|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2665 - Thursday, August 21, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. OLYMPIC GAMES – GOLD FOR KIWI AND CHINESE Qingdao, China (August 20, 2008; Day Twelve) The RS:X Men and Women completed their medal race in bright sun and 7-9 knots, with Jian Yin providing host China with their second medal of the Games, and their first gold. All three of the women are past medalist, with Yin and bronze medalist Bryony Shaw (GBR) having earned their first medal in 2004, while silver medalist Alessandra Sensini (ITA) pulls in her fourth consecutive medal as the sport’s most decorated Olympic female sailor. In the men’s division, New Zealander Tom Ashley pulled up from third to grab gold, earning his country’s only medal, and the first Olympic sailing gold for New Zealand since 1992 when Barbara Kendall won windsurfing gold 16 years ago in Barcelona. -- Wrap up report here: http://sailjuice.squarespace.com/home/2008/8/20/two-great-medal-races.html For the Stars and Tornados, winds began in the mid teens, gradually dropping during the day, allowing these two events to complete their final three opening races. Both events now proceed to their medal race, and these two final contests of the 2008 Olympic Games will be the featured events for television coverage on Thursday, August 21st. As yachting correspondent Tim Jeffery notes, five of the top six going into the Star class medal race have stood on the podium in Sydney, Athens, or both. As for the Tornado teams in the medal picture, only the Argentinean team medaled in 2004, earning the bronze, while only the Aussie team was on the podium in 2000, accepting silver. No teams enter the medal race with a significant point advantage to have guaranteed themselves a medal. The only remaining North American entrant in the Olympics is in the Tornado event, where Canadians Oskar Johansson and Kevin Stittle still have a chance to earn either a silver or bronze medal. > ISAF reports: http://www.sailing.org/olympics/Olympicshome.php > US reports: http://olympics.ussailing.org/Olympics.htm > Canadian reports: http://www.sailing.ca/home.asp > NBC sailing microsite: http://www.nbcolympics.com/sailing Final Results ** RS:X Men (35 entrants) 1. NZL, Tom Ashley, 4-7-7-1-5-5-3-6-8-(32)-3/6, 52 2. FRA, Julien Bontemps, (13)-1-5-4-10-8-2-10-2-3-4/8, 53 3. ISR, Shahar Zubari, 1-3-1-3-17-6-(19)-18-1-4-2/4, 58 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. GBR, Nick Dempsey, 11-9-3-2-1-7-(17)-5-3-5-7/14, 60 5. BRA, Ricardo Santos, 12-6-13-7-6-3-6-7-5-(33)-6/12, 77 17. MEX, David Mier y Teran, 16-5-17-6-12-(29)-23-21-4-25, 129 23. CAN, Zachary Plavsic, 23-25-22-21-(30)-12-26-12-29-11, 181 26. USA, Ben Barger, 21-22-24-26-26-(32)-25-17-25-31. 217 RS:X Women (27 entrants) 1. CHN, Jian Yin, 1-1-1-3-3-(13)-7-8-8-1-3/6, 39 2. ITA, Alessandra Sensini, 6-2-9-1-(DSQ/28)-3-2-2-5-8-1/2, 40 3. GBR, Bryony Shaw, 4-3-11-6-(OCS/28)-6-5-3-1-2-2/4, 45 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. ESP, Marina Alabau, 3-5-5-2-5-(11)-8-5-4-9-4/8, 54 5. AUS, Jessica Crisp, 2-4-3-8-1-8-9-(14)-6-5-10/20, 66 17. CAN, Nikola Girke, 11-14-13-14-12-15-13-(DNF/28)-18-15, 125 23. MEX, Demita Vega, 23-21-25-25-17-21-20-19-19-(26), 190 26. USA, Nancy Rios, 25-24-22-26-24-27-(DNF/28)-DNF/28-26-22, 224 Laser (43 entrants) 1. GBR, Paul Goodison, (15)-2-15-1-9-7-1-4-6-9/18, 63 2. SLO, Vasilij Zbogar, (24)-4-14-6-2-11-18-1-11-2/4, 71 3. ITA, Diego Romero, 6-3-5-(36)-10-15-11-9-10-3/6, 75 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. POR, Gustavo Lima, 5-8-3-(27)-17-6-16-8-3-5/10, 76 5. NZL, Andrew Murdoch, 2-5-(40)-20-24-5-5-17-1-2, 81 9. CAN, Michael Leigh, 13-23-26-5-4-3-(28)-2-19-14, 109 21. ISV, Thomas Barrows, III, 20-28-20-24-26-(31)-15-10-21, 164 25. USA, Andrew Campbell, 14-18-1-26-32-(BFD/44)-8-DSQ/44-31, 174 Laser Radial (28 entrants) 1. USA, Anna Tunnicliffe, 4-5-6-5-6-3-(15)-2-2-2/4, 37 2. LTU, Gintare Volungeviciute, 3-13-8-1-1-4-(21)-6-4-1/2, 42 3. CHN, Lijia