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SCUTTLEBUTT 1245 - January 22, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. KEY WEST Athens banker George Andreadis has won the Farr 40 class three consecutive years and event Boat of the Week the last two years, and Tuesday he sailed Atalanti XII into first place at the Terra Nova Trading Key West 2003 after two days of the five-day event. Atalanti XII, with first- and second-place finishes following Monday's 11th and third, has as commanding a lead as that rough-and-tumble class allows with 17 points to 26 for Crocodile Rock, the Scott Harris/ Alexandra Geremia entry from Santa Barbara, Calif. that led after day one. Atalanti XII, with Robbie Haines on tactics, edged Jim Richardson's Barking Mad (Gavin Brady) for its win Tuesday as the boats finished at opposite ends of the line. Then Andreadis chased home Vincenzo Onorato's Italian entry, Breeze (Adrian Stead). The Farr 40s' Division 1 course, where the 1D35s and Mumm 30s also are sailing, is the only one of four courses with no throwouts - the others will discard their worst finish after seven races. Another defending champion, Richard Perini from Sydney, Australia, rose to the top with a 4-1 day. Perini's Mumm 30, Foreign Affair, sits one point ahead of Pierpaolo Cristofori's Printel Wind, the runner-up in the class worlds. "In the first race, we got a good start and then had to give away two boat lengths to avoid a crab pot that was trailing its line. It forced us to tack off and lose some boats," Perini said. Those, along with subtle currents and fickle wind shifts, are the challenges facing the 290 boats on the inshore courses. The event's largest fleet of 57 Melges 24s saw flashes of form when Norway's Kristian Neergaard, sailing with world champion Harry Melges as crew, and California's versatile Morgan Larson scored wins, although overall they lie eighth and fifth, respectively. Meanwhile, Bruce Ayres of Newport Beach, Calif. has put together two thirds and two eighths to reach first place, three points ahead of defending champion Flavio Favini, sailing Franco Rossini's Blu Moon from Switzerland. Favini, incidentally, sailed on Onorato's America's Cup challenger, Mascalzone Latino. In the International Team Competition for the Key West Trophy, the Italian team of Onorato's Farr 40, Breeze; Cristofori's Mumm 30, Printel Wind, and Maspero Giovanni's Melges 24, Joe Fly, has a two-point lead over the German team composed of Struntje light, Blu Moon and Bent Dietrich's Mumm 30, Rainbow. Italy won the trophy three years running until last year. The event is scheduled for nine races, but wind prospects for Wednesday were grim, although another cold front was expected to bring back more breeze Thursday and Friday. - Rich Roberts, Complete results at www.Premiere-Racing.com THE SWISS Swiss journalist Mathieu Truffer said interest in the cup in Switzerland was rising after a long period in which the Swiss had shown only passing interest in Alinghi. It was viewed as a private campaign, rather than the national one promoted by Team New Zealand. Truffer said the Swiss were not interested in the sailors - he doubted many would be familiar with the names Coutts or Butterworth - but instead were interested in the design of the boat, because it had been built in Switzerland. "There will never be a victory parade in Geneva with thousands of people cheering the cup. It will never happen." - Helen Tunnah and Ainsley Thompson, NZ Herald, www.nzherald.co.nz/americascup/acstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3097108&thesection=sport&thesubsection=americascup POLARS, STRIPCHARTS, NMEA - 3 MORE REASONS TO USE OCKAM! Ockam's management of polar files is vastly more accurate and complete (2000+ data points versus 200), while adding polars to a system is plug and play simple. Ockam offers easy stripcharts - graphical history of wind and current is available at display level, with stripcharting of every system function enabled in PC software. Ockam's NMEA integration and interaction with external NMEA devices is more complete, yet simpler and more flexible (multiple NMEA taps can be attached anywhere on the data cabling throughout the boat). For more, visit http://www.ockam.com YNGLING The team of Betsy Alison Lee Icyda and Suzy Leech won the Palm Beach Ocean Regatta for the Yngling class - the first of three ranking events which will determine the US Sailing Team for 2003. From here, the Yngling sailors move down to Key