SCUTTLEBUTT No. 1124 - July 29, 2002
Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; 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.
QUANTUM J/24 WORLDS
Kingston, Ontario: Breeze on for the final day of racing at the 2002 J/24 World Championships. Winds from the south at 18-22 knots greeted the sailors in the morning and the committee again chose to keep the fleet close to home on the Alpha course. Keeping the boat powered and driving through the short 2-3 foot chop was tricky as the fleet chose to use their small jibs.
As was the theme of the week, the left side seemed to pay again with most of the leaders finding some nice lanes up the shore side of the course. Chris Snow of San Diego, CA found the groove upwind and kept his boat in control on the planing downwind legs to take the win followed by Waldek Zaleski of Norwalk, CT.
Searching for extra power through the chop, about half the fleet switched to their 150 jibs for the second race. Winds again were in the 20 knot range and flat boats and controlled jibes were at a premium. Brad Read of Newport, RI took his first bullet of the series to close out a convincing victory for the regatta and join his brother as a repeat J/24 world champion. -- Eric Faust
Top five final results:
1. Brad Read / Randy Borges / David McClintock / Paul Grenaver / Will Jeffers, USA, 38 points
2. Tim Healy / David Crocker / David Moffet / Gordon Borges / Mick Judson, USA, 53
3. Geoffrey Moore / John Mollicone / John McCabe / Rob MacMillan / Sam Howell, USA, 58
4. Andy Horton / Mike Dressell / Michael Finch / Sean Carroll / Chris Morgan, USA, 61
5. Britt Hughes / Tom Treat / Paul Foley / Jim Donegan / Joby Breck, USA, 76
Complete results at www.j24can.com/worlds/
YNGLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland: The two final races were sailed Friday in very light and shifty conditions, ranging from 0-5 knots of wind speed and seeing 25-35 degree wind shifts on the course. Leading into today's final races were the USA's Alison, Icyda and Leech, but they had difficulties with the conditions and posted placings of 20 and 33. With only one throwout, their score soared to 54 points, placing them in 3rd overall with a record of 26-2-4-1-1-20-33.
Top five, women's fleet:
1. Monica Azon / Laia Tutzo / Sandra Azon, ESP, 43 points
2. Ulrike Schumann / Wibke Bulle / Winnie Lippert, GER, 52
3. Betsy Alison / Lee Icyda / Suzy Leech, USA, 54
4. Paula Lewin / Peta Lewin / Carola Cooper, BER, 55
5. Dorte Jensen / Helle Jesperson / Annette Strom, DEN, 57
www.yngling-worlds.ch
VOLVO YOUTH SAILING ISAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Lunenberg, Canada: The final race day got off to a slow start with delays in all classes due to light winds. All fleets waited ashore before being sent out on the water. Unfortunately, the Mistrals and the 29ers were unable to race in the uneven breeze, while one final race was completed in the Laser and Byte classes.
New Zealand wins the Volvo Trophy, which is based on team results across all racing classes.
Class winners:
29er boys - Nathan Outteridge / Ayden Menzies, AUS
Top US Sailors: Alex Bernal / Tedd White, 4th place
29 girls - Pippa Wilson / Jenny Marks, GBR
Top US Sailors: Molly Carapiet / Mallory McCollum, 4th place
Laser boys - Andrew Campbell, USA
Byte girls - Jennifer Spalding, CAN
Top US Sailor: Paige Railey, 3rd place
Mistral boys - Thomas Ashley, NZL
Top US Sailor: Philip Muller, 17th
Mistral girls - Zofia Klepacka, POL
Top US Sailor: Ericka Kofkin, 12th
Volvo Trophy Standings
1. New Zealand, 258 points
2. France, 211
3. USA, 209
4. Great Britain, 196
5. Australia, 178
www.worldyouthsailingcanada.com
FINN GOLD CUP
Piraeus, Greece: The 90 sailors engaged in the Finn Gold Cup came into their last day of sailing with hope to finish the championship with 2 good races. The conditions were perfect with nice big waves and medium wind. After the end of Race 8 won by Rafael Trujillo, the sailors were sent back to the Yacht Club with a postponement. Still expecting to go out again to enjoy the good conditions for the last race of the Championship, sailors and coaches showed their disappointment when the racing was definitely cancelled.