Xu, (24)-3-10-6-5-2-1-11-6-3/6, 50 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. AUS, Sarah Blanck, 6-11-7-(19)-4-12-8-1-5-4/8, 54 5. FRA, Sarah Steyaert, 11-1-21-3-(BFD/29)-1-3-10-11-8/16, 77 13. MEX, Tania Elias Calles Wolf, 27-25-(DNF/29)-13-15-16-7-3-1, 107 17. CAN, Lisa Ross, 16-23-13-11-7-9-(OCS/29)-25-7, 111 470 Men (29 entrants) 1. AUS, Nathan Wilmot/Malcolm Page, 4-7-3-3-3-4-5-(16)-3-10-1/2, 44 2. GBR, Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield, 19-5-1-4-9-6-20-(OCS/30)-2-3-3/6, 75 3. FRA, Nicolas Charbonnier/Olivier Bausset,6-3-8-1-6-18-3-14-7-(20)-6/12,78 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. NED, Sven Coster/Kalle Coster, 11-(15)-12-2-8-15-2-8-4-2-7/14, 78 5. ESP, Onan Barreiros/Aaron Sarmiento, 8-2-6-9-13-13-13-4-11-(18)-4/8, 79 13. USA, Stuart McNay/Graham Biehl, 26-12-(OCS/30)-17-15-1-4-1-6-23, 105 29. CAN, Locas/Bone, 25-25-(OCS/30)-20-23-22-(OCS/30)-18-26-16, 205 470 Women (19 entrants) 1. AUS, Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson, 2-2-4-1-(9)-4-2-5-3-2-9/18, 43 2. NED, Marcelien De Koning/Lobke Berkhout,3-1-9-5-2-2-10-7-4-(16)-5/10,53 3. BRA, Fernanda Oliveira/Isabel Swan, 11-(16)-5-10-7-6-6-2-7-4-1/2, 60 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. ISR, Nike Kornecki/Vered Buskila, 8-13-1-2-8-(19)-3-1-11-15-2/4, 66 5. ITA, Giulia Conti/Giovanna Micol, 14-7-6-3-6-11-4-(19)-12-6-3/6, 75 12. USA, Amanda Clark/Sarah Mergenthaler, 12-12-10-14-4-(17)-7-6-17-7, 89 Finn (26 entrants) 1. GBR, Ben Ainslie, (10)-1-4-1-1-10-2-1/2, 23 2. USA, Zach Railey, 2-5-2-2-7-8-7-(19)-6/12, 45 3. FRA, Guillaume Florent, 5-8-20-3-4-6-4-(21)-4/8, 58 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. SWE, Daniel Birgmark, 14-(17)-1-6-12-3-3-5-7/14, 58 5. CAN, Christopher Cook, 8-3-7-10-(23)-5-15-3-8/16, 67 Yngling (15 entrants) 1. GBR, Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb/Pippa Wilson, 2-3-4-(7)-4-2-2-5-1/2, 24 2. NED, Mandy Mulder/Annemieke Bes/Merel Witteveen,9-1-2-(13)-1-5-4-1-4/8,31 3. GRE, Bekatorou/Papadopoulou/Kravarioti, 10-12-9-3-2-(16/OCS)-3-3-3/6, 48 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. GER,Ulrike Schuemann/Ute Hoepfner/Julia Bleck,8-7-7-11-11-3-5-(13)-2/4,56 5. FRA, Anne Le Helley/ Lepesant/ Gerecht, 4-(15)-1-14-5-10-10-2-5/10, 56 7.USA,Sally Barkow/Carolyn Howe/Deborah Capozzi,(14)-2-8-5-6-11-1-10-9/18,61 13. CAN, Jennifer Provan/Henderson/Abbott, 5-4-10-(15)-9-12-11-15, 66 49er (19 entrants) 1. DEN, Jonas Warrer/Martin Kirketerp Ibsen, 2-4-(10)-4-2-3-4-2-9-2-7-8-7/14, 61 2. ESP, Lizarduy/Gaztańaga, 1-10-17-2-(OCS/20)-5-7-10-3-4-1-2-1/2, 64 3. GER, Jan-Peter Peckolt/Hannes Peckolt,(15)-6-11-6-3-2-2-12-4-5-4-7-2/4,66 ----------------------------------------------------------- 4. ITA, Pietro Sibello/Gianfranco Sibello,3-9-1-1-6-9-3-8-12-(17)-3-3-4/8,66 5.AUS, Nathan Outteridge/Ben Austin,(DSQ/20)-1-7-3-1-1-6-4-6-12-2-18-6/12,73 6. USA, Tim Wadlow/Christopher Rast, 5-14-15-(16)-5-10-1-1-1-3-8-4-DNF/22,89 14. CAN, Gordon Cook/Ben Remocker, 13-12-13-10-7-6-16-16-10-(18)-15-16, 134 ** Final results include a medal race for entrants in the top ten. Both medal race position and points are shown (position/points). Current Results Star (16 entrants) 1. SWE, Fredrik Loof/Anders Ekstrom, 1-4-(15)-3-6-1-8-2-1-7, 33 2. GBR, Iain Percy/Andrew Simpson, 7-(13)-3-5-8-2-1-1-2-6, 35 3. BRA, Robert Scheidt/Bruno Prada, 10-(11)-6-1-9-10-2-3-3-3, 47 4. FRA, Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau, 12-1-5-4-7-6-9-9-8-2, 51 5. SUI, Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria, 9-7-9-9-5-5-6-(11)-4-1, 55 ----------------------------------------------------------- 11. USA, John Dane/Austin Sperry, 8-2-4-12-15-15-(16)-16-10-4, 86 Tornado (15 entrants) 1. ESP, Fernando Echavarri/Anton Paz Blanco, 1-6-1-4-7-(13)-1-7-1-8, 36 2. AUS, Darren Bundock/Glenn Ashby, 5-4-3-1-5-(9)-2-8-7-4, 39 3. ARG, Santiago Lange/Carlos Espínola, (13)-1-1-12-4-6-9-1-9-1, 44 4. GER, Johannes Polgar/Florian Spalteholz, 10-7-11-5-6-1-5-(13)-4-3, 52 5. CAN, Oskar