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SCUTTLEBUTT 3082 - Friday, April 30, 2010
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: JK3 Nautical Enterprises, BIC Sport, and Quantum Sails.
SHIFTING THE FOCUS TOWARD KITE RACING
The first ever Kiteboard Course Racing U.S. National Championship came in
2007, soon followed by the first ever World Championship in 2009. Both
events were held in the prime conditions of San Francisco, with the
development of course racing being helped along by a motivated group of St
Francis Yacht Club members.
The 2010 Worlds were held last week in Corpus Christi, TX, where the entries
included a number of names more rooted in mainstream sailing than in this
beach culture class. Among them was NorCal 21 year old John Heineken, who
has a history in the 29er (3rd in the 2005 Worlds), 49er (5th in the 2007
U.S. Olympic Trials), and collegiately for UC Santa Barbara.
Scuttlebutt checked in with John to learn about his shift toward kite
racing:
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* How long have you been kiteboarding?
JOHN HEINEKEN: I've been kiting for about three years now, but just started
racing last summer before the Worlds in San Francisco.
* What attracted you to kiteboard racing?
JOHN HEINEKEN: Kite racing has the speed and tactical excitement of skiff
racing combined with the freedom of kiteboarding. In 8 knots of breeze, we
do 15 knots upwind and 20 downwind at angles that are better than those of
formula windsurfers -- there aren't many boats that can beat that, and
definitely not for the same price. Kites take apparent wind sailing to the
next level because they are not only up in clean air all the time, they are
in constant motion, increasing their apparent wind further. All of this adds
up to some of the most fun sailing I've ever done...that's why I do it.
Convenience is also important. Compared to organizing containers full of
boats and coordinating with people across the country, I can fit my boat and
all my sails in one bag, put it on the plane, and carry it to the event
site. That's a big plus.
* What are the equipment restrictions?
JOHN HEINEKEN: We're still in the development phase of the class, with only
a few restrictions. We have a max draft of 18 inches and max kite line
length of 45m. This leaves lots of room for playing around with your gear
and trying to have the fastest setup. Right now most people have one board,
although some have a light-wind and high wind board. We all have around four
kites, ranging from 7-16m. There is definitely some convergence with the
kites and boards right now, and I think that it will be feasible to restrict
the gear to one board and three kites per event in the near future.
* Describe a typical race course?
JOHN HEINEKEN: Windward-leeward. Target time 20-25 minutes, which depending
on the breeze is somewhere from a 1-2 mile beat. I'd love to see some
leeward gates soon.
Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0429/
CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG
(April 29, 2010) - Today Ken Read, skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing, announced
his core crew and management team for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race
2011-2012. The team departs Alicante, Spain today (Thursday) to bring il
mostro, PUMA Ocean Racing's boat that secured a 2nd place finish in the last
Volvo Ocean Race, back to Newport, Rhode Island where the team will
immediately start training for the next race. il mostro will serve as the
team's training boat until a new boat, which will compete in the 2011-12
edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, is completed.
PUMA has named Juan Yacht Design, of Valencia, Spain as the lead boat
designer of the new PUMA Ocean Racing yacht. Juan Kouyoumdjian's designs
have a perfect record in the VOR since the inception of the Volvo Open 70
Rule. They are credited with designing the 2006 VOR winner, ABN AMRO 1 and
the 2009 VOR winner, Ericsson 4. "The decision to go with Juan to design
PUMA's new boat was a major step forward for the program, and set in motion
a number of key hires that have formed the nucleus of the team," said
Skipper Ken Read. Additional design team members include Steve Calder of
North Sails and mast designer, Scott Ferguson.
The confirmed crew members are:
Ken Read, 48 (Rhode Island, USA) - Skipper
Tom Addis, 40 (Sydney, AUS) - Navigator
Rob Greenhalgh, 32 (Hamble, UK) - Helmsman & Trimmer
Brad Jackson, 42 (Auckland, NZL) - Design Coordinator & Watch Captain
Andrew "Junior" Lewis, 27 (Honolulu, USA) - Trimmer & Driver
Tony Mutter, 41 (Auckland, NZL) - Aerodynamics Coordinator & Watch Captain
Casey Smith, 31 (Brisbane, AUS) - Systems Manager & Bowman
Jonathan "Jono" Swain, 43 (Durban, SA) - Helmsman & Trimmer
Complete report:
http://www.pumaoceanracing.com/us/en/2010/04/here-is-our-core-team/
J/BOATS ARE SELLING FAST!
If you're looking for a J/Boat to race or cruise, JK3 has the boat for you.
