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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 861 - July 20 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
A BRIEF RESPITE "We have spent the day sorting the boat out and getting some food and rest," Ellen MacArthur, skipper of Kingfisher, said in a satellite phone interview. "The last storm blew the wind instruments off the top of the mast, so today I went up the mast and replaced them." Kingfisher continues to trail leg and overall race leader Sill Plein Fruit, and MacArthur and co-skipper Nick Moloney have been weighing their tactical options. Ahead of them Gael Le Cleac'h, skipper of Sill Plein Fruit was pleased with his position and is ready for the next round of headwinds. In a pack to the south of Sill Plein Fruit and Kingfisher, Ecover (Mike Golding), Fila (Andrea Scarabelli) and Gartmore (Josh Hall) are all eyeing each other and the boats to the north looking for that slight edge that will allow them to slip ahead of the competition. Leg 3 of the EDS Atlantic Challenge started from Portsmouth, England on July 14 and ends in Baltimore. The first boats are expected to arrive on July 31. At 10:45 GMT, on a distance to finish (DTF) reading, the positions were as follows:
1st Sill Plein Fruit (Gael Le Cleac'h - FR) DTF - 2310 miles Event site: www.edsatlanticchallenge.com
OPTIMIST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: HISTORIC ASIAN RESULTS
1. Abdul Rahim (Malaysia) The first girl is also Chinese, Xu Lijia, in 9th place over-all. With only 2.1/2 days left, at least one of them devoted to Team Racing, this could be the final result! The completion of five races means that, under IODA's six-division system, each sailor has sailed against each other sailor once., a requirement for the championship. Any additional races are a bonus. A discard will be taken if a sixth race is sailed. The seeding for the Team Racing is even more of a delight to the Asian sailors. China is seeded number 1 and a totally unprecedented four Asian teams have qualified for the 16-team event: China, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. -- Robert Wilkes, IODA Secretary EDITOR: The official event site isn't posting results, Robert is pulling 20 hour days posting reports and results to the Optimist Class site: www.optiworld.org/01worlds.html
YNGLING WORLDS
Top ten after today's race: Complete results at www.sailing.tm/yngling/
SOG STAINLESS STEEL POWERLOCK MULTI TOOL
VOLVO OCEAN RACE Other key members of the team's shore crew are Howard Gibbons, GBR, Shore Manager; Ben Sheenan, NZL, Fitness; Roger Badham, ASU, Meteorologist; Ilan Greatz, ITA, Boats Manager; Chris Gray, NZL, Boat Builder; Sean Healey, USA, Electronics; Gerry Moosbrugger, AUT, Sailmaker. www.nautorchallenge.com * The ASSA ABLOY Racing Team raced down the coast from Gothenburg to Kiel to get familiar with the last leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. In light conditions the team completed the 250 nautical mile sail in 31 hours. This leg is the shortest but most intense of the Volvo Ocean Race. In spite of being so short, the it is worth as many points as the longer legs, which can take around a month to accomplish. The ASSA ABLOY Racing team is currently testing sails around the area of Gothenburg with the two new identical boats. In August the team will participate in the Fastnet Race. * A partnership agreement has been reached between Virtual Spectator Inc, and Volvo Event Management UK, the organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race, to provide Internet coverage and television animations for the upcoming event, which starts from Southampton, UK, on September 23rd. Virtual Spectator and the Volvo Ocean Race are collaborating on a 3D Internet viewer that will be able to be downloaded from the Volvo Ocean Race website at www.volvooceanrace.org and the Virtual Spectator website at www.virtualspectator.com. This subscription based viewer will feature regular position data, weather, editorial content, photos and audio to allow fans to follow this ocean going event at any time, anywhere. -- Keith Taylor * They have kept such a low profile during their preparation that it would be easy to forget that Jez Fanstone and Ross Field will be lining up their Team News Corp 60-footer for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race on September 23. Not even the official launch of the yacht in New York on Friday will be accompanied by any media hype. It will be a very low-key affair. Team News Corp is scheduled to depart New York on Saturday for a rendezvous off the coast with two other Volvo teams--Tyco and Illbruck. The three yachts will then race across the Atlantic, possibly all the way to La Rochelle, before heading to England where the race begins in September. -- Rob Mundle, in Grand Prix Sailor, www.sailingworld.com/gps/ EDITOR'S NOTE: Threre is also a great interview in Grand Prix Sailor between Sailing World's John Burnham and Transpac Winner Seth Radow.
