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SCUTTLEBUTT 1435 - October 14, 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. UPDATE - VOLVO OCEAN RACE (An exclusive report for Scuttlebutt readers by the Volvo Ocean Race Press officer, Lizzie Green.) With just over two years to the start of the next Volvo Ocean Race, there are 25 teams who have paid their preliminary entry fee of £1,500 meaning that they have formed syndicates and are actively putting together campaigns to race in the next edition of the event. This, compared with two years before the last race, is about double. However, to make it to the start line, a number of obvious, yet critical elements are required: funding, a boat, a crew to sail her and a backup support team, possibly in that order. While we can't announce where many of the 25 are coming from, it appears that we have a greater global coverage than ever before with teams from South America, Spain, USA, Australia, UK, Scandinavia and many more actively pursuing viable sponsorships. Of the 25 preliminary entries, four teams have made their existence known publicly. The rest, which are all working hard at securing funding, prefer their activities to be kept confidential at this time. What we can tell you is that we have a least five teams tying up the final loose ends to secure full funding, and that build slots have already been reserved. After achieving step one - finding the funding - the second step is to evaluate the new design of the boat and spend time on research and development. Perhaps one of the most critical decisions is to evaluate how much time should be spent on research and design versus time on the water. Which is the most valuable? Do you spend more time on R&D with a view to producing the most tested and therefore the quickest design of boat? Or do you carry out less research and capitalise on development time on the water while learning how to make the boat fast? These are questions only the teams can answer, and the right decision is the difference between winning and losing. As the event is starting much later in the year (November 5th), there is a large part of 2005 which can be spent on-the-water training, using events such as the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge as a qualifying race, and the Rolex Fastnet as a final tune up, therefore leaving more time to be spent on R&D and construction. A Volvo Open 70 will take about seven months to construct. To take advantage of maximum R&D time, but without being left short of time on the water, a boat could be launched in April 2005 and still have six months of on water trialing. - Lizzie Green, www.volvooceanrace.com JONATHAN MCKEE There is lots of speculation about what has happened to American Mini Transat competitor Jonathan McKee. Here are two very different media reports: * From YachtingUniverse.com, posted on Monday 13 October @ 14:32:20: The uncertainty is over. Jonathan Mc Kee's Team Mc Lube is no longer in the race. After being the victim of a dismasting on Saturday and continuing under jury rig, the American failed to round the island of Fernando course mark to starboard as required. "He took the shortest route and looks very likely to be heading towards Natal," explains the race management. "He is on a course of 208 degrees that will take him directly to Brazil." Sébastien Roubinet's Adrénaline is following a similar course after suffering the same fate as McKee and is on a direct route towards Natal or Cabedebo, unless he is planning to make the city of Joao Pessoa. McKee and Roubinet are out of play, though they still figure in the rankings as they haven't yet informed race management of their retirement. - Full story: http://tinyurl.com/qsh6 * By Tim Jeffery, Tuesday's Daily Telegraph: The mystery surrounding Jonathan McKee's Mini Transat progress remained unsolved last night. The American double Olympic medallist was still limping along 48 hours after a major technical failure, neither heading for the next waypoint nor having informed race organisers of his precise circumstances. It was on Saturday that McKee triggered his emergency beacon in the sequence that let the Mini Transat organisers know that he was in difficulty but did not require help. - Full story: http://tinyurl.com/qt5v Standings at 1500 GMT Monday: 1. Samuel Manuard Tip Top Too, 504 miles to finish 2. Armel Tripon Moulin Roty, 552 mtf 3. Alex Pell, Aquatec - Santaiveri- Texknit, 612 mtf 8. Jonathan McKee, Team McLube, 741 mtf Event website: http://www.transat650.org/ TRIVIA QUESTION When was the very first Olympic women's yachting event, and who won? (Answer below) IT KEEPS GETTING BIGGER Big boats, big classes and yet another big fleet for Key West next January. The R/P75 Titan, Swan 70 Strabo, Andrews 72 Equation, CM60 Highland Fling and Swan 68 Chippewa are all making their Key West plans. Add a 10-boat Swan 45 class and record 30-plus J/105s and the forecast is indeed.... big. There's still plenty of time - for boats big and small - to make your arrangements and enter America's premiere regatta: Terra Nova Trading Key West 2004, presented by Nautica (January 19-23, 2004). http://www.Premiere-Racing.com AS SEEN FROM THE TOP - Paul Henderson In Cadiz I spent a great deal of time walking through the boat park listening to sailors. The main topic was that ISAF must control the Principal Race Officers (PRO's) for all Grade 1 events and especially Continental and World Championships for ISAF Classes. The sailors explained how much time and money they spend going to events and that the local race officials, although eager to do a good job, are not always up to the task. They are also adamant that good