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SCUTTLEBUTT 3123 - Tuesday, June 29, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Melges Performance Sailboats, West Marine, and Ocean Racing. 34th AMERICA'S CUP VIDEO TALENT COMPETITION LAUNCHED Valencia, Spain (June 28, 2010) - Do you have what it takes to supercharge the media production of the America's Cup? So asks a video posted today on the official 34th America's Cup web site that launches the America's Cup Video Production Competition. Transforming the video output in a way that excites and engages the biggest ever audience is a primary goal for the 34th America's Cup. Fresh thinking for video production is being sought from Generation Y. The America's Cup Video Production Competition is open to anyone so long as they're between the ages of 18 and 28 years of age. All that is required is a clip of any length that illustrates production techniques and exciting, new perspectives that could boost coverage of the 34th America's Cup. "Transforming television is the single-most important change we can make to this magnificent competition," said Russell Coutts, CEO of BMW ORACLE Racing, winners of the 33rd America's Cup. Ambition is the main requirement for entry. Naturally, content must be original and 100-percent rights-cleared. Clips may be of any sport or activity and any combination of camerawork, editing and production. The 28-year age limit is in place with a view to blending new talent with the best and most-experienced specialists in sports broadcasting. "We're looking to the next generation to help bring the screen alive," Coutts said. "We expect this competition to open our eyes to some creative concepts that will increase the event's appeal to younger audiences." -- Full story: http://www.americascup.com/news/video-talent-competition/ NEW NATIONAL MELGES 24 CHAMPION CROWNED Newport, RI (June 27, 2010) - Congratulations to 2010 Layline Oakcliff Melges 24 U.S. National Champion Alan Field on WTF and his team comprised of Steve Hunt, Erik Shampain, Sarah Curran and Jeff Reynolds. "It feels great to win in a fleet like this, but it's just another step for us," said Field after racing. "Now, it's off to the Traverse City event and we'll be racing the North Americans at Rochester this coming September." Additional congratulations are extended to Annapolis' Henry Filter on Wild Child as he is the 2010 Layline Oakcliff Melges 24 Corinthian U.S. National Champion. Assisting Filter with the victory were crew members Tom Murray, Ben Cesare and Ian Coleman. With Field leading the charge by two points, the fleet was greeted on Sunday morning with heavy fog and no breeze for the start of the final day of racing. They were immediately put under postponement with hopes of an eventual lift, sunshine and decent breeze, lasting for more than an hour and well past noon. At approximately 1 o'clock, racing was abandoned with Saturday's results still standing. An event never happens without the unwavering dedication and input from Melges 24 owners and sailors, excellent sailing club volunteers and countless hours of organizing. The U.S. Melges 24 Class Association (USMCA) would specifically like to recognize the hard work and passion of NE District Governor Cary Siegler, Regatta Co-Chair J.C. Raby and Anthony Kotoun, And, most especially to Kim Cooper at Sail Newport and awesome PRO Tom Duggan and committee for the incredible race management. -- Full story: http://www.usmelges24.com/pr/2010/usnationals/nationals-final.htm MELGES ROCKS NEWPORT Fantastic Melges Racing took place this past weekend in Newport with the Melges 24 US National Championship and Melges 32 NE Championship. Alan Field won the prestigious Melges 24 US Nationals and John Porter won his first Melges 32 Championship. Congratulations! The Melges Rocks party on Saturday night may have been the biggest party in the town of Newport that night! Melges Rocks! Check out http://www.melges24.com and http://www.melges32.com INTERNATIONAL C CLASS CATAMARAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 In the last week of August a visitor to Newport, RI may look south across the harbor and see the wing sails of seven C Class catamarans on the lawn in front of Harbor Court, New York Yacht Club's Newport Station. This will be quite a sight. The New York Yacht Club, after all, is the club that banned multihulls after Nathaniel G Herreshoff's Amaryllis completely outclassed their racing fleet during the Second Centennial Regatta of 1874. When making the case that the yachting establishment is prejudiced against multihulls, the NYYC's response has long been shown as Exhibit A. The wings on the lawn should go a long way to proving that 1874 was a long time ago and that the attitudes have changed. The International C Class Catamaran Championship (IC^4) will be hosted at New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI from August 22-28, 2010. The IC^4 is the successor to the Little America's Cup as the championship event for the C class catamarans. Fred Eaton of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) won the trophy from Steve Clark during the last event held by RCYC in September 2007. In the next event Eaton will be defending for RCYC and Clark, who will be representing New York Yacht Club, will be among the challengers. Teams from Great Britain, Canada, and USA will be competing. This week Scuttlebutt will provide updates from each of the teams: GBR - Great Britain will be represented by Invictus. Team Invictus, which debuted with a third place finish in 2003, will be back with a new wing and a more practiced program. Their platform, designed by Clive Everest is unchanged except for new centerboards and rudders. In 2003 their performance was hampered by a split flap wing design that was completely untested. Once they had sorted the control system, the split flap was uncompetitive and could not deliver enough lift without an enormous drag penalty. The team, which is largely made up of Airbus employees, returned to Filton in England with the intent of building a state-of-the-art wing. It took them a little longer than they would have liked, but they have been sailing the new wing for most of a year and have continued test and refine the boat. Their sailing team includes Paul Larson, who has spent the last seven years pursuing the outright speed sailing record with Sail Rocket. While the speed record eluded him, Sail Rocket's long jumps have been spectacular. For more information on Invictus, see http://www.teaminvictus.com. Look for Scuttlebutt 3124 to have an update on Canada. Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0521/ NEW CUP PROTOCOL MAKES STAND FOR FUTURE OF EVENT (June 27, 2010) - Larry Ellison's reign as the defender of the America's Cup is off to a promising start. Ellison and the BMW-Oracle team, through San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club, last week published its protocol for the running of the next defense. And the document, which in the past was referred to as the "stacked deck" by challengers, is more than fair. "Larry had two priorities that were more important to him than a successful defense for us," said Tom Ehman of the BMW-Oracle defense team. "We want an independent body to run the racing. And we want to create a legacy that motivates as best we can future trustees to run the America's Cup in a way that is best for the event. Larry wants to transform the event." The Ellison-inspired protocol, however, is more wish than rule. Future defenders will maintain the right to draft their own protocols. There is likely a future defender out there like Alinghi that wishes to dictate rather than agree. "Under the Deed of Gift, we cannot write a document that will establish a set of rules and regulations for future defenses," said Ehman. "But what Larry has tried to do is draft a plan that makes the 'king of the mountain' approach so old-school that it loses viability in the future. "Larry is 65. This protocol is Larry's vision. The way you win is by competing in the elements of design, construction, strategy and teamwork - on the water and not through rules management." By Bill Center, Union-Tribune -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/2fa4br7 SCOW NATIONAL TITLE STAYS IN LAKE GENEVA (June 27, 2010) - After 3 days of up and down racing on Lake Mendota, Tom Freytag and his team on I-7 claimed the A Scow National Championship with a gritty race 4, and a statement race in race 5. With unsteady breeze in the 7-9 range, the I-7 found themselves in the back of the pack while Rob Evans and team on M-1 were in the top 5 in race 4, and only 2 pts behind in the overall standings. By the final downwind however, I-7 flew through the fleet and managed to finish one place ahead of M-1 to add an extra a point to their overall lead going into the final race. Race 5 provided similar conditions and the start showed that the Wizard of Zenda, Buddy Melges still has a few tricks up his sleeve as he nailed the start at the committee boat and led most of the race. It was great to see Buddy taking charge and showing how he can still dominate. The speed and smarts of the I-7 were too much for Buddy and his team on Eagle, and it would be I-7 who would win the final race by a big margin to secure their overall title...a very well sailed regatta in tough conditions. Overall, another fun A Scow regatta. These boats really are great racing machines with each team having fun people involved. Up next for the A Scows is the ILYA Champs on Lake Geneva in August, which should have over 25 boats. -- Full report: http://42marine.com/a-scow-national-title-stays-in-lake-geneva/ ULLMAN SAILS LONG BEACH RACE WEEK WRAPS UP Long Beach, CA (June 27, 2010) - Dark Star skipper Jeff Janov from