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SCUTTLEBUTT 2400 - July 31, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday with the support of its sponsors. COMMENTARY With the conclusion last week of the Troia Portugal Women’s Match Cup, there can be no doubt that Women’s Match Racing has a place in the Olympic Regatta. It fulfils all the necessary criteria of the International Olympic Committee, particularly with regard to its suitability for television, and it is this that sets it apart. True, the medium’s technology could be more sophisticated and eliminate the need for cameramen on the boats, but that is but detail. Here is an Olympic discipline that could also help to reduce the numbers of athletes in the Games, but it would need pre-selection regattas so that there would be only six crews, each of four women, to represent a country – a total of 24 athletes in the proposed new total of 380 (a reduction of 20) for the 2012 Olympics at Weymouth. It is spectator-friendly, as I found out in Troia, where I was able to watch the action from off the water and still be aware of the nuances of the sport. Add a giant screen, in the manner of the America’s Cup viewing areas, and the spectators would be more than content. The idea is one to which the ISAF should give serious consideration at its upcoming Annual Conference in October when the events of the 2012 Games are decided. There has to be a big shake-up as the number of classes is to be reduced from 11 to ten, once again an IOC demand, and this could result in major change, one of which might see Women’s Match Racing in its proper place. -- Bob Fisher, Sail World, read on: http://tinyurl.com/2xhjfh GOING TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS The organizers of the 32nd America's Cup acquired numerous capital assets and despite last week's announcement that Valencia will be the Host City to the 33rd America's Cup, some of these assets will now be sold, and the revenue generated distributed in accordance with the Protocol for the 32nd America's Cup. Among the items for sale are some of the boats used by the Regatta Operations department to organize the races, but also varied electronic items (plasma screens, computers, servers, televisions, etc), office furniture, vehicles (trucks, golf carts, scooters), catering equipment, etc. A few memorabilia items will also be part of the online auction. The auction, exclusively online, will take place during three days in September. http://www.americascup.com SIZE MATTERS Larry Ellison already owns the second-largest private yacht in the world — his 454-foot Rising Sun. Now, he’s building another one. According to the latest issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine, Mr. Ellison has commissioned a new yacht to be built in Europe. The mag doesn’t offer many details. Yet yacht-industry experts tell me that the new Ellison boat is slated to be about 80 meters long and is being built by Feadship. It’s scheduled for delivery sometime after 2010. Why, you might ask, does Larry Ellison need another yacht? Because Rising Sun is too big. As Wealth Report readers might remember, Mr. Ellison has been complaining for years that the boat he built specifically to be the longest in the world — or at least to be longer than Paul Allen’s — turned out to be rather impractical. He can’t dock at most of the world’s marinas, since his boat exceeds size limits. When he pulls into shore, he has to tie up with oil takers and container ships at industrial ports. (Not very posh.) Or he has to anchor offshore and take tenders to the dock. Larry’s other complaint, according to friends, is the “lack of intimate spaces” on the boat. With its Zen-like, modern design, the boat feels cold and imposing both inside and out. “It’s like walking in an empty mall,” says one friend who’s been on the ship. -- The Wall Street Journal, full story: http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/07/26/ellisons-new-yacht/ ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE IN THE BAYVIEW-MACKINAC! There wasn’t a whole lot of breeze in the Bayview-Mackinac Race, but that didn’t stop boats powered by 100% (or close to 100%) Doyle inventories from sweeping IRC Division I. Congratulations to winning owners Frank Kern III (J/120 Carinthia), Paul and James Kraft (Tripp 40 Power Tripp), John Barbour (NA 40 Velero VII), Stephen Jay/ Clark Carruthers (CC35 Mystery), and Robert Kirkman (J/120 Hot Ticket). Results are at: http://www.doylesails.com/mack07.htm. To join the growing list of winners powered by Doyle, call Doyle Sailmakers at 1-800-94-DOYLE. OPTI WORLDS Sardinia, Italy -- On Day four of the fleet racing at the International Optimist World Championships the wind averaged 24 knots, rising to an officially recorded 32 knots at one time. Benjamin Grez of Chile with 2/9 edged into a 5 point lead over Chris Steele (NZL) who had 8/13. James Anfossi (BER) lead the chasing pack followed by Sacha Pelisson (FRA) who was finally able to discard his OCS. While the hot-shots reveled in the conditions, at the other end of the fleet there were relatively few who were unable to cope (note that the score-sheets do not distinguish between DNF and DNC). -- Robert Wilkes, full results; http://www.optiworld.org/ioda-news.html WHY? Sail-World spoke with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker following that announcement and asked why the longest running and most successful team in the modern America’s Cup had entered at this early stage? 'The key reason is that it allows us to be involved in the design process for the new class, which is a very good incentive, when you are in a challenging position because of the extra time it gives you. Certainly this time compared to over previous Cup campaigns we don’t have the breathing space to sit there and figure whether we’re able to get going by October (when the new rule is announced). You have to be underway now. 