IRC RATING FOR AUSTRALIA II Back in 1983, Australia II was the boat that ended the 'longest run in sporting history' when she defeated the American defender Liberty to win the America's Cup. Since 1983, Australia II has been on display in the Western Australian Museum in Fremantle. She has now been brought out of retirement to race in the America's Cup Jubilee Regatta in the Solent this Summer. As a precursor to the Jubilee, she will be racing at Cowes Week, hence the need for an IRC certificate. As well as Australia II, the Jubilee Regatta has presented some other interesting challenges to the Rating Office including the three masted schooner ADIX, the longest boat ever rated under IRC at 64.5m. We have also issued a certificate to the 1912 designed The Lady Anne, a gaff rigged International 15m. On an LOA of 22.9m (75'), the tip of her topmast is some 31m (102') above the deck. At 16.1m (53'), her main boom overhangs the transom by many feet! RORC's rating office: rorcrating.com
THESE #^%&*ING INSTRUMENTS NEVER WORK!
12 METERS AROUND CAPE HORN The 12s are considered by many to be the most highly-developed class of yachts, thanks to years of fierce America's Cup competition. The result is a class of yachts very evenly matched, where speed differences are measured in tenths of a knot, and race results often a matter of seconds difference. Since departing Melbourne on 18 June, the two yachts have remained locked together in their journey to get to Cowes to celebrate 150 years of America's Cup history by entering the Jubilee regatta. We of course thank the Captain and crew of the P&O ship Resolution Bay and the generous support of P&O in shipping both of our yachts to the UK to take part in this historic event. -- Michael Smith, www.madforsailing.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Eric Steinberg: My hats off to Dave Ullman and his decision to do another AC campaign. As a small business owner who relocated to Auckland for AC 2000 and left my business in the hands of the employees, I sympathize with the impact this has on the business, its customers and most of all Dave. The AC is a unique opportunity for marine professionals to utilize the knowledge they have gained from their years of experience in the industry.Ê Dave's participation will ultimately benefit the industry as a whole with his business acting as a direct conduit for his AC knowledge to reach sailing consumers. Good luck Dave, and while you're at it, bring the Mug back to California! * From Laura Sharp: The "all-girl" marketing aspect of the AlphaGraphics team, which makes them all sound twelve years old, has vaguely amused me.Ê (and no, I don't want to start another "politically correct" terminology debate) Silly marketing, however, doesn't take away from the fact that recovering crew overboard in gale force winds offshore is an impressive show of seamanship! * From Ted Jones: In the parking lot of the Antique and Classic Boat Museum in Wolfeboro, NH has appeared a funny-looking little keel boat which looked very much like a Wee Scot. Indeed, it is a Wee Scot, with a multi-chine hull, an iron keel, and approximately 14 feet overall -- a relic of the past, probably 60-years old. The president of the museum said they knew nothing about the boat and were hoping to learn something of it's history. I remember that there were a few Wee Scots in Western Long Island Sound in the 1940s, but I can't recall who designed the class or who built them, and I can't find anything among my boating books which mentions the Wee Scot. If anyone remembers more about the Wee Scot or can suggest a source of information, I will pass the information along to the museum. * From ISAF President Paul Henderson: Sailors of the World could not be prouder and more supportive that one of ours (a sailor) has assumed the most prestigious office in sport, that of President of the International Olympic Committee. Jacques was a world class sailor and Olympic competitor, and as he has already pointed out, he is a man of the sea. The ISAF has already arranged a bed in the Olympic Sailing Village in Qingdao at the sailing venue for Beijing 2008 so he can return to his true roots. Sailors are convinced that Jacques will move the IOC positively forward respecting the athletes and International Federations while totally committed to respecting the world environmental concerns. Being a medical doctor his compassion for others is well known and his strong ties to his family, all of whom also are sailors, will ensure that although storms will be encountered in the Olympic Movement Jacques Rogge will steer the ship he has been entrusted to Captain to a safe and calm harbor. * From Jerry Anderson: Contrary to popular belief the Chicago-Mackinac Yacht Race is only second place in distance to the Trans-superior Yacht Race held every other year including this year August 4, 2001. The race starts approx. five miles from the mouth of the St. Mary's River out in Lake Superior at the east end of the lake north of Sault Saint Marie, Ontario and finishes at the harbor entrance at Duluth Minnesota some 350 miles to the west. What makes this race intresting, is the