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SCUTTLEBUTT 2274 - February 5, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). IS IT A QUESTION OF ETHICS? The discussion of ethical sailing has surfaced recently as it pertains to competing within the boundaries of Rule 42 - the rules that govern kinetics. Having competed in Snipes at a time when winning downwind had everything to do with the ooching ability of my crew, and having been disqualified at the Snipe Worlds by an umpire for pumping, I have walked the line that distinguishes what is allowed in the rules and what isn’t. While the position of the line has changed over the years, it is no less clear now as umpires and competitors continue to navigate the gray area between right and wrong. Not every class of boat faces this issue, but most performance boats do. To compete at the top level, speed is king, and if your boat responds to sail pumping, boat rocking, and rudder sculling, than that must be part of your game. Seeking the limit of the rule is venturing toward the gray area that represents the boundary, which is further influenced by the standards set within your class. Observers at the Miami OCR have said that American Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey was rocking excessively, which led to her disqualification from the event. But they also said that if Paige’s kinetic actions were transposed into the male-dominated Laser class, she would have been consistent within the standard of that group. Hmm. So is breaking a kinetics rule ethically different than breaking other rules in the book? Are we more conscious of pumping too much, than say, tacking too close? Are the actions of a windward boat the same as the actions of a rocking boat? Are the limits we push when using kinetics more obvious than the limits we push when crossing a starboard tacker, luffing a competitor, rounding a mark, etc. Does the broader benefit of a kinetics act - which can provide a speed edge over the fleet - make it more grievous than the benefit of a Part 2 rules violation, which provides an advantage when two or more boats meet? As long as a limited amount of kinetic actions are permitted, the difference between right and wrong will remain in the eyes of the beholder, and the question of ethics will lie within the intent of the sailor, and whether he or she believes they are competing within the limits of the rule and the standards of their fleet, or if they have consciously and intentionally crossed that line when needed. -- Scuttleblog, http://tinyurl.com/yst5mr AMERICA’S CUP Q & A (Julie Ash of the New Zealand Herald sits down with BMW Oracle Racing’s Ian Burns to discuss the design plan behind their boat program) When USA87 was launched last March, BMW Oracle Racing skipper Chris Dickson described it as the most innovative America's Cup class yacht ever built. Since then the syndicate's second boat, USA98, has been launched. It is similar to Team New Zealand's yachts and there have been rumours of a chainsaw massacre in Valencia on USA87. The American syndicate has always said its strategy was to design two different boats. But was USA87 a botch-up or a testing platform? Julie Ash asked design co-ordinator Ian Burns about his team's greater plan. Julie Ash: Why did you decide to design two different yachts? Ian Burns: "The last cup and the pre-regattas posed some interesting design challenges. It's always been interesting for the design team to explore manoeuvrability and balance and USA87 explored a lot of these areas. It has always been our plan to encapsulate the lessons from our first boat into our second boat and make sure that all we have learned in 2006 is represented in both boats." JA: Have many syndicates used the strategy in the past? IB:"America Cubed 1992, Dennis Conner 1987, Team NZ in 1995, Alinghi in 2003. It's been a common strategy for winning the America's Cup in the past." JA: Did you design one boat and then the second, or did you let your two notable designers Bruce Farr and Juan Kouyoumdjian have a crack at a yacht each? IB: "They worked closely together on both boats. The first boat was a chance to answer a lot of questions that can't be answered in experiments, only full size - manoeuvrability, acceleration, and so on. Our second boat includes the good aspects of 87 plus additional research of numerous tank tests and computer simulations." Full interview: http://tinyurl.com/2au6lb LATEST UK-HALSEY RULES QUIZ POSTED UK-Halsey’s newest quiz, No. 22, presents three variations of boats mixing it up on a run. All three situations commonly happen on the course - so test your knowledge or reinforce your understanding of the rules governing: gaining an overlap, proper course, luffing, and when the buoy room