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SCUTTLEBUTT 1627 - July 19, 2004
Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is a
digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock
talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press
releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always
welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.
WHY DOES RUSSELL WANT OUT?
(The following excerpt from NZZ Online looks at the reasons for the rift
between the Swiss Alinghi syndicate and skipper Russell Coutts.)
After leaving Team New Zealand, Coutts became one of the dynamos behind the
Alinghi victory, together with Bertarelli, who looked after the finances,
as well as Michel Bonnefous and Michel Hodara, the project managers. This
"Dream Team" is now, for the first time, having problems. One reason is
that the situation for the new defenders of the cup has changed. The
creation of the America's Cup Management (ACM), which is responsible for
the next event in Valencia, has meant that Bonnefous and Hodara are at a
distance from the internal affairs of the Alinghi team.
With the creation of this "neutral" body, Coutts lost a part of his
decision-making authority. It is no secret that he fervently supported the
Portuguese to organise the next cup from the four candidates which wanted
to stage the event (Valencia, Lisbon, Marseilles and Naples). The New
Zealander has not been shy in adding fuel to the rumours that have been
flying around, saying for example that he was "in talks with Ernesto
through intermediaries, because we have differences of opinion over which
direction to take in terms of management". He also spoke of "resolving the
differences" adding "but it is not excluded that that talks will end in a
separation of the two parties."
In Newport (at the UBS Cup), no one gave the impression of wanting to leave
the cozy nest of the Alinghi team. But Brad Butterworth, the tactical
genius at Coutts's right hand, told the Geneva daily newspaper "Le Temps"
that the management at ACM did not have a very good understanding as far as
sporting aspects were concerned. It is clear that the conflict is also
worrying the half-dozen New Zealanders who hold key positions with the
Swiss yacht. - Pierre-Antoine Preti, swissinfo, full story:
www.nzz.ch/2004/07/11/english/page-synd5077426.html
IS THE PARTY OVER?
So what is the future of the maxZ86 class? "I have mixed feelings about
whether the class will survive," says (Pyewacket's Robbie) Haines. "We
don't have other people coming in and building boats. Now there are the two
maxZ86s and there's Windquest which is a boat that is slightly slower than
we are. I think there will be a bunch of 95 and 98 footers built and we'll
all just race on handicap. There won't be a one design box rule maxi boat
class as we had hoped two years ago. I don't think it will be as much fun.
We were hoping to have identical boats and we could go fleet racing, but it
just didn't work out that way. We're going to be racing on some sort of
handicap system when we race against the other big boats, that's if we
decide to travel. Roy may want to stay in California." Haines says that the
reason the maxZ86 has a shakey future is that it is very difficult to get
the people who can afford these boat to agree on anything. - Excerpt from a
major story on The Daily Sail website, full story: http://tinyurl.com/47lwx
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
"South Africa is a modern, dynamic, exciting country, and we want to show
that to the world. The America's Cup is the most sophisticated sporting
event in the world. It's a perfect fit. We want to show that on our boat,
black and white can work together and have success together. We want to be
part of the renaissance of South Africa." Shosholoza Captain Salvatore Sarno
"We are not known internationally and we don't have the track record, but
that doesn't bother me. We have the talent, and I've beaten the likes of
Conner and [Alinghi skipper Russell] Coutts at other events over the years.
I don't feel overawed." - Shosholoza skipper Geoff Meek
Excerpts from a story by Tony Chamberlain, Boston Globe about the
Shosholoza South African America's Cup syndicate, full story:
http://tinyurl.com/3zq98
SPERRY TOP-SIDER MAKES A SPLASH AT SEA WORLD
Sperry Top-Sider, the conquistadors of the open seas have one more notch in
their belt of accolades. The Shamu trainers at Sea World, a.k.a., "The
Dream Team," have designated the Figawi Zip as their footwear
extraordinaire. The Figawi Zip is the latest in performance wear that
combines high-tech material with good old fashion ingenuity. Some of the
custom features of the Figawi Zip are molded rubber mudguard with drainage
ports, Aegis Microbial Shield kills bacteria that cause odor and
Non-Marking Super-Tack Rubber Outsole™ and Quadro-Grip Wave-Siping™ provide
superior wet or dry traction. -
http://www.sperrytopsider.com/mens_performance.asp
YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS
The French team claimed the Volvo Trophy for the best overall team
performance at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, held on the
waters of Gdynia, Poland, by winning one gold and three silver medals.