Johansson/Kevin Stittle, 8-3-9-9-1-(15)-11-12-2-2, 57 ----------------------------------------------------------- 15. USA, John Lovell/Charles Ogletree, 14-12-7-11-12-14-(15)-15-14-15, 114 Complete results: http://www.sailing.org/olympics/resultscentre.php OLYMPIC GAMES - DEALING WITH THE DETAILS * RACE SCHEDULE: The Star and Tornado are the final two events still competing, and now after having completed their ten opening races, the top ten positions will advance to their medal race Thursday on Course A at 1300. * WEATHER FORECAST - Qingdao Olympic Venue: For Thursday, August 21st, winds are expected to be from the ESE direction at 15 knots, steadily increasing to 20 knots by late afternoon. An archive of the maps/graphs from each day are at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/olyweather - to get the animated hour by hour forecast map images, sign up for free worldwide forecasts at www.predictwind.com * RACE WATCHING: For television and online viewers, the event has advanced to the medal races, and it is only these races that will compete on Course A, which is the featured course for coverage. The Star and Tornado will have their medal race on Thursday, August 21st; Friday and Saturday are available as reserve days if needed. > U.S. viewing schedule: http://tinyurl.com/NBCsked > Canadian viewing schedule: http://www.sailing.ca/feature/2008/07/bold.html POSITIONED FOR THE PODIUM Here are the countries that currently have entrants in the top three: Great Britain - 6 Australia - 3 France - 3 Brazil - 2 China - 2 Netherlands - 2 Italy - 2 Spain - 2 United States - 2 Argentina - 1 Denmark - 1 Germany - 1 Greece - 1 Israel - 1 Lithuania - 1 New Zealand - 1 Slovenia - 1 Sweden - 1 There are now 18 countries that have either already earned a sailing medal, or are currently in the top three. The results remain close in the two remaining classes, with the chance still to equal or exceed the mark of 20 countries that earned sailing medals in 2004. Here are some links from the 2004 Olympic Games: > Medal Count: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/04/medals > Photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/olympics FIRST OVERALL AT CORSAIR NATIONALS Congratulations to Bob Harkrider and crew on F-28R “Bad Boys,” whose performance at the 2008 Corsair Trimaran Nationals not only earned the team first in class, but first overall for the event as well. “Bad Boys,” who competed with full Ullman Sails inventory, finished in the 28 division with four bullets, never finishing lower than second place in a fleet of five boats. And in the PHRF Multihull division, “Bad Boys” took first overall in a fleet of 28 competitors. The regatta was hosted by Beverly Yacht Club in Buzzards Bay, August 6-8. Visit Ullman Sails at http://www.ullmansails.com OLYMPIC GAMES – NEWS AND NOTES * Yachting New Zealand made the unpopular decision of approving entries in only seven of the eleven events, using their limited funds to support only those athletes that had proven to be competitive amid an Olympic field. However, the yachting budget might improve for the 2012 Olympics, as New Zealand's Progressive leader Jim Anderton is now calling for a transformation in support for sport in New Zealand, with a major injection of support for athletes and the development of events in New Zealand. “This call is about supporting New Zealand's culture and our sense of national pride,” said Anderton. “New Zealanders are gripped and excited by our sporting success. We like to see ourselves on top of the world. But we can't expect to keep doing it on the cheap. Just as we backed a shot at the America's Cup, we should be prepared to back sports across the field.” -- Complete story: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00301.htm * From the 400 athletes and 62 nations competing at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, eight are recipients of the prestigious ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards. Three of the