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SCUTTLEBUTT 2268 – January 26, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). ROLEX MIAMI OCR (Jan 25) Mother Nature threw a nasty curveball at 855 competitors from 49 countries competing today at US Sailing’s 2007 Rolex Miami OCR. In addition to the usual need for tactics and boat speed, a certain level of toughness was required, as sailors battled a wide range of elements on Biscayne Bay. Even for elite sailors who train full-time in their pursuit of Olympic medals, today’s conditions tested their survival skills. Racers left the dock in a warm, light southwesterly breeze under five knots and returned several hours later in a cold, rainy northwesterly wind. A frontal passage that passed through the course during midday caused the drastic change in conditions, whipping up strong winds that filled from the southwest. The remainder of the day exhibited squally conditions, gusts up to 25 knots out of the north and intermittent rain. “We had four seasons in one day,” said Sven Coster, a 470 sailor from The Netherlands. “It was awesome racing.” The same weather conditions that wreaked havoc on the racecourse today will offer terrific sailing tomorrow. “The frontal passage this morning made the conditions challenging for the sailors; however, the stronger northerly winds will continue tomorrow, providing a good day of sailing,” said Jennifer Lilly, the forecaster for the US Sailing Team and a meteorologist at Sailing Weather Services, based in Watertown, Mass. Friday will conclude the fleet racing, wherein the top ten in each fleet will compete on Saturday for the final day of racing. -- Full report: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1591&langid=1 Day 4 Provisional Results (top three with top North American): Finn (49 boats) -- 10 races 1. Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN), 40; 2. Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), 46; 3. Peer Moberg (NOR), 46; 4. Christopher Cook (CAN), 56. 49er (47 boats) -- 11 races 1. Tim Wadlow/ Christopher Rast (USA), 47; 2. Iker Martinez de Lizarduy/ Xabier Fernadez (ESP), 50; 3. Morgan Larson/ Pete Spaulding (USA), 51. 470 Men's (31 boats) -- 8 races 1. Nick Rogers/ Joe Glanfield (GBR), 18; 2. Gustavo Martinez/ Dimas Wood (ESP), 45; 3. Gideon Kliger/ Udi Gal (ISR), 45; 10. Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes (USA), 63. 470 Women's (18 boats) -- 9 races 1. Marcelien de Koning/ Lobke Berkhout (NED), 23; 2. Ingrid Petitjean/ Nadège Douroux (FRA), 27; 3. Amanda Clark/ Sarah Mergenthaler (USA), 34. Laser (69 boats) -- 9 races 1. Tom Slingsby (AUS), 24; 2. Maciej Grabowski (POL), 45; 3. Michael Blackburn (AUS), 46; 7. Brad Funk (USA), 59. Laser Radial (69 boats) -- 9 races 1. Sari Multala (FIN), 30; 2. Gintare Volungeviciute (LTU), 35; 3. Karin Soderstrom (SWE), 40; 4. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA), 54. RS:X Men (44 boats) -- 8 races 1. Przeymslaw Miarczynski (POL), 23; 2. Nick Dempsey (GBR), 34; 3. Samual Launay (FRA), 35; 19. Benjamin Barger (USA), 111. RS:X Women (28 boats) -- 7 races 1. Bryony SHaw (GBR), 28; 2. Marta Hlavaty (POL), 30; 3. Marina Alabau (ESP), 33; 14. Dominique Vallee (CAN) 70. SKUD-18 (10 boats) -- 10 races 1. Scott Whitman (USA), 24; 2. David Cook/ Brenda Hopkin (CAN), 25; 3. Karen Mitchell/ JP Creignou (USA), 29. Sonar (14 boats) -- 11 races 1. John Robertson/ Hannah Stodel/ Stephen Thomas (GBR), 31; 2. Dan Parsons/ Tom Pygall/ Guy Draper (GBR), 38; 3. Alphonsus Doerr/ Angle/ Donohue (USA), 51. Star (67 boats) -- 6 races 1. Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom (SWE), 10; 2. Afonso Domingos/ Bernardo Santos (POR), 16; 3. John Dane/ Austin Sperry (USA), 18. Tornado (43 boats) -- 8 races 1. Darren Bundock/ Glenn Ashby (AUS), 25; 2. Leigh McMillan/ William Howden (GBR), 28; 3. Xavier Revil/ Christophe Espagnon (FRA), 35; 12. John Lovell/ Charlie Ogletree (USA), 72. 2.4 mR (25 boats) -- 10 races 1. Stellan Berlin (SWE), 31; 2. Megan Pascoe (GBR), 34; 3. Helena Lucas (GBR), 43; 4. Allan Leibel (CAN), 49. Yngling (18 boats) -- 9 races 1. Sarah Ayton/ Sarah Webb/ Pippa Wilson (GBR), 27; 2. Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Cappozi (USA), 27; 3. Silja Lehtinen/ Maria Klemetz/ Livia Varesmaa, (FIN), 29. -- Complete results: http://www.rolexmiamiocr.org/results/index.htm -- Daily video reports from Gary Jobson: http://www.nbcsports.com/miamiolympicregatta/index.html SECTARIAN DIVIDE? Naval architect Bill Langan wants you to know: "This country needs an enlightened conversation about which rating rules work for what purpose, and why." Cool, but whenever I write about rating rules, first I take a deep breath, and I say a little prayer… A decision by leading New England clubs to create a 2007-season IRC/PHRF split at PH rating 90 has caused a bit of a stir (Langan: "A lot of angst") as rating rule choices so often do. And rules "discussions" lead sideways into arcane complexities that go