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SCUTTLEBUTT 2843 - Wednesday, May 13, 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. Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Today's sponsors are the 155th NYYC Annual Regatta Presented by Rolex and Team One Newport. 'LE PROFESSEUR' COMES TO TOWN "He is quite far and away the best and probably the best ever," said Green Dragon's Damian Foxall back on February 2nd. A day earlier, when Michel Desjoyeaux sailed into Les Sables-d'Olonne (FRA), he became the only man to win the grueling Vendee Globe (singlehanded Open 60 race around the world) for a second time, proving once again that he reigns supreme when it comes to solo racing around the planet. Desjoyeaux, known by his rivals as "The Professor", shrugs. "I like sailing." It's a short but powerful sentence when considered against his presence in the Volvo Ocean Race village this past weekend. "I love all sailing," he says. "Not just single-handed." And hence his appearance in Boston. He was a guest onboard Telefonica Blue in Saturday's in-port race and a participant onboard PUMA as they won the pro-am race on Sunday ("I did the fastest run," he points out with a grin), but it might not be the last time we see him involved in this event. "That could be why I am here," he says. It would be extremely premature to say he is going to take part in his fourth edition of this race (he sailed a leg in each of the 1989 and 1993 events), but the thought is on his mind. "I am curious. I came here to see what has happened with the event, how it is made and organised. I want to have a true idea of what is happening." -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-5-12-09 * VOLVO OCEAN RACE: Began Oct. 4, 2008, crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. The next event is the 2,550 nm transatlantic Leg 7 from Boston to Galway, Ireland that starts May 16th and is expected to finish by May 23rd. Seven of the eight teams are expected to compete (Team Russia will not compete). Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 JETBLUE TO BOSTON When the course of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9 took the fleet from Rio de Janiero, Brasil to Boston, MA, Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck took JetBlue to Boston as well. Here is his diary from the trip: Thursday, May 7 - Check in A sit down with Bouwe Bekking for breakfast, new Alicante (ESP) race headquarters press conference for brunch, and the expansive Ericsson Racing Team kitchen for lunch. Later, a twitter about the prototype Harken Laser blocks, a Sail America Board of Directors gathering, and a chat with Anna Tunnicliffe on how she may continue with women’s match racing and Laser Radial events all the way to the Olympic trials. While the store at PUMA City was busy, the longest lines were for the party section of the structure. By the end of the weekend, gear sales will be well into 6 digits, and cocktail sales will be equally significant. Friday, May 8 - Practice race Media room in morning is mass gathering of noted yachting journos and shooters. Press conference provides skippers the chance to say the right things. Onboard Ericsson 4 for practice race were Stuart Streuli (Sailing World), James Boyd (The Daily Sail), a Reuter’s shooter, and yours truly. We’re instructed not to go down below, and to not expect to glean any design secrets. Stern area provided ample space for passengers (us), and was sufficiently safe when the slackness of the runners was gathered. Streuli greeted lone splash of the day with aplomb (and his camera was waterproof). Quiet confidence permeates the boat, with efficient teamwork between afterguard Torben Grael, Brad Jackson, Stuart Bannatyne, and Jules Salter. Despite practice day pretense, it was all on for the two trial starts and single race. Forget what you may think about 70-foot sailing… these are Melges boats on steroids. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0512 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Special thanks to the Ericsson Racing Team for extending their outstanding hospitality to me, and to all the skippers for autographing a Scuttlebutt University t-shirt that we will be auctioning soon. 155th NEW YORK YC ANNUAL REGATTA PRESENTED BY ROLEX It’s an Oldie (the oldest regatta in America) but a Goodie. As always, there is no fee for Friday June 12’s optional Around-the-Island (Conanicut) Race, as compelling a course as one will find in New England. Saturday and Sunday June 13-14 brings traditional course racing for IRC, PHRF, Classics, 12 & 6 Metres and One-Designs (J/105, J/109, J/122, and Swan 42 classes are forming). Sixty-five boats have already entered - the most so early! - an unmistakable sign that spring is in the air. Don’t miss the competition and the fun! Sign up now at http://www.nyyc.org/155annual FROM THE AMERICA’S CUP ARCHIVES Two words should have come flashing into the mind space of America's Cup fans, after the announcement by Circolo di Vela Gargnano (CVG) of a challenge for the 33rd America's Cup, in what will be the second Deed of Gift Match. Those two words should have been 'Blue Arrow' the ill-fated extreme 65-foot multihull designed by Derek Clark, built to take on Sir Michael Fay's 130ft monohull to determine the challenger for the 27th Match (in 1988 against Dennis Conner and San Diego YC). Fay initially allowed the organisation of a challenger series for the Match in which he, or rather his club, Mercury Bay Boating Club had its challenge accepted after a prolonged battle through the New York courts. While Fay was happy for a Challenger Selection series in monohulls, he was not prepared to allow the entry from Royal Burnham YC under the patronage of Peter de Savary to compete against his monohull. And so permission to compete was withdrawn. For the record, Blue Arrow never made it to San Diego. The radical