SCUTTLEBUTT #279 - February 15, 1999
ROYAL SUNALLIANCE REGATTA
The world champions asserted their status in the four-day Royal SunAlliance
Regatta that concluded today on Aucklands Waitemata Harbour.
Against one of the best international fleets ever assembled in New Zealand,
world champion boardsailors Aaron McIntosh and Barbara Kendall secured
well-deserved victories in their respesctive fleets. McIntosh won the mens
contest with a race to spare but Kendall had a battle to the last with
arch-rival and close friend ex-world champion and gold medallist Lai Shan
Lee from Hong Kong. Kendall eventually won by 1 point, her first overall
win in the regatta in five attempts.
Australias World Champions John Forbes and Darren Bundock outsailed the
Tornado fleet, although New Zealands Chris Dickson and Jeremy Stephenson
put up a spirited performance, finishing a close 2nd.
It was a hat-trick for Polands two-time and defending world champions in
the 470 Junior World Championships also being sailed as part of the
regatta. The Poles won the 12-race championships without having to sail the
last two races. The Isreali 470 Junior European Champions Gidon Kliger &
Ehud Gal finished 2nd and New Zealands Rhys Johnston and Jamie Hunt won the
tussle with the second Poland crew for 3rd overall. Also claiming victory
for Poland was Finn class world champion Mateusz Kusznierewicz who beat
Belgiums Olympic silver medallist Sebastien Godefroid and Irelands David
Burrows. Top placed Kiwi was ex-Whitbread sailor Stuart Bannatyne who
finished 6th overall.
The only upset was on the Europe course where Australias Melanie Dennison
claimed a convincing 15 point win over the current World Champion and
Olympic gold medallist Margriet Matthysse from Holland. New Zealands Abby
Mason finished 3rd, only 2 points behind the world champ.
Australias Michael Blackburn (world no 4) took the Laser title in
convincing style, 16 points ahead of closest competitor Serge Kats
(Holland). New Zealands Nik Burfoot finished 4th overall, losing his
overnight 3rd to American John Myrdal. - Ivor Wilkins
MISTRAL Women (fleet = 17)
1. Barbara KENDALL (NZL): (3), 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 2 (12 pts)
2. Lai Shan LEE (HKG): 1, (6), 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1 (13 pts)
3. Natasha STURGES (AUS): 2, 2, 3, (5), 3, 4, 1, 3, 4 (22 pts)
MISTRAL Men (fleet = 61)
1. Aaron McINTOSH (NZL): 5, 1, 2, 1, 2, 4, 1, 4, (DNF) (20 pts)
2. Dominic TIDEY (GBR): 3, 2, 3, (8), 3, 3, 5, 7, 3 (29 pts)
3. Tony PHILIP (FIJI): 2, 5, 8, (13), 5, 5, 4, 5, (6) (40pts)
LASER (fleet = 43)
1. Michael BLACKBURN (AUS): 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 1, (4), (5), 2, 2, 1, 2 (16 pts)
2. Serge KATS (NED): 4, 2, 1, 5, 4, (13), 3, 8, 1, 1, (20), 7 (29 pts)
3. John MYRDAL (USA): (10), 6, 4, 7, 3, 8, 2, 1, 4, 4, (14), 5 (44 pts)
4. Nik BURFOOT (NZL): 5, (DNF), 6, 2, 2, 3, 1, 11, 3, (18), 5, 9 (47 pts)
EUROPE (fleet = 20)
1. Melanie DENNISON (AUS): (6), 2, 1, 2, (9), 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1 (15 pts)
2. Margriet MATTHYSSE (NED): 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 5, (7), 5, (8), 3, 3, 6 (30 pts)
3. Abby MASON (NZL): 2, 3, (6), 4, 3, 3, 2, 6, 4, 2, (8), 3 (32 pts)
TORNADO (fleet = 11)
