|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1705 - November 5, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. MUSTO SSC CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA "It just doesn't get any better than this," declared Carol Cronin as she stepped ashore after the finals of the Musto Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship … and there was no one to disagree. Warm water, brisk Caribbean tradewinds, the unbeatable venue provided by the Bitter End Yacht Club and world class race management headed by the former head of US Sailing's Race Management Committee, Tom Farquhar. Olympian Cronin did not win the regatta. Instead of sailing in the finals of the professional class, she volunteered to do tactics for Mary Jordan from Wisconsin, racing in Hunter 216s in the amateur division. They lost the title by a single point to Tom Story from the Chicago area, who had Andy Burdick trimming the main and calling tactics. It was a very important point because Story and his wife earned a free return trip to the BEYC for next year's Pro-Am Regatta, and his entire crew collected Musto yacht timers for their victory. Co-skippers John Gardner and Jennifer Marks finished in third place after losing a tie-breaker to the Jordan team. Yes - just a single point separated the top three boats. In the professional division sailed in Hobie Waves, defending champion Ed Baird once again was simply too smooth for the competition and ran away to a seven point victory over former UK silver medallist and event sponsor Keith Musto. Canadian Olympic Yngling sailor Lisa Ross finished just a point further back in third place. Baird's son, 12-year old Max, was the only double-handed entry in this weight-sensitive class, with Russell Coutts calling tactics for him for most of the regatta. However Russell realized his weight was hurting too much so he jumped overboard and swan ashore after four races. In the fifth and final race, Max led his dad around the course for much of the race only to be ground down on the final weather leg. Wait until next year. - http://www.beyc.com IT'S OFFICIAL (As was first reported a month ago in Issues 1682 and 1683, here is the official announcement from US Sailing on the opening of US Sailing's Executive Director position) US Sailing's Executive Director Nick Craw has announced he will be leaving the organization as of January 1, 2005. Craw has served in the position since December 2001. After ensuring a smooth transition with his successor, Craw will return to Colorado where he will take over the presidency of the Automobile Competition Committee for the United States (ACCUS). A Succession Task Force has been named to find the Association's next Executive Director. Dave Rosekrans, Immediate Past President of US Sailing, will lead the Task Force. For the full report, plus a job description and information to apply for the Executive Director position: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2004/execdir.htm ON A MISSION (Hillsborough, NC) Dr. Cecil Borel speaks in the calm, measured tones you would expect from a doctor -- except when he's talking about sailing off into the sunset on the boat he's building in a shed behind his home. Then he's as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning. The Janetess, a 32-foot wooden sailing sloop, is not ready for that day just yet. Three years into construction, she is an elegant, curved hull with no deck, cabin or rigging. She is one-third complete, with thousands of hours of work left to go. The project is an enormous undertaking. Borel, an anesthesiologist at Duke University Medical Center, estimates that the Janetess will take six more years to complete. He expects to spend $100,000 to $150,000 on the boat -- about half what one might pay for a similar boat on the market. Borel spends about 1,500 hours a year -- virtually all his free time -- in the shop, patiently cutting, assembling and sanding pieces of wood and listening to jazz on his old stereo. He comes home from his shift at the hospital, changes into his work-worn Carhart overalls and heads to his shop. - Erik Holmes, The Herald Sun, full story, http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-540252.html CLUB 420s AT THE MIDWINTERS The PS2000 Club 420 is the new boat you've been hearing about and one you'll see at the Midwinter's and Orange Bowl sailed by some of the country's top young sailors. If you have given any thought to your son or daughter being there in the latest equipment, try this holiday offer. We will deliver a boat free of charge right to your lawn, anywhere along the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Virginia. One fixed price of $5,895.00, all inclusive. Order before December 1 for delivery prior to Christmas. For more information, call 1-877-363-5050 or go to http://www.ps2000.ca GLOBAL CHALLENGE (Buenos Aires, Argentina) After a mammoth overnight fight, Barclays Adventurer, skippered by Stuart Jackson, took first leg line honours of the Global Challenge 2004/05 on the 33rd day of racing. After 6,000 miles they were a mere 15 minutes in front of VAIO, skippered by Amedeo Sorrentino. At 09h 23m 00 GMT Barclays Adventurer crossed the finish line and the exhausted crew collapsed into one another's arms in sheer delight. VAIO crossed the finish line at 09h 38m18, disappointed not to have pipped their rivals to the post, but equally thrilled to have taken 2nd place after such a momentous fight in the first leg. The yachts were racing for over 760 hours but it was just two miles and 15 minutes that separated the front two yachts, making it the closest and most competitive leg in the event's history. Positions (as of November 5, 02:36:00 GMT) 1. Barclays Adventurer - finished 2. VAIO - finished 3. Samsung - finished 4. BP Explorer - finished 5. BG SPIRIT - finished 6. Spirit of Sark - finished 7. SAIC La Jolla - finished 8. Team Stelmar - 93 miles distance to