race management, customized to their class, is much more important than any other service including Juries that ISAF must provide. Each class has idiosyncrasies peculiar to the specific class. The Tornado has totally different requirements and understanding than say the Snipe, as does the Laser from the IMS Classes or the Farr 40 from the 49er. Sailing is no different than any other sport. The competitors know who the good PRO's are and when they see them there the competitors relax. In fact one class stated that most of the protests happen against Race Committees and they are non-existent when the PRO they respect is controlling the race. This was truly evident with the Tornado in Cadiz. The serious problem is that local Race Officers supported by the nationalistic focus of certain MNA's are doing everything possible to ensure that only nationals of the host country adjudicate at major World and Continental Championships. This cannot happen and is against the ISAF Regulations. I cannot believe that very high-profile MNA's are demanding that they control the appointments of PRO's and International Juries. This is against all that is proper in sport. The first priority is to give the sailors competent and class specific Race Management free from national bias, or the perception of national bias. The local Race Officers should be thankful that an ISAF PRO who has the respect of the sailors and is knowledgeable about the unique needs of the class is present to guide the event. I trust that the ISAF Classes will support the ISAF initiative which ensures that only qualified ISAF appointed PRO's are in charge and that the MNA's are also receptive to this direction. It is not politically acceptable in any sport to allow the host MNA to dictate who will govern the integrity of the event. ISAF must be involved, with the input of the specific class. It is clearly against the ISAF Regulations for the MNA's to endeavour to be so nationalistic and force their officials on the top level of International Sailing. - ISAF President Paul Henderson, http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=5610 ISAF Race Officials Webpages: http://www.sailing.org/raceofficials SPECTATOR SPORT There were more than 250,000 spectators in Trieste, Italy this past weekend watching Alfa Romeo beat an enormous field of 1983 yachts (sailed by 24 thousand sailors) to take line honours in the Barcolona 35. "I have never seen anything like it," said Alfa Romeo tactician, Brad Butterworth, who also performed the same role on America's Cup winner Alinghi. "The crowd, the people, the excitement, the boats - everything at the finish was bigger than even the America's Cup!" It was a very slow race sailed in a light south-east breeze, varying from zero to three knots - perhaps reaching six knots a few times. Take a look at what a starting line looks like with nearly 2000 race boats lining up: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/ HOW COME? How come Bob Miller's 140-ft schooner Mari-Cha IV was able to smash the transatlantic record last week, beating the previous record held by Bernard Stamm, and the record before that held by the 144-ft Mari-Cha III? The new boat did the crossing in just 6 days and 17 hours, while the longer old boat took 8 days and 23 hours. Weight was a major difference. MC III displaced a whopping 109 tons, while the new boat, built of carbon and with all weight carefully controlled, displaced less than half that at 50 tons. - 'Lectronic Latitude, full story: http://tinyurl.com/qt8m ALWAYS THE BEST Camet International has the outstanding reputation of always being the best in design, quality and service. The Camet sailing shorts are the leaders in technology and comfort. They are made out of a breathable, fast drying Supplex ® with a UV rating of 40+ (blocks 97.5% of UV rays) and reinforced with a Cordura ® seat patch, to insert an optional foam pad. Camet has a variety of men's and women's shorts, pants and colors. Coolmax shirts, neoprene hiking pants, Mylar bags, etc. Ask your dealers for the Camet products or visit the Camet website at http://www.camet.com MELGES 24 WORLDS St. Francis YC, San Francisco, CA- After a four hour postponement the sea breeze finally made it in under the Golden Gate Bridge and racing for the Melges 24 World Championship got under way on the Berkley circle in around 14 knots from 230 degrees. For the second race the wind had increased to around 18 knots with occasional gusts up to 20 knots from 220 degrees. The increase in breeze and the building ebb tide resulted in a building chop. Harry Melges, helming for Jeff Ecklund won both races in the 68-boat fleet and now leads by six points over Shark Kahn (8 points) with Luca Santella third (9 pts), Rob Greenhalgh fourth (11 pts), Philippe Kahn fifth (12 pts) and Flavio Favini sixth (16 pts). "We had good boat speed up wind which helped us a lot and we were able to get off the starting lines without too much trouble and if you can do that and get in the right lanes and go where you want it definitely helps a lot, but you have to have good speed," commented Harry Melges after racing. - Fiona Brown, full story, results and interviews: http://www.melges24.com/news/main.asp?news_id=243 NEWS BRIEFS * German businessman Michael Illbruck announced that his Pinta Racing syndicate has stopped all America's Cup activities for a second time. The withdrawal followed a recent decision by the German car maker Audi to withdraw its support for the project, said Michael Illbruck. - CupinEurope.com, full story: http://www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/2007Pinta2.htm * At least three Volvo 60s, possibly four, will contest