|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2008 - January 13, 2006
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
CAYARD JOINS LIST OF CASUALTIES - Edward Gorman
The spectre of a Volvo Ocean Race yacht suffering a catastrophic keel
failure on the edge of the Southern Ocean came alarmingly close yesterday
when the crew on Pirates of the Caribbean reported cracks in the keel
support structure hundreds of miles from land. This latest setback to a
race that has been beset by repeated structural failures in the new breed
of superlight carbon- fibre Volvo Open 70s came as Pirates of the Caribbean
was a long way from safety, midway through the 6,100-mile second leg from
Cape Town to Melbourne on the edge of the Roaring Forties.
When the crew noticed an ingress of water around the top of the swing keel,
which has been the Achilles' heel of the new class, the boat was about
1,500 miles west of the southwest tip of Australia, from where launching a
rescue operation would be extremely difficult and expensive. An anxious
Paul Cayard, the Californian skipper of Pirates of the Caribbean, said that
the crew immediately reduced sail and began urgent consultations via e-mail
and satellite phone with Bruce Farr, the yacht's designer in the United
States, to try to assess the seriousness of the damage. "Several hours were
spent discussing this issue with the designers of the boat," Cayard
reported in an e-mail. "A certain level of comfort was achieved and we
proceeded with reduced sail, east at 12 knots through the night."
However, it was clear that Cayard is still uncertain about what has gone
wrong and what might happen next. "This morning we have reviewed the
drawings of how this area was designed," he added. "It is not clear to us
if this is structural damage or superficial. "The fact that water is coming
into the boat is not reassuring. We have made a new video and photos in the
daylight and sent them off to the designers." Cayard said that until the
Disney-sponsored boat is hauled out on to dry land, they will not know for
certain the seriousness of the problem, adding: "We simply can't properly
inspect the (affected) area out here."
Cayard explained how the amount of water flowing into the yacht varies with
the amount of cant in the keel and said that he hoped to make as much
progress towards Australia as he can, sailing the boat at about 80 per cent
of its full performance, with the keel never more than 20 degrees from the
centreline. He was keeping his fingers crossed for favourable weather and
summed up his skipper's dilemma with a sentence that executives at Volvo
and Disney probably wished they would never have to read. "There is danger
in being out here for a long time," he wrote.
For Disney, which is using the boat to promote a new feature film, its bold
marketing experiment is hardly panning out as the company might have hoped.
Executives were said to be disappointed with how the race was developing
for its team by Cape Town, so this latest development will be unwelcome
news. As far as the race is concerned, it is becoming all too obvious that
the four Farr-designed boats - Movistar, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ericsson
and Brasil 1 - are not in the same race-ready condition as the two ABN Amro
yachts, which look to be running away with this championship. -- Excerpts
from a story by Edward Gorman, The Times, UK,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4041-1982920,00.html
Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 GMT Thursday
1. Team ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, 2357 miles to finish
2. Team ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +176 miles
3. Movistar, Bouwe Bekking, +284 miles
4. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +379 miles
5. ING Real Estate Brunel, Grant Wharington, +1172 miles
6. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, +2515 miles
7. Ericsson Racing Team Neal McDonald, retired
Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
Life is definitely a bit more pleasant today though, now the water isn't
trying to force its way in though every opening we have been able to get
the main hatch open again to give the boat a much needed air out. Ten wet
sweaty blokes plus all the heat from boiling water every few hours does
nothing for the fragrance downstairs. Washing in these conditions with
anything other than baby wipes is an impossibility so things were starting
to get a little on the nose! On top of this not having to bail out the
bilge every thirty minutes has made for a welcomed improvement in quality
of life.
As well as being able to relax on the physical side of life it is nice to
relax a bit mentally too. Pushing the boat hard in the breeze is almost as
taxing on the mind as it is on the body. Along with all the adrenaline is
always a little fear and in the back of your mind is the fear of a wipe out
or gear failure. My heart definitely skipped a few beats when a pad eye
broke yesterday for fear of something more serious having happened. Despite
feeling safe and under control there is always the nagging doubt in the
back of your mind . . . -- Simon Fisher, Abn Amro Two navigator
CLOSE SAILING ON BISCAYNE BAY
Florida's Biscayne Bay Etchells Fleet 20 is again hosting the four regatta
Jaguar Cup Series that culminates with the Mid Winter Regatta, February
1-4. Fresh off a win in the Piana Cup in December, Dirk Kneulman from
Canada finished fourth in the Sidney Doren Cup last weekend to hold on to
first place in the series. With over 50 hard-nosed competitors including
last year's series winner, Jud Smith, in third and breathing down his neck,
whose sails did Dirk choose? Doyle, of course. For fast one-design sails,
call 1-800-94-DOYLE and get the sails and support you deserve.
http://www.doylesails.com
NICK SCANDONE
Nick Scandone was arriving home in Fountain Valley from work 3 1/2 years
ago when his cellphone rang. Scandone had been having trouble walking. His
neurologist was calling. "I'm pulling into my driveway and getting out of
the car and he says, 'Have you ever heard of a disease called ALS? Or Lou
Gehrig's disease?' And I said, 'The only thing I've ever heard about it is
the guy died before he was 40.' "
Nick was 36 then. He'll turn 40 on March 4. ALS - the amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis that killed Gehrig and strikes 5,600 Americans each year - has no
cure, and 20% of those afflicted by it live more than five years. But
Scandone's phone calls are getting better. One of the last he received
before flying to Australia to sail next week in a world championship for
disabled sailors was to tell him he had been selected the 2005 Rolex
yachtsman of the year, the highest honor for American sailors, announced
Wednesday. Sally Barkow of Nashotah, Wis., was voted Rolex yachtswoman of
the year by the same panel of sailing reporters and editors.
Scandone joins past male recipients, including America's Cup winners
(Dennis Conner and Ted Turner), Olympic champions (most recently, the team
of Paul Foerster and Kevin Burnham in 2004 and Mark Reynolds in 2000) and
Volvo Ocean Race winners (Paul Cayard and John Kostecki). But none of the
recipients since Buddy Melges - both an Olympic gold medalist and America's
Cup winner - won the first award in 1961 had to overcome what Scandone did.
Their arms and legs worked just fine. For the last couple of years,
Scandone has been barely able to walk with a cane and plastic braces on his
lower legs to keep his toes from dragging. Last seen, he was getting around
in a wheelchair after twisting a knee, and his goal to sail in the 2008
Paralympics after the Olympic Games in China may seem a fragile dream. But,
by God, on Feb. 24 he'll make it onto the stage at the New York Yacht Club
to accept the Rolex award, if it's the last thing he does.
Other nominees for the Rolex award included Pete Melvin of Long Beach and
Augie Diaz of Florida, world champions in the highly competitive A-Cat and
Snipe classes, respectively. Scandone did not expect to win, and if he was
to receive any support he wanted it to be on the merits of his
achievements. "I don't want a sympathy vote," he said. He didn't get one.
Although the count was confidential, a few panelists who voted for him
indicated they were swayed more by Scandone's success driven by his courage
and determination. - Excerpts from a story by Rich Roberts, LA Times, full
story: http://tinyurl.com/ad3ur
ON THE WEB
* It was a very busy week at the Scuttlebutt Forums, with a significant
jump in activity and user sign-ups. Building a forums audience takes time,
but the train is filling up and looks to be leaving the station. For Acura
Key West Race Week, we have set-up a special forum that will allow for
guest usage (read: no sign-up needed). If you are in Key West, be sure to
give the 'buttheads your spin on the regatta. And if you are not, here's
your chance to play armchair quarterback. -
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi
* Look for Scuttleblog to be in Key West next week, reporting on the
dockside events at Acura Key West Race Week. This week's Scuttleblog
reports were coming in from Martha Parker in the BVI, where she has been
reporting on the events at Women's Week at the Bitter End YC. -
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog
NEWS BRIEFS
* Russell sure gets around. After doing tactics for Philippe Kahn at the
recent Melges 24 Worlds in Key Largo, he has now joined the Italian
Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team Farr 40 in Key West as tactician for
helmsman Vincenzo Onorato. This regatta is the first of a very intense
season: the goal of Onorato and Coutts is the Rolex Farr 40 World
Championship 2006, organized by the New York Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode
Island from August 30 - September 9.