Keewenaw Pennesula of northern Michigan juts out into Lake Superior some 70 miles, about half way into the race, which could compare to a Cape Horn rounding but on a smaller scale. Lake Superior doesn't hold a back seat as far as water termperature is concerned either, as 45 degrees or less is the norm. Gale force winds are also a possibility. This would be a great venue for the sleds and the Sayonara's of this world. Bring your warm fuzzies just in case. I had the pleasure to sail in the last one in 1999, what a blast. * From Brad Kellett: A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be included in the Australian Yachting Federation's new Safety and Sea Survival Course. Due to the new Category 1 addition in the new rule book,Ê in Special Regulations 6.01, "...at least 30% of a crew shall have undertaken training...". The course is designed to enhance broad-based safety of the crew of the vessel.So basically, to go to do Transpac, Fastnet, Bermuda, etc, you would need 30% of your crew to qualify. The SSSC involves the methods of use for life saving equipment, areas of risks and emergencies, use of pyrotechnics, fire prevention and fire fighting, abandoning ship, seach and rescue, weather, emergency communications first aid and legal responsibilities facing owners, skippers and crews. Because of the life raft drill in the Qantas pool, everyone involved from the "Ausmaid" and "Brindabella" crews realise that getting into a liferaft in a pool isn't easy or enjoyable, so you really do not want to do it in a howling gale. The AYF strongly recommend that all crewmembers undertake the SSSC. If a skipper or crew have to teach anyone in a situation, the risk of survival is slimmer, so if you want to go to Hobart, go do the training, its worth it. Congratulations to Genevieve White, AYF's Training Manager for getting the SSSC up and running. Hopefully a lot of people do the course and it will become widely accepted. * From Jesse Deupree: Your headline ANOTHER MAXI-CAT ABOUT TO LAUNCH is followed by an article about a trimaran. I recognize that to monohull sailors "we all look alike" but calling a trimaran a cat is like getting Aussies and Kiwis confused- tends to result in hard feelings. Among those of us who have seen the light and converted, there remains great debate as to when a trimaran or catamaran is preferred- on this note the launching of Olivier de Kersauson's trimaran is an exciting event. EDITOR: Good catch Jesse, mea culpa. It was late. The dog ate my homework. And I'm sure your letter will spark a few others from those who have yet to "see the light"!
CAMPER NICHOLSONS SOLD TO NAUTOR Nautor's Swan International will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Finland-based Oy Nautor AB, the builder of the Swan range of luxury sailing yachts owned by Leonardo Ferragamo, a member of the Italian fashion and shoe dynasty. The deal with Nautor is for an undisclosed sum. Camper & Nicholsons has existed formally since 1855, though William Camper and Ben Nicholson had been associated since 1842. The yacht building yard which still bears their names was founded as early as 1782 with William Camper's involvement dating back to 1809. -- Peter Nash, www.boating-industry.com
AMERICA'S CUP Once the conditions for the America's Cup match are agreed with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the Challengers are largely a self-regulating group. And so they get to decide the rules for their own event. Now this may smack heavily of the lunatics running the asylum, and you can imagine how hard it will be to reach a consensus. Everyone brings to the table their own agenda, and it's easy to forget the bigger picture in the rush to do the perceived best deal for your team. But what's good for the event itself? There's one easy answer to a complex question - happy spectators. There's no one out there that isn't relying to a greater or lesser degree on sponsorship money. In light of this, part of OneWorld's submission to the Notice of Race debate (and I'd have to admit the source of some heated internal discussion) was to suggest a radical alteration to the racing rules. We want the communications channels onto the IACC boats to be opened up for the Louis Vuitton - provided, of course, that Team New Zealand and the RNZYS agree the same rule change for the Cup match itself. We don't want to so much rip up the 'no outside help' rule, as shred it and make a papier-mache boat with the remains. In the last America's Cup, spectators and media all had access during the racing to the sailing data and precise position of both the boats. Through the hard work and imagination of the people at Virtual Spectator, that information was turned into a graphic realisation of the yacht race which was available on the Internet to a world-wide audience. Ironically, the spectators often knew more about a race than the sailors - an uncomfortable thought for those about to go before an inquisitive and well-informed media at a press conference.
UPCOMING MAJOR EVENTS * August 5-10, Thistle US National Championship, Macatawa Bay YC, Holland Michigan
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION |
