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SCUTTLEBUTT 2310 – March 28, 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). MINI 6.50 – COMING TO AMERICA It was in 2003 when American Jonathan McKee’s Team McLube introduced many in North America to the Mini 6.5, the 21-foot boat that has helped launch the careers of many of today’s top solo and offshore sailors. McKee was on the verge of doing the unheard – to win the Mini Transat as a rookie. This 4240-mile singlehanded race starts in La Rochelle, France, stopping in the Canary Islands and finishing in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. With a 100-mile lead, Mckee broke his mast just 500 miles from the finish. Fast forward to 2007, and with the Mini Transat to start in September (it is held every four years), there is now an organized group in the US planning to blast into the racing scene. On 9 June 2007 the Newport Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Goat Island Yacht Club, will fire a gun to mark the start of the Bermuda 1-2 Yacht Race. Over 35 yachts will cross the line to begin the single-handed portion of the 635 nautical mile Leg 1 to St. Georges, Bermuda, and it’s to be recognized as the first time these radical Mini 6.50’s will come head to head in North America. With 8 Minis expected to participate, the US class (the governing body of the Mini 6.50 in the United States) and its members will use this long-awaited platform to showcase an established international trend toward offshore adventure sailing for the first time in the USA. After 4 to 6 days navigating complex spring weather patterns, dodging ships and fishing vessels in busy shipping lanes at night, and battling the ever changing Gulf Stream, the solo sailors will cross the finish line to be welcomed by the St. Georges Dingy Club. After a few days of rest and repair, the yachts, this time with a crew of two, will set out for Leg 2, racing back to Newport on 22 June 2007. As for the Mini Transat, which is an exceedingly hard event to qualify for, and one where an entry limit far exceeds the numbers interested, there will be two Americans competing -Clay Burkhalter and Andy Abel. -- Scuttleblog, http://tinyurl.com/2o7ovc A LUMPY DAY'S PRACTICE (March 27, 2007) Just a few days to go until Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 begins and nearly all the teams were out on a rough Mediterranean Sea today, cramming in a last few vital hours of practice before the serious stuff begins next week. With an onshore breeze of 12-14 knots and a surprisingly lumpy sea, there were 16 boats out on the water, either two-boat speed testing or doing battle in practice starts. Furthest out to sea were the big teams such as Emirates Team New Zealand, BMW Oracle and Luna Rossa, sailing as far away from prying eyes as possible. Closer into shore, some of the smaller teams were engaged in 'friendly races'; Desafío Español against Victory Challenge, the German team against +39 Challenge, and Shosholoza appeared to be sailing with Areva. -- by Andy Rice, read on: http://tinyurl.com/32o2cp GENOA BATTENS Three weeks and counting down to Round Robin One of the Louis Vuitton Cup. BMW Oracle Racing sail designer Steve Calder (left) reveals why Cup genoas sport battens, and whether this development will spread to sails for club and grand-prix racers? “During the 2003 campaign, BMW Oracle sail designers developed genoas with very wide lower quarter-girths, and the sail designers at Alinghi were pushing the upper quarter-girths on their headsails. Suddenly the Cup rulemakers noticed, and they did what rulemakers do—they rewrote the rules, dialing the girths back to what had been achieved in the previous Cup. Still, sail designers at every syndicate right now are pushing the girths on genoas hard, trying to maximize the headsail planform. As far as sail shape, the new, wider planform has led to a different method of shaping genoas—but that’s something, this close to the challenger trials, that I’m not going to get into! “As part of the rule change, we can now place battens in the genoa leech, which helps support the wide girths. One of the positive aspects of battens has been to reduce the weight of reinforcements at spreader patches, but from a practical point of view the genoa battens have pros and cons. For example, the battens have resulted in more maintenance work for our sail loft—the battens crashing around the rig during each tack simply results in more wear and tear on the sail. Also, given the number of sails we have on hand during a Cup campaign, the quiver of genoa battens we need to carry is huge. “On the plus side, the wider girths and leech roach on genoas made possible by battens seems to have extended the range within a headsail’s code—because the sails have more area, when you get stuck down-range it seems like you can hang in there a bit better. Also, battens allow the genoa to set straighter in the leech when the breeze picks up. Are genoa battens a good thing for the sailing community? Maintenance issues aside, the fact that we’ ve ended up with fewer headsails in our arsenal as a result of the wider planform can be a way to pare back a boat’s headsail inventory and save a few bucks, but that too might well be a straight trade-off for the additional size and manufacturing time. So, down the road, we might be seeing a broader use of battened genoas.” --Read on: http://na.northsails.com/northenews/March07x.htm#AmericasCup PERFORMANCE GAINS WITH MASSIVE WEIGHT SAVINGS ALOFT Taking cues from grand prix race yachts, Bristolian, a new 120ft Briand designed sloop, will have the mast built by Southern, and rigged using the innovative ElementC6 carbon rigging, where a massive 690kg weight saving over rod rigging will be achieved. EC6 rigging has also provided a massive 1300kg weight savings in rigging with the recently built 52m schooner, Meteor. Tested and proven, EC6 provides an ultra light, stronger, longer lasting rigging solution, which is why some of the highest profiled AC yachts are also rigged