SCUTTLEBUTT 503 - February 14, 2000
CHOICE OF WEAPONS
Team New Zealand will race the America's Cup Match in the newer of its two
black yachts, NZL-60. The team made the widely expected announcement before
the 6 p.m. deadline today, while both yachts continued to practise out on
the Hauraki Gulf. The challenger, Prada, will use its trusted ITA-45. Prada
won the Louis Vuitton Cup aboard the first of its two Luna Rossa yachts,
and the Protocol requires the team to sail that boat in the Cup Match.
ITA-45 has a 31-8 record in racing dating to last October
Team New Zealand's boats, NZL-57 and NZL-60, are quite similar, although
the bow treatment on 60 is slightly different and the stern overhang is not
as exaggerated.
A more recent development has seen Team New Zealand install one of its
so-called millennium rigs in NZL-60. This features triple spreaders and
diagonals arranged in an X-formation between the spreaders, providing more
support for the mast tube with less weight and windage. "It's a nice mast,"
said Coutts. "We think it has real potential. You could safely say that we
will be using it during the Match." -- Ivor Wilkins, Quokka Sports
Full story: http://www.americascup.org/
THE RULES
Team New Zealand and Prada have an emergency meeting this morning (Monday
in Auckland) to try to reach a deal on sailing rules for the America's Cup.
On-board umpires and immediate penalty turns have caused a stalemate
between the rival syndicates. Neither was used in the challenger series,
but Team New Zealand want both for the match. Prada could go to the
arbitration panel which sorts out disputes between the challenger and
defender to make the call.
Team New Zealand want to force a penalised boat to carry out its 270-degree
turn as soon as it is flagged. During the challenger series, the penalty
could be done at any time before the race finish. The Kiwis also want to
have observers on the back of each yacht, who are in contact with the
umpire boat behind. Prada tested the on-board umpires this weekend during
training, and will continue trialing with them today.
Both syndicates will present their views at today's 9am meeting with the
umpire committee. The rules adviser for Team New Zealand, Russell Green,
said the Italians seemed more concerned about the immediate penalties. "I
guess they are worried about getting fouls against Russell [Coutts] in the
pre-start," he said. "I think they might use the on-board umpires as a
bargaining tool - they'll agree if we give in to delayed penalties. But we
don't believe in that kind of negotiation."
Prada operations manager Laurent Esquier would not comment on Green's
opinion, but said taking the matter to the arbitration panel was an option
to "speed up the process." "But we are not too concerned yet. We have a
bunch of issues that need to be sorted out, and that's normal at this stage.
"It took the challengers six months to settle on the sailing instructions,
and we've had eight days. We are already three-quarters of the way there."
-- Suzanne McFadden, NZ Herald, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/
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YOUTH MATCH RACING
The Royal Yachting Association crew of Mark Campbell-James, David Carr and
James Ward today secured the Coca-Cola Cup youth match racing title for
Britain. Racing on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour took place in light to
moderate breezes today, excellent conditions for match racing on a harbour
that was jammed with yachts competing in a wide range of events. The
victory marks the third time a British team has won this event, which is
often referred to as the unofficial world championship of youth match
racing. -- Ivor Wilkins
RESULTS: 1 Royal Yachting Association (GBR), 2 Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
(AUS), 3 King Harbor Yacht Club (USA), 4 Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
(AUS), 5 Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (AUS), 6 Royal New Zealand
Yacht Squadron Blue (NZL), 7 Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Red (NZL),
8 Royal Perth Yacht Club (AUS), 9 Royal Danish Yacht Club (DEN), 10 St
Francis Yacht Club (USA), 11 Wakayama Marina City Yacht Club (JPN), 12
Yacht Club Punta Ala (ITA), 13 Circolo Della Vela Erix of Lerici (ITA),
14 Bucklands Beach Yacht Club (ITA), 15 Fukuoka Yacht Club (JPN), 16
Kanagawa Youth Yacht Club (JPN).
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
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 Steve Morton -- Great ideas about consolidating assets and fielding
one America's Cup dream team from the U.S., but how realistic is it ? How
can you deny access to the Cup to the hundreds of marquis sailors, top
designers, boat builders, and private donors looking for the America's Cup
experience ?
There is little doubt that corporate dollars are limited to the top teams
and five teams dilute an American presence, however when a
multi-millionaire like Bill Koch gets "Cup Fever", how can you prevent him
from pursuing his dream ? How about someone like Conner who almost reaches
the LVC final on a $10 million budget ?
It is not entirely about money and sponsors. America should relax about
losing the Cup. We'll get it back. It's a better event when more countries
have an opportunity to host it. The key is frequency. Hold the event every
two years ... cuts down costs, increases participation, attracts more
sponsors, promotes multiple campaign strategy.
-- From Doug Van Der Aa -- Its impossible to deny the appeal of putting all
of our resources into one great super team to challenge for the next cup.
Kind of like Michael Jordan and the US Olympic "Dream Team" from a few
years back.
But do you really want to put all of your eggs into one basket? Despite
some recent grousing about early cash flow problems, the front running NYC
Young America Challenge didn't fall apart because of a lack of money or
dilution of the sailor pool, it self-destructed because of poor project
management.
Wasn't it John Marshall who said that they made some major strategic errors
early on? Significantly, they decided to delay boat building and getting
on the water in favor of additional design time. Then they decided to push
the structural strength/weight savings tradeoff too far, failing to build
in sufficient reserves for the inevitable imperfections in the construction
process and materials, and for the extreme loads these boats develop on the
water (not just in the test tank).
Are you willing to bet all of your money on selecting one designer or
design team? One or two approaches to finding the new boatspeed
breakthrough (eg the revolutionary twin rudder swiss boat). A single
project management approach? Are you willing to live with the results if
you lose?
Everybody hates the presidential primary system too. But do you really want
the political insiders to make the decision for you in a smoke filled room
three years in advance?
-- From Bill Buchan -- I agree with Steve Taft's comments regarding
problems we would encounter in consolidating future U.S. America's Cup
effort's. I would like to add that, at least from my viewpoint, we need to
involve more, not fewer of our sailors in this aspect of our sport. We are
already suffering from a perceived image of elitism by the by the vast
majority of the public which needs to be addressed.
-- From Chick Pyle -- With all the whining about the U.S. syndicates not
being competitive in the Americas Cup because of limited fundraising
potential let's keep one thing in perspective. The size of the U.S.
economic market is larger than Italy, France, Spain, U.K., Australia,
Switzerland and New Zealand combined. The size of the San Diego economic
market is larger than the Defender's entire national economic market.
Maybe, just maybe, teams win races and regattas because they have better
boats or sails or sailors.
-- From Neil W. Humphrey -- Sad news - One of the longest sponsorships in
sailing has ended with an announcement by Champagne Mumm that they will
cease their support of the Admiral's Cup. Entries have dwindled in recent
years and the event's status as the world's leading offshore racing series
has slipped accordingly. Control of Champagne Mumm recently moved to a US
investment house.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MONEY -- John Bertrand
Several weeks ago, I was chatting on the dock with Sir Peter Blake, whose
Team New Zealand is the defending champion of the America's Cup. He was
wearing a pair of faded team shorts with holes that had been hand-darned.
Later that day, I went out on a training sail with the team. When there was
a chance to eat, crew members pulled out lunches they had packed for
themselves.
I asked why there were no catered lunches for the crew. I was told that
back in 1995, when the team was running out of money, it was decided that
one way to stretch the budget was to forgo prepared lunches. Instead, each
member of the crew agreed to pack a lunch for himself. The extra money was
put towards paying for new development sails. The tradition stuck.
Back then, the New Zealanders came to the America's Cup with a budget of
just $17 million (U.S.). That was about half what some of their competitors
had in their budgets. But the difference is that the Kiwis stretched that
$17 million over time and made it work for them.
