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SCUTTLEBUTT 2299 – March 13, 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). NOW PROVIDING EVENT MANAGEMENT US Sailing and The Active Network, Inc. (Active), a leading provider of application services technology and marketing access to community service and participatory sports organizations, announce a new joint effort to deliver a new event registration and management system that will simplify the online registration process for regattas, instructor training courses, race administration classes and annual meetings. Under the agreement, Active will leverage its nine years of experience and proven track record of processing millions of paid registrations to provide sailing organizations and sailors with an easy-to-use online event registration and management system. The online event management application is built to handle the spectrum of sailing events, from local Wednesday night races and regional regattas to national and international championships, and handicap racing. The new registration system was successfully rolled out for the Rolex Miami OCR where 855 sailors from 49 countries competed in January. Active’s web-based tools also help organizers manage and promote their events, integrate scoring and online distribution of race results, easily update web site content, support online merchandise sales and enable fundraising campaign management. -- US Sailing website, full report: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/active.htm RAMPING UP The America's Cup might still be several months away, but a TV crew from Versus, the sports cable network that will air the races, recently spent a week in San Diego shooting segments for its telecast. Versus dispatched a production crew to San Diego, using Knight & Carver YachtCenter in National City as its home base. "This was mostly a specialty shoot - for what we call teases, bumps and transitions," said producer Ollie Stokes, who's affiliated with Blick Produc-tions. "The end result will be the high-end visual elements you'll see woven into our live broadcasts." Some of the segments were only a few seconds in length, while others involved live-action sailing. During the nighttime shoot, the production process simulated lightning and fog, giving the segments a highly stylized, dramatic look. "We want to capture the viewer's imagination from the very start to give them a feeling of what it's like to be racing one of these boats," Stokes said. During daylight, the crew spent several 12-hour days videotaping aboard a former America's Cup vessel. The vessel, Stars & Stripes USA 34, is now owned and operated as a San Diego Bay charter vessel by Next Level Sailing. -- The Log, http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=208479 LEADERS IN 3D Racing may still be several weeks away, but the America's Cup regatta in Spain already has one Kiwi winner. Dunedin's Animation Research Limited will again provide the on-screen graphics for the event that will be seen around the world. From the company's modest beginnings in San Diego in 1992 - where they used a $750,000 computer the size of a fridge - they have become world leaders in real-time 3D sports graphics, and now use much smaller $5,000 laptops. But as the technology shrinks, the job gets bigger. "We are responsible for everything from putting kits on the boats, getting the data back ashore to producing the graphics for a wide variety of broadcasters," says Animation Research Ltd spokesperson Paul Sharp. -- TVNZ, full story: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1020442 ALL DE WAY TO MONTEGO BAY Ya mon! For Frank Kern and his crew on the J/120 Carinthia, the 2007 Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race was a hoot - not only did they top the PHRF division, they beat all the hot IRC boats to take the race overall! Carinthia used Doyle STRATIS upwind sails and Doyle asymmetrical spinnakers for her 811-mile “Mo Bay” victory. Be sure to check out Carinthia’s kickin’ web log and photos during the race - after you see how much fun they had, you’ll want to do the Mo Bay yourself! Go to: http://www.doylesails.com/news.htm#carinthia LEARNING TO FLY The International Moth has opened our eyes to foiling, and the application of hydrofoils is spreading. In Issue 2294, Scuttlebutt reported how UK boatbuilder Linton Jenkins had successfully produced a set of foils designed specifically for the RS600, a popular singlehander that was now testing their use for possible class racing. To facilitate the introduction of foil sailing to the uninitiated, the Sailing Talk newsletter has gotten 2006 British International Moth Champion Sam Pascoe to provide his best tips for anyone getting foiling for the first time. Rule 1. Don't stand too far back. Whenever the boat starts to take off out of the water, people's natural instinct is the same as in a conventional boat, they step back. If you do this the boat is likely to rise too far out of the water and you'll lose control. So as the boat rises, step forwards! It's the opposite to what your mind is telling you to do, a bit like wanting to lean back on your skis down a really scary steep slope, when actually the best thing you can do is to lean forward over your ski tips. -- Sam provides nine more rules for first-time foilers: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0308/ GROWTH IN THE ISLANDS Time flies. Nineteen years ago, fresh to a new job as an editor and writer for Sailing World magazine, one of my first assignments was to cover a little event called the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. There were five other reporters there, if I remember correctly, and about sixty boats on the starting lines. The whole shebang was run by an expatriate South African called Robbie Ferron, the operator of a little business on the island called Budget Marine. It was all kind of quaint, and a lot of fun. I recently returned to St. Maarten after a long absence to help run the press office for the event, and if I'd just been beamed down from the Starship Enterprise, I couldn't have been more surprised. "Little" Simpson Bay is now the home to dozens and dozens of superyachts; the traffic on the island is akin to rush hour in Beantown; the