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SCUTTLEBUTT 2040 - February 28, 2006
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary,
opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
COMMENTARY
How sad that the whining about Ben Lexcen and Australia II hasn't been
laid to rest. Ben was an insightful and unconventional thinker, a
creative designer, a cheerful sportsman and a good mate. Ben and I met
up in London a few months after the 1983 America's Cup and talked about
the development of Australia II. In his animated way, he blinked his
eyes and wagged his hands around as he described leading and trailing
edges frontwards and backwards, approaching keel design with a clean
slate. He found the lower center of gravity of an upside-down
configuration to be an improvement over evolutionary Twelve Metre keels.
This was Benny, the fresh thinker, trying something new, and it was
working.
It was after discovering the benefit of the upside-down keel that the
idea of winglets arose as a potential means to make the very long keel
tip more efficient. It's possible, maybe even likely, that the principle
of winglets was spoken to him by one of the research associates at the
towing tank, but Ben extended the public-domain concept of single
winglets on airplanes, which only have to fly on one tack
(right-side-up), and made it work on both tacks (port and starboard). As
Australia II's designer, he integrated the advantages of low center of
gravity and good windward hydrodynamics into a short, light (for a
Twelve Metre) yacht with added sail area.
As for the ruckus about Dutchmen, Peter van Oossanen - he had been
raised in Australia from age 5 through his university education - very
much a product of Oz, speaks bona fide 'strine and had permanent
Australian residency status at the time of the 1983 America's Cup. But
how about the NYYC's Dutch designer, Johan Valentijn? Johan was
Dutch-born, raised and educated, and speaks to this day with a thick
Dutch accent on his English-as-a-second-language. Johan had obtained US
citizenship to be eligible to design for the 1983 US defense. Peter had
not filed for Australian citizenship, although he was clearly a cultural
product as well as a nearly life-long resident of the country. When it
comes to national origin of design, I daresay that the NYYC's principal
designer was clearly less authentically American than Australia II's
research associate was Australian, let alone the yacht's principal
designer.
Australia II, as a complete package, was a great design breakthrough. No
successful America's Cup design effort is a one-man band, but Benny was
certainly the leader of this one. Good onya, mate! ~ David Pedrick
FIXING THE OLYMPICS
The Olympics have an Olympian problem: slip-sliding interest. Consumer
psychologist Carol Moog suggests replacing commentary with music during
snowboard races. That appears to be the message from TV viewership,
which is falling faster than the ice dancers in Torino this week. Winter
Games prime-time viewership through Wednesday was down 19% from the 1998
Nagano Games and down 33% from Salt Lake City in 2002. Sure, consumers
are increasingly using alternative media to keep pace with the Games,
but not that much.
The real issue: image. To many Americans - particularly younger people -
the Olympics aren't relevant. Put simply, they aren't cool. "I hear no
buzz about the Olympics any more," says Irma Zandl, a trends forecaster.
"The Olympics has lost its soul." ~ Bruce Horovitz and Laura Petrecca,
USA Today. Here is an outline of the 10 ways experts would fix what they
see as the Games' most urgent image issues:
1. Put more 'reality' in Olympic TV.
2. Let viewers have a say.
3. Tap more tech.
4. Spotlight big rivalries.
5. Decide more medals head-to-head.
6. Offer more and hipper music, less and hipper talk.
7. Go back to the 4-year wait.
8. Be less predictable.
9. Be more extreme.
10. Rethink the Olympic mission.
To read the details of these proposals: http://tinyurl.com/qzj4t
DOING THE RIGHT THING
Jesper Bank, United Internet Team Germany: "We have done absolutely the
right thing" Bank is glad about his decision not to follow the more
experienced teams like Alinghi, BMW Oracle Racing or Emirates Team New
Zealand, who had considered the winter in Valencia as "not sailable" and
claimed that the winter training there would not be efficient. "It's a
good thing we made our own decision and have insisted on our winter
sailing. We had enough sailing time and a few really superb sailing
days," says Bank. The sparring between the United Internet Team Germany
and the Italian Team +39 Challenge during the previous weeks brought out
the effects of the winter training: "The year before, we lost all races
against +39 Challenge, whereas now we are at least on par with them",
says a content Skipper. ~ BYM News,
http://www.bymnews.com/new/content/view/25375/48/
ALWAYS THE BEST
Camet International has the outstanding reputation of always being the
best in design, quality, and service. The Camet sailing shorts are the
leaders in technology and comfort. They are made out of a breathable,
fast drying SupplexR with a UV rating of 40+ (blocks 97.5% of UV rays)
and reinforced with a CorduraR seat patch, to insert an optional foam
pad. Camet has a variety of men's and women's shorts, pants, and colors.
