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SCUTTLEBUTT 2406 - August 8, 2007
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is
distributed each weekday with the support of its sponsors.
GUEST COMMENTARY
Los Angeles, CA -- I totally agree with Jim Durden’s comments in Issue 2405
(about managing the event schedule to insure there is quality over
quantity), and is consistent with a new event that my club (Del Rey YC)
intends to bring to Marina del Rey this October. It's not another weekend
race, but rather a new format with a new focus….fun! We are waking up to the
fact that racing has not changed in 25 years but society certainly has.
These races will start at 3pm on Saturday afternoons so as not to interfere
with backyard duties and soccer games, and hopefully providing a great
social lead in for other events later that night. Either way, the focus of
these races will be the party afterwards.
We chose October because its a time of year that racing is considered over
(even out here in Southern California). We have flexible classes (pick your
competition), cheap trophies, and a great party after each race. Public
viewing of the races and a finish at the local park with commentary for the
crowd watching are just some of the innovations. No cruising classes; novice
sailors start with regular classes but get separate scoring. Win this season
and you are no longer a novice.
We are focusing on the group’s interaction after the race. I believe the
reason yacht racing is dying - especially weekend buoy racing - is that the
social aspect of racing does not exist any longer. We can do so much online
now that we don’t need to go to the clubs any longer to enter or get
results. Because of the limited social interaction, we are now racing
against strangers rather than our buddies. The yacht clubs are trying to
bring new things to the table, and I hope people like Jim and others will
attend these races and give us good feedback to make them even better. --
Mike Guccione
Curmudgeon’s Comment: No matter how hard you try, you just can’t virtually
enjoy a cold beverage among friends:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/beer.jpg
COWES WEEK REPORT: THE PICKLE DISH WITH AN ENGINE
(Sailing World editor Dave Reed reports from England at The King of Cowes, a
one-day event in which reigning Cowes Week champions compete for the grand
prize of a Volkswagen Touareg.) As a first timer to Skandia Cowes Week, it's
impossible to not be overwhelmed. This ancient event is so massive in size,
scale, and sheer number of boats and people that even if you tried your best
you'd never come close to taking it all in (nearly 900 boats and 8,500
competitors). It is as much a regatta as a non-stop summer party with bands,
stages, beer tents, discos, and for the upper crust, of course, ample
black-tie balls and cocktail parties.
Before the arrival of the Laser SB3 class - a 20-foot keelboat that's more
dinghy than lead mine - no division at this annual regatta stood above the
rest. But with 97 SB3s starting in the shadow of the Royal Yacht Squadron
each morning, it's not difficult to argue that, on the water at least, the
SB3s have stolen the show at Cowes Week.
How did the SB3s come to own this regatta in merely three years? The boat
itself is a superb, and simple sportboat, and the fact that German automaker
Volkswagon has been pouring money into the class has certainly helped. For
the last two years, VW has given each team a branded spinnaker; this year
the company wanted more out of their sponsorship and, with the SB3's
builder, Performance Sailcraft Europe, they came up with a scheme to
solidify their presence in Cowes. Enter The King of Cowes, a championship of
champions style of event held for the first time this year on the Friday
before the big regatta began. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/295bya
ALEX THOMSON'S NEW HUGO BOSS OPEN 60
(The Daily Sail subscription website looked at the trends in Open 60 designs
in a recent story. Here are a few excerpts.)
I don't know why we're surprised. We had a guided tour of Yann Elies'
Generali prior to the Calais Round Britain Race, so when we had the
opportunity to have a good crawl around Alex Thomson's new Hugo Boss
recently, a Finot-Conq designed sistership to Elies', we were expecting some
similarities between the boats. But aside from the overall ethos of the hull
shape and that the two boats have fixed rigs, that is where the similarity
ends.
Initial impressions of the new Hugo Boss are that she is monstrously wide
and - what the ??? - she also has twin cabin tops, not unlike a maxi-cat. In
fact lop the rig off, lose the keel and cut a tunnel down the middle of the
hull and the new Hugo Boss would make a pretty fair Formula 1 power boat. As
it is, with her immaculate black carbon fibre finish and wide beam, she is
aptly dubbed 'the batboat' - all she needs are some gulwings.
Compared to the last Hugo Boss, the new boat is 40% more powerful - 40%!!! -
and 25% lighter, to give some indication of what a quantum leap there has
been over the last two generations of Open 60s (the original Hugo Boss - the
former Sill - was 2000 vintage). Like Generali, the new Hugo Boss has a
chine pretty much the length of the hull to artificially fool the water into
think the boat is wider than it actually is. -- http://tinyurl.com/2vxeym
* Seven Open 60s will be sailing in the Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes
Week on Wednesday August 8th, battling each other in a high-speed sprint
around the Isle of Wight for the right to donate £10,000 (approx $20k) from
Artemis to the charity of their choice. Among the entries is the new Juan
Kouyoumdjian-designed Pindar skippered by ISAF World Sailor of the Year,
Mike Sanderson.
