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SCUTTLEBUTT 1598 - June 7, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. SHOSHOLOZA Following completion of all entry formalities on Thursday, 4th June, AC Management, on behalf of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), announced that the Royal Cape Yacht Club has become the third challenger for the 32nd America's Cup. This challenge marks the first time an African-based team has participated in the America's Cup. The Royal Cape Yacht Club joins the Golden Gate Yacht Club and the Circolo Vela Gargnano as official Challengers for the 32nd America's Cup. The team will make its first public appearance in Europe in Marseille, on the 7th June, at a press conference promoting the Marseille Louis Vuitton Act, Act 1 of the 32nd America's Cup Valencia. Team Shosholoza plans to race in all three Acts this year. The team name, Shosholoza, is a word with roots deep in South African culture. It is a worksong with a long history with mine workers, and others engaged in hard, physical labour. As a word, it is understood to mean, 'go forward' or 'make way', an appropriate sentiment for an America's Cup team. The South African America's Cup Challenge has already been working for several months from its base in Cape Town. It has purchased one of the Prada boats from the Louis Vuitton Cup winning team of 2000, and has been sailing on Table Bay for several weeks. World-champion South African yachtsman Geoff Meek has been appointed skipper of the team. A five-time South African Yachtsman of the Year, Meek also has America's Cup experience as the alternate skipper for the British team in training for the 1986-1987 America's Cup. Adding experience to the team is sailing manager Paul Standbridge, who filled that role for the GBR Challenge in 2003. Standbridge also brings experience from five Round the World Races, among other world-class offshore campaigns. The Shosholoza team plans to build two new boats for the 32nd America's Cup, and to that end has already enlisted designer and naval architect Jason Ker. The team is currently planning to launch its first new design on Freedom Day in South Africa, the 27th of April 2005. - www.americascup.com THE TRANSAT Jean Pierre Dick's Open 60 Virbac was rolled 360 degrees and dismasted at approximately 1830GMT Friday evening. Virbac sailing under storm jib only was experiencing consistent 50 knots winds and 6-7m waves at the time of the incident. Jean Pierre Dick, who was inside the boat at the time of the incident, reported that he and the boat are safe. Dick has cut away the mast and rigging and is securing his position. The boom has been broken, the mast broken into three pieces and the cockpit cuddy has been holed but Virbac has suffered no hull damage. Pindar's converted trawler, Hatherleigh, will sail from Portsmouth to rendezvous with Virbac, currently some 600 miles west-north-west of Ireland. At a service speed of 10 knots, Hatherleigh should reach Virbac's position in about four days. This is Virbac's second dismasting in three races since she was launched 12 months ago. Mike Golding reported, "Reality of these conditions is to stay in tact and safe...you go into protection mode. You stay below only go on deck when you have to." Mike Sanderson on Pindar Alphagraphics suffered loss of wind instruments which were controlling the auto-pilot, and had to hand-steer for more than eight hours over-canvassed as he couldn't leave the helm to take in more sail. And the 50ft trimaran Crepes Whaou! (Franck-Yves Escoffier) retired with daggerboard problems. 34 of the original 37 boats are still racing. All boats are now sailing in milder conditions and Michel Desjoyeaux continues to lead the 60ft multihull fleet under Newfoundland on Geant, approximately 73 miles ahead of Thomas Coville on Sodebo, who has recovered from being knocked out after a high-speed collision with an unidentified object stopped the 60ft tri in its tracks. The force of the impact threw Coville forward knocking him unconscious. It is more than likely that Coville struck a whale which he had some problems unlodging from under the trimaran. But, perhaps, the more bizarre story came from Swiss skipper Steve Ravussin (Banque Covefi) who collided with a giant manta ray that broke his main rudder. Lalou Roucayrol on board Banque Populaire reported a mainsail 'damaged beyond repair' and Steve Ravussin (Banque Covefi), a 'shredded' jib. Although the trimarans are all complying with the self-imposed ice exclusion zone waypoint to limit any contact with ice, Franck Cammas - skipper of third placed Groupama - has reported that he is sailing through seas dotted with oil platforms and icebergs. Disturbingly, Cammas also spotted Grand Banks shipping that had not registered on his radar. Standings @ 0300 GMT, June 7: ORMA 60 Multis: 1. Geant, Michel Desjoyeaux, 573 miles to finish; 2 Sodebo, Thomas Coville, 73 mi. distance to leader. 