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SCUTTLEBUTT 1817 - April 14, 2005Scuttlebutt 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. TRAINING RUN Volvo Ocean Race entry MoviStar is in the midst of a training run from Australia to Brazil to prepare for the November 2005 start of the round-the-world race. Skipper Bouwe Bekking provides the following onboard account of another day "at the office": "Wednesday, April 13, 2005 -- 386 miles to go to the Horn, and I tell you we are counting down every single mile. The last 24 hours we got the "s**t" kicked out of us. Real Southern Ocean, freezing cold, big winds (40 knots), snow showers and huge seas. Fascinating in a way, that our little nutshell doesn't care about this and is doing it's job so well, but in the wrong hands it can go terribly wrong. One moment we are "cruising" doing steady 18-20 knots of boat speed, and than it changed within seconds. We knew that the front was arriving, so the boys on deck were on standby to put reefs in the mainsail, but as always the arrival of the front came very suddenly. "Winds picked up in seconds from 20 to 40 knots. The boat speed increases dramatically, we are nearly flying over the waves, doing over 30 knots of boat speed, and the wind is still increasing. Suddenly a big loud bang. The answer comes instantly as the reacher jib starts flogging like a maniac. The guys asleep downstairs are now up and jumping in their foulies. You don't have to call them; they know we have a bit on. What is the priority in such a situation, first finish reefing the mainsail, the sail we use 24 hours a day, and can't do without. But now the snowball effect starts really rolling. The reefs are nearly in, as all of sudden the second reef line comes undone. In the mean time the wind has changed nearly 80 degrees in direction, so we are crashing into the old wave pattern, and getting douched constantly, the boat making heavy slamming noises." For Bouwe's full account: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/pages/news/news135.htm WSSRC RECORD ATTEMPT At 0010 hours GMT (local time) yesterday Yves Parlier (FRA), aboard Médiatis Région Aquitaine, dashed for the solo record of 24-hour distance run, in an ultimately unsuccessful, but hugely promising record attempt. The skipper from Aquitaine left early on Monday morning from the port of Las Palmas to position to the North of Canaries Islands. His objective: to try and beat Laurent Bourgnon's (FRA) single-handed 24 hour distance record. Bourgnon established the record over ten years ago on Primagaz during his crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in June 1994 where he covered 540 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 22.50 knots. At 1500 Médiatis Région Aquitaine was 30 miles ahead of Bourgnon's record and was at times traveling at more than 39 knots with an average speed over the first seven hours of more than 30 knots. However after noon, very unstable meteorological conditions obliged Parlier to take in a reef. Whilst he was doing so, the boat gibed violently, breaking four battens and ending the record attempt. Parlier, on satellite telephone, indicated that he has returned to Las Palmas to make repairs and get ready for the second attempt as fast as possible. - ISAF website, http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j6~FhyzAw&format=popup Images of Parlier's unique twin-rigged catamaran at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/0322parliercat WHERE IS WALDO? We received a very ceremonial picture from the Alinghi America's Cup camp, with the team posing in Valencia, Spain with local political dignitaries on the town hall balcony. The latest Scuttlebutt contest involves identifying where recent team recruit Ed Baird is standing. The first three to best describe his position in the picture will earn themselves Scuttlebutt Sailing Club caps. Go to this link to enter: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/contest/waldo BEIJING, 2008? BRING IT ON. The recently announced US Sailing Team has a new focus on winning precious metal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The US Sailing Team also has a new Official Cordage Sponsor focused on making Olympic dreams happen: New England Ropes. The timing is perfect. After years of development with Olympic and world champion sailors, New England Ropes has launched its line of Dinghy & One-Design Ropes, a comprehensive range of lighter, stronger, low-stretch, and easy-to-handle control lines, sheets, and halyards. Call 800-333-6679 for info, or download the