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SCUTTLEBUTT 3265 - Wednesday, January 26, 2011Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Melges Performance Sailboats, North Sails, and Interlux. DON'T LET YOUR TEAM MOVE TO BALTIMORE By Christopher E. Howell, OD Class Administrator As they say during the NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns are "on the clock." This is the very short time every NFL franchise has to take all of their research and all of their resources and make a decision. The decision that is made by a franchise in this limited time could be the difference between fame & fortune or unemployment. Well ladies and gentlemen, one-design sailing is "on the clock" and we need to make a decision. Every one-design class in this country, with the exception of a few small boat classes, has seen a drop-off in participation. Our sport has taken a hit from this economy, and no one in Washington is working on a fix for one-design racing. When a staple event like Key West Race Week is ready to fold up the tents (literally), then we are in trouble. We don't have time to discuss the past or who did what wrong. We are "on the clock," and we need to step up with a decision. Are we going to support our class events and subsequently our classes themselves ... or just watch them die? Find a way, make it happen, pool your resources and jump on another owner's boat. It's better to have one than none because you were too proud or stubborn to put a team together. If you are hosting an event, get your club members to house the participants. Consider camping or sharing housing with another team. Support the sponsors and let them know it! Sailing is a very small community, but we drink a lot of rum and beer and we buy lots of sailing stuff. Take a minute to tell them you are glad they supported your event! If you are "waiting it out" from the sideline, you may find your team has moved to Baltimore when you are ready to get back in the game. ISAF SAILING WORLDCUP - ROLEX MIAMI OCR Miami, FL (January 25, 2011) - Olympic and Paralympic aspirants from 53 countries have flocked to this week's US SAILING Rolex Miami OCR, and with two days of racing now completed, the strongest players are rising to the top. This morning, flags ashore stood straight out from their staffs, and sailors enjoyed up to 18 knots of breezes on Biscayne Bay, where seven race courses are accommodating 716 sailors in 13 classes. "Racing is extraordinarily close, and representative of what the 2012 Games (in Weymouth, England) will be like," said Betsy Alison, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Paralympic Coach, explaining that Paralympic sailors continue with two fleet races a day through Friday, and Olympic sailors pare down to top-ten for Medal Races on Saturday. (Women's match racing in the Elliot 6m will feature Finals and Petit Finals on Saturday.) Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch (AUS) is a newcomer to the SKUD 18 class and she is leading with her skipper Daniel Fitzgibbon after four races. A three-time Paralympic Medalist in wheelchair basketball, Tesch only began racing with Fitzgibbon three weeks ago. "He is a legend," said Tesch about Fitzgibbon, an elite sailor who became a quadriplegic 13 years ago and uses special systems on the boat to compensate for his limited ability to pull with his arms. "I'm catching on, but he's the brain, I'm the arms." Tesch has full upper-body strength, but the 21-year-old suffered serious damage to her legs when she broke her back in a mountain bike accident at age 19. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/RMOCR-012511 Results: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/Results.htm Live race updates: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/live_4823.htm SUPPORTING CANADA: The documentary film, Racing Around the World Alone, was produced by the charitable organization Wind Athletes, and is based on footage from the 2008 Vendee Globe. It is airing on the CBC Documentary Channel on Monday, January 31st (9pm ET, 10pm PT), and is also available on iTunes with proceeds to go toward support of Canadian Sailing Team and other Wind Athletes projects. A trailer can be viewed here: http://www.racingaroundtheworldalone.com BIG SAVINGS WEEK AT MELGES NOW Time to gear up for Spring! Melges has a big savings week going on right now and we encourage you to take advantage of it. New Melges Boats, New Melges Covers, New Melges Gear - Everything Melges! Check out melges.com or call Melges and find out what you can save on! Spring is around the corner! This is also in conjunction with the Strictly Sail Show in Chicago where Melges will have new boats on display. -- http://www.melges.com OFFICIAL DATES OF 34TH AMERICA'S CUP The 2013 race dates for the Louis Vuitton Cup (Challenger elimination series) and America's Cup Match (Finals) are now confirmed. Since 1983, the Louis Vuitton Cup has been he held when more than one Challenger is vying for the right to race the Defender for the America's Cup (as is the case for the 34th America's Cup). The role of the Louis Vuitton Cup is twofold - not only to select the best Challenger, but also to help prepare that the team to race successfully against the Defender in the America's Cup Match (Finals). The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will race the Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) defending team in the finals, a first-to-win-five (best of nine) race series known as the America's Cup Match (Finals). The dates are: Louis Vuitton Cup: July 13 - September 1, 2013 America's Cup Match (Finals): September, 7-22 2013 The Louis Vuitton Cup dates are subject to the final number of Challengers and the precise format of the racing TBD by the Challengers and Regatta Director. The America's Cup Match dates are subject to whether the America's Cup Match (Finals) is won in five races, or goes the full nine races. -- http://www.americascup.com/blog/dates-confirmed-for-2013_58 => Curmudgeon's Comment: Local Bay Area sailors consider the months of June to August as the 'high wind' season, while September can provide more moderate conditions. DREAM BIG Young Australian of the Year Jessica Watson has urged people to follow their dreams. At 16, she captured the nation's attention during her 210-day odyssey to become the youngest person to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world. At the awards ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday, she said belief and hard work were the secrets to achievement. "You don't have to be anyone or anything to achieve something. You've just got to believe in it and work hard," she said. "It doesn't have to be sailing around the world. It might be building an orphanage in Cambodia, campaigning for climate change or something as simple as getting a driver's licence. So, to all you Aussies out there, particularly us young guys, let's dream big. But more importantly, let's make it happen." Watson sailed into Sydney Harbour to a hero's welcome on May 15 last year, having finally completed a 23,000 nautical mile journey seven months after setting off. But it was never easy: dangerous weather and a run-in with a 60,000-tonne coal carrier threatened to derail the journey, while critics said she was too young and was putting herself in harm's way. The National Australia Day Council paid tribute to the teenager's maturity and dignity after naming her Young Australia of the Year at a ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday. -- Sydney Morning Herald, read on: http://tinyurl.com/SMH-012511 FOR THE RECORD (January 25, 2011; Day 4) - For Pascal Bidegorry and his 13 crew on the 131-foot trimaran Banque Populaire V, rising temperatures and the decreasing winds have seen the wardrobe for the boat and sailors evolve in their attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, the crewed around the world record. As they work their way south in the Atlantic, now a little over 500 miles off the African continent, the team should reach the symbolic boundary between northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere on their sixth day at sea. "Stars, stars and more stars here," noted crew Brian Thompson (GBR). " This latitude near the Canaries gives a great view of the heavens! Still in bizarre NW tradewinds here, but making good miles towards the next milestone, the Cape Verdes. "All good here, fine spirits on board and everyone working like a well oiled machine. Many of the team has sailed with the boat for the last two years, and even a newcomer like me has been training with the team since last April. Good thing too as changing sails is a complex series of events." Current position as of January 25, 2011 (23:00 UTC): Ahead/behind record: +231.2 nm Speed over past 24 hours: 21.1 knots Distance over past 24 hours: 507.1 nm Tracking: http://tinyurl.com/BP-JVT11-Tracking Team website: http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/ Brian Thompson's blog: http://www.brianthompsonsailing.blogspot.com/ BACKGROUND: The 131-foot trimaran Banque Populaire V is seeking to win the Jules Verne Trophy, a fully crewed round the world record attempt under sail. Skipper Pascal Bidegorry and his 13 crew began their attempt Jan. 22nd and must cross the finish line off Ushant, France before March 11, 2011 at 19:55:37 (Paris time) to break the record (48:7:44:52) set by Franck Cammas and crew in 2010 on the 103-foot trimaran Groupama 3. NORTH-POWERED BOATS WIN SEVEN CLASSES AT KEY WEST 2011 North Sails-powered boats won seven classes at KW 2011 including Mini Maxi (Numbers); IRC-2 (Tonnerre de Breksens 3); RC 44 (Mascalzone Latino); Melges 32 (Goombay Smash); J/105 (Savasana*) and Multihull (Flight Simulator). But perhaps the most exciting win was in PHRF 1 where Jim Sminchak and his Ohio-based crew won the division onboard the North Sails-powered J/111 'Kontiki V.' Sminchak and his team won SAIL Magazine's Best Around the Buoys contest to get to Key West. "Everything meshed together so easily," said Sminchak after their win. When performance counts, the choice is clear: http://na.northsails.com. (*-Indicates partial inventory.) NOTE: A story about the Kontiki V program in Key West is posted here: http://tinyurl.com/NS-012511 SLINGSHOT MOVE (January 25, 2011: Day 26) - The fast moving front which has presented leaders Virbac-Paprec 3 and Foncia with a slingshot move south east, opening up the lead from the third placed MAPFRE and even more from the main body of the 13 boat fleet, which may still have a further encounter with the persistent high pressure system spreading again across the South Atlantic. The leading duo should reach the Cape of Good Hope, the first of the three Great Capes of the course, some time during Wednesday night Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) Foncia: "Here we are, visible again. We have removed the white cloak of secrecy. Down to the south there is an iceberg so we stay more in the north this time. We are in a NW'ly which is not very strong, the sea is not very organized but we have a blue sky so it is really nice. What has changed a lot in the southern seas is the sea temperature, it is still 17C. When you maneuver, handling ropes and sails you would not believe you are in the Roaring Forties. We have a big sun. It's like August in Ireland." Race Tracker: http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org Standings (top 5 of 14 as of 20.01.07) 1. Virbac-Paprec 3, Jean Pierre Dick & Loick Peyron, 18,613 nm DTF 2. Foncia, Michel Desjoyeaux & Francois Gabart, 39.0 nm DTL 3. Mapfre, Iker Martinez & Xabi Fernandez, 525.3 nm DTL 4. Estrella Damm Sailing Team, Alex Pella & Pepe Ribes, 680.0 nm DTL 5. Groupe Bel, Kito De Pavant & Sebastien Audigane, 706.0 nm DTL Full rankings: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/ranking/ BACKGROUND: This is the second edition of the non-stop Barcelona World Race, the only double-handed race around the world. Fourteen teams are competing on Open 60s which started December 31st and is expected to finish by late March. The 25,000 nautical mile course is from Barcelona to Barcelona via three capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, Cook Strait, putting Antarctica to starboard. Race website: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org SAILING SHORTS * Measuring more than 100 feet long and 90 feet wide and powered by a 20-storey tall wingsail, USA 17 was sailed by American syndicate Oracle Racing off Valencia, Spain last year to win the 33rd America's Cup. In storage in Valencia since winning the Cup on Feb. 14, 2010, the trimaran is being loaded onto the freighter M.V. Star Isfjord this week for the delivery trip to San Francisco via the Panama Canal. The freighter is scheduled to leave Valencia on January 29 or 30 and is estimated to arrive in San Francisco by March 1. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/OR-012511 * The 2011 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, which runs every other year on the odd year, is set for June 4-18. The course takes the fleet around Vancouver Island on a schedule and in all kinds of weather. Navigating through some of the strongest currents on the planet and dealing with everything from storms to doldrums can tax even the most experienced and patient skippers. Aside from the challenges, the sailors are rewarded with stunning scenery and fun welcome receptions at each of the 10 host cities. Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11115 * Early registration at the 2011 ORC International World Championship already has an impressive 70 entries, to be held on the island of Cres in Croatia over 18-25 June 2011. Currently 12 nations are being represented at this event, with most of these entries hailing from the Adriatic countries of Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia. However, there are also teams coming from Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Great Britain, and the USA, making this suitable as this year's only ISAF-sanctioned World Championship for offshore sailing. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11155 INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES The Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum encourages companies to post their new hirings, product and service updates. Scuttlebutt editors will select Industry update each week to include in the Thursday edition of the Scuttlebutt newsletter. Here is the link to post Industry News updates: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news FIND THE RIGHT PAINT AT THE NEW YACHTPAINT.COM The new Interlux web site makes it easier than ever to choose the right Interlux paint for your boat, get technical information and support for any paint project. "Paint Your Boat" to see how different paint colors look on your hull. Ask questions and share paint info with other sailors. "Ask The Expert" to access the extensive knowledge base and experience of the Interlux Technical Service staff. Learn more here: http://www.yachtpaint.com GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Chris Bulger: This was our first KWRW despite many years of racing - my first Block Island Race Week in the 70's. For the record - we had a great time sailing last week despite the light air and our own performance. We are new members of the J/80 class; it was a pleasant surprise to see 16 boats in the class despite the fact that many regulars took the year off to recover from the 2010 Worlds campaign. It was also impressive to see strong turnout for the J/105, Melges 24 and Melges 32. These four classes totaled 74 boats - that's one hell of a turnout for a week long sport boat regatta at the end of the earth! Throw in the Farr 30's and RC 44's and you have almost 100 boats! This turnout defines a wildly successful regatta from a sailing point of view. But, all week we couldn't help but stumble into conversations about the regatta's poor health and uncertain future. Clearly KWRW's financial model was optimized for large IRC programs where the regatta budget for a single boat dramatically exceeds the burn rate of the entire J/80 and J/105 classes combined. The big IRC boats burn upwards of $100k for the week, they feed many vendors and demand high end services and big trophies - you might even say that they spend like drunken sailors. Early in the decade these big budget programs were as plentiful as new condo developments and job offers - and it made sense to gear KWRW for these "customers". But 2011 