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SCUTTLEBUTT 1938 -- October 5, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
HUGE FINAL DAY
It has taken all year to beat them, but in the last race of the last Act of
match racing for the 2005 season, BMW Oracle beat Alinghi by the kind of
margin you could pass a small town through. But amazingly, that wasn't the
top news of the day. Instead, this was the second time that the previously
invincible Swiss team had had to look at the transom of their competitors
as they crossed the finish line.
In the morning, it was K-Challenge who broke the run of 31 wins on the trot
for Alinghi, a big story on any day and a huge morale booster for the
French team and a result that saw them finish fifth overall, a massive
improvement. Sliding past Alinghi early in the race, K-Challenge lost their
lead and then re-re-gained it, a dream ticket for Dawn Riley's team. --
Excerpt from a story by Matthew Sheahan, Yachting World,
http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/ywnews.htm
* "We did the things that we wanted and we got beat, so congratulations to
both of the other teams. They out-sailed us today and that's how it works
in sport." -- Ed Baird, Alinghi helmsman
* "Today was a beautiful day to be a skipper," said BMW Oracle helmsman
Chris Dickson. "I was thinking, drive the boat fast and good luck, guys. It
was a tough day to be a tactician. There were big shifts and big pressure
differences. And when both went your way you were famous. Sometimes you got
the elevator and sometimes you got the shaft."
Dickson's newly configured afterguard of navigator Peter Isler, strategist
Eric Doyle, and tactician Bertrand Pace scrapped their way back into their
race against Luna Rossa, after trailing by eight boatlengths, only to give
the lead back to the Italians on the final run. In their final-race
showdown against Alinghi, BMW's brains negotiated the course's offerings of
pressure and shifts to build a lead for good. However, they would have to
settle for the satisfaction of finally beating the defender in a match
race, because the tie-breaker put them in fourth overall; their losses to
Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand-in the race of the regatta, which the Kiwis
won by less than a length-made the difference.
Sicilian Cup fans were abuzz about Luna Rossa, which looked fast and smart
while defeating BMW Oracle Racing and putting themselves in a position to
win the event. The Kiwis, however, soiled the party. That race's tactician
match was a face-off between two former U.S. college sailing stars-Terry
Hutchinson on Team New Zealand and Andy Horton on Luna Rossa-in conditions
that rewarded a seat-of-the-pants approach that college sailing teaches on
its small racecourses. "It was the Charles River," quipped Hutchinson about
Boston's notoriously shifty college-sailing venue. He was good in his
college days, and he was good in Trapani, where they shut the door on Luna
Rossa in the final match, went 2-0 on the day, and landed in second overall
on the tie-breaker.
"It was hard to be in the lead," said Hutchinson, "Impossible to defend.
We were 0 for 2 on first crosses, but give us high marks for the rest of
the races. A good day, but fun isn't a word I'd used to describe it." --
Excerpt from a story by Josh Adams and the Sail magazine website,
http://sailmag.com/trapani/
* Tuesday was among the most exciting days in the long history of the
America's Cup as racing concluded at the Trapani Louis Vuitton Act 8 with
the end result a four-way tie on points for first place. The tie-breaking
formula is given in the Racing Rules of Sailing (Appendix C-11).
K-Challenge, with a tremendous upset win over Alinghi in flight 10 today,
sit alone in fifth place on the overall points table. It's a tremendous
result for the French team who won seven matches. Their previous best
result was in Malmö with just four wins. It was a special day as well for
the three Italian teams who won five of their six matches on the day. Both
+39 Challenge and Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team each scaled the
leaderboard with their two wins in front of thousands of Italian fans
cheering from the spectator boats. -- Peter Rusch / Andy Rice,
www.americascup.com
TRAPANI LOUIS VUITTON ACT 8 FINAL SCOREBOARD
1. Alinghi (SUI 75) 9 pts
2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 82) 9 pts
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 74) 9 pts
4. BMW Oracle Racing (USA 76) 9 pts
5. K-Challenge (FRA 60) 7 pts
6. Victory Challenge (SWE 63) 6 pts
7. +39 Challenge (ITA 59) 4 pts
8. Desafío Español (ESP 67) 4 pts
9. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team (ITA 77) 3 pts
10. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 3 pts
11. United Internet Team Germany (GER 72) 2 pts
12. China Team (CHN 69) 1 pt
The fleet racing in Louis Vuitton Act 9 takes place in Trapani on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday -- and that will officially bring the curtain down on
America's Cup racing for 2005.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND SNOW IS COMING!!!
