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SCUTTLEBUTT 2750 - Tuesday, December 23, 2008Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Today's sponsor is Seahorse Magazine. MOST DRAMATIC FINISH IN VOLVO OCEAN RACE HISTORY (Dec. 22, 2008; Day 10) - "The best finish ever," raved Ericsson 3's Magnus Olsson as his Volvo Ocean Race team pulled up to the dock at Sentosa Island in Singapore. The irrepressible Swede, a veteran of six editions of the race wasn't finished: "It was just incredible. If you like sailing, you have to love the Volvo Ocean Race...2,000 miles and just a few seconds between us? Come on, it was great." He was describing the most dramatic finish in Volvo Ocean Race history, if not the absolute closest. But four boats finishing within 20 minutes, the last three separated by just two and a half minutes, after sailing for over nine days and 1,950 miles, isn't something that happens all the time in an offshore race. On their second place finish, PUMA skipper Kenny Read noted, “I can officially say that it was one of the most stressful seconds in my sailing career. In the last 24 hours (prior to the finish), the lead changed hands amongst the top four boats more times than I can imagine. We anchored twice. We were solidly fourth several times. We were winning several times. We were picked off by a tug and barge at the most critical time of the leg (about 15 miles from the finish trying to keep both Ericsson boats from rolling us). We saw more fishing boats and ships than any of us had ever seen before. We just missed massive logs and hunks of rope and other debris on many occasions. We had to dive on the keel to get a tree off it. No one on the boat really remembers the last time they slept or ate. Let’s see - anything else I have forgotten? Sounds glamorous, eh?” The next event for the Volvo Ocean Race teams will be the Singapore In-Port Race on January 10, 2009. After that, the fleet will begin Leg 4, the 2,500 nm route from Singapore to Qingdao, China, on January 18, 2009. -- Race website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Leg Three from Cochin to Singapore was 1,950 nm. Current positions (as of Dec. 23, 1:00am GMT): 1. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, Finished Dec. 22, 14:51:22 GMT 2. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, Finished Dec. 22, 15:08:01 GMT 3. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, Finished Dec. 22, 15:09:48 GMT 4. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, Finished Dec. 22, 15:10:28 GMT 5. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, Finished Dec. 22, 17:36:23 GMT 6. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, Finished Dec. 22, 22:49:36 GMT 7. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, Finished Dec. 23, 00:08:25 GMT 8. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 155 nm Distance to Finish Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Current standings after Leg Three 1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 35 points 2. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 30.5 points 3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 27.5 points 4. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, 23.5 points 5. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 20.5 points 6. Telefonica Black (ESP), F. Echavarri/ESP, 19.5 points 7. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, 10.5 points 8. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 9 points** Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 ** Points for Leg 3 have been awarded. L'HYDROPTERE - THE RECORD AND THE WRECK Moments before it capsized on Saturday, the 60-ft French foiler l’Hydroptere hit 61 knots. That’s a tic over 70 mph, the legal speed limit on some California highways. It’s doubtful the brief burst will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), since to qualify as official, a speed must be maintained over 500 meters. But for Alain Thébault and his team of believers, the evening of December 20 was one of vindication and celebration. There was time enough on Sunday to tow the boat home and start feeling their cuts and bruises. Thébault and famed French sailor Eric Tabarly conceived the idea for l’Hydroptere (‘the hydrofoil’) way back in 1975. The complex, 5-ton boat — which in winds above 12 knots rises onto port and starboard foils forward and a combination rudder/’elevator’ in back — was launched in 1994. Since nobody had ever built anything like her before, the learning curve consisted of sailing the boat, seeing what worked or broke, and then fixing any problems before the next outing. And lots of stuff broke. Thébault has suffered, nursed and repaired the boat through many breakdowns over the years. -- Latitude 38, read on: http://SButt122208a.notlong.com TOP PHOTOGS SPIN THE COLOR WHEEL Marine photographers spend their life seeking the perfect moment to capture, but some images stand out better than others because of the colors of the subject. So Scuttlebutt asked a few of the top shooters what they thought were the best colors for boats and crew gear. * Gilles Martin-Raget: “Definitely red for the hull, a bit flashy. Get the Ferrari paint code. For the crew, I like white, but I know it’s a nightmare for the crews to keep it really white along the days.” * Onne van der Wal: “I think my favorite color hull is a light grey blue, then please dress the crew with a yellow faded color shirt. Also, red deck shoes and no socks. Yellow or red spinnaker too. So there you go! That's my dream color combo! Call me when it’s ready.” * Daniel Forster: “I know what we don’t like: Dark hulls with black gear, like Team NZL. Also, first crew gear rule: Every crew member should wear the same outfit!” Find their complete comments and photos on Scuttleblog. Also, post your comments there too: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/12/color-wheel.html HOLIDAY SPECIAL FROM SEAHORSE MAGAZINE Looking for that last-minute stocking-stuffer gift? Seahorse Magazine is offering a special holiday subscription offer to Scuttlebutt