multihull was built, and launched, but crashed on sea trials in UK before leaving for San Diego. She was not rebuilt, and KZ-1 was the sole challenger. -- Sail World excerpt, full report: http://tinyurl.com/Sail-World-5-12-09 * Christian Février provided Scuttlebutt with six priceless photos of the Blue Arrow: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0512a/ WEDGIES AND GUN JUMPING (As of late, America’s Cup tactics has more to do with the law than the wind. On May 14th, the Swiss and American clubs will return to the NY Supreme Court to specifically argue over the date of the 33rd Match [Feb or May 2010], with additional issues included in an attempt to turn smoke into fire. Thankfully, Scuttlebutt legal analyst Cory Friedman has a firm hand on the helm to help us navigate through the shifting currents. Here below is his 38th report.) (May 12, 2009) For many years I have known a Star sailor who is not a good loser. In his prime, if he lost a club race he was out of sorts for the rest of the week. Nevertheless he has always been a gracious loser – one of the marks of a real gentleman sportsman. Did anyone expect behavior like that from Société Nautique De Genève (SNG) after its 6-0 drubbing in the New York Court of Appeals? Fugedaboudit. Instead, SNG has devoted all of its efforts to giving Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) a wedgie. Unfortunately, GGYC may be forgetting JFK’s famous advice and rising to the bait. If anyone has forgotten, the Court of Appeals remanded the case to the Commercial Division, which then entered judgment that provides that the Match be held 10 months hence (February 7 or 8 depending on which side is doing the calculating), that it be held in Valencia or wherever SNG chooses, and that SNG provide GGYC 6 months’ notice (August 7 or 8) of the venue. The order is about as clear as an order can get. While SNG claims that its argument that no match may be held before May was never considered because of the “procedural posture” of the appeals, the short answer is that it was considered by Justice Cahn and the reason it was not considered by the Appellate Division or the Court of Appeals is that SNG dropped the ball and did not press the issue on appeal or cross appeal. Even if the judgment is totally wrong (it is not), that is the judgment and SNG has to suck it up and comply. SNG can tell it to the chaplain. In their approach to the May 14, 2009 hearing, not only is SNG’s argument frivolous (in the sense of the legal term of art), it is also disrespectful of the Court, contemptuous of the Court’s authority and contumacious. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/#p38 GOOD GAINS FOR A GREAT LAKE Lake Michigan is on the rebound after flirting with near-record low water levels in 2008. In January 2008 the water was so low that the human polar bears taking their annual New Year's Day plunge off the Door Peninsula had to navigate around yellow police tape so they didn't slash their feet on an offshore shipwreck. Sixteen months and two cold and wet winters later, the lake has added more than 2 feet of water, and it continues to rise almost daily. Numbers provided by the Army Corps of Engineers last week showed the lake is about 9 inches higher than at this time last year, and the agency is predicting it to continue to add inches into late summer. Despite the big gain, Lake Michigan remains about 9 inches below its long-term average for April. The news is bringing sighs of relief up and down Wisconsin's east coast, because low water means more than just shrinking numbers on a chart. It can render docks useless, create hull-cracking hazards for recreational boaters, force freighters to lop their cargo loads and stick marina operators with steep dredging bills. -- Read on: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/43752092.html HALF PRICE??? Team One Newport is partnering with Henri-Lloyd to bring the awesome Speed Promotion: Buy a Shadow jacket (HLY00189) or either smock (HLY00190 or HLY00191) at retail and get the Shadow Salopettes (HLY10078) for half price! That's a savings of $137.50! President Obama loves us!! Place your order at http://www.team1newport.com and remember to put SSBSPE in the search box and add it to your order. We will adjust your Salopettes price when our Customer Service Experts download your order. You can call us at 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327). Get ready for a great 2009 sailing season! TYBEE 500 (May 12, 2009; Day 2) - For the 24 teams of Formula 18s and Nacra 20 One Designs competing in the Tybee 500, the second leg from Hollywood, FL to Jupiter, FL began in a nice twelve knot breeze under perfect weather conditions. Boats were divided into two tiers because of the number of boats and to make a line of manageable length. The Race Committee performed a flawless start and aside from a minor collision between Royal Green and Seacats Orange, all boats got off well. The beach in front of the hotel in Jupiter has turned into a rocky outcrop, so the race finish was moved to an adjacent park about a half mile South. This beach is dotted with dozens of sea turtle nests, so the beach master Neil Wilson was hard put to find a suitable landing site for the finish. Shortly after that was established, the racers began arriving. In the first twenty-four minutes, we finished twenty boats, so even though it is a long distance race, there are several very close competitors. After the elapsed times are corrected with the allowance owed by the Nacra 20s, the corrected time finds the Formula 18s currently in the top four spots, with Mischa Heemskirk/Eduard Zanen of Team Whike holding a four and half minute lead over Mike Easton/Tripp Burd aboard Microwind. The forecast for tomorrow's start calls for Southeast at 10-15kts with 2-3ft seas, but we're also hearing that some models are predicting that an offshore system