with EC6. Visit: http://www.southernspars.com FINAL STRETCH (Top ranked American Laser Radial sailor Anna Tunnicliffe is in for a busy seven months, as are most of the leading Olympic contenders. Here is a look at her schedule from an update she sent this week.) Greetings from the Spanish Mediterranean island of Palma de Mallorca where I ’ve just arrived to begin a five-week training and racing session in Europe. Before leaving Florida I spent a training week in Cabarete in the Dominican Republic with the Canadian Olympic Team. I got there a couple of days early to get in some practice with Rulo who is the onsite coach. After that it was a week of running errands at home before leaving for Europe. We flew to Palma, last Friday for a week of training before the Trofeo Princesa Sofia regatta starts on March 31. The event runs through April 6. After this event, I will stay in Palma for almost another week for training before I take the ferry over to Hyères, on the southern Mediterranean coast of France for a week of training before the Semaine Olympique Française begins on April 19. This event runs through April 28. This trip to Europe is the first of three trips I’m making this year. The second trip will include a week’s training in Cascais, which is the site for our Laser Radial Worlds. I’ll follow that with the Holland Regatta in Mendemblik, Holland. Immediately after that I fly to Annapolis, MD for a match race regatta that I am sailing with Sally Barkow, Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe. My third trip to Europe will be for the World Championships which are in Cascais, Portugal starting June 28. After I return from Worlds, I will have a little break before I head over to China for three weeks to represent the US in the Laser Radial Class at the Pre-Olympic Regatta in Qingdao. I qualified for this event by winning the US team rankings this year. And after that, I’ll be getting ready for US Sailing’s Olympic Selection Trials in Newport, October 3-13. -- http://www.annatunnicliffe.com SAILING SHORTS * Franck Cammas and his 10-man crew are now on standby for an attempt at the Columbus Route record. Until 23 April, Cammas and team, and maxi trimaran Groupama 3 (the 105ft trimaran built to sail round the world in under 50 days) are standing by in Cadiz, ready to commence the Cadiz/San Salvador 3,884-mile sprint in attempt to break the 9 days, 13 hours, 30 minutes and 18 seconds record held by American sailor Steve Fossett since 24 February 2003 aboard maxicat PlayStation. -- Yachting World, http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070227120809ywnews.html * (Portsmouth, RI) An electrical malfunction sparked a fire at Hinckley Yacht Company on Little Harbor Landing. Heat detectors in the building's fire alarm system alerted the fire department at around 1 a.m. on March 15. When firefighters arrived, fire was coming out of the north side of the building through a garage door and was igniting the wooden exterior. The fire was extinguished within ten minutes but caused an estimated $75,000 in structural and content damage. -- East Bay Newspapers, full story: http://www.eastbayri.com/story/353043149061449.php * 2008 will mark the return of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship to Miami Beach, FL, site of the class' first World Championship in 1998. The regatta will take place in the spring, with a pre-Worlds regatta scheduled for April 11-12 and the World Championship scheduled for April 16-19. The Farr 40 Class Association and the Storm Trysail Club will serve as the Organizing Authorities for the events. -- http://www.farr40.org * The US Sailing website has now posted minutes from meeting held earlier this month by the Board of Directors. -- http://www.ussailing.org/bod/minutes.asp SAN DIEGO TO PUERTO VALLARTA The official dates for the 2008 Vallarta Race are February 18-29. Hosted by San Diego Yacht Club, the 28th biennial race will conclude at the picturesque destination port of Nuevo Vallarta, just minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. Racers will enjoy the world class Paradise Village Resort and Marina, and the new collaboration with Vallarta Yacht Club (host of the 2007 J-24 Worlds), where VYC members will greet each yacht with the warmth and hospitality that the Mexican mainland is known. Plan also for the Mexican Offshore Racing Circuit (MEXORC), which follows the conclusion of the 2008 Vallarta Race on March 2-7, 2008. Additional information: http://www.sdyc.org/pv 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 Augie Diaz: It is hard to add much to Fried Elliott's masterful write up of sailing Snipes in Nassau. Only his photos can match the splendor of his discussion, but I would like to add a few comments of what it is like to sail in Snipe heaven. Keep in mind that when you arrive at the Royal Nassau Sailing Club, you get this feeling of relaxation the likes you have never felt before. Your boat is in the parking lot because the local Snipe sailors Jimmy Lowe, Robert Dunkley, and Gavin McKinney have made sure that your boat arrives there in one piece. Then you are welcomed by a group of club members - usually led by the Commodore - to meet your local host who is usually a Bahamian who loves sailing and loves to host you. Then you head for the bar for a Pina Colada or Brandy Alexander. Can you think of a better beginning to anything? But it just gets better: the sailing on the water is incredible, the Race committee does a great job, the parties are awesome, and when you leave, you just feel like crying. I missed going to Nassau this year; don't know what I was thinking, but I am going back next year for sure! * From David Lapier: I don't know if you have met Jim Carson, or anybody from Metedconk River YC. Jim gave a lot to making that a great sailing club. Jay Lutz and Betsy (Gelenitis) Alison are two of the bigger stars from MRYC. But also many others from there are damn good sailors. I recall Jim himself was runner-up twice in a row for the Lightning NAs, in very close