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SCUTTLEBUTT 2568 - April 4, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. OLYMPIC EVENTS - LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD The events for the 2012 Olympics have been a hot topic ever since ISAF made the decision at their Annual Meeting in November 2007. With the directive of reducing the total number of events from the current eleven fleets down to ten, something was going to be eliminated. and disappointed. When the multihull got the short straw, the roar was load, and it came from all corners. In short, the question was, "Shouldn't the Olympics include exciting boats, and shouldn't the events be representative of the broad range of boats in the sport?" The answer was often "yes" and "yes", which made the removal of the multihull ever so puzzling. Following a significant outcry from the sailing community, ISAF has agreed to review the events for the 2012 Olympics at their Mid-Year Meeting to take place in Qingdao, China on May 8-12, 2008. If the majority of the council believes that the events need a closer look, then separate votes will occur as to whether the selected events for the Men should be changed, and whether the selected events for the Women need to be changed. Let's assume that a majority of the council voted to take a closer look. This is where you come in. We want the entire Scuttlebutt community to review the current slate of events for 2012, and then act as if you have an ISAF vote. Makes sense right, as you are sailors, and ISAF is your governing agency. On the voting page is the background information, the list of events, a quick YES-NO vote, and the opportunity to submit comments. Let your voice be heard here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0403 TETHER OR APART by Kimball Livingston, SAIL WEST There's always a lesson in an overboard recovery. Cliff Shaw looks back at pulling two people out of the water in the recent Doublehanded Farallones Race and says, "You see people in the water and you think, This is not a drill; I have to get this right." The breeze was 25, up to 30 at times on the Unpacific Ocean, outside the Golden Gate. Shaw figures the seas at, "Six to eight feet, with an occasional twelve. I did the wrong thing on my first approach. I tried to luff up to them and misjudged and fell short." Hmm. Maybe I'm not sorry I missed the 2008 Doublehanded Farallones, but get this. Shaw wasn't even racing his Crowther 36 cat. He was shadowing the fleet for the fun of it-he's a member of sponsor Bay Area Multihull Association-and doubledog get this: he also shadowed the whole 2006 Pacific Cup, San Francisco to Hawaii. "I signed up to race," he says, "then I discovered that my insurance wouldn't cover the rig if I was racing, so I 'withdrew' and went anyway." I like this guy. Shaw's Rainbow was about 75 yards behind the Olson 40, Pterodactyl ("We were sailing right up their transom; I was actually trying to pass them") when Luc de Faymoreau and Disun Den Daas were ejected from the Olson. As Luc put it, "We were SNAPPED off the boat in a violent motion, what I call a pitchpole/broach." When Pterodactyl spun out and turned erratically upwind, Shaw grabbed the binoculars. "I saw right away there was no one on the boat, so I made a sweep and there they were. Bright orange and yellow inflatables standing out very bright against cobalt blue." -- Read on: http://sailmagazine.blogspot.com/2008/04/tether-or-apart.html BEGINNERS LUCK When the 6th ranked Laser sailor in the World, 2008 Canadian Laser representative Mike Leigh, signed up for his first Laser Radial regatta ever. and it is the 2008 Radial World Championship, you got to figure that his expectations are low, and that it happened to be a convenient event to gain some extra training time. But when he goes and wins it, you have to wonder how. Here Mike explains: "The Men's Laser Radial World Championships ended a couple of days ago. Being my first Radial event, I did not expect much. My preparation did not help my confidence, as the total amount of Radial sailing I had done in my life consisted of 4 days of training immediately prior to the event. "Going into the event, I knew that my upwind rig setup would need the most attention, as the Radial and Full rig setups are quite different. Being at least 10kg overweight for the boat, I thought I would try to power up the rig like I do in the full rig by dropping the foot out and leaving the cunningham completely off until I started to get overpowered. However, with the help of Brad Funk (USA) and Eric Stibbe (AUS), I quickly learnt that the extra power was ineffective as the foot quickly became too deep, and leaving the cunningham off meant the draft was too far aft, leading to excessive weather helm. Also, I found the leach quite tight and hooked, and pulling on a touch of cunningham helped add a bit of twist into the sail, allowing a bit wider groove. "Fortunately for a fatty like myself, we had good breeze all week, with the breeze dropping below 10 knots in only one race. The conditions were absolutely perfect with waves that were ideal for downwind surfing. We spent all week catching amazing rides - I wish every event I sail has conditions as great as we had in Takapuna (Auckland, NZL)." -- Read on: http://mikeleighsailing.blogspot.com/2008/03/mens-radial-worlds.html FLAVORED ICE: A SOLUTION FOR HEAT AND ABRASION ISSUES Big boat racing produces loads that can have damaging effects on running rigging. Since its introduction, Samson Ice (PBO/ Vectran blend) has emerged as the preferred cover for protection from heat and abrasion. Until recently, Samson Ice only came in one color, making it difficult to distinguish the different lines if used in multiple applications. Samson's R&D team has recently engineered Ice in 6 new colors. Successfully tested on Pyewacket's Transpac run, Flavored Ice was an instant hit with the crew. See a sample of Flavored Ice at the Strictly Sail Pacific, Booth 648-649. -- http://www.samsonrope.com * Curmudgeon's Comment: The Strictly Sail Pacific is a great boat show held again at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA on April 16-20, 2008, and Scuttlebutt has discount tickets. To purchase, go to http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/banners/strictlysail LETTER TO JUDGE HERMAN CAHN by Mark W Reid I wanted to drop you a quick note thanking you for your infinite patience in your ongoing hearings involving the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) representing BMW Oracle and Alinghi's Societe' Nautique de Geneva (SNG). Whoever thought the Swiss could be so contentious? Oh, that's right Alinghi chief Ernesto Bertarelli is Italian, hence the dichotomy. Your thoughtful introspection into the divisive litigation over the 33rd America's Cup has proved once again that the Deed of Gift stands on its own merits as a brilliant, timeless document that has proved resolute against all takers and remakers. The New York Supreme Court has shown once again that they are the true and rightful arbitrators of yacht racing's "Holy Grail". Juxtaposition aside, it is time to close the door on the silver spooning between BMW Oracle's Larry Ellison and Bertarelli. As the Deed implores; the America's Cup "is donated upon the condition that it shall be presented as a perpetual Challenge Cup for friendly competition between foreign countries." In this case, with all the time and effort that you dear sir have spent on the continuing litigation, combined with the New York Court of Appeals providing a definitive America's Cup roadmap in their ruling on the Mercury Bay Boating Club vs. San Diego Yacht Club in 1990. The time has come to close the door, in lieu of mutual agreement and order the parties to proceed with next America's Cup or to revoke the charitable trust on the grounds that SNG/Alinghi has not upheld its obligation as current trustee. -- Read on: http://twelvemeterupdate.blogspot.com/2008/04/letter-to-judge-cahn.html SAN FRANCISCO TO YOKOHAMA RECORD (April 3, 2008 - 09:27) Since leaving San Francisco last Saturday at 22h45'45'' UT, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew have been racking up the miles at a steady pace - an average of over 21 knots - as they jump from one weather system to another. This strategy has paid off as, after just four days of racing, the 33 metres maxi-catamaran has a good lead of 379 miles at the 0830 position report. "Conditions are now ideal. We have been experiencing periods of sailing which have been considerably more pleasant over the past 24 hours. We have brilliant sunshine, increasingly calm seas and a twenty knot NE'ly breeze, which are currently enabling us to belt along at between 27 and 34 knots" confided Cyril Dardashti shortly after 2300 hours Wednesday night. -- http://www.gitana-team.com/en/gitana/index.asp SAILING SHORTS * Auckland, NZL (April 3, 2008) With 14 out of 19 Flights raced on Waitemata Harbour, Finland's Silja Lehtinen is tied with Australian Nicky Souter for top place after Day Two of the BSPORT ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships. Lehtinen and Souter both have nine wins and only two losses to their credit and are closely tailed by defending champion and world number one Claire Leroy of France, with American Liz Baylis in fifth. Boat speed is the main reason for her early success, says Lehtinen, who is greatly enjoying having a keen edge over her rivals. "Tactics are easier when you have boat speed," she says. -- Full report: http://www.rnzys.org.nz/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=c97YZlW31ok%3d&tabid=36 * Blanes, Spain (April 3, 2008) The results following the third day of racing at the Yngling Europeans finds longtime rivals Sarah Ayton/ Sarah Webb/ Pippa Wilson (GBR) and Sally Barkow/ Debbie Capozzi/ Carrie Howe (USA) only two points apart at the top of the fleet. The schedule concludes Saturday with the medal race. -- Event website: http://cvblanes.esportcatala.com * Long Beach, CA -- The Finn Masters North American Championship attracted thirty-five Finn sailors from across the nation, Canada and Great Britain to compete last weekend at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club for the three day event. First place went to Finn Veteran Darrell Peck followed by Long Beach local and new Finn sailor Vann Wilson in 2nd place, and third place went to another Finn Veteran Andrew Kern. -- Complete report and results: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5972#5972 * The ISAF Offshore Committee has highlighted the safety concerns relating to the growing number of keel failures and is investigating amendments to the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations to help improve safety standards. At the 2007 ISAF Annual Conference last November, in response to recent design and build failures, the ISAF Offshore Committee appointed a working party, and after their review, it has agreed that only the International Standard ISO 12215 shall be used for evaluating structure in the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations and is currently considering the implementation of a building plan review scheme to begin mid-2009 at the earliest. -- Full report: http://www.sailing.org/22626.php FREE MOORING AGAIN AT ACURA/ ULLMAN SAILS L.B.R.W. Winners at Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week presented by Acura last year came from San Diego to Santa Barbara, plus Dana Point, Balboa, Huntington Harbor, King Harbor, Marina del Rey, and Ventura in between, and they were able to concentrate on racing because they had no worries about parking their boats at night. Same deal for this year June 27-29. The City of Long Beach is waiving mooring fees for out-of-town competitors all weekend. But it's important to file online entry forms (including fees and mooring requests) early because transient slips and end ties are limited. http://www.lbrw.org PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include sucker fish latching onto boats at the Star Worlds, winter kiting air and a 63.9 mph speed record on skiis, the old and new keels for Ragtime, the big winner in the Cabo San Lucas race, Optimist training in the Canary Islands, and the latest thinking in foiling catamarans. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0404/ LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Beau Vrolyk: (regarding comments in 'butt 2563 about hosting social functions in sailing centers) Hey, I don't think you get it. For centuries, or at least for a long, long time, all sorts of sailing centers and Yacht Clubs have been renting out their facilities to hold weddings, wakes, company launch parties, you name it, so long as the check doesn't bounce. Years ago, when I first began to understand what it took to keep a Yacht Club going, I learned that it's the Bar and the Parties that pay the freight. The sailing is ALWAYS supported by "other stuff". That way, we get to sail for free. So, rather than moan and whine about the guys in Florida using their precious Sailing Center for other things, view it as an opportunity to recruit folks to go sailing. After all, what could be better than stealing the bride's maids for a sail in those crazy dresses they wear! * From Dave Ellis: Like Gary Edelman (in Issue 2566), I have been involved in community sailing for decades. The St. Petersburg Sailing Center, run by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club for the City of St. Petersburg introduces great numbers of kids and adults to the sport. They have no wedding receptions, etc. Clearwater Community Sailing Center, however, has had these other activities since its inception. The neighbors on the beach were part of the original board and had great influence. For some time the social activities overshadowed the sailing group. No longer. Through reorganization by the City of Clearwater this is a very active sailing center. As long as it keeps strong leadership such as Al Humphers the present manager, having other functions can only help expose more people to the sport of sailing. * From the Forum: (by Anne Newton, Alameda, CA, on comments in 'butt 2566) I am a woman, a boat owner, a dinghy sailor, and a keelboat racer but not a multihull sailor. I had very mixed feelings when I heard that women's match racing was chosen for the next Olympics. Probably because as active as a racer I am I have never competed in a match race. The reality is that the boats that are chosen for the Olympics drive the interest in some of the classes. Would people still be racing 470's as much as they do if it was not in the olympics? The Yingling was chosen for women as the keelboat for what reason? What women would even race that boat if it wasn't in the Olympics? Why not a J22 which is what is used for the Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championships? If we are going for numbers that is the boat to choose. I don't dismiss the interest in match racing - but I feel as though it would lessen the chances for more women to get active in the Olympic Campaign. -- http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5966#5966 * From Gail M. Turluck, United States Sunfish Class Association Secretary: Kudos to "Tillerman" for the pickup of Sir Paul McCartney's latest foray with the Sunfish (in 'butt 2567). The Class is actually hard at work on its plan to draw more participants. The Sunfish is an inexpensive, easy-to-maintain, long-lasting racing platform that is competitively adaptable in all conditions to sailors from 5'-6'4" and 120-220 pounds. This makes the Sunfish a unique single-handed platform. The first Junior International Championship will be held September 5-7, 2008, at Lake Bluff Yacht Club, Illinois, on Lake Michigan. The 2008 O'Day Trophy is being held in the Sunfish August 6-10. The 2008 Championship of Champions is in the Sunfish, September 24-27 (why both in 1 year? The same boats will be used for both events--reducing cost). The ladder events for the latter two are being scheduled across the US. Organizers may contact the US Sunfish Class Regional Representative in their US Sailing Area to possibly arrange loaner boats for non-owners for ladder events and/or to contact Dealers to arrange charters. For these regattas and for sanctioned regattas (Regional, National, Continental and World Championships) visit the Class' web site and use links to each event web site and NOR for eligibility and participation requirements. There's the "Sunfish Bible" that will school you on the basics; it's available from dealers and the Class web site. http://www.sunfishclass.org * From John Siegel, Class Secretary, Moore 24 National Association: (regarding Sunfish commentary in Scuttlebutt 2567) There's another alternative in identifying what enables a class to endure. The original Santa Cruz ultralight - the Moore 24 - continues to enjoy tremendous one design success. With 30+ boats on the line at the Three Bridge Fiasco in San Francisco, surfing in 35 knots at the Hood River Gorge, and finishing 1-2-3 in the Doublehanded Farallones, Moores continue to amaze all knowledgeable observers. It's not necessarily cool or sexy, and it may be a cult boat, but the real reason for its success is its sailing characteristics. Anyone who has steered a Moore downwind in 20+ knots understands what I'm getting at. Those who haven't can only wonder! * From Bruce McPherson: I do hope that the powers behind the Moosehead Awards at the International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Racing Yachtsmen of western Long Island Sound are taking note of the writings by the incomparable Cory Friedman on the subject of the America's Cup. He should be made a Most Exalted Exemplar of Expository Legal Purview with an Advanced Degree in Vernacular for his continuing efforts to enlighten Scuttlebutters and others in the proceedings before Judge Cahn. His prompt follow up on each court day is ever so much appreciated! * From Kris Kristiansen, Marblehead, MA: Dear Oracle, why the hell isn't Cory Friedman one of your lawyers!? It seems that there isn't one sailor or lawyer with enough ballast on your staff to stand up to SNG's blowhards. I see Mr. Friedman making it short and sweet - "Your Excellency, there never was any tolling agreement - we'll race July 2008 or SNG will be forced to FEDEX the Cup back to New Zealand (the last owners) as stated in the Deed." Bang! Case closed...Mr Friedman - please forward your resume' to Oracle's legal team. That ought to induce the scurvy rats aboard Alinghi's barge to get back to work. CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL When seeking approval, it is sometimes easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Special thanks to Samson Ropes and Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
