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SCUTTLEBUTT 3016 - Wednesday, January 27, 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: Hall Spars & Rigging, Doyle Sails, and Atlantis
WeatherGear.
BRILLIANT CONDITIONS FOR MIAMI OCR
Miami, FL (January 26, 2010) - Today counted as a perfect day at US
SAILING’s 2010 Rolex Miami OCR, the second of seven stops of the
International (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010. Especially after Monday’s
weather interruptions, no one minded this morning’s slight cold snap that
gave way to brilliant conditions for the second day on Biscayne Bay and
allowed multiple races to be completed in the 13 Olympic and Paralympic
classes represented here. The annual event, in its 21st year, has 45 nations
represented on its roster of 448 teams (633 athletes), most of whom are top
contenders for 2012 Olympic or Paralympic berths.
Only four points separated the top seven Women’s 470 teams, proving how
experience ruled the day as sailors played to the shifty conditions. Two
French teams and two U.S. teams rose to the top: Ingrid Petitjean and crew
Nadege Douroux posted the fewest points (13) in the low-point scoring
system, with Erin Maxwell (Norwalk, Conn.) and Isabelle Kinsolving Farrar
(New York, N.Y.) following close behind with 14. After that, it’s the same
trade-out with France’s Camille Lecointre and Mathilde Geron posting 15
points, followed by Amanda Clark (Shelter Island Heights, N.Y.) and Sarah
Chin (Hoboken, N.J.), also with 15 (but showing fourth because of
tie-breaking rules).
Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (San Diego, Calif.) and David Hughes (San Diego,
Calif.), comprising the top-finishing North American team (12th place) in
this class, also felt a bit like newcomers today. “It was our first day back
after not sailing for 2 ½ years since the 2007 Olympic Trials,” said
Anderson-Mitterling. “We’re going to try to see at this point if we still
think we have it, and if we feel we can do well, we might go full bore again
for an Olympic campaign.” As for holding their own, he admitted, “It’s a
deep fleet (in talent); if you make a mistake they make you pay.”
In the 24-boat Star class, four American teams finished in the top five
after three races today, with Andy Horton (South Burlington, Vt.) and James
Lyne (Granville, Vt.) in the lead. On their course, the wind shifted 60
degrees right by the end of the day. “The U.S. teams did what they needed to
do today: they hit about 75 percent of the shifts and had single digits for
the majority of the races,” said Mark Ivey (San Francisco, Calif.), who is
here coaching the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics’ Star teams. “The goal for
everybody was for everyone in the top eight at all mark roundings ... which
is what you have to do in a small boat fleet.”
Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/MOCR-DAY-2
Results: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/Results.htm
Tuesday photos: http://tinyurl.com/y9d2psj
Sailgroove videos: http://www.sailgroove.org
T2P.tv videos: http://www.t2p.tv/guide/ocr10.php
Twitter page: http://twitter.com/RolexMiamiOCR
Facebook fan page: http://tinyurl.com/OCR10-FB
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
As the top North American at the 2010 Star Worlds last week in Brazil,
American Andrew Campbell has quickly established himself as a leading
contender for the 2012 Olympics… after only his first year in the class.
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* Last week you were presented at the U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics
(USSTAG) Awards Banquet with the Best Performance by a Newcomer award. What
has attributed to this quick climb in what is seen as perhaps the most
competitive class?
ANDREW CAMPBELL: “At first I laughed and was actually a little surprised...
I've been here the whole time, how could I have the best performance as a
newcomer? Once I read the full description, I am flattered by the award.
I've been working hard to make a fast transition into the new class. My
expectations for myself are always high, and my emphasis is always on
improvement through experience. This year has provided a ton of growth in my
experience in the sport.”
* After representing the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics in the Laser, you have
gone from the simplest class to one of the more complex. Describe the
transition.
ANDREW CAMPBELL: “The beauty of the Star is how directly minor adjustments
in the rig and sails changes the feel in the tiller. When you pull a little
more backstay on, it makes a huge impact on making the boat feel better and
faster; that is incredibly rewarding for any sailor. The Laser is as pure as
it gets in the sport. The sailors make the difference in that class, and
there is no excuse beyond your effort.
“In the Star you have so many added dynamics - a crew, sail design, hull
design, mast tune, etc. Sometimes the best juggler wins the event. Since my
college sailing career where I learned how much I enjoy the team dynamic and
juggling the additional variables, I've been seeking that in my sailing. The
Melges 32 sailing and Star sailing have been very satisfying next steps. The
to-do list is never-ending sometimes in the Star, but you just have to keep
on top of it and it never gets too out of hand. Having a boat for the next
event is always the biggest concern.”
* You have been the most consistent North American over the past two Star
World Championships, yet these were your first two Star Worlds. What is it
about the Worlds schedule that helped you adapt to this event?
ANDREW CAMPBELL: “I enjoy observing other sailors under stress at major
events like the Worlds. Some change their approach completely; others are
affected by stress in wild ways. Certainly I feel the heat like anybody
else, I get tense at times, but in the end it’s just another boat race. I'm
trying to improve my sailing every time I go out on the water, so the Worlds
is just as big a learning experience as any other day of training. I stick
to my routine and try and keep the pressure on the other sailors as best I
can. Luckily, my style of conservative, consistent sailing, along with a
sense of urgency allows for good scores and good comebacks in the Worlds
format. Learning to be patient enough has been a lifetime in the works, but
it pays off in the long event.”
Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0125/
ROCKING THE RIGGING WORLD
Hall Spars & Rigging rocked the composite rigging world in 2008 with the
introduction of SCR, the first solid carbon-fiber rod rigging. We did it
again in 2009 with SCR/S - the first streamlined, airfoil-shaped carbon
rigging. And the accolades poured in. SCR won the DAME Award for Innovation
from METS. SCR/S won the Pittman Award for Innovation from SAIL magazine.
Now add "regatta champion" to the list. Bluto, the Evelyn 32 with a full set
of SCR, won PHRF Boat of the Week at Key West. Order now and rock SCR on
your boat. http://www.hallspars.com
KEY WEST ON A BUDGET
J/80 owner Jeremy Reynolds was skeptical when it was suggested he enter Key
West 2010, presented by Nautica. The Maryland resident started doing a
mental checklist of the costs associated with doing a regatta off the
southernmost point of Florida and just shook his head. “I saw the dollar
signs going cha-ching, cha-ching in my head,” Reynolds said. That was before
J/80 class president Kristen Robinson showed Reynolds a detailed spreadsheet
of how to attend the annual race week in Key West on a reasonable budget of
less than $8,000.
Perhaps the most notable cost-cutting method involves working a package deal
for most of the J/80s to launch and berth at Old Island Marina. Robinson
negotiated a discount on the splash fee and storage rate with the Stock
Island facility. Robinson also helped the J/80 teams contain their housing
costs by calling around to numerous Key West realtors and comparing rates.
Robinson, who posted a “How to do Key West on a Budget” article on the J/80
website, was asked why she puts so much effort into assisting other J/80
owners with their Key West plans and plotting out a budget for the regatta.
“Because if I’m going to make the effort to come down here I don’t want to
race in PHRF. I come to Key West for good one-design competition so the more
boats the better,” said Robinson, who believes other class presidents or
representatives should put forth the same effort for a regatta the caliber
of Key West.
Premiere Racing president Peter Craig is extremely impressed by the ability
of J/80 owners to put together a Key West campaign on an affordable budget.
“The J/80 class increasing to 19 boats in this economy is one of the great
success stories of this event and should be listened to carefully by the
owners in other classes,” Craig said. “The J/80 folks have figured out how
to do Key West without breaking the bank by working collectively. They have
clearly shown that it can be done.” -- An excerpt from Race Week News (Pg
16): http://issuu.com/premiere-racing/docs/rwn_012310
* KEY WEST 2010: The Scuttlebutt event micro-site holds all the info, from
weather forecasts to final results, with daily reports, videos, and photos
to fill in the gaps. View it all here:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/kw
* SEAHORSE DISCOUNT: As a special offer to Scuttlebutt readers and
participants at Key West Race Week, SEAHORSE Magazine is offering a
substantial discount rate for 1, 2, 3 and 5-year subscriptions. New
subscribers can save up to 40% off the cover price and 30% off the standard
rates for monthly airmail delivery of the world's premier publication on
international performance sailing. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/yfg8dct
CLOSER LOOK AT RACER'S EDGE
In the January 15th issue of Scuttlebutt, it was reported how 33rd America’s
Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing team was using ‘Racer's Edge’, a hand-held
laser wind sensor capable of measuring wind speed and direction data at
varying ranges ahead of the sensor location. Valencia Sailing spoke with
Phil Rogers, CEO and President of the device supplier…here is an excerpt:
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* What does the Racer's Edge exactly do?
PHIL ROGERS: It's a laser device, about the size of a large pair of
binoculars, that can measure the wind up to a distance of 1,000 meters in
multiple ranges, enabling to you to get a map of the wind up to 1,000
meters, at multiple ranges. So, a sailing team has a tactical advantage
because they can see where the best wind is, one kilometer ahead of them.
Racer's Edge measures wind speed and direction at 400m, 700m and 1,000m
ahead. As a result, you just point the device where you want to and you'll
get wind speed and direction along that line of sight in those three
different distances. You just push the fire button and you instantaneously
know that data at those three different distances. The intervals (400m, 700m
and 1,000m) of this particular device BMW Oracle are using have been preset
at the factory but it's something that can be adjusted.
The device has Bluetooth wireless capability, so it can be connected to an
onboard computer and this is the way they are using it now. It will also
have its own PDA display that can be mounted on the unit, on a wrist wrap or
any other spot on the yacht. So, it can either display by itself or
interface to a computer on the boat.
It also has a wing-profiling mode, depending on how far up you point it. If
you point at different angles up from the horizon it will also provide a
vertical profile of the wind. So, depending on where you point it, you'll
get a horizontal and a vertical profile of the wind. There’re two modes of
operation.
* How much does it cost?
PHIL ROGERS: The model BMW Oracle is currently using is called the Racer's
Edge Professional Model. It is the very top of the line, high end version of
the device with cutting-edge technology, a lot of built-in features
specifically for the very high-end professional sailors and is offered for
sale at US $149,500. It's not only aimed at yacht racing but some of the top
cruising yachts could certainly benefit from this technology. We will have
in the very near future, other models of this device, including one much
more geared towards the general sailor.
Complete interview: http://tinyurl.com/yfhlwqh
STARS TO STRATIS
Congratulations to Mark Mendelblatt and John Von Schwarz, 2nd Americans
Overall, for winning the final race in the 2010 Star Worlds held in Rio de
Janeiro. Sailing with his father, Tomas Hornos was the Top Junior Skipper at
the Star Worlds. Over in Auckland, Doyle Sailmakers will be delivering the
latest 58-meter Kokomo with the largest Stratis sails to date. The new Alloy
yacht designed by Dubois, with the world’s second biggest carbon fiber mast
at 75 meters tall, will be fitted with 2,500 square meters of Stratis sails.
Visit http://www.doylesails.com/news for more information on the latest
Stratis delivery.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO CUT SPECTRA LINE?
By Bob Pingel, Sailing magazine
Dear Boat Doctor,
I have started to do some line splicing and am finding lots of good uses for
Spectra. I am replacing a lot of the Nicro-pressed wire on my boat, like the
ones used for tack pendants. I really like working with this material, but I
am having a hard time finding a way to cut it. It seems like I need to
sharpen my knife after almost every project. I know you have done a fair bit
of splicing, do you have any ideas for me? -- Matt Farnum, San Diego, CA
Dear Matt,
Welcome to the world of splicing and replacing metal with fiber! You’ll find
countless uses for little bits of Spectra or other fibers; you can replace
wire, shackles and lots of things. Using fiber is ultimately lighter,
cheaper, stronger, corrosion free and just plain cool. Your only enemies are
chafe and UV damage, so inspect early and often.
Spectra is very strong and pretty hard to cut. Spectra is a trade name for
ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. This material is used in
industrial applications because it is somewhat self-lubricating but also
very chafe resistant. These properties make it hard to cut, and even harder
on the tool you are cutting with. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/y8ue444
CUP NEWS & NOTES
* The America's Cup teams have remained stranded in port since Sunday due to
bad weather, less than two weeks before the controversial event is due to
start in eastern Spain. Winds of more than 30 knots and waves of more than
three metres were forecast off Valencia for Tuesday. Local newspaper Las
Provincias said the start of the event could be delayed until February 12 if
the region is hit by further storms this week. -- AFP, full story:
http://tinyurl.com/ygwlea3
* The Americas Cup Consortium decided on Monday that a total of eight
million Euros would be spent on staging the 33rd Americas Cup in Valencia,
Spain, which would be divided amongst various areas including
communications, television access, and hospitality suites. Valencia Mayoress
Rita Barbera, who is also President of the Consortium, revealed that the
money would come from a series of private sponsors for the event, and that
the America’s Cup itself would be arriving in Valencia on the fifth or sixth
of next month with all the attendant fanfare, whilst the inaugural
ceremonies would take place on February 7. - Valencia Life Network,
mailto:publisher@valencialife.net
* As the defending club for the 33rd America’s Cup, the Societe Nautique de
Geneve may be in the news for other reasons, but proved that it does also do
other things by winning the first Monaco Optimist Team Race held last
weekend. The Y.C. Monaco initiative is now the fifth major European event
for the discipline, along with established events in Venice, Berlin,
Goeteborg and the IODA European Championship in Ledro, Italy. The new venue
attracted 12 teams from eight countries including clubs like the C.N.
