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SCUTTLEBUTT 2594 - May 12, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. OLYMPIC EVENTS REAFFIRMED FOR 2012 GAMES During the ISAF Mid-Year meeting this past weekend in Qingdao, China, the Council reaffirmed the 2012 Olympic events that were voted on during their November 2007 Annual Meeting. The event list was under review, with the evaluation process first requireing the Council to seek a simple majority vote on whether to reaffirm the events that were selected. After that majority was received - which meant the event list was now being questioned - the Council then required a two-thirds majority to seek any changes to the event list, which they did not achieve. While the vote was sealed to protect the Council members, David Brookes, Executive Director of the International Hobie Class Association, reports that the voting occurred as follows to reaffirm the list (fifty percent needed): No - 20; Yes - 17; Abstain - 1. The voting pattern remained similar for the next round, with 21 votes seeking change to the men’s list, with 26 votes needed to meet the required two-thirds threshold. Therefore, the Council decision taken in November 2007 remains and the events on the Olympic programme for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition are: Men's Events 1 person dinghy Windsurfer 2 person dinghy (high performance) 2 person dinghy 1 person dinghy (heavy) Keelboat Women's Events 1 person dinghy Windsurfer 2 person dinghy Keelboat (match racing) The equipment (ie, boats) for the 2012 Olympic sailing events will be decided at the 2008 ISAF Annual Conference on November 6-16 in Madrid, Spain. Other news included that the ISAF World Cup is now firmly on course to become a reality, with all event organizers have signed the memorandum of intent and that a management company has partnered with ISAF. Set to launch in 2009, the ISAF World Cup will include the following existing events, together with an event in the country to hold the next Olympic Games: Sail Melbourne, Rolex Miami OCR, Princess Sofia Trophy, Semaine Olympique Française, Holland Regatta, and Kiel Week. Additionally, the ISAF World Sailing Championship will now be held every two years, with effect from the earliest in 2013. -- Complete ISAF report: http://www.sailing.org/23276.php?PHPSESSID=173d8fcce3f59f9fef567d799ae33fb2 INTERESTING CONCEPT – MARKETING COUP Founded in 1826, Skandia Cowes Week in the UK has become the largest sailing regatta in the World, with some 1,000 boats competing in 32 classes. All the focus on the event opened the door for LaserPerformance (Europe) Ltd and Volkswagen to partner now for the second year in hosting a championship of champions concept event called the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes, which is held on the Friday (August 1st) prior to the exceedingly popular race week. The 32 previous year’s class winners race in identical Laser SB3s off Cowes in a one-day, three race regatta, vying for the top prizes of a Volkswagen Touareg, Laser XD and Laser BUG. To lure the SB3 fleet to donate their boats for this event, they include the owner as crew, and award prizes of a family holiday, a new main, and a new jib to the top three boat owners. The boat’s are heavily branded with logo marks, and based on the renewal of the event, the formula for sponsors and sailors must have worked. -- View 2007 event video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/05/marketing-coup.html POLYESTER OUT, NYLON HELIX IN. THE PIRATES LAIR HAS IT! Don't like the stink, roughness, and low UPF of polyester moisture shirts? The Nylon Helix weave of Prowik wicking tees is without peers. 50+UPF, superiorwear, and comfort second to none. Increase your regatta sales by carrying the most effective technical gear. Log on to http://www.pirateslair.com/store/index.html for the Mount Gay Rum versions or (888) 724-5286 for team and regatta planning. ALL ON MONDAY FOR THE FINALS (May 11, 2008) If match racing can’t hold your attention for the whole day, the entertainment on the shores of Lake Constance certainly could. The live band during Match Race Germany started in the big tent at lunchtime, and with over 15,000 people soaking up the atmosphere and sun here in Langenargen, it was hard to tell who’s actually here to watch the racing and who’s here just to enjoy the party happening on the shore. The single round robin and the repechage of the second event on the World Match Racing