eight have won the Award twice: Ben Ainslie (GBR) in 1998 and 2002, competing in the Finn; Robert Scheidt (BRA) in 2001 and 2004, competing now in the Star; and Sofia Bekatorou (GRE) in 2002 and 2004, competing now in the Yngling. Others include Fernando Echavarri/ Anton Paz (ESP) in 2005, competing in the Tornado; Siren Sundby (NOR) in 2003, competing now in the Yngling; Carolijn Brouwer (BEL) in 1998, competing in the Tornado; and Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) in 1999, competing now in the Star. -- http://www.sailing.org/olympics/24636.php INDUSTRY HOPES FOR CHINA BOATING GROWTH No great tradition of water sports ever existed in China, in part because of a cultural aversion to water and sun. "Parents in China always say, 'Get away from the water, it's dangerous,'" says Li Jian Xin, a government official based in Shanghai. He notes another challenge is a cultural affinity for fair skin. But on Tuesday, 20-year-old Xu Lijia gave China its first medal in sailing that wasn't in windsurfing, taking the bronze medal in the women's single-sailor Laser Radial class. This success comes on top of gold and silver for China's women rowers, and followed by the gold medal won on Wednesday by Yin Jian in the women's windsurfing final, where she won silver in 2004. The global boating industry is cheering for China, hoping that the nation's explosive economic growth will bolster a nascent passion for water sports. Across China, several cities have opened yachting clubs and hosted major boat shows, while the nation's newly rich increasingly pour money into big boats. Last year, a China-organized team competed in sailing's granddaddy event, the America's Cup, though several of the sailors were French. International sailing experts say that as China launches more sailing clubs along its thousands of miles of coastline, it will start fostering more talent such as Shanghai-born Ms. Xu, the daughter of ordinary workers who sailed her first boat at age 10. Now sponsored by Nike Inc., Visa Inc. and Nautica, Ms. Xu could inspire other young Chinese to sail. She says her big hope is to see more Chinese "feel the freedom of the sea." Her story is compelling: Diagnosed just before the 2004 Athens Games with a leg tumor that raised the possibility of amputation, she underwent extensive surgery -- then rebounded to win the world championship in her event in 2006. -- The Wall Street Journal, full story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121919635279555399.html?mod=googlenews_wsj LIGHT AIR START FOR J/22 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Rochester, New York, USA (August 20, 2008) - At 1000 hours on Wednesday, 104 J/22s were to line up together for the first race of the J/22 Ultimate Marine Group World Championship in Rochester, New York. However, despite winds in the 12-18 knot range for the days leading up to the event, an hour long postponement was needed before suitable conditions developed, with competitors then faced with an extremely flukey 5-8 knot breeze for the only race of the day. Jeffrey Todd from Annapolis, MD won the opener. It didn’t take long for the fleet to learn how race management would handle such a large fleet on the start line. After only one general recall, the Z flag was raised, with 12 entrants earning the penalty on the start. The race also rolled over the time limit, and despite the course being shortened, only 62 teams finished before the cut-off, with 42 teams earning a 64 point penalty. -- Event website: http://www.myyc.org/j22worlds STORMS AVOID PARALYMPIC AND BLIND EVENT Newport, R.I. (August 20, 2008) - Luck was on the side of competitors yesterday for the opening day of the 2008 C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta as a cold front went through Narragansett Bay with fierce thunderstorms that fortunately split north and south to bypass the area. With predictions for breezier conditions today, racers in the three Paralympic classes who were joined for the first