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SCUTTLEBUTT 2450 – October 10, 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 the support of its sponsors. US OLYMPIC TRIALS (October 9, 2007) From October 6th through the 14th, the US Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams will be selecting their representatives from 176 American entrants that are competing in 13 of the 14 classes (Yngling has a separate system). For all classes except the 49er, there is a 16 race series planned, where only three races are needed to constitute a series, and one throwout is permitted after the completion of eight races. For the 49er, there are 24 races planned, where only three races are needed to constitute a series, and one throwout is permitted after the completion of eight races, with two throwouts permitted after 17 races. Here is the report from Tuesday, the fourth day of racing: * For the east coast trials in Rhode Island, the SKUD 18 is the only class still without a throwout, but leader Skandone/Mckinnon-Tucker might not know what to do with it as they posted their sixth consecutive bullet on Tuesday. Also on a roll was Albert Foster’s Sonar team, collecting three firsts to elevate them into the lead. In the Lasers, leader Brad Funk punched back with a double bullet day to maintain his lead, while Radial leader Anna Tunnicliffe continues to increase her margin, even winning a race in which she had to do a two-turn penalty after getting yellow-flagged for pumping downwind. -- Complete report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1007e.htm * For the west coast trials in California, the Finn is the only class without a throwout, but after getting skunked by the winds on Monday, they were able to rattle off three races on Tuesday, all won by Zach Railey to move him back on top. Leading 49er team Tim Wadlow/Pete Spaulding also punched back by winning all four of their races, growing their lead to the largest margin of all competing classes (15 pts). Strong performances were also filed by Farrah Hall (1-1) in the RS:X Women’s division and Andy Horton/Brad Nichol (1-3-1) in the Star, while the Tornado class continues to test the tiebreaking rule by being all even for the fourth consecutive day. -- Complete report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1007w.htm Wednesday is a scheduled reserve day that will be observed by all classes except the Finn, which will use it to get back on schedule due to a lack of wind for their course on Monday. Racing will then continue on all courses each day from Thursday through the final day on Sunday. Olympic Trials West - preliminary results Star (19 entrants; after nine races) 1. Mark Mendelblatt/Magnus Liljedahl, 3-3-1-(8)-1-3-6-2-5, 24 2. George Szabo/Andrew Scott, 2-1-(11)-7-3-4-9-6-2, 34 3. Andy Horton/Brad Nichol, (18)-7-7-1-5-11-1-3-1, 36 49er (13 entrants; after thirteen races) 1. Tim Wadlow/Chris Rast, 1-2-1-1-3-1-(4)-3-3-1-1-1-1, 19 2. Dalton Bergan/Zack Maxam, 2-4-3-4-1-2-2-2-(14/OCS)-3-4-3-4, 34 3. Morgan Larson/Pete Spaulding, (14/OCS)-1-2-2-9-14/OCS-1-1-1-2-2-2-5, 42 Tornado (6 entrants; after eight races) 1. Robbie Daniel/Hunter Stunzi, 1-(2)-2-1-1-2-2-1, 10 2. John Lovell/Charlie Ogletree, (2)-1-1-2-2-1-1-2, 10 3. Colin Merrick/John Sampson, 4-3-(5)-3-4-4-3-4, 25 Finn (42 entrants; after seven races) 1. Zachary Railey, 1-2-12-1-1-1-1, 19 2. Darrell Peck, 4-4-1-3-2-3-4, 21 3. Geoffrey Ewenson, 2-3-10-4-3-2-2, 26 470 Men (8 entrants, after eight races)* 1. Stuart McNay/Graham Biehl, 2-2-2-2-1-2-(4)-1, 12 2. Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/David Hughes, 5-1-(6)-3-4-4-1-5, 20 3. Justin Law/Mike Miller, 11-4-(14/DSQ)-1-6-6-8-2, 38 * 470 Men and Women race and get scored together 470 Women (5 entrants; after eight races)* 1. Amanda Clark/Sarah Mergenthaler, 4-3-1-(6)-3-3-2-4, 20 2. Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving, (9)-7-5-5-2-1-5-3, 28 3. Molly Carapiet/Molly O'Bryan, 7-8-4-7-7-8-7-(9), 48 * 470 Men and Women race and get scored together RS:X Men (7 entrants; after eight races) 1. Benjamin Barger, (8/RAF)-1-2-1-2-1-3-2, 12 2. Michael Gebhardt, 2-(3)-1-2-1-2-1-3, 12 3. Robert Willis, 1-2-5-3-(6)-3-2-1, 17 RS:X Women (6 entrants; after eight races) 1. Farrah Hall, (4)-1-4-1-3-3-1-1, 14 2. Lisa Kremer, 1-2-2-4-4-1-(5)-2, 16 3. Nancy Rios, 2-(4)-1-3-2-2-4-4, 18 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Olympic Trials East - preliminary results Laser (33 entrants; after eight races) 1. Brad Funk, 3-2-2-(9)-4-2-1-1, 15 2. Andrew Campbell, 4-4-1-(20)-1-1-2-5, 18 3. John Pearce, 7-5-3-(8)-6-6-3-6, 36 Laser Radial (22 entrants; after eight races) 1. Anna Tunnicliffe, 1-1-1-(3)-1-1-2-1, 8 2. Paige Railey, 2-2-2-1-2-2-(3)-2, 13 3. Sarah Lihan, 3-3-3-4-4-6-1-(11), 24 Paralympic Trials - preliminary results 2.4mR (4 entrants; after eight races) 1. Mark Bryant, 2-1-2-(3)-2-1-2-1, 11 2. Mark LeBlanc, (4)-2-1-1-3-3-1-2, 13 3. John Ruf, (3)-3-3-2-1-2-3-3, 17 SKUD 18 (5 entrants; after seven