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SCUTTLEBUTT 2271 – January 31, 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). TWENTY YEARS AGO (Twenty years ago tonight, Dennis Conner and his crew began a magical and momentous America's Cup finals sweep of the Aussies. Later this week, members of Conner's championship team will meet at San Diego YC for a reunion that will include members of the support staff as well as the “Mushrooms” from the backup crew.) (Jan 30) Throughout the race, the skipper, as was his practice, had said little. But after taking a glance up the mainsail upon rounding the final mark, Dennis Conner looked forward and told his crew to look sharp. “Guys,” said Conner, “This is the last leg of the America's Cup.” The date was Feb. 4, 1987 - actually Feb. 3 back in the United States - and the place was a treacherous patch of water off Fremantle, Western Australia, called the Gates Roads. The event was one of the greatest achievements ever by a team representing San Diego, the climax of Stars & Stripes' four-race sweep of Australian defender Kookaburra III in the America's Cup. The finals actually started 20 years ago this evening in a race that capped Conner's long climb back from the most ignominious defeat in the history of competitive sailing in the United States. In the fall of 1983, Conner became the first American skipper to lose the America's Cup, in a seven-race battle with the technically advanced and faster wing-keeled challenger Australia II. Rebuffed by New York Yacht Club in his attempt to reclaim the Auld Mug for the organization that had owned the America's Cup for 132 years, native San Diegan Conner decided to launch his own challenge out of San Diego Yacht Club. “We started from scratch and built a champion,” Conner would say years later. “Nothing before or since compares with the magic of that time,” Bill Trenkle said recently while reflecting upon the Stars & Stripes victory in Australia. -- Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, full story: http://tinyurl.com/ynohtz THE MAGIC BOX (Scott Nixon describes some of the new tools used at Key West Race Week.) The more opportunities and time I get to spend on a Farr 40, Mumm 30 or other high end one design boats, the more amazing it is to see and experience the latest sailing gadgets. Sailing in these top one-design classes is tough. Sailing well and winning races in these grand-prix classes is a full on mission! One of the latest trends to hit the Farr 40 class is what we are calling the “Magic Box”. Most top boats in the class are now benefiting from some of the trickle down technology from the America’s Cup and Volvo Races. We are using onboard computers and highly sensitive GPS antennas to help make some of the tough tactical decisions on the racecourse. These systems are standard on Volvo and Cup boats but are now making their way on every day one designs. These systems consist of and onboard computer, we are using a waterproof Panasonic Tough Book that is tied into your onboard instruments. -- D1D, full report: http://tinyurl.com/25pzs2 MAKING CHANGES Nick Scandone is a realistic man. When he began competing in the 2.4 mR Paralympic class, his condition - ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease - still allowed him to compete at a high level. The international classification system, which ranks qualifying Paralympic sailors on a 1-7 scale, viewed him a 6, which is on the “more able” end of the spectrum. However, by the 2005 Worlds, his classification had dropped to a 3. Nick still won the Worlds, and that year was awarded the Rolex US Yachtsman of the Year. But ALS is a progressive disease, and his condition was progressing. When he approached the 2.4 mR US Pre-Trials last fall, he knew his strength was no longer sufficient to sail the boat in all conditions. He rigged up the optional jib-boom in hopes that it would keep him on a level footing with the fleet, but since than has struggled to maintain the top boat performance needed to compete. Following the Miami OCR last week, Nick was now convinced of something he had long suspected - his hopes of being a serious threat sailing the 2.4 mR in the Olympics were no longer realistic Nick’s classification is now a 1, and while he feels that he still could win the US trials scheduled for this fall, he is not sure how far his illness will progress before the Olympics in August 2008? Still gripping on to his Olympic dream, Nick now plans to sell his three 2.4 mR boats, and has switched his focus to the new doublehanded Paralympic boat - the SKUD-18. Because the class is new, there is a lack of available used boats to get started in. New boats are built in Singapore, so Nick figures it will take at least two months before he can begin training. Plus he needs a crew. Class rules require at least one person to be classified as a 1, and one person must be female with a minimum classification of 7. If he can sell his 2.4 mR boats, if he can find a crew, if he can begin training in the SKUD-18, if his health doesn’t degenerate too far… Plenty of ifs, but that has been Nick’s life since being diagnosed in 2002. Nick loves to sail, and having the Olympic dream has kept him busy, active, and appreciative of what he has, and not what he hasn’t. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0130 * To contact Nick Scandone, go to his website: http://www.alove4sailing.com ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS! Congratulations to Flash Gordon on their great success in the Farr 40 class at KWRW! Team Flash Gordon is wearing the new Camet Silkweight Technical Shirt that helps increase movement and has moisture management elements imbedded into the fibers. Available March 2007. They are also sporting Molokai Vests and Rio Shorts. For more information, please see http://www.camet.com WHEN LESS IS MORE When Team Shosholoza returned from its winter holiday in South Africa, the sailors were given a new toy to play with. Rather than building a second boat, however, the South Africans decided to modify RSA 83, the first new boat built in this Cup cycle. Most observers will credit the team with having made a good decision. Historically, building a second new boat has been the downfall of many smaller teams in the modern era of the America’s Cup. And with current rules allowing a team to change up to 50% of the hull of a boat, significant modifications can be made without building an entirely new boat. “We’re happy with one boat to be honest,” says Paul Standbridge, Sailing Manager of the team. “Small teams that try and do two boats are the ones that make mistakes. I’m glad we only have one boat with the size of our organisation. I think RSA 83 was very good to start with and I think the changes will make it better.” -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/25awdz MONDAY MORNING TACTICIAN (Top ranked US Laser sailor Andrew Campbell reflects on his starts from the Miami OCR) Last week sailing in the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta there were hundreds of incidents worth analyzing from the Monday Morning Tactician, as is the case during any event with more than 100 boats and 12 races. In particular, there is one area of my racing that could have helped yield better results: my starts. Generally, my starts were good to average. However, at least twice over the course of the series I created too large a hole to leeward and left myself exposed to late hole seekers and the significantly more dangerous ‘crazy reacher.’ The process of starting in a Laser is similar to most dinghy classes. With about a minute to go before the start, the fleet lines up within a few boatlengths of the line and luffs, all while jockeying for position amongst one another. By lining up with the majority of the fleet around a minute to go, you allow yourself plenty of time to get set up toward the best end of the line relative to the breeze and the racecourse before it becomes too crowded in the front row. On the other hand, setting up on the line early demands a certain amount of skill holding your hole to leeward and maintaining control of the boat to windward. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/273b5k SAILING SHORTS * Attendees at the Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show are encouraged to join the team from the Bitter End Yacht Club for some tropical cheer, Friday February 2nd, 2007, from 6 pm to 8 pm, Booth #182. Join BEYC's General Manager Mikhail Shamkin, Director of Group Sales and Special Events John Glynn, and BEYC owner Dana Hokin to hear the latest from the Virgin Gorda resort, and the schedule for the 21st Annual Pro Am Regatta, and the 6th Annual Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championships. The Scuttlebutt website has a link for a $5 discount to enter the show: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/jump/ss-c07.html * Day one of the Tornado North American Championship was sailed on a bright, cool day with challenging northwesterly to north breezes in Miami, FL. Athens silver medallists John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree (USA) opened up with a 7,2 start to take the early lead. 2005 World Champions Fernando Echavarri and Anton Paz (ESP) scored a bullet in the day’s second race and lie one point behind Lovell and Ogletree, in second place overall in the 34-boat fleet. Tied on points with the Spaniards are reigning North American Champions Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle (CAN). -- http://www.tornado.org/html/event_details.asp?EventID=144 * Seventy-one Etchells participated in the Florida State Championship in Miami last weekend, the third regatta in the Alpine Jaguar Mid-Winter series that culminates in the Mid-Winter Championship in early March. Conditions on Biscayne Bay varied from the dicey and difficult on Saturday to the thrashing, squally Southwester on Sunday. Scott Piper, Stu Delisser and Tim Banks won the regatta with three top four finishes in the five race series. The consistently impressive team of Phil Garland, Paul Murphy and Moose McClintock were tied on points but lost the count back, with Steve Girling, Tucker Edmundson and Marc Jacobi seven points back in third. – http://www.etchellsfleet20.org * (Jan 30) Racers had a scheduled layday at the 2007 SAP International 505 World Championship, being held this week in Adelaide, Australia. Racing resumes Wednesday through Friday. The Danish team of Jan Saugmann/ Morten Ramsbaek are in first with 17 pts, one point ahead of Pre-Worlds winners Mike Martin/ Jeff Nelson from the Unites States. -- http://www.505worlds2007.com * Sailing website The Daily Sail spoke to ISAF President Göran Petersson (SWE) about the Olympic Sailing Competition. Amongst the topics covered were the events and equipment for the 2012 Olympic Games and some of ISAF’s media initiatives to make the upcoming Olympic Games the most spectator friendly ever. -- http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=ju,FnAjqw&format=popup * In preparation for the 32nd America’s Cup, the Challenger Commission has been meeting this week in Valencia, with and all 11 Challengers well represented. Look for updates on the CC website Tuesday and Wednesday. -- http://www.challengercommission.com * World Publications’ Sailing Group has announced that Jason White has been promoted to Publisher of Cruising World and Ted Ruegg has been named the new Advertising Director for Sailing World. White has been Associate Publisher for both sailing titles for the past three years, with Ruegg having been the longest-serving member of the ad sales team, having started with Sailing World magazine in 1987. In addition to his Advertising