From the brand new J/111 speedster due to arrive on our docks this summer,
to the blue water performance cruising J/160 and everything in between, JK3
has many quality brokerage listings available. 2010 is shaping up to be a
great year with the number of boat sales and prices showing to be
significantly higher from the same time last year. If you're looking to buy
or sell, don't hesitate; contact us in San Diego (619-224-6200) or in
Newport Beach (949-675-8053). -- http://www.jk3yachts.com
TEAM TUNNICLIFFE QUALIFIES FOR FINALS
Hyeres, France (April 29, 2010) - After a week of wishing and waiting for
wind, sailors finally got in a full day of racing today, wrapping up the
last day of the qualifying series at Semaine Olympic Francaise. After an
hour postponement on shore this morning, all fleets set sail in a light but
relatively consistent, 6-8 knot breeze.
With the diminished North American representation due to the volcanic ash
air travel cancellations, the events that have had some success are the Finn
with Zach Railey (USA) in 9th, Womens 470 with Amanda Clark/ Sarah Chin
(USA) in 9th, Laser with Michael Leigh (CAN) in 11th, and Womens Match
Racing with Anna Tunnicliffe/ Molly Vandemoer/ Debbie Capozzi in the Finals.
Said Tunnicliffe, "It was a long day for the racers today. We met at 8:30am
to draw boats for today's sailing, and finally got off the water at 7:30pm
this evening. But we had seven really good races today. I really enjoyed
racing the semi finals against Claire Leroy (FRA; #1 world rank). She is a
very good sailor. With these light conditions it is very hard to know what
happen until the end. Our goal coming into the regatta was to make the
finals, which we have now done. We would like to finish with a gold medal,
and are very much looking forward to racing tomorrow."
Tunnicliffe beat Leroy 3-1 in the semis after having previously dispatched
Silvia Roca (ESP) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Team Tunnicliffe will face
German Silke Hohlbrock (#4 world rank) in the Finals, which along with the
Medal races will start at 10 am Friday.
Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.net
USSTAG website (reports, photos, videos): http://tinyurl.com/US-SOF-2010
BACKGROUND: Semaine Olympique Francaise is one of the major regattas in the
international Olympic sailing circuit and the fourth of seven events in the
2009-10 ISAF Sailing World Cup series.
FINAL REMINDER: The US Olympic Sailing Team at the 1984 Los Angeles Games
medaled in all seven events, a total of three gold and four silver medals.
Do you remember who was on that team? Check out the team photo and enter to
win the Atlantis WeatherGear Microburst Jacket that will be raffled on May
3rd. -- Link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/10/awg
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.... ROUTINE SAVES THE DAY!
By Chris Rast, 3-time Olympian
After the first two days of racing at the 2008 Olympic Games, Tim Wadlow and
I were sitting in 13th place. Not exactly where we were planning on being.
We had had some minor issues in the last couple of months of preparation,
but in the last two training camps we had shown excellent boat speed and
felt comfortable in our racing strategies. We had raced surprisingly well in
all practice regattas on the Olympic waters and were considered serious
medal contenders.
What went wrong? And more importantly how were we going to turn it around?
Well, apart from the normal Olympic jitters, on day one we also had
encountered REALLY light airs, combined with strong current and way nasty
chop on race course 1. This threw us a bit of a curve ball, which resulted
in some early mistakes and bad finishes. This then resulted in us taking
higher risks in order to try to undo some of these first mishaps. It seemed
like we were caught in a vicious cycle...
So how did we get out of it again? Well, as boring as it might sound, it was
pretty simple. Routine.
Tim and I had established pretty stubborn routines, which allowed us to
focus on what really matters and not get too distracted. The Olympic Games
Regatta must be the most intense competition that any sailor will ever race
in. Believe me, I know, I sailed in three Olympic Games. What keeps you on
track are your routines.
It starts with how and when you get up, what you eat for breakfast, how you
rig your boat, the girls you flirt with in the boat park, how you do your
pre-start routines, debriefs between the races etc. all the way until climb
back in to bed and turn the light off.