time at this event by the blind sailors racing in J/22s, went back to work on-the-water as an up and down northerly with an ebbing current made for a challenging day. Luck, however, was not a factor in determining the 2008 Blind Sailing World Championship which was won by skipper Sengil “Inky” Inkiala (Watertown, Mass.) and crew Nancy Jodoin (West Brookfield, Mass.), sailing with sighted guides Ken Legler (Reading, Mass.) and Harry Berman (Hull, Mass.). -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6270 NEWPORT LEUKEMIA CUP REGATTA AT HARBOUR COURT For many, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to sail out of one of the best known yacht clubs in the world. The 2008 Leukemia Cup Regatta, being held September 12 and 13 at the New York Yacht Club, is almost here! This year’s event will feature IRC and PHRF racing, as well as attendance by Gary Jobson, National Chair for the event. For more information about the weekend’s activities, and how to become a participant or a sponsor, please contact Jill Jessup at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: mailto:jill.jessup@lls.org or visit the event site at http://www.leukemiacup.org/ri SAILING SHORTS * As host city of the 32nd America’s Cup, Valencia, Spain had hoped to be in the advanced stages of planning for the next cup series. However, with the future of the America’s Cup residing in the Court of Appeals of the New York legal system, a welcome a jolt of adrenalin will arrive this weekend as the 12th event of the 2008 Formula 1 race season, the Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe, is held for the first time on a newly designed track amid the streets of Valencia. -- http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail * (August 20, 2008) Team Russia completed its qualifier for the Volvo Ocean Race last night, coming into dock at their Portland (UK) base after six and a half days at sea, having travelled over 2200 nautical miles in a record breaking trip around Britain and Ireland. Navigator Wouter Verbraak and skipper Andreas Hanakamp decided the conditions looked good to stage an unofficial attempt on the Round Britain and Ireland non-stop record in a monohull set by Solune in May 2004 of 7 days, 4 hours, 46 minutes and 22 seconds. As it transpired Team Russia shaved 15 hours off that record. -- Complete report: http://www.teamrussia.org/article.asp?id=17475 * Ottawa, ONT - Sailors and boaters fear a National Capital Commission assessment could recommend a new bridge across their favoured water on the Ottawa River, even though area politicians have roundly condemned the idea. Britannia Yacht Club members say a span over Lac Deschęnes, from Aylmer's Boulevard des Allumetičres to either Holly Acres Road or Moodie Drive, would end 150 years of sailing in that part of the river by making it unsafe for beginners and veterans alike. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/WSJ0820 * Marine Marketers of America has announced final plans for the first-ever Marine Marketers national awards program, designed to recognize outstanding performance in the marine marketing field. A call for entries is now underway. -- Read on: http://www.marinemarketersofamerica.org/eblasts/MMA-eblast-080508.html CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are a few of the events that are coming up: Aug 20-24 - J/105 North American Championship - San Francisco, CA, USA Aug 22-24 - M 30 North American Championship - Newport, RI, USA Aug 22-24 - Long Point Race Week - Newport Harbor, CA, USA Aug 23-24 - Cape Charles Cup - Virginia Beach, VA, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Andrew Armstrong: I think it absurd for one to think that Olympic Sailing is not a professional sport. I am also concerned that some of the best sailors, or perhaps recorders of such, in history are making comments that are unwarranted. I am an American who has had the privilege of sailing with some of the best sailors in the world, from many countries, and I