* The new Team New Zealand America's Cup boat is out on the water in the
Waitemata Harbour. Syndicate chief Grant Dalton says the boat seems well
balanced and okay in light winds but they are waiting for the wind to crank
up a bit to get a true gauge. Dalton says it is only really a step on the
way to the final product come 2007. He says it is hard to judge ability
because they are comparing it to old boats at this stage; he says Alinghi
and Oracle are still the America's Cup benchmarks. - NewsTalkZB,
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=87650
*In 'Butt 2007 we reported on the opening of the Port America's Cup Darsena
Canal in Valencia. Tom Ehman has just posted some aerial photos of the
project on the website of the America's Cup Challenger's Commission. --
http://www.challengercommission.com/
* Due to the insufficient number of entries, the China Cup -- originally
conceived as an international ocean race for Open 60s from London to
Shanghai -- has been postponed. Earlier, race organizers Extreme Sailing
Ltd revised the format of the event to make it easier for a greater number
of teams to participate. The modified event was to be a shortened version
of the race in China, from Hong Kong to Qingdao with a finish in Shanghai.
Despite these actions, only four teams were registered at the deadline date.
* The 141-foot schooner Skylge has successfully completed her sea trials on
the North Sea. This lightweight, performance-oriented boat is now going to
the Caribbean where she will make her regatta debut in the St. Barth's
Bucket. Built in aluminum by Holland Jachtbouw to a design by André Hoek,
Skylge has slim low-freeboard lines, long overhangs and a modest
pilothouse. A rig that follows the trend for high-aspect mainsails and
roached foresails tops her clean deck, while her lifting keel offers access
to shallow waters. Skylge will be available for charters in the coming
season. Take a look: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/skylge.jpg
* Round the world solo sailor Dee Caffari reported from the Southern Ocean,
"I got well and truly beaten up last night! 50 knots true. The barometer
dropped like a stone from 989 to 980 in 4 hours. I ended up with the
staysail furled away and eventually I had probably only the last third of
the headsail out and a three reefed mainsail. The waves were the worst,
they had the whole deck on the leeward side underwater quite a lot."
Caffari had a 24 hour run of 134 miles and is 16,278 from the finish of her
circumnavigation. - www.avivachallenge.com
* According to German media reports, United Internet Team Germany have now
announced they were allocated sail no. 89, and had hoped to get that number
in commemoration of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Thursday morning
the Technical Director reported that ACC sail no. 90 has now been
allocated. By agreement with the teams, the Technical Director only
announces that a number has been allocated (after the first skin is layed
up in or on the tool), not the name of the team. This is left to the
respective teams to announce as and when they choose. --
http://www.challengercommission.com/
* Correction - Jason White, Sailing World magazine's Associate Publisher,
has informed us that the 2006 US - IRC Handbook will be distributed with
Sailing World's March issue to their 50,000 subscribers -- not the stated
25,000 in our item yesterday.
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
OCKAM REGATTA SUPPORT
At Ockam Instruments, we truly enjoy sailboat racing, and can be found at
most regattas providing the highest level of service and support available.
Acura Key West Race Week is just around the corner and Ockam Instrument
technicians will be there to solve your instrument service, support and
calibration needs. We also can assist with software and hardware upgrade
solutions, system integration as well as give pointers to help fine tune
your Ockam system. Look for our contact information on the regatta
information board at race headquarters or contact Lat at
mailto:lat@ockam.com to make an appointment.
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per
subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And
please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those
that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi)
* From Brian Hancock: After the Curmudgeons astute observation about the
average man seeing better than he can think, I have to comment on the VOR
dialog. Any sailor worth his mettle that saw the images of the VOR70's
sailing the inshore race off Cape Town would have to agree that despite a
small fleet in this around-the-world race, this is amazing stuff. 563 miles
aboard ABN Amro Two is a remarkable performance. I say quit the criticism,
enjoy the sailing, and be glad that there are modern day astronauts that
push the boundaries. It advances the sport and quite frankly I think that
it advances us all as human beings. Good on you Moose for your email sent
under less than perfect sailing conditions.
* From Ron Holland (Regarding Ross Field's comments (Volvo 70) about
'everyone calling for a more exciting boat'): I concur with his sentiments
and resend my letter to Scuttlebutt 1691 that supports reflecting on the
reality of the present Race.