Oops, are we early? Team One Newport is getting prepared for the holiday
season, plus we're adding to our Sale Page daily. Check out the Reef
specials, fleece specials, and backpacks, or the cool regatta gear from the
Marblehead-Halifax Race, Newport Regatta, Jimmy Fund Regatta, 12 Metre
Worlds, etc. Learn about all the great new items that we are getting in for
the Holiday season! Get your shopping done early and save money! Call
800-VIP-GEAR for our awesome customer service department or visit online
for the latest gear from the "Foul Weather Gear Experts from Head to Toe."
http://www.team1newport.com
US OLYMPIC TRIALS
US Sailing announced that the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Team
Trials for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in October
2007 in two parts of the country: Southern California and Rhode Island.
The decision on the location was made after several months of carefully
evaluating all the aspects that needed to be taken into consideration. "We
wanted to make sure we could offer all of the athletes an opportunity to
compete in great sailing conditions and there are several of those around
the country," said Dean Brenner, Chairman of US SAILING's Olympic Sailing
Committee. "In the end, we needed to go with what we felt was best for the
sailors. We are confident that this decision will help us produce the
strongest U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. These organizations
will be great partners and we are looking forward to a great event."
The classes and host yacht clubs will be divided as follows:
Southern California sailing organizations will host:
* Star (California Yacht Club),
* RS:X and 470 Men & Women (Alamitos Bay YC and US Sailing Center of Long
Beach),
* Finn (Newport Harbor Yacht Club),
* Tornado and 49er (San Diego and Southwestern Yacht Clubs)
The Rhode Island Sailing Foundation (New York YC, Ida Lewis YC and Sail
Newport) will host:
* Yngling
* Laser and Laser Radial
* Sonar
* 2.4mR
* A new Paralympic class which will be announced next month
Over the next few months, US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee will work
with the host organizations to finalize all aspects of the events,
including exact dates and race formats. -- Marlieke Eaton,
http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2005/trialslocation.htm
MAJOR INFUSION OF MONEY
Yachting NZ has received funding of $6 million (NZD) from SPARC (Sport and
Recreation NZ) for its High Performance sailing programmes. New Zealand's
major television network, TV One News tonight reported that the investment,
variously described in the items as a 'shot in the arm' and a 'hand-out',
is given in the expectation that the programme will deliver two medals from
the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It is also reported that $1.2 million of the
funding is for 'talent development' geared towards the 2012 Olympic Games
in Weymouth, England.
The funding is in line with that provided for Rowing, Swimming and Cycling
for Olympic and Commonwealth Games campaigns.SPARC receives most of its
revenue directly from the Government and the New Zealand Lottery Grants
Board. In 2004/5 SPARC's total revenue will be $70.2 million, in 2005/06 it
is projected to be $76.7 million.
Two medals is a big step ahead from the performance in Athens, where the
Kiwi team returned home without winning any medals - the first Games that
this has happened for 20 years. However the writing had been on the wall
since 1992, which is when New Zealand last won medals in classes outside
the Boards, now known as the Windsurfing events. The 2004 result focused
attention on the fact that a formula which had been developed for the 1984
Olympics and rolled on through 1988 and 1992, had run its race, and could
no longer deliver - even with the usual addition of a dollop of fine words,
good intentions and the demon tweaking of some elements of the process.