Antibes, Royal Cork, SNG and Y.C. San Remo which might more commonly be
associated with rather larger yachts. -- Full report:
http://www.yacht-club-monaco.mc/evenement/motr
SAILING SHORTS
* The elite Laser practice facility for North American sailors has become
the Laser Training Center in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. This year, a
collection of elite sailors have offered to share their knowhow, and then
make sure sailors execute to excellence. Want to train against Anna
Tunnicliffe (March 11-14), Bernard Luttmer (March 18-21) or Steve Cockerill
(August 2-12)? For more information visit http://www.caribwind.com or
contact mailto:ari@caribwind.com
* US SAILING’s 2010 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship, an ISAF Grade 3
event, will be held at Sail Sheboygan July 7-11. Applications to compete are
being accepted until March 22. This championship will be a qualifier for the
Nations Cup. The highest placing skippers for the 2010 Northern Lights Cup,
the 2010 Sundance Cup, and the 2010 Rolex Women’s Match will be issued
invitations as well as the current U.S. Women’s Match Racing Champion. The
remaining skippers will be chosen based on resume. Information at
http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USWMRC.htm
* The website has been launched for the 2010 Swiftsure International Yacht
Races, organized by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club in Victoria, British
Columbia for May 29-31. Sections 1 - 4 of the Notice of Race now online,
with the 67th Swiftsure to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Royal
Canadian Navy and celebrate their long standing support of the race.
--Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8983
DISCOVER: GREAT GEAR AT THE NAVY PIER
Come by the Atlantis booth at Strictly Sail Chicago, get a great deal on the
gear designed “by sailors for sailors” and enter to win a new Velocitek
SpeedPuck. Booth #416. Spring is right around the corner - hope we’ll see
you there! http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com
Discover your Atlantis
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 Jim Katz:
With the announcement of some of the logistics for AC33 maybe it is time to
look forward. The main thing that concerns me now is whether I will be able
to see the action of the racing online in video and/or animation. The past
races' web presence has been fraught with server crashes and unforeseen
overload problems. Please, Consorcio Valencia 2007, over engineer this
service to be as bulletproof as possible.
* From Walt Spevak:
To any kid growing up racing on Midwest lakes in the 60s and 70s the “Wizard
of Zenda” was literally a larger than life icon that all of us wanted to be
like. For the chance to see him compete against Lake Okoboji, Iowa’s Jerry
Huse and Bob “Boober” Schneider, fellow C-scow champions, plus others from
lakes Geneva, Pewaukee and Minnetonka was always a thrill. I remember him
hopping on my C-scow one time to tinker with the jackstays, play with the
rear traveler, pull on more vang and cunningham and voila…I was faster.
Sweet. Happy Birthday Buddy on your 80th...I hope you have many happy
returns of the day both on and off the water.
* From Tim Patterson:
It was great to see the article on Buddy Melges (in Scuttlebutt 3016).
Having grown up in the midwest, many friends who followed the America's Cup
enough to know some of the skipper's names asked me who Buddy was when he
was the helmsman on America 3. I said he was probably one of the great
helmsmen of all time in many different venues. I watched the races and was
tickled to see that when Buddy was at the helm upwind, the track was a
series of very straight lines. I think it was one of the first races where
GPS tracking was used to show how the boats were moving through the water.
Some of the other boat's tracks were a series of squiggly lines that seemed
to me to show too much activity at the helm.
CURMUDGEON’S DICTIONARY
Myth (n): A female moth.
Mythist (n): A female moth sailor
Special thanks Hall Spars & Rigging, Doyle Sails, and Atlantis WeatherGear.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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