I like to make the analogy with your routines being your life line through
the day (or even throughout the whole event). The stronger your routines,
the more sturdier and grippy that life line will be. Now in smaller, less
important events, you rely less on that line, because there are less things
that can get you off course. There's less crazy stuff happening around you,
there's less pressure etc. So you allow yourself also to sway further away
from it. At the Games, however, things are pretty nuts. There are so many
opportunities that distract you, so many people that want to hear from you,
so many all-you-can-eat free buffets (and yes, there are parties too!), so
you better make sure that life line is solid and within reach when things
start going south. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/2g9rt76
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt
include stoked midshipmen, ski and sail, ramp launching for dummies, lack of
uniformity, caption contest, put away wet, spectating and spirits, cat out
of the box, and the next most revolutionary sail craft (maybe). Here are
this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0430/
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week,
send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
IT'S A BRAVE NEW WORLD
More and more junior programs are adding O'Pen BICs and Techno 293
windsurfing to excite kids who aren't necessarily into the traditional path
of race-race-race in olden boats. If you want to add new-age excitement for
the kids in your program. and watch your dropout rates fall.. it's not too
late to start your 2010 fleet. The O'Pen BICs and Techno 293s are less
expensive, amazingly durable, completely self-bailing, and kids love them.
Find out why at http://www.bicsport.com and contact
mailto:info@bicsportna.com for junior program packages.
SAILING SHORTS
* Around the Americas is a 25,000 mile sailing circumnavigation of the
American continents aboard 64-foot S/V Ocean Watch, with the mission of
inspiring, educating, and engaging citizens of the Americas to protect our
fragile oceans. This unprecedented expedition began on May 31, 2009 when
Ocean Watch departed Seattle for a daring voyage through the Northwest
Passage before heading south and around Cape Horn. They are on the home
stretch back to Seattle, now passing Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with their next
port of call to be San Diego, CA on May 4-10. -- Full details:
http://www.aroundtheamericas.org/
* (April 29, 2010) - Bermuda Olympic hopeful Rockal Evans knocked off
traditional Bermuda winners Brett Wright and Malcolm Smith as the Laser
fleet concluded its racing in Bermuda International Invitational Race Week.
Evans, who is the son of former Olympic sailor Howard Lee, will attend the
Emerging Nations Programme (ENP) in Perth, Australia, which is an initiative
designed by the Perth 2011 Organizing Committee to assist developing sailing
nations, such as Bermuda, in qualifying for the Olympics. BIIRW racing
concludes Friday. -- Event website: http://www.biirw.bm
* (April 29, 2010; Day 10) - Conditions continue to deteriorate for the
Clipper 09-10 Round The World Yacht fleet as they edge their way down the
Mexican coastline. Winds have decreased, the sea is now almost glassy
smooth, and the temperatures have risen to 'hot and sweaty'. Spirit of
Australia holds a 32nm lead over the nine boat fleet as they approach
Acapulco, now 1418 nm from the finish. -- Event website:
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/
* Volcanic ash from Iceland and delayed flights certainly did not dampen the
spirits of the Royal Thames Yacht Club (RTYC) during the competition in
Marblehead Harbor for this team race invitational event. Inaugurated in 1999
and held in Sonars each April, the UK team was the first non-US team to take
the title, besting Boston Yacht Club, Corinthian Yacht Club, Eastern Yacht
Club, New York Yacht Club, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, St. Francis
Yacht Club, and Southern Yacht Club. -- Complete report:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9740
* Gmunden, Austria (April 29, 2010) - A record seven flights got completed
today in a cold 10-15 knot winds for the first day of the RC 44 Austria Cup.
The match race segment among the ten teams is currently led by helm Larry
Ellison with tactician Russell Coutts. -- Full report:
http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=2305
* West Marine today reported net sales of US$109.6m for its first quarter
ended April 3, 2010, up 8.6 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
Same-store sales rose by 8.4 per cent. Its net loss narrowed to US$8.9m
compared to US$15.4m a year ago. "While we have always reported a loss in
the first quarter due to seasonality in our business, we once again showed
strong year-over-year operating performance," said Geoff Einsenberg, CEO, in
a statement. -- IBI Magazine, read on:
http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20100329141431ibinews.html
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Established in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher
learning in the United States. Consistently ranked at or near the top as a
leading academic institution in the world, Harvard is also notable for its
two sailing teams.
First is the Harvard Sailing Team that will strive to compete at the 2010
Inter-Collegiate Spring National Championship to be held in Madison, WI on
May 25 - June 3. Then there is the 'other' Harvard Sailing Team, a New York
City based sketch comedy group that is not affiliated in any way with
Harvard University or its sailing program.