Heineken regatta has grown exponentially, with this edition attracting 239 entrants in 20 separate divisions; and Robbie Ferron's tiny chandlery is now the West Marine of the Caribbean. His hair color has changed quite a bit—it's a lot, well, snowier—but then again, so has mine. -- by Herb McCormick, Sailing World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/2swmlf DINGHY PRO CIRCUIT Dinghy racing sailors took another small step along the route to a full-on professional circuit recently. The six named events forming the basis of the new (revamped) ISAF circuit for the Olympic classes have made their presentations and the scheme awaits ratification by the ISAF Council in November. Presented as a Tennis ATP type circuit, the ISAF World series will link the major Olympic class’s regattas of Australia, America, Spain, Holland, France, and Germany in a fledgling professional series. With many aspiring Olympic sailors already sailing full-time, backed by a mix of national funding and sponsorship, this circuit formalises the existing ad hoc regular circuit route. And it would also seem to provide an opportunity for increased event and personal sponsorship, with performance bonuses, as the series gains acceptance and prestige. -- Sail World, full story: http://www.sail-world.com/index_n.cfm?nid=31673 PERFORM TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS! All over the world, you will find Camet Padded Sailing Shorts. The leading teams are using the combination of our Code Zero Shirts and Sailing Shorts made out of a breathable fast drying fabric with a UVA certification (97.5%) for sun protection. With our closed cell foam inserts available for a variety of different styles of shorts, we have redesigned comfort, giving you the ability to hike hard without losing feeling in your legs. This will allow you to go longer and not suffer from fatigue, helping you to think clearly and perform to your expectations! http://www.camet.com/?Click=122 MOVING THE CIRCUS The circus, aka the 2007 Lightning Southern Circuit, just finished the first of three events in Savannah, GA last weekend, and are now beginning their Midwinter Championship in Miami, FL. Fifty-seven boats experienced Savannah’ s southern hospitality, where the racing is noted for strong currents, shallow courses, and speed-robbing reeds, with the evening schedule including the legendary oyster roast and excellent bar service at Savannah Yacht Club. Strong winds on Saturday gave way was all she wrote, as Sunday proved to be a bust with more current then wind and repeated on-shore postponements before the event was finally called at around 1 o’clock. Buffalo Canoe Club’ s Dave Starck captured first place with an impressive 3-1 series, followed by Tampa's Jeff Linton and Ched Proctor from Southport, CT. Dave Starck, sailing with his brothers Joe and Tom, took top spot, and head to the next venue of the Southern Circuit with a total of only 4 points. The Lightning class sailors are submitting daily updates to the Scuttlebutt website, with the most recent one, as Jerry Seinfeld would say, having a lot to do about nothing: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/LightningCircuit SAILING SHORTS * Seventy-six entries attended the Sunfish Midwinters, hosted last weekend by Edison Sailing Center, a community sailing center devoted to the instruction and promotion of sailing in Southwest Florida. Located on the south shore of the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers, Florida, the event was won by David Mendelblatt. -- Results: http://tinyurl.com/2lfm5n * Clearwater, FL (March 12) Relishing the light to medium strength seabreeze, Augie Diaz and crew Tracy Nan Smith opened their lead on the fleet after the second day of the Snipe class Midwinter Championship and PanAm Trials, hosted by Clearwater Yacht Club. Posting a 1-2, Diaz/ Smith now hold a twelve-point margin over second place Peter & Sheehan Commette. -- Results: http://www.clwyc.org/snipemidwinters07/mw_results.htm * Four weeks ahead of the China International Boat Show (CIBS), organisers CMP Sinoexpo Exhibition Co., and consulting partner Marine Dragon Consulting, have released a complete analysis of the Chinese market for the boating industry. The 20-page report (available free of charge) details the current status of boatbuilding in China, import and export statistics for yachts, as well as the domestic market for pleasure boating. An in-depth analysis drafts a clear picture of the current situation in China and points out various business opportunities for equipment suppliers and boat manufacturers to source, produce and sell in China. IBI News, full report: http://tinyurl.com/2kovrg * The ISAF Executive Committee held their first of four meetings it has each year over the weekend of 10-12 February 2007 in Estoril, Portugal. Amongst a wide range of matter discussed, there was considerable focus on the planning and format for the ISAF World Cup. -- Copy of meeting minutes available at http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j1vFnAzk?&format=popup * The latest missive to prospective skippers of the forthcoming Global Ocean Race from organisers announces the postponement of the start of the first race. This solo/doublehanded 40 and 50ft round the world race with stopovers was scheduled to start this September. -- Yachting World, full report: http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070212141532ywnews.html * Just 16 hours after departure from Barbados on Saturday morning, a team attempting to break the circumnavigation speed record has had to drastically cut speed. The 24m Earthrace, a wave-piercing trimaran design sporting state-of-the-art carbon propellers and running on bio-diesel is attempting to break the 75-day record set by Cable and Wireless in 1998. The team reported excessive vibration at about 1am Sunday morning and inspected the props with a torch. Earthrace Skipper Pete Bethune told the shore team: "All the blades have sections where the carbon is peeling away, and the entire leading edge of one blade is coming to bits." -- Practical Boat Owner, full story: http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070212095505pbogeneral.html * The Sailing Company, publishers of Cruising World and Sailing