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SCUTTLEBUTT 3008 - Friday, January 15, 2010Scuttlebutt 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. Scuttlebutt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Scuttlebutt on Facebook: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/facebook Today’s sponsors: Holmatro and NorthU. EXTREME ANTICIPATION It is one thing to tack on the headers and ride out the lifts, but that is merely reacting to the wind as it hits your sails. What if you had a fleet of boats (or planes) with wind monitoring equipment, positioned around the race course, providing you with wind information before it reaches your sails? Better yes, but only good before the start as the Racing Rules of Sailing do not permit outside help while racing. Stumped? Don’t be. We’ve seen the America’s Cup teams send wind spotters up the rig to view the wind up the race course, but what if they had an onboard device capable of precise measurement of wind speed and direction in front of their boat. Not possible? Think again. Catch the Wind Ltd. has announced that their Racer's Edge laser wind sensor (LWS), the world's first hand-held device that provides accurate wind speed and direction measurement data for use in sailing, will be first deployed by the BMW ORACLE Racing team during the 33rd America's Cup Match scheduled to take place in February 2010, in Valencia Spain. For the American challenger, Racer's Edge will be capable of measuring real-time horizontal wind speed and direction data at varying ranges ahead of the sensor location, up to 1,000 meters in front of their boat. "In competitive sailing, accurate information on wind speed and direction can be a race-winning advantage," said John Kostecki (USA), tactician for the BMW ORACLE Racing team. -- Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8901 COLLISION DETECTION SYSTEM By Elaine Bunting, Yachting World Could a camera system developed by French defence giant Safran help us avoid running into objects floating in the sea? Among the innovations we might see adapted for mainstream use in the next decade are more capable detection systems for ice and other boat-breaking floating objects. This is something French defence giant Safran has been developing and are hoping will trickle down from their work with Marc Guillemot's IMOCA 60. Last week, Safran announced that they would also be equipping Isabelle Autissier's Antarctica expedition yacht ADA 2 with their UFO (unidentified floating object) system. Guillemot's yacht Safran was fitted with this during the Vendée Globe last year to help reduce the risk of collision with growlers. Safran is well placed to develop such technology. It specialises, among other things, in battlefield surveillance, using digital beamforming radar to detect and resist air and ground countermeasures. The Safran IMOCA 60 was fitted with a masthead infrared camera said to be capable of detecting objects as small as 2x2m whose temperature differs from the general sea surface temperature. Few outside the Safran camp know if this detection system worked reliably - the only rumours I've heard are that the results weren't impressive - but it's the sponsors stated aim to develop it so that it can be launched in the marine market. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/y9n768w HOLMATRO WINCHES INTRODUCED AT KEY WEST Holmatro is proud to make the North American introduction of its new range of winches at Key West Race Week, January 18-22. These truly exceptional winches have several unique features including a drum surface that improves grip yet provides minimal vertical resistance; hybrid, self-lubricating bearings; a forged aluminum drum for superior strength with less weight; a forged aluminum non-rotating cap with an integrated stripper arm and the ability to be disassembled with no tools. Builders of Extreme 40 catamarans, the new S 40 class and African Cats are among the first yards to choose Holmatro winches. More are sure to follow. -- http://tinyurl.com/New-Holmatro-winches PREPARING FOR THE EVENT With mainstream news reporting on the cold snap that has gripped the Florida State, the sailing news is narrowing its focus on its southern most point - Key West. The week before Key West 2010 is all about preparation. Among the 134 entrants, the top teams are either practicing now on-site, or soon will be. Media efforts are also getting organized, and the online spectators should be ramping up too. While the online community will miss out on the copious amounts of Mount Gay Rum served in the event tent, and the glorious scent of Duval Street in the early morning, there will be no shortage of Internet info to consume. To help with navigation, Scuttlebutt has launched a micro-site to host candid video interviews, random daily comments, and the following media offerings: Event website: The race website already has the class splits, and is known for