contests (like tie-breakers) with Bill Shore (I am guessing that it was in 1969-70?). In the 60's (50's?), he was a top Penguin sailor too, when that was a very competitive class. He was a big supporter of the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBYRA), especially working on the race courses. I have no idea how many dozens of BBYRA titles he won. He would organize special sailing classes, he would make sure we could get to regattas, he would make sure we could get home (he bought me a plane ticket once when my skipper dumped me in North Carolina). I live in California, and have not seen Jim in 25 years. I just like the idea of honoring somebody while they are still here with us, rather than gone. * From Big Mike and Erin Howard: It’s with great sadness Erin and I read about the passing of Russ Nutter. We were blessed to have shared many years with him during the OLD 50 Foot days around the world. Russ was always a gentleman. He helped to maintain the camaraderie among owners, sailors, and sponsors that helped that era to be one of the most successful in yacht racing history. The family atmosphere that he helped create, along with his fine staff, has been passed on to our young peers. Hopefully that torch will continue to be carried by them in our sport with the kindness and respect that Russ was so much about. Our blessings go out to his family and friends. A loss for certain to the sailing world and humanity in general. * From Eric Hall: I was very saddened to hear of Russ Nutter's passing. Russ was friendly, unassuming and always more interested in others than himself. Even though our paths seldom crossed, it was always a delight for me to see him. I am sure that he will be missed by all he touched. And thank you George and John Uznis for introducing me to Russ. * From Peter Johnstone: (edited to the 250-word limit) Jim Capron's comments about the 2012 Olympic Sailing disciplines supported by US Sailing seem short sighted. The IOC over the years has consistently been been asking for: Fewer classes Fewer athletes More females Less equipment cost Less infrastructure cost (Olympic Sailing Site) More countries' participation And ultimately more excitement to present to the public. The ISAF has to give the IOC what they want, or sailing risks being bounced from the Olympics. Looking at the above criteria, it’d make sense for US Sailing to help the ISAF address the IOC's needs. Throwing all political correctness aside, an ideal 2012 might look like: Singlehanded men (Laser with 150 countries and growing) Singlehanded women (ditto, or maybe depower the Radial sail to get the ideal weight within the world's average or median female weight range) Doublehanded skiff men (49er) Doublehanded skiff women (29erXX or eq) Windsurfing Men Windsurfing Women Multihull Open All of the above are minimum cost, launchable off beaches without much infrastructure, provide TV excitement, and will maximize the potential number of countries that can participate. All of these benefits will help keep sailing in the Olympics for the long term. With more and more countries providing full-time Olympic programs for their sailors, it’s a folly to assume that the US can pick disciplines that’ll give us medals. Even the Star has become much more widespread in talent distribution. As a sport, we'd be better served by US Sailing to pick disciplines that’ll help keep sailing in the Olympics. * From Brad Nichol: Rather then mobilizing the body of US multihull sailors to complain about what US Sailing has done, the US Multihull community should get together to support US Sailing and guide them in the way they want to go. The US only has four multihull teams that have sailed a single ranked event in the last two years (ISAF Rankings, sailing.org), while there are countless internationally ranked Star, Laser, and Radial sailors in the US. After Lovell/ Ogletree retire there are no competitive teams to follow in their footsteps, wherein they feel it would take a new US campaign 6-8 years to get in medal contention with good funding. If the US Multihull community wants to be in the Olympics, they should support US Sailing in developing winning sailors that can compete on the international level rather then complaining about what has already happened. * From Michael B. Hoey, Detroit, MI: (Regarding Chris Welsh's letter in ‘butt # 2308) About America's Cup improvements, Chris brings up many good points, but in my opinion, the class lacks new design luster. The modern AC Yacht design has become all very similar. Thin, upwind machines that differ only in core materials & sails. Wouldn't it be cool if they adopted a time on time, beat to run ratio, meaning that if the yacht takes 20 minutes to reach the windward mark, extend the leeward mark and equal time distance down wind. So yachts would spend an equal amount of time on each leg, challenging the yacht designers to build cup boats that would go up wind and down wind equally well. I think you would see an entire new design of America's Cup yachts come out of it. * From Jesse Falsone: Regarding substances that improve concentration, while the performance-enhancing benefits of marijuana are debatable, the benefits of caffeine are generally well-understood. If marijuana is not a banned substance, it's certainly an illegal one. Caffeine, however, is completely legal. Cyclists, in particular, are quite fond of caffeinated drinks and gels. Personally, I find 6-8 ounces of Coke between long dinghy races helps my energy level and focus, but I'm careful not to "overdose" and negatively affect my mood. Whether this effect comes from sugar, carbohydrate, or caffeine, it is a positive for me. I believe clinical data on caffeine substantiates this claim. Given the effects of caffeine, is it next on the banned substances list citing the fact that it's a performance-enhancing drug? CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants. Special thanks to Southern Spars and JK3 Nautical Enterprises. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