3. Groupama, Franck Cammas, 126 dtl IMOCA Open 60 Monohulls: 1. 6. Cheminees Poujoulat-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm, 1217 mtf; 2. Ecover, Mike Golding, 26 dtl; 3. PRB, Vincent Riou, 29 dfl Open 50 Multihulls: 1. Trilogic, Eric Bruneel, 1436 mtf; 2. Great American II, Richard Wilson, 153 dtl Open 50 Monohulls: 1. Artforms, Kip Stone, 1511 mtf; 2. Wells Fargo - American Pioneer, Joe Harris, 57 dtl. Event website: http://www.thetransat.com/ CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 23' ALUMINUM RIB FOR HIRE OR SALE Need a tender or photo platform for your next California event? The Pirate's Lair has a great rigid inflatable for you. Hire by the day, or for sale. 195 hours total time, Honda 130hp, fore and aft towing masts, 80 gal. fuel, VHF, dual axle trailer, hoist bridle and cover. Email ken@pirateslair.com for pics and info. TEAM NEW ZEALAND Team New Zealand's NZL82 was back on the Hauraki Gulf yesterday for the first time since last year's disastrous America's Cup. Among those on board were Team New Zealand's managing director, Grant Dalton, skipper Dean Barker, Tom Schnackenberg and several engineers and designers. At this stage the boat has no branding and although still black, the hull also has splashes of grey and red which are understood to part of the syndicate's new look. The boat will be put through a series of tests over the next month before it is shipped to Europe on July 7 in preparation for the America's Cup class regattas which start in France in September. Also traveling with NZL82 to Europe is NZL57, one of Team New Zealand's 2000 cup boats which has been sold to the French syndicate K-Challenge. NZL57's sister yacht NZL60 has been leased to K-Challenge as well and will head to Europe in August. - Julie Ash, NZ Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/29nmj WOMEN'S MATCH RACING WORLDS Annapolis, Maryland, USA -- In light and fickle winds the week-long BoatU.S. 2004 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship got under way this morning. By the end the day's sailing, only 31 matches had been completed, with 12 teams completing four contests each, three having completed three, and only Sweden's Jenny Axhede and her team sailing five matches. Sixteen of the world's top 30 ranked women match racers are competing in the prestigious regatta, which is being sailed on the Chesapeake Bay out of Eastport Yacht Club. - www.santamariacup.org Totals after 31 matches completed: - Jenny Axhede (ISAF ranking: 12), Sweden, 4 wins in 5 matches - Carol Cronin (18), USA, 3 wins in 3 matches - Liz Baylis (5), USA, 3 wins in 4 matches - Lotte Meldegaard Pedersen (4), Denmark, 3 wins in 4 matches - Claire Leroy (7), France, 3 wins in 4 matches - Sabrina Gurioli (10), Italy, 3 wins in 4 matches - Sally Barkow (27), USA, 3 wins in 4 matches - Deborah Willits (20), USA, 3 wins in 4 matches - Nina Braestrup (3), Denmark, 1 win in 4 matches - Elizabeth Kratzig (23), USA, 1 win in 3 matches - Christelle Philippe (15), France, 1 win in 4 matches - Betsy Alison (8), USA, 1 win in 3 matches - Paula Lewin (9), Bermuda, 1 win in 4 matches - Katie Spithill (16), Australia, 1 win in 4 matches - Marie Faure (6), France, 0 wins in 4 matches - Linda Rahm (19), Sweden, 0 wins in 4 matches SWEDISH MATCH TOUR The Swedish Match Tour visits Langenargen, Germany, on the shores of Lake Constance in southern Germany, for the penultimate event to the 2003-'04 schedule, Match Race Germany, June 8-14. Nestled among the Alps and occupying an old glacier basin at an elevation of 1,299 feet (396 meters), Lake Constance serves as a natural border for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The 7th annual event has some new features this year, including a boat. The Bavaria 35 Match (from Bavaria Yachts, Giebelstadt, Germany) replaces the Diamant 2000 used in past editions. The 35-footer displaces 11,900 pounds and has 695 square feet of sail area. More importantly perhaps, any crew that can win 10 races in a row wins a Mercedes Benz SLK roadster, valued at approximately Euro 40,000 (approximately $47,000), from event sponsor Wuerttembergische Versicherungsagentur Speth. The skippers include Tour leader Peter Gilmour, Bertrand Pacé, Jes Gram-Hansen, Gavin Brady, Karol Jablonski, Mathieu Richard, Luc Pillot, Ray Davies, Lars Nordbjerg and Australian Michael Dunstan. Two other spots will be filled based on the results of the German Invitational Cup, a local feeder event. - Sean McNeill, www.SwedishMatchTour.com ENGINEERED APPAREL FOR THE COMPETITIVE SAILOR Apparel designed to both facilitate you while you move on deck and protect you from your moves, is the focus of Sailing Angle's designs. Padded sailing shorts and long pants, Sunshirts, Kontrol Gloves for aggressive line handling, Battened Hiking pants, Knee Sleeves and Droop Hiking Suits are a few of our uniquely designed apparel that will help you get out front and stay there! Our new Aloha Silver & Navy padded-optional shorts (with floral panels) are in! Call 800-666-3616 or buy them today at APS, Layline, and http://www.sailingangles.com and let's go sailing. NEWS BRIEFS * The America's Cup will be on public display between June 19-26 in Newport, RI at Fort Adams between 11am - 4pm. Each day after the racing for the UBS Cup, it will be transported to the Newport Shipyard, where she will also be on display between 4:30 - 7pm. * In 18 knots of wind and rough seas, James Spithill (AUS) bested Ian Williams(GBR) 3-0 in the finals of the Trofeo TAB Blurimini ISAF Grade 2 match race. In the petit finals, Karol Jablonski (POL) defeated Matteo Simoncelli (ITA) 3-0. Others: 5. Mathieu Richard (FRA); 6. Michele Ivaldi (ITA); 7. Philippe Presti (FRA); 8. Kelvin Harrap (NZL); 9. Fabio Mazzoni (ITA); 10. Eugeniy Neugodnikov (RUS); 11. Staffan Lindberg (FIN); 12. Lars Nordbjaerg (DEN). - www.blurimini.com/2004/regate/bandi.asp * Peter de Ridder sailing Mean Machine is the 2004 Mumm 30 European Championship, defeating Richard Bonham Christie's Bite the Bullet Theoule Mandelieu by seven points in the 10-race event. Racing throughout the Championship had been very tight with seven different winners of the 10 races. Consistency is the name of the game when no discards are allowed. - Yachts and Yachting website, full story: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/default2.asp?section=11&article=13302 * Nestlé Nespresso SA, has signed of an event "Supporter" agreement with AC Management making Nespresso the official coffee of the 32nd America's Cup. The sponsorship deal allows for on-going brand visibility and media exposure, multi-faceted product displays and sampling at official VIP hospitality venues and functions and exclusive sales of Nespresso Grand Cru coffees at on-site F&B facilities open to the public as well as through dedicated Nespresso coffee corners. - www.americascup.com * A study undertaken for the Americas Cup management Committee by KPMG has revealed that as many as 111,000 jobs will be created between now and 2007 when the races are run. The study also found that 70% of the structures created for the races would remain and be of extensive use to Valencia and the port area. - www.valencialife.net * For the first time , the 2004 Newport Bermuda Race Organizing Committee will present two "Family Participation Prizes", one for the Americap™ II Non-Spinnaker Division and one for the IMS Cruiser/Racer Divisions. - www.bermudarace.com * The twelfth edition of the Detroit NOOD attracted 185 boats sailing in 19 classes. Light breezes and big windshifts were the hallmarks early in the event but the last day finally brought some breeze. For complete results: www.sailingworld.com COLLEGIATE RACING The University of Hawaii sailing team has won the Gill North American Dinghy Championships and the Henry A. Morss Trophy. Team members Carly Allen, Jeffrey Boyd, Cassandra Harris, Brian Lake, Joey Pasquali, Matt Stine, and Jennifer Warnock held on to a 29 point lead to defeat Georgetown for the top spot. The races were run at the Cascade Locks on the Columbia River in winds varying from 8 to 22 knots over the three day series. Final Results: 1. University of Hawaii (88-93) 181; 2. Georgetown University (92-118) 210; 3. Hobart William Smith Colleges (137-84) 221; 4. USC (101-124) 225; 5. Darmouth College (138-97) 235. For complete results and photos: www.collegesailing.org/nwicsa/na/default.htm FARR 40 NORTH AMERICANS Los Angeles YC- The Watts Cup / Farr 40 North American Championship regatta turned into a duel between former America's Cup rivals and long-time friends Paul Cayard - on John Kilroy's Samba Pa Ti - and Russell Coutts - racing with Alexandra Geremia and Scott Harris on Crocodile Rock. Although Samba Pa Ti had led the fleet since the opening race, Crocodile Rock was just 2.5 points behind going into the final