It has been reported that the final scheduled race was cancelled under specific orders from the Coastguard Police for what they deemed to be to dangerous weather conditions.
After just six months competing at the world level in the class, Ben Ainslie of Great Britain now holds the World Championship, European Championship and has qualified his nation for the Olympics in the class. While the RYA can select whomever it wants to sail in the Olympics -- the country is qualified, not the sailor -- it's a foregone conclusion that Ainslie will be going for another Gold medal in Athens to match his Laser class medal won in Sydney in 2000. Ainslie's results in the 8 races sailed were 6-2-5-1-1-2-2-8. He didn't need to sail the final race to win.
The top 9 countries to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics for the Finn Class competition (after ISAF approval) are: GBR, POL, CRO, ESP, BEL, GER, FRA, BRA and IRL.
Top five final places:
1. Ben Ainslie, GBR, 19 points
2. Mateusz Kusznierewicz, POL, 37
3. Emilios Papathanasiou, GRE, 42
4. Karlo Kuret, CRO, 47
5. Rafael Trujizo Villar, ESP, 50
The top US sailor was Gregory Skidmore in 19th.
www.eio.gr/finn2002/
POLAR DATA SOURCES AND OCKAM COMPATIBILITY
Is your boat's performance data available from US Sailing's "in stock" Polar Performance database? While the best source for a thorough and complete Ockam format file remains a custom run VPP, services are available to refine and expand "off the shelf" polar information for use with OckamSoft or burned to chip for our 037 Interface. For more information, contact Tom Davis (tom@ockam.com). See www.ockam.com
UBS CHALLENGE U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP
Newport RI: After two days of competition, Team Lovell remains undefeated following two round robins and holds the best record heading into tomorrow's semi-finals of the UBS Challenge U.S. Championship. Team Lovell, Team Cesare, Team Rodi, and Team Woodworth will compete for the top three spots that go on to race against the America's Cup contenders in the UBS Challenge Finals.
Team Lovell hails from New Orleans. The team's skipper, Andy Lovell, has a long resume of sailing victories, his third place in the Prince of Wales Cup in 2001 won him the seeding into the UBS Challenge US Championship.
Team Cesare, headed by Ben Cesare, won it's placement in the US Championship through its first place finish in the New York regional qualifying regatta with an impressive 9-1 record.
Brad Rodi and team from the San Diego YC, finished first in the Los Angeles qualifier.
Team Woodworth, led by Westerly RI native Mason Woodworth, was seeded into the Championship by virtue of Mason's victory in the 2001 Prince of Wales Cup, the US Match Racing Championship. He also won the event in 2000 and 1999.
The UBS Challenge pits the United States' best amateur sailors against America's Cup Teams for a purse of $100,000, one of sailing's largest prizes. The UBS Challenge is sanctioned by US Sailing and is part of the Swedish Match Tour.
Racing resumes at 9 AM Monday for the semi-final and final rounds.
www.ubs.com/ubschallenge
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
(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 Jerry Fipps: It has long been understood that single numbered yacht handicapping systems do not recognize variable wind conditions either from differences in venue or dynamic variations on the course. It takes a two number system such as Americap II, to successfully handicap boats over the range of wind velocities generally encountered in racing. This is best demonstrated graphically in a rating comparison of two active boats under a popular single numbered system and Americap II for various wind velocities.
Go to http://www.scora.org/twocomp.xls. You will quickly note that for the single number system the two boats are only fairly rated where the two curves cross at about nine knots. Or stated another way, racing under the single number handicap system, one of these boats gives the other time unfairly, except when the wind is 9 knots. Your attention is directed to the explanatory notes and analysis at the base of the website. A comparison of any two boats whose ratings are available may be made on the site. Sample ratings will be found when the web page is scrolled to the right.