posting results in near real time. A live blog will fill in the blanks during the racing, with final reports and photos getting uploaded at the end of each day. Sailing Weather Service: In partnership with North Sails, SWS is already painting the weather picture for KW2010. Their weather portal is providing live updates that include current Key West conditions, recent Key West observations and a live Local Radar Loop. Once the racing begins, daily forecasts will be posted by 7:30 am ET. Kattack tracking: For the J/80 and Melges 32 classes, the Kattack tracking service has provided live viewing players to show the racing as it happens, and will also archive each race for viewing afterwards. This site will host the players and the links to view completed races. T2P.tv: Tucker Thompson and his team at T2P.tv will produce a nightly on-demand video from each day. Sailing World: Here there will be daily reports from correspondents scattered throughout the fleet, interviews with Boat of the Day winners, exclusive photos from Richard Langdon, etc. Here is the link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/kw/ FOR THE RECORD: SINGAPORE On his return to Valencia, Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper and representative at the recent Singapore meetings with BMW Oracle, comments on what happened: "We had a meeting with BMW Oracle representatives from 09:00 SGT on Tuesday January 12 until 20:00 that night and agreed to reconvene the next morning to continue as there were a lot of issues that we had agreed on but a few that were holding us apart. We agreed before the ISAF representative, David Kellett, and the ISAF AC Jury chairman, David Tillett, to have a media blackout and to do nothing that would jeopardise the discussions until we had had sufficient time the following day to talk these remaining issues through. As it happened, we all ended up having dinner together and continued the discussions, which concluded that night with a gentleman’s agreement. “When we reconvened at 09:30 the next morning (Wednesday, January 13) and the meeting was brought to order by Tillett, Tom Ehman - on behalf of BMW Oracle - instructed us that court proceedings had been filed in New York overnight and that they were sending a media release. At this stage the relationship between the two teams soured dramatically, but despite this surprising development, the ISAF representatives encouraged us to take the agreement back to the team principals which I agreed to do. The meeting ended and the ISAF guys left for the airport. During the course of the afternoon, I was initially instructed that BMW Oracle were keen to sign the deal, but by the time I got hold of the guys in Valencia to discuss it, Oracle had withdrawn from the agreement.” -- http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=21293 * (January 14, 2010) - America’s Cup defender Alinghi's 1,000m2 temporary sail repair tent in the outer Dársena of Valencia was blown over and destroyed in winds gusting up to 60 knots this morning. Thankfully no one was inside at the time and there were no injuries in the accident, but with gale force winds averaging 40knots anticipated throughout the day the team is taking safety precautions to batten down the other temporary facilities at the Alinghi base in the Dársena (just inland a gust of 80knots was measured!). -- Read on: http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=21284 SAILING SHORTS * (January 14, 2010) - While it was the Reichel-Pugh 90 Rambler that took line honors for the 160-mile Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, their 1:36am finish time did not hold up for the handicap win. Coming in nearly three hours later was the Ron O'Hanley’s Cookson 50 Privateer to earn both IRC A and overall honors. Among the PHRF entries, it was Frank Atkinson / Ted Naughton and their Cape Bay Fast 40 Different Drummer that took both PHRF B and overall honors, finishing at a gentlemanly 8:43am. -- http://www.keywestrace.org * In eight short weeks, hundreds of sailors will descend upon Savannah, Georgia for the beginning of what has become THE circuit of sailing circuits - the 2010 Lightning Southern Circuit. The class is as healthy and strong as ever in both talent and participation. Several new boats are being built for a Spring delivery. Class President, Brian Hayes, has prepared several tips for newcomers and veterans for the annual pilgrimage south, including NOR's, Entry Forms, hints on what to bring, where to stay, and what to expect at each venue. View here: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/calendar/series/2010/southerncircuit.asp * Located on the shores of Long Island Sound, Oakcliff Sailing Center (Oyster Bay, NY) has named world-class sailor and philanthropist Dawn Riley as Executive Director. The Oakcliff Sailing Center (OSC) has a mission of raising the level of sailors and sailing in the United States. Oyster Bay’s waters will be filled with sails as world-class sailing opportunities are offered through match racing clinics and regattas, race-team and individual coaching and skills assessment as well as customizable corporate and team building programs. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8902#8902 * Cork, one of ten 68-foot ocean racing yachts competing in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race has struck a rock in the Java Sea, around 200 nautical miles north east of Jakarta. All 16 crew have been safely evacuated to two sister yachts, Team Finland and California. The fleet is on the firth race from Geraldton, Western Australia to Singapore. In the event that Cork is unable to start Races 6 and 7, crew places will be available across the nine other yachts for the leg to Qingdao in late February and on to San Francisco in early April. -- Complete story: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/race_news/?item=1383 * (January 14, 2010) - West Marine today reported sales of US$104.2m for its fourth quarter ended January 2, 2010. Net sales rose by US$1.7m, or 1.7 per cent, when compared to 2008 sales, which were adjusted to remove the impact of an extra week. Same-store sales, with the same adjustment, were up by US$2.6m, or 3.2 per cent, compared to the same period a year ago. -- IBI Magazine, full report: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20100014144433ibinews.html MAINE FLORIDA CALIFORNIA TEXAS Those are the first four of over 30 locations for North U TRIM Seminars where you learn fast fast. In one day you learn to control and balance power for better upwind performance, trim your spinnaker (A or S) to run faster and deeper, and how to set, jibe, and douse like a pro; plus you’ll take home the NorthU TRIM Seminar-on-CD for review and home study. Coming soon to a town near you. Visit http://www.northu.com or call 800-347-2457 for full info and schedule. PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include controversy at the Star Worlds, elevation in Valencia, new techniques in the Mississippi, famine in SoCal, feast in Sydney, revelations at Beneteau, and destruction in Ft Lauderdale. 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/10/0115/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK For the boat owner who does beer can racing during the summer, getting out of work in time for the start can be a bit tight on a weeknight. While gracious owners might allow the crew to take the boat out without them, they do really want to be there too. So here is the perfect solution, as it significantly cuts down the time from office to boat, and delivers the boat owner in serious style. Hard-bottom inflatibles are sooo yesterday. Check this out: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/0115/ * 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 AND FORUM Please email 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 Katy Cenname, Seattle, WA: I have read Mr. Champ's response (in Scuttlebutt 3007) to the 29erXX post and am in a bit of shock. One, this is a man that would not know what it is women want to be sailing. Two, he clearly does not know much about the 29erXX. The boat’s final design has only been completed for a little over six months, and already 25 rigs have been sold. I myself am a young woman who has been competing competitively in the 29er for around two years. I stepped foot in the XX last summer for my first time and fell in love. While the 49er is just simply too big for most girls, the XX is a great fit! Why should we, esp. skippers, have to sit on our butts while the guys get to blast around hanging on the trap? The boat is a challenge but for us skiff sailors, that is what we like. I also competed in the 29erXX gold cup this summer in Lake Garda, Italy which was the funnest regatta of my sailing career. After this event was complete, almost every single rig was purchased. There was a great interest in the boat from the sailors in the regatta and those who were there training for the 29er Worlds and competing in the 49er Worlds. The 49er guys even had a great interest in the boat thinking it was great that now there was an opportunity for girls to sail a boat similar to theirs. * From Ian Bruce, 29erXX Class Executive: Jim Champ's letter (Scuttlebutt 3007) on the 29erXX reads like a sort of personal crusade! It was ISAF that put forward the notion that some women might actually like to play in the Olympic circus in a real high performance boat (read skiff), and it was ISAF that scheduled a test event. It was the 29er Class, spearheaded by both the current President of the International 29er Class and its Executive Secretary, that encouraged Julian Bethwaite to do the XX and the role of the builders was simply to support the Class and build the rigs. Have the rigs "flown out of the shop"? Not exactly, but every rig that has been built is in private hands and no further rigs are