1. John FORBES / D. Bundock (AUS): (3), (DNS), 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1
(13 pts)
2. Chris DICKSON / J. Stephenson (NZL): 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, (DNF), 1,
2, (5) (15 pts)
3. Andrew MacPHERSON / Greg Lynch (NZL): (9), (OCS), 4, 4, 5, 3, 4, 6, 1,
4, 6, 2
FINN (fleet = 19)
1. Mateusz KUZNIEREWICZ (POL): 1, (6), 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, (DNS) (14
pts)
2. Sebastien GODEFROID (BEL): 2, 1, 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, (9), (14), 2 (20 pts)
3. David BURROWS (IRL): 5, 4, 3, 6, (7), 6, 6, 2, 1, 4, 6, (11) (43 pts)
470 Men (fleet = 13)
1. Tom KING / M. Turnbull (AUS): 1, 4, 2, (5), 4, 3, 1, 1, 1, (OCS), 2, 1
(20pts)
2. Nathan WILMOT / D.Smith (AUS): 2, 1, 3, 3, 6, 1, 3, 5, 5, (OCS), 1, (8)
(30pts)
3. Simon COOKE / Adrian Manning (NZL): 7, 5, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2, 2, 6, (OCS),
(8), 2 (26pts)
470 Women (fleet = 13, M&W scored as one fleet)
1. Jenni DANKS / A. Bucek (AUS): (11), 8, 9, 7, 2, 8, 8, 6, 3, (OCS), 6, 6
(63pts)
2. Jenny ARMSTRONG / B. Stonell (AUS): 8, (9), 7, 8, 9, 6, 7, 8, 4, (OCS),
3, 7 (67pts)
3. Melinda HENSHAW / J. Egnot (NZL): 10, (12), 10, 10, 11, (12), 9, 9, 11,
1, 10, 9 (90pts)
49ers (fleet = 11)
1. Emmett LAZICH / D. Witt (Cook Islands): 2, (DNS), 1, 1, 1, 4, 1, 2, 3,
1, (7), 1 (17 pts)
2. Daniel SLATER / N. Handley (NZL): 1, 2, (6), 2, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, (6)
(17 pts)
3. Philip AIREY / G. Griffiths (NZL): 3, 1, 3, 4, 2, (DNF), 4, 3, 2, 5, 6,
(9) (33 pts)
LASER RADIAL (fleet = 11)
1. Andrew WILLS (NZL): 1, DNF, 1, 1, 1, 1, (2), 1, (2), 1, 1, 1 (10 pts)
2. Conrad GAIR (NZL): 3, 2, 3, (9), 3, 2, 5, 2, 3, 3, 8, 4 (30 pts)
3. Neil ALDER (NZL): 4, 5, 6, (8), 2, 4, 4, 3, 5, 5, 2, 3 (37 pts)
HOBIE 16 (fleet = 11)
1. Peter BATES / C. Forrester (NZL): 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, (3), (DNF), 1, 1, 1,
1 (10 pts)
2. Harry HANDLEY / G. Collier (NZL): 2, 4, 2, 2, 2, (4), 1, 2, 2, (4), 3, 3
(23 pts)
3. Lester SMITH / S. Knapton (NZL): 3, 2, 7, 3, (DNF), 2, 2, 1, (5), 3, 4,
4 (29 pts)
Complete results should be posted soon at: http://www.saildownunder.org.nz
GOOD YEAR
1998 was a good year for Ullman Sails. Boats with Ullman Sails won and won
and won. Included was the Sabot Nationals (Junior and senior), the Lido 14
Nationals, the Santana 20 Western Regionals, the Tornado Nationals, the
ULDB 70 class in the Big Boat Series, the Schock 35 High Point Series and
the 505 Worlds. And more - much more. Isn't it time you improved the
performance of your boat? Find out how affordable that can be:
http://www.ullmansails.com/
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
We read all of our e-mail, but simply can't publish every submission. Those
that are published are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max)
or to exclude personal attacks.
-- From Tom Priest (Re: scott gordon's OCS comments) -- Another sailor
trying to blame the RC for his faulty start! OCS hailing is a COURTESY
extended to the sailor by the RC, start your race in a timely fashion and
this is a non-issue, jump the gun.....pay the consequences. Sometimes you
pay big (last one notified) sometimes you pay small (first one notified).