However, it was the British that walked away with the greatest number of
medals - two gold and three bronze. Other nations that won multiple medals
include Australia (two gold), Poland (two gold) and Italy (two bronze).
North Americans sailors in the top 10 include, 420 Girls: 7. Elizabeth
Leigh Kempton/ Kaitlin Storck; Single handed Dinghy- Girls: 7. Paige
Railey, 10. Nicole Bastet, CAN.
Final team standings - Top 10:
1. France, 395.00
2. Great Britain, 372.00
3. Australia, 345.00
4. Poland, 281.00
5. Italy, 281.00
6. Germany, 270.00
7. New Zealand, 231.00
8. Israel, 193.00
9. United States of America, 174.00
10. Brazil, 142.00
Event website: http://www.worldyouthsailingpoland.com/
TRANSAT QUÉBEC-SAINT MALO
The leaders in the fleet of 60 foot Orma trimarans are preparing for their
last night at sea! 166 miles from the finish, Sergio Tacchini has passed
between the Isles of Scilly and Land's End and is entering the Channel.
With a 96 mile lead on Groupama, Karine Fauconnier and her crew have
victory in their sights. Behind things are hotting up with Groupama, Geant,
Sodebo and Tim Progetto Italia squeezed into twenty miles and the wind set
to drop right out up front. Sleep is clearly not going to be an option
tonight with currents and light winds to negotiate ... but an afternoon
finish is looking to be on the cards.
Early Friday morning, Fred Le Peutrec (Orma 60 Gitana 11) called his HQ
ashore to notify them that his trimaran had just been damaged in major way
and that the crew was heading towards La Trinité-sur-Mer (Southern Brittany
- France). "We are making way towards our home base in La Trinité sur Mer
after a violent collision with something or other. The daggerboard was
partly raised and the rudder of the central hull was snapped off and there
is ingress of water up front. Boat speed at the time was 25 knots and the
transom is partly destroyed. It's not serious as there is a watertight
bulkhead aft. But there's a fair bit of water in the middle hull. -
www.quebecsaintmalo.com
NATIONS CUP
James Spithill won the Nations Cup match race series in Trieste, Italy for
the second year in a row, beating Team Russell Coutts in the finals, 2-0 in
very light and shifty wind - like 4-5 knots. This year the young Australian
represented the Italian Luna Rosa America's up syndicate who he will be
sailing for in 2007. In 2003 Spithill was skippering a US team.
Final standings:
1. Luna Rossa, James Spithill
2. Team Russell Coutts, Russell Coutts
3. Italian Challenger, Paolo Cian
4. Emirate Team New Zealand, Kelvin Harrap
5. Mascalzone Latino, John Cutler
6. Toscana Challenge, Roberto Ferrarese
Details and pictures: www.lasfida.it
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
Why did I get a bigger kick out of watching the J Class racing in Antigua
than watching Cup boats in Auckland? - David Glenn, July issue of Yachting
World
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NEWS BRIEFS
* An eleventh team has entered the Rolex Commodores' Cup comprising boats
from Russia, Belgium and France has been confirmed as meeting the entry
criteria laid down by event organizer, the Royal Ocean Racing Club. The
'Team Europe' members are: Russia, IMX 45, Serguei Kotsiouba; Belgium, IMX
40, Axel de Cock; France, A34, Bernard Moureau. RORC is delighted not just
because the number of participating teams is at the level of the previous
event, but this is the first time an east European boat has taken part. -
www.rorc.org
* At dawn on Saturday the fleet of 30 Mumm 30's left the Atlantic coast to
join the Catalonian Mediterranean in St Cyprien. This year the Tour de
France à la Voile comprises a total of 27 coefficients divided between 21
bay courses and 9 rallying legs. Today there are 15.5 coefficients left to
be raced, that is 43% of the event left to contend. American Deneen
Demourkas' Groovederci holds the overall lead with a 27 point margin over
Defi Partage Marseille. - www.tourvoile.fr
* Mark Golison had little trouble defending his Cal 20 Class Championship.