on and on and soon you're stepping on somebody's sailing religion. The stage is Western Long Island Sound, so this is not a national development, but if you listen to the players and think about the issues, the problems here represent the larger national debate about rating rules. The split requires that any boat rating faster than PHRF 90 (lower numbers mean that the system thinks the boats are faster) can race only IRC. But … don't we disenfranchise somebody by making every boat that rates PH 90 or faster race IRC instead? IRC measurement is more complicated and more costly than getting a PH handicap assigned by your local Performance Handicap committee, so I answer that question, yes. Langan: "It's upsetting especially for people who race only occasionally and have no desire to compete against the hot boats; they thought they had a home under PHRF." So - I chased down Barry Carroll, who runs the US-IRC office, and he said, "This didn't come out of US-IRC. It's a Long Island Sound deal where they don't want to see, for example, three 45-foot PH boats in one division and five 45-foot IRC boats in another. They're also trying to get beyond a situation where, going to different regattas, you run into different particulars." Before we ended our conversation, however, Carroll and I had drifted sideways into rating rule comparisons. ORR and IMS were on the table, and he was telling me how many boats race today in the U.S. with bogus ratings based on outdated, owner-reported data. He said, "Our measurement system in this country sucks. Please quote me on that." -- by Kimball Livingston, SAIL Magazine, full story: http://sailmag.com/IRCvsPHRF CHINESE WHISPERS (These are heady days for the Volvo Ocean Race commercial team as negotiations continue apace with prospective port stopovers in the ground-breaking outposts on the 2008-09 route.) The air miles continue to pile up for George Blake, the Volvo's Director of Strategic Relationships, and the visa entry stamps of China, India, and the Middle East clog the pages of his passport. While talks are at advanced stage in a number of the wish-list frontiers, according to Blake, the competition is particularly intense in China with Shanghai, Qingdao, Hainan Island, Hong Kong and Guangzhou all vying for stopover bragging rights. And a lot more besides. Blake says: ‘The Beijing Olympics will just be completed when the Volvo Ocean Race sets sail for China, and what better way to maintain the fabulous global reach and momentum the country will have achieved through hosting the Games of the XXIX Olympiad by both hosting what will be a landmark stopover, and utilizing the Volvo Ocean Race as a global ambassador for China and Chinese business in many of the key economic and sporting centres of excellence in the world. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/2kf37y SMART & FAST FROM GARY JOBSON Strategy, Tactics, Rules. Upgrade your Smarts at a North U Tactics Seminar. Looking for Speed? You can learn the latest FAST at a North U TRIM Seminar. Gary Jobson and a team of North U instructors will lead Trim and Tactics seminars, back to back. You can spend a lifetime learning to be a better sailor, or you can accelerate the process at North U. Act Fast. Be Smart. Call 800-347-2457 or visit http://www.NorthU.com TRIVIA QUESTION What is the oldest continuously held sailing regatta in the world? (Answer below) SPITHILL DEVILISH IN PRADA James Spithill walks into the plush room on the top floor of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The sun's shining, the Waitemata Harbour is glistening and much to Spithill's delight the wind is blowing. Spithill has just come in from a couple of hours training for the Auckland Match Racing Cup. Decked out in Luna Rossa's red, white and grey kit, the man regarded as heir-apparent to Russell Coutts, slaps his Prada sunglasses down on the solid wooden table and declares how great it is to be back in Auckland, where he has spent a considerable time in chasing the America's Cup. Confident but not cocky, determined but not overly intense, the 27 year-old is one of those guys who could probably sit down and have a yarn with anyone. He grew up just out of Sydney in Pittwater, in a home surrounded by sea. "We had to go to school by boat, get the groceries by boat. I was into sailing early because of that ... it was the only way to get anywhere. As a result Spithill's younger siblings Katie and Tom are also competitive sailors. Spithill started crewing for a local sailor when he was young but didn't really like it and stopped. "Then a guy who rented our boatshed had a Hobie Cat so that is how I really learned to sail. I just used to enjoy going out in that and blasting around so I didn't really race until I was about 12." -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/3dwejv * Defending champion Dean Barker (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealand crew topped the leaderboard of the ISAF Grade 1 Auckland Match