Was the Louis Vuitton Cup really a race between checkbooks? Did Prada's $50
million beat AmericaOne's $35 million? I have to say, I think not. Not
entirely, at least.
Team New Zealand learned a valuable lesson. They are still tight - tight as
a team and tight financially. Frugal might be a more respectful way to put
it. Though their official budget has not been revealed, it is understood
that it is around $30 million U.S. spread over a four-year period of
research and development, construction and on-the-water sailing activities.
Maybe it will seem to some that homemade bologna sandwiches and hand-darned
shorts count for little in a $30 million operation. But, it shows a deep
respect for money and a skill for making less equal more. The Kiwis are
good at that.
It was not money alone that propelled Prada to victory over AmericaOne.
Paul Cayard's $35 million could have done to the Italians what the Kiwis'
$17 million did to the better-financed syndicates in 1995. There was more
to it than that.
A significant part was that Cayard, as chief executive officer of
AmericaOne and the face of the syndicate, had to be out on the corporate
money-raising circuit. That precluded him from competing on the World Match
racing circuit and other highly competitive regattas where he and his
afterguard could have further sharpened their match racing skills.
AmericaOne lost more than one race in the Louis Vuitton Finals due to fouls
being committed within the very tight racing. With more time on the water
racing, I believe we would have seen fewer fouls, and who knows - the
result could have been the reverse, with AmericaOne now the challenger.
Because of his dual roles, Cayard was compromised in his ability to focus
exclusively on the job of sailing a flawless campaign. Raising money is an
integral part of this business, but it cannot solely be the skipper's
responsibility - not in this era where the competition is so intense, the
level of excellence so high.
Cayard says that next time he will serve as just CEO and let someone else
take the helm. This is a tough bridge to cross. He has not won the
America's Cup. He has not won on his terms as skipper of a boat. That will
eat at him. However, given the chance, I think he will step aside and take
a view from a higher level.
Paul Cayard is both a excellent businessman and a world-class sailor. I
think he now has enough experience of what it takes to win to be able to
step back. -- John Bertrand, Quokka Sports
(John Bertrand won the America's Cup for Australia in 1983. He is vice
chairman and co-founder of Quokka Sports.)
Full story: http://www.quokka.com/0002/11/QCMa4amcp_s_bertrand_WFC.html
VIRTUAL SPECTATOR
Virtual Spectator, the innovative Internet sports channel that will provide
live 3D animated coverage of the America's Cup Match, yesterday received
major funding from Snider Capital L.P., a leading US sports media company
and venture capital firm. The investment by Snider Capital, whose
principals founded the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers,
ensures future development of the Virtual Spectator technology and its
expansion into other international sports such as motor racing, golf and
soccer.
Virtual Spectator is the dynamic interactive software that combines the
Internet and global positioning (GPS) technologies to bring live 3D
animation from the race course to personal computers. This software
successfully delivered more than 200 races to fans worldwide throughout the
Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Races for the America's Cup. Racing fans will
be able to download the America's Cup version of Virtual Spectator at
www.virtualspectator.com or through Quokka Sports' official America's Cup
web site at www.americascup.org. -- Jane Eagleson
HOT IMAGES
Now -- you can follow the construction of the new "Kingfisher" -- Ellen
MacArthur's Open 60 for the Vendee Globe 2000 Race. You'll see photographs
and annotations that take you through the construction from start to
finish. The boat will be launched this Friday:
http://www.kingfisherchallenges.com/uk/media/boatbuild
SPEED RECORDS
The Polish catamaran Polpharma-Warta (26 m - 85 ft), Bruno Peyron1s
ex-Explorer, set out from Cadiz (south-west Spain) at 09h 11m 06s French
time (08h 111 062 GMT) on Sunday 13th February 2000, in an attempt at
qualifying for The Race on the East-West Atlantic course. To beat this
record, the skipper Roman Paszke and his 6 crew members must reach the
island of San Salvador (Bahamas) before February 29th at 00h 42m 53s,
French time (on 28th February at 23h 42m 53s GMT).