finish 9. Imagine It. Done - 111 dtf 10. Me To You - 147 dtf 11. Pindar - 297 dtf 12. Team Save the Children - 644 dtf Event website - http://www.globalchallenge2004.com/en HAVANA The American sailor is a rarity in Cuba these days, as the once-hopping Marina Hemingway languishes in a back eddy of international politics Visiting Cuba today, in a time when few American sailors can, is a bit like going to a professional baseball game when the team you're rooting for is dwelling in the league's cellar. Fans at the ballpark are few, so the experience is made less joyful by a lack of people with the same shared enthusiasm. The hot dogs are good. The beer is just as cold. You just wish you could enjoy it with a few more kindred spirits. It's no mystery why American sailors are steering clear of Havana these days. In February of last year, President George W. Bush's decree added teeth to the existing trade embargo by authorizing the U.S. Coast Guard to seize any vessel on the suspicion that it might be used to go to Cuba. Sure, American sailors can still obtain permits from our (American) government to sail to Cuba, if we have a legitimate reason and abide by certain restrictions (for the average visitor, that includes not spending any money in Cuba, a rule that's virtually impossible to obey). Realistically, any U.S. citizen who sails to Cuba today is likely to need a good lawyer, or at least the advice of one, when he or she returns. - Morgan Stinemetz, Cruising World, full story, http://tinyurl.com/4fazb NIPPON CUP Pizza-La Red Lobster Nippon Cup 2004 International Match Race Sailing, the fourth event of the Swedish Match Tour, begins from November 16, 2004 off the shore of Hayama Marina, Kanagawa Pref., Japan. Twelve teams are to compete, with four of the teams representing America's Cup 2007 contestants, plus ISAF Ranking #1 skipper Ed Baird (Team Musto) and 2003/2004 Swedish Match Tour Champion Peter Gilmour (Pizza-La Sailing Team). They will be joined by 2007 America's Cup skippers Gavin Brady of BMW Oracle Racing, Dean Barker of Emirates Team New Zealand, Geoff Meek of South Africa's Team Shosholoza and Philippe Presti and Team Le Defi from France. Nippon Cup starts with Round Robin and the top four team proceeds to Semi-Finals and Finals to decide the ranking. - Nippon Cup website, http://www.hmyc.or.jp/nc2004/press_room/detail_01.html VENDEE GLOBE Mike Golding who, in the last Vendee Globe, lost his mast just eight hours into the race and restarted eight days later, is possible the most prepared competitor at this year's event. Talking about his feelings after the last event he said: "Even though I was the fourth fastest finisher and completed the race overall in 7th place there was something deeply unfulfilling about the racing when I had started eight days later than the rest of the fleet. It was the worst day of my life and in order to close the chapter I need to compete in the Vendee on equal terms with the fleet - to start when they start and to complete the course. Only then will I be able to move on." As the race favourite it wouldn't be wrong to assume Golding has an increased amount of pressure but he says he doesn't really have a strong feeling about the being put in that position. He reckons he'll sail the race to his limits and hopefully if not leading will be in touch at Cape Horn. "By that" he concluded, "I mean by 200 miles, if that were to happen I'd feel I'd have a very strong chance." - Sue Pelling/Yachting World, full story, http://tinyurl.com/5zq54 Alex Thomson is a raw diamond. At 30, his numerous Transats and his round the world have not yet refined him. His power and instinct are an overriding factor and his spirit is impressive. His talent is unquestioned and his professional course is faultless. Why the Vendée Globe? "It's the most important race, the hardest in the world. Even compared to other sports. I can't imagine anything more difficult. And that's why I'm doing it. I have a superb boat, a fantastic team and a good budget. It's all down to me now." Any apprehensions? "My only fear is hitting an iceberg. I've already experienced 65 knots of wind. The boat goes well in the breeze and I feel very at ease there. Solely the idea of hitting an iceberg frightens me." What do you think of the public welcome? "I was here four years ago and I saw the public's enthusiasm. No transat can compare with the Vendée Globe. The public is omnipresent, in the rain and the cold. The atmosphere is astonishing. No nautical event can compare to the Vendée Globe, not even the America's Cup or the Volvo Race." - Event website, full story, http://www.vendeeglobe.fr/uk/infos/498.html WORSE THAN THE OFF-SEASON… …the Christmas season. Make it easy on yourself - wrap up some state-of-the-art sunglasses, a tough sailcloth wallet, or superior-grip sailing gloves for your favorite seafarer: Harken offers lots of natty nautical necessities, from bags to boat handling CDs, to light up your holidays. Order online or from a dealer near you! http://www.harkensailinggear.com/default.php NEWS BRIEFS * KeyBank released a national boating survey today that found "affluent" Americans - those with a salary over US$150,000 or a net worth of US$500,000 - are three times more likely to own a boat than the national average. The survey also found that the top demographic had "worsening fears about the state of the US economy" and planned to reduce personal real estate and stock market investments to focus on wealth preservation. But 83 per cent said they have no intention of decreasing their luxury spending through the end of the year. - IBI News, full story, http://tinyurl.com/47c7c * Correction: In Issue 1703, it was reported that Alfa Romeo had won line honors for the Sydney to Hobart race in 2002 and 2003. Actually, it was Grant Wharington's Skandia Wild Thing that took honors in 2003, and will be back to defend it this year. CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Steve