Racing Cup after the second day of racing was completed on the Waitemata Harbour. Behind Barker the race for the three other semi-final slots is wide open. With Barker’s crew clear ahead on a 9-3 record, the race to make the semi-finals is still wide open. Local young gun, Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Blackmatch team is tied with world #3 Matthieu Richard (FRA) on 8-4. Minoprio gave notice of his giant killer abilities at the recent ISAF Grade 3 New Zealand Match Race Championship, where he finished fourth behind a trio of hot America’s Cup crews. The Race Committee completed six flights of racing today, finishing the first round robin and three flights of the second round robin. The regatta format features two round robins, followed by a semi-final and final on the weekend. Racing in the second round robins continues on the Waitemata Harbour Friday. -- Full report: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j12FnABB2&format=popup Round Robin Standings 1. Dean Barker (NZL), 9-3 2. Mathieu Richard (FRA), 8-4 3. Adam Minoprio (NZL), 8-4 4. Ian Williams (GBR), 7-5 5. James Spithill (AUS), 7-5 6. Takumi Nakamura (JPN), 5-7 7. Simon Dickey (NZL), 5-7 8. Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS), 4-8 9. Simon Minoprio (NZL), 4-8 10. Brian Angel (USA), 3-9 PHOTO GALLERIES * Seventy knots of wind is a big breeze, and it can even make riding out a storm at anchor look hairy. Add the backdrop of a snow-covered cliff, and you have cold and windy. Wherever you are in January, it is likely not as nasty as this: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0115 * Ever ponder what ship life might be like on an ocean crossing? Maybe a look at a 730-foot long ship getting consumed by Atlantic Ocean waves will give you an idea: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0124 * Need to get your boat across an ocean? Dockwise Yacht Transport has just launched the 685.7-foot (209 meters) Yacht Express, which is the largest vessel of its kind in the world, purpose-built with a semi-submersible dock bay that allows yachts of any size to be safely floated on and off as cargo. All aboard: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/0125 View the list of all Scuttlebutt photo galleries at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos US SAILOR OF THE WEEK (The US Sailing’s latest ‘Sailor of the Week’ recognition goes to the Phil Kurczewski, who has used the sport of sailing to provide hopeful memories for families in need. Here is the report.) Phil Kurczewski is a life-long Detroit area resident and sailor. Phil was listening to a local Children’s Leukemia Foundation (CLF) radiothon in 2004 when he was struck by how normal recreational activities are often curtailed by leukemia. After talking with CLF, Kurczewski organized a sailing outing through his sailing club, Albatross Yacht Club. Volunteer boat owners are paired up with families and everyone gets a chance to get out on Lake St. Clair. When everyone returns from a fun and refreshing day on the water, they are treated to an afternoon picnic and barbeque at the marina. The 45-member yacht club has no club house or docks. Even so, for the last three years Phil has run the event with the help of Markley Marina in Harrison Township. In 2006, nearly 20 CLF families were able to participate in the mid-June weekend event. This is now an annual event with other local clubs participating. Phil was named Yachtsman of the Year by Albatross Yacht Club for his creation and management of this wonderful annual event. -- http://tinyurl.com/39xadd JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAMS GEARING UP FOR THE SUMMER A record number of junior sailors will be coached this summer from a Ribcraft coach boat. Offering a versatile, stable, and safe platform for coaches, the Ribcraft line of professional grade RIBs is ideally suited for the wear and tear of junior programs and yacht clubs. From California to New Jersey and Wisconsin to Texas, there are coaches teaching children how to sail with a Ribcraft. Helping coaches coach and enabling race committees to run races, Ribcraft is at the center of every great sailing community. It’s not too late to make Ribcraft part of your plans for the summer. http://www.ribcraftusa.com/sailing TRIVIA ANSWER According to the organizers of the 171st Australia Day Regatta to be held in Sydney this weekend, this event hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) is the oldest continuously held sailing regatta in the world. SAILING SHORTS * (Jan 25) American skippers Mike Martin and Howie Hamlin cleared away from the fleet in the SAP 505 Pre-Worlds this week in Australia, where Martin and his crew Jeff Nelson won two races and their worst carry was seventh to win with 14 points. In second was Hamlin, sailing with Fritz Lanzinger, with 19 points and third overall was Britain’s Ian Pinell with 30 points. The fleet now enjoys a break on Friday before the Worlds get