Finally, Americap II ratings do not change with fleet or locale. This is of particular value in overnight or invitational regattas which mix custom and production boats from different venues.
US Sailing's Offshore Office has published an excellent brochure entitled Americap II, a complete and readable presentation of the rule. E-mail mhra-scora@ipisystems.com with your name and address to obtain your copy.
* From James Malm: Future AC Boats - The technological breakthroughs created by designing faster AC boats are great. Each new AC formula helps the evolution of hull, keel, rudder, rig, and sail design.Ê The hull design is important, but it seems that sail, keel, and mast designs have helped win the last few races. Sure, you can build female molded boats and stream line the hull design, but if the spinnaker goes in the drink or the mast comes down, then what have you got?
Spectators:Ê Most sailors enjoy watching 18 foot skiff and 49er's racing much more than AC film, Why? Because skiff sailors are pushing the edge and if they go to far, we get to watch them wipe out!!!
Why not design a 40 to 50 foot boat that has strict hull design limitations. Boats could change mast, rudders, and sails for the conditions.Ê Only one keel could be used for the event. The sail area would be unlimited, creating a premium on boat handling and driver skills.
As it stands today, a 10 time world champion sailor can be beaten by a computer jockey with lots of cash. And maybe this is what the guys running the AC cup want.
* Norris McNamara: As a lifetime sailor - scows on Lake Geneva, then offshore on Lake Michigan, including 27 Chicago to Mac Island races - I'm writing to publicly retract years of grousing and grumbling that the Chicago Yacht Club Mackinac Race Committee was too over-dramatic on the safety requirements. The Mac Committee's decision to require handheld VHFs on this year's race likely saved the lives of Caliente's crew. When the 40' trimaran flipped over and the electrics were trashed, they were able to find the handheld VHF and broadcast the Mayday that brought quick assistance from a commercial boat and their competitor Kokomo. Next year we'll be triple-checking all the safety gear and looking at the expiration dates on the dye markers.
* From Douglas McIntosh: Re: Mark Chisnell's remarks on "Is Winner Take All Best for the Americas Cup?": "Winner take all" IS the Americas cup, so "Being Best for" is a given. If you want a different event, then come up with a format for it, and sell it to the world as a different event. This is not a business as Mark suggests, it's still just a darn Yacht race. The business part of it is just a layer on top.
SAILING WORLD NOOD AT MARBLEHEAD RACE WEEK
Marblehead, MA: When Marblehead sailor Bruce Dyson went up to collect the Leonard Munn Fowle Trophy tonight, one of two overall trophies awarded at the conclusion of the Sailing World NOOD at Marblehead Race Week, it wasn't the first time. Dyson captured an overall trophy at this 113-year-old event in both 1999 and 2001. But this year, this New England skipper was granted overall honors for a unique reason.
After four days of racing on Massachusetts Bay, Dyson and his crew on Gypsy won the IODÊ class, one of 12 classes competing at Race Week, by a large margin of 10 points. But the Fowle trophy was given for more than strong sailing: it was given for making sure that this fleet of 33-foot IODs, a sailboat of 1930s vintage, could even make it to the starting line.
Tonight, at the Eastern Yacht Club, some 700 sailors celebrated the conclusion of yet another running of this New England regatta that dates to 1889. A total of 198 boats from the United States, Canada, and Ireland competed.
Stewart Neff and Henry Brauer were presented with the Norman E. Cressy Award tonight, a second perpetual trophy awarded at Race Week, for winning the class deemed to be the most competitive in the regatta. Neff helmed Hup Two to a win in the 35-boat Sonar class.
The first Marblehead Race Week was held in 1889. The historic regatta joined the NOOD (National Offshore One-Design) regattas--a nine-event national racing circuit owned and organized by Sailing World magazine of Newport (R.I.)--in 1998. The next stop on the NOOD regatta circuit is San Francisco (August 31-September 1). -- Cynthia Goss
Class winners:
Corinthian: Cerulean, Rob Vener, Marblehead MA.
