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SCUTTLEBUTT 2159 - August 15, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.ONE MORE TIME (There’s a Volvo Open 70, called movistar, at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, but that has not stopped movistar Sailing Team boss, Pedro Campos, wanting to do another Volvo Ocean Race in another Volvo Open 70. He does, however, think some changes will be needed if the next generation of boats is going to have the sort of reliability and safety that he would like to see. Campos talked to BYM News’ Aldous Grenville-Crowther about the proposed new course, the crews, the boats and his hopes for the next running of the Volvo Ocean Race. Here are some of Campos’ thoughts excerpted from that story.) “I believe that the basic Volvo Open 70 design has excellent potential, so I would not want to have a completely new design. I also believe that a one-design for the Volvo Ocean Race is right, but providing certain structural minimums are imposed. There should, for example, be a minimum weight for keel rams, so that designers and manufacturers are relieved of the responsibility of designing something as light as possible. “I would also like to see some laid down specifications for the strength of internal structures and a maximum bulb weight. Stipulating a maximum bulb weight would mean that the weight saved in the bulb could be put into the hull and, in my opinion, that would mean stronger, safer boats. The Volvo Open 70 concept is good, but it needs the sort of changes to the design principles that I have outlined. As things are, there is too much pressure on designers to tempt them into taking an extreme road. “I like the proposed new course and I believe the sponsors will like it, because it will take the race to potential new markets. It does, of course, mean that we will have to look to other design changes, to suit some very different wind conditions.” -- Full story: http://www.bymnews.com/VOR/html/the_movi_2.html MAKING THE CUT (Michael Lovett interviewed Jesse Fielding, one of the successful candidates for Disney's Morning Light film project. Here are a couple of Felding’s quotes, excerpted from the story posted on Sailing World magazine’s website.) “It was interesting: we'd each go up to meet with the committee [for the final selection] one at a time, and whenever someone came down, we'd find out if they'd been selected or turned down. Each time someone came down, we were building our opinion of what the judges wanted. “Still, it was tough to come up with a consensus. The judges took a lot of different people. I personally think they were just looking at attitude. You had to have a positive attitude. They wanted to see some sailing ability, but more coachability—how willing one was to pick up on a new boat that they'd never sailed, to pick up a whole new skill set, how willing you were to jump into a new situation and just give yourself up to the greater power, so to speak. “They've got a lawyer dedicated entirely to the project. Basically, from January to July, Disney owns us. And that's fine with me. Roy was saying, "Hey, do you guys want to sail a race from L.A. to San Francisco prior to the Transpac?" And we were like, "Sure." Then he asked if we wanted to sail the boat upwind from Hawaii back to the mainland to get ready for the race, and we were like, "Absolutely." -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/nvbfj SUNSCREEN (Our recent story and letters about sunscreens have generated considerable interest. Suzy Leech has been nice enough to provide our readers additional important information along with some clarifications.) Although Mexoryl SX is NOT the same as Parsol 1789 - it has, as of July 24, 2006, been approved for sale in the US - at least in one product. [Parsol 1789 is the trade name for Avobenzone - designed primarily for protection against long UVA waves; Mexoryl SX is the trade name for Ecamsule - developed by L'Oreal's La Roche-Posay Labs for protection against short UVA waves. Compared with Parsol 1789, Mexoryl is also more resistant to the degrading effects of sunlight, which means longer-lasting protection from UVA rays.] From the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01417.html) : "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Anthelios SX, a sunscreen from L'Oreal to be sold over-the-counter (OTC) for the prevention of sunburn and for protection against ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. It has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15… Anthélios SX is a sunscreen product that contains a combination of three active ingredients. One of the ingredients is a new molecular entity (NME), ecamsule. Ecamsule has not been marketed in the United States, but has been marketed in Europe and Canada as Mexoryl SX since 1993. The other two active ingredients, avobenzone and octocrylene, are generally recognized as safe and effective under the current OTC monograph for sunscreens." Although the FDA website only mentions Anthélios SX by name, the L'Oreal press release describes the approved product as a "daily moisturizing cream" (http://tinyurl.com/h6gm6). Anthélios and Vichy (both L'Oreal brands) include a range of excellent sunscreen products - I prefer to use their spray products that are marketed as being water-resistant and contain a combination of Mexoryl SX and Mexoryl XL (also patented by L'Oreal). They have worked well for this bowman - who has spent hours literally underwater - as the front crew on a Yngling. Every time I have traveled to Europe over last 5 years, I head straight to the pharmacies to stock up on Anthélios (not a cheap trip, however -- they are generally 2x more expensive than US sunscreens - but worth it). Hopefully, these other Mexoryl products will soon also be approved for sale in the States. -- Suzy Leech BEST CRUISING SAILBOAT The best cruising sailboat