Biscayne for the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta that starts on Wednesday, January 29 and continues through Saturday, February 1. The Pre-Trials will be held the following weekend of February 7-9. Both events will be open to all US and foreign competitors. The top US finisher in the Pre-Trials will qualify for the 2003 Test event in Athens this summer. Final results: 1. Betsy Alison, 5, 2. Sally Barkow, 7, 3. Paula Lewin, 8, 4. Christiana Monina, 12, 5. Hannah Swett 13. - www.usa.yngling.org. THE HULA * From the NZ Herald: "We've tested it on SUI75 and it's definitely do-able with it touching the hull, but then that's against the rules. We've got to convince ourselves that we've got the shape right to add sailing length without unacceptable drag, and that it remains rule-legal throughout the series," said Russell Coutts. Alinghi have already asked the official measurers and the international jury for the America's Cup questions about how a team can know a hula stays clear of the hull, and how this can be checked for compliance with the rules. The measurers spent more than three months checking Team New Zealand's design. The New Zealanders have re-skirted their race boats, and neither team will have to declare until February 11 what final shape their race boat will take. - Helen Tunnah, full story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/americascup/acstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3097272&thesection=sport&thesubsection=americascup&thesecondsubsection=challengers * From The Telegraph: The Swiss team have tested the device extensively on their second yacht, SUI 75, and have yet to decide whether to modify SUI 64, which Russell Coutts's crew took to a 29-4 record in the Louis Vuitton trials and which will be used to race Team New Zealand, starting on Feb 15. "We've had to change the whole back of the boat [SUI 75] to use it," (Alinghi design team coordinator, Grant) Simmer said. "We did that with foam primarily and then attached the appendage to that because the flotation changes. The extra volume causes the boat to float up and we wanted to maintain our length. Yes, there is weight penalty, but only in the region of 30kg. Given the potential gain of the hull shape change, that's acceptable." Team New Zealand have the advantage of having built their boats with the Hula in mind from the outset. - Tim Jeffery, full story: http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2003/01/22/soyots22.xml&sSheet=/sport/2003/01/22/ixothspt.html AWARDS Circumnavigators Noel and Litara Barrott of Whangarei, New Zealand have received The Cruising Club of America's (CCA) Blue Water Medal. The Barrotts have completed two circumnavigations over a total of 137,000 miles on two cruising yachts that were self-built. The Blue Water Medal was inaugurated in 1923 to "reward meritorious seamanship and adventure upon the sea, displayed by amateur sailors of all nationalities, that might otherwise go unrecognized." Previous medalists include Francis Chichester, Eric and Susan Hiscock, David Lewis, Carleton Mitchell, Bernard Moitessier, Miles and Beryl Smeeton, Rod Stephens and Eric Tabarly. - Media Pro Int'l AROUND ALONE The fight for second in the Class 2 overall rankings is being hotly contested by American skipper Tim Kent on Open 50 Everest Horizontal and Canadian Derek Hatfield on Open 40 Spirit of Canada. Both are on equal points after the first 2 legs, and so whoever finishes after Class leader Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America into Tauranga, New Zealand, will establish themselves in second place overall. Tim Kent has rounded Cape Reinga, the northern tip of New Zealand, and is now 105 miles ahead of Hatfield, but is living on a blackened boat thanks to a faulty engine and dealing with ripped sails caused by faulty furling gear. Meanwhile Canadian Derek Hatfield is turning the corner right on the 06:00hrs position report, characteristically pushing is Open 40 Spirit of Canada as hard as he can - and still pumping thousands of gallons of water out of his boat each day. STANDINGS 2200 UTC January 21 CLASS 1: 1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm, 2. Solidaires, Thierry Dubois, 3. Hexagon, Graham Dalton, 4. Tiscali, Simone Bianchetti, 5. Ocean Planet, Bruce Schwab, 6. Pindar, Emma Richards, CLASS 2: 1. Tommy Hilfiger, Brad Van Liew, 2. Everest Horizontal, Tim Kent, 116 dtf. 3. Spirit of Canada, Derek Hatfield, 190 dtf; 4. Spirit of yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 260 dtf, BTC Velocity, Alan Paris, 1258 dtf. - www.aroundalone.com AWARDS Cal Karr has received the US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal for rescuing a Fred Ball on Lake Michigan. Ball was racing in the Chicago-Mackinac Singlehanded Challenge Race, run by the Great Lakes Singlehanded Society, on his 50-feet Newick trimaran named Lucretia. It was 55 degrees and a thunderstorm rolled in, bringing 50- knot winds and waves of up to two feet. Ball ran the main and jib sheets to escape the storm, but Lucretia's hull fractured and the boat capsized, trapping Ball underneath the netting. With the skin burned of the palms of his hands and a torn rotator cuff, Ball managed to get away from the netting and climb on top the upturned hull. He remained there overnight, wearing his orange Mustang survival suit, and after 12 hours in the cold water, he finally saw the lights of another boat coming his way. Cal Karr was participating in the same race with his Island Packet 45 Belle when he heard Fred Ball's screams for help. Karr immediately dropped his sails and turned on his motor to get to the capsized boat, dropping out of the race. Karr treated Ball's hands and hypothermia while heading straight to Milwaukee. Marlieke de Lange Eaton, www.ussailing.org/safety/Rescues/ TEAM ULLMAN SPEED ADVANTAGE For 30+ years Ullman Sails has progressively grown into one of today's premier sailmakers. With lofts established throughout the world and new lofts being added, Dave Ullman and his dedicated and talented sailmakers have put Ullman Sails at the forefront of the sailmaking community. By utilizing the latest in cloth and construction technologies, Ullman Sails has developed the fastest and most durable sails possible. From local club sailing to international competition, give yourself the Team Ullman speed advantage. For great service and competitive pricing, call your nearest Ullman Sails loft or visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com. CAPE TO RIO RACE A sigh of relief swept through the fleet of the SAP Cape to Rio race when the long-awaited trade winds traditional to the race finally came through. Frustrations were running high for the past three days as most of the fleet was experiencing virtually windless conditions and could only achieve small distances. The superfast Swedes on board the trimaran Nicator clocked the best distance of the day with a speedy 333.8 miles averaging 13.91 knots. Their closest rival in the chase to get to Rio first, the Brazilian catamaran Adrenalina Pura averaged 9.69 knots to cover 232.5 miles. - http://www.pmg.co.za/capetorio/ WEBMASTER MEMO Scuttlebutt has become a popular feature on many yacht club, sailing supplier and association websites. As of January 12, 2002, a formatting change requires all websites that currently link or post the newsletter on their site to update their programming code. If you have not yet updated the code on your site, or if your website does not provide Scuttlebutt as a feature, go to the Affiliate Program page on the Scuttlebutt website. - http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/affiliate LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Ted Beier: I agree with Larry Suter's assertion for the need of a specific rule to govern luffing with an explicit curtailment provision (Butt 1242). When the experimental rules were introduced at US Sailing as a development for the current rules, it was stated that the goal was the creation of simpler rules, which "did not change the game". If memory serves me, they contained a luffing rule with a "bow even" curtailment provision. It was asserted that this was simpler to judge than mast abeam, to which most agreed. However, when the final rules came back from ISAF, no luffing rule and no curtailment provision were to be found. No one with knowledge of how this transpired has been willing to explain how this happened, nor have been willing to acknowledge that the goal of not changing the game was seriously breached. Many sailors no longer engage in tactical luffing because they are fearful the vague rules do not provide sufficient instruction, and more fearful that jury or umpire interpretation may be more uncertain and different from theirs. Just one example of this is the comparison of Cayard's drawing a penalty from his response to Prada's luff in the last LVC vs Alinghi's not receiving a penalty this time for almost identical actions. The 1950s rule, could not