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SCUTTLEBUTT 1876 - July 8, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections,
contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting
viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal
attacks for elsewhere.
FOR THE PRICE OF A SOCCER BALL
Each June signifies the beginning of junior sailing programs around the US.
This year, my nine year old would need his own Naples Sabot, and the
'hand-me-down' boat from his uncle required a lot of work. With four weeks
to go, I moved the project to the top of the 'to do' list, and naively
forged on.
The boat had been idling for 20+ years, and the only remaining parts of
value were the mast and pintles. Everything else was gone, rotten, or worn
out. Soon began the patching, painting, buffing, varnishing, and purchasing
of $900 worth of parts. Before it was done, over forty hours were needed to
get this sabot back in racing shape. Of course, there is no guarantee that
my son will become a devoted sailor, but the sacrifice and expense that
went into the project was required for him to have a competent boat.
The effort needed for a youth to become a sailor is immense when compared
to other sports. I could not help but think of those parents who look to
soccer as a great sport for their child, and for the price of a soccer
ball, they easily overcame the cost and commitment that had consumed me
during the month leading into this summer's junior sailing program.
A couple years ago, Sunsail Yacht Charters held a writing competition,
wherein twelve year old Optimist sailor Michael Marshall won his division
with a submission titled 'The Freedom of Sailing' that I have excerpted below:
"As a kid, my life is very controlled. At home I always have to do chores
before going anywhere. Empty the dishwasher, vacuum the floor, weed the
garden, make my bed the list goes on and on. Things are even worse at
school. There every minute of the day is planned for me. At school I have
no freedom at all.
"Things are very different when I am sailing by myself in my own boat. I
can sail wherever the wind takes me. I can race around the harbor and under
the Newport Bridge. I can zip off to Potter's Cove, explore Rose Island, or
even sail in circles if I want to. I love to feel the wind blowing in my
face and the sensation of flying across the water as if my boat had
magically sprouted wings. On my boat I am in control of everything I do. I
am the king of my own little world. That is why I love to sail!"
Clearly, Michael got t-boned by the magic of sailing. For the price of a
soccer ball, my life could have been a lot simpler. However, at least this
way, I will give my son the chance to discover a game without boundaries,
and the freedom from being a kid. -- Craig Leweck,
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/05/ftpsb/
THE CONTEMPORARY OFFSHORE WORLD
(The following is the response of the Offshore Racing Association to the
"Watch The Yanks Roll" editorial from Seahorse magazine that we published
in 'Butt 1874)
It is disappointing to see the disparaging tone directed by the
representative magazine of the Royal Ocean Racing Club toward the
collective leadership of the Transpacific Yacht Club, the Chicago Yacht
Club and the Cruising Club of America. These are the founding members of
the Offshore Racing Association, all with decades of handicapping experience.
A survey, 15 months ago, of the foremost US yacht clubs revealed three
rating rule camps: those that are happy with PHRF, those that want a VPP
system supported by complete measurement and those that wanted to try IRC.
US sailors are exploring those options and can do so without editorial
comments that display ignorance of US racing. The Offshore Racing
Association was formed, in collaboration with US Sailing, for sailors and
yacht clubs who want a rule that measures all the performance features of a
boat and does not use subjective factors like IRC. They want a science
based VPP to customize ratings to wind and course conditions rather than
using IRC's single number rating system which may work over the course of a
long season if conditions average out. Such averaging is irrelevant when
competing in a major offshore race.
The reality of the contemporary offshore world is that all boats are
designed with hi-tech VPP tools that are easily used to subvert naïve rule
systems. The only successful rules will be one-designs, box rules where
design optimization is the game, empirical rules like PHRF that match
ratings to actual performance, or a full measurement rule like Americap
(substantially improved for the 2005 season and to be renamed Offshore
Racing Rule for 2006). The fact that the majority of long distance offshore
races in the U.S. have elected to use ORR is proof ORA is on the right
track. These include the Marion-Bermuda Race, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto
Vallarta, Pacific Cup, Victoria-Maui, Chicago-Mac, Transpac and
Newport-Bermuda.
There is an IRC experiment underway on the East Coast, Detroit and San
Francisco. ORA views that experiment as a healthy test of handicapping
despite the substitution of subjective factors for critical measurements.