Tour had determined the eight teams to advance to the single round robin quarterfinal round. Of those teams, moving on to the best of three semifinals were Mathieu Richard (FRA) to verse Damien Iehl (FRA), and Ian Williams (GBR) to verse Jes Gram Hansen (DEN). Each team held one win apiece before a storm warning was issued for Lake Constance, with the schedule to continue through to the finals on Monday. -- Event results: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com/da/78706 AINSLIE CONTINUES FINN DOMINATION Scarlino, Italy (May 10, 2008) -- An unforgettable race took place today in Maremma’s crystal blue waters: the decisive Medal Race for the European Finn Championship. Ben Ainslie (GBR) dominated from start to finish, winning by over a minute on his opponents on a 30 minute course. The prestart was a nailbiter with Ainslie hunting down Guillaume Florent (FRA) from the get go, needing to gain eight points on the leader. Ainslie managed to corner the Frenchman into the left hand corner during the prestart and in the last minute was able to have a penalty inflicted on his opponent, though collecting one himself at the same time. Having offloaded the penalty, Ainslie started at the centre of the line with good speed and in control, whereas Florent’s eighth place finish dropped him to third overall. Life was equally unpleasant for Chris Cook (CAN) and Zach Railey (USA) in the final medal race, where their respective race finishes of ninth and tenth dropped their final overall position to sixth and ninth place. -- Event site: http://www.eurofinn2008.it * Joao Rodgriguez (POR) and Marina Alabau (ESP) have won the RS:X Olympic windsurfing class European Championship, held last week in Brest, France. -- Event site: http://www.rsxclass.com/europeans08.html AMERICA’S CUP: THE HOPEFUL, THE HELPFUL, AND THE STUPID The following updates provide the latest commentary from the legal front, which includes a prediction that Justice Cahn will soon set the date for the match, plus some PR bungling and good deeds from the Swiss team: * From Cory Friedman, Scuttlebutt legal analyst: After a period of relative calm, the litigation front has been very busy. In roughly chronological order, the first development was Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) filing its reply on its motion in the Appellate Division for a stay and response to Golden Gate Yacht Club’s (GGYC) motion to dismiss the appeal. In an effort to evade GGYC’s well founded motion to dismiss, SNG made a highly formalistic argument that the only thing on appeal was the motion to disqualify GGYC based upon the “keel yacht” kerfuffle. That had the side effect of making it plain that the appeal is not really about anything at all, because Justice Cahn’s November 27, 2007 opinion is not on appeal, as no order has been entered, due to SNG derailing the order settlement process. In its reply, SNG complains that the case has become a “procedural morass.” SNG is being unduly modest. Thanks to its maneuvers, FUBAR would be a better way to describe its appeal. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/#p23 * The America’s Cup defender Alinghi team has launched its Performance Programme, a collaboration with the Swiss Sailing Team, the body that manages the participation of Swiss sailors in international competition, including the Olympic Games and it will develop as a long term commitment of support. The teams that have been selected to represent Switzerland in Beijing will be the first ones to benefit from Alinghi’s assistance in different areas of their campaigns, with the Alinghi base in Valencia being made available for training sessions. -- Complete report: http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=15622 * Apparently the America’s Cup defender Alinghi felt sufficiently threatened by last week’s Scuttlebutt poll regarding a Deed of Gift interpretation, that they initiated an email campaign to skew the results in their favor. Surely, they are not the first to influence a survey, however, it was gutsy for the source of the email to be Alinghi’s club, the Societe Nautique de Geneve, and for them to use misleading information to get their membership to drink the Kool-Aid. Read their email and additional facts here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/05/swiss-skew-poll-results.html A SPECIAL OFFER FROM LASERPERFORMANCE From now until June 14th when you buy a Vago (Sailing World’s Dinghy of the Year), Bahia or Pico from LaserPerformance you’ll get everything you need to get out on the water - depending on the boat you choose you could save almost $1000. Find out more at your local dealer or go to http://www.LaserPerformance.