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SCUTTLEBUTT #520 - March 2, 2000AMERICA'S CUP: KIWIS WIN 5-0Team New Zealand wrapped up its second straight 5-0 Cup victory today with a 48-second victory over Italy's Prada Challenge. The win capped another dominant performance for Team New Zealand -- a performance many thought it couldn't pull off in such an emphatic manner. "This is a fantastic day," said skipper Russell Coutts. "Tonight's a night to celebrate what we've done." What they've done is dismantle with surgical precision another opponent in the Cup Match. Team New Zealand won the Auld Mug with a 5-0 victory in the 1995 Match over Team Dennis Conner. Now Team New Zealand has defended it by steamrolling over Prada and extending its unbeaten streak to 10 races, something no one expected before the series started. Team New Zealand led at all 25 mark roundings this year, and now has led at 50 straight mark roundings. Its average winning margin was a robust 1:39, less than the nearly three-minute average margin of victory off San Diego. It lost 2:14 on 10 of the 30 legs. In '95, it lost 54 seconds on four of 30 legs. -- Sean McNeill, Quokka Sports. Full story at www.americascup.org YACHT CLUB PUNTA ALA AS CHALLENGER OF RECORD FOR THE NEXT AMERICA'S CUP At the end of the officail prize-giving ceremony for Team New Zealand, winner of the 30th Match for the America's Cup, Patrizio Bertelli announced today to the Media his participation to the next America's Cup on behalf of Yacht Club Punta Ala as Challenger of Record. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron commodore Peter Kingston received a challenge from Yacht Club Punta Ala commodore Bruno Calandriello as New Zealand NZL 60 crossed the finish line to win the last race of the America's Cup 2000 match in the Hauraki Gulf today. The two yacht clubs have already agreed a Protocol for the XXXI edition of the America's Cup, which will be raced through the New Zealand summer of 2002/3. -- Full story at sailingsource.com A KIWI DYNASTY IN THE MAKING? Today, after a dominating performance in which Team New Zealand, the representative of the defending Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, closed out the Prada Challenge in a five-race sweep of the five-of-nine finals, another question has been raised: will it be another 130 years before anyone can wrest the cup from the Kiwis? When pressed to discuss such matters as history or legacy in the days leading to today's victory, the Kiwi skipper Russell Coutts's remarks never varied. Coutts insisted that the New Zealanders' success was the result of a team effort, and for Race 5 he proved that his words were not empty ones by stepping off the boat and handing the wheel to his 26-year-old understudy, Dean Barker. Coutts's actions were all the more magnanimous considering that, after Wednesday's victory, his record-tying ninth straight in cup finals, he was in position with a victory today to break the fabled skipper Charlie Barr's nearly 100-year-old mark for consecutive victories. Still, it was a surprising move, and one fraught with risk. For Barker was being tossed into a pressure-cooker situation. If victorious, Team New Zealand would have a new rising star in its already dazzling constellation. If he lost -- with his nation poised to celebrate one of its greatest sporting accomplishments ever -- the Kiwi sweep would be spoiled and it would be impossible to gauge the potential damage to the young sailor's psyche. But with the veteran tactician Brad Butterworth virtually tattooed to his side and providing a personal wave-by-wave commentary on the wind and his strategy, Barker picked up exactly where Coutts had left off. -- Herb McCormick, NY Times. Full story at www.nytimes.com THE NZ ALL BLACKS OR ALL WHITES? Sail into spring 2000 with official America's Cup and Team NZ vests, fleece, jerseys and polos from Line 7 -- they're the perfect layers for sailing *or* spectating. Official team and event logos designate you an official part of the action! Shop now... http://www.americascupstore.com. Watch out, you may be mistaken for a real crew member and be pirated aboard to swab the decks! 