Sailors and race organizers should review the website results for all the
US regattas and reach their own conclusions. Our observation is that the
IRC ratings are highly biased. Our belief is that a rating rule must
produce fair handicaps for the entire fleet and not just for the few that
are "rule friendly." -- Offshore Racing Association
UK-HALSEY: THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS
UK Sailmakers and Halsey-Lidgard Sailmakers, two organizations sharing an
identical commitment to sailmaking excellence, customer service, and great
product performance, have merged to become UK-Halsey. More than 50 lofts in
20 countries will now deliver the same advantages, including UK's laminated
loadpath technologies (Tape-Drive and UK Ultra construction), dominance in
PHRF and among production racer-cruisers, plus Halsey's expertise in
mega-yachts and multihulls (from PlayStation and other RTW racers to
Caribbean charter cats). The combined website is worth visiting, whether
for the latest animated Rules Quiz or for news, loft locations, and sail
quotes: http://www.ukhalsey.com
IDEC ON THE ROCKS
(Following are two brief excerpts from a story on the Daily Sail
subscription website)
After passing the Lizard and setting a new record for the solo crossing of
the North Atlantic from New York yesterday, Francis Joyon swung the bows of
his trimaran towards his homeport of La Trinite-sur-Mer. However as he was
two thirds of the way home last night Joyon fell asleep, no doubt exhausted
following the intense physical demands and fatigue from his record attempt,
and clearly he overslept as sometime between midnight and 0100 IDEC sailed
on to the rocks off the Pointe de Penmarch near Quimper on Brittany west
coast. Joyon was recovered by a RIB attached to the Fire Brigade in Quimper
who then took him directly to hospital for a check-up. Joyon was found to
be in good shape, unlike his trimaran which has been dismasted and smashed
to pieces against the rocks. Joyon believes she cannot be recovered. "The
boat is on the rocks and I fear that it is impossible to save it," says Joyon.
This disaster may have been averted had Joyon taken crew on board at the
Lizard to help him deliver the boat back to the Lizard, but as one close
friend commented: "Of course he is used to doing things by himself. He
prepared the boat by himself, he painted the boat by himself, he went to
New York by himself, he took the boat to the start line by himself - that
is the way he is." - The Daily Sail, www.thedailysail.com
SWEDISH MATCH CUP
Marstrand, Sweden -- A pair of America's Cup helmsmen are tied for the lead
in Group B of the Open Regatta at the Swedish Match Cup. Ed Baird (USA), of
Alinghi, and Dean Barker (NZL), of Emirates Team New Zealand, each won
their first six races in the Group B round robin to lead the group of eight
crews. They're slated to meet in the last match of Flight 7, which is
scheduled for tomorrow morning. The race committee postponed the flight
this evening when the winds went light and rain continued to fall on Marstrand.
The winner of tomorrow's showdown match will advance straight to the
quarterfinals, scheduled for Saturday. Peter Holmberg (ISV), of Alinghi,
advanced to the quarterfinals yesterday when he won the Group A round robin
with a 6-1 record. Whoever loses tomorrow's match will advance with five
other crews to the knockout round, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The
second through seventh-place finishers from Group A and B advance to the
knockout round. The last place team in the group will be eliminated. --
Sean McNeill, www.swedishmatchtour.com
Group B Standings after 6 of 7 scheduled flights:
1. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 6-0
1.= Dean Barker (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand, 6-0
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 4-2
4. Kelvin Harrap (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand, 3-3
5. Björn Hansen (SWE), 3-3
6. Russell Coutts (NZL) Coutts Racing, 1-5
7. Ian Williams (GBR), 1-5
8. Iain Percy (GBR) +39 Challenge, 0-5
PACKING THEIR BAGS
In just a few days, eight of the USA's best youth sailors will travel to
Busan, Korea to represent the U.S.A. at the 2005 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF
World Championship, organized by the International Sailing Federation
(ISAF). More than 200 competitors from 48 nations will be racing for the
finish line from July 14 to 23 on Suyong Bay, site of the 1988 Olympic
Regatta. For 18-year old Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey (Clearwater,
Fla.), this is her fourth trip to the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World
Championships. She won the gold in 2003 and the bronze in 2002. A current
member of the US Sailing Team, Railey has been spending time in Europe this
spring and summer competing in regattas, and doing quite well: she won the
Princess Sofia Trophy in Spain last March.
