|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2743 - Friday, December 12, 2008Scuttlebutt 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. Today's sponsors are Hall Spars & Rigging and Team One Newport. VERY PURE SAILING When you sail a hydrofoil moth boat, you get used to being the oddest thing on the water. First, there are the quizzical looks on the dock or beach as onlookers size up the narrow craft with windsurfer-like sail and T-shaped keels extending from the hull and rudder. "You see people kind of circling around. They furrow their brows and they're trying to figure out what it is," said Bates McKee. Then there are the looks of amazement as the craft lifts out of the water like a hydrofoil -- with only the thin rods of the keels penetrating the surface -- and whizzes above the waves, faster than the wind and quiet as a ghost. "They try to figure out how it fits into their reality," McKee said, "and it doesn't fit very easily." For McKee and about a dozen other expert sailors in Seattle, hydrofoil moths offer an experience not possible in any other kind of sailing. "It's very pure sailing," said Bates' brother, Jonathan, a two-time Olympic medalist in sailing who bought his moth boat as a way to relax while he was in Spain, crewing a contender in the America's Cup. -- Seattle P.I., read on: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/getaways/391315_mothboats11.html AMONG THE MOST VIEWED SPORTING EVENTS IN THE WORLD In what is regarded as a world first for the sport of yachting, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is pleased to announce that the Seven Network and Yahoo!7, will provide a live 90 minute webcast of the start of the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race to a global audience. This means that in addition to Seven Network's live television broadcast in Australia, anyone, in any country around the world will be able to watch the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race provided they have a computer and broadband internet access from 12.30pm AEST until 2:00pm AEST on December 26th (or December 25th from 8:30pm to 10:00pm ET). With spectator numbers on Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Harbour foreshore expected to reach around 500,000 people, together with Seven Network’s Australia wide television audience of 500,000 viewers, and the addition of Yahoo!7’s national and international audience reach, it is predicted that the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will be one of the most viewed sporting events in the world in the month of December. -- Details: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=100003&lang=1 IT'S A BULL MARKET AT HALL Forget about the stock market. Invest in blue chip rigging from Hall and increase the market value of your boat. Buy low - save 15% on carbon spinnaker poles, hardware, and rigging when you order by phone during December (401-253-4858). Mention this ad to realize the gains. We predict huge dividends when you give someone special the limited edition necklace by Diana Hall. It’s a carbon-fiber star suspended from a sparkling silver chain. Exercise your options and shop with Hall, but remember, for holiday shopping, the closing bell rings Dec. 23 at 4pm. http://www.hallspars.com ICE SIGHTED AMID VENDEE GLOBE FLEET (Dec, 11, 2008; Day 32) - Speeds of 18.7, 18.3 and 18.1 knots displayed by the top three boats over the hour before this afternoon’s poll confirm that few concessions are made among the Vendée Globe vanguard since the dismasting of third placed Loïck Peyron early yesterday, nor indeed the report from Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) that he had spotted a large ice floe less than half a mile away today. The northern and southern sides of the course are converging, being channeled through the gap between the Kerguelen Islands and Heard Island. It is about 230 miles wide but this hostile channel, where the seabed shelves quite sharply has led to the difficult, confused seas which several skippers reported . Noted Mike Golding, aboard Ecover, “The conditions over the last 24-48 hours have really been quite difficult because we are sailing in between 22-35 knots and sailing in an enormous seas which are coming up from the North west and the seas are out of kilter with the wind angle, which means that the boat is really having to work very hard, or the pilot in particular is having to work very hard to avoid a crash gybe, and when you overpower the boat the risk is even greater and so it is pretty stressful. And so I have not been in my bunk for two days. I have been sleeping at the nav station because it is so on the wire.” -- Race tracking: http://tracking.vendeeglobe.org/en Solo, non-stop, around the world race in Open 60s. Standings as of 18:30 UTC (Top 5 plus of 30 entrants): 1. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), Paprec-Virbac 2, 15533.7 nm Distance to finish 2. Roland Jourdain (FRA), Veolia Environnement, 30.8 nm Distance to leader 3. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia, 31.6 DTL 4. Mike Golding (GBR), Ecover, 34.4 nm DTL 5. Sébastien Josse (FRA), BT, 56.8 nm DTL 15. Samantha Davies (GBR), Roxy, 664.6 nm DTL 16. Dee Caffari (GBR), Aviva, 848.2 nm DTL 20. Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III, 1475.2 nm DTL 22. Derek Hatfield (CAN), Algimouss Spirit of Canada, 1999.3 nm DTL Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en BEST BROADCAST MATERIAL ANNOUNCED Gabriele Olivo, the media crew member (MCM) aboard ‘Telefonica Blue’ was presented with the Inmarsat Media Prize for the best broadcast material on the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, from Cape Town to Cochin, India. Said Chris McLaughlin, Vice President External Affairs at Inmarsat, “On Leg 2 Gabriele Olivo gave the world an at times deeply touching account of conditions - devastation at the boat damage, frustration with the weather and strong crew morale. His filming brought home to the millions of us who follow the boats from the warmth of our dry offices, just how tough this race really is.” Telefonica Blue crew's daggerboard broke eight days into the leg when they were reaching in 15 knots of breeze. They also blew out two spinnakers and tore the mainsail. View nominated material and winning material here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/News/08/Inmarsat/leg2.asp LIKE THE ALIEN AT THE END OF THE INDIANA JONES MOVIE If Leg 1 was the old friend that you don’t initially recognise, and Leg 2 the glamorous, dark-eyed stranger casting seductive gazes in your direction at a party, then Leg 3 is the alien that turned up at the end of the latest Indiana Jones movie - this really is a place we haven’t been before (and now I’ve thrashed that metaphor to death, I promise not to use it again). As we saw at the end of Leg 2, Cochin and the west coast are in an area of predominantly light wind at this time of year. Once again, the fleet will be relying on the daytime sea breeze, the night-time land breeze, and any helpful clouds that come their way. So, we can expect plenty of action in the mornings and evenings (local time) as the boats have to transit between the land and sea breezes. Whoever works the local breezes best, and moves south fastest, is going to get a serious jump on the rest of the fleet once they get out of the massive wind shadow of India. -- Excerpt from Mark Chisnell report: http://SButt121108a.notlong.com Leg Three from Cochin to Singapore is 1,950 nm, begins December 13th with the finish estimated on December 23rd. Current standings after Leg Two of the ten leg event: 1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 26 points 2. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 19 points 3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 18 points 4. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 16 points 5. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, 14.5 points 6. Telefonica Black (ESP), F. Echavarri/ESP, 13.5 points 7. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 7.5 points 8. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, 7.5 points Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Race website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org * Great audio interview with PUMA General Manager Kimo Worthington as he describes the carnival atmosphere of Cochin and some of the challenges they have faced thus far in the Volvo Ocean Race: http://SButt121108b.notlong.com * Video of Race Director Jack Lloyd discussing the challenges of Leg 3, which include avoiding the mass of fishing boats and their nets: http://www.volvooceanrace.tv/page/NewsDetail/0,,12573~1484976,00.html * Team Delta Lloyd will have a new mast from Southern Spars following Leg 4 from Singapore to Qingdao, stepped in time for the Qingdao in-port race on February 7. -- Full report: http://SButt121108c.notlong.com SANTA’S ROUNDING THE TOP MARK! Christmas is at the bottom mark and we’re on our way! Team One Newport is here to help all of the elves set the chute and get everyone there smoothly. There are many Promotions going on: Buy certain Henri-Lloyd jackets and get a FREE vest, duffel or backpack; buy an Atlantis Soft Shell Jacket and get a FREE Microburst Vest; or buy $150 of Gill products and get a FREE dry bag. There are also the Daily Specials at Team One Newport that you can get by calling 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) or emailing mailto:Martha@team1newport.com and requesting the daily special. Lots of other awesome deals http://www.team1newport.com WINTER SEASON WARMS UP FOR ETCHELLS CLASS Miami, FL (December 11, 2008) - Rigs are rattling their way up on gin poles, and the buffers are whining as the competitors prepare to splash their Etchells for the first of four weekends in the 7th annual Jaguar Cup Series. One of the most well attended keel boat regattas in North America, regularly attracting some of the best amateur and professional sailors, the regatta weekend is shaping up to be a good one. The weather on Biscayne Bay is forecast to be stormy with 15-17 kts Saturday and more of the same on Sunday. Fifteen knots is truly a sweet spot for this elegant, yet tweaky 30' boat. To highlight a few of the sailing professionals, reigning North American champion Jud Smith is joining forces with his winning Mooloolaba Worlds crew and Etchells builder Dirk Kneulman; they will sail four up with Jud's daughter among the team. -- Paige Brooks, read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/jaguar SAILING SHORTS * US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) seeks nominations for the 2008 Coach of the Year Awards. The awards are a part of the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) Coach Recognition Program which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of coaches who train athletes at all levels of sailing. The OSC will nominate sailing coaches in four categories: National Coach of the Year, Developmental Coach of the Year, Volunteer Coach of the Year and the “Doc” Counsilman Science Award. -- Read on: http://SButt121108d.notlong.com * Lanzarote (Dec. 11, 2008) - More wind and more drama on the Atlantic race course for the concluding day of match racing at the Puerto Calero RC44 Gold Cup. Before the start of racing, BMW ORACLE Racing broke the gooseneck fitting on their mast, preventing owner Larry Ellison from competing in today’s five heats. However, it may not have matted as James Spithill delivered a match racing clinic, winning all five of his matches for the second day running. This means that Igor Lah’s Team Ceeref wins the 2008 Match Race Series, with the fleet racing segment to begin Friday with three races scheduled. -- Full story: http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=1843 * The Southeaster, Cape Town’s notorious summer wind that whips up and over Table Mountain and howls along city streets, has been blowing for three straight days. It usually has a three day cycle but this particular show of force by the wind gods is forecast to continue for another two days, at least. With this in mind and the fact that the breezy conditions have made it very difficult to prepare the Portimão Global Ocean Race boats for the gruelling leg to Wellington, Race Officials have decided to postpone the Cape Town start by 24 hours, with the new start date to be December 14th. -- Complete story: http://portimaorace.com/index.php?page=news&news_id=136&lang=en VIDEO OF THE WEEK Team Delta Lloyd has compiled footage from their first two legs of the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race, providing an 'MTV style' compilation to bring the feel of the race through the computer monitor to send a shiver up your spine. For the human side of the race, PUMA crew Jerry Kirby, Chris Nicholson, and Rick Deppe describe what it is like to be racing on the boat, and the toll it takes on family left behind. Click here for this week’s videos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/08/1212 * If you have a video you like, please send your suggestion for next week’s Video of the Week to mailto:craig@sailingscuttlebutt.com PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include boats and churches, boats and city streets, boats and volcanic mountains, boats and ice, boats and illusions, boats and India, plus the winners of the World Match Race champs, and the convergence of high speed kites and sails. 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/08/1212 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get 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 Jon Rogers: An update to the Sydney International Regatta. In the Moth Class, Hans Henken, Coronado High School Sophomore, Age 16, placed 4th and is on the adventure of a lifetime. Hans is traveling with Charlie McKee and trained last week with Rohan Veal. Last year, Hans added Moths to his very busy schedule that includes 29er’s, Coronado High School (CHS) Sailing Team, and Sabot and 29er Coach at CorYC. Hans has another week in Australia to race in Melbourne and his travels this year have made him an expert in the CHS Independent Study program. * From Tamra Henken: Charlie's McKee's commitment towards excellence in whatever he does, is outstanding! Thank you for all that you are, Charlie, what an inspiration for all of us. The US Moth Fleet thanks you! * From Frank Whitton: Back in my youth and iceboating days there was the following belief about a speed record: The number was 143 miles per hour. That was accomplished by a 55 foot iceboat called the Deuce. It was a stern steerer (turning runner in the back) and in the 1950's was located on Anchor Bay outside of Detroit. I saw it just once and believe it was kept in a shed owned by Claire Jacobs, a then prominent Detroit sailor. This record was said to be made sometime before the year 1929 because it was said that that was the fastest a human being had been up until that time. I believe this boat was sold to someone by the name of Buddy and moved to Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. This may be fact or myth. Anyone care to comment further about this and correct me on my recollections. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: We asked Harry Melges III to clarify, who commented, “The Deuce is now owned by Rick Henning from Southern Wisconsin. Before that the Perrigo family owned the Deuce from Pewaukee, WI.” Here is a link showing Henning’s makeover of the Deuce, which suffered irreparable damage to her then 75 year-old hull during the 2005 Northwest Regatta at Oshkosh. -- http://www.iceboat.org/wssa2/deuce/deuce.html The validity of Deuce’s record is widely disputed, which was discussed in Scuttlebutt 2742: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/tt/#jhb * From William Tuthill, Jamestown, R.I.: In the ‘for what it is worth’ column, on the subject of ice and snow speed sailing records, The World Ice and Snow Sailing Association (http://www.wissa.org) has run speed trials as part of Ice & Snow Sailing World Championship for many years. Speeds are measured by radar gun over a set course with entry and exit gates. It is a well known fact that the weather rarely cooperates with planned events, so we have yet to see results as high as those posted on http://www.stormboarding.com/speedranking0708.html The speeds posted on the Stormboarding site are peak speeds as measured by GPS. How accurate and official is any of this? Did I ever tell you about my grandfather doing a measured mile in his 40 foot gaff rigged stern steering iceboat in just 32 seconds? * From Peter Johnstone: Great list of Nominees for Sailor of the Year. That is the best list of nominees in some time. * From Larry Glickman: In reading ‘butt 2742, it occurred to me that something was backwards, inverted, insanely insensitive and out of touch with who we are as competitors today. Bear with me, I do have a suggestion. Maybe two. Please look back at the Rolex piece and the way the news is reported. Don’t get me wrong, I admire Buddy Melges. He is brilliant, a credit to the sport and has taught thousands life lessons on and off the water. But that is not what I am getting at. Suggestion #1: Look how backwards we are. It appears that since 1961 we have listed the men first and the women second? Why? Why should it continue? Let’s wake up……….Let’s reverse it for the next 47 years and then give it a look see? Suggestion # 2: It would also be highly appropriate to rename these Trophies: The Gloria Melges/Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Trophy; and The Buddy Melges/Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Trophy. * From Paul Cayard: I don’t know if you can do this for us but we thought that the “Black Pearl” books might make for nice gifts during the holidays. We only have 150 left of the original printing of 7000, which was the only publishing run of my memoirs from the Pirates of the Caribbean team's momentous race in the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race. All proceeds go in support of youth sailing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Details here: http://cayardsailing.com/cs_BlackPearl.cfm CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION When you fall down, consider what else you can do while you're down there. Special thanks to Hall Spars & Rigging and Team One Newport. Please give consideration to supporting the Scuttlebutt sponsors when making your holiday shopping decisions this year. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
