SCUTTLEBUTT # 683 - November 6, 2000
GUEST EDITOR: Tom Leweck is off to dreary old Virgin Gorda this week,
sailing in the Pro-Am regatta at the Bitter End YC. We hope to have some
reports from him this week, once he gets email sorted. Through this Friday,
please send your letters and notes to scuttlebutt@boats.com. Your daily
issue of 'butt will show up in the afternoon this week. Thanks - David
McCreary, Sailing Editor, boats.com.
OLYMPIC CLASSES FOR 2004
Guest editorial from Bob Fisher:
The lobbying for Olympic classes at the ISAF Annual Conference in Edinburgh
Scotland has now reached a fever pitch: the events committee meets tomorrow
to make its recommendations to the Council. One of the current eleven medal
classes has to go in order to make way for a women's keelboat class, but the
choice of which one is not an easy one. If change has to be made, what
criteria should be adopted: that of age of the class or its lifespan in the
Games? Either one presents problems, and there are no easy solutions, or at
least there weren't until one suggestion that I heard recently.
One of the sources of the problems is the necessity to increase female
participation -- something most are glad to encourage but which reduces the
available options, particularly if the Laser is retained as the Men's
single-hander and the Finn as the Open dinghy. Maybe the other way around
would offer the possibility for further female participation. There aren't
too many women Finn sailors, but plenty of them sail Lasers, and it wouldn't
be long before the best of them would be able to match the best of the men.
But that is almost certainly not going to happen, at least not at the
November 2000 meetings.
The Finn is part of the "may go" equation, as is the Star, the Soling, the
470 and the 49er. There are strong arguments for the retention of all of
them. The Finn is generally considered to be the most Olympian of them all
for its demands on athleticism as well as sailing ability, and it has stood
the test of time as well as any class since its introduction to the Games in
1952. It also has a strong lobby within the ISAF, and that counts for a
lot.
So too does the Star, and one can more readily appreciate that by attending
a major event of perhaps the best organized class in the world. The boat
itself is positively ancient, with its origins going back to 1908, but it
has developed along with the changes in sailing and in available materials.
And while its shape may look old fashioned, anyone who has sailed a Star
will appreciate just how responsive it is. It is a class that attracts the
best sailors and that should see representatives on the ISAF encouraging its
continuation in the Games (only one missed since 1932).
The Soling, an Olympic class since 1972, has a strong following but has the
fact that it is a three-man boat against it. The number of competitors in
the Games is restricted, and a two-man boat would find greater favor,
especially with a women's keelboat coming in as the replacement. Numbers of
people are a powerful part of the equation, but it could be justifiably
argued that if the women have a three-person boat, so too should the men.
The 49er could hardly be chucked out after only one Games, particularly as
there was a spectacular display by the class during the Sydney Olympics. It
is the only modern concept class, and its popularity among the sailors is
undoubted. The class of the future must stay.
The 470 is there as a men's and women's class, and while it is outmoded by
the newer style of racing dinghy, it has worldwide popularity. It was,
however, as a man's class, the last to be chosen for 1996 and must therefore
be on trial for this year's selection meeting. The argument for its
retention as a men's class was that its popularity would diminish for women
because the regattas for this class are run at the same time and this is a
major attraction for the women sailors.
Why not, therefore, combine the men's and women's classes and have a mixed
discipline event? Have a man and a woman in each boat - never mind who does
what - and the 470 is retained for the purpose. Cathy Foster showed back in
1984 that women skippers can compete openly with the men; not only was she
selected to represent Britain, but she won the last race at the Los Angeles
Games with Pete Newlands on the wire. A Mixed 470 seems the answer to many
prayers. It will have its detractors, but every one of the Olympic
requirements would be met, and, I understand, it will receive the blessing
of the IOC. It is just how far the 470 class will allow itself to go that
may stand in its way.
Reports this week from the conference at:
http://www.boats.com/content/sail_racing.jsp
A discusson board on the ISAF class selections is at
http://shoptok.boats.com/tokbase/index.html?SocietyID=44
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VENDEE GLOBE - ANOTHER (SENSIBLE) POSTPONEMENT
At 1200hrs French time, Monday 6th November, Philippe Jeantot, race
organiser of the Vendee Globe, announced that the 4th edition of the Vendee
Globe is to be delayed a second time.
Richard Silvani, from Meteo France, gave the weather forecast for tomorrow
for the Vendee region as 35 - 40 knots from the West, and in Philippe
Jeantot's own words "this will prevent the boats from being able to safely
leave the port itself and get out of the channel."
The depression which has been raging over the Vendee region for the last 24
hours has whipped up winds of 40 - 50 knots and the sea state has worsened
considerably. The first available weather window for the start will be on
Thursday 9th November, although the precise hour is not yet given. --
http://www.vendeeglobe.com
AMERICA'S CUP 2003 ARBITRATION PANEL APPOINTMENTS
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Yacht Club Punta Ala have appointed
four members of the Arbitration Panel for the 31st America's Cup Regatta in
Auckland, New Zealand. The four nominees will now decide on a fifth member
to the panel which is charged with resolving disputes associated with the
event that starts with the Challenger Selection Series in October 2002 and
culminates in the America's Cup Match in February, 2003.
The appointments have been jointly announced by COR/D (Challenger of Record
and Defender) comprising the Challenger of Record (Yacht Club Punta Ala) and
the Defender of the America's Cup (the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron).
Each club appointed two members of the panel.