California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey wasn't exactly a longshot coming into the tough Farr 40 competition in Ullman Sails Long Beach Race, hosted by the Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs over the weekend. But for Janov, the victory over defending champion David Voss's Piranha and the rest of the grand prix gang ranks right up there with, oh, winning the Naples Sabot Junior Nationals as a 16-year-old in 1979. "That was pretty huge, too," he said. There were 147 boats in 20 classes, and all except J/120s, which didn't race Friday, sailed seven races over three days, and no winner was more carried away than Janov, who was quick to concede that he had more help than in his singlehanded Sabot days. He said, "I can't say enough about my crew," which included the event's title sponsor, Dave Ullman, as tactician, Randy Smith as main sail trimmer and strategist and team sailing director Doug McLean on bow, along with Yumil Dornberg, jib; Kelly Buchan (Ullman's niece) and Brooke Phillips, pit; Michael Blunt, floater; Travis Wilson, mast, and a new spinnaker trimmer he knows only as Andy so far. "To do what we did in that fleet..." Yes, we know: amazing. In continuing moderate breeze flirting with 11 knots, Tracey Kenney was equally ecstatic in winning the Open 5.70s, although she couldn't say she was surprised. She is usually a contender, and a few days earlier she had said, "This year my goal is a first. No more second place for this chick. Game's on this year." -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/29rfl2w FOURTH OF JULY SAVINGS AT WESTMARINE.COM Gear up for the 4th with up to 40% off a super selection of on-sale items in safety, electronics, boat maintenance and more! Now through July 4th you'll save on the best selection of products you need for a full season of smooth sailing - it's all just a click away! -- http://www.westmarine.com VENEZIA CHALLENGE: SERIOUS CONTENDER OR PUBLICITY STUNT? (June 28, 2010) - The 34th America's Cup is still in its infant stages. There is, obviously, a number of teams despite lacking the official stamp as challengers have stated quite often their intention to do so, such as Emirates Team New Zealand, Team Origin or Artemis, to name a few. Yet it is from Italy that, out of the blue, came the news about a potential team for this edition of the trophy. It appears that a businessman from Milan called Carlo Magna was mandated 2 years ago by the then mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, to create an America's Cup team in order to represent the historical Italian city, called Venezia Challenge. Apparently, the project didn't go through until last Tuesday when a press release was sent announcing that an Italian lawyer called Emanuela Pulcino had filed an application in the Milan Chamber of Commerce for the registration of the trademark of "Venezia Challenge". According to the same release, the trademark "refers to categories 12 (vehicles, apparatus for locomotion by land air or water) and 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear)." There is practically nothing more in the release other than a statement that according to "reliable sources" it is almost certain a yacht with the name Venezia Challenge will take part in the 34th America's Cup. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/2773dhr SAILING SHORTS * (June 26, 2010) - It was revealed yesterday that the Valencian Government has agreed to pay seven million Euros to the Volvo Ocean Race for its events that are set to depart from Alicante in 2011, 2014 and 2017, and that almost the entire cost of this has been supported by sponsors. It is also believed that the contract between the Valencian Government and the Race organisers implies that Alicante is to be the permanent headquarters for the Race, and that an interactive exhibit is to be set up there. -- Valencia Life Network, by publisher@valencialife.net * Lake Garda, Italy (June 28, 2010) - The first IFDS Blind Match Racing World Championship has been decided on Lake Garda, Italy. Luigi Bertanza and Sylvia Parente (ITA) claimed the prize with two straight wins in the final of the World Championship for IBSA B1 classified blind sailors. On the other course, Lucy Hodges and Toby Davey (GBR) won the International Championship for the B2 classification. -- Full story: http://www.sailing.org/32985.php * (June 23, 2010) - Tim Sewell has joined the Secretariat of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in a new role as Head of Marketing and Events. Tim's role at the Secretariat is to oversee the work of Marketing and Media, Events, Training and Development and he took up his new post on 21 June, 2010. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/2cyy5xn * Washington DC (June 25, 2010) - Legislation has been finalized on the financial reform bill, granting marine dealers an exclusion from the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which will oversee mortgages, credit cards and other consumer financial products. This means the agency would regulate the financial institutions that extend credit to auto, marine and RV customers, as well as the few dealers that provide direct financing themselves, but not dealers directly. -- Full story: http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=2558863 CORRECTION: The website for The Optimist North American Championship 2010 as published in Scuttlebutt 3122 is incorrect. The correct url is http://www.optinam2010.org, where you will also find the results and link to Live Racing by Trac Trac, powered by Rogers Wireless. BE SUMMER RACE READY Our Offshore Duffel features waterproof fabric and zippers plus seams that are sewn, taped and RF welded. Waterproof Backpacks add neoprene laptop sleeves and comfy ergonomic straps. Optimum Time Sailing Watches are waterproof, have large numerical displays, pre-programmed ISAF start sequences, a synchronization function plus loads of other features. http://www.oceanracing.com/ LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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 Manfred Schreiber (re, Scuttlebutt 3122): As much as I appreciate your articles Mark, this one goes beyond my understanding. Sailing, in the case of LV Trophy or AM Cup ainīt no football (soccer) nor is it Formula 1. The first ones (players) only bring a ball and themselves to the game, the least have a dramatic big budget and many, many players besides the one driver. In sailing as mentioned, the wise decision had been made years ago that you want the participating teams in the game as long as possible before coming into the knock out stage. That made it interesting, very interesting, as we, the spectators and racing sailors ourselves, wanted to see how the teams compare with each other, how they have developed their gear and how good they were as a team. Very important, it makes the participation really worthwhile for the sailors and the sponsors. Some broke, some are rising to the top. That is the Americaīs Cup and I love every minute of the coverage though there are a couple of races one has to miss due to other duties. But the highlights (to watch whenever you wanted) have put it together nicely. Thanks to LV and the associated producers for making it so interesting. By the way. have you taken part or covered one of the BMW Sailing Cup races. Great organization and due to the format, nearly all teams are engaged until the final match. Clever format for an amateur event. * From David Foscarini, Scarborough, ON, Canada (re, Scuttlebutt 3121): I read the account of Belle Mente Bermuda race and was appalled that they were throwing trash bags of human waste overboard. If this is not against the law it is at least morally irresponsible. If we e sail in those waters we should be held to higher standards. * From Keith Richardson, CODA Class Development Officer (re, Scuttlebutt 3122): Interesting to note that the IODA has purchased their own system (previous systems used were rented) to be used at the Euro TEam Racing and World's later this year. Sally Burnett, IODA Secretary has been specially trained is responsible for the implementation. * From Pete Hoffman: After 55 weeks and 28,000 sailing "Around the Americas" Ocean Watch returned home and in a blog last week Herb McCormick posted the following: "The hardest part of an extended voyage, as many sailors will attest, is finishing it. You think, feel and act differently. Your internal clock, once set by the wind and the waves and the rhythm of shipboard life, is now governed by the uncontrollable, inconvenient and external realities and pressures of a 9-5 schedule and rush-hour traffic. You look at the world, and particularly its trials, travails and trivialities, in an altered and bemused state. Or at least you try to. The trouble with all this, of course, is that society hasn't changed, even if you have. And if you can't deal with it, that's your problem, and nobody else's." I have been lucky enough to have had that experience several times and never have been able to articulate the feeling. I enjoyed his thoughts on the subject and thought that many of your readers would like it as well. * From Andrew Bellamy (re, Scuttlebutt 3122): With ref to #3122 Words of Wisdom "No matter how bad you are playing, it is always possible to play worse"... As an Englishman who's team played badly in the group stages and then got destroyed by Germany yesterday, this couldn't be more true. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION A good drive on the 18th hole has stopped many a golfer from giving up the game. The same might be said about sailing a good upwind leg. Special thanks to Melges Performance Sailboats, West Marine, and Ocean Racing. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