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE Speaking after the Council decision to reaffirm the 2012 Olympic events, Olympic athlete and President of the International Tornado Association, Carolijn Brouwer (NED) commented, “The multihull sailors had lost some faith in ISAFs direction on the Olympic events, but after their decision where more than 50% of the Council did not reaffirm the November decision, it feels a little bit like an apology. There is a glimmer of hope. Listening to the debate, we are confident the multihull event will be back on the Olympic programme in the future and the multihull community will work with ISAF to achieve that objective.”-- http://www.sailing.org/23276.php?PHPSESSID=173d8fcce3f59f9fef567d799ae33fb2 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar SAILING SHORTS * (May 11, 2008) Light winds permitted a clean start for the 13 Open 60’s and 11 Class 40’s that started The Artemis Transat on Sunday from Plymouth, England to begin the 2982-mile long course to Boston, MA, USA. The race length got slightly longer late last week when race organizers added an ice gate to help the fleet avoid the ice movement, and the early weather forecast calls for a big part of the Atlantic crossing to be under spinnaker in moderate winds, but for the last 900 miles to expect strong rain, variations of temperature, local gusts (sometimes exceeding 30 knots) and temporary light patches. -- Event site: http://theartemistransat.com * The British Open Team Racing Championship for the Wilson Trophy, hosted by the West Kirby Sailing Club in England, was won over the weekend by the NYYC Silver Panda team (USA). Thirty-two teams competed through the first round, with the Sliver Pandas eventually meeting the Larchmont Yacht Club (USA) team in the finals, beating them 3-0. Representing the Silver Pandas was Clay Bischoff/ Mandi Markee, Pete Levesque/ Martha Carleton, and Colin Merrick/ Amanda Callahan. -- Event site: http://www.wksc.net/wilsontrophy/index.asp * Annapolis, MD (May 11, 2008) -- The Clifford D. Mallory Trophy, High School Sailing’s Fleet Dinghy Racing National Championship, was hosted this past weekend by the Naval Academy. Twenty teams sailed 420s and FJs, and after forty races with final day protests shuffling the results, it was Severn High School (Severna park, MD) winning, Point Loma HS (San Diego, CA) in second, and Newport Harbor HS (Newport Beach, CA) in third. -- Event site: http://www.usna.edu/SailingTeam/go.php?ID=34 * (May 11, 2008) Ten teams began the first leg of the 500-mile race from Key Largo, FL to Tybee Island, GA for 2-person, production catamarans (either the Inter 20 or Formula 18). Starting the first of six consecutive day races for the fleet, the course took the fleet up through the Biscayne Bay before they can pop out into the Atlantic. They will pass Key Biscayne, South Beach Miami, and finish up in Hollywood Beach, FL. -- Event site: http://www.tybee500.com * The teams now qualified for the ICSA Women’s National Championship, to be sailed in 420’s on May 26-28 in Newport, RI, are: MAISA: Georgetown University, Hobart/WmSmith Colleges, St. Mary's College of Maryland; U.S. Naval Academy; MCSA: Northwestern University; University of Wisconsin; NEISA: Boston College; Boston University; Brown University; Tufts University; Yale University; NWICSA: Western Washington University; PCCSC: Stanford University; University of Hawaii; SAISA: College of Charleston; Eckerd College; University of South Florida; SEISA: Texas A&M Galveston. -- http://www.collegesailing.org * The Afterguard Regatta, the annual gathering of college sailing alumni, will be held on May 29, 2008 prior to the College Nationals in Newport, RI. -- Additional details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/05/afterguard-regatta-2008.html * Sailing World's College Rankings as of May 9, 2008 finds Boston College replacing St. Mary's atop the Coed rankings, with College of Charleston retaining its lead in the Women's. -- Full rankings: http://tinyurl.com/5l9a4n * Ericsson Racing Team has recruited 59-year old veteran Magnus "Mange" Olsson as a crewmember on the Nordic crew in the next Volvo Ocean Race. For Olsson it will be the sixth time he sails around the world. Mange Olsson sailed his first yacht race round