Laser sailor Royce Weber from Surf City, N.J. qualified for the US Youth
World Team by winning the junior division at the Laser Midwinters West
regatta earlier this year. The 17-year-old has been a regular on the
sailing scene and just last week finished third in the Laser fleet at the
2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship. Representing the U.S. in the Hobie 16
fleet are the Tullo brothers, T.J. and Jerry, from Staten Island, N.Y. They
qualified for the US Youth World Team by winning the 2004 U.S. Youth
Mulitihull Championship.
Adam Roberts and Nick Martin (both from San Diego, Calif.) will be
competing in the International 420 class. Roberts and Martin have been
sailing together for several years and just last week finished third in the
2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship. They qualified for the Team by
winning the 2005 420 Midwinters. Also from San Diego, Megan Magill and
Briana Provancha qualified for the Team in the 420 by placing second
earlier this year at the 420 Midwinters. Most recently, Magill and
Provancha competed in the U.S. Youth Championship and finished eighth
overall. -- http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/YouthWorld/2005/team.htm
ALSO PACKING
Marblehead native J.B. Braun, who is moving toValencia, Spain this week for
the next two years, the research and development phase of the 32nd
America's Cup is part of his job. Braun, along with his wife Kelley and
three children, Ryan, 15, Haley, 12, and Tucker, 5, will live in Valencia
while Braun works with the design team for BMW/ Oracle led by Oracle CEO
Larry Ellison of the Golden Gate Yacht Club of San Francisco.
"During the last Cup campaign, I was a sail designer for Team Dennis Conner
but this time I am the aerodynamic coordinator on the design team," Braun
said. "I am working on designs and concepts that will look at both the
hydrodynamic and aerodynamic speed." In layman's terms, Braun is looking at
hull speed and sail speed but "as simple and straightforward as it sounds,
connecting this design process in the way we hope to will be quite new. It
is done globally but it has seldom been tried with boats." -- Laurie
Fullerton, Marblehead Reporter, full story: http://tinyurl.com/8anbo
HERE'S TO A STELLAR MONTH
Ockam Instruments congratulates all of our clients who have competed in the
large number of regattas taking place throughout the month of June.
Especially those who have recorded overall and class podium finishes (too
many to mention). These include Block Island Race Week, Annapolis-Newport,
the NYYC Regatta and the Detroit and Chicago NOOD Regattas to name a few.
What do these winning yachts have in common? Ockam Instruments' superior
processing as well as Matryx display technology for that distinct
competitive advantage. Ockam. Not just for Americas Cup and Grand Prix
racing yachts, we have solutions for everyone. Contact mailto:lat@ockam.com
NEWS BRIEFS
* Olivier de Kersauson's 112-foot trimaran Geronimo is now on the home
stretch of her Australian circumnavigation with approximately 750 nautical
miles to travel before she crosses the official finish line of The
Challenge off the Opera House in Sydney. Overnight the boat traveled
approximately 400 miles averaging 18 knots boat speed in a moderating
breeze. It is anticipated that the breeze will swing to the South East on
Friday morning providing a potential Bass Straight crossing for Geronimo of
a sou' Easter at 15 to 20 knots. -- www.superyachting.com
* Peter Shumar, a Hawaii sailor and artist, designed the winning Transpac
Honolulu Committee volunteer crew T-shirt. The winning design is posted on
the Transpac web site and will adorn the backs of more than 400 Honolulu
Committee members as they perform a myriad of volunteer activities which
include throwing parties, docking boats, tracking entries, staffing the
finish lines and generally making sure that Transpac 2005 is a raging
success. -- www.transpacificyc.org/
* There will be twelve countries doing battle close to shore in Vanguard
15s with color-coded sails at the Grey Goose ISAF Team Racing World
Championship in Newport, R.I. this Fall. The biennial event, scheduled for
September 24-October 1, will be hosted by the New York YC at its Harbour
Court clubhouse. Competing will be two teams each from Australia, Canada,
Great Britain, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S.A. and one
team each from the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain (expected) and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Upward of 400 races are expected to be run before the
finals. -- www.nyyc.org/teamracingworlds
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 not 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.)