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 Mark Bregman As one who was glued to Virtual Spectator throughout the Louis Vuitton Cup and even went to Auckland in January to watch the racing, I have been underwhelmed by the Cup racing itself. Between the vagaries of the weather and the lack of compelling, close racing between TNZ and Prada, I am afraid that the coverage of the Cup on ESPN2 may actually hurt our sport rather than encourage more people to get into sailboat racing. I certainly hope the organizers keep this in mind as they define the parameters for the next cup defense. -- From Jordan Dobrikin One thing I have noticed in the LVC and the AC is the absence of "rail meat" I am reasonably sure that there is/are some rule limitations, especially with respect to body parts over the side. However there does not seem to be any movement of personnel to the windward side in relatively long, static beats where the concept of "every little bit helps" would probably beneficial. Does any one know the AC/LVC Rule that may apply? -- From Stephen Oliver Those who believe the America's Cup will fade away in a swell of 'Who Cares' have obviously not visited the Americas Cup Village at Aucklands Viaduct Basin.I can understand why some Americans are unhappy with no US Syndicate racing in the AC Cup, but to complain at the defending nation and organisation is totally unfair and down right bad sportsmanship. The facilities and sailing conditions for the challenges were first class and a great venue for the viewing public. With regards to weather conditions four of the five races of the AC Cup were sailed in conditions that where Prada was expected to excel. Team New Zealand outsailed and outclassed Prada in all conditions and if we were to have seem more races with winds greater than 16-20 knots then the full potential of the New Zealand boat would have been displayed. If you think the AC Cup is dead, head to Auckland, I have. WINNING ELEMENTS When you win, you want everyone to know about it, and nothing tells the story better than sharp looking crew apparel from Pacific Yacht Embroidery. For a winning program, the look of your crew gear is as important as the cut of your sails. Pacific Yacht Embroidery will make that special effort to set your crew out from the crowd. Just get in touch with Frank Whitton to learn how affordable his high quality crew apparel can be. Even if you lose you'll feel better because you look so good: Pacyacht@aol.com / 619-226-8033 ACURA SORC: ANDREADIS WINS FARR 40 FIRST RACES George Andreadis of Athens, Greece showed amazing consistency to win both races in the Farr 40 Class on the opening day of the the 59th annual Acura Southern Ocean Racing Conference. Racing began today on four courses, two off Miami Beach and two on Biscayne Bay. Andreadis who lost first place in the SORC in a tie-breaker last year, started the new Millennium on a high note, claiming a class victory in a 27-boat fleet in Key West last month. Today, he was leading one race that was abandoned and then scored bullets in the two races that were completed in a light, shifty north-easterly breeze. Emphasizing the international nature of the Farr 40 Class, second and third places were filled by boats from Australia and Italy. Aussie skipper John Calvert-Jones sailed his Southern Star to a fourth and a second place. He was leading in the second race until Andreadis overtook on the first downwind leg. Massimo Mezzaroma, who raced Dawn Raid, from Rome, Italy, scored a sixth and a third to finish third with nine points. -- Keith Taylor. Other class leaders: IMS: Bache Renshaw, Virago PHRF 1: Marty Fisher, Strabo PHRF 2: M. Jacobson, Crescendo PHRF Bay 1: John Esposito, Hustler PHRF Bay 2: John Duncan, C-Shell Multihulls: Robert Buzzelli, Merlin Etchells: Dirk Kneulman, Cruel Jane Full story and complete results on the event site www.acurasorc.com REPORT FROM ANDREW PALFREY AT ACURA SORC Things are going very well. The weather has been ideal, although the wind has been a touch too light for my liking. I am sailing aboard a British yacht with Mike Law and Charlie Pitcher. They have been great to sail with and good company off the boat as well. We are looking forward to the racing which kicks off tomorrow, and continues everyday until Saturday. There are 27 boats competing, including the winner of the 1998 World Etchells Championship, Dirk Knuelman from Canada. The winds are forecast to be light tomorrow, but hopefully increasing as the event goes on. This afternoon we went over to the "big boat" club for a look. It was a very impressive fleet. There were more Aussies around than you normally see at the CYC Bar. It's my first visit to Miami. It is full of people escaping the rigours of the Northern Hemisphere winter. Bloody tourists everywhere!! For me it has been a welcome break from a very hot Australian summer. We have seen more of Miami so far this trip than most locals would see in a year. Every day so far has been spent sailing, followed by a scenic drive and an early dinner. Then it has been to a sports bar to watch Prada and Team New Zealand drift around Auckland's Haraki Gulf for an hour or so.
PRAMS TO PROAS, MAXI'S TO MINI'S
SWEDISH MATCH GRAND PRIX TOUR: AMERICAS CUP SKIPPERS SIGNING UP 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! |