"I was impressed to read (Scuttlebutt 1689) of the speed potential of the
new Volvo Ocean 70 designs. Too bad not many yachts will be competing. The
reason there are going to be so few starters is directly related to cost. I
understood after the last race reducing costs was considered a priority.
Clearly this new generation of yachts is going to be very expensive. I
contend the sponsors don't care about the speeds these yachts can achieve.
They are going to be involved on a cost to compete promotion ratio. The
designers and sailors may be excited about canard foils and canting keels,
but I believe sponsors don't care about these technical details. Without
the sponsors seeing real value, this race is never going to fulfill its
potential in having larger fleets and greater public awareness."
PS - If I was 20 years younger I would have loved to be aboard ABN Amro Two
for a few hours yesterday!
* From Ben Jarashow: With due respect to Andrew Hurst, I have to disagree
entirely with his conclusions. The lack of a big fleet is most certainly
not compensated for by boats that break under conditions for which they
were nominally designed. While I understand that 'performance sailors can
be grateful' that the bounds of technology are being pushed, as a sport, I
don't believe this should be the first priority at that level.
Ross Field is, I think, entirely correct in his analysis that the reason
for few teams is that there are few sponsors. To follow that line of
reasoning: Why few sponsors? Very few major international companies are
willing to take a risk on untried technology, especially at the cost
involved, such as we see here. A broken boat designed to the limit of our
abilities is only embarrassing to a sponsor, and to us as a sport, when the
design and technology fail us abjectly (remember TNZ in the A-Cup, 2005?)
And at the level of the A-Cup & VOR, it should be about getting the maximum
exposure for the sport, through getting sponsors who are able and willing
to put money into the sport, preferably over a longer term period, as Rolex
and Volvo have been willing to do. I think the equation is obvious: Money =
Exposure = Sport Expansion. The A-Cup is doing it well, with evolutionary
changes, rather than trying to re-make the competition in one fell swoop. I
wish the VOR had done the same.
* From Blake Middleton: There are plenty of outstanding accomplishments in
sailing every year, but there is a time and a place for special
recognition. Never has "time" or "place" been better served than to award
Nick Scandone the 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year award for his
spectacular season while battling challenges most of us will never dream of
facing. I have Multiple Sclerosis, but my personal speedbumps are a joke
compared to the hurdles Nick is clearing on a daily basis while facing ALS.
It doesn't belittle any of the other nominees a bit to suggest that the
choice made by a distinguished panel of sailing journalists gets my
personal vote for best call of the year! Kudos to Nick, and kudos to them.
Nick... stay positive. You inspire me.
* From Mike Ingham: Congratulations to Nick Scandone for winning the vote
for Yachtsman of the Year! My father has an advanced stage of the Lou
Gehrig's disease, the same disease that Nick has. From first hand
experience, it is impressive that Nick can both physically and mentally
compete at such a high level with such a debilitating illness.
* From Malcolm McKeag: I hesitate - but only briefly - to wax pedantic
about what is already a bit of a joke event but... heck I'm too old to mend
my ways and why change the habits of a lifetime? Unless the new finish line
for the Singapore leg of the Clipper Race was already in the course as a
waypoint (that is - was a mark of the course), the organizers have not
shortened the course - they have changed it. And the signal for a change of
course is flag C, not flag S. Furthermore, unless the signal was made
before the first yacht reached the previous mark of the course, if there
was one, the entire procedure is invalid (unless the Sailing Instructions,
which I freely admit to not having seen, have changed rule 33).
So now the skippers have a dilemma. They can do what the organizers ask,
and proceed to the new finish line, cross it and, in switching on the
motor, break rule 42 and thus disqualify themselves. Or they hang in there,
take the next three weeks to drift their way to the valid finish and claim
the race, protesting all others save those who do the same thing under rule
28. In any event, a yacht far off the fastest route to the new finish can
surely claim redress for having the goal posts moved in such a cavalier
(albeit sensible) fashion. What fun!
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Old age is when you still have something on the ball, but are just too
tired to bounce it.
(Happy Birthday to me)
Special thanks to Doyle Sailmakers and Ockam Instruments.
|
| |