The implications of a change in the Olympic qualification process were
never really appreciated by YNZ and this compounded NZ's Olympic sailing
woes. Even so, New Zealand's record in that 20 year period, prior to
Athens, was second only to USA in terms of medals won, and even now NZL
stands in third place with 13 medals across five Olympiads. -- Excerpt from
a story by Richard Gladwell posted on the Sail-World website, full story:
http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=19375
THE NEXT BIG EVENT
The 19th Annual Dry Creek Vineyard Pro Am Regatta week at the Bitter End
Yacht Club kicks off on October 29th with the 10th Annual Defiance Day
Race, followed on the 30th by the preliminary qualifying heats of the
fourth annual Musto Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championships (Lasers, Hobie
Waves, Hunter 216s). Pro Am racing starts on Monday the 31st and continues
through November 5th, with master skippers Lowell North, Roy Disney, Rod
Johnstone, Butch Ulmer, Keith Musto, and Tom Leweck.
Racing among the juniors will be between Robbie Haines, Chris Law, J.J.
Isler, Andy Burdick, Shirley Robertson, and Peter Isler. As always, guests
of the Bitter End have the opportunity to race with (and party with) these
"stars of the sailing universe." There is still an opportunity to sign up,
and Scuttlebutt Sailing Club members (that's you) will get an additional
night free. -- www.beyc.com
NEWS BRIEFS
* Mark Gaudio and Jamie Douglas, 2004 Class Champions, won the First Annual
Harbor 20 National Championship sailed at Newport Beach, California. Light
and variable conditions prevailed as Team Sunday Driver went from three
points out of first place after Saturday's racing to a 17 point victory
over second place Chris Allen and Steve Schupak. Tom and Jane Schock were
one point further back in third place in the 32-boat event that included
participants from fleets in Marblehead MA, Hilton Head SC, and San Diego
CA. For complete results: www.nhyc.org
* M.G. Mayer Yacht Services, Inc. of New Orleans, LA, announced the
re-opening of their West End boatyard in the aftermath of Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita. It will be the only functioning boatyard on Lake
Ponchatrain's south shore for the foreseeable future. Though Katrina
destroyed most of the immediate area and some of Mayer's facilities, the
yard itself and the heavy-lift capacity crane were spared and are now
operational. The company also has a barge crane in service. The boatyard is
taking calls from boat owners needing recovery or repairs to their boats
and assistance with insurance claims.
EIGHT BELLS
Francis C. (Frank) Gray, Jr., 81, of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts,
crossed over the bar on Wednesday evening, September 28th, after a long and
difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. One of the best-known
manufacturers representatives in New England's Marine Industry, for almost
fifty years he based his business on representing a small number of
high-quality manufacturers. Throughout the Northeast the presidents and
founders of all the boat builders, boat yards, and marine companies
welcomed him as he arrived in the signature creased khakis, pressed white
shirts, and Topsiders (no socks) that he wore at every time of year. They
knew they would get direct, honest, and straightforward answers to their
questions and concerns, laced with Frank's characteristic wit and
good-humored abuse. They responded in kind.
At his request, a party and celebration of his life will be held at 4:00
p.m. on Saturday, October 29th, at the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden
Museum, where he served as Treasurer and Trustee for many years. The Museum
is at 396 County Street, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740, (508) 997-1401.
-- www.RJDMuseum.org.
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or visit http://www.nautorswan.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. This is neither 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. And please save your bashing,
and personal attacks for elsewhere.)
* From Magnus Wheatley: First prize for style in the AC has to go to BMW
Oracle with their retro-styled white crew gear. It's just such a shame that
in a sport that so mirrors Formula 1 that it's not available to the general
public to buy. Go on the BMWOR website and the crew gear is absolutely
awful! I was at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix this year and everywhere
you went there was top quality real team gear for sale everywhere. Why
don't the marketing department get together with Henri-Lloyd and Paul
Strzlecki and get the gear out to market in the same way that Alinghi
do...I would happily pay to look like my idols Ian Burns and Chris Dickson
(who have done a terrific job by the way) whilst sailing on the Solent in
my amateur regattas. So come on guys let us amateurs look as cool as you do
and stop hogging the cool stakes!
* From Scott MacLeod: Glenn Glenn vonRosenberg ('Butt 1937) should get OLN
which is covering sailing quite well with the America's Cup and Swedish
Match Tour as well as the recent Rolex Transatlantic Race. If his cable
company doesn't supply OLN then get Direct TV. OLN is doing a great job of
supporting sailing on TV.