The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron has selected Sir David Tompkins, a
Retired and Acting Judge of the High Court at Auckland; and John Faire who
is currently a Master of the High Court at Auckland, New Zealand. Both
served as members of the Arbitration Panel during America's Cup 2000.
Sir David Tompkins has had a distinguished legal career. He is a former
Chancellor of Waikato University and a former Vice President of the New
Zealand Law Society. Sir David is a member of the RNZYS and a cruising
yachtsman.
John Faire is a past President of the New Zealand Yachting Federation and
has been involved in yachting administration for more than two decades,
including current responsibilities with the International Sailing
Federation. He has won 15 New Zealand yachting championships.
The Yacht Club Punta Ala has selected Donald Manasse, who lives in Monte
Carlo and campaigns a J-24 in national and international regattas; and
Professor Henry Peter who lives in Lugano, Switzerland. Both are lawyers
with practical experience of international arbitration and yacht racing.
Donald Manasse has both American and German nationality and has a legal
practice with offices in Nice and Monaco. He has sailed Stars, Rainbows and
J-22s and is Vice President of the International J24 Class Association.
Professor Henry Peter also has dual nationalities - Swiss and French. He is
a partner in a legal practice and professor of company and sport law at the
Universities of Geneva and Lausanne of which he is head of the MBL program.
Professor Peter has been cruising and racing mostly in Switzerland, in the
Mediterranean and in the English Channel since 1972. - -Murray Taylor
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LETTERS TO SCUTTLEBUTT (scuttlebutt@boats.com - just this week, thanks!)
Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words
max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a
bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give
it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.
-- From Derek Ratteray: I don't know why everyone is so worried about Team
Phillips breaking up in the Southern Ocean. My own view is that she won't
make it that far. For that matter, I doubt that any of the radical starters
will circumnavigate. If I had the time, and less marital objection, I would
enter my 50 foot cruiser in the Race to win the prize money. I would more
safely get around the globe than any of them at this stage of preparedness.
-- From Katie Pettibone: God gave every single one of us the greatest gift
of all- Free Will. The people competing in The Race have the ability to use
it as we all do, so give them some credit! I don't think Grant Dalton, Loik
Peyron, Cam Lewis or Pete Goss appreciate being likened to the crazed cult
leader David Koresh of Waco. Not only are such allusions inappropiate, they
are insulting to anyone, who by their own choice, compete in the dangerous
world of ocean racing. No one is holding a gun to anyone to make them
compete. What is next- government controlled events and crew lists?
-- From Glenn McCarthy: To Scott Ridgeway - what US Sailing is for him.
Having had the great opportunity to attend the US Sailing meetings for a few
years, my perspective is that US Sailing is an association of market
segments. Without knowing what your boat style is, it is impossible (in 250
words or less) to explain what US SAILING does for you.
Is your boat multihull, offshore (including all handicap systems), Olympic
or One-design? What style of racing is your interest, junior, sailors with
special needs, sailing at local events only, at the national or
international level? Do you wish a regatta with race officers and judges
that passed examinations to assure a fair event? Do you have desires (like
the Code flag R vs. X debate) carried by YOUR representatives to the ISAF
meeting this weekend in Scotland, as ISAF places into granite the RRS for
the next four years? With the debate about Professional vs. Amateur, a
system was developed, so you have the choice of what level of competition
you compete against. Are you frustrated that more people aren't entering
our great sport and concerned about the quality of knowledge new sailors
possess? A system of education and standards are developed to assure
quality schools, instructors, and student graduates. I'm just a member like
you. It is an honor to be associated with people like you, who wish to have
a well managed system to improve the overall quality of what we all wish to
do - go sailing.
-- From Rand Milton on the "R" Flag Issue: I am not sure why their is
interest in changing from the "X" flag to the "R" flag. As an avid racer
who sails in major regattas in all types of boats, I have never had a
problem in recognizing a recall.
However, most RC's use sound (horn) to accompany the hoisting of the recall
flag. While this is a common and very useful practice, it is not prescribed
in the racing rules under RRS 29. Maybe it should be as with all of the
activity at a start, the use of sound lets competitors know that the recall
flag is up.
MATCH RACING ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
At the recent Colorcraft Gold Cup in Hamilton Bermuda the Match Racing
Association (MRA) and Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour held their
annual meetings. Participants included MRA representatives, event
organizers, Tour officials and marketing and television partners. Events in
attendance included representatives from the Steinlager/Line 7 Cup, Sun
Microsystems Australia Cup, Congressional Cup, ACI Cup, Swedish Match Cup,
Danish Open, Knickerbocker Cup, Colorcraft Gold Cup, Nippon Cup and York
Cup.
The Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour reviewed the first year of the
Tour and gave presentations on public relations, television, Internet,
advertising and Tour sponsorship.
On Sunday morning the MRA held their annual general meeting and elected new
officers for 2001. Those elected include:
President: Ted Weisberg, Knickerbocker Yacht Club Vice President: Russell
Frame, Royal Perth Yacht Club Treasurer: Brian Billings, Royal Bermuda Yacht
Club (past President, MRA) Secretary: Bill Uniak, Long Beach Yacht Club
Directors: Pelle Wikman, Royal Gothenberg Yacht Club Jordy Walker, Royal
Bermuda Yacht Club Russell Green, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron & Team
New Zealand Magnus Holmerg, Sailor Representative
The next MRA/ Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour meetings will take place
in Marstrand, Sweden at the Tour Year 2 Finale from July 3 - 8, 2001.
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION:
Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess.
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