So the question is, if a dot com comedy group uses a college sailing team
name, are they mocking the sport and/or school, or as they explain, simply
allowing them to wear argyle sweaters? Regardless, they're videos are pretty
funny. Click here for this week's video:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/0430/
* EXTRA: University of Wisconsin will be hosting the Spring College
Nationals, and have produced this video to showcase the area. Highlights
such as snow, cows, and the Badger Macarena dance should get teams jazzed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKgENcDGE5A
* EXTRA, EXTRA: Canadian Laser sailor Dave Wright about his kiteboard rescue
in Mexico: http://tinyurl.com/SailGroove-David-Wright
SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week,
send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
QUANTUM RACING ON FACEBOOK
The Portugal Trophy in Cascais, Portugal is first event of the 2010 Audi
MedCup Circuit on May 11-16, and the TP52 Quantum Racing team will be
seeking a podium position for a third year in a row. Utilizing the latest
technology from Quantum Sails, follow skipper Terry Hutchinson and the team
on the Quantum Racing Facebook page:
http://tinyurl.com/Quantum-Racing-on-Facebook
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 John Rousmaniere:
Scuttlebutt readers who, like me, are inspired and instructed by accounts of
rescues should know that U.S. SAILING presents an award for such acts of
courage and responsibility by U.S. sailors. More than 150 Arthur B. Hanson
Rescue Medals have been presented since 1989. In the last five months, seven
medals were awarded for rescues that saved seven lives in the Pacific, Great
Lakes, and Long Island Sound. Hanson Rescue Medal rules, online nomination
forms, and stories are available at
http://offshore.ussailing.org/SAS/Hanson_Rescue_Award
* From Margaret Podlich, BoatU.S. Vice President, Government Affairs:
Thought you should have an update on the Illinois lifejacket legislation (SB
3060) recently included in Scuttlebutt.
This bill would have made wearing a lifejacket a state requirement when you
are alone in boats less than 26', but if you were a sailboarder you were
exempt, and if you were fishing you were exempt. This bill passed the Senate
a month ago, and was quickly passed out of house committee in the middle of
last week.
On Wednesday, S.B. 3060 failed to receive enough votes (on the House floor)
to pass . The vote was 32-73. (This is nearly a direct opposite of what the
Senate voted (39-16) a month ago. It appears this one is dead for the year.
* From Charles Chopin:
Regarding Nicholas Hayes' article in Scuttlebutt 3078, "What's Really Wrong
With Yacht Clubs," I have been what could be best described as a "non-member
racer" at my local yacht club for years. I race as crew on members' boats. I
find Mr. Hayes' article quite correct on most counts, but he fails to
mention one major point. Part of the reason for the increasing age of new
members is not simply related to the fact that members are recruiting their
friends (I'm 39 and I (and my family (wife and three children)) have been
invited to join by several members older than my parents).
The most significant reason we have not joined is that membership involves a
significant expense in "disposable income" that, while I have three children
(ages 12, 6, and 2) who are "fast" approaching college debt, is not really
"disposable" when planning for their future.
While the local yacht club is still significantly (financially) easier to
join than the local country club (though I sail far better than I play golf,
so the choice would be easy if I had to make it), I'm still more inclined to
put those funds into my children's' college funds than into a few more
nights (beyond Tuesday Night Racing) to hang out with the people with whom I
like to sail . . . Once my nest is empty (or I win the lottery), paying club
dues to hang out with friends on boats will be far more interesting than
paying for just a town mooring . . .
* From Jim Champ: (re, Nicholas Hayes commentary)
I think there's much more to the demographics problem than can be cured just
by targeting a different age group by advertising or whatever.
This sort of thing must vary from country to country, but something I've
observed in the UK more than once is on these lines...
A young couple who sail regularly start a family. As a result of
ridiculously inflated house prices the wife must continue to work, even
though all she's doing by working is to pay bankers the mortgage interest
caused by the inflated house prices and childcare to enable her to work.
Come the weekend she wants to be with her children and and in her house, not
at a sailing club - understandably: what else chance does she get?
Now there's a name for a man who spends all Sunday at the sailing club
leaving his wife alone with the kids and the housework, and that name is
"divorced ex-husband", and divorced ex husbands tend to have very little
money for boats and in any case Sunday is the only day he gets to see his
kids.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION CORRECTION
In Scuttlebutt 3081, the Curmudgeon's Observation incorrectly said that all
50 states were listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of
the $5 bill. As it turns out, the top of the actual Lincoln Memorial has
only the names of the 48 states in existence at the time it was constructed.
They run all the way around the building. But for the image on the $5 bill,
only the 26 state names visible from the front of the monument are shown; 15
across the top and 11 listed above the columns.
The states listed are Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin,
California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska,
Colorado, North Dakota, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York and
Carolinas.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
The Earth Is Full - Go Home.
Special thanks to JK3 Nautical Enterprises, BIC Sport, and Quantum Sails.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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