of all time? JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc. believes they have found it! The answer is the 1999 J/160 “Ruffian,” whose price has recently been reduced. “Ruffian” is currently located in Michigan; call today to take a look. For more information on this boat and others, contact Jeff Brown at 619-709-0697 or take a look at the following link: http://tinyurl.com/ztaes HIGH SPEED SAILING Howard Hamlin and crew Euan McNicol added to their sailing laurels Monday by breaking into the International 14 class with a runaway victory in the national championships. Over three days Hamlin, of Long Beach, and McNicol, of Sydney, Australia, won six of eight races. Their only two slips---if second place is a slip---were when they capsized in one race and chased 11-time and defending champion Zach Berkowitz of San Francisco, sailing with crew Mike Martin of Newport Beach, across the line in Monday's next-to-last race. Berkowitz and Martin wound up third overall, behind Tine Baylis and crew-husband Trevor of Santa Cruz, who won the one that Hamlin/ McNicol did not, and were second in the other six. Seventeen boats started the regatta and 14 finished it Monday. -- Rich Roberts, results: http://www.ussailingctr-longbeach.org/ The event hosted by the US Sailing Center of Long Beach was a tune-up for American hopefuls competing in the International 14 World Championship Sept. 14-17 to be hosted by Hamlin and Martin's own Alamitos Bay Yacht Club down the street. MATT WEFER IS RED HOT * Matt Wefer from Glen Head, NY won the New England Optimist Championship hosted by Niantic Bay YC and raced Aug 6-9 on Niantic Bay in eastern CT. A total of 372 boats competed including 37 in the Green Fleet, a record turnout for this event and the largest Opti regatta in the US this year. Matt had 13 points on a 1,1,2(22),5,4 to edge out Old Lyme, CT's Eliza Richartz's 16 points (3,4,2,6,1,(7). Matt was able to throw out his 4th race 22 while Eliza had to throw her 7th in the last race. Finishing 3rd was Joshua Greenslade from Bermuda.Competitors came from as far away as Munich, Germany, and British Columbia, several from Bermuda and the Virgin Islands, and large teams from Quebec and Ontario, Canada. Other fleet winners were Malcolm Lamphere (41 boat White Fleet); Ian Stokes (163 boat Blue Fleet); Eliza Richartz (117 boat Girls division and second overall) -- http://www.opti2006.org * There were 151 boats at the Optimist Championship of Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound (JSA of LIS) this past weekend Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Sea Cliff, NY. Unfortunately, the wind did not cooperate, and only five races could be complete. The final results show Matthew Wefer (Sea Cliff YC) and Declan Whitmyer (Noroton YC) tied for first with five points -- with Wefer winning the tie-breaker. Third, only two points back was Jordan Factor (Northport Bay Sailing Association). Fleet winners were Matther Wefer (Red), Declan Whitmyer (Blue), Sean Cornell (white) and Tracy Doherty (top girl). -- http://www.seacliffyc.org / http://www.jsalis.org SAILING SHORTS * The first test event for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition will play host to a massive and star studded fleet, with World and Olympic Champions littering the list of over 450 sailors coming to the ISAF Grade 2 Qingdao International Regatta. The all star cast will assemble from August 18-31, with the first day of racing on August 21. For a complete list of entries: http://www.sailing2008.org/en/images/Entries%20of%202006.pdf * The World Sailing Speed Sailing Council has ratified the world record set by the 98-foot “Maximus” for Around the Isle of Wight - Rule 21c (powered sail systems) Monohull. The new elapsed record is: 3 hours 20 minutes 9 seconds for an average speed of 15.01 knots. The previous record was held by Mike Slade’s "Leopard" - 4h 8m 55s, set in Jun 2001 * The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s entry of Alchemy has completed the Around Long Island Regatta with a new course record of 17 hours, 48 minutes, and 40 seconds. Captain Chris Gasoriek and coach Ralph Seitz led the midshipmen aboard the USMMA Andrews 77 to victory. This beats the previous record of 19.9 hours held by Mirage, a multihull, set in the 1983 Around Long Island Regatta. The best mono-hull time for the ALIR was set in 2002 by Bright Star with 22.2 hours. -- http://www.alir.org/ * The Dennis Yacht Club (East Dennis, MA) hosted the 59th annual Rhodes 18 National Championship August 11th-12th. Eighteen boats competed in five races over two days in clear skies, a northerly breeze of 10-20 knots with higher gusts in the mornings. Emily Drowne of the Dennis YC with crew Karl Anderson and Ed Morey won the regatta with a score of eight points. Brian Ackell of Barnstable Yacht Club finished in second with 18 points and Richard Marchand finished in third place with 22 points. Photos and scores: http://64.119.141.60/sailing-2006Rhodes.html * The US Windsurfing Nationals Championship was hosted by the Maui Windsurfing Association from August 5-12 at Kanaha State Beach Park, in Maui, Hawaii. More than 70 windsurfers from eight countries competed in 20-35 knot trade winds and bath warm water for five straight days of slalom, long distance and course racing disciplines. The men's overall was won by Matt Pritchard of Maui, HI, followed Seth Besse of San Francisco, California. The Formula class was won by Steve Bodner, also of San Francisco. Both California sailors are training for the upcoming Olympic Trials next fall. -- http://www.mauinationals.com/ *Just over two weeks remain until the close of nominations for the ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, an exceptional list of the world's top sailors have been nominated for this prestigious award. Anyone can nominate a sailor and all nominations must be submitted on the official nomination