this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has received applications for entry from the two former D'juice Dragons VO 60s built for the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race, now called Andrew Short Marine and Seriously Ten. A third V0 60 entry is expected from Magnavox 2UE, the former EF Language, winner of the 1997-1998 race around the world. Another VO 60 now owned by Kookaburra Challenge may also compete in the 627 nautical mile blue water classic starting on 26 December. * The Acura Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC), announced the renewal of its partnership with Sailing World. Under the agreement, Sailing World receives prominent signage at the event venue and entitlement of the event "Race Village". In exchange, Sailing World will assist with sponsor fulfillment, competitor recruitment, and overall promotion of the event both in its pages and on its website. This agreement extends Sailing World's association with the Acura SORC to four years. - www.acurasorc.com / www.sailingworld.com * 49 boats from four countries have registered for the J/80 Worlds which starts today at the Fort Worth Boat Club in Texas, USA. During the regatta the event organizers will be posting race results on-line as they happen. Additionally, photos and daily summaries will be provided to allow website viewers to keep informed. http://oemsites.com/OEM/index.cfm?event_id=7 * The long wait for the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club to re-open up for membership is over. Learn more about SSC and how to get your membership card: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc QUOTE / UNQUOTE * "Today in Australia if someone says 'we're going to do a Aus$150 million (America's Cup) challenge to win the Cup' - well they don't know what they are talking about. Because unless you are Alinghi and you can have the money right now and buy Russell Coutts - which you can't do - you can't win the Cup. So what we are saying is that we are not going to win the Cup this time. If we get the budget in place in time, we will have a good solid campaign and we will have lots of experience after that and we will be ready to have a winning project for the following time. So it is a long term project, an on-going thing." - Sebastien Destramau talking about Australia's new Ozboyz America's Cup challenge, The Daily Sail website, http://www.thedailysail.com FOR SALE Brindabella, an 80' icon of Australian maxi yachting. Sydney Hobart line honors and race record holder. Outstanding, all-around ocean racing yacht. Brindabella's current configuration ensures she is equally at home around the cans, blue water racing or sailing short-handed. For further details, contact info@brindabella.com or see at http://www.brindabella.com TRIVIA ANSWER Women's yachting event was introduced to the 1988 Olympics with a doublehanded division sailed in 470's. It was in Seoul, Korea where Americans Allison Jolly and Lynne Shore won the gold. 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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Thomas Carroll (In response to rocky Blakewood's comments in 'Butt 1433): I think the message you should have taken from Mr Westerhuy's comments is that Edgar, a Dutch person, is saying others outside the U.S. think our legal system is great , while most Americans have distain for it. If others praise what we have and we look down at what they praise, I guess we have it pretty good! Curmudgeon's Comment: This appears to be the perfect spot to end this thread, which I have now officially done. * From Bob Merrick: I want to point out that Hobie Cat USA will continue to produce a number of race boats that include the one-design Hobie 16 and the Hobie Tiger, designed to the formula 18 rule. These two classes are thriving in North America and there are many years of great racing in their futures. * From Rory Paton: Isn't it funny when somebody beats a record how somebody else like Kurt Biannually whinges about the budget/ lack of Corinthian attitude rather than congratulating them for a great effort and moving on. I'm sure Mari Cha IV is more advanced and more expensive than the Cutty Sark etc and that's why she's able to smash records. I'm also sure Bernard Stamm's effort was fantastic and he deserved all the plaudits when he got his record but now somebody new has come along and records are there to be broken. Congratulations to Robert Miller for having the courage to invest in sailing, make the right decisions and get the right result - a role model to many. * From David Gill: Everything is relative. I am more impressed with the voyages of Captain Cook and the first non-stop solo voyage by Bernard Moitessier than I am with the sailing record set by Bernard Stamm and Armor Lux. Mari-Cha IV is a beautiful boat and she is pushing the envelope. I feel like a giddy child just wondering what is next. * From Philip Walwyn: I think one should call the average speed for this fantastic record, the distance of the course over the elapsed time and this gives a figure of a shade over 18 knots, not 19.5 knots as stated. * From Scott Shwarts: CupinEurope.com did an unfortunate job of translating into english the article quoting Stephane Kandler of K-Challenge that appeared in "Libération". Kandler did not say that the budget is reduced to $15 million. He said that the immediate goal is to raise an additional $15 million by the end of the year. If you read the French version without the editorializing by the translator, this point is made. CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM If I'm a nobody, and nobody is perfect - does that mean I'm perfect? |