Coolmax shirts, Code Zero shirts, Mylar bags etc. Ask your dealers for
the Camet products or visit the Camet website at http://www.camet.com
BRING ON THE HORN
With the rounding of Cape Horn a little over three days away, less than
1500 nautical miles, the Volvo Ocean Race crews are concentrating on
positioning themselves to collect as many points as possible at this,
the only scoring gate on the course. The fast reaching and running
conditions under masthead spinnaker in 20 knots of wind have not been
that enjoyable for the fleet today. The sea temperature is dropping and
it is feeling very, very cold.
Losing and gaining miles is almost the entire existence of the crews and
it is hard, when each position report delivers the bad news of lost
miles. Keeping the morale up onboard is even more important in this
distant ocean, where crews are constantly tired and drink only
desalinated water and eat freeze dried food. Wearing the right clothes,
staying as warm as possible, sleeping when the opportunity is there and
making sure that all the necessary vitamins and supplements are taken,
all helps to keep spirits up.
The weather is typical; grey, very damp and foggy which limits
visibility. The crews wear full faced masks to keep out the constant
fire hose of icy water coming over deck, but which make it hard to see.
~ www.volvooceanrace.org
Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 GMT Monday
1. Team ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, 3595 miles to finish
2. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +25 miles
3. Movistar, Bouwe Bekking, +38 miles
4. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, +96 miles
5. Ericsson Racing Team Neal McDonald, +145 miles
6. Team ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +192 miles
Curmudgeon's Comments: You've got to see the photo of Martin Tasker as
he departs from his TVNZ on board interview ont The Black Pearl as the
Volvo 70 fleet races out of Wellington Harbour, clocking around 20
Knots: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/0227/
QUOTES FROM THE BOATS
"Can someone please remind me, in four years from now, that I don't
really need to do this any more. I do really like a big, warm, nice bed
and dry clothes, and I do love nice food . it's true, I do! Why are you
laughing and thinking 'idiot, you said this four years ago.' ~ Knut
Frostad, Brasil 1 watch leader
"Man, this is extreme yachting. As I am bouncing along here the speedo
beside me clicks over 32 knots and sits over 30 for over 30 seconds!
Once back at a leisurely 27 knots, life seems safe again..." ~ Mike
Sanderson, ABN Amro One skipper
"It is amazing how much goes on onboard, apart from the racing. There is
constant maintenance program and there is the race. That is why you have
to be very disciplined and stay ahead of the game with both the sailing,
like sail changes, etc, as well as the maintenance. If you get behind,
things snowball and you have a real mess." ~ Paul Cayard, Pirates of the
Caribbean skipper
TRUE LOVE
When a weather window provides just the right combination of
temperature, wind, and sun, Jim Campbell digs out his father's old
Banshee and drags it over the ice to an open patch on Lake Kegonsa,
Wisconsin and goes sailing. "I have only had the privilege to do this
polar sailing thing four times in my 39 years of sailing, all in the
last 4 years," Campbell said. "But yesterday was perhaps the most
enjoyable sail ever." Campbell feels that moments like this must be
"seized" as after a night at minus 1 degree Fahrenheit, the lake was
frozen over by the next day. You must see this:
http://www.lksc.org/icesailor.html
CLASSIFIED ADS UPDATE
A bunch of new classified ads have just been posted on the Scuttlebutt
website - everything from folks wanting used 420's and a sewing machine,
to loads of various job opportunities. View all the ads, or post your
own. for free. http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/classifieds
NEWS BRIEFS
* The World Sailing Speed Council has ratified the record of Sebastien
Josse and nine crew aboard ABN Amro Two for the greatest distance sailed
by a Monohull in 24 hours -- 562.96 nautical miles for an average speed
of 23.45 knots. The previous record held by Mike Sanderson and a crew of
nine aboard ABN Amro One was 546.14 nm for a 22.75 knot average.
