (UK) on
November 15, the public and media alike have had only had one question for
Ellen: "When are you leaving?" Ellen's response: "It could be three days,
three weeks or longer..." This is the reality of record attempts and
finding the right weather window to start a non-stop, solo round the world
record attempt is no easy feat: "We want the wind from behind B&Q or on her
side but not in front..." said Ellen. "So we're looking for a High Pressure
area over the Azores that basically means the Trade Winds will be strong
further down the track after the start and if the Trade Winds are strong we
can get across Equator quickly."
Looking for that five to seven day weather pattern to get B&Q across the
start can be an arduous task: "I liaise with Commanders' Weather - our
weather routers in the States - every day and we are looking up to 10-14
days ahead but the weather predictions are not totally reliable this far
ahead. But if there is something looking good out there, we can pick it up
at this stage. But in reality the weather forecasts are only relatively
accurate five to six days ahead not more and even then things can still
change." - www.teamellen.com
VENDÉE GLOBE
Jean Le Cam's Bonduelle holds the lead in the Vendée Globe round-the-world
race after Day 14, the eighth that he has been in that position. But the
frontrunners are facing complex weather conditions in the South Atlantic,
having to deal with a low pressure area off Brazil before skirting round a
major high. - Tim Jeffery, http://tinyurl.com/69b57
One thing for sure at the 1900 GMT ranking is that the pace is slowing
significantly and that the fleet are in for a frustrating night,
particularly for those doing the chasing. With the frontrunners now making
around 11.5 to 13.5 knots of boat speed in seemingly shifty winds, Vincent
Riou on PRB has sneaked in under the 40 mile deficit of leader Jean Le Cam
(Bonduelle), keeping up the pressure, while the majority of the fleet have
lost ground. Norbert Sedlacek (Brother), now has a deficit of 1369.8 miles
from the leader, it is... literally a hemisphere behind. -
www.vendeeglobe.fr/uk/
Standings at 1900 GMT November 22:
1. Bonduelle, Jean Le Cam
2. PRB, Vincent Riou, 39.3 miles to leader
3. Sill Véolia, Roland Jourdain, 94.1 mtl
4. VMI, Sébastien Josse, 108.7 mtl
5. Ecover, Mike Golding, 188.9 mtl
6. Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson, 215.4 mtl
7. Virbac-Paprec, Jean-Pierre Dick, 411.9 mtl
8. Temenos, Dominique Wavre, 487.2 mtl
9. Arcelor Dunkerque, Joé Seeten, 557.7mtl
10. UUDS, Hervé Laurent, 559.3 mtl
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
"It is exactly as I said yesterday - the guys ahead are going to extend out
and we're going to fall back and that's what's going to happen I'm afraid
for the foreseeable. The wind is a lot more solid up where they are. The
new breeze is sailing away from us - there's nothing we can do. It is a
case of the rich getting richer but it doesn't mean it can't change around.
What we need is a case of the poor getting richer." - Mike Golding, Ecover
"I spent another hour on the end of the boom today as I needed to
re-splice and shorten the second reef line so that the covered part of the
line is in the jammer at the front of the boom when reefed. Yesterday was
the first time I put in the second reef since my re-rigging project, and I
was bummed to find out that I needed to shorten it!" - Bruce Schwab, Ocean
Planet
THE NEW LOOK: THE PORTO CERVO SHORTS
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world. Made from 9 oz. brushed, soft cotton canvas, they have a relaxed fit
with plain front, zipper fly, belt loops, two deep side pockets, and two
stitched rear-pockets with Velcro® closures. They are designed with a
double seat for protection and gusseted crotch for full range of motion.
http://www.camet.com
HEAVY DUTY
The New Zealand National Match Racing Championship Regatta has attracted
some very serious players:
Cameron Dunn (TBC)
Chris Dickson (RNZYS)
RNZYS Youth Team - Adam Minoprio (RNZYS)
Michael Dunstan (RSYS)
Bertrand Pace (YBPRM)
Dean Barker (RNZYS)
Simon Minoprio (RNZYS)
Laurie Jury (RNZYS)
Ben Ainslie (RNZYS)
Scott Dickson (LBYC)
The format for the event is a double round robin followed by semi finals
and finals. Racing starts on Thursday and finishes on Sunday. - www.rnzys.co.
NEWS BRIEFS
* The USIRC Council, with help from US Sailing and the Royal Ocean Racing
Club (RORC), ran a seminar last Friday and Saturday at the American YC
(Rye, NY), drawing over 200 measurer candidates, boat yard owners, boat
owners or their reps, yacht club representatives and race managers.
Friday's session focused on training measurers, with 33 measurer candidates
in attendance. Saturday's session was designed to educate people on the IRC
rule and how to run races with it. For further information: info@us-irc.org
* Three unsung heroes of New Zealand Sailing were honored with the big
prize at the Yachting Excellence Awards 2004; Sir Tom Clark, Mr Trevor
Geldard and Mr John Street were presented the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy
and jointly announced SYNERGI Travel Sailor of the Year 2004. Yachting New
Zealand recognized the three men who have individually provided a huge
amount to yachting in New Zealand half a century after the beginnings of
the organization. "The influence of these men ranges from junior sailing
through to Admirals Cup, Whitbread sailing and Americas Cup," says Yachting
New Zealand's Peter Lester. - www.yachting.org.nz/
* More than 5000 people packed onto the pontoons in Buenos Aires throughout
the day Sunday for a Public Open Day on the Global Challenge fleet, berthed
at Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires. The general public, held captive
by the race, were able to take a look around the yachts and get a feel for
what have been the crews' homes during the race and will take them through
the next stretch of the Southern Ocean. - www.globalchallenge2004.com
* Texas A&M-Galveston has won the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association's
North American Sloop Championship, with a 15 point edge over the University
of Southern California in a regatta hosted by UC-Irvine and the Balboa YC.