race. The wind was uncharacteristically south/ southeasterly, and with the course no longer right-favored, the fleet fanned out across the choppy seas. Kilroy won that race with some enlightened tactics and in the process captured the Farr 40 North American Championship and the Watts Cup Trophy. - Rich Roberts Unfortunately, final results were not posted on either the LAYC or the Farr 40 website at our distribution time: www.layc.org RACE A LASER 4.7 AT THE UPCOMING NA'S The Laser 4.7, the younger sibling to the Radial and the Laser, is the boat of choice for kids coming out of Optis. Vanguard has limited number of free 4.7 rigs available for use at the Laser NA's at Cedar Point YC, June 16-19. Contact davek@teamvanguard LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Roger Vaughan: Having covered the America's Cup for longer than I'll admit, I'm pleased to see the new management focusing on better on board cameras and microphones, and improved access to teams and skippers behind the scenes. Those two elements have to go together. We've had the microphones in place for several Cups, but too many skippers "forget" to plug them in. I covered the Indy 500 this year, and the Cup managers could profit from observing how the players in this TV-driven sport cooperate with the media to make it as exciting as possible for the viewer. It's often very difficult in the heat of that 200+ mile an hour battle for a team owner to take a moment to speak with the pit reporter, especially after one of his cars has hit the wall. But it's rare when the owner or some other high-ranking team official doesn't take that moment. And drivers are usually available pre- and post-race. As for the new Cup managers' plan to crank up "TV magazine programs on the glamorous lifestyle and passion of the exclusive world of sailing," humor always sells. I'm laughing already. * From Rob Overton: The article in 'Butt #1597 about the Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) may be a bit misleading to some sailors. The term "Sailor Athlete", as used by US Sailing, does not mean active sailor athlete in the usual meaning of the expression, but rather, elite competitor. To qualify even at the lowest level, a sailor must have competed in a National or North American Championship, or its offshore equivalent, within the last 10 years. But to actually represent the SAC on the US Sailing Board or even to count as a Sailor Athlete on key US Sailing committees, one has to have finished in the top third of a National or North American Championship or its offshore equivalent or have participated in the Louis Vuitton, Olympics, Pan Americans or Paralympics, or have finished in the top half of a World Championship of an ISAF class, within the last 10 years. You point out in your article that there have been many complaints in Scuttlebutt about how sailing is run, but some of those complaints are about the sport being run for or by elite sailors to the detriment of the majority. SAC, with its mandated power in US Sailing, has the prospect of moving the sport even further in that direction; and to that extent SAC may be a bad thing for the average sailor, not a good one. * From Richard Hazelton: Perhaps the reason such a small percentage of US Sailing's member have registered for the Sailor Athlete Council may reflect that the bulk of the 40,000 members are not racing on a national or international level so don't qualify. * From Ray Tostado (re: Hydraulic actuators for canting keels). In my 35 years of designing and building, and operating hydraulic actuated camera support systems such as camera cranes and camera cars, it is inexcusable to design a system that is not fail safe. Hydraulics is the most powerful and reliable power transfer system on earth. If rules permit electric driven hydraulic pumps with manual back ups that under perform, someone is missing the point. Modern day solid state sensors can articulated any position required of the keel positioning. All systems should be put in place with multiple automatic redundancies capable of immediate interdiction should the first control system fail; before there is any need to resort to manual power. And in the event some critic would define such a system as being too "high tech"; hell man, the crime has been committed, the horse has left the barn, and the lawyers are defining the language. Just make such innovations safe. Or do we have to wait for the first missing at sea report due to canting keel mechanism failure? THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM How do you write zero in Roman numerals? |