* From Chris Upton (edited to our 250-word limit): Why should crews be
required to grind their own winches? It's called sport. Aging crews have
choices to make. Move to the afterguard, a larger boat with deck gorillas,
smaller boats with out winches … or golf. Aging is universal, it how we
deal with it that is unique. I no longer spend all of my time on the bow.
Try something new if you are aging out of your position.
We really must revisit whether canting keels should be allowed to rely on
engines. These boats are going offshore. How many of us have had a well
maintained engine fail for an unexpected reason? In the interest of
seaworthiness and fair sport these machines must be human powered. What
happens when halfway to Hobart or Bermuda the engine suffers from
contaminated fuel, a flawed part or human error? In the '80s the IOR 50s
had a cool trick of using a 1" bungie cord to get the spinnakers down
faster. That was disallowed under stored energy and safety. The energy
stored in a gallon of diesel is far and away greater than in 1" x 40' of
bungie. The loss of the entire boat and potentially the crew is more
significant than the bowman.
The mega cruisers simply can not use human power to accomplish their
missions. If they choose to get together and race, why prevent them. But
let us remember that they are not racing boats and are not engaged in the
sport aspects of sailing.
* From Jamie Noyes: While the story about broaching and recovering the
swimming crew member was entertaining, yesterday's letter from Bill Leary
was terrifying. In 1996 during a squall in the Lauderdale Key West Race we
lost our bowman overboard during preparation for a sail change. After a
muted exchange about his swimming abilities we tossed him a life ring. That
was a good thing. There was a large swell running and he disappeared from
site every few seconds. The ring helped us see him better and certainly
helped him stay afloat. Our quick stop was flawless and we had him in our
clutches within about 2 minutes, but I remember the most difficult thing
being getting him on deck.
Fortunately we were on a boat with relatively low freeboard, and had lots
of hands to help, but still we trolled with him for 20 or 30 yards. Keep in
mind that getting back to the MOB is only part of the problem. Have a clear
plan for getting them back aboard. As a side note, our MOB commented later
that his most terrifying moment was looking back to see the bow of a Swan
70 momentarily coming off course and bearing down on him to "render
assistance" with a massive bone in her teeth. Fortunately for him we waved
off their "assistance" or he almost surely would have been road kill.
* From John C. Wade (In response to J M Marta's comment regarding the
diminished participation in PHRF races on Puget Sound - edited to our
250-word limit): I don't believe it's the disparity between sport boats and
racer/ cruiser boats that is the cause of the problem. I race a 30 plus
year old boat and have had an acceptable degree of success. I think that if
the cruiser/ racer is thinking their boats are too slow, I'd venture to say
their boats are not being kept up to date, with the best equipment and
sails; and the skippers/ crews are not as proficient as the sport boat crews.
I race a boat that is 27 feet long and weighs in at about 7500 Lbs. My keel
weighs more than most of the boats my size. My boat is not stripped out,
but I do have the best equipment and sails I can afford, and do my best to
know where to go on the race course, and how to make my boat go as fast as
it is capable.
It's not the sport boats' fault if other skippers fail to sail to their
ratings. Theoretically, if every boat is sailed to its rating, all boats
would end in a tie. That being said, if the reason for less race
participation is the idea that the "old" boats are too slow; this can be
remedied by upgrading the boat, the gear and the sails, and by sailing/
racing to upgrade the crew proficiency. Casual sailing is not racing, and
the casual sailor is not going to be competitive. It's not the boat's
fault; it's the mind set.
* From Ralph Taylor (Re: the comment in 'Butt 1872- "… just report the boat
names to the proper racing authorities and they will act upon it; that's
one of their duties.") Not quite so! A race committee or protest committee
may not protest a boat "as a result of a report from an interested party."
(See rules 60.2 & 50.3.) Presumably, this is to force the interested party
to file its own protest, instead of relying on the race officials to do it
for them. The PC, however, may proceed under rule 69, Allegations of
Misconduct, to institute disciplinary hearings "… from ... a report
received from any source..."
* From Matt Berger: It really struck me as very funny when I read in Butt
1875 that the New York YC was in negotiations with Nautor concerning their
new NY42 Class. The article said that the boats would probably cost around
$500,000 with sails and electronics another $100,000. It also said that
sail purchasing limitations would be put imposed to "Keep the costs down".
Wow, I'd classify that as a "Philosophical Oxymoron" if I ever heard one!
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
"Television is a medium, because well done is rare." -- Fred Allen
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