Yale finished in third place with Tufts and South Florida rounding out the
top five. www.collegesailing.org/nas/fall04/sloops_results.htm
KEY WEST 2005 - SUPERSIZE ME!
Entries are rolling in and it looks like a big huge turnout! Premiere
Racing orders up top-notch competition and race management with extra large
fun January 17-21, 2005. Save room for dessert: Acura Miami Race Week is
March 10-13. For details and entry list visit
http://www.premiere-racing.com - We're lovin' it!
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 not 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.)
* From Andrew Verhoeven (in response to the Seahorse editorial in #1716):
Sailing is in great danger of running out of marketable acronyms. Those
''heady days of IOR', were founded, very securely, upon the foundation of
the best acronym ever created for the sailboat racing world. The
International Offshore Rule: it's official, nautical and worthy of a blue
blazer. IMS was a good runner up, except that what exactly does this
International Measurement System measure spaceships? PHRF, Americap, MORC,
IRM, CHS have never made the grade. Is IRC any different than CHS? Nope,
but IRC is a marginally better acronym, and what exactly does it stand for
anyway?
Seahorse is a wonderful publication, I buy it every month and love to hate
it. Mr. and Mrs. Doe need to realize that they are the marketplace - US
Sailing, ORC, and RORC all want their business. The fine pages of Seahorse
are all slanted in one direction; Mr. Hurst's editorial is not objective
and is actually an advertorial for the RORC rating systems disguised as
being informative. Like it or not, there are strong features to the IMS,
unfortunately you won't read it in Seahorse that Time on Time scoring is
available on IMS and ORC Club certificates too.
It seems every few years the people want a new acronym, IRC is the style
right now, but I look forward to the return of a revamped, unbustled,
unpinched IOR. I can't wait to order the tie.
* From Fred Roswold, SV Wings, Hong Kong: Andrew Hurst really got it right,
or part of it anyhow: "Back then Mr. and Mrs. Doe bought themselves a good
old IOR racer and they had fantastic, big-fleet racing under the IOR..."
Same applies to us. We had fun, had fantastic racing, and won a few pots.
We got better at sailing. Then this Mr. and Mrs. Doe went cruising and for
eight years we sailed our old IOR boat around the South Pacific, and had a
lot of fun visiting coral atolls and white sandy beaches. We even found a
race here or there to keep the competitive juices flowing.
Now we're in Hong Kong, and this last weekend we sailed the big event in
Hong Kong: Around Hong Kong Island. What a great day! The sun shone, the
wind blew, the scenery was astonishing, and surfing the big swells at Cape
D'Aquilar while trying to jibe the kite with a green crew...well, that was
something else, but we loved it. Yes, the crew is new, and the owner is
old, and frankly, none of us was very good this weekend, but we have heart.
And our old warhorse did its stuff. Despite a scary jibe and some rather
miserable sail changes, and a mainsail trimmer who had to be awakened to
trim the main, we got third place. The windward leg was really fun, and,
you know, this old IOR boat ain't bad. Let's hope IRC can do as well.
* From Helen C. Johnstone: Mr. Coutts and Mr. Bertarelli, you are both
respectable and mature gentleman who can resolve such a "silly" dispute
between yourselves without the assistance of lawyers. Please demonstrate to
not only the sailing world but the world that you both as individuals
possess class and dignity. I trust that you will. Let's get this America's
Cup off on the "right foot".
* From John Sweeney: After sitting thru this weekend's sports stories and
excessive TV coverage it is clear to me that what sailing lacks and what
the AC rule needs to adopt to gain viewer ship is 21st century
swashbuckling. A losing boat could forget rounding the weather mark, rather
sail along side the opposition and board the vessel to engage the other
team in a take-no-prisoners brawl. Picture slashed sails, shorted
electronics, etc. Marketing would be simple, just imagine Master &
Commander style promos. With Gary Jobson and Russell Crowe providing the
race commentary, who could resist? Don King style promoters; I'm talking
pay-per-view here. What a slam dunk for the sport that would be - pun most
definitely intended.
* From Wayne Boberg IU, IJ. Colorcraft Umpire Recognition Award Recipient
2003: It is well known that the kiwis and the Aussies have a healthy regard
for each other in sports clashes, however even though the Aussies have been
doing all the winning down under this year I'm not sure I am ready to cross
the ditch and change nationality ... as you have foreseen to predict in
'butt 1716. I am still a Kiwi. My Congratulations to Henry Menin in winning
the Colorcraft Umpire Recognition Award for 2004; a thoroughly delightful
fellow of immense ability as the sailors well know. ;-)
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
If you go around with an open mind, people will just throw a whole lot of
rubbish into it.
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