races) 1. Nick Scandone/ Maureen Mckinnon-Tucker, 3-1-1-1-1-1-1, 9 2. Karen Mitchell/ JP Creignou, 1-4-2-2-2-2-2, 15 3. Scott Whitman/ Julia Dorsett, 2-2-3-3-3-3-4, 20 Sonar (6 entrants; after nine races) 1. Albert Foster/David Burdett/Jim Thweatt, (5)-1-3-4-2-5-1-1-1, 18 2. Rick Doerr/Tim Angle/Bill Donohue, 1-3-1-1-(7/DSQ)-3-2-4-4, 19 3. Paul Callahan/Roger Cleworth/Tom Brown, 4-(7/DSQ)-2-3-1-1-4-3-3, 21 => Complete Results: http://tinyurl.com/38sxec => Complete Report Index: http://tinyurl.com/3cwatb => Photos: http://tinyurl.com/2kmaoj => Jobson Video Reports: http://tinyurl.com/38hdh7 => Star Video Interviews: http://tinyurl.com/2k4efa * For those readers that are accustomed to Scuttlebutt’s typical distribution time of 6pm PT, delays are anticipated during the course of the US Olympic trials so as to provide the most current information from each day. A DAY IN THE LIFE The most expensive of all the Olympic boats is the Star, and it is in this class where some heavy investment is being made for support during the Trials as well. Prior to the event, John Dane III and Austin Sperry had acquired the services of Robert Scheidt for training purposes, wherein Scheidt is the current class world champion (along with countless Laser world titles too). Much like other top competitors, Dane/Sperry have coaches, but they also have weather experts, maintenance support, and multiple RIBs for their personnel. Here they share their schedule during race days: 7:00am -Wake up 7:15am - Sperry bikes with my iPod to mentally prepare for the day 8:00am - Yacht club weigh in (during this time the ‘team’ is launching the boat and doing any needed repairs) 8:15 - Bike back to house for breakfast, shower, Internet 9:45 - Team meeting at YC to go over game plan, weather, any thoughts, etc 10:15am - Dock off for races 5:00pm - Return to harbor, haul out, wash boat 5:30pm - Dinner 6:00pm - Stretch 6:30 - Message therapist, relax 10:000pm - Bed.... http://www.danesperry2008.com WINNING WITH DOYLE SAILS Doyle customer Bill Lynn put in a winning performance at the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider Sonar Worlds held in Marblehead, MA September 19th-22nd. In a 51-boat fleet that included several world champions, one Olympic Gold Medallist, and all the major sailmakers, Doyle sails powered 3 of the top 5 boats and 5 of the top 10 boats. To run with the fast team and take advantage of our fall discount pricing, contact your local DOYLE loft, 800-94-DOYLE, http://www.doylesails.com CORY E. FRIEDMAN: ANALYSIS OF THE AMERICA’S CUP LAWSUIT (October 9, 2007) Both Ernesto Bertarelli’s team (SNG) and Larry Ellison’s team (GGYC) have filed their initial moving papers on their cross motions for summary judgment before Justice Cahn in the Commercial Division and we are at the first crossing of this one leg match race to the weather mark. GGYC has crossed clear ahead on starboard and comfortably covers SNG. From where they are now, GGYC is in position to drive SNG to the port layline, tack when it chooses, and lead them to the mark. In litigation, anything can happen, even the greatest judges make unacknowledged and acknowledged mistakes, but in that case the Appellate Division stands ready to grant redress. So, although there could always be a 180 degree wind shift from the bench, or GGYC could hit a submerged container or sleeping whale, GGYC’s superior boat speed, height, maneuverability and, most of all, helming and crewing by skipper/lawyer James V. Kearney and his afterguard should allow GGYC to counter any move SNG makes. Each party gets one more set of papers, but the law and rules bar them from raising new issues in those papers. They may only respond to what the other side has raised, although they can usually get away with bolstering their initial arguments a little. GGYC gets the last word, which, in litigation, is almost as good as the weather gauge Jack Aubrey valued so highly. Since ancient times sailors have jettisoned cargo in rough weather to save their ship. In late 19th century New York, sailors wagered heavily on over-canvassed sloops ballasted with sandbags, known as Sandbaggers. On the final run to the finish, plenty of sand went over the side. In SNG’s latest papers, a lot has gone over the side, but SNG is still behind. The betting on the case before Justice Cahn is for much bigger stakes than the Sandbaggers ever raced for, and may come down to the meaning of just one word. What is gone? * Friedman has been analyzing all the submissions, and sitting in on the hearings, from the very beginning. This is his fifth report, which goes on to describe further in detail the contentions of both camps. Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/#p5 DISCUSSING THE ISSUES AND THE EFFECTS Marian Martin/BYM News gets Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth to answer some of the pressing questions of the 33rd America’s Cup debate. Here are a few: * The most recent rumour is that you and Russell Coutts (of BMW Oracle Racing) have struck a deal, which will be announced on October 10. Is there any truth in this? BUTTERWORTH: “No.” * There is a perception that the Protocol is all about Ernesto Bertarelli hanging on to the Cup. What do you have to say about that? BUTTERWORTH: “I disagree with that; I think the Protocol is all about having the room to organize the regatta in a very professional and businesslike way, like they did last time. The last time Oracle was Challenger of Record and it took a year to negotiate even little things, like the signage on the bases and the size of the toilets; it just went on and on and on. This time, we’re doing a deal with ISAF, where we will get the same guys we had for the last Cup; these are the best guys we can get, the best in the world, and they did a good, professional job last time. The Arbitration Committee has got guys from last time, it was agreed with the Spanish; there’s no real difference, on the sports side of it, from last time. This is just an argument over whether the Spanish yacht club is a viable challenger.” * Is there anything in the Protocol that you think people do still have good reason to object to? BUTTERWORTH: “I think the big problems with the Protocol have been rectified. Like, your entry wouldn’t be taken for any reason. In the past, it was yacht club to yacht club entry and the defending yacht club would investigate whether your club was incorporated and had a regatta on an arm of the sea and all the stuff that comes with the Deed of Gift and then decide whether to accept the entry. So, really nothing has changed, but the wording of the Protocol was a bit harsh and now it’s been changed. The other part that didn’t sit well was that it sounded as though you could just be disqualified for any reason. That was really just another miscommunication, I mean nobody was going to get disqualified for painting their boat orange, or something like that; so that’s been changed. The tough parts are out of it, I think.” -- BYM News, complete interview: http://www.bymnews.com/august/brad-butterworth.php WORLD TOUR – GOLD CUP Hamilton, Bermuda (Oct. 9, 2007) -- In a classic Bermuda day resplendent with sunshine and a westerly wind around 15 knots, the 59th annual King Edward VII Gold Cup got underway today with three flights in all three round robin groups. The 21 teams have been split into three groups of seven for the initial round robin racing. America’s Cup-winning helmsman Ed Baird of the U.S. is the only skipper to go 3-0 on the day and leads Group A. He’s closely followed by the event’s reigning champion Ian Williams of the U.K., who’s at 2-0. In Group B there’s a three-way tie between Johnie Berntsson of Sweden, Staffan Lindberg of Finland and Mathieu Richard of France, each at 2-0. Group C is led by Paolo Cian of Italy and Daniel Glomb of Brazil, both with 2-0 records. The top two finishers in each group at the end of the round robin advance to the Quarterfinal Round while the third- and fourth-place finishers advance to a Repechage Round. Baird, who helmed Alinghi to victory in the 32nd America’s Cup in July, is the only skipper at 3-0 because he’s the only leader who hasn’t had a bye. Each team receives one bye in round robin racing. Baird is sailing with Alinghi teammates Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza and Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen, who all sailed the Cup. -- Full story and results: http://tinyurl.com/3bao4d FROST BITES MAN Despite what the thermometers say, we're close to frostbiting season! Face the elements without losing your edge with Harken Frostbiter gloves. Their large cuffs mate with your spray top and thermal layer, while Neoprene protects and insulates your hands. Harken's Black Magic palm material provides superior grip on cold, wet lines. Bite back, take hold, and don't let go - get Harken's new Frostbiters. http://www.harken.com/Scuttlebutt/FrostbiterGlove_07.php * A special thanks to all the ‘buttheads that came by the Harken booth at the US Boat Show to greet Scuttlebutt publisher Craig Leweck. And while the hot weather in Annapolis was not too conducive for sampling the Frostbiter glove, the Harken gang comes from Wisconsin, so we suspect these folks know a thing or two about making gloves that can grip and keep their hands warm at the same time. COMPETITOR REPORT: LASER MASTERS WORLDS Just arrived back from Spain after sailing in what was apparently the largest Laser regatta ever in the history of the planet. 