could produce up to 35kts of breeze, which could make for an extremely challenging day for the fleet. May 11, Day 1 - Islamorada, FL to Hollywood, FL May 12, Day 2 - Hollywood, FL to Jupiter, FL May 13, Day 3 - Jupiter, FL to Cocoa Beach, FL May 14, Day 4 - Cocoa Beach, FL to Daytona Beach, FL May 15, Day 5 - Daytona Beach, FL to Fernandina Beach, FL May 16, Day 6 - Fernandina Beach, FL to Tybee Island, GA Event website: http://www.tybee500.com DOWN BUT NOT DONE Throughout Monday night and early Tuesday morning, the Portimão Global Ocean Race leaders continued to hammer north toward the finish in Charleston, SC, leaving the Virgin Islands to port with Class 40s Beluga Racer and Desafio Cabo de Hornos polling speed averages of between 12-14 knots. Then, at 0200 GMT this morning (May 12th), Desafio collided with a submerged object while planning along at 20 knots of speed in the dark, destroying their leeward rudder. “We had the spinnaker up and without the rudder we rounded-up and went into a broach,” recalls Felipe Cubillos. “After a lot of work we got the boat under control and dropped the main, sailing with the Solent headsail only.” Having recovered from the collision, Cubillos and teammate José Muñoz decided have decided to continue on to Charleston. “As we are missing a rudder, the job is a bit complex, but we have 1100 miles to go and we think that we can make it,” stated Cubillos via email. Still in second place, the Chilean team is organising the fabrication of a replacement rudder in France and shipping the blade to Charleston in time for the start of the final leg of the 30,000 mile race from Charleston to Portimão, Portugal. -- Full report: http://portimaorace.com/index.php?page=news&news_id=291&lang=en SAILING SHORTS * Alicante, Spain (May 12, 2009) - The 2007 Judel/Vrolijk designed Bribon proved they may yet be the boat to beat this week when they won today's practice race for the first event of the TP 52 Audi MedCup 2009 Circuit, the City of Alicante Trophy. With French double Olympic medallist Thierry Peponnet steering, the Spanish flagged Bribon - which is completely unaltered since last season - led at every mark for the win. Finishing fifth was 2008 Audi MedCup Champions Quantum Racing (USA). Racing will be Wednesday through Sunday. -- Full story: http://2009.medcup.org/news/?id=570 * The Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) Board of Directors at their Board meeting on March 26, 2009 passed a motion appointing George Blanchard as a CYA Councillor of Honour. It is an honour well deserved for a sailor whose service to the sailing community spans more than 75 years. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/CYA-5-12-09 * Tacktick by Suunto has establiished a new US operation for the distribution and marketing of their innovative marine electronics and compasses in the United States in conjunction with Ocean Marketing, Inc. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7446 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get 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 Ray Tostado: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 2842) Upon reflecting upon the "sex drive study", and the propensity of sailors scoring the highest within the study group at being sexually motivated, (horney); seems to demonstrate the true nature of the fear within us when we sail. "If I have to crew on that boat again tomorrow, tonight might be the last time. Better make it count." * From David Munge: It’s official… sailors have extra sex drive. Why do we need a report to tell us what we already know? Why else would a sail have a girl in every port? * From Pat McCormick, Long Beach, CA: It is with a heavy heart that I must resign my membership in Transpac Anonymous effective July 2, 2009. I have been a member in good standing since finishing the 1977 Transpac aboard the dismasted Cal 40 Concubine. Some may recall that Tom Leweck formed Transpac Anonymous after a particularly rough and windy Transpac in 1977 where five boats were dismasted on the same evening. He passed out cards with a hotline phone number to call when sailors were confronted with the temptation of being offered "sunny sailboat rides to Hawaii" so he could talk you out of it. During the past 32 years there have been times I have wavered in my resolve to never sail Transpac again. I can proudly say that I have been Transpac free for 32 years, taking it two years at a time. However, I have fallen off the wagon. I am currently dealing with the guilt of accepting an invitation to race this year’s Transpac on the Perry 59 "Free Range Chicken". The temptation to go this time was just too much. The boat has electric winches, air conditioning, and a fun group of sailors to spend some time with. I am optimistic that I can make this a onetime event and redouble my efforts to stay Transpac free in the future. * From Bart Beek: (re, mustache story in Scuttlebutt 2842) A true scientist probing this subject would want to examine the non-follicles on the skinhead who took advantage of lucky shifts, inept race committee work, and bumbling opponents to win the Ahmanson Cup, the Congressional Cup, the Star Worlds, and a little known trophy called the America’s Cup, all with no visible hair whatsoever on or around his head. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Do you know who Bart is talking about? If you do, send an email with the correct person’s name and you will be included in a raffle for a Scuttlebutt University t-shirt. Entries must be submitted by Wednesday at 12:00 pm PT. Submit to: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION When people say 'life is short', what does that mean? Life is the longest thing anyone ever does. What can you do that's longer? Special thanks to the 155th NYYC Annual Regatta Presented by Rolex and Team One Newport. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