readers: For a limited time, save up to 45% off the cover price and up to 30% off the normal subscription price to the world's leading international performance sailing publication, published monthly from the UK. Until December 31st, new 1-year subscriptions are available for $65, and new 2-year subscriptions available for $99 for airmailed monthly delivery to addresses in the US and Canada. For secure online orders, go to http://www.seahorse.co.uk/shop/subs and enter promotion code DOBBS603487 to take advantage of these special rates, or contact Dobbs Davis directly at mailto:seahorse.usa@earthlink.net STRONG WEATHER TO DISRUPT HOLIDAY PLANS (Dec, 22, 2008; Day 43) - Three low pressure zones stretching across the Vendee Globe race course from front-runners to rear markers look set to ensure everyone has a windy night tonight. Those on the western edge are still skirting the edge of a low which will see winds averaging 50 knots affecting the west of the Kerguelens, with a second storm brewing in the next 48 hours. In the middle of the fleet a low is deepening to the south-east of Heard Island and looks set to bring violent winds from Tuesday through to Wednesday - making for an exciting Christmas Eve - as they move northwards towards the south of Australia. For the leaders, a low that formed over Cape Leeuwin last weekend and then headed off towards Tasmania is now moving towards the south of New Zealand, generating some strong gusts in the thundery squalls. In this evening’s update, the boats with most favourable conditions seem to be in the second row - Vincent Riou (PRB) in 6th making the most ground in 24 hours, with fifth-placed Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) also clocking averages of over 18 knots. Fastest over this afternoon has been Jean-Pierre Dick, whose rudder repairs to Paprec-Virbac 2 seem to be holding with speeds creeping over 20 knots. Further ahead, leader Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is diving further south-east, whilst the chasing trio have all gybed today onto a more north-easterly course. Can they undo the damage Foncia has wreaked? In one week Sebastien Josse (BT) has lost 150 miles in one week, Jean Le Cam (VM Materials) conceded 180 miles, Armel le Cléac'h (Brit Air) nearly 270 miles and Vincent Riou (PRB) 250 miles - there will be no let-up in the Pacific just yet. -- Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en Solo, non-stop, around the world race in Open 60s. Standings as of 18:30 UTC (Top 5 plus of 30 entrants; 18 now competing): 1. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia, 11439.5 nm Distance to finish 2. Roland Jourdain (FRA), Veolia Environnement, 72.2 nm Distance to leader 3. Sébastien Josse (FRA), BT, 217.7 nm DTL 4. Jean Le Cam (FRA), VM Matériaux, 258.8 nm DTL 5. Armel Le Cléac´h (FRA), Brit Air, 476.0 nm DTL 8. Samantha Davies (GBR), Roxy, 1509.3 nm DTL 11. Dee Caffari (GBR), Aviva, 1939.6 nm DTL 15. Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III, 3063.3 nm DTL 16. Derek Hatfield (CAN), Algimouss Spirit of Canada, 3206.8 nm DTL Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html Race tracking: http://tracking.vendeeglobe.org/en TRIVIA QUESTION What is sailed during the winter on the Great South Bay of Long Island and does not use a rudder? (Answer below). EARLY FORECAST PREDICTS FAST RACE The NSW Bureau of Meteorology’s early weather forecast is predicting ideal fast sailing conditions for at least the first two days of the 628 nm Rolex Sydney Hobart 2008, where 100 boats will start on 26 December and will be compete on the waters of Sydney Harbour, the Tasman Sea, Storm Bay and the Derwent River. The race is expected to start this Friday in a 15 knot north-easterly breeze which should freshen to 20 to 25 knots during the afternoon, providing downwind conditions for the mostly southerly course to Hobart. These strong northerly winds will hang in through Saturday and Sunday, possibly even reaching near gale force later on Sunday before a strong to gale force westerly change associated with the passage of a front sweeps through Bass Strait on Sunday night. -- Full report: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/news.asp?key=4133 * Seven Network and Yahoo!7 will provide a live 90 minute webcast of the start of the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, with coverage scheduled from 12.30pm AEST until 2:00pm AEST on December 26th (or December 25th from 8:30pm to 10:00pm ET). -- Details: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=100003&lang=1 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include iron ore taconite and boats, guns and boats, grass roots and boats, snow and boats, rum and boats, World Cup soccer and boats, lost control and boats, and the Indian River and boats. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1219 If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor at mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com * Since Scuttlebutt's coverage of Felucca racing on the Nile has been shy, Rich Roberts has provided some shots from the action at Luxor in Egypt. There were no protests. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/1222 SAILING SHORTS * The Chicago Match Race Center has announced that the Key West Match Race Invitational has three spaces remaining for the 8-team format. Held over 24-25 January, this will be the first match racing event in North America for 2009, and is open to any team interested. Depending on entries, the intent will be to fulfill the requirements necessary for this to be an ISAF Grade 3 or 4 event. -- Full details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6824 * Annapolis Sailing School announced that 2009 will be a year- long celebration of the fiftieth birthday of the nation’s oldest commercial sailing school. The School has been an Annapolis institution and a leader in the recreational boating instructional industry since its founding by Jerry Wood in 1959. The Sailing School plans a whole season filled with special programs and events to mark this important anniversary. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6825 * Match racing specialist Sebastien Col heads the list of the announced team members that will sail aboard K-Challenge for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series which will be held in Auckland, New Zealand, from 1-14 February 2009. -- Full details: http://SButt122208B.notlong.com * Following discussions and agreements between the Defender, the Challenger of Record and the entered challengers in recent Competitor Meetings in Geneva, an amended version of the 33rd America's Cup Protocol has now been published. -- Full details: http://33rd.americascup.com/en/index.php?idContent=111&idPage=1&pressPage=1 * Topaz Sailing Systems, LLC announced that they have been chosen by Topper International as the exclusive United States distributor of the entire range of Topper performance sailing dinghies. Available for the first time to the United States market, the Topper line of sailboats are designed and built by Olympic sailor Rob White and his UK team. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6828 * Criminal charges have been dropped against four members of the University of Vermont sailing team accused of hazing younger team members. The Chittenden Prosecutor says four juniors on the team compelled freshman to drink alcohol as an initiation rite. They were charged with criminal disorderly conduct, but those charges were dismissed. The four members were instead issued tickets for underage drinking. That means they will pay fines and take part in the diversion program. -- http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=9567165&nav=4QcS CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar TRIVIA ANSWER The Ice Scooter can be found on the Great South Bay of Long Island, which is steered creating an imbalance between the jib and main. This may be achieved by trimming the jib or moving ones weight forward or aft. Rather than sitting in a small cockpit, once the boat gets going the driver and passengers can be found hiked out and loving every minute of the ride. -- Full post with photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/1222a LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Rasa Bertrand: The Australian Navy did an amazing job rescuing Yann. I hope the organizers of the Vendee Globe realize what a huge effort this was and courageous the Royal Flying Doctor and his team were to board and rescue Yann in treacherous conditions. Great for adventurers but many Aussies are asking why the tax payer has to be rescuing people at huge expense for a yacht race. Interesting discussion. * From Peter Bowker, Fort Lauderdale, FL: Permit me to disagree with Luiz Kahn’s contention (‘butt 2748) that Time on Time (ToT) is a fairer system than Time on Distance (ToD). All handicap systems are based on a series of measurements to determine a yacht’s potential speed, the most significant being waterline length, i.e. a larger boat is expected to sail faster than a smaller one. Such theory depends on there being sufficient breeze to propel the various size boats to their potential. ToT may well work in Northern Europe which tends to have good and reliable wind, but many areas of the USA are not as fortunate, think Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes and Southern California. Under ToT the smaller boats are always favored, for with the fleet barely moving, that ToT meter is still ticking. It should be remembered that in the days of IOR, in the Mediterranean, another light air venue, the members of C.I.M., largely Southern France, Italy and Spain, saw fit in the late 70s, to switch from ToT to ToD, as they considered the latter a more equitable calculator for their conditions. IOR ratings were in feet and different formulae were used to convert to ToT (seconds per hour) and ToD (seconds per mile) What we need is to discover how IRC converts a series of metric measurements to a TCC (time correction) and concoct our own tables for seconds per mile. Any offers? * From Peter Harken: (re, letter in #2749) Bob Dill, for whom I will respect for now, is truly way off base when it comes to ice boat speeds. I must say I don't think I've met the guy and ever seen him measuring our ice boat speeds in all my 25-30 years on the ice or ever on our Wisconsin and Midwestern lakes, but maybe I have and old age took that part of my brain and muddled it. As an example of my huge doubts regards his experience in ice boats is his claim that that in light wind, say 10mph any good ice an E-Skeeter can go 8-12 times the wind speed, so he is saying they will do between 80 and 120 mph. Holy Cow and absolutely not. They can do about 5-6 times on perfect ice or 50-60 mph at best. Then he contradicts himself and says they have only achieved 84 mph which means we have never sailed in much anything over 10-12 mph, huh, huh?? And then he claims the land sailors have achieved 116 mph so the land sailors with much higher friction and crabbing at the same time (been there, done that) have achieved speeds greater than ice boats. Believe me, I am not prejudiced to either iceboats or land sailing, having done both and like the guys equally well, but that logic and actual performance is upside down, inside out and wrong! Ice boat speeds have been timed by radar, GPS, and start to finish coarse times many times and usually we take the conservative time (except at the bar after many beers). => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Soft water sailors are lucky that the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) established the World Sailing Speed Record Council to manage speed claims. Perhaps it is time for ice sailing to organize a similar international authority. This thread is now closed. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Youth passes, but with luck immaturity can last a lifetime. Special thanks to Seahorse Magazine. Please give consideration to supporting the Scuttlebutt sponsors when making your holiday shopping decisions this year. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