Moral of the story: Don't be OCS! Another option (albeit somewhat
extreme)....Let the RC use live ammo and aim it down the line, if your over
early.....YOU'LL KNOW IT! (or at least your next of kin will) How's that
for a black flag start?
-- From Giles Anderson -- A while back the ISAF was exploring the
possibility of a joint venture with Swatch, the Swiss watchmaker. The idea
was to develop a watch that would have all the necessary functions for a
sailor - countdown, be waterproof, etc. - but also be able to receive pages
from the RC. The technology is pretty simple - pager watches are already
on the market. The idea would be that the RC could type in the sail number
of the OCS boats and would then transmit them to the competitors'
pager/watch. You could even add a function to the watch (again this is
readily available tech.) where you would enter your sail number and the
watch would beep if your number was called. As the RC's transmitter would
not have to be very powerful it would slip under federal regulations which,
obviously, would save huge headaches.
This may not seem as simple as a VHF hail but remember that not all of us
sail big boats. Anyone who has come off a 100 boat Laser start line and
thought, "Am I OCS?," will jump for joy at this sort of service.
Finally, does anyone have any bright ideas as to where tomorrow's
technology may take us? Are we that far off from having a transmitter
embedded in the bow and having the RC electronically detect OCS boats?
I would love to hear from the ISAF on what's in the pipe, if anything.
Pope, can you help me?
-- Reply from ISAF President Paul Henderson -- I believe this is a priority
and OCS must be solved. It is not as easy as one thinks but we are working
on it and will have a system in use in Sydney which will tell within + or -
2 ft. where any boat is. Then we must tell the sailors when they are over
and the next step is the pager. I believe the OCS must be told immediately.
"Off with their Heads" within 3 boat lengths should be the goal.
-- From Steve Glassman -- Just a short note in response to the resurrection
of the OCS controversy. Entrants in the 15th biennial Marina del Rey to
Puerto Vallarta race sponsored by Del Rey Yacht Club who are unfortunate
enough to find themselves OCS will also find themselves hailed on the VHF,
perhaps hailed by loud hailer from the RC boat, will hear the usual extra
sound and see a large "X" flag. We're trying, Tom, we're trying.
-- From Bruce Munro -- The suggestion from some Butt Heads that Fox Sports
might be a suitable substitute for ESPN for America's Cup television rights
is out of line unless Young America rescinds it sponsorship deal with Fox.
Can you expect fair TV coverage for all challengers when the TV producer is
also sponsoring one of the teams? I don't think so. We are told that the
Fox deal has been removed from the table as far as the ESPN contract is
concerned and it is now time for ESPN to live up to the commitment it has
announced to the public.
-- From Jordan J. Dobrikin -- The IMS vs. One Design vs. PHRF (Empirical)
discussion going on herein is very interesting and useful to the sport, and
should continue. However I , for one, am concerned with the apparent
"writing off", off of PHRF/Empirical Handicapping as a "lost cause".
Especially when the bulk of sailboat racing goes on, in PHRF/CHS, whilst
watching the "elite" race, in IMS and/or One Design. What the sailing world
needs, (besides "a good five cent cigar"), is a good, open, free wheeling,
discussion on Empirical Handicapping; PHRF, CHS and Portsmouth. Can modern
technology; computers, GPS, and a look at what IMS is trying to do, with
respect to, Wind and Course variables, give more meaningful racing to "the
masses"
STARTING SPOT
A lot has changed in the years since the curmudgeon started cruising the
web. However, one constant that remains the same is the place to go to find
sailing related websites. It's the Sailing Index. Period! Whether you're
interested in racing, cruising, sailing publications, weather, Yacht Clubs
or whatever, the Sailing Index is the only place you'll ever need to check.
Bookmark it now and put their URL at the very top of your favorites list:
http://www.sailingindex.com/
COLLEGIATE SAILING
Sailing World College Rankings, as of February 7, 1999: -- Michael H.