419 sailors from 33 countries in 6 continents raced in the 2007 Laser Masters Worlds in Roses, Spain, and it was claimed that never before had so many Lasers ever competed in a single regatta. Of course we didn't all start on one line together. There were two separate race areas for the Radial and Standard Rig competitors. And on each course, the different age group fleets had separate starts. I sailed in the oldest Standard Rig fleet for the crazy geriatrics over 55. There were 75 competitors in that fleet including, according to one competitor's tally, 7 former World Masters Champions. Roses is in the Spanish region of Catalonia, on the Mediterranean, and quite close to the French border. It's a charming historic fishing port and relaxed resort town without the brashness of some Spanish holiday destinations on the Costa Brava. My wife was able to enjoy exploring the town and surrounding countryside while I was out on the water beating myself up trying not to be too far back in that 75-boat fleet. Then every evening we would head off to some different restaurant on the sea-front or winding back streets and alleys of Roses. -- Proper Course blog, read on: http://propercourse.blogspot.com/2007/10/most-multitudinous.html * Event site: http://events.laserinternational.org/en/events/overview/100z8 EIGHT BELLS John Alexander Stewart, Jr., who retired in 2003 after 23 years with manufacturers' representative firm Ocean Marketing, died suddenly at his home on Saturday, October 6. He was 63. "John was my business partner and friend. Even in retirement he continued to be a mentor to so many people in the marine industry. We will all miss him greatly," said Ocean Marketing CEO John Thommen. Mr. Stewart received his BA degree from Roger William College in Bristol, Rhode Island. He was a yacht broker with Martin Bird & Associates in Annapolis, Maryland for 5 years. From 1980-2003 he was the Vice President of Ocean Marketing. He raced in the Newport-Bermuda race 9 times and was the Director of Safety at Sea Seminars for 25 years. He was a member of the Annapolis Yacht Club, the Cruising Club of America, Hospice Regatta event chair and the Sailing Club of the Chesapeake. Funeral services for Mr. Stewart will be held on Wednesday, October 10 at 1 pm (ET) at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road in Annapolis. -- BYM News, http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=16418 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 Adrian Morgan: With reference Sir David Tompkins QC's long winded legalese concerning the Daubney case (in Issue 2449), surely all he proves is that you should never, ever have anything to do with lawyers if at all possible. I had to read his letter three times before any inkling of sense peeped through the curtains of subtle nuance. Talk about counting angels on the heads of pins. This was just a simple doping case, which Mr. Daubney seems to have survived. God help us if the America's Cup goes to court again. * From Michael H. Koster: If you are allowed to change the boom sections on an Opti (Butt 2449 - Opti-Mization), doesn't that take away the One Design aspect of the class? If kids are getting to the point that the boat must be modified to compensate for their growth, maybe they should be moving into another class, such as a Sunfish or Laser, instead of bastardizing the Opti. Now maybe I'm missing something here. Are racing Opti's grouped by boom size? * From Sue Leslie: When I read the story on Opti boom sizes (Issue 2449), I immediately thought of one thing… coaches. The kids aren’t thinking of this stuff, and the parents sure aren’t either. Is there a better example of how coaching in sailing is taking away from the fun, and delving into the mundane, than by promoting this sort of thing. I don’t know of all the history, but I remember that the 49er came out with adjustable racks, and they had a formula that allowed lighter crews to have the racks further outboard than the heavier crews. Kind of an equalizer, much like this boom sizing thing sounds like. But the 49er canned it, likely because it was a pain to administer, and over-complicated the class. Maybe the Opti class should get a sniff of that. * From Megan Breid: I was in a little country pub in Queensland on Sunday. They had a picture on the wall of the White Horse Tavern Scotch that reminded me of the tavern in Newport, RI. I made a comment to my husband and a man overheard me and said, "Newport, that's the place we pinched the America's Cup from!" Yes, it is recognized! * From Randy Rietema: I am a big fan of the America’s Cup and follow the reports on AC 33 on your site daily. There is a lot talk about the new protocols but I have not seen any discussion from an impartial expert on how the new rules will actually reduce costs for all competitors like Bertarelli claims. Could you address this issue in one of your issues? => Curmudgeon’s Comments: As with most plans, the truth will be discovered after the plan has been executed (ie, when it is too late). The overriding implication for reducing costs in the 33rd event is the ban on two-boat testing. If you can only have one boat on the water at any one time, than you have – theoretically – reduced your onboard sailing personnel needs, thereby reducing your payroll. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM If you decide that you are indecisive, which one are you? Special thanks to Doyle Sailmakers and Harken Yacht Equipment. |
