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SCUTTLEBUTT 2891 - Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Scuttlebutt 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.
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Today's sponsors are Mount Gay Rum Apparel and New England Ropes.
STORIES FROM THE 1979 FASTNET
The Rolex Fastnet Race 2009 on August 9th will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the saddest chapter in the 608 mile race's illustrious history, one that began in fine weather, and then suddenly became a terrifying ordeal which led to 24 boats being abandoned, five that sunk, and 15 sailors that died.
To honor this anniversary, Scuttlebutt is asking all participants of the race to share stories. The following is from Roger Vaughan, who sailed the '79 race aboard the maxi, Kialoa. He was writing a profile of owner Jim Kilroy at the time. It turned into a book: Fastnet: One Man's Voyage. Recently, Vaughan was in England working on a biography of Oyster Marine founder, Richard Matthews, who has done 24 Fastnet Races, including the 1979 race.
"Because England is a small country," Vaughan says, "the racing fraternity is an extended family. Most competitive sailors in the UK had a mate, or at least the mate of a friend, who was injured, traumatized, or lost during that violent night."
In the course of his research, Vaughan spoke with Peter Clements, former Commodore of West Mersea Yacht Club, who has raced five yachts named Carronade over the past 35 years. He raced his Gary Mull three-quarter-tonner in the '79 Fastnet.
Carronade suffered a bad broach during Cowes Week that had put a dent in the mast above a sleeved section down low (Vaughan writes). So when the storm hit, Clements called a crew meeting. With 100 miles to go (upwind) to the Rock, they decided to retire. Running before the wind with storm jib only, runners and hydraulic backstay on, the mast opened up. Clements radioed Land's End every hour, urging them to start looking for them if they failed to report in. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7878#7878
=> Curmudgeon's Comment: I encourage others to share their stories as well. They can be sent to mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com or posted directly into the forum thread link above.
ANOTHER BITE OF THE APPLE
It was in February 2007 when sailing legends Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard announced plans to create a new annual global sports series - The World Sailing League (WSL). A dozen teams would compete in identical, state-of-the-art 70ft catamarans, with events held at premier sailing locations around the world, vying for the series prize of $2 million. The boats would be built by the end of 2009, with the first full year of the World Sailing League to be in 2010.
Last month, Paul Cayard described for Scuttlebutt why the plans for the WSL were not fulfilled, and when asked if he thought there was hope for the WSL or something similar in the future, Paul said, "I am sure something similar will come along." Sure enough, something has now come along, or at least the plans for something have been announced for the launch of the MOD 70' series in oceanic one-design trimarans.
After consultation with the members of the ORMA class and the recovery of the MOD 70 project's assets, the company Multi One Design S.A. was established in Lausanne, and has for its mission to manage and promote the MOD 70' multihull professional circuit. In association with VPLP's (Vincent Lauriot-Prévost) architects, the first MOD 70' will be delivered in October 2010 with an effective delivery of 5 units for July 2011. A numerus clausus of 12 units will be produced and will compose the Multi One Design 70' fleet. -- Full details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7880
CALIFORNIANS TAKE OPTI TEAM RACE TITLE
San Pedro, CA (July 21, 2009) - In only their second such regatta---and the first didn't turn out very well---five California youngsters known as West Side won the Team Racing phase of the US Optimist National Championships Tuesday.
Alternating in their four boats over three days, Esteban Forrer, 15, of San Diego; brothers Dane, 14, and Quinn Wilson, 12, of Santa Barbara; Kristopher Swanson, 12, San Diego, and Romain Screve, 11, San Francisco, won every one of 18 races that counted in the complex competition based on thwarting the opposing teams' every move.
"We sailed better everywhere on the course," Forrer said. Quinn said, "We were one of the teams that were constantly talking . . . good tactical conversation." They swept their 14 races in the preliminary round robin through the entire fleet Sunday and Monday, and then won all four of their semifinal matches in the Gold group of Tuesday's sailoffs.
There are 332 entries in the three phases of the Nationals hosted by the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club. Racing continues Wednesday with the Girls Nationals, to be followed Thursday through Sunday on a race course outside the Port of Los Angeles breakwater. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7884#7884
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HEADS I WIN - TAILS YOU LOSE
By Cory Friedman, America's Cup legal analyst
(Spoiler Alert - Until The Court Rules Everything You Read Is Provisional And The Final Ruling Could Be Completely Different.)
(July 21, 2009) In the latest America's Cup episode of Law & Order, Societe Nautique De Geneve (SNG) seemingly won a major victory today before Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court when Justice Kornreich told Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) - to absolutely no knowledgeable lawyer's surprise - that there was no basis to hold SNG in contempt of court. To paraphrase Plutarch regarding King Pyrrhus, a few more such victories and SNG will be undone.
SNG essentially has been maintaining that it has the right to change the America's Cup Match rules however and whenever it chooses and either drop ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) numbers 49 through 54 (including stored power and movable ballast) or enforce them as it decided. SNG also maintained that it could decide measurement rules and procedures as it chose. Thus GGYC's design team perpetually would be off balance.