have never had a bad experience and/or feeling when doing so. The America's Cup and Olympics have generated a view on sailing lately that has developed a negative tone. It is our responsibility to stop this nonsense and get back to basics. Sailing, whether competitive or club relative should be fun and responsible. No Judging. Just fun. And Responsible. How else are we to teach our kids? I know one thing. I will not show them the bickering among adults that don't have a clue. * From Ron Baerwitz: Ok, this is the first time I have ever actually watched a sail board race. That is not the sport of sailing. Air Rowing is a fantastic description of what they are doing. Why is that an Olympic sailing event? RIDICULOUS! * From Tom Keogh: Thanks for the great coverage of the Olympic regatta. Now that most of the classes have wrapped up, it seems there is a lesson to be re-learned from the scores. One observation about the results jumps out. The US teams that won medals did not win races and the US teams that won races did not win medals. Seven of the 27 medals so far went to teams that did not win a race, including two of the Golds. According to the scores on the ISAF site, more than 60 races were won by teams that did not medal. By my count, this included ten teams with multiple bullets. I'm enormously impressed by anyone who can win a race at the Olympics but that does not assure a good overall score. In most classes, the medals went to the teams that got lots of base hits and few, if any, home runs. The Golds in the Finn and the Women's RS:X were exceptions but most of the rest seemed to succeed by avoiding bad scores rather than dominating with strings of bullets. Even though most of us will never race in the Olympic regatta, the same approach should serve us well in our local fleets and championships. Unless you can run away with it, avoid big risks, stay out of trouble and never sail your drop race. * From Norris Bourdow, Dayton, OH: (re, passing of Faye Bennet) Our sport has lost a great champion of junior sailing, at least in my opinion. We will miss her sense of humor and as someone said, her "curmugeon-ness". I first met Faye at the Junior Championships in Noroton, Ct. in 1980 or 81, when my tall skinny son was sailing the Smythe Championship. She was a judge in that series, and dubbed my son Steve as the "skinny kid". He was 14 and competing against much more qualified competitors in the Laser. She was always asking, "Where's the skinny kid?" (He was dead last in every race.) She encouraged him, and said that "I'm sure I will see more of you young man." And believe it or not, she did follow his career through college, the Olympics, and other world championships. At a recent USSA meeting that I attended, she sought me out to give me a huge hug, and ask me how is the "skinny kid doing?" She knew his accomplishments in sailing, and wanted to know of his accomplishments in life as well. What a great lady!! Fair sailing to you Faye…may the wind always be at your back. * From: John Ross, former Chairman of the Council of Sailing Associations: Faye was the ultimate Mother Hen to many youth sailors in this country and even some of us that Judged with her their many events. US Sailing honored her by naming the sportsmanship award at the United States Junior Singlehanded Championship for the Verner Smythe Trophy in her name. The trophy is a life size Mallard duck decoy and the keeper trophies are baby duck decoys carved by a friend of hers in New Jersey. They symbolized the many injured ducks she nursed back to health at her house there called Duck House. In addition, CSA was successful in nominating her for the prestigious Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy. Faye gave so much back to her sport of sailing; she will be remembered for a long time by many. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.” - Ronald Reagan Special thanks to Ullman Sails and Goetz Custom Boats. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