* From Matt Cohen: Team Racing is an aspect of sailing that can really
attract the eyes of the spectator. Those who made it out to Goat Island, or
to West Kirby, UK (home of the annual Wilson Trophy UK Team Race Open) know
that color-coordinated sails, bleachers, commentary, small courses with
many mark roundings and multiple lead changes make this sport exciting.
* From Dick Tillman. In Butt 1936, Sally Barkow was mentioned as a Rolex
female sailor of the year candidate. There are many deserving candidates
for this years' Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award. One, which we had the
pleasure of competing with at Bayview Yacht Club's (Detroit) Championship
of Champions event in Flying Scots, was Mike Ingham. Mike and his crew
bested a talented fleet to win. He also is the apparent winner of the J/24
North Americans and winner of the Thistle Nationals. Winning national
titles in three divergent classes and competitions is noteworthy.
Curmudgeon's Comment: Before the e-mail starts pouring in, Ingham did
indeed with the Thistle Nationals in August, but finished seventh at the
J/24 North Americans. It was Anthony Kotoun from the US Virgin Islands who
won the 2005 J/24 NAs -- just days after winning the J/24 Worlds in
Weymouth, UK. Ingham.
* From Jeff Penny (re Transpac): I am sure I'm not the only one that was
glued to my computer, waiting for reports on the Transpac web site.
Watching the sleds play there high speed chess game across the Pacific is
very cool. Delaying the position reports, in my opinion, would be wrong.
Now as for transponders. I think I'm not the only one who was transfixed to
the " Cone Of Silence " when they made there dash across the pond. If it's
viable, put transponders on all the boat's and have the fleet's report
every 12 hours.
* From David Branigan: While I voted for billing on a case by case basis in
the Scuttlebutt survey, I think the arguments put forward in 'Butt 1934 on
the cost issue are a little unfair. Most if not all the rescue resources
used for the Dom Mee incident were already in place and paid for except
perhaps for additional fuel costs which should certainly be billed.
The real point I feel is the risk posed to the crews of the rescue craft in
getting this adventurer and others like him to safety. So far, none of the
comments and criticism seem to recognise the expertise, courage and
commitment of the rescuers. Has anyone asked their opinion on this?
Probably not. Has anyone even seen them at the front of the queue with the
pass-remarkable sailors in the rush to judgement? Definitely not. Dom Mee
is alive today precisely because of the services that are in place for
whoever gets into trouble for whatever reason.
* From Fred Roswold, Hong Kong (re the rescue of 'adventurers' at sea):
When I see some of these voyages I think they are ill advised stunts,
doomed to fail, and I think those folks should post a bond or carry
insurance to cover the cost of a potential rescue. But, boy, this raises
some sticky issues: For one, who enforces this rule? Second, what do you do
if a person has failed to post the bond, jail them or decline to rescue?
Maybe in that case a financial judgment would a good punishment, because it
would probably bankrupt most people. Finally, and this is probably the deal
breaker, who decides what voyages would be subject to this requirement? How
about me? I am a voyager. With my wife Judy I cross oceans in my own boat.
Somebody could say that we are foolish, and should be subject to the rule,
and should be forced to pay for any potential rescue, but I don't want to;
I couldn't afford to cruise in that case. So, I guess it should apply to
everyone else.
* From Jay Sharkey: I have to commend Thomas Smith for his remarks in
regard to the funding of rescue efforts. Somehow, it's never been a
question of whether or not you're going to save someone, or the costs
ensued. Just ask Giovanni Soldini or Pete Goss whether or not turning
around and saving a fellow sailor was worth it. They performed miraculous
feats of seamanship that the navies of the world could use some practice
with. 'Buttheads, I imagine, are more concerned with the lives of
solo-sailors than those of the cruise ship type; newly-wed, over-fed, and
nearly-dead. Quit the complaining on this issue, you too might need saving
some day.
CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL
Never play leapfrog with a Unicorn
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