UK-HALSEY WELCOMES NEW LOFT ON THE CHESAPEAKE
UK-Halsey Sailmakers has added a new loft in Easton, Maryland on the eastern
shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The loft is owned by Scott Gibbs and was
previously affiliated with Ullman Sails. "Scott and his staff will be a huge
asset to sailors on the Bay and our group," said UK-Halsey's President
Charles "Butch" Ulmer. "The Chesapeake has the potential to be country's
largest sailing community as the cities around it grow; now we have two
strong lofts in the area." UK-Halsey has over 50 lofts and service centers
around the world. For a list, go to http://www.ukhalsey.com
GRANDMOTHER JOINS HATFIELD
(When Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield starts the singlehanded Vendée Globe
non-stop, around the world race next fall, he will have plenty of company
onboard, as is shared in this story.)
Last night, my dad phoned me rather excited about what he had done for my
grandmother for Mother’s Day this year. "Your grandmother is going around
the world," said my dad calling, judging from the muffled sound of the
seagulls in the background, from pier of the Port Dalhouise Yacht Club.
"But, Dad," I replied with mild concern, touching disbelief. "Grandma died
two years ago." "That’s not the point," answered my dad. "She casts off from
France in November 2008."
It turns out that in a little over a years time, my beloved grandmother will
be sailing around the world, posthumously. My dad has added her name to a
list of thousands adorning the side of Canadian skipper Derek Hatfield’s
Open 60 race boat as he departs on the Vendée Globe race. The race,
considered the toughest any sailor can make, is perhaps best explained by
its single, utilitarian motto: "Around the world, single-handed, non-stop,
without assistance." My dearly departed grandmother, Colleen Booth, will be
leaving North America to be part of one of the most demanding feats in
sailing, her spirit for adventure now joined permanently with the race boat,
Spirit of Canada. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0625
DOUBLE-HANDED TO HAWAII ON THIRTY-THREE FEET
California J/100 owner Tim Fuller and crew/navigator Erik Shampain completed
the 2007 Transpac in just over fifteen days, finishing fourth in both class
and the doublehanded division. Here is an excerpt of an interview J/Boats
had with Tim:
* What made you decide to do the Transpac in a daysailer? Said Tim Fuller,
"The J/100 is very easy to sail, which is one of the reasons I originally
got it. I walked away from top tier ocean racing in the early 90's to
concentrate on work and family. I have a six and a nine year old and I
wanted to teach them to sail, so I bought the 100. Then I couldn't help
myself so I got a PHRF rating. I've done well locally in 24 hour
doublehanded races, so 2200 miles wasn't really that much of a stretch. And
seaworthiness was never a concern."
* Competition for the doublehanded trophy included an Open50 purpose built
for short-handed racing. What was the biggest challenge distance racing the
100? Said Tim Fuller, "The Open 50 has a very sophisticated navigation
system. All we had was an autopilot that didn't understand weather helm or
waves. So we had to hand steer all the time. For navigation we used two
handheld GPS's, which meant we couldn't plot positions on enough of a
regular basis to see the trends in our track."
* Did you make any modifications to the stock boat? Said Tim Fuller, "We
added a ten percent longer pole so we could fly bigger spinnakers, and we
also added a high clewed blast reacher. And we installed a thirty gallon
water bladder. I added the autopilot when I first bought the boat two years
ago. That should be stock equipment on the boat since it does a great job in
flat water." -- Complete interview:
http://www.jboats.com/j100transpac2007.htm
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
Here are a few of the questions posted on the Scuttlebutt Forum, where the
log-in requirement for the sailing forum has been dropped this week for
replying to any existing posts:
* What do J/24 owners (or those with similar sized boats) do about GPS
systems. Is there only handheld options or do owners use a mounted system…
and if so which one and where is it mounted?
* Does anyone know of a person that can repair Tacktick Race Master wireless
instruments?
* I just found a great deal on a Hobie Monocat and picked it up. I'm not
that familiar with this particular boat but like I said, it was a great deal
and couldn't pass it up. I'm just wondering if anyone is familiar with any
weight limitations on this type of boat. I'm a big guy, around 240 pounds,
and am wondering if it’s still viable for me.
Scuttlebutt Sailing Forum: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/07
ANOTHER USE FOR DUCT TAPE
As a sailor and skier, I have used duct tape for many things including the
occasional repair of actual ducts (for which it is not actually very good).
Just this past weekend I used it to stop my boom from falling off the
gooseneck, and to stop my broken inspection port from leaking. I also had a
duct tape wallet for a few years. Now it turns out that researchers have
proven that duct tape is more effective than cryotherapy for warts.
In patients treated with duct tape, 85 percent of the warts completely
resolved, compared with 60 percent in the cryotherapy group. These results
were statistically significant. Resolution of warts treated with duct tape
usually occurred within the first 28 days of therapy. If there was no
response within the first two weeks, the warts were unlikely to respond to a
longer course of therapy. The main adverse outcomes with duct-tape therapy
were difficulty keeping the tape on the wart and minor skin irritation. The
main adverse effect in the cryotherapy group was mild to severe pain at the
freeze site during and after the treatment. -- Litoralis blog, read on:
http://litoralis.blogspot.com/2007/08/another-use-for-duct-tape.html
HUGE MID-SEASON REGATTA DEALS AT THE PIRATES LAIR!
1. Tees with custom regatta designs start at $4.00 each.
2. Dri-Fit tees starting at $10.00.
3. Mount Gay Rum foulie jackets only $75.00! (Web Store: L and XL only)
4. Embroidered caps start at $4.99 Delivered!
5. Keg sponsorships with any order over $1000.00.
Log on to http://www.pirateslair.com/sailing for catalogs or call (888)
724-5286 to score these deals.
SAILING SHORTS
* Padanaram, MA, August 7, 2007 - After three days of superb racing, a
record 472 boats competed at the 35th annual Buzzards Bay Regatta. Of the
classes competing, the International 505's held their East Coast
Championship and the Etchells sailed for their Atlantic Coast Championship.
The event was organized by the New Bedford, Mattapoisett, Low Tide and
Beverly Yacht Clubs and hosted by the New Bedford Yacht Club at its
Padanaram facility in South Dartmouth, MA. -- Complete results:
http://www.buzzardsbayregatta.com/results07.htm
* The Biloxi Yacht Club (Biloxi, MS) is rebounding after it was destroyed
during Hurricane Katrina. Commodore Jim Graham said the club has received a
conditional use permit from the Biloxi City Council and hopes to get the
title to the land it is trading for their old site in the next three weeks.
The club then can break ground by mid-October and open the doors to a new
12,500-square-foot facility in spring 2009. The original club, built in
1901, was destroyed during a 1915 hurricane. Camille washed away the second
in 1969, and Katrina destroyed the third in 2005. --
http://www.wdsu.com/news/13780722/detail.html
* Skovshoved Harbour, Copenhagen, Denmark 7th August 2007- Round ten of the
World Match Racing Tour begins on Thursday following Wednesday’s practice.
The prize purse for this year’s event has been raised to $60,000 dollars.
Competing for the prize purse are crews from six different countries with
four of the top five in the World Tour standings: Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba
Sailing Team (1st), Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar (2nd), Paolo Cian (ITA)
Shosholoza (3rd), and Sébastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge (5th). --
http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com/default.asp?m=da&id=58769
* With an entrant list totaling 462 boats, the 2007 Optimist New England
Championship held this week in Newport, RI is claiming to be the largest
single class one design regatta ever held in the United States. --
http://208.106.141.167/npt/m/_general/07optinehome.asp
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be
edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250
words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot,
don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks
for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is
available on the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
-- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Anatole Perry: Great comment from Bob Bausch in Issue 2405. I
wouldn't mind being Brad Butterworth's neighbor.... I could throw things
over his fence! Brad might not appreciate his "home" coming sentiments
though.
* From Angela Coen, New Zealand: I couldn't agree more with Bob Bausch' s
letter in Scuttlebutt 2405. But I also feel let down by ETNZ in that they
jumped onto the Bertarelli circus wagon with such alacrity and therefore
gilded his lopsided lilly. Good for Vincenzo Onorator and Louis Vuitton for
not lending any legitimacy to this farce of purported fair play at the next
AC cup.
* From Brian Watkins: (in response to letter in Issue 2405) Regarding Stu
Weintraub's business, his private friendship with the environment is
touching but doesn't offset his public floating billboards. This is the kind
of thing many of us are trying to get away from. The water is our refuge.
If/when regulators decide these billboards in public waters are a good idea,
then I'm thinking it’ll become a good way to identify organizations to
avoid, even those previously well-respected ones like Disney, Nike, State
Farm Insurance, and American Airlines that Stu claimed have used this type
of media for advertising. I can also think of better ways than these
billboards to greet and thank returning service men and women – a common
occurrence in San Diego – such as by flying a big American flag from your
boat and waving. As for public service messages, maybe the billboard could
say "Hazard to Navigation: Watch out for floating billboards." I feel badly
for San Diego, but fear that this idea is not isolated to only that region.
Boaters beware!
* From George Bailey: In my speed-reading of the letters, I took "floating
Billboard" to be a metaphor for lots of ads on sails and hulls of race
boats. I see it is not . . . it is literally something taking up space in
the water that one could hit . . . is that right? The waterways in the
United States are regulated by the Army Core of Engineers . . . I wonder
what they have to say about this rather horrible idea . . . we have garbage
ads everywhere on land, so now we will pollute the waterways as well . . .
right in the water? How pathetic yet how predictable. But at least bringing
this up on the "Butt" is a break from the endless beating of the long- dead
AC horse.
* From Tom Hagoort: Boat-towed billboards ought to be accompanied by a
proliferation of the proposed 450 foot high coastal wind generators. Then,
instead of cruising our sailboat, we can watch outdoor movies on the TV
screen in our Humvee while driving on the Turnpike. Perhaps it makes little
difference to racers whether the visual environment is polluted by windmills
and billboards, but we sail for the beauty of the experience. Isn't the
pollution of the Internet enough to satisfy the advertisers? (And, please,
spare us the argument that floating billboards are a grand vehicle for
public service advertising!)
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography. - Paul
Rodriguez
Special thanks to UK-Halsey Sailmakers and Pirate’s Lair.
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