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SCUTTLEBUTT 2964 - Tuesday, November 3, 2009Scuttlebutt 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 are APS, North Sails, and J/Boats. OPEN FOR BUSINESS The third annual Luderitz Speed Challenge has begun, where many of the world’s top kitesurfers have descended on the remote Namibian town of Luderitz to compete during the month of November against each other and the clock to prove what is the world’s fastest wind-powered craft. Last year’s challenge shattered the previously unbeatable 50knot barrier (93kph), setting a string of world and national records in this “Formula One of Sailing”. Kitesurfers took over many of the top slots in the international rankings for speed sailing, contested by sailboats, windsurfers and kitesurfers. Alex Caizergues of France set a new outright world record of 50.57knots (93.6kph) over 500m, with Rob Douglas of the U.S.A. and Sebastien Cattelan of France, also breaking the 50 knot barrier, recording times of 50.54 and 50.52 knots respectively. The greatest battle is between two very different worlds - the skill, strength and sheer bravery of the kitesurfers and windsurfers on their tiny boards, set against well-funded sailboat teams making use of the latest computer and materials technology to design ever more outlandish sailboats. Last year the kitesurfers beat the windsurfers, who had before beaten the sailboats. This year the sailboats have come back roaring, with the Swiss/French sailboat l’Hydroptere setting the world record in September with an astonishing 51.36knots (95kph) at Hyeres off the south coast of France. Will kitesurfers again achieve high-speed glory on water in this year’s Luderitz Speed Challenge? The refinement of sails, fins, boards and technique continues to take leaps, and the Luderitz speed strip - located in a lagoon on Namibia’s southern coast - provides absolutely ideal conditions for speed sailing. After strong breeze on Monday helped to establish a new Brazilian speed record, light wind is expected for the rest of this first week, so most of the riders are settling back to patiently (but nervously) await the next wind cycle. -- http://www.luderitz-speed.com SNG TO APPEAL VENUE DECISION The Defender of the 33rd America’s Cup, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), is to appeal New York Supreme Court Justice Kornreich’s decision of 30 October rejecting Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates as the venue for the 33rd America’s Cup. SNG has applied for an expedited appeal to avoid any delay to the February 2010 Deed of Gift Match. The choice of Ras Al Khaimah was made based on the plain language of Justice Cahn’s (Kornreich’s predecessor) May 2008 Court Order that ruled the location of the 33rd America’s Cup Match to be in ‘Valencia or any other location selected by the SNG’. The Emirati venue was selected by the Defender for several reasons: the suitability of the weather conditions for a February Deed of Gift Match; the infrastructure offered by the country and the experience the UAE brings in organising world class sporting events. -- http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=20783 * Société Nautique de Genève has nominated Graham McKenzie (NZL) as an expert witness for the New York Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday 4 November. McKenzie and the Golden Gate Yacht Club’s appointed expert Bryan Willis (GBR) will choose a third to assist Justice Kornreich with the technical issues still pending for the 33rd America’s Cup. McKenzie was a member of the 32nd America’s Cup Jury and has sailed both competitively and for leisure in New Zealand on a wide range of yachts. -- http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=200&idContent=20780 HOT DEAL ON COOL WEATHER MUSTO TEAM GEAR It's official, Fall is here and temperatures are cooling but here at APS, "The World Leader in Outfitting Performance Sailors", we're working hard to keep you warm. How? Well, this month's APS Team Gear special features the toasty fleece-lined Musto Windward jackets and vests with decoration included. For serious sailors Musto gear is a must have and to help you and your team look serious we've got a deal for you. So what's the deal? For a short video clip of crazy Kyle telling you about the special click here: http://www.apsltd.com/TeamGearSpecial * With the temperature dropping now, the APS blog ‘The Stern Scoop’ has posted a timely product review: “Cold weather sailing gloves have a rather unique mission -- keep your hands warm while protecting them and gripping line like a regular sailing glove. And while each glove has strengths, none is perfect -- the odds that someone will create a glove that is waterproof, warm, durable AND thin enough to retain dexterity are in the same stratosphere as world peace breaking out and James actually combing his hair before coming to work. So if none of the gloves out there are perfect, which one should you choose?” -- http://blog.apsltd.com/2009/10/frostbite-season-gloves.html NEW AND IMPROVED By Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt It was on Monday, September 8, 2008 when I was in Anacortes, WA during the first day that the BMW Oracle Racing team opened their construction base to the media. They had been trialing the BOR 90 trimaran for a week, and were now ready to reveal some details on their Deed of Gift challenger. A lot on the boat has changed since then, and I went to the team's San Diego base on Friday, October 30, 2009 to get an update. The most evident change is the removal of the coffee-grinder pedestals above deck, and the addition of the new BMW diesel engine below deck. The 33rd America’s Cup will use engines for the first time to power the winches and hydraulics, and while the boat may not appear too different, it absolutely sounds different. And when the entire boat shudders during load testing, with an intense rev to the engine, well, if you have ever seen a top fuel dragster burn out prior to a start to warm its tires, then you know what I mean. Here are some of the other observations: - Removal of main hull rudder - Removal of main hull daggerboard - Removal of helmsman safety cage - Longer bow sprit - Greatly reduced netting between main hull and amas - Addition of ama daggerboard lifts to aid in raising and lowering - Addition of water ballast - Newly raised and relocated mast base - Deeper ama rudders Other changes around the BOR training base include a new second tent for sail work, and an enlargement of the main tent. While the sail tent is open for viewing, the main tent is not, and it is in there that the team works on their special modifications, which some suspect may include the construction of a hard wing rig. -- Photos and Video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/11/bor-90-new-and-improved.html VINEYARD VINES PRO AM REGATTA The annual fantasy camp for sailors has commenced this week - the Vineyard Vines Pro Am Regatta at the Bitter End YC. The BEYC is a premiere luxury water sports resort in the Caribbean, and the Pro Am event schedule combines the skills of professional skipper with the desire of hotel guests in a series of racing events. Here is an update so far: * (Nov. 1, 2009) - Twenty three amateur teams raced in four separate classes - all hoping to qualify for the finals of the Musto Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship Regatta on Thursday. And the conditions on the North Sound of the British Virgin Islands could not have been much better. Eight to 12 knots of wind on virtually flat water under a bright sun provided perfect conditions that saw Jim Durden (Hunter 216s), Jonathan Powel (Laser), Larry and Melisa Rowland (Hobie Wave), and George Huntington (Rhodes 19) advance to the finals. * (Nov. 2, 2009) - The word around the docks was that the Scuttlebutt Offshore Championship was going to be a multihull America’s Cup preview. There were two former AC skippers, Ken Read and Paul Cayard, on matched multihulls. Not much carbon-fiber involved here, or exotic sails for these programs - but there was air-conditioning in the splendid saloons of the Moorings 4000s used for the event. And to spice up the spectacle, a third multihull was added - a somewhat bigger and certainly heavier 45-footer under the command of the original curmudgeon, Tom Leweck, who has no AC history. The course was from the BVI North Sound, in front of BEYC, down to The Baths and return. But for a gentlemanly event like this, the return leg was delayed until after lunch, and a bit of snorkeling - and in Leweck’s case, a nap. The final score - all three cats wound up with four points, with Leweck being declared the winner based on elapsed time. Go figure. In the IC24 Class, 1972 Olympic Silver medalist, Keith Musto proved there is no substitute for age and experience. He bested both 2008 Gold medalist Anna Tunnicliffe and 2008 Silver medalist Zack Railey, with second place finishes in both directions. Event website: http://www.beyc.com/index.php/proam.html DEBRIEF: STUDENT YACHTING WORLD CUP By Jesse Fielding, URI skipper The jet lag is wearing off and our lower backs are realigning after a long day of travel back to the United States of America. I could tell that we all felt a sense of relief to be home but for me it also solidified the end of a great run. Being part of the process of building the 2009 University of Rhode Island World Cup Racing Team has been one of the highlights in my young life. The opportunity to train and lead a group of motivated young sailors into battle has been an incredible learning experience that will transcend the race track in Marseilles France. It affects how we all look at our education, our personal lives and how we interact with society as a whole. The support we have received from friends, family, the sailing community and our sponsors only provides more motivation in whatever endeavors lie ahead of us. After six months of fundraising, theorizing about the Student Yachting World Cup and finally making the dream of competing in it a reality, one