'Last time we had over a year from the time we lost in 2003 until the time we were set up to go again. And, yet we were still able to catch up enough to get through the Louis Vuitton Series This time we just don’t have that time available and need to start building the new boat early next year. In spite of having the concession made about having an input to the new rule drafting process, Emirates Team New Zealand has seen nothing, and is as much in the dark on the exercise as anyone else. 'The only thing that they are talking about governing are length, sail area and draft', explains Barker. 'It will depend on what they are trying to create. If they are going to use a Box Rule they might try and limit displacement. What they might try and limit in an appendage package is another thing. -- Richard Gladwell, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yrns7g CORRECTION A number of our readers were nice enough to let us know that the overall results for the Lightning Worlds posted Sunday night on the event’s official website -- 48 hours after the regatta ended -- had not been updated to include the final race of the championship. The Lightning Class website has the correct results posted, and here are the correct top five: 1. USA, Linton J. Linton A. S. Tihansky J. - 36pts. 2. USA, Terhune A. Jr Terhune K. Perkowski D. 41pts 4. USA, Davis S. Hayes B. Jeffers L. - 46pts 3. CHI, Herman P. Herman L. F. Engell C. - 50pts 5. USA, Fisher M. Doug N. Drake J. - 62pts This is Jeff Linton's second Lightning Class World Championship. Complete results: http://www.lightningclass.org/Results/results07/Worlds/WorldChampionship s.htm MELGES PERFORMANCE SAILBOATS AND NEW BOAT INCENTIVES As the racing season heads toward the end of summer, Melges Performance Sailboats traditionally has an end of the season purchasing incentive. The Melges Fall Savings campaign begins September 1st and runs through October 15, 2007. This is an ideal time of year to freshen up your Melges sailing program for the upcoming Winter Series or for next year’s racing season! New boats are still available for the Melges 24 National Championship in Detroit and for the Melges 17 National Championship in Crystal Lake, Michigan. 2008 models are being built right now. Time to freshen up! Please race to http://www.Melges.com SAILING SHORTS * The World Sailing Speed Council has ratified two new world records for Franck Cammas and the crew of Groupama 3: the outright 24 hour speed record of 794nm/ Average speed: 33.08 kts (previous record - Bruno Peyron, July 2006, 766.8nm/ average speed 31.95 kts) and the New York to the Lizard Transatlantic record of 4 days 3 hours 57 minutes 54 seconds for an average speed of 29.26 kts (previous record - Bruno Peyron, July 2006, 4d 8h 23m 54s). -- http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ * A key member of Team New Zealand's afterguard, who was destined to miss the next America's Cup, will now be back for the regatta in 2009. Team New Zealand strategist Ray Davies had signed up as skipper of Mean Machine in the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race. But Davies' team's misfortune has turned into Team New Zealand's luck. Mean Machine's bid folded last week because they could not raise enough cash. Davies has now put pen to paper for Team New Zealand who announced they would formally challenge for the cup again in two years' time in Valencia. -- Stuff NZ, http://www.stuff.co.nz/4144798a1823.html * US Sailing is trying to get more yachts sailing in IRC events this fall by offering a discount on IRC certificate costs. In co-operation with US-IRC, US Sailing has agreed that all certificates issued after September 30, 2007 will be priced at 50% off the regular price. They will be valid for all IRC events from October 1st through December 31st 2007. Applications and measurers can be found at http://www.ussailing.org/offshore/IRC/. Completed applications and any questions should be directed to IRC@ussailing.org. * Chris Segerblom and Kayla McComb won the 67-boat CFJ Nationals Championship by two points over Mac Mace and Jeff Aschieris -- both team representing the Newport Harbor YC. Judge Ryan/ Georgie Ryan from the San Diego YC placed third in the Championship hosted by the California YC on the Santa Monica Bay off Venice Beach in 5-12 knots of breeze. -- Complete results: http://www.calyachtclub.com/cms/RaceResults/series193.htm Photos: http://www.gtsphotos.com/galleriesframe.htm * This past spring, General Motors of Canada (GM), in partnership with the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), supported 55 community clubs and 10 high performance coaches and their athletes through their Making Dreams Possible program, which provided funding for coach training and development. CAC is now accepting applications for the next wave of GM’s Club Coaching Grants, and the deadline is September 21, 2007. In addition, GM’s High Performance Coach Grants application deadline is February 29, 2008. -- http://www.sailing.ca/news/headline.asp?numNewsID=1338 * According to the local newspaper Marsala, the city of Trapani is on the eve of (an America’s Cup) challenge. Beaten by Valencia to host the 33nd America's Cup, the Sicilians would have decided to bid themselves to push their chance for another Cup. The local authorities would be in the process of completing various formalities with Société Nautique de Genève to bid for the 33rd America’s Cup. Exactly one week ago, Salvatore Cuffaro, the president of the Sicilian region, said "Sicilia will be represented with a new boat at next America's Cup". -- Full story: http://www.cupineurope.com/NewsEN/2007/Piu39.htm RIDDLE OF THE DAY Question: How can sailors look good and do good at the same time? Answer: Wear SailFast apparel. SailFast’s great casual designs are perfect for racing or cruising, plