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SCUTTLEBUTT 1381 - July 29, 2003Powered 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 and personal attacks for elsewhere. OPTI WORLDS Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain - Two further races were sailed in 13-14 knots, a wind increase which benefited the heavier teams such as Poland. With eight races sailed one discard has now been taken. Greg Carey (GBR) continued to sail superbly but, in the happy position of having a low discard, has for the moment slipped one point behind Sebastian Peri Brusa (ARG). A ten point gap has now opened up between these two and defending champion Filip Matika (CRO) but the field is then very close with good days from Jesse Kirkland (BER), Peruvian Brenko Markovinovic and Tomasz Januszewski (POL) raising them on the leaderboard. The individual racing is suspended now for two days to allow the team racing championship and a rest day. Sixteen teams qualify for the team racing on the basis of results in the first five individual races. Top four seeds are Italy, 2002 silver medalists Croatia, Japan and Great Britain, but no one should underestimate the traditional specialists Argentina and Peru. 2002 bronze medalists China rather surprisingly failed to qualify, as have regulars such as Netherlands and U.S.A. but the greatest surprise is Chile who have never qualified before. Results through Monday: 1. ARG, Sebastian Peri Brusa, 5-2-31-3-3-1-3, 17 2. GBR, Greg Carey, 2-1-1-8-10-4-2, 18 3. JPN, Ryutaro Kawai , 4-10-2-11-6, 33 4. SWE, Nicklas Dackhammar, 18-3-1-2-4-4-43, 32 5. BER, Jesse Kirkland, 11-4-13-2-14-4-1, 35 102. CAN, Evert Mclaughlin, 42-45-10-33-49-29-29, 188 104. USA, Steven Barbano, 40-OCS-31-39-12-23-44, 189 Complete results and team race seeding at http://www.optiworld.org/ioda-news.html YNGLING OBSERVATIONS - Paul Henderson I am flying home from the Yngling Worlds. The "olde guard" was totally supportive of the "New Olympic Wave," although some were rather aggressive on the race course and not overly accepting being beaten by the women. There were ninety-two boats from over twenty countries, more than ever before, with men's crews plus five past World Champions, mixed crews and women who have only been in the boat for a year. It was a great regatta. In fact the best thing was the teams - men and women together - from the various regions hosted a night on their initiative. Austria, Swiss and Germany had a Bratwurst, Beer and cheese night accompanied by traditional après ski music. Scandinavians had a schnapps, smoked eels, herring and salmon night. Aussies and Kiwis had more beer and bangers. The mid-Atlantic group including GBR, USA, Bermuda, Canada and France had a great evening with wine and cheese, pancakes and maple syrup (Martha's Mom supplied). There was Paula Lewin's team (BER) serving Dark and Stormy's with Rum and Ginger beer brought from Bermuda, Cathy Foster's team (GBR) with Shortbread and Pimms topped with fresh mint carried carefully from the UK. Canadian crew cooking pancakes with plenty of maple syrup. Hannah Swett (USA), Melissa Purdy and Joan Touchette paying for and serving the beer. Jody Swanson's team providing the Oreo's, with Betsy Alison's team playing DJ. The Dutch served special cheeses with very potent Dutch liqueurs. The Yngling Class, after some initial growing pains, has come into the Olympic World with a firm direction and they are to be congratulated. - Paul Henderson, ISAF President Complete letter: http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=5038 TEAM ONE NEWPORT SELECTED BY SWAN AND MUSTO! Team One Newport has been selected by Musto and Swan to be the official supplier of the Swan American Regatta this week. Team One is world renown as the foul weather gear experts and they also create fun and functional crew uniforms! You can even ask owner and world champion sailor Martha your gear questions on their website. Or you can call and ask the awesome customer service department for their advice. Be sure to call 800-VIP-GEAR or visit http://www.team1newport.com IL MORO TROPHY REGATTA San Francisco, CA, July 28, 2003 - Larry Ellison's Oracle BMW Racing once again won the Il Moro Trophy regatta in a clean sweep but notwithstanding a good fight from Peter Stoneberg's USA-49, the yacht formerly America One in the 2000 America's Cup. In the vintage division, Team Wells Fargo helmed by John Sweeney took first place after winning race 2 on Sunday in a tiebreaker against NZL-20 helmed by Karie Thomson and David Thomson. The Il Moro Trophy regatta was organized by The Challenge Series, the only organized fleet racing of vintage America's Cup Class yachts, and hosted by the Sausalito Yacht Club. The two grand prix division yachts shared close racing throughout the weekend and provided San Francisco spectators with an awesome display of world class America's Cup Class racing. In the vintage division, lead changes and a number of spinnaker blowouts made for some exciting moments for the many guests on board the hospitality boats. Event website: http://www.challenge-series.com CLIPPER 2002 RACE Clipper Ventures' fleet of round-the-world yachts will set start Tuesday, July 29th on the sixth and final crew leg of Clipper 2002 Series. Race 14 of the 16-stage competition starts from Salvador, Brazil, taking the eight yachts on a 4,200 nautical mile pursuit to New York. Following a nine-day stopover in New York city, the Clipper crews will set sail on the final transatlantic dash to the Channel Island of Jersey on August 31st. The fleet will then sprint to the grand race finish via Holyhead and the homecoming celebrations in the city of Liverpool, England, will take place on Saturday, 27 September 2003. New York Clipper's win into Salvador has been widely celebrated amongst the fleet during a weeklong Brazilian stopover and the team is especially keen to repeat this success into their home port of New York. But it is Bristol Clipper, skippered by Richard Butler, which currently holds the overall lead as the crews prepare for the final leg of their 35,000-mile contest. Race 14 holds much in store for them, as it is not only one of the longest of the competition but is also the race that passes through the greatest number of weather patterns. Clipper 2002 Overall Positions after 13 Races: 1. Bristol, 75 pts. 2. Jersey, 72 3. Liverpool, 54.5 4. Hong Kong, 54 5. London, 49 6. Glasgow, 48 7. New York, 46 8. Cape Town, 22 Event website: http://www.clipper-ventures.com/home/index.htm Editor's note: A reminder that this is the race where each boat has one professional skipper and a crew of fourteen chosen applicants who pay there own way. SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM Any time you start getting your gear together to go to a regatta, the first thing on your mind will be your Camet Padded sailing shorts. You may already own some, but now is the time to get on the Camet web page and look at the different models and colors they have. The 3000, Bermuda, Aruba and Cargo shorts are all made out of the fast drying breathable Supplex (UV 40+) and with the Cordura seat patch to hold the foam pad that will help you get through those long hours on the rail. Check them out at http://www.camet.com RED ROCK COMMUNICATION Further to your article about the spirit of the riders in Le Tour de France, and the article about Red Rock Communication hitting a rock on the East Coast of Australia during the Sydney - Gold Coast race. I would like to add the following information: The previous night, Red Rock Communications (31 foot) came to the help of a 50 footer. The 50 footer, of which I was a watch leader, lost her rudder in 30 knots of wind, 2 - 3 metre swell. The boat rounded up, destroying the headsail and damaging the main sail. A fracture in the rudder post (well, what was left of the rudder really) let some water come through. We placed a Pan - Pan call, to which the Coastal Patrol responded. Red Rock Communications arrived to our position about twenty minutes later, and stayed there for two hours (bubbling around...) until the lifeboat from the Coastal Patrol had us in tow. After 8 hours of towing, we made it safely to port. The whole crew was quite grateful to have Red Rock nearby in case the flow of water became too much to handle and are only sorry to hear of their misfortune. We are only glad they are all OK. - Reynald Neron 505 WORLDS Malmö, Sweden- Wolfgang Hunger and Holger Jess of Germany stamped their authority on the 505 fleet with first place finishes in Races 4 and 5 of the nine race series. Tuesday presented a different challenge for the fleet as the wind came from the northwest, completely the opposite direction to the first two days. However, although the breeze was steadier and more even across the course, the fleet had to contend with an exceptionally strong current flowing towards the Baltic through the Oresund. Results after 5 of 9 races: 1. GER, Wolfgang Hunger/ Holger Jess, 6 2. GBR Ian Pinnell/ Steve Hunt, 23 3. SWE, Krister Bergström/ Johan Barne, 30 4. DEN, Jörgen Riber/ Henrik Buhl, 37 5. USA, Howard Hamlin/ Peter Alarie, 37 7. USA, Daniel Thompson/ Andrew Zinn, 45 11. USA, Andy Beeckman/ Ben Benjamin, 64 12. USA, Alexander Meller/ Jesse Falsone, 68 18. USA, Macy Nelson/ Nick Nelson, 101 Complete results: http://mss.m.se/vm505%202003.htm IN MEMORIUM * From the Monmouth Boat Club, Red Bank, New Jersey: June Methot passed away June 21st. She was an active Lightning Sailor starting in the Mid-Forties. She won many area and district Championships, Culminating in winning the Adams Cup at the Bay Head Yacht Club in 1968. June trained the team that won the Sears Cup in Chicago in 1966. She also wrote several Historical books about the Navesink River and the Jersey Shore. Her request was that any donations be made to Junior Sailing at MBC for special efforts or the Historical Societies of Monmouth or Ocean Counties. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. MBC- http://www.monmouthboatclub.org Historical Societies of Monmouth County- http://www.monmouth.com/~mcha3/hsdir.html Historical Societies of Ocean County- http://www.oceancountyhistory.org * Jim Lidgard, of Halsey Lidgard sails, passed away Sunday in Auckland, NZL. Jim had founded Lidgard Sails in 1973, and decided to partner with Andy Halsey during the 1995 America's Cup in San Diego. "The more we explored a joint venture, the clearer it became that this was a win-win situation for our customers and our lofts" noted Andy Halsey, adding "The joint venture immediately achieved a wide coverage of major sailing markets." Jim's sail designs have shown their performance in the full spectrum of the sailing world, from "Windstar" (440 Ft commercial liner) to the Olympic 470 class, where his jibs were used by both the men's and women's silver medalist in the 1992 Olympic Games. Lidgard's interest in the most advanced technology is clearly visible in the success reached by developing the world recognized top performance 3D CAD SailMaker™ design program used today by top sailmaking groups all around the world. He will be sorely missed GREEN TO JOIN ORACLE BMW Chris Dickson has announced the appointment of Russell Green as Oracle BMW Racing's Sailing Manager. New Zealander Russell Green is the latest to join the Challenger of Record's team for the 2007 America's Cup. Green, formerly Rules and Legal Advisor for Team New Zealand, will be responsible for managing the Sailing Team. Working with Dickson and helmsman Gavin Brady he will select, recruit and develop the sailing squad for the team. Dickson commented: "I'm really pleased that Russell has decided to join us. He was part of my TAG Heuer team in 1995 and will have a key role in ensuring that our sailing team will continue to develop and improve over the next four years as we build our challenge." Green, who is an International Umpire, is currently New Zealand Yachting's Team Manager for the 2004 Athens Olympics, a role he had for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Complete story - http://www.yachting-world.com/auto/newsdesk/20030628100927ywnews.html BEHIND THE SCENES Out on the start line of the 2003 Transpac was the new 22' Raider 665, which had the distinction of the being the official photo boat for the event. This new center console boat, complete with motor trailer, even has an enclosed head and is available with special introductory pricing. With all the speed and performance of the larger Raider RIBs, this smaller size doesn't compromise on the superb handling that made Raider famous. Quality made affordable. Test drive in San Diego, San Francisco or eastern US. Call for details at (877) 772-4337 or view online at http://www.raiderboat.com ALBACORE INTERNATIONALS Kingston, Ontario, Canada- The 17th Albacore Internationals saw fifty-nine boats complete a total of thirteen races over six days. Sailors traveled from the United States, Canada, and England for this event, which is conducted every two years. After three days of light to moderate conditions and one day cancelled due to lack of wind, the final six races were sailed over two days in 20+ knot classic Kingston Southwesterlies. The next Albacore International Championships will be held at Lyme Regis in Southern England in September of 2005. Final Standings: 1. Barney Harris/ David Byron (West River Sailing Club, USA) 18 2. Ian Brayshaw/ Jeff Beitz (Maidenhead Sailing Club, CAN) 38 3. Chris Gorton/ Henry Pedro (Sarasota Saling Squadron, USA) 42 4. Tim Broughton/ Karen Marshall (Mooredale Sailing Club, CAN) 58 5. Kevin Smith/ John McHutchion (Westwood Sailing Club, CAN) 68 Complete results: http://www.cork.org/ALB.HTM NEWS BRIEFS * A huge waterspout nearly hit the fleet during the Splash World Championships at Stavoren in the Netherlands. Take a look at the amazing photo of this from Keith Binns: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/default2.asp?section=64&PID=1661 * Scuttlebutt advertiser Sailing Pro Shop was the victim of a rare bout of bad service from their website host during their ad yesterday. It is now safe to check out the new V-1000 Dryshirt and everything else at