underway on Saturday. -- http://www.505worlds2007.com * The North Sails website has posted a study that they conducted, wherein they tracked 133 regattas since 1998 to research trends in offshore and one design racing. While it was not meant to be a scientific or absolute study, some conclusions can be made within the capacity that it attempts to cover. Details at http://na.northsails.com/OODRegattaParticipation.htm * (San Isidro, Argentina - Jan 25) 4 races were held in Gold and Silver fleets with the maximum wind velocity of 12 knots down to 7 and intermittent rain. Puffy conditions threw the competitors curves on the course, with Pepe Bettini and Matias Keller of ARG regaining the lead over countrymen Matias Gainza/ Federico Vilambrosa in 2nd with Gonzalo Pollitzer/ Jose Maria Diez (ARG) in 3rd. Americans Judge Ryan/ Hans Henken are 20th and Max Fraser/ Alex Bernal 25th. In the silver fleet, Maria Agustina Torre/ Franco Greggi of ARG are tied for first with Americans Emily Dellenbaugh/ Briana Provancha. -- http://29er2007.cnsi.org.ar/index2.htm * Shows recently added to the t2p.tv website include an interview with Dawn Riley, along with footage from the World Match Racing Tour in Croatia and the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. -- http://www.t2p.tv * (Jan 25) Heineken St. Maarten today announced two more musical additions to the lineup for the 27th St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. Ziggi from Statia will headline the performances in Philipsburg the 2nd of March 2007 and the St. Maarten-rooted band Orange Grove will perform on the main stage on Kim Sha Beach on the night of the final Party, Sunday March 4th. They will be opening for the Headline act, Damian Marley & Stephen Marley. Heineken St. Maarten in cooperation with the Sint Maarten Yacht club strives every year to keep a high standard of musical performances. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/3844hc CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Traveling to another city, and curious if there are any regattas to sail in? For regatta organizers, what about using the most popular sailing calendar on the internet to help promote your regatta? To view all the events, and to use the self-serve event listing tools, go to http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From David Meagher: I read with interest Barry's letter regarding the uptake of IRC in the USA. It is great to see IRC gaining a strong foothold in the states. In particular at Key West Race Week, where they had 26 boats sailing in IRC spread over 3 classes, is to be welcolmed. However, don't get too excited yet ! At Cork Week, which is held every two years, we have circa 280 boats sailing in IRC spread over 7-8 classes! By the way the dates for the next Cork week are July 12-18, 2008. * From Steve Morrell: When Matthew Reid wrote (in Issue 2267) that Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest mountain in the world, I had to respond. He obviously is trying to add to Hawaii's southernmost-point-in-the-U.S.-distinction. I am sure he means it's the tallest in the world from its base at the bottom of the ocean and it could even be the tallest from sea level if the earth goes into a drastic ice age, but really-don't forget the Andes. If we are going to stretch the definition of the tallest mountain, shouldn't we include mountain tops in the Andes where it is the point furthest from the center of the earth? In that definition, the Andes beats Mt. Everest today - and no matter how cold it gets, it is still way out there - the equatorial bulge helping out, of course. Just try and sail around that distinction. Curmudgeon’s Comment: This thread is opened just long enough to clear up the mountain issue - and is now snapped shut. Go to the Scuttlebutt Forum to post any further comments on the subject. * From Peter Brazier: My suggestion for Olympic sailing format is: - Start with sixteen competitors in each class; - Eliminate the last two finishers after each of the first six races (leaving four); - Eliminate the last competitor after each of the remaining three races, thereby deciding the medals. This format is simple from a public understanding perspective, rewards those who keep out of trouble for the regatta, the stakes get higher each race as the risk of elimination increases and the gold medal is alive until the final pair match race for gold. Some may not like that competitors are eliminated from race one or that one bad day could see a favourite out 'prematurely'. Well, many other Olympic sports eliminate 50% or more of competitors after each heat or round (athletics, swimming, boxing, rowing, tennis etc). My six (only) classes would be: Male & Female single handed: 'Foiler' moths. Male double handed: 49er Female double handed: Tornado Male & Female board. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once. Special thanks to North U and Ribcraft RIBs. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