available until a new mast manufacturer is up and running (the previous builder retired and closed his shop in Australia). There are approximately 50 rigs out there sailing and events started being staged in Europe in 2009 and are being staged in NA in 2010. Is this some sort of petty crime by the manufacturers? Does Mr. Champ know of any boat that went off without the support of the builder or its appointment to the Olympic fold? The 29er “flew” out of the shop because the 49er was already "there" and ISAF let it be known they were looking for a path to the 49er. And it did not fly out on its own but with the considerable support of the builders. The mere mention of the GT60 shows he has missed the point completely. The Cherub is a Development Class - always has been, always will be - and the Olympic Classes are traditionally anything but as the cost of development moves a Development Class out of the range of most country's Olympic programs. -- Scuttlebutt Forum, read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8908#8908 * From Jean-Pierre Skov: As further follow up to Chris Ericksen's note in 'Butt' 3007, MIT was also responsible for producing the first African American All American sailor, Alan Sun (class of 2000). Yes, I'm a little bias, as Alan's parents trusted me enough to let me drag their kid around the Caribbean in the early 90's as my bow man on my J/24 "Clockwork". I had recently moved back to St. Croix after college and met Alan when he was 10 or 11 years old when he had just won Junior Sailor of the year for the St. Croix Yacht Club. Needing to build a crew, I decided to grab talent that did not have a job, so they would be able to practice around my work schedule, and I found a gem in Alan Sun. Just thought his accomplishment of being the first African American All-American at MIT was another notable accomplishment for the birth place of modern collegiate sailing. * From Howard Bentley: (re, Mike Sharpe letter in Scuttlebutt 3007) I have been similarly disgusted at these youngest attempts (to sail around the world), especially after hearing how one hit a ship before even starting the race. I think the best way to voice opinion is with the almighty dollar. I would strongly encourage people who oppose these egotistical endeavors to look directly at the corporate sponsors and sports marketers who are helping promote this and hoping to make money from the increased exposure. Call them and tell then you will not only refuse to buy their products but will campaign against these companies in perpetuity. The best way to stop this lunacy from happening to the point that someone dies or requires significant rescue it to make it painful for the sponsors and cost them money and future sales. Additionally, any and all rescue costs should be paid by the parents, even if in a time of extreme sadness. This has to stop before Mother Nature decides how young is too young. If we as a sport legitimately question offshore single handing for the truly experienced, we should absolutely prohibit the egotistical pursuit of selfish ignorant parents sending inexperienced immature kids to sea for the sole pursuit of a record that will have a limit. Check your egos parents. Get ready for pain sponsors. * From Zane Murdoch: The writer manages to personally bash a large part of an entire state and several ways of life in broad strokes, and has the gall to assume that he speaks for the 'vast majority of your readers' simply because any view he espouses must of course be held by all other reasonable people. He is free to disagree in Scuttlebutt about the actions of children sailing around the world and parents who encourage them but his social exorcism is out of place. * From Mark Lammens: From the America’s Cup story in Scuttlebutt 3007: “Clearly, this dispute belongs in court....it is a legal issue for the Court, not a sailing issue for the IJ." That statement is so wrong. America's Cup is (was) a regatta, a sporting event, great friendly competition between Nations. The Original Deed may need to be reworked, by informed sailors, not lawyers and judges. Everything about the America's Cup should be a Sailing Issue. I do not care what the next issue in front of the Judge is but doesn't the Judge have something important to rule on, and not rule on an old poorly written document about a sail boat race? I was so excited about the next month or two. The Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, and the America's Cup, all of which is the top of that sport. The America's Cup is the only regatta we have on TV. However the only thing the public hears about sailing is court room strategy. Someone has to fix it, and fix it right, finally. No wonder sailing has a goofy (no pun intended) image. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Over prepare, then go with the flow. Special thanks to Holmatro and NorthU. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