Director duties, Ruegg remains Regional Sales Manager for Cruising World and Power Cruising. * In an attempt to raise funds, the University of Texas Sailing team has made available a calendar called the Women of the University of Texas Sailing. As if year round sailing on Lake Travis, the amazing town of Austin, and a great academic institution weren’t enough, UT team now stakes their claim at having the prettiest women's sailing team in the country. To view the calendar: http://www.cafepress.com/texassailing.87537597 * Correction: In Issue 2270, the story ‘Bad Habits’ stated that Paige Railey's third Rule 42 infraction occurred during the 6th race of the Miami OCR. This was based on data from the event website that was later found to be in error. Railey’s third infraction was actually during the 10th race. NOW AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA Rhode Island based CrossCurrent Marine is pleased to announce the arrival to San Diego of its thirty-three foot modern luxury daysailer built by Maxi Dolpin. Successfully introduced in Europe over the past two years and now available in North America, the CrossCurrent 33 is turning heads wherever she goes. Harnessing state-of-the-art materials, world-class Italian production, and the first Hall Spars carbon/honeycomb EZV Boom, she is filled with clever and unique features -- easy sail handling, stunning looks, and spirited performance. For more information, contact Jeff Brown of JK3 Nautical Enterprises at 619.224.6200. To view footage from a race on Narragansett Bay, go to http://www.crosscurrentmarine.com/yachts.html 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 Gail M. Turluck: While I can't speak for Paige Railey's mindset at the Miami OCR, it may just be that she is using these tuneup regattas to test new boathandling techniques or to discover on a trial by fire nature where certain judges draw the line in comparison to others. We can be confident her intention was likely not to be tossed from the whole event, but rather to work on perfecting her technique. One simply cannot be a serious contender in the Laser Class without having flawless kinetic skills. During this time before the Trials, she must seize every opportunity to develop them, sometimes under the watchful eye of most of her major competitors. Today's crop of racers don't necessarily see shame for acquiring such a penalty; it's more viewed as a cost of learning (quite different than in my era, and one I don't necessarily condone). When you sail as many events as she does, it's "another day at the office," as it were! * From Michael Moore: Shame on Jim Anderson and William Peters (letters in Issue 2270).Yes, apparently Paige Railey needs to adjust her sailing, probably downwind. However, can't we maintain a sense of perspective? We are talking about a young woman not even 20 years old. Having campaigned an Olympic Class dingy (Finn), I can readily understand how she finds herself in the predicament she is in. She needs to learn where the line between legal and illegal kinetics is (trust me, it isn't as nicely marked as the center line on the local highway), but give her some credit for continuing to try. And give her some time to learn. I can only imagine how poorly she must have felt upon disqualification. But to then have to read the comments of Jim Anderson and William Peters? Would either of them have walked up to their own daughters and asked "What must Rolex think of you now?" And shame on you curmudgeon for printing them. A fair dialog on kinetics is one thing, but personal attacks like this don't match the spirit I remember in the Scuttlebutt of old. And no, I don't know Paige. * From Skip Dieball: (edited to the 250-word limit) I took J. Joseph Bainton's comment in S'butt 2270 close to heart, not only because I'm the Chair of US Sailing's One-Design Class Council, but also a long-time sailor who has sailed numerous different classes, a sailmaker and longtime US Sailing member. Mr. Bainton points out that, according to the US Sailing one-design survey, the number of members of the Etchells class has been decreasing and infers that this somehow is caused by US Sailing. There are a great number of people working hard within US Sailing for the common good of the sport and I can guarantee that we are working for ALL classes and certainly we don’t discuss Soviet data-reporting strategies! The numbers shown in the survey reflect paid class memberships. There’s little doubt that there are other methods that could be used, but this is the method chosen. I would argue that all class officers appreciate us showing paid members and that it provides an opportunity for all of us to get our fleet-mates to join their class, get connected and increase the opportunity for fun (not to mention re-sale value of our boats!). What Mr. Bainton didn’t mention is that the survey also found out that 34 classes have enjoyed an increase in membership! However, there is still plenty of work we can all do to contribute to the health of the sport and the classes we love, some of which was being worked at US Sailing's One-Design Symposium last week in New Orleans. * From Britton Chance, Sr: After opening the shocking sequence of the J/24 capsize and foundering, I hope we can print the stability chart (heel angle versus righting moment) to forewarn tyros. Are other "keelboat" sailors equally in danger? In my experience with Andy Green's "Mustang", a 1/4 tonner publicized by Ted Turner, no capsizes have occurred, but please let this letter stimulate a discussion on keelboat capsizes from the Mustang and other keelboat fleets. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Tact is the art of convincing people that they know more than you do. Special thanks to Camet International and JK3 Nautical Enterprises. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