rule applies. Play them on-line FREE; their animation makes them easy to understand. Plus, there are many prior quizzes: if you haven’t reviewed them lately, you should. If you’re totally confident you know the rules, are you just as sure about your safety procedures? Check out our Safety at Sea videos now. http://www.ukhalsey.com OLYMPIC ROUND-UP For the US Olympic Sailing Team, the regattas listed below were the final ranking events to establish the 2007 squad within these classes. Look for Scuttlebutt to provide this week a class by class breakdown of the top US contenders as they approach the final stretch of training prior to their trials this fall. Laser Radial North Americans (41 boats - Fort Lauderdale, FL) 1. Paige Railey, USA, 24 2. Sari Multala, FIN, 24 3. Anna Tunnicliffe, USA, 37 Results: http://www.lyc.org/files/Laser2007.html Finn Midwinters (27 boats - Fort Lauderdale, FL) 1. Jonas Hoegh Christensen, DEN, 16 2. Pieter-Jan Postma, NED, 24 3. Zach Railey, USA, 27 Results: http://www.lyc.org/files/Finn2007.html 49er North Americans (39 boats - Miami, FL) 1. Morgan Larson/ Pete Spaulding, USA, 55 2. Tim Wadlow/ Chris Rast, USA, 81 3. Jan Peter Peckolt/ Hannes Peckolt, GER, 84.7 Results: http://tinyurl.com/2zsqzk Yngling North Americans (16 boats - Miami, FL) 1. Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb/Wilson, Pippa, GBR, 33 2. Sally Barkow/Carrie Howe/Debbie Capozzi, USA, 42 3. Vlada Ilienko/Ekaterina Kovalenko /Nina Shtromberger, RUS, 46 Results: http://tinyurl.com/289bzw Tornado North Americans (34 boats - Miami, FL) 1. Roman Hagara/ Hans Peter Steinacher AUT, 21 2. Darren Bundock/ Glen Ashby AUS, 25 3. Fernando Echavarri/ Anton Paz, ESP, 36 8. Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle, CAN, 60 10. John Lovell/ Charlie Ogletree, USA, 64 Results: http://www.tornado.org/html/news_article.asp?ArticleID=200 VALENCIA: TRAVELER TIPS When Dee Smith first arrived in Valencia, Spain, a few years ago as a sailor on the South African team competing for the America's Cup, he couldn't wait to leave. A lot has happened since then. "The city has changed enormously - I hardly recognize the place now," he said. Valencia has been transformed from an industrial town to a jet-set destination. The rush to Valencia is understandable. How often do you have the Holy Grail in the same city as the Auld Mug, the America's Cup? The Cathedral of Valencia, located in the city's historical section, claims to house the Holy Grail. Here in a tiny chapel, visitors can reportedly see the chalice Jesus used in the Last Supper, according to the church. At the other end of town, tourists line up to see another cup, the oldest trophy in international sport. For the first time, the huge silver America's Cup is on display to the public in the America's Cup Village. Constructed for the sailing races, the village is truly a city of its own with outposts of popular Valencia restaurants and activities for all budgets. -- Santa Cruz Sentinel, full report: http://tinyurl.com/yvzctl SAP 505 WORLDS With the winner of the worlds decided prior to the final race, it was for the rest of the fleet to decide their fate. The forecast of light winds held, which were not favorable for Americans Mike Martin/ Jeff Nelson, dropping from second overall to fifth. They had won the pre worlds and looked to be untouchable, but being a bigger crew, the lighter winds hurt. Their two worst results were in the last two races, when the wind was at its lightest. Moving up was Howie Hamlin/ Fritz Lanzinger, scoring a second on the day to move to second overall. Hamlin has won second seven times now, and in his acceptance speech last night, he said ‘sometimes I am real disappointed to win second, some years I am ecstatic. This year I am ecstatic. It has been the best year of my life with the 18, winning the 14 Worlds and now second here, it’s a mighty achievement’. Final Standings (92 boats): 1. Jan Saugmann/ Morten Ramsbaek, DEN, 17pts 2. Howie Hamlin/Fritz Lanzinger, USA, 33pts 3. Sandy Higgins/Paul Marsh,AUS/SA, 39pts 4. Ian Pinnell/Steve Hunt, GBR, 43pts 5. Mike Martin/Jeff Nelson, USA, 44pts 6. Kevin Taugher/ Jon Bell, USA, 65pts 8. Nick Adamson/Steve Bourdow USA 68pts Event website: http://www.505worlds2007.com GOT SHORE CREW? Rig Pro / Southern Spars is on-site at Acura Miami Race Week: Our fully staffed mobile rigging shop with a complete inventory of top quality cordage, hardware and hydraulic service will be on station at the Regatta Village and open for business from March 5th. Our Rig Pro technicians are accomplished sailors with unrivalled experience in rig maintenance and service at the highest level. You will find them at many of the world’s major regattas and onsite at Acura Miami Race Week; drop by the shop or phone