have been much simpler, assuming my memory is not too far off. "A leeward yacht may luff head-to-wind as she pleases until the helmsman of the windward yacht becomes mast abream." * From Nancy Samovar: What nonsense, this discussion about foul language! And what condescending bull it is that men should feel the need to clean up language because women are aboard racing with them. The hosts on OLN mentioned the language issue but did not even apologize for it. Good for them. We were not watching a Junior's sailing event. * From Madeleine McJones: Obviously Chris Upton has never sailed with my girly type! Granted Cal 40 racing in my youth required many salty terms with extensive vocabulary. But, the most cursing I ever did was on an all 'ladies' race where the pit could not decide how to let the pole forward and the driver aimed at the rocks. It gave me a great distaste for 'all ladies' racing. Besides when the boat is really hauling (arse) I always seem to curse! (ya-know that kinda good cursing?) Oh and do not place young children behind me on fast a roller coaster for the same reason. * From Wes Bray: Two quick questions: Why do skippers wait until late in the race to do their penalty turns? As we've seen through these races, one cannot plan on building and being able to hold a lead. In the final race, Oracle had a 5 boat length lead in leg two and could have made their turn without necessarily giving Alinghi an insurmountable lead. Knowing they had good downwind boat speed and had been competitive upwind, why didn't they take advantage of their lead to get the penalty monkee off their back and be able to fight clean for the finish? Not to mention their decision not to cover. And second, why is it that now we have to wait 3+ weeks for the next races to begin? Okay, time for races that didn't happen, and a week off for final boat tweaks, but I still come up with an extra ten days or so. Me thinks it takes some of the wind out of our collective sails, which is too bad since this is the Super Bowl of Sailing and the best chance to attract non-sailing folks to the sport. * Bill Griffin: Does anyone remember the name "Paul Cayard". It would have been interesting to see him sailing "Oracle" for the series, rather than the musical chairs that we witnessed at the end. I hope Mr. Ellison paid him a boatload to sit "on the beach". * From Dieter Loibner: Comparing the America's Cup with sport events that really matter in California these days, one has to bring up the Superbowl. Looking at the teams, it promises to be a grudge match of Caribbean pirates with the Raiders meeting the Buccaneers. Of course, the Bucs are coached by the same guy who turned the Raiders from doormat to contenders but left town for a fat paycheck. The game will be held in San Diego where citizens are boarding up their houses so they won't get sucked into the Black Hole ( as the notorious Raiders fans are referred to), which will relocate from Oakland/LA to America's Finest City in the next few days. Because Auckland is not Oakland, it will see the more genteel version of the drama with Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth and their mates taking on their former employers to contest the ewer they abducted from San Diego as one team. The 64,000 dollar questions: will this maritime grudge match spawn the Kiwi version of a Black Hole in Viaduct Basin? If it does, will it be a Black Hole with red socks? And if the Kiwis win, will Dean Barker and Tom Schnackenberg jump into the stands? No matter what, be it in San Diego next Sunday or in Auckland in a few weeks, the team wearing black is itching to stick it to their opponents. And vice versa. * From Phil Olbert: As Patrice Carpentier pointed out, the Volvo Around the World will probably sometime in the future be sailed in multihulls. However unlike Patrice I will hate to see it. I am one of those people, of which there are many, that have a hard time thinking of a multihull as a real boat. Multihull fiascos such as the last Route du Rhum only reinforce this belief. Yes, racing multihulls are marginally faster than racing monohulls. But speeds are, after all, relative and I find the speeds and close racing of open 40's, 50's and 60's even more exciting than the unseaman-like antics of racing multihulls. Sorry, but I really hope races such as the Volvo Around will continue to be raced in monohulls. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Failure is not an option - it comes bundled with the software. |