would think we are ready for a nice long nap. Believe me, I thought about it. Our dreams of an easy Rhode Island hibernation are quickly dashed however by the opportunity and desire to make the trek to the US Naval Academy for the 2009 Kennedy Cup Trophy. We are excited to get back in the ring this weekend and battle some exceptional collegiate big boat teams for the chance at representing the United States in 2010 at the Student Yachting World Cup. We are taking a core group from this year’s World Cup effort and mixing in several new faces. Growth and development never take a holiday, they don't even take a day off, so it is always important for URI Sailing to bring new talent and energy into the mix. -- Read on: http://sywc2009.blogspot.com/2009/11/monday-morning-tactician.html CHRIS LARSON WINS WITH NORTH SAILS Chris Larson and crew aboard West Marine Rigging/New England Ropes dominated the Sheehy Lexus of Annapolis 2009 Melges 24 Worlds. “We used North’s standard Melges 24 One Design sails and the performance of these sails during the 6-day, 11-race series was fantastic,” said Larson. “Our speed and height were awesome and we had no sail issues at all.” North-powered boats finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th*, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th*, 12th, 13th, 14th*, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th* & 20th overall. (* Denotes partial inventory). When performance matters, the choice is clear: http://www.OneDesign.com * Look for an interview with Chris Larson in Scuttlebutt later this week. IRC EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP Annapolis, MD (November 1, 2009) - After three days and six races completed at the 2009 IRC East Coast Championship, just three seconds separated overall winner Stephen Murray Jr.’s (New Orleans, LA) TP 52 ‘Decision IV’ from Mike Williamson’s (New Castle, NH) King 40 ‘White Heat’ for the title. Overall results are calculated on average corrected speed for each of the Class winners for the entire regatta. Thirty eight yachts raced in 5 classes with conditions ranging from 7 to 23 kts, with light rain on Sunday ahead of a cold front. Class winners: Class 1 - Decision IV, TP 52, Stephen Murray Jr. (New Orleans, LA) Class 2 - Sundance, Farr 40, Matt Beer (Washington, DC) Class 3 - White Heat, King 40, Mike Williamson (New Castle, NH) Class 4 - Down Time, Beneteau 40.7, Ed and Molly Freitag (Annapolis, MD) Class 5 - Pegasus, Beneteau 36.7, Peter Firey (Vienna, VA) Details and Photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/1102/ MADE IN CHINA Inaugurated in 2007, China Cup International Regatta in Shenzhen, China is the first-ever and only big boat sailing regatta initiated by Chinese. Approved by the General Administration of Sport of China, the regatta is held annually. In 2008, nearly 80 boats with sailors of 24 nationalities competed in the event, attracting wide attention from sailing community and international media. While overall numbers were down in the 2009 edition this past weekend, there were nearly thirty entrants in the Beneteau First 40.7 one design class, and this was the first time the event attracted representatives from all active sailing continents of the world. Esteemed photographer Carlo Borlenghi was there too, and provides this outstanding images: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/1102a/ SAILING SHORTS * Fort Myers, FL (November 2, 2009) - The 2009 2.4mR World Championships began today in the Caloosahatchee River for the 44 competitors. An early morning fog prompted an onshore postponement, but racing began when the shifty seabreeze rolled in. With two races completed today, the top five sailors are Paul Tingley (CAN), Carl Horrocks (USA), John Ruf (USA), Allan Leibel (CAN), and Thierry Schmitter (NED). Racing is hosted by the Edison Sailing Center and is scheduled to continue through Friday. -- Event website: http://24mrworlds09.edisonsailingcenter.org/ * Applications are now being accepted for the 2010 US Sailing Development Team (USSDT), a new, youth pipeline team supported by US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC). Formerly known as the US Sailing Team - U18 and US Sailing Team - U23, the USSDT was created for young athletes who have been identified as future Olympic prospects. The OSC is currently accepting applications from talented sailors, aged 13 years or older as of January 1, 2010, who have shown a strong work ethic, willingness to work within a team, and good results at international events and high-level domestic events. -- Details: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2010_US_Sailing_Development_Team.htm * The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and naming rights sponsor Rolex announced a fleet of 116 has been nominated for the impending 628nm Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, one of the world’s most highly regarded ocean classics, which will start on December 26th. Last year’s event attracted 113 nominations and of those 100 made it to the start line on Boxing Day with 92 crossing the finish line off Hobart’s historic Battery Point having completed the gruelling Bass Strait crossing. To view the list of yachts applied to enter go to http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yachts.asp?key=526 * CORRECTION and PHOTOS: Although Scott DeWeese was registered with Bruce Stone for the Subaru J/105 North American Championship, he was unable to attend. The winning team on Power Play was Nicole Breault, Bob Dearborn, Stuart Johnstone, Mark Lindquist, Dave Marshall and Bruce Stone. Complete corrected report and photos here: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8525#8525 6.5 KNOTS UPWIND WITH ONLY 3' OF DRAFT The new J/95 (31') breaks new ground as a sporty, keel-centerboarder that daysails eight, sleeps four and sails in as little as 4’ of water. With fingertip control (twin rudders) and “big boat” feel. this is a boat you have to sail to believe. Demo-sailing available in Chesapeake, Florida and Texas. -- http://www.jboats.com/j95/ 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 David Carrel: Regarding Paige Brooks' article about sportsmanship in SCUTTLEBUTT 2962: I say: "Booo". I was aghast. The notion that what you do off the water is not a part of your "sportsmanship" is appalling and dangerous. If a sailing team hires thugs to beat up another team in a bar the night before a race, should we dismiss that since the hired thugs weren't sailors and they weren't on the water? Ludicrous! I have been in the protest room when a paid tactician lied through his teeth, but that boat's owner was not present. Later that owner agreed the statements were false, but felt it was not his responsibility. Is excessive starvation and dehydration before a race, to make weight, something we want leave outside the realm of sportsmanship? Not me! -- Forum, read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8528#8528 * From Peter Grimm Jr.: Paul Cayard’s comments were so spot on (in Scuttlebutt 2963). It's all about the fun and family. As a sailmaker and professional sailor, sailing hasn't always been my first choice for fun. It's only been in the last 5 years that even just going sailing has been fun again. Enjoying it with your family and friends. Okay, so I love to compete, but as Paul writes it still can be fun, and I circle back once more to family. Thanks so much Paul for writing this. * From Paul Fleming: Will Ballieau told it as it is (in Scuttlebutt 2963). The America's Cup is now a laughing stock. To have an American, Ed Baird, currently on a foreign payroll suggest that engines are OK is a testament to how people who are bought lose their moral standing. Sad. Very sad. * From Vernon Merritt: Well, it seems as if the good Judge has delivered with Solomonesque - type wisdom, snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat to continue and hopefully resolve the remaining matters before her court regarding the 33rd America’s Cup. In Scuttlebutt 2963, Cory E. Friedman has written another excellent piece summarizing what could happen from here... and the need for better lawyering. My thoughts would be fire Boies, or spare his ego and just keep him as some kind of legal advisor. His performance and involvement in this matter after being parachuted into the fray only a few weeks ago should have left everybody in the GGYC/Ellison camp looking for some way to just frag him. Ostrager has been in for the long haul and must know something about sailing by now, or at least have a decent idea of how to get the correct information and get up to speed to adequately represent his client. GGYC/Ellison needs to shore up its legal team pronto. Has anybody called Friedman's office yet? OH dang it...! he's probably got a conflict. Or does he?? * From Virginia Jones: The information about EILEAN -- the newly restored Fife ketch -- is most easily found at www.thewatchquote.com and look for an article for March of 2008 about the restoration and rebirth of a classic. Try Googling with the correctly spelled name EILEAN, try "restoration for sailing vessel EILEAN." EILEAN is Scots Gaelic for island, and EILEAN was launched the year that EILEEN (also a Fife) built for the same owner in 1929 and renamed BELLE AVENTURE was changed from gaff to marconi rig. I first saw EILEAN in Antigua in about 1974 when she was immaculate and skippered by the legendary Mike Beal. She was one of the most beautiful boats that I have ever seen. * From Brooks Paul Jones, Sailing Services: Regarding Scuttlebutt 2963, and the comment by Chris Parker, if interested in Eilean restoration do not miss the May 2008 “Sailing World” article (page 76). There may be some more recent information out there but this is a great collections of pictures and comments. Just happened to be looking at this issue at the lunch table at Sailing Services. Not just because of the cover. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other? Special thanks to APS, North Sails, and J/Boats. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