Rig Pro for any pre-regatta requirement on 401-683-6966, http://www.southernspars.com SAILING SHORTS * Ed Baird and his crew won the first round of the UBS Dubai Defender Trials, coming from behind in the series and ultimately beating Peter Holmberg’s team on a tie-breaker. Round 2 of the UBS Dubai Defender Trials is scheduled from February 16-19 and will culminate in the announcement of the helmsman and afterguard for Louis Vuitton Act 13 in Valencia. -- http://www.alinghi.com * Three-time America's Cup winner Russell Coutts racked up another victory this past weekend, but this one was against unlikely foes - Ellen MacArthur and Finn gold medallist Mateusz Kusnierewicz. The three were participating in the Omega Bobsleigh Cup in St Moritz. Also found doing runs were yachting correspondents Tim Jeffery, Stuart Alexander, Graeme Beeson and Sue Pelling. Full story: http://tinyurl.com/27d5mv * Farr Yacht Design has announced the launch of the Open 60 Paprec-Virbac in Tauraunga, New Zealand, marking the fourth Open 60 designed for Jean-Pierre Dick since 2002. -- http://www.farrdesign.com * The Portsmouth, R.I. - based Hinckley Co has taken over the service business at the Whitehall Yacht Yard in Annapolis, MD. They bought the yard's old service department and signed a long-term lease with Whitehall to operate its own facility. The new business will service Hinckley boats, along with other makes and models. Hinckley has other service facilities located in Oxford; Harbor, Maine; Portsmouth, R.I.; Savannah, Ga.; and Stuart, Fla. -- The Capital, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yrj2vx * Entries for this summer’s HSH Nordbank blue race 2007 across the Atlantic are now being received. Setting forth this June from Newport, Rhode Island, to Hamburg, Germany, this Transatlantic event for Grand Prix sailors and yachts is open to all monohull offshore yachts at least 40 feet in length. Full details: http://tinyurl.com/3dbdbt * The 21st Vic-Maui Sailing Race in 2008 has added a new Cruising Division to the 40th Anniversary of the event. Boats participating in this division will start two days earlier on Saturday, June 21, with the Fully Crewed and Double Handed Racing Divisions starting on Monday, June 23. Other dates to remember are the Notice of Race which will be published early in February, 2007 and the race entry package which will be ready in early March, 2007. Deadline to receive race entries is January 15, 2008. -- http://www.vicmaui.org DON'T MISS GREAT RACING AND TRUE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY Charleston Race Week, scheduled for April 12-15, 2007, is PHRF, one-design and IRC friendly. Free storage for trailered boats before event, free dock space for first 50 boats registered, fabulous parties, and great racing in the harbor and offshore. Bring friends to enjoy Gosling's Dark & Stormies! Register at http://www.charlestonraceweek.com 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 Sandy Purdon, Former Executive Director, Stars & Stripes '87 (edited to the 250-word limit): Thirty-nine of the original crew and support team gathered this past weekend in San Diego to remember that very special three-year challenge. The story is about raising $12 million (a quantum leap from 1983), training in Hawaii rather than Fremantle, using 5 twelve meters at some time in testing, incorporating innovative testing and training developed by the team, and finally arriving in Fremantle starting off slowly but increasing boat speed and tactics as the months rolled along. The leadership of Malin Burnham and Dennis Conner turned out to be a force that just got more effective as the months and years evolved from 1984 to 1987. The plan was well thought out and the sailing team that was brought together proved to be unstoppable. Some of the team is no longer with us. This saddens us. It is amazing how twenty years passes so rapidly. It seems like yesterday we were enjoying Jimmy Buffet and Dolly Parton entertaining us in the compound. John Roberson's notes in Scuttlebutt 2273 reminds me of the Super Bowl we watched as guests of Alan Bond, Warren Jones and the Australia Team. They had been eliminated but that didn't stop them from inviting us over to watch the Super Bowl on their closed circuit television in their compound. These were the same two groups that had so much apparent animosity in 1983. There is something about sailing and its inherent friendship that develop through hard competitive sailing that is found nowhere else. * From Frank Lawson, Bozeman. MT: My most vivid memory of the '87 Cup series was the astounding degree of seamanship demonstrated by the Stars and Stripes crew when, in the windiest race, nearing the weather mark, a huge boarding sea burst the foot of