What became clear in today's hearing is that, slightly more than six months before the first race of the Match, one of the world's largest software manufacturers just does not care what the design rules are, as long as it knows what they are. That can only be true if a couple of things are assumed. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/#p41
* Alinghi statement following hearing: http://bit.ly/AbFqr
* BMW Oracle Racing statement following hearing: http://bit.ly/1nYGsi
AMERICA'S CUP SURVEY - SHOULD STORED POWER BE ALLOWED?
The America's Cup teams returned to court Tuesday (July 21st), and among the issues were the rules for the 33rd America's Cup, specifically whether sections of the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing would be modified to allow for non-manual power to be used for sail trim and other adjustments. The importance of this issue is a result of the America's Cup defender Alinghi launching their defense catamaran with an engine to power their hydraulic control system. Here are quotes from Bernie Wilson's AP story:
Brad Butterworth, Alinghi:
"We're moving things hydraulically. The loads on this boat are just horrendous. A, it's difficult to gear up for something like that, and B, I think it's safer to have that system, where you don't have so many people cluttering the whole boat, and it makes life a little bit safer for the guys that are sailing the boat. The Cup for me has always been a design race. Now, it's an unlimited design race. This is the most interesting design Cup that's ever been, I think, because there's just no parameters. You can do what you want."
Russell Coutts, BMW Oracle Racing:
"An engine in an America's Cup boat? If that's permitted, it will change the game forever, I think, the wrong way. I don't think I'm alone on that one. I think without doing a survey, I bet the vast majority of people would be against that. The big boats, the big loads, that's part of the physical challenge of sailing any of the Cup boats I've sailed on. If you take that aspect out, you're changing the game dramatically."
The complexity of the issue also involves how the Deed of Gift stipulates that the America's Cup is to be run using the defense club's rules and regulations, which approved only manual power in 2007 (when the challenge was issued) and 2008 but dismissed this rule for 2009.
Assuming that the 2009 rules prevail...what do you think ... should the America's Cup allow for stored power to help sail the boats? Vote here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/09/0721/
GET OUT THE VOTE
In 2007, Geoff Holt became the first disabled sailor to sail single-handed around Great Britain. This December, he plans to sail a specially adapted, 60-foot wheelchair accessible catamaran across the Atlantic to Tortola in the BVI, the place where he broke his neck 25 years ago.
Geoff has been shortlisted by British Airways for a Great Britons Award, which will provide flights so his family can be there when he arrives in the Caribbean. He's the only yachtsman in the competition, and the winner is determined by online voting that ends on July 25th.
There are a lot of ways to support the sport of sailing, and voting for Geoff is one of the easiest ways to provide support. Votes can be submitted here: http://www.greatbritons.ba.com/users/5525
To follow Geoff's Atlantic progress, register here: http://www.personalatlantic.com/user/register
NEW ENGLAND ROPES POLY-TEC FIRST ON BOTH COASTS
Congratulations to Samba Pa Ti, the Transpac 52, which just completed a stellar performance, in class and overall, in the most recent Transpac race. On the other side of the continent, Sarah, an X41 was winning its class in the Marblehead to Halifax race. Both boats put on a fresh set of Poly-Tec covers from their shore crews. Poly-Tec is the latest in abrasion resistant covers from New England Ropes, the leader in performance line solutions in North America. Contact your local rigger for a fresh set of Poly-Tec. -- http://www.neropes.com
FLUKIEST MAC EVER
(July 21, 2009) - "By 8 minutes!" Bill Zeiler shouted to teammate Richard Sterns upon learning they'd won the Doublehanded Division of the 101st Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Despite finishing 5 hours ahead of 2nd place boat Chaz, Skye narrowly pulled off the first place spot on corrected time.
"It was probably the flukiest Mac I've ever been in," said Zeiler who now has 26 Macs under his belt. "50 degree shifts and sail changes were common, although with only one other crew onboard it was not difficult to get a consensus on strategy." Having a roller furling headsail was also helpful for Skye, simplifying the sail change process for only two crew.