GREEN & COOL- HEINEKEN REGATTA NEAT STUFF
Come join us in Paradise...meet artist, Jim DeWitt at the upcoming Heineken
Regatta 2000 in St. Martin, March 3 - 5th. For official Heineken Regatta
merchandise designed by Jim (t-shirts, tanks, embroidered polos,
embroidered hats, posters) , take a peek at www.heinekenregatta.com or call
800-758-4291. For other great DeWitt merchandise, take a peek at
www.jimdewitt.com Hope to see you at the party!
TELEVISION
Tonight, Dateline NBC will tell the story of Giovanni Soldini and Isabelle
Autissier during Leg 3 of Around Alone Race. It's a love story about the
ocean, sailing and two remarkable human beings. The program airs at 9 p.m.
Eastern Time, 10:00 PM Pacific Time, and who knows when in other places on
the globe. Please check local listings.
PV RACE ENTRIES
The first group of starters in the San Diego YC's Puerto Vallarta Race
leaves tomorrow. With 37 entries, this will be the largest Mexican race in
many years:
CLASS A (10): Cheval, Nelson/Mareck 68, Stephen Popovich; Evolution, Santa
Cruz 70, Brack Duker; Grand , Santa Cruz 70, Ed McDonell;
Magnitude,Andrews 68-Turbo, Doug Baker; Medicine Man, Andrews 56, Bob Lane;
Mongoose. Santa Cruz 70. Robert Saielli; Pegasus, Andrews 68, Philippe
Kahn; Pyewacket, R/P 73, Roy E. Disney; Sorcery, Mull 83, Jacob Wood, Taxi
Dancer, Reichel/Pugh 70, Don Hughes.
CLASS B (14): Allure, Santa Cruz 52, Charles Jacobson; Ariel, Santa Cruz
52, Jim & Diana Freeland; Bay Wolf, Santa Cruz 50, Kirk Wilson; Cantata,
Andrews 53, Ron Kuntz; Climax, Barnett 52, Alec Oberschmidt; Falcon, Tripp
50, David Janes; Ingrid, Santa Cruz 52, Bill Turpin; Locomotion, Andrews
45, Winslow and Melinda Lincoln; M-Project, Sprint 50, Manouch Moshayedi;
Quantum, Andrews 56, Uolo Gietl; Rosebud, Santa Cruz 52, Roger Sturgeon;
Stark Raving Mad, J-160, Jim Madden; Stealth Chicken, Perry 55, Bruce
Anderson; Warpath, Santa Cruz 52, Fredrick Howe.
CLASS C (6): Black Knight, Farr 39, Phillip Friedman; Bravura, Farr 44,
Ernie and Dennis Pennell; Simply Red, J-120, Vince Kelly; Uproarious, Olson
40, Robert Bussard; Wild Thing, One Design 35, Chris Busch; Windswept, Swan
57, Max and Pam Phelps.
PERFORMANCE CRUISING CLASS (7): Amazing Grace, Farr 55, Allen Pucket;
Bonita G II, Hunter Passage 450, James Garrett; Everfit, Catalina 36, Steve
Jackson; Novia del Mar, Beneteau 405, Mike Busch; Starshine, Peterson 44,
Don and Ann Becker; Sweet Shot, Passport 47, Ron McCleave; Tango, Beneteau
40CC, Howard Raphael.
Event website: http://www.sdyc.org/
CALENDAR
- March 25 - Newport, RI, Deckman for Windows Seminar ($50)
protechmarine@compuserve.com
PREDICTION
"In its 149-year history, the America's Cup has never been successfully
defended by any country outside of the United States. That string will
remain unbroken. In a tight, emotional series that will go eight or nine
races, Prada will win the America's Cup." -- Herb McCormick, NY Times
Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving.
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