form which is available on the ISAF website via the following link - http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2006WSOYnominationform.doc * According to the sailing editor of Valencia's largest newspaper, one of Spain's most emblematic and successful teams in the IMS decided to abandon the class and move forward to the TP52, a class that is gradually dominating the upper levels of professional racing in Europe. Next year, CAM, the Valencian banking group, will have a brand new TP52 boat that will compete in the 2007 Breitling MedCup. Project leaders Fernando León and Kiko Sánchez Luna, have already met with the most prestigious boat designers in the world in order to choose the boat that will be built this winter. -- Valencia Sailing, full story: http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com/ WHAT IS ANNA TUNNICLIFFE WEARING? What is Anna wearing while sailing in the 2006 Radial Worlds and 2006 Qingdao International Regatta? Magic Marine Gear! Anna is a Magic Marine Team Rider and competes in the Thermo Lycra Top, the Metalite Long John, the Energy Hiking Pants, the Neoprene Spray Top, and the Competition Shoes. To a see all the Magic Marine Gear Anna competes in and to find your local dealer to purchase the same gear Anna wears, visit: http://www.magicmarinegear.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 thought at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Max Hazelwood (re the Disney Morning Light movie project): These youths are in for the treat of their lives and they will surely write another chapter in our Sailing History Books. In 1966 there were only a few of us expatriate Aussies sailing on some fine sailboats in the SORC - and we were referred to as "Resident Kangaroos.” I am delighted to see we have an “RK” in Jeremy Wilmot from Down Under - and there are a lot of us now out here in cyber sailing space wishing him well. * From Kingsley Forbes-Smith ( re fun in sailing): A substitute for the balloons ... cut off 2 inch sections of "pool noodle". Those 4 foot long, 3" diameter foam things used to float around on, in swimming pools. They float, go about 10~20 feet tops when thrown, so the boats need to get close to be in range are light and no mess. Kids really enjoy the chasing / branding games and boat handling skills increase to boot. * From Steve Johnson: Just for the record, Water balloons were specifically banned a number of years ago from Whidbey Island Race Week after a woman lost an eye from a direct hit. I have no idea if the physics were as Tom Mullen described, but the results were just as tragic. And having grown up sailing out of Larchmont, I am very very sure that I would not want to be hit by any bit of sea life dredged up from the waters of Long Island Sound...yuck. Puget Sound's much missed Kelly O'Neal had it right. She just tossed Hershey's kisses at boats and said "Smile". * From Toby Cooper: I feel sorry for those who think you need a "committee" to think up "fun". At the conclusion of the 2004 inaugural Waikiki Offshore Series, which was definitely fun sailing in spectacular conditions anyway, but we staged an informal challenge in which one of the local boats duct taped a bottle of Bacardi on their transom and dared anyone to beat them around a beer can course for the right to open it. The only rule was that nobody could handle their regular job on the boat. So, most of the owners gravitated to the foredeck where for the most part they avoided catastrophic disaster, the trimmers drove, and so on. Occasional fortuitous "windshifts" were strangely correlated with suspicious roaring diesel noises. It was pure chaos and pure - spontaneous - fun. No committee can plan these things, and not every event will have it, but these are the memories that, for me at least, sailing is made of. * From Rob McNeal: After reading about the big boat sailors trying on Lasers for fun I thought back over my sailing career and realized the most fun racing I ever had was when I substitute taught my Dad's community college sailing class. He had a fleet of 30 or so Sunfish and we all just raced. It was never that fun again. After 16 years of Hobie racing and many years now of big boat racing....I see the politics, the sportsmanship (or lack of it at times), the need to spend large amounts of money to stay or be competitive....and I think back to those 30 antique Sunfish. Wish I had them now. * From Jim Stephenson, In Scuttlebutt 2152 you mentioned the problem of someone with a sticking mic button. I have also spent an afternoon racing, and all the while listening to some ones constant broadcast because of a stuck mic button. If this is a continuing problem for a race organization there are some things that can be done to determine who the guilty party is. For example, in most cases a radio cannot receive if the radio is broadcasting (mic button stuck) So while most of the fleet will hear the race committee communications, although there is interference from the offending boat, the offending boat will not hear a word. So if it is a small fleet you can poll the fleet, and all those that respond to the poll can be eliminated from consideration, and the boat that does not hear the poll is the guilty party. If the number of boats is too large for this, the Race Committee could can divide up the fleets and have fleets A, B, C, use one channel, and the others use a different channel. This will help narrow it down, so you can identify the offending boat. One word of caution, if you have a working GPS to close to a hand held VHF receiver, you will get static from your radio receive, and this can sometimes sound like someone has a stuck mic button. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION It’s a pretty good sign that you’ve grown up when dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one. Special thanks to JK3 Nautical Enterprises and Magic Marine Gear. |