Dinghy & One-Design brochure at: http://www.neropes.com/pleasure_marine/dinghy_brochure.pdf CONGRESSIONAL CUP Long Beach, CA - Chris Dickson took his first and only loss Wednesday but remains atop the leader board after the first round robin of the 41st Congressional Cup, presented by Acura, but those old adversaries in his rear view mirror are having fun, too. Russell Coutts, making a move expected of a three-time America's Cup winner, won his first two races before losing to former Team New Zealand understudy and opponent Dean Barker by three seconds---half a boat length. Coutts and Dickson are a race shy because their ninth-round match was called off after Dickson's Catalina 37 had a broken traveler car that required overnight repair. Whether it will be sailed later may depend on if it matters in the final round robin standings as the event winds down to the last days Friday and Saturday into the championship sailoffs. Wednesday's racing was delayed an hour because of light winds and fog, then conditions settled into Long Beach's celebrated southwesterlies building from 8 to 15 knots through the afternoon. Races were closer than Tuesday-the closest being Richard's one-second photo against fellow Frenchman Philippe Presti. Even luckless Chris Larson of Annapolis, 0-9 as the lone American in the lineup, came close with losses to Coutts and Law by a mere seven and eight seconds. After a three-year involvement the Congressional Cup is no longer part of the Swedish Match Tour. As the new presenting sponsor, Acura will raise the purse to $40,000, up from $25,000 last year. - Rich Roberts, full story, http://www.lbyc.org/ Standings (after 9 of 18 rounds): 1. C. Dickson, 7-1; 2. tie among Barker, Law, and Richard, 6-3; 5. Coutts, 5-3; 6. Lindberg, 5-4; 7. Nordbjerg, 4-5; 8. Presti, 3-5; 9. S. Dickson, 2-7; 10. Larson, 0-9. Race video provided by t2p.tv: http://www.t2p.tv/guide/concup05.php PUMPED UP A new version of the popular 29er - the 29erX has been developed by Bethwaite Design to create a manageable stepping stone between the 29er and 49er, as well as hopefully creating a new girls double handed High Performance class. This is a 29er on steroids - by adding a slightly bigger rig with a masthead assymetrical spinnaker and an extra trapeze for the skipper! An existing 29er can easily be upgraded to the 29erX configuration at an affordable price. Full story, http://www.sailweb.co.uk/default.asp#435 ALCOHOL LIABILITY Most boaters understand the risks involved when someone drinks alcohol and gets behind the helm. But what happens if an inebriated boating guest is injured or even dies? The startling answer lies in May 2005 issue of Seaworthy, the damage avoidance magazine from BoatU.S. In "Alcohol, Guests and the Question of Liability'" two recent cases from the BoatU.S. marine insurance claim files bring light on the issue. "It's no secret that if you've been drinking heavily and your boat is involved in a serious accident, you could be held liable," says author and BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Program Director Bob Adriance. "What may not be as apparent is the liability you assume for other people aboard who have been drinking. This is true even if you haven't had a drop of alcohol and are completely sober," he added. The Seaworthy feature describes an incident where a drunken man passed out on a boat's stern bench seat. Later that evening he apparently woke up, fell overboard and drowned. In another case, a vessel was returning from a bar when an inebriated guest went overboard unnoticed and perished. In the event of a serious accident, courts apportion liability - with the boat owner's share ranging from 0% to 100% - depending on the degree of perceived negligence. The dollar amount depends on the victim's age and what he or she expected to earn had they lived. There may also be awards for conscious pain and suffering and loss of companionship. - BoatU.S. website, complete story, http://www.boatus.com/news/releases/2005/april/drinking.asp SEEKING BIDS US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee is looking for Yacht Clubs who are interested in hosting one or more of the 2008 Olympic or Paralympic Trials. If your Club is interested in hosting one or more of these prestigious events during a window of October 15 - December 15, 2007, please contact Katie Richardson for more information: mailto:katierichardson@ussailing.org. A formal letter and bid package will be sent to you and your Club. Deadline for bid submission is June 1, 2005. Curmudgeon's Comment: Isn't this the time of year when the northeast gets cold and the west coast wind conditions become very… variable? Maybe this is a good thing, given the preliminary forecast for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Venue - Qingdao, China: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/04/qingdao DO YOU "ONE DESIGN?" WE DO! Tornado, Sabot, Yngling, 470, J/105, Beneteau 40.7, Etchells, Acat, Farr 40, 505, Cal 20, Coronado 15, Fireball, J/24, CFJ, 420, Europe Dinghy, Harbor 20, International 14, J/22, Holder 20, Flying Scot, Lido 14, Lehman 12, Lightning, Melges 24, Optimist, Snipe, Thistle, Cal 25, Soling, Sonar, Santana 20, Santana 30/30, Capri 14.2, El Toro, Ultimate 20, Flying Junior, J/80, Hobie 21, San Juan 24, Nacra, Prindle , J/120, Antrim 27, Olson 30, Mumm 30, J/109, and more. Ullman Sails has been one designing for 35+ years; give your local loft a call or visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com/ LAND SAILING Richard Jenkins had a good session in early April at Ivanpah Dry Lake, recording 10 runs above 90 mph and peaking at 98.3 in his quest to beat the 116 mph record held since 1999 by Bob Schumacher in Iron Duck. Richards is now on hiatus until May, when he hopes to find a smoother surface on any of several dry lakes farther north. The heavy rains of 2004-05 have made the surface at Ivanpah, which is always cracked, rougher than usual. To quote: "Due to the poor traction of the dirt surface, (compared to the tarmac, which the craft is set up for) we are experiencing a lot more sideslip and hence a lot more drag. To counter the side slip, we are having to use a lot more aerodynamic downforce than normal, which in turn causes more drag. The simple solution to this is more weight inserted into the fusalage. This, combined with a couple of other minor alterations, should put us in very good shape for record speeds. Changing from a smooth tarmac surface to the desert, is a bit like trying to drive an F1 car on a rally car track, so there were always are going to be some neccessary changes, but luckily it appears these are all relatively minor." This is a new wing arrangement for the craft. Jenkins said that he had been using a three-part wing that provided better low-end (starting) performance but expects better high-end performance out of the new two-part wing. - Excerpts from a story by Kimball Livingston, Sail magazine website, http://sailmag.com/WindjetLandsailing NEWS BRIEFS * A huge fleet of 31 Varsity teams enjoyed two spectacular days of sailing last weekend on San Francisco Bay for the St Francis Intersectional, a collegiate regatta hosted by Stanford. University of California Irvine ran away with the top spot early, followed in the end by USC and Stanford. Prepare to get energized by the latest photo gallery on the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/sfi * Nautor's Swan received the 'Best Sailing Yacht Brand' at the 10th China International Boat Show in Shanghai, China (8-11 April). The award represents a significant milestone for Nautor's Swan as the company looks to establish a firm presence in the Asia market. * North Sails has partnered with meteorologist Chris Bedford of Sailing Weather Services to provide free weather forecasts for the Lands' End Annapolis NOOD Regatta from April 29 to May 1. Detailed forecasts will be emailed to subscribers each morning by 0730 local time. To sign up, simply visit North's Online Weather Center: http://na.northsails.com/ew/ew_main.taf 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 Peter McCorquodale: I read with interest Michael Millard's letter ('Butt 1816) as I am involved with the Shorthanded Sailing Association of Australia. Our motto is: "When short-handing, you win when you achieve your goals." My experience has been the same as Michael's - when there are only two of you on board you have to concentrate solely on the sailing. I am not sure however about it being easier - particularly whilst gybing spinnakers, but certainly more fun. Last Sunday we held our first race for the SSAA 2005 Winter Series, with 18 entrants, including seven first time short-handers. All amateurs, and all expressed their enjoyment of the race and their desire to do more short handing. Although not a huge fleet by most standards, it was our record fleet for at least five years. I wonder whether our fleets will increase as satisfaction with mainstream ocean racing decreases. Maybe if there was a two handed division in the Hobart race...? * From Richard du Moulin (edited to our 250 word limit): As a follow-up to Mike Millard's comments about double-handed sailing, the most unique aspect of single and double-handed racing is the camaraderie and respect among the competitors, and the genuine interest they have in the success and welfare of the competition. Most of us who do short-handed racing in America were convinced to try it as a result of the "missionary zeal" of those who already do it. I met Ellen MacArthur at a party in Europe just before my first double-handed Bermuda race, and her enthusiasm for my upcoming adventure was heartfelt and surprising-- she was more interested in my trip than talking about her own. And my long voyage with Rich Wilson topped it off. Short-handed sailors keep track of each other on the course for both competitive and safety reasons. In our double-handed racing class for Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race, the Sailing Instructions encourage the double-handers to chat freely over the radio. On one race a few years ago, our autopilot hiccupped and the boat turned a 360. Mike Millard, about a mile away, immediately got on the radio to see if we had a man overboard. The greater examples were the rescue by fellow competitors of Isabelle Autissier and later Raphael Dinelli several years ago in Southern Ocean. One final plug for double-handing: a racing boat set up for double-handing is by definition also fitted for cruising by couples and families. Great dual use. Try it! * From Paul Henderson (re: Lee-bowing): Almost 40 years ago we were sailing in the Finn North American's at Tawas City, Michigan and the subject of lee-bowing the current came up while waiting for wind. As usual the wonderful man Peter Barrett put it all in perspective. He said to the gathered multitude: "Have you every raced Popsicle Sticks down the gutters in the little streams formed when the snow melts?" We from the Great White North had all participated in this childhood sport. "Well," Peter continued, "It does not matter what angle you place the Popsicle Stick in the stream - it goes down at the same speed. Therefore lee-bowing the current is nonsense!" It is amazing at one's advanced age what fond memories remain and as Buddy Melges always says, there are no new lessons to be learned in sailing - you just keep relearning the old ones. * From Jonathan Nye (re lee-bow effect): We need to separate above and below the waterline effects. Tide permits a boat to point higher than it would otherwise. But this is not due to what side the tide is coming from. It has to do with whether the tide is augmenting movement over the bottom or impeding it. If the former, the boat sails faster toward the wind and the apparent increases and moves forward and since the lift off the foils (what the boat experiences as it goes through the water) is the unchanged, the boat has to head lower relative to the true wind. The converse is also true. So how does one take advantage of this? Absent changes in tidal strength or direction, one can't. And I believe this is Dave's point. Take a simple (and hopefully extreme) example. With the wind out of the north at 5 knots and the tide flowing east to west at 5 knots, the apparent is NW at 7.1 knots. A boat which points 35 degrees off in 7.1 knots of apparent will steer 280/350. The boat sailing on port, with the tide to leeward, is not gaining an advantage over the boat sailing on starboard. Tide does not change what is going on below the waterline and therefore tidal direction does not influence how the boat goes through the water (specifically pointing due to lift off the foils); tide does influence what the sails experience but this applies equally on both tacks. * From John P. de Regt: Anyone who has sailed to weather, across a current, where the current is flowing toward the weather mark, believes in the lee bow effect. It works on either tack. Curmudgeon's Comment: For those looking to end this thread, hang in there - the end is near. * From Ted Cooper (re the announcement of Mani Frers involvement with the Swedish America's Cup team, Victory Challenge): German Frers, Jr., is actually Mani's old man, and the one whose name graces so many of the world's fastest and, in my opinion, prettiest designs..."Mani" is German Frers III. FOR SALE Blue Moon is a 54' Aluminum Motorsailer, designed by Paul Kotzebou. Superbly built (1987) and maintained twin diesel motorsailor that sails well on all points. 3 staterooms, beautifully finished interior, top quality gear list. Exceptionally priced at $495K. Lying: San Diego. Contact Neal Esterly, Fraser Yachts Worldwide, 619-823-9034 or mailto:neale@fraseryachts.com CURMUDGEON'S OXYMORON Virtual reality |