the jib and in little more than a wink of an eye, the guys grappled on to a wildly wet, bucking foredeck, stripped the remnants of the useless sail, and set what looked like a #4 jib to just hold the lead. The depth and ability of the entire team was spectacular! * From Kristen Berry: Kudos to the Chicago Yacht Club for amending the rules and allowing advertising on yachts - assuming the class permits it. I believe that sponsor dollars will improve interest in yacht racing and I think it opens the door for teams that otherwise might not have the resources to participate to fundraise and compete. Improved interest and increased participation outweigh my hesitations. For instance I have concerns about about protecting the aesthetic of sailing, but they are balanced by how cool I think some of the sponsored boats participating in major European events look. Moreover, I am a true believer that North America has the potential to provide the best distance, tour-style (e.g. Tour de France Sailing Race), and match racing events. Sponsor interest will go a long way to bringing these types of events closer to US sailors, and the ability to raise money will open the doors for the rest of us to compete. I hope more clubs and associations relax the advertising rules. * From Max Rosenberg: Call me old fashioned, but after racing the last Transpac and PV race where the weather info is constantly downloaded and the navigator rarely comes up for air, is lame. I liked it too when it was a compass and looking around for the weather while sailing. Computerization may beat a neat gimmick, but I long for the days when pre race strategy, morning reports and looking at the clouds was the way to sail long distance offshore. The recent move to transponders on boats is cool, but knowing where your competitor is at all times takes all the surprise out of it. * From Andy Rose: Re Chris Welsh's comments in today's (Feb 1) 'Butt bemoaning modern instrumentation and tactical software---I couldn't agree more. Now if you can just get all the boats with which we will compete with our new Andrews 49.9 footer, you would save us a lot of money! As my boat partner Tom Purcell said after reading the stuff, "Maybe you and I can sit in your living room with control boxes and race the boat from the couch". On the other hand, I'm probably too old a tactician to figure it all out anyway. * Stephanie Ruiter-Swann: (regarding Univ. of Texas sailing team calendar) How sad, that these young sailors be asked to apologize for their calendar. Calendars such as these have become common fundraising tools for many organizations - featuring both men and women alike. They look cute (poses were fairly innocent and certainly don't deserve the label of "slut-like") and if they raise the money necessary - good for them. * From Ryan Hamm: Wow! Tyler Carder's comments (in ‘butt 2272) were harsh, especially for Scuttlebutt. The Texas girls deserve credit and need funds and have used an idea that is used by Fireman, Policeman, etc. Heck, I might just buy the calendar in protest of Mr (or Mrs) Carder's rude description of something that many worthwhile charities/efforts have done the same. After College of Charleston, Texas is now my favorite team. * From George Bailey: A moth with foils is no more an International Moth than the catamaran moth Warren Bailey built and raced in Miami in 1961 was a US moth. Sure, the 11' catamaran with a moth sail fit was within the rules at the time, which did not disallow two hulls until Warren built the catamaran moth. But as soon as he raced her (winning by big margins except in very light air), the class changed the rules to allow one hull only. I think foil boats are really fantastic. Warren built two in 1962, and there were several others back then that showed up at the Miami Yacht Club. But it did not catch on. An 11' monohull with foils and an International Moth sail is a new class. If it catches on, which I hope it does, it will be foilers vs. foilers, not foilers vs. International Moths, which makes no sense without handicaps. Also, I would hate to see the Axeman type International Moth die because of foils, just as I would have hated to see the moth class go to catamarans (might have happened if they had no changed the rules) back in 1962. I trust this does not seem to be anything more than a dispute over names. If the International Moth sailors choose to go to foils as a group, abandoning non-foil moths, then the name "International Moth" will refer to a new class of racing boat. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM If a cow laughs, does milk come out of her nose? Special thanks to UK-Halsey Sails, Rig Pro/ Southern Spars, and Charleston Race Week. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
