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SCUTTLEBUTT #519 - March 1, 2000
AMERICA'S CUP:
Team New Zealand continues to dominate the America's Cup Match, today
earning its fourth consecutive victory over the Prada Challenge. The Kiwis
are up 4-0 in the first to five series, and look very confident of making
New Zealand the first nation ever to successfully defend the America's Cup
outside the U.S.A.
Looking back to 1995, Team New Zealand has now won nine consecutive races.
Skipper Russell Coutts has been at the helm for all those wins, equalling a
century old record. Scottish born, American resident, Charlie Barr defended
three America's Cups by scores of 3-0 at the turn of the century. Coutts
could break the record by winning Race Five, scheduled to start at 13:15 on
Thursday. -- America's Cup 2000 Louis Vuitton Media Centre Official site at
http://www.americascup.org
Editor's Note: dates referred to above are over the International Dateline.
For those of us in North America, the fifth race is TODAY (Wednesday, March
1).
THE END IS NEAR
Mercifully, the end is near. Taking advantage of an early, lethal Prada
blunder, Team New Zealand coasted to its fourth consecutive victory over the
Italian challenger today to stake a commanding 4-0 lead in the
five-of-nine-race finals for the America's Cup. Race 5 is scheduled for
Thursday and, should the result hold true to form, for the sailors from
Milan, the end will not have come a moment too soon.
As in the first three races of the series, the Kiwis won the start, took
control up the first windward beat, then denied the challengers any
semblance of a passing lane around the rest of the track. There was only one
small difference in this afternoon's lopsided duel. For a brief, shining
moment, the Italians made a race of it. In fact, the Prada crew showed some
true heart in the early going and, at one point up the first windward leg,
even held the lead. But it gave it away with a tactical error that summed up
its sad overall performance in the regatta. Frankly, once again, the better
team won.
A disappointed Patrizio Bertelli, the head of the Italian team, said, "In a
day when wind conditions were in favor of Luna Rosa, who proved to have the
same speed as NZL 60 if not faster, suicidal tactics gave the race to Team
New Zealand on Russell Coutts's 38th birthday." -- Herb McCormick, NY Times.
Full story at http://www.nytimes.com
TESTING - 1, 2, 3 ...
Testing means different things to different manufacturers of foul weather
gear. And you can be assured there aren't many of them testing their
products in the Southern Ocean. But that's exactly what Douglas Gill did.
Working with the crew of Chessie Racing in the last Whitbread Race, they
pushed their products to the limits, and then listened to the sailors about
modifications. As a result of this interaction, Gill has increased the
comfort and protection for everyone who sails. For the full story:
http://www.douglasgill.com
HAVANA-BALTIMORE RACE RENAMED: KEY WEST - BALTIMORE
The Storm Trysail Club is officially renaming the proposed Havana to
Baltimore Race to the Key West to Baltimore Race. Instead of starting off
of Havana, Cuba, the 1,000-mile distance race will start in the waters off
of Key West, Florida on April 23, 2000. As previously planned, boats will
finish in Baltimore later that week in conjunction with the City of
Baltimore's 3rd Annual Waterfront Festival. Competitors will still compete
for the Hemingway Cup, as previously planned, however, in addition, finishes
in the Key West to Baltimore race will be counted toward the prestigious
Northern Ocean Racing Trophy, awarded annually to the boat with the best
collective performance in a pre-determined series of offshore races.
"This decision [to relocate the start] was based on the recent denial of the
license application filed by the Mayor of Baltimore, Martin O'Malley, with
the US Treasury Department. The present political climate, including the
issues surrounding Elian Gonzalez and the recent Cuban diplomat expulsion,
likely caused the turn down." Storm Trysail Commodore John Storck, Jr.
continued, "The probability of a successful appeal of this denial by April
23 is very unlikely, the Storm Trysail Club wants it's competitors to be
able to firm up plans now for travel and boat logistics." The club looks
forward to the day that the race will actually begin in Havana. -- by Amy
Gross Kehoe. Full story at sailing.org/today/whatsnew.html
EXPERIENCE COUNTS
Lots of companies say they have an experienced staff. Perhaps you should
ask, experienced at what? When you do business with Sailing Supply you're
dealing with Brian Tehaar and Bill Bennett who have experience crewing for
Star Class World Champion Eric Doyle. The staff at Sailing Supply also
includes Laser sailors, 505 racers, and guys who race Melges 24s, Lido 14s
and Etchells. The boss, Dick Roberts, won the Pacific Ocean Racing
Conference in his new J/125, Snoopy. Give them a call -- you'll be dealing
with people whose experiences will help you: (800) 532-3831 /
http://www.sailingsupply.com/
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (scuttlebutt@boats.com -- note temporary address
for guest editor)
Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250
words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per subject,
so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree.
-- From Bruce Parsons
I think it is easier to talk about keels, which you can't see but pretend to
understand, than it is to talk about mast and sails, which you can see and
are harder to pretend you understand. This happens to professionals as
well. In the unveiling of the 95 boats Jerry Milgram was the only one
looking up - as he knows how little room for development there is
underwater. For anyone to catch TNZ last time on reduction of underwater
drag alone they would have had to throw away their rudder and one winglet.
Prof. Milgram spent all his time looking up.
In the third race the TNZ margin amounted to approximately 0.3 kt average
over the course. This is about 3 %, for which you need about 6% reduction
in drag alone to get. So again throw away your rudder Prada. The margin is
primarily in the air, and in the boathandling. Prada has to sail better
before we can even find out if they are sailing a slower boat, but for the
moment it sure looks like they are. Hard to beat the best in the world in a
slower boat.
-- From Neil Humphrey
In reading Lazlo Toth's rumor about NZ going off on their own in AC 2003 to
avoid the ISAF tax grab & to avoid using the ISAF structure (RRS, judges &
etc) can only be good for sailing in general. I suggest that NZ would be
setting up a venue or sailing league that would be geared towards full time
professionals, massive media marketing, better global media coverage &
attract big full time sponsors.
Further this move would help reinvent our sport for better acceptance &
marketing to the masses. As well it could be the start of separating pros
from amateurs & putting them in their own leagues. Interesting to note is
that AC 2000 is an example of professional sailors bettering amateurs. Here
no one really discusses the level of experience TNZ has together as
professionals prior AC to Prada's group of highly successful
amateur/professionals. Prada members really don't have the same pro
background in years as TNZ & their core group of Team Magic sailors which
adds up to a big difference on the water.
Bottomline is maybe the Kiwis see the opportunity to create a full time
business out of this race which NZ can dominate for a few AC challenges till
the world catches up.
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM:
If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain
silent?
Note: Nelson Weiderman has created a "Curmudgeon Server" at
http://noeticharbor.com/curmudgeon/. It randomly pulls Curmudgeonly wit from
a database loaded with past 'Butt Observations, Counsels, etc. Check it out!
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