Among the 329 starters, Sterns and Zeiler were one of 16 crews entered in the new Doublehanded Division this year. "It was a different experience, but fun," Sterns explained. Sterns, who now has 37 Macs added, "It was different not to be competing one design where you really race near other boats in your section on the course. Our division was so spread out that it was hard to tell how we were doing during the race." -- Race website: http://www.cycracetomackinac.com
SAILING SHORTS
* Sardinia, Italy (July 21, 2009) - Three wins from three starts allowed Dean Barker (NZL) and the crew of Emirates Team New Zealand to not only take a comfortable overall lead after the first day's racing at the 10-boat Region of Sardinia Trophy, the third event of the 2009 Audi TP52 MedCup Circuit, but also today to more than double their overall lead on the season long Circuit. It was a day for the only new boats on the circuit, with other first year designs Matador (ARG) and Artemis (SWE) in second and third respectively. -- Full story: http://2009.medcup.org/news/pure_new_zealand_in_sardinia_947
* Riva del Garda, Italy (July 21, 2009; Day 2) - Matching race to race in the the 183-boat 29er World championship, Aussie Steven Thomas and Blar Tuke (NZL) won all three races in their flight while Americans Judge Ryan and Matt Noble equaled by winning all their races as well. The two teams are separated by one point and lead third place Hayley Outteridge and Iain Jensen, by 5 points. Conditions were lighter today but later built from 13 to 18 knots on Lake Garda. The qualifying series is completed on Wednesday, with the final series on July 23-25. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7882#7882
* (July 21, 2009) - Day two of the 54-boat Hobie 16 North Americans had light air out of the east. Three races were completed. Jason Hess and Hugo Guzman from Guatemala moved into the lead today but also scored an OCS in the first race, which they can drop. One point behind in second is Enrique Figueroa and Victor Aponte from Puerto Rico, dropping a 7 at the moment. Americans Geoff Becker and Krista Hankins remain in third but remain in striking distance. The Puerto Ricans and the Americans tied for the day at thirteen points. -- Results: http://cork.org/results2009/H16.HTM
* 2.4m sailors from Canada and the US met at National Yacht Club in Toronto for the 2.4 Canadian Championships July 18-19, which was won by Paul Tingley from RNSYS in Halifax. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/nar8un
* On Saturday, July 18, 43 boats successfully sailed the Edgartown Yacht Club"s 58.2 nm 'Round the Island Race, taking the fleet clockwise around the island of Martha's Vineyard, MA. The course record was smashed by George David's 90-foot Rambler with a 5 hour, 18 minute circumnavigation. She took fourth in the IRC class behind Pugwash (J/122 - David Murphy), Q (Melges 32 - Jim Swartz), and Zaraffa (Reichel Pugh 68 - Nick Bernard, Naval Academy). Five classes including IRC, PHRF spinnaker and cruising had a fast, foggy, and at times rollicking trip. -- http://rtirace.org
RULES QUIZ
The Appeals Book for 2009-2012, which includes The ISAF Case Book for 2009-2012, is loaded with important and useful interpretations of the rules that will help sailors, race officers and judges make the best decisions according to the rules. The hard copy of the Book is available at the US SAILING Store and an online version is free for US SAILING members.
Now posted on the Scuttlebutt website, here is one of four actual appeals to provide a first-hand look at what is in the Book:
E Scow V-751 vs. E Scow M-9
Rule 61.1(a), Protest Requirements: Informing the Protestee
A boat is not obligated to give priority to displaying a protest flag at the cost of the crew failing to act to keep the boat under control or delaying a spinnaker set.
Facts and Decision of the Protest Committee
At the windward mark, E Scow M-9 tacked within the zone onto starboard tack below E Scow V-751, approaching the mark on starboard tack. As a result, V-751 had to sail above close-hauled and, in the same incident, M-9 hit the mark with her boom. V-751 hailed "Protest" within three to five seconds after M-9 hit the mark. The next leg was a short "offset" leg, set at approximately 110 degrees to the windward leg. Wind speed was 15-20 m.p.h. After passing the windward mark, V-751 sailed the offset leg with all crew members hiking to windward to prevent the boat from capsizing. She then bore away around the offset mark, set her spinnaker and displayed her protest flag. The flag was displayed within 12-20 seconds after M-9 hit the windward mark. The protest committee upheld the protest and disqualified M-9 for breaking rule 18.3(a) (Tacking When Approaching a Mark), and rule 31 (Touching a Mark). M-9 appealed, claiming that V-751 did not hail or display her protest flag in sufficient time.
Decision of the Appeals Committee here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0604/#82
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Please submit 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 Alfred Poor (admittedly stuck in the CCA era):
The Alinghi 5 cat looks cool, to be sure, but I'm not sure that I'll ever get used to seeing hulls with the bows upside down.
* From Ken Guyer:
"That's the way it is." I remember shortly after the Tet Offensive in Vietnam when Cronkite declared the Vietnam War was a "stalemate". He was always someone I looked up to as a reporter and his non-bias way of telling it like it was and letting the individual make up their own mind about what to think of the news was refreshing, and unfortunately a thing of the past when compared to today's news broadcasts.
I had the privilege of meeting Walter Cronkite in October of 1990 when we took him out sailing in San Diego along with Ray Ellis, Art DeFever, and Wally Schirra on the 12 meter Heart of America. Walter Cronkite and artist Ray Ellis had teamed up on a coffee table book "Westwind" and they held a book signing in the city that night. Sailing that day, the CBS newsman only had a CNN baseball cap to wear as protection against the sun out on the bay. He made sure he wore it backward during the cruise lest someone snap a shot of him out of "uniform". A great man, fair winds and following seas always Walter.
* From David Starck, Buffalo, NY:
In the mid 1990's I had the opportunity to go on an afternoon sail aboard Larry Ellison's maxi SAYONARA with Mr. Cronkite at the helm. It was a typically blustery San Francisco Bay day. Larry stood behind Mr. Cronkite as we sailed upwind, and asked him how the helm felt. Mr. Cronkite responded "this thing is a sports car!" It was pretty cool.
CURMUDGEONâ'S OBSERVATION
A person who smiles in the face of adversity...probably has a scapegoat.
Special thanks to Mount Gay Rum Apparel and New England Ropes.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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