Sailing in 6-16 knots of breeze with his wife Jennifer and Chris Snow,
Golison won three of the seven races in the 43-boat, no throw-out event to
retain his crown by 12 points over Walter Johnson. Two-time class champion
Mark Gaudio and Mike Sentovich were just a point further back, with Gaudio
winning the tie-breaker for third place. Chuck Clay took fifth place in the
event held at the Alamitos Bay YC in Long Beach, CA. - complete results and
photos: www.abyc.org
* More than three hundred sailors between the ages of nine and eighteen
have descended upon Pleon Junior Yacht Club for the forty-ninth incarnation
of Marblehead Junior Race Week. Race Week is the oldest junior run event in
the nation. Pleon Yacht Club was founded in 1887 and has continued since
under the hands of officers under the age of 21.
* Four long-time suppliers of the US Sailing Team will continue supporting
the team, with increased support for 2004. Extrasport, Nikon, Team McLube,
and Yale Cordage work closely with the US Sailing Team-members and coaches
to develop high quality products designed specifically to meet the needs of
the Team. Through their years of partnership with the Team, all four
suppliers have been able to create new products based on feedback received
from the Team-members.
* With five races complete in the 228-boat Opti Worlds at the Salinas YC in
Ecuador, Wei Ni from China has just 17 points and a 20 point lead over
Filip Matika from Croatia. The top North American is Erik Brokman from
Mexico in sixth place with 54 points. The USA's Austen Anderson is in 12th
with 59 points. - http://www.salinasyachtclub.org/optiworlds/
* The Derbyshire Building Society and Ellen MacArthur are coming together
to help promote the Ellen MacArthur Trust. The Trust, set up in 2003, gives
children suffering from cancer and leukaemia the opportunity to get out
onto the water and experience something new. Its aim is to support, empower
and enliven the children who take part by introducing them to the joys of
sailing. The main activity of the Trust involves taking the children out
for two to three day voyages, the boats staying at a different port each
night and the children and crew living and sleeping on board.
www.ellenmacarthurtrust.org
* Randall Pittman's new Dubois 90, Genuine Risk, was the first PHRF Turbo
boat to finish the Bacardi Bayview Mackinac race, completing the course in
30:34:58 - an hour and a half ahead of Doug DeVos' maxZ86, Windquest.
However, Windquest saved her time to win the class by an hour. -
www.byc.com/mack04/
* A moderate northerly breeze and sunshine brought Cork Week to a close
Friday with close results in virtually all classes. In the showcase Class 0
fleet, Roy Disney's Pyewacket had a close call when the breeze died close
to the finish, allowing the smaller boats behind with wind to make
substantial gains on sole MaxZ86 footer who was much further ahead on the
Coastal course. In the end however, third place was enough to secure the
overall win in the class. - http://www.corkweek.com/cw2004/home.htm
* The 2004 Formula 18 World Championships were hosted by Yacht Club Nautico
Follonica and run from the Puntala Camping Resort on the beautiful Italian
Riviera. 160 Formula 18's competed from the period of 10-17 July for the
prestigious World Title. The battle of the ten different manufacturers was
clearly dominated by the Hobie Tiger taking the first four overall
placings. Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby won the series by 25 points Mitch
Booth and Herbert Dercksen. Gavin Colby and Cory Camenisch stole third
position from Jean Mourniac and Franck Citeau in the final heat. -
Sail-World website: www.sail-world.com/
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
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LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Andrew Mason: I suggest that Stephen Black re-examine his accusation
that the Curmudgeon is dimensionally challenged. If you take any parallel
sided volume, such as a cube or vertical cylinder, and slice off the top
1/8 of the height, remarkably you will also have sliced of 1/8 of the
volume of the object.
