SCUTTLEBUTT No. 655 - September 27, 2000
KING FOR A DAY
(The excerpts that we ran from the story Peter Isler wrote for
QuokkaSailing stirred up so much reaction, that we just had to go back to
the original story and grab one more of Pedro's ideas to spur growth in the
sport.)
One of the healthiest and most important aspects of sailing is its social
side. But for years the sport has had a big problem -- namely that the
ratio of females racing goes from 50 percent at age 14 and drops off from
there. By the time the youth sailors turn 17 there's more males
participating and the number of women keeps declining. It would be
interesting to check out the participant's list at a big regatta like Key
West Race Week or a NOOD Regatta to get real numbers -- but I'll bet the
percentage of women sailing is well south of 20 percent.
I don't have all the answers on this one -- especially how to keep the
girls from dropping out as they hit their mid-to-late teens. But I know one
thing that would help: Classes should set same sex limits. So instead of a
40-ft. boat having nine guys and one girl, it should be 50/50. No big boat
class could have more than 60 percent of the same sex on board. Not only
would that help on the social side of the sport (which would do great
things for the health of sailing), but it would make sailing more fun for
all of us. The A3 Women's team from 1995 already proved that an all-women's
team can be competitive on a really challenging 80-footer. So don't tell me
that with four women on a 40-footer that strength would be a problem. All
these "cutting edge" one-design big boat classes would be well advised to
bag the pro rule and implement the same sex limits immediately. Sales and
regatta participation would be booming. - Peter Isler for Quokka Sports
Full story: http://www.quokkasailing.com/expert/09/SLQ__0912_isler_WFC.html
NO OLYMPIC RACING
A low pressure system close to the race area it was clear to most
experienced observers that the clear sky was never going to produce wind in
sufficient quantity or with sufficient consistency of direction to allow
any racing. After a long postponement ashore, the 470 Women were sent out
shortly at 15:15 in the hope of settling at least one medal class. It was a
forlorn hope and with the wind swinging through 60 all racing was called
off at 16.00.
With all classes bar the Europes now behind schedule, the racing programme
has been amended to allow all classes to race on all remaining days, right
up to the 30th September. - ISAF Olympic website,
http://www.sailing.org/olympics2000/today/
STANDINGS:
470 M - 1. AUS (36 points) 2. USA (41) 3. ARG (47)
470 W - 1. AUS (33) 2. GER (41) 3. USA (42)
EUROPE - 1. ARG (31) 2. GBR (32) 3. ESP (45) 15. USA (85)
FINN - 1. GBR (18) 2. SWE (23) 3. POL (27) 6. USA (38)
STAR - 1. BRA (13) 2. AUS (20) 3. BER (20) 7. USA (34)
LASER - 1. GBR (24) 2. BRA (38) 3. POR (45) 17. USA (89)
49er (Final) - 1. FIN (55) 2. GBR (60) 3. USA (64)
MISTRAL M (Final) - 1. AUT (38) 2. ARG (43) 3. NZL (48) 11. USA (92)
MISTRAL W (Final) - 1. ITA (15) 2. GER (15) 3. NZL (19) 4. USA (45)
TORNADO (Final) - 1. AUT (16) 2. AUS (25) 3. GER (38) 7. USA (57)
SOLING - USA eliminated from match racing phase.
For more information: http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/2000
AGM SCHEDULE
The schedule for US Sailing's Annual General Meeting (October 10-15), along
with committee agendas, has been updated on their website:
http://www.ussailing.org/events/meet00fall/schedule.htm
PRAMS TO PROAS, MAXI'S TO MINI'S
Whatever it is you may race, Optimist Prams off the beach to Maxi Sleds
offshore, Ullman Sails have proven time and again they can accelerate you
into the winner's circle. Check out http://www.ullmansails.com and find
out what many already know -- Ullman Sails can help you dive into the silver.
MFS REGATTA J/24 WORLDS
With a chilly northerly howling through the fleet at the MFS Regatta J/24
World Championship this morning, many of the 73 international teams
gathered here in Newport, R.I. had one goal for today's two races:
Surviving the most extreme conditions they had ever sailed in. Yesterday's
sunny skies and flat seas were replaced with 18-25 knot northerly winds and
rolling four-foot seas on the Atlantic Ocean that quickly tore sails,
ripped gear off of decks, and gave many sailors the ride of a lifetime.
For some the test of 30-knot gusts with steep waves out of the southeast
was too much to withstand. A handful of boats with broken gear and spirits
retired early, beating their way back to a just-as-frantic harbor. For
others, it was a chance to take control of the wild ride using exceptional
teamwork and one team that stood out in today's rough weather was 35 Sur,
skippered by Tito Gonzalez (Santiago, Chile). Gonzalez and his
mostly-Chilean crew were first across the line in both races, but
unofficial scores had them OCS for the first race. After a hearing with the
jury they were granted redress.
"There were some small shifts at the start and the left side was favored,"
said Karl Anderson (Hyannis, Mass.), who is the headsail trimmer aboard 35
Sur. "We were able to get over there and do very well." Anderson is often
referred to as the only person to have won more J/24 World Championships as
crew than any other sailor ('91, '94, '95, '97, '98). Gonzalez held his
own, drawing on years of one-design sailing that include victories at the
2000 Chilean J/24 national and Lightning world championships. But even the
world's best were served a few surprises today. "The hanks ripped off the
jib," said Anderson. "Then the jib halyard started to pull out of the
mast. There were some exciting moments." - Dana Paxton
NOTE: Yesterday's winner Brad Read was unfortunate to blow out his mainsail
towards the end of race 3 sailing the final beat with just a headsail to
finish in the twenties after being amongst the leaders early on. - Stephen
White
Standings: 1. VASCO VASCOTTO, ITA (21 points) 2.43 CHRIS ZALESKI (28) 3.
JEFF JOHNSTONE (31) 4. BRAD READ (33) 5. DOUG CLARK (33) 6. AL HOBART (35)
7. GEOFF MOORE (37) 8. BRITT HUGHES (41) 9.WILL CRUMP (42) 10. MELISSA
PURDY (42)
Event website: http://www.sailnewport.org/worlds
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
Letters selected to be printed are edited for clarity, space (250 words
max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a
chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot
and don't whine if others disagree.
-- From Jesse Deupree - When Tom Ehman says "our sport would be
prospering", he is not speaking of my sport. Formula One auto racing has
done nothing for general devotees of the sport of auto racing, in fact it
has raised the cost of competition in entry level open wheeled racing to
absurd levels. Note also that Formula One has become a crooked sport run by
a crooked man- witness the Italian Grand Prix fiasco this year. Remember
also that an open track pass for first place at a race this year was
endlessly bragged about for the extremely rare event it was- Formula One is
all about spectacle- not sport. It offers no model for the
|