Segerblom
COED RANKINGS (prev. rank)
| 1 | USC | (2) |
| 2 | St. Mary's | (1) |
| 3 | Old Dominion | (7) |
| 4 | Charleston | (3) |
| 5 | Tufts | (5) |
| 6 | Navy | (8) |
| 7 | Georgetown | (4) |
| 8 | Hobart/Wm. Smith | (6) |
| 9 | Boston U. | (10) |
| 10 | Harvard | (9) |
| 11 | Conn. College | (12) |
| 12 | UC Santa Barbara | (11) |
| 13 | Dartmouth | (13) |
| 14 | U. Rhode Island | (17) |
| 15 | Stanford | (16) |
| 16 | U. Hawaii | (14) |
| 17 | Kings Point | (15) |
| 18 | MIT | (18) |
| 19 | UC Irvine | |
| 20 | U. Florida | |
Also receiving votes:
U. South Florida
Boston College
U. Michigan
Texas A&M
WOMEN'S RANKING (prev. rank)
| 1 | Dartmouth | (1) |
| 2 | Tufts | (2) |
| 3 | Boston U. | (3) |
| 4 | Stanford | (6) |
| 6 | Georgetown | (5) |
| 7 | Radcliffe | (7) |
| 8 | MIT | (8) |
| 9 | St. Mary's | (9) |
| 10 | Conn. College | (14) |
| 11 | Navy | (10) |
| 12 | Old Dominion | (11) |
| 13 | U. Hawaii | (12) |
| 14 | Queen's | (13) |
| 15 | USC | |
Also receiving votes:
Boston College (15)
ONE-DESIGN
JOHN CALVERT-JONES, the Melbourne businessman, international yachtsman and
brother-in-law of RUPERT MURDOCH, will launch a new boat later this month -
the first Australian-built Farr 40. CALVERT-JONES' boat is one of four
being built by JOHN McCONAGHY for Australian owners, but unlike the others
is destined for American waters after just one race here - the Sydney to
Mooloolaba race over the weekend before Easter.
Aboard the yacht, to be named Southern Star, for the Mooloolaba race will
Farr International's ace tactician GEOFF STAGG whose recent visits to
Australian waters have been real winners - line honours aboard Sayonara in
the 1995 Telstra Sydney to Hobart and first IMS overall aboard Beau Geste
in the 1997 Hobart.
CALVERT-JONES will then ship the Farr 40 to the USA for the 1999 world
championships in San Francisco. Sailing his original Southern Star, built
in the USA, he finished a close second in the inaugural Farr 40 world
championships late last year. - Peter Campbell
SCYA MIDWINTERS
The Southern California Yachting Association's huge Midwinter Regatta took
this past weekend. At press time SCYA had only posted the results from the
Westlake YC, but several clubs (including California YC where the
curmudgeon raced) have uploaded their results also. The SCYA web page is
http://www.scya.org and CYC is http://calyachtclub.com. (To save you the
time, I'll let you know that the curmudgeon won his class with straight
bullets. Wellthat's not quiet true. When my crew Daniel Casal figured out
that we did not have to sail the last race to win the regatta - we skipped
the last race and also won the race to the hoist.)
AROUND ALONE
Standing on the accelerator and putting huge chunks of Southern Ocean
mileage behind him with each passing day, Marc Thiercelin this morning had
broken the 24-hour singlehanded speed record for the second time this leg,
registering a new mark of 396.5 miles between the 0340 GMT position reports
on February 13 and 14. He was averaging 16.5 knots aboard his Open 60
SOMEWHERE. At a latitude of 53 degrees 22 minutes South, Thiercelin was the
southernmost of the event's ten skippers. -- Herb McCormick
Standings (Distance to the leader in parenthesis) CLASS I: 1. Thiercelin
(0.0) 2. Autissier (33.8) 3. Soldini (166.0) CLASS II: 1. Mouligne (0.0) 2.
Garside (39.2) 3. Van Liew (106.5)
Around Alone website: http://www.aroundalone.com
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
By the time you can finally make ends meet, they've moved the ends.
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