* From Bill Zamzow: The answer to the Trivia question in 'Butt 1625 is
correct. Steven Black should take a good look at a glass of ice water &
forget about cube roots. A quick glance at the glass of ice water would let
one know that about 90% of the ice is under the surface of the water. A
better formula for the volume of a cube is that you multiply the area of
the base by the height. The ratio of the volume above the surface to that
below is the same as the ratio of the heights above & below.
* From T.J. Perrotti: With due respect to Steven Black's comments about
"ice cube" mathematics, I must disagree with his interpretation about the
above water / below water height of icebergs. While he is correct in that
volume scales with the cube of linear dimensions, he fails to recognize
that both the above and below water portions of an iceberg share the same
waterplane area (width and breadth). Therefore, the remaining dimension
available to account for volume and ice / salt water density differences is
height. Accordingly, the depth of a berg below the water is, in fact, about
eight times that of the height above the water.
* From Arthur Bugs Baer: Regarding your trivia question about the iceberg,
Scuttlebutt and Steven Black both got it wrong. Imagine an iceberg in the
form of a perfect sphere -- the most compact possible shape. The section
above the water is called a spherical cap. Find the formula for a spherical
cap, e.g. at www.1728.com/sphere.htm. Let us say the radius of the sphere
is a nice, even ten feet. The volume is -- remember? -- 4/3 pi r-cubed or
4189 cubic feet. Now we want to know the height of the spherical cap that
has one-eighth of the volume of the sphere, or 523.6 cubic feet. Go to the
1728 website and do a little trial and error. The answer is 4.42 feet. So a
4.42 foot section of the sphere is above water, and a 15.58 foot section is
below water. The ratio is 1 above and 3.525 below. But a perfect spherical
iceberg doesn't exist. If the iceberg happened to be shaped like a flat
plate, it could be only a foot or two deep. Some other shape might extend
more than 15.58 feet deep. Just stay away!
Curmudgeon's Comment: TMI - Too much information! Much more than any
curmudgeon needs or wants. We've posted a photo on our website that shows
how an iceberg floats. The photo clarifies exactly what's above and what's
below the water. And with that act, we officially kill this thread -
forever! - http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/iceberg.jpg
* From Frieda K. Wildey: Enough of this Mumm bashing! (Scuttlebutt 1626) Do
some people have so little intelligence that they can't connect the dots
and figure out that Mumm spends tons of money and donates product to
support sailboat racing around the globe? Where do they think those big
champagne bottles come from that the teams spray on each other after
winning a big race - Wal-Mart? From sponsoring the Mumm 30 Class
Association and the Mumm 30 World Championships every year to Cowes Week,
Vendee Globe, Around Alone and many other international events to our
little local Annapolis Senator's Cup Charity Match Race, Champagne Mumm has
consistently supported racing for years. I, for one, thank them for their
involvement. (I feel better now.)
* From Don Becker: Regarding the repeated discussion about the America's
Cup and changing to a more interesting, exciting, fair, one-design (pick
one) boat. The America's Cup is not and never has been a 'sailboat' race.
It is a technology race. Who can build the fastest boat (under the agreed
rules) and keep it in front. The last several America's Cup regattas have
been won by those who knew the game and got it right. If one side does it
will usually be a 7-0 blow out. The 'exciting' America's Cup regattas occur
when the boats are nearly equal (this rarely happens, but 1920 AC, the
Louis Vuitton Cup in '87 and the LV and AC in '92 come to mind), or when
the slow boat is better sailed. This happened in 1934, 1962, 1970 and we
all remember 1983 when DC almost won with the slow boat. The '34 match
could have easily gone the other way if T.O.M. Sopwith had not had labor
problems, or sailed for the finish line in the third race. I hope they
never change the America's Cup to a one-design regatta.
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
The mosquito is an insect that makes you like flies better.
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