Pyatt, Auckland: In answer to the question posed from Ralph Taylor, "In what other country in the world would tourists at the Opera House be able to flake an America's Cup Class jib?" The answer (apart from needing an Opera House) is clearly NZ, where I am amazed how many of the general population know the difference between a tack and gybe and what a layline is! * From Richard Hazelton, Editor 48° North Sailing Magazine: (re F1 Sail Pro Tour) This sounds exciting. Fast boats with athletes jumping around, sailing on the edge, capsizing. Teams, nationality. Has a lot of the elements people have been asking for to make sailing an exciting spectator sport. Tough platform for cameras but the images will be fantastic. Economically, small crews and 18ft boats will make it easier to pay for. I know versions of this concept have been tried but hopefully this will catch on, at least in Europe and down under. * From Clifford Bradford: (Re Brad van Liew's comments in 1704) It was good to hear from somebody who has been intimately familiar with Open racing. It is incredible to me that there are 20 boats lining up for the Vendee Globe, all of which would probably blow the pants off any AC yacht (with one person aboard versus 16 or 17), the entire budgets of which might easily be covered by the $$ Oracle and Alinghi spent in the last AC. I often wonder where the money goes in these $100 million AC campaigns. I'm sure much of it goes to pay rock star sailors and designers while Open boats are often designed by up and comers and sailed by people who live in mobile homes to save money. Clearly a lot of the engineering investment goes toward shaving 0.1 sec/mile around a course but it seems to me that both the fans and sponsors get better value for the money out of Open 60s than the America's Cup. Unfortunately most Americans think that the AC is the pinnacle of sailing. I will not deny that the AC with it's hugely tactical inshore racing does not require sailing skill at the highest level. However, I don't think that it compares with the strategic thinking and sheer physical mettle required to short/single hand an Open 60 on the open oceans of the world. As far as boat design goes, the AC boats don't come close either in features or performance. * From H.L. DeVore: I whole heartedly agree with Bill Doyle's excellent Guest Editorial asking that people pause and reconsider the concept that "advanced technology will grow the sport". Advanced design and technologies are certainly exciting and have contributed mightily to increased performance in the past few decades. But I also believe they have ruined much of the sport by fracturing people off into so many different camps and designs and rating systems. It is clear that there is only one place where sailors compete to see definitively who is best...and that is sailing One-Design. I find it exciting to follow the Swedish Match Tour, and sadly I find it incredibly dull to follow the America's Cup. I note that the Swedish Match Tour sails in everything from Cal's to IOD's and the racing is exciting and interesting to follow, especially over their excellent website with videos viewable over the internet. * From John McLeod, Toronto: Something your correspondents seem to have overlooked is that exclusivity and exorbitant cost have been part of AC competition since the get-go and are essential to the America's Cup mystique. There are already countless NASCAR-style events and series on the calendar. What sailing needs is for the America's Cup to continue to be its jewel in the crown - a no-holds-barred, cost-no-object contest of huge budgets and egos to match. * From Winn Story (re: bill doyle's comment in Scuttlebut 1700): We had the Star and the 49'er in the Olympics. Was the racing any better in the 49'er class? Although I did not see any of the racing, I would imagine the finishes were tighter in the Star class and just as exciting. Personally I would like to see the America's Cup sailed in one-design 50 footers. Bet there would be many more contenders and closer racing. The $$$ saved would be enormous. * From Jeff A. Jelten: The issue is the decline of participation in the sport of sailing. Not just racing but the whole sailing world. There are lots of boats around that don't get used in driveways, club yards, and marinas. We need to draw in more sailors and get more boats out on the water. Manufactures are trying hard to sell new models to a dwindling sailor population. The math: decreasing # of sailors/ increasing # of boats. This equation doesn't sound sustainable. Increased involvement in sailing will: - Increase demand for boats and equipment, new and used - Reduce the cost of sailing - Increase the number of sailors who gravitate to racing - Fill out existing one design programs - Fill the coffers of sailing organizations - Make the US more competitive in the sailing world - Create demand for technology/new classes. US Sailing is heading in the right direction, however, this is not simply an administrative or structural problem. Part of the problem is that everyone believes it's someone else's job to bring in new blood. Another part of the problem is the misperception that the sailing venues of this country are crowded and we should "close the gate". Other than a few big weekends the sailing venues of this country are wide open and there is even room for growth in new areas. If you love sailing and believe that it can do a lot for today's youth, or all who get involved for that matter, introduce someone to sailing! ARCHIVES If you ever find yourself lost in a thread, the Archived Newsletters section of the Scuttlebutt website has all the back Issues available for easy reference: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/archivedMonth.asp?year=2004 CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATION Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission. -Eleanor Roosevelt |