World magazines, released the results of the 2006 North American Sailing Industry Study at an industry research presentation and breakfast during the Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail. Market data in The Sailing Company's annual study includes sailboat production, sailboat imports, and bareboat charter activity. Among the Study's most notable findings is that sailboat production in North America was off 7% in 2006, driven by losses in entry-level models under 12 feet in length. US and Canadian sailboat manufacturers produced 14,945 boats in 2006, marking one of the lowest totals since the late 1990s. -- Sailing World, full report: http://tinyurl.com/2vc3cs THE US SAILING RIBCRAFT 15 Having long recognized the needs of sailing programs and yacht clubs for commercial grade safety, coach, and mark boats, Ribcraft has teamed up with US Sailing to offer the ultimate RIB. The US Sailing Ribcraft, with its professional grade construction is ideal for sailing programs, yacht clubs, and individuals. http://www.ribcraftusa.com/ussailing SCUTTLEBUTT POLL: NOT SAILING THE FINAL RACE You are sailing in a regatta that has a drop race. The event is going very well, and you have a good lead going into the final race. Out of curiosity, you check to see if by using the last race as your drop, you would still win. When you discover that no boat can mathematically beat you, you ask yourself: Do I race the last race, knowing that it will not affect the outcome of my regatta, or do I head in for an early celebration? Click here to answer and provide comments: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/07/0312 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 Steven Hatch: (regarding David Dellenbaugh as the tactician for the German ACUP team – announced in Issue 2295) Your article DELLENBAUGH TO LEAD GERMANS raises the question of Conflict of Interest with Brad Dellenbaugh being Chief Umpire for the event. * From Ted Livingston: The Bacardi Cup results are fantastic. In the "top ten", there are nine different countries. Isn't this what International Sailing is (supposedly) all about? The Stars have done a lot of things right! * From Bill Lee: In response to Rich du Moulin's letter of today (in Issue 2298) regarding his sail to Cabo San Lucas, I was very glad to hear that he enjoyed the race. It should be noted that the Newport Harbor to Cabo San Lucas Race was scored under the Offshore Rating Rule (ORR), which does a very good job of handicapping the difficult conditions that offshore oriented races present. Obviously using a rating rule that can be adapted to the anticipated wind speeds and directions for an offshore race is important, especially when the fleet is highly optimized for a particular condition. As Rich points out in his letter, the 51-boat fleet was optimized for the prevailing downwind conditions so the race committee wisely chose a rating rule that could be tailored to their race and their competitors. * From Bob Phillips, Chairman, BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival: One way to control the win-at-any-cost competitors is through use of ISAF's Appendix Q or the simpler Experimental Appendix Q, Umpired Fleet Racing Rules. For the fledgling IC24 class in the Virgin Islands, the BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival will be using experimental Q for them at the event. Several very experienced IU's will be on the water with the ability to adjudicate infractions on the spot and to DSC a boat from a race for a serious infraction. This is a great way for competitors to learn where the line is drawn, on the water at the time of the incident, not later that afternoon in the protest room. Education is the key to helping sailors to understand the rules, and for the other classes at Spring Regatta we will be using open arbitration for the first step in the protest process. The arbitration panel(s) will have a mix of knowledgeable sailors and IJ's to ensure that the competitors have a say in the proceedings. While I believe the IJ's do a great job of applying the rules from a technical standpoint, unless they have been on the water they don't always understand the "context" of an incident, nor are they always allowed by the rules to apply common sense. Opening the hearings to spectators allows interested competitors to learn more about the process without having to be a party to the protest. The win-at-all-cost competitors exist, but the rest of us don't have to give in to them. * From Jordan J. Dobrikin: (regarding some of last week’s letters) I would like to pick up on Mssrs. Nick Jako, Eric Feigel, and others, with respect to minimal interference by the RC in conducting and starting races. What most of us want, beginners, intermediate &/or elite, is a reasonably sized and squared start line - not perfection - as well as some Start Line Judges with the ability/ capability/ authorization to inform individual OCSers in a timely fashion so as to give them the options to exonerate. Even here we don't expect, nor need perfection, in identifying all boats that are OCS. This would need/require some Judges in Judge/ work boats, some loud hailers, and some radio communications gear, on the RC Committee boat & Judge/ Workboat(s): all commonly available nowadays in many, most, Regattas/ Races. It would also be helpful if the Regatta Organizer(s)/RC were using a good, easy to use Computer based Scoring/Reporting System. I would also suggest that the RC also arrange to announce/ broadcast OCSers, on one (1) or more Radio Services/Frequencies, as an additional aid to the Racers. I would also suggest/encourage a discussion/ dialog with respect to eliminating the mark touching rules/ penalties. In these days of placing light weight, non -damaging racing marks, it is neither an advantage nor disadvantage to contact a mark making the rule(s) redundant, irrelevant and an impediment to the health & welfare of the sport of sail racing, a/the major topic of Scuttlebutt. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You might be a sailing bum if you have at least one broken boat part in your car at all times. Special thanks to Doyle Sails, Camet International Clothing, and Ribcraft. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