http://www.sailingproshop.com/whatsnew.htm * In it's 21st year, Whidbey Island Race Week concluded five days of wind and sun and nine excellent races last Friday. Claiming to be the original northwest adult summer camp, the event was open to all PHRF and one-design keelboats. After breaking a four-way tie for the best overall record, the winner was Brian Watkins and his team on Declaration of Independence. Complete results at http://www.whidbey.com/raceweek CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * August 1-3: The Columbia Gorge One-Design regatta at Cascade Locks, OR. Competing classes include Melges 24, J-24, Laser, 505, Tasar and Europe Dinghy. Saturday night Sail Fest party featuring the band Blue Trick. For more information go to http://www.cgra.org * August 3-9: Snipe World Championships in Landskrona, Sweden. Sixty snipes from twenty countries to compete, including ten boats from the US, Japan-8, Spain-5 and Brazil, Italy, and Norway will each be bringing four snipes. Further information at http://www.borstahusens-ss.org LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (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 or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Bill Crane: Thank you for that insert about the Tour de France and relating the feeling of sportsmanship that permeates some parts of the sports world more than others. One of the main reasons I don't race too often is because the Corinthian Spirit, which was encouraged when I was learning how to sail, has been co-opted, usurped by a more cutthroat attitude which has become prevalent throughout the sport of sail racing. From the America's Cup to Opti's to beer can regattas on Wednesday nights. Take the J-24 class, for example. Maybe temperaments would change for the better if every J-24 had a swivel mount gun on deck. Each boat would be allowed one bullet … except for the committee boat, which would be allowed two. Curmudgeon's comment: Thanks to all those that sent their comments regarding the story last week about the Tour de France, and our apologies for not being able to print all of them. I think all points have been made, so it's time we end this thread. * From Brad: I take exception to your claim that Al Unser, Jr. "...was well aware of the hazards of Carbon Monoxide poisoning following a lifetime of Formula I racing….." The fact is that he learned absolutely nothing on any subject, including Carbon Monoxide, from his Formula I years. * From Manfred Schreiber: Regarding the very sad story of the death of Anthony Farr due to CO fumes. Thanks for bringing this up and into our minds. A tragic accident happened here during last summer when a motor yacht with an open back cabin had been found driving circles for hours. When a rescue team entered the boat they found a couple dead inside and both looked like they had laid down to take a short nap. Investigations into the matter showed that with wind from behind the exhaust fumes entered the cabin and could not get out. Obviously when you feel dizziness, it is almost too late to make the right decision. The same with gas in a camper. Happens every year. Please be careful and think what you are doing. BTW, you wouldn't sue any manufacturer in Germany for an accident like this. * From Jim Ach: I'm afraid Mike Bersch missed the point last week. He says that he would have finished much higher in the Chicago to Mackinac standings using PHRF than he did under Americap-II, and uses that fact -- which is undoubtedly true -- to "prove" that Americap-II needs tuning. But at least one of Mike's competitors had to have finished much better under Americap-II than he would have under PHRF, thus "proving" that American-II solves all the problems of PHRF. No sailboat racing handicap system is perfect. There are so many factors to take into account -- some unknowable, some unquantifiable -- that any such system is a best guess that favors some boats/crews/weather over others. * From Steve Pyatt: With regard to the comments on the Optimist North American Champs, I attended the event in Mexico and can say that the Bermudans were truly impressive with 3 of the top 4 and winning the Team Racing. As to the "first team in competition with the second teams of most of the other countries" comment, this is true of some countries but not all. It will be interesting to see how they fair in the different conditions in Gran Canaria this week! Curmudgeon's note: Looks like the Bermudans are doing just fine, with their top sailor currently 5th in the Worlds, and their team seeded 7th for the team-racing segment. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION 24 hours in a day. 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? |
