|
SCUTTLEBUTT 3357 - Tuesday, June 7, 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: North Sails and LaserPerformance. EARLY SUCCESS FOR US TEAMS AT SAIL FOR GOLD Weymouth, U.K. (June 6, 2011) - The first day began under postponement for all but the Women's Match Racing at Skandia Sail for Gold, first of two Selection Events for the U.S. Olympic Team - Sailing. Once racing got underway in Weymouth, U.K., the venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, racing in all classes lasted throughout the day. US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics athletes hold 11 top-10 spots across the leaderboard. USSTAG's two match racing teams headed by skippers Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.) and Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) counted wins in round robin racing. Barkow, with team mates Alana O'Reilly (Charleston, S.C.) and Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham (Miami, Fla.), scored 2 wins, one loss in the day's first grouping. In the second group, Tunnicliffe, with her "Team Maclaren" crew Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi went 4-0. Tunnicliffe said, "We set some goals for ourselves coming into the regatta. We focused on those and came away with four wins. We had a great start to the regatta and look forward to racing tomorrow." The Sonar team of Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Me.) started the regatta with a win, then followed it up with a second to stand second overall. They are the 2009 champions and looking to add another medal. In the day's only Laser race Clay Johnson (Toms River, N.J.) scored a 7th in his fleet's only race to stand 13th overall in 124-boat fleet. The fleet is divided into groups each day of the qualifying series. With a third and an eighth-place in the Men's 470, Stuart McNay (Boston, Mass.) and Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.) are in 6th overall. Full report: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2011/Sail_for_Gold_Day_1.htm * Skandia Sail for Gold is the first of two Selection Events for nine of 10 Olympic classes to qualify for a berth. Scheduled for June 6-11 across 10 Olympic and three Paralympic classes, the Skandia Sail for Gold is hosting over 1,000 sailors from 62 countries. Fleet racing started Monday, June 6 in 10 Olympic classes and concludes with the medal race on Saturday, June 11 in nine of the 10 classes. Women's Match Racing consist of an opening series, a knockout series, and a sail-off for boats not advancing to the knockout series, with the final matches scheduled on Saturday, June 11. In the Paralympic classes, fleet racing takes place Monday, June 6 through Friday, June 10. -- Event website: http://www.skandiasailforgoldregatta.co.uk/ CHARLIE VAN VOORHIS WINS IOD NEW ENGLAND CHALLENGE (June 5, 2011) - Blustery conditions greeted fifteen International One Design Class teams from as far away as Bermuda as the IOD Fleet kicked off its 75-year Jubilee celebrations at the Eastern Yacht Club on Friday June 3rd. With winds blowing a steady 20-22 knots, and gusts into the mid-30s, PRO Anne Coulombe (BYC) wisely held boats on moorings for a few hours, waiting for the winds to abate. The fleet sailed out just after 12 noon, for two races. In the first race conditions were north winds 15-18 kts and fairly flat seas. Bill Widnall and Charlie Van Voorhis (multiple-IOD-World Champion from Fishers Island NY) battled up and down the 7.4 NM course, with Van Voorhis managing to pass Widnall on the final downwind leg to take the opener. The second race saw many position changes, with the right side eventually paying off big for those lucky enough to be there on the final beat. Van Voorhis again took the gun, followed by fellow-Fishers Island competitor Peter Rugg (standing in for John Burnham on day 1). Day two featured crystal clear skies and strong NE winds, 16-20 knots. Bill Widnall broke through with a bullet in race one (8nm), but Van Voorhis again countered with a first place finish in the second race (10nm). Conditions were perfect for IOD sailing! Van Voorhis started well, and establishing a lead during the first beat, he never looked back. The IOD World Championship is next on tap at the Eastern, with racing June 12 - June 17. -- Full story and results: http://www.easternyc.org/page/4617/7099 RAMBLER 100 BREAKS BLOCK ISLAND RACE RECORD 'Rambler 100' broke the Storm Trysail Block Island Race record, previously set by 'Boomerang' in 2002, by more than 42 minutes last weekend. Racing with a complete North Sails inventory, 'Rambler 100', owned by George David, finished the 186-mile race from Stamford, CT, around Block Island and back, in just over 15 hours and 43 minutes. 'Rambler 100' won the Governor's Race West Trophy for best elapsed time in IRC, the William Tripp Jr. Memorial Trophy for best corrected time and the Commodore's Trophy for best winning margin over 2nd and 3rd place boats within their class. When performance counts, the choice is clear: http://na.northsails.com BALANCING ISSUES The California State Senate is about to consider a bill that, if passed, will ban copper antifouling paint for recreational boats. California Senate Bill 623 has passed through two committees and is now headed to a vote by the full Senate. As currently written, CA Senate Bill 623 includes provisions that: After 1/1/2015: Prohibit the sale of new recreational boats with copper bottom paint. After 1/1/2019: Prohibit the use or application of antifouling paint containing copper on recreational boats. BoatUS has been monitoring developments in alternative antifouling paints for more than a decade and understands the origins and respects the good environmental intentions of this bill. However, currently there are few effective and cost-conscious alternatives to keep hulls clean. The March 2011 issue of the well-regarded Practical Sailor magazine analyzed 62 antifouling paints, of which 12 contained no copper. In terms of performance, just one non-copper bottom paint (which contained zinc) rated "excellent," one rated "fair," and ten rated "poor." BoatUS also has concerns that recreational boaters are being unfairly and unwisely singled out, as this ban would only apply to recreational boats, which may not provide a large enough market to stimulate research and development on new alternative coatings. Much larger commercial and military vessels would still be able to use copper paints. In addition, copper paints currently serve as the primary defense against invasive species transfer from hulls to waterways. "Bringing new products to market takes significant lead time and money," said BoatUS Vice President of Government Affairs Margaret Podlich. "How do we know there will be alternatives that are effective and affordable by the bill's deadline? We recognize that there are many opinions about this bill, and encourage boaters to contact your state Senator to express your own views. We support innovation in antifouling paint and we hope that sustainable solutions for boaters and the environment can be found." Full report: http://www.boatus.com/pressroom/release.asp?id=678 AC45 DEBUTS ON BAY (June 6, 2011) - Throughout the month of June ORACLE Racing will be training in two of the AC45 wingsail catamarans that will be used in the America's Cup World Series through 2012. The team's training session coincides with two other notable firsts leading to the summer of racing for the 34th America's Cup in 2013: first on-the-water action since San Francisco was named 34th America's Cup host city in January 2011, and first time the next generation of wingsailed catamaran Cup boats will sail off the San Francisco city front. ORACLE Racing will train in the vicinity of the intended America's Cup racecourse. The team will support the event organizers (America's Cup Event Authority) with public awareness activities starting June 13 and work with the independent race officials (America's Cup Race Management) to continue trialing pioneering electronic systems first tested in New Zealand in April. "We also want to get some good solid training on the waters where the Cup will be contested in the summer of 2013," commented tactician John Kostecki. "We need to raise our readiness for the inaugural America's Cup World Series, which opens in Cascais, Portugal, in early August." -- Report at: http://media.oracleracing.com/pressreleases/?id=157 SUNSCREEN FOR SAILING What is the best sunscreen for sailing? Scuttlebutt asked this question over two years ago, seeking the advice from some of the people who are regularly on the water. From America's Cup winner Russell Coutts to Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe, plus scores of elite sailors such as Kenny Read, Terry Hutchinson, and Greg Fisher, Scuttlebutt received countless tips on types of sunscreen and their application. With the Northern Hemisphere sailing season now on, here are a few tips from this Forum thread: * Sean 'Doogie' Couvreux: For bow guys, I recommend wearing long sleeves. The Patagonia capilene works well. Because bow guys are always packing sails, and wrapping their arms around stuff, most sunscreen rubs off. The long sleeves protect from wear and do a good job keeping the sun off. * Chris Larson: Application is ABSOLUTLEY the most important factor in sun protection. I have a morning ritual of taking a shower and then immediately applying 3-4 coats of sunscreen. Heat and moisture from the shower open skin pours allowing it to absorb significantly more product. This method covers me for the whole day. Applying sunscreen on the boat just doesn't cut it and I inevitably come away with too much sun. * Los Angeles Times: Higher SPFs frequently cost more, but are they worth it? Many dermatologists don't think so. "Once you get to SPF 50, it's really getting silly," said Boston dermatologist, James Spencer. "SPF refers to multiples of how much longer it takes the skin to burn," but it isn't a linear progression. An SPF of 30 doesn't offer twice as much protection as an SPF of 15, for example. An SPF 15 blocks 94% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97%, and SPF 45 blocks 98%. Spencer recommends sunscreens with an SPF of 30, as does the American Academy of Dermatology, "because we know you're not going to put enough on." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have any tips on sunscreen? Here is the original Scuttlebutt Forum thread from March 2009, where all the advice is posted and new information can be added: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7198 200 SIGNED UP FOR TECHNO WORLDS IN SAN FRANCISCO The 2011 Techno 293 World Championship, to be hosted by the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, USA, has already attracted an entry of 200 youth racers for the championship which takes place July 17-24. Competing on the Bic Techno 293 One Design, many of the racers will be using chartered equipment supplied by Bic Sport. The company has allocated 150 sets of equipment for this year's championship. The Techno 293 One Design is now the biggest fleet in world windsurfing and the most dynamic class in windsurfing and in sailing. The charter programme has been a major factor in the expansion of the class and junior/youth racing programme. This year, competitors representing 26 countries from 5 continents have been allocated equipment - with many countries sending teams to participate in all divisions of the T293 Class, including: Argentina, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel, United Kingdom, Russia, Mexico to name but a few. Bic Sport is making sure that costs, particularly the purchase and transportation of equipment, should not be a barrier to tomorrow's potential champions, no matter where they are in the world. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/3cv6k5y LASERPERFORMANCE AND SUNFISH WORLDS 2011 LaserPerformance will supply over 475 event boats in NA this year starting with 72 brand new Sunfish for the Sunfish Youth and Standard World Championships held on the Caribbean island of Curacao. Competitors from 15 different countries will duke it out for a spot on the podium. Follow the action on the LaserPerformance Facebook page or at http://www.sunfishworlds2011.com SAILING SHORTS * The Latitude 38 publication has posted an online version of their 'First Timer's Guide to Mexico'. The First Timer's Guide is updated every year in June to provide the most recent information available about traveling to Mexico by boat. You can find links for viewing or downloading to this booklet at http://www.latitude38.com/eBooks/2011/MexFTG2011.html * (June 6, 2010) - Afterthought, J109, from Raleigh, NC, owed and skippered by Craig Wright, won the Black Seal Cup for best overall performance at Southern Bay Race Week 2011 racing in the largest of the handicap and one-design fleets, PHRF A2. The regatta, which is sailed in Hampton Roads, drew 98 keel boats from the mid-Atlantic and as far away as Maine. Tom Hall, from Scarborough, Maine, brought his Elliott 770 to Hampton and dominated the SBRW PHRF B1 fleet. -- Report at: http://tinyurl.com/3dwg5re * (June 6, 2010) - Any competitors still wishing to enter the IFDS Worlds 2011, must do so by 1800hrs local time on Monday 13 June 2011. The competition is set to be fiercer than ever when the cream of the world's Paralympic classes sailing talent arrives in Weymouth and Portland for the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships 2011 starting July 3. More than 115 sailors, from 22 nations, across the three Paralympic classes - 2.4mR one-person keelboat, SKUD18 two-person keelboat and Sonar three-person keelboat - have already signed up. -- Event website: www.ifdsworlds2011.com * (June 6, 2011) - Dawn Santamaria, Founder and Executive Director of Sisters Under Sail, was presented the 2011 Leadership in Women's Sailing Award at the 10th Women's Sailing Conference held Saturday at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA. The award is sponsored by BoatUS and the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA). The Leadership In Women's Sailing Award honors an individual with a record of achievement in inspiring, educating and enriching the lives of women through sailing. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/4yher87 FREE CLASSIFIED ADS The Scuttlebutt Classified Ads provide a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. Here are recent ads: FOR SALE: Salvaged Sailboat Hull 46' FOR SALE: Hobie Cat, Sail Dinghy WANTED: Used Bulkhead Mounted Compasses HIRING: Univ. of Rhode Island sailing coach HIRING: R&D Team Leader, Composite Rigging HIRING: Service Manager - Composite Rigging View/post ads here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/classified_ads 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 Ken Legler, Tufts Sailing Coach (re, Scuttlebutt 3556, edited to 250 words): Matt Knowles' reasons - making college sailing more athletic (college athletes in junior boats often in light air) and fairer are right on. Re enforcement, Matt explained how roll tacking needs no enforcement unless it is repetitive. Repetitive gybing in light air has been greatly reduced by adding a three-knot minimum. Ooching needs no enforcement since doing so in less than surfing conditions is useless. When a competitor ooches in less than surfing conditions they are laughed at, not frowned at. Rocking an FJ or 420 with the jib winged is also not productive. The only illegal motions than can be really effective are rocking off a starting line and rocking a Laser downwind in the odd Laser division. Ten years ago there was too much rocking off the starting line. A steady increase in the number of coaches has changed that. Nearly all the illegal kinetics in college sailing these days are accidental, momentary, and inconsequential. College regattas rarely have rule 42 police except in nationals and the occasional judge-rich Maryland intersectionals. Most of the other 300 college regattas do not have judges. Instead they have rules that are either easy to enforce or don't need much enforcement. What most college regattas do have are coaches and coaches don't like looking at illegal kinetics. Respected coaches correct these infractions by their own or by others just as they help non-coached teams with baggy sails because they don't like looking at them. * From Dierk Polzin: Concerning the modifications by ICSA College Sailing of the propulsion rules, we have had this discussion many times before. Back in 2002/2003 I started a round of emails and created an online poll of current college sailors. I corresponded with Dick Rose and Paul Henderson and many others. ICSA has held to these two changes to the racing rules allowing ooching and roll tacks that do not have the mast moving away from the vertical plane more than once. Nothing has changed in almost a decade in either ISAF or College Sailing's position. I had advocated a more simple rule, "The mast tip may only pass through the vertical plane once during a tack" technically the same thing as the college rule, but clearly eliminating any over-roll after a tack to windward. Over the last decade the only thing that has gone down is participation by young adults in sailing post-college. * From Skip Allen, Capitola, CA (re, Scuttlebutt 3356): Talbot Wilson's account of Donnybrook's grounding sends chills. A lesser boat and crew would likely have sunk. Congrats to them on their seamanship and sending good thoughts for quick recovery from injuries to crew and boat. While I have not sailed this area near Tail of the Horseshoe shoal, NOAA has evidently conducted extensive surveys in the vicinity, most recently in 2004 with the NOAA ship Rude and tender. Side scan sonar tow fish, vertical beam echo sounders, tow wires, trawls, and divers were used to locate and identify anomalies in the area where Donnybrook grounded. What they found was a "uniform sand bottom littered with debris." This debris included pipes, pilings, buoy blocks, wrecks" and other miscellaneous objects down to one meter in size. The survey crews apparently did not find anything less than 5.5 meters in depth. But as this area is evidently used for dumping, it is possible Donnybrook hit a more recent deposit. We will not know until a hoped for survey investigation is mounted and Donnybrook's hazard identified and charted, Sailors in the lower Chesapeake would be wise to transit this area with caution. Meanwhile, for those interested in the intricacies of NOAA hydrography surveys and impressive color sonar photos of the area, I recommend Descriptive Report H10945 found at: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/pub/coast/H10001-H12000/H10945/DR/H10945.pdf. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION I got a garage door opener. It can't close. Just open. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Kaenon Polarized - JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Team One Newport North Sails - LaserPerformance - Doyle Sails - West Marine - Interlux Ullman Sails - Point Loma Outfitting - New England Ropes - Summit Yachts Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