is different and we don't need to consult with Ben Bernanke to forecast that $100K per week IRC programs are on the endangered species list and likely to stay there for a number of years. But why throw the sailors away with the dirty bath water. If Peter Craig isn't interested in a KWRW for a more modest budget - I would like to volunteer J-Boats and Melges to take over the event. I can't believe that an 80 boat week long midwinter regatta isn't a great success worth defending from these builders point of view. => Curmudgeon's Comment: No argument that big budget programs contribute significant sums to a lot of sectors, but I don't think you can say they've ever been the core customer for Key West. Here are three samples from the past decade: 2000 - http://www.premiere-racing.com/keywest/kw_results.htm 2005 - http://tinyurl.com/KWRW-2005 2010 - http://tinyurl.com/KWRW-2010r * From Chris Groobey: I am a long-time J/105 owner and frequent local and national fleet officer. I have participated in numerous Key West and other "travel" regattas on our J/105 and prior boats. And I have known and respected Peter Craig and his organization (Premiere Racing) for years. But I have to say I was startled to read (in his interview with Scuttlebutt) that Peter views it as the one-design fleets' responsibility to help him market his regatta. Peter has clearly forgotten that he dis-invited the J/105 class from his Miami regatta a few years ago, preferring instead to focus on bigger boats, and I am sorry that he has also forgotten the contributions that the J/105 fleet made toward the Whitbread/Volvo stopovers when he was running those events too. It's not that the fleets are not doing their job, it's that Premiere Racing has never been about the little guy and Key West stopped being "fun" or (more importantly) "worth it" to many owners years ago. It's nice to be wanted again but, as class officers, our job is to serve our members, make racing easy and keep participation high, not tell our fellow owners how to spend their money. My guess is the days of for-profit regattas are numbered even as one-design racing continues to rebound strongly. We owners know where we get the most value for the money and will continue to vote with our feet (or, more accurately, trailers). => Curmudgeon's Comment: I asked Peter Craig of Premiere Racing if could respond to Chris' letter. Here is his reply: "My point in the interview was not about telling class members how to spend their money, but rather the need to communicate class plans and interest. The J/105 class with Nelson Weiderman (previous Class Secretary) used to do a great job with this, listing owners and intentions well in advance. In doing this, they successfully addressed one key factor with owners looking to make their decision to commit - the level of competition. The J/80 class has done that over these recent difficult years along with an effective "race week on a budget campaign" and the result for this cost conscience class was over 14 or more entries from 2009-2011. "I'm disappointed by the 'Key West never being about the little guy' comment. The decision to continue awarding daily trophies (1st-3rd) for five days plus series and special awards is a very costly 'little guy' decision. Again this year we had a separate circle with 6 and 7 boat PHRF classes, an 8 boat multi hull class and the J/80s as we attempt to keep the 'little guy' engaged during these difficult times. We lowered all fees for 2011, also something that matters more to the non-grand prix programs. "There is no question that Key West is expensive and time consuming for both owners and crews. Participating in any regatta is a value proposition and a decision made by the individual owner. I'm just looking to be upfront with boat owners, sailors and the industry about where things stand with the Key West event. We do need involvement from the classes and owners as we try to determine a way forward. "I certainly didn't intend to slight the J/105 or any other class during my interview. I'm sure there are more than a couple of statements that might have been phrased better or may be interpreted other than as I intended. Whoever said I forgot the contribution of the J/105 class - and for that matter hundreds of Chesapeake Bay sailors - during the Whitbread/Volvo races there? For the record I still do appreciate the tremendous volunteer effort for those 3 stopovers, but I'm not sure how that translates to class involvement for our Key West regatta. "Regarding the Miami regatta. in 2005 the J/105s had 18 entries and in 2006 there were 7. A dramatic drop with no indication from the class of that trend turning around. More to the point, immediately following the 2006 regatta, the Miami Beach Marina retracted their guarantee for 100-120 race boats because of the fuel price increases (resulting in powerboats signing annual leases). Their new guarantee was dockage for only 50 boats. hence 1 race circle instead of 2 or 3. It's worth noting that there was renewed J/105 interest in the Miami event this year by a few, but only one would commit." CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION I have an oven with a 'stop time' button. It's probably meant to be 'stop timer' but I don't touch it, just in case. SPONSORS THIS WEEK APS - New England Ropes - West Marine - North U Southern Spars - Melges Performance Sailboats - North Sails Interlux - Ullman Sails - Hall Spars & Rigging - Quantum Sails Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