Daysailer: Odile, Natalie Coleman-Fuller, West Hartford, CT
Etchells: Spot, Peter Duncan, Rye, NY
Frers 33: Knotless, Ken Bowden, Marblehead, MA
IOD: Gypsy, Bruce Dyson, Marblehead, MA
J/105: Heart Throb, William Strauss, Marblehead, MA
J/24: Mojo, Paul Michalowski, Swampscott, MA
Rhodes 19: Jumbly, Jeremy Bloxham, Marblehead, MA
Sonar: Hup Two, Stewart P. Neff/Henry Brauer, Marblehead, MA
Thunderbird: Flying Gull, Ken MacLeod, Quincy, MA
Townclass: Aufblitzen, Jane R. Cooke, Marblehead, MA
Viper 640: UFO, Rob & Kelly Gorman, Marblehead, MA
Complete results and photos at www.sailingworld.com
WEEKEND WARRIORS
Previous ads for Ullman Sails have talked about the Olympic medals their sails have won; the World and Continental Championship triumphs; big regatta wins; and the impressive performance and durability Ullman Sails demonstrated in the Around Alone Race. But the real beneficiaries of the knowledge and know-how at the 24 Ullman lofts are the thousands of PHRF sailors who never get the headlines, but use their Ullman Sails to routinely collect regatta trophies - weekend after weekend. Find out how affordable improved performance can be: www.ullmansails.com
IL MORO TROPHY
A typical summer day on San Francisco Bay greeted the IACCSF Saturday morning - cold, foggy and an early breeze building. In true San Francisco Bay summertime fashion, by the time the boats met at the start line for Race 3 the sun was out and the breeze had picked up to almost 20 knots - perfect conditions for IACC racing. Oracle BMW, with Larry Ellison at the helm, took an easy victory in Race 3, eight minutes ahead of Il Moro.
A different story on Sunday morning: "Its blowing poms out of pubs", observed Brent Rhune, crew member on NZL 20 as he checked out the conditionsÊon San Francisco Bay from the IACCSF Protector RIB. Accordingly, due to high wind conditions and in the interests of safety, Day 3 of the Il Moro Trophy regatta was canceled. The awards ceremony was held at noon at the Sausalito Yacht Club.
Final positions for the Il Moro Trophy Regatta
1. ORACLE BMW Racing (Larry Ellison)
2. NZL 14 (Roberto Ferrarese)
3. Il Moro (Peter Stoneberg) and NZL 20 (David Stoneberg)
4. Stars & Stripes (John Sweeney)
More at www.iaccsf.com, great pics by Tom Zinn at www.adrenalinimages.com
JOHN DENNIS' ASCENSIA PASSES ROLLOVER TEST
Barrington, RI: John Dennis' Ascencia passed its required "rollover test" on July 26. The rollover is a test in which the boat, with its skipper sealed inside, is turned completely upside down in the water as part of the certification requirements for the Around Alone race.Ê It took Dennis 3 1/2 hours longer than expected to re-right his boat through a process that involved manually pumping seawater into water ballast tanks inside the boat. Dennis will leave Wednesday from Newport, R.I. to begin his 2100-mile transatlantic qualifying sail to the Azores.
11 CHAMPIONS IN FLEET OF 114 FOR NAUTICA STAR WORLDS
Marina Del Rey, CA: There are 114 entries for the Nautica 2002 Star Class World Championship, and every 10th boat will be sailed by a champion of this prestigious one-design class.
Sweden's Fredrik Loof, the 2001 winner at Medemblik, The Netherlands, and 10 other winners of 15 Star class Worlds, plus four of the last five Olympic gold medallists, are among the entries. The Aug. 18-23 regatta on Santa Monica Bay fronting West L.A. will be hosted and organized by the California Yacht Club.
The complete entry list is posted at www.starworlds2002.com
TAG TEAM CURMUDGEONS
I'm outta here, off to Newport for the UBS Challenge. Tom returned from his vacation this evening and will take over the helm again starting with the Tuesday issue. Letters and submissions to him, please, at leweck@earthlink.net -- David McCreary
THE CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATIONS
Today, if you are not confused, you are just not thinking clearly. --U. Peter
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