the world in 1985, when the race was still known as the Whitbread. He won with EF in 1997-98, and placed second with Assa Abloy in 2001-2002. In the most recent Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-2006, he was technical director for Ericsson Racing Team, but did not take part on board. -- http://www.ericssonracingteam.com NEED A CAREER CHANGE, OR JUST A NEW BOAT? Sail1Design is sailing’s classified ad source, from boats to jobs. Today’s S1D spotlights: Yacht Broker in Annapolis; Sailing Software Development Internship; Full-time Sailmaker position; Asst Dinghy Coach, US Naval Academy; Hampton (VA) YC Head Instructor; great V15 for sale; 2 Opti’s for sale. Check these out and lots more. http://www.Sail1Design.com 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 Paul Henderson, Past ISAF President: The reason that sailing added events to the Olympic program was to change our sport to include women in the Olympic Sailing Regatta, which was a decree of the IOC. In 1984 there were NO women's events and only two women competitors, Cathy Foster, who won the last race in the 470, and Trine Elvstrom, who crewed with her dad Paul in the Tornado. There were seven so-called "Open Events", but they were really best suited for men. Sailing was still the worse dual gender sport in the 1996 Games, with only 19% women. In Athens 2004, there were 4 of 11 events for women, with women's participation up to 35% of the total participants, an admirable accomplishment for the ISAF Council. The cutting back of sailing events by the IOC from 11 to 10 events has nothing to do with stopping some uncontrolled ISAF expansion, but rather having to do with the IOC wanting new sports while at the same time keeping the total sports at the Games to 28, the events at 300, and athletes at 10,500. So sailing and other sports were asked to cut back, with sailing being reduced to 10 events and 380 sailors (from 11 events and 400), which is the reason for the angst at the ISAF Council. When one discipline or event has to go, it is not something done lightly and always the disenfranchised are disturbed. However, due to the IOC voting procedure, there will be only 26 sports in London 2012 with the dropping of Baseball and Softball . No other sport got enough support for inclusion, which is why it is not necessary, at least for the 2012 Games, for Sailing to reduce from 11 to 10 events. * From Roy L Miller, Lakewood, CO, USA: If SNG would have agreed to the nine points of compromise and had a protocol similar to the 32nd AC, they likely would be the favorite for the 33rd AC, because they had a much faster boat than BMW Oracle or the NZL contender. Now, they will probably have to defend the Cup in a catamaran with no more experience or prospects than any other boat. Why? * From Ken Guyer, San Diego: I get a kick out of all the interpretations of what the DoG “means” when it says the boat much be constructed in the country of challenge and defense. It is no wonder we had a President who could not define the word “is”! All the self interpretation aside, the deed is very simple in its intent and its language. The originators of the deed intentionally wrote it that way. Simply put there is no doubt it means the boat must be constructed in the country of challenge and defense. Not manufactured, not put together, not assembling parts from far off lands. In the day and age when the deed was written, “build the boat, the entire boat, in your country and come on over here and race the boat we built in our country”. It is just that simple. * From Alexander Kovell: With regard to the Deed of Gift, the statement that everything must be made in the country of the team is ludicrous at best and insane at the worst. Does anyone think a small nation can produce everything to outfit an AC boat? If parts are to be sourced from the country of the boat, why not the sailors and designers as well? * From Chip Pitcairn: (re, story in #2593) Would someone please ask Puma Ocean Racing what duties a "driver" performs. Do they mean helmsman? If they wish to ignore proper nautical terminology why not call the Watch Captain a shift supervisor, or make the Bowman/ Trimmer the front rope puller? Someone tell Puma Ocean Racing that a driver is the guy behind the wheel of the Limo your sponsor pulls up in. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. Special thanks to The Pirate’s Lair, LaserPerformance, and Sail1Design. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