Some observers think that +39's search for funds might motivate the
(America's Cup) team to change their identity. Whether this can be taken
so far as to let an Italian Team become a British team, presumably
switching yacht clubs in the process after the challenge deadline, and
without running further afoul of the protocol and other requirements, is
a potentially controversial issue. ~ Cup Info website,
http://www.cupinfo.com/
* Anthony Kotoun sailing with Chad Atkins, Chuck Norris, Mark Ivey and
Matt Lindblad scored a convincing win at the J24 Midwinters hosted by
Davis Island Yacht Club. Final results (38 boats - 9 races with no
discard): 1. Anthony Kotoun (USVI) 30 pts; 2. Alejo Rigoni (ARG) 57 pts;
3. Rossi Milev (CAN) 71 pts; 4. Doug Clark, 71 pts; 5. John Mollicone,
93pts. ~ http://www.j24d10.org/midwinters/results/day3.php
* Dee Caffari, who is attempting to be the first women to complete a
solo 'westabout' non-stop circumnavigation, is hard on the wind in
strong conditions and that meant the return of the mountaineering feats
below decks. The night saw consistently strong winds and a huge confused
sea. With more than 11,000 miles still to go on this voyage that began
on November 20, Caffari advanced 127 miles in the last 24 hours. ~
www.avivachallenge.com
* The bicycle is a popular if not main mode of transport for AC teams,
both in the Port America's Cup and around town. Monday 21 brand new BMW
"Cruise Bikes" arrived at the BMW Oracle Racing base, compliments of BMW
Lifestyle. They will comprise a "bike pool" available to team members.
Sharp-looking, rugged gear -- beach cruiser meets mountain bike. ~ Photo
at: http://bmworacleracing.twoday.net/stories/1627111/
* A bumper fleet of more than 200 boats is expected to compete in this
year's Newport-Bermuda Race as one of the sailing world's top events
celebrates its 100th birthday. New iBoat technology will enable friends,
family and the media to view the position of all the different boats in
the fleet during the event. The equipment, which features transponders
aboard every vessel, was used during last year's Marion-Bermuda Race on
a smaller scale and made the crossing significantly more spectator
friendly as the position of each boat, plotted using GPS technology, was
available via the internet. ~ Dan Rutstein The Royal Gazette:
http://tinyurl.com/ohcgr
* Top marine journalists in the U.S. and beyond were recognized in an
annual writing contest conducted by the membership of Boating Writers
International (BWI). Presentations in 14 contest categories representing
$14,000 in awards were presented to first ($500), second ($300) and
third ($200) place scorers. In addition, all move into a "Phase II"
competition which culminates in a single selection honored with the West
Marine Writer's Award and $5,000 grand prize at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat
Show next October. For a complete list of the honorees:
http://www.bwi.org/
SAILS. LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY
Rich duMoulin's Tape-Drives from UK-Halsey keep on winning, and winning,
and winning. In four years, his Express 37 mainsail flew in two
victorious doublehanded Newport-Bermudas, four 240-mile Vineyards, three
180-mile Block Islands, collecting enough silver for a lifetime.
"UK-Halsey built a sail for the tortures of shorthanded ocean racing. We
reefed many times in winds up to 50kts. Each time we shook the reef, the
sail was undistorted." Rich ordered a main just like it for the 2006
Bermuda race, and will use the old sail, still strong, for the delivery
home. Durable + fast = happy customers. http://www.ukhalsey.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may
be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter
per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others
disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for
elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at
the Scuttlebutt website:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi)
* From Peter Huston: If the prime issue is TV for the Olympics - then
there must be a focus on the thing that people watch TV for -
fascinating personalities. The camera lens sees the boat, the
commentators talk about the people. The boat is nothing more than the
tool by which the athletes communicate their talent. Sailing needs
dynamic personalities like Bode Miller, Alberto Tomba, or Katarina Witt.
To better present our emerging personalities, we need a format enema
more than anything. Why have any drop races? We need a variety of course
types - w/l, slalom, Gold cup, circle, and at least one long distance
race per class. Then, a M/W match race series, in which only medal
winners can participate - tennis ladder style elimination, one race per
pair - win or go home. Why have so many classes? For classes, why not
M/W Windsurfer, Laser/Radial, 49er/29'er, co-ed catamaran and small
keelboat . Probably sailing would be better served to have fewer
classes, and more entries per country in each class. Certainly the
internet is changing viewing habits, but ultimately, the internet is
just going to give us an infinite number of TV channels, so presenting
the story in 2012 via video will be the same whether it's done via TV,
or an IP address. Unless and until we have magnificent personalities
that attract TV attention, nothing else really matters. The global TV
audience does not know or care about the boats, they only care about the
players.
* From George Morris (Re the problems with television coverage for the
Olympics - edited to our 250-word limit): If it costs 200,000 dollars a
day to televise the sailing events, then don't televise them - they are
never shown on (UK) television anyway. A much better solution would be
to superimpose on the screen a gain line in the same way that Virtual
Spectator does - that way you could see who was winning.
We do not need on a TV broadcast is commentators explaining why yachts
have to zig zag up wind for ten minutes at the start of every programme.
If the general public are capable of understanding the rules of cricket
of rugby union and their North American equivalents they should be
capable of working out the basics of a yacht race - particularly if
there are on the water umpires.
Re the Volvo - yes, the site is not good and yes the Ellen McArthur one
was much better. One of the (several) problems with Virtual Spectator is
that the supposed 'telemetry from the yachts' nav station is a fake.
What appears to be an instantaneous speed and course is in fact an
average over the last six hours or perhaps a snapshot of the speed at
the time of the poll (who knows?). It is certainly not the current
figure otherwise Ericsson (24kts) would not be losing twenty miles a day
to the others (18kts). Some of the VS shots are taken from the north so
that the boats go from right to left. I find this confusing in the
northern hemisphere.
* From Paolo Sheaffer: Piling on the VOR website, anybody remember the
Quokka Sports-produced site for the last Whitbread? They owe Cayard a
lot, but for the day, it was great stuff. One would hope that in eight
years, there have been improvements in this realm. Too bad Quokka didn't
last.
* From Steve Quant (re VOR website confusion): The location of the gate
marks was not on the maps "leaders" or "fleet". That would be helpful to
see.
* From Ray Tostado: I am humbled by the performance reports coming out
of the current V70 fleet in the around the world race after repairs and
adjustments have been made. We have all been informed about the
structural failures, etc.. But here are accounts of the goals being
achieved and records being broken. These facts are way beyond any
general public comprehension. They are the equal to an aircraft breaking
the sound barrier, in a dark night in a blizzard. I hope that the
designers, builders and crews have found time to smile at the critics
and us salon sailors. Smile and grab a firm hold against the wind and
water pounding their bodies and whisper, "We told you so. We said we
could do it."
* From By Baldridge: The difference between motorized sport and sailing,
nobody dies in prime time TV in sailing. Until sailing has it's Dale
Earnhardt we are boring. Who would watch the Daytona or Indy five
hundred if the cars just went round and round and never crashed?
* Rich Jepsen: In response to Nick Mace's guest commentary about
enjoying the sport (and I quote) "Do not think "sailing school" or
"ocean cruiser" or huge expense.". Surely he knows enough about the
sport to avoid classifying sailing schools in the same 'huge expense'
category as ocean cruisers? Or avoid the notion that somehow they are
some sort of luxury, unnecessary to introduce those new to the sport and
make them safe, competent, confident, responsible sailors. So, I am
betting I misread his intent.
* From Charlie Clifton (re Air jets reducing hull drag): In 1990 (?), I
sailed on the Lars Bergstrom designed Ultimate 30. Among other
innovations, this radical departure from the norm featured a slit in the
hull athwartships approximately amidships. The slit was plumbed airtight
to tubing that came up through the deck above the waterline. The boat
was capable of unbelievable speed. When she really started to take off,
the tubes emitted a sound like a cathedral organ. Once that sound
started, speed seemed to increase exponentially. As the speed rose and
fell, the music was Gregorian. Unfortunately, as Ed Baird told an
interviewer from the porch of the Raw Bar at a Key West race, "It
appears that the crew has not attained a level as elevated as that of
the designer." I had to laugh at Ed's comment because he was right on
both counts. Lars (inventor of the Windex) was among the design vanguard
and I think he was on to something with his air injection idea. The crew
. well, we had a lot of fun.
CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL
"In any contest between power and patience, bet on patience." ~ W.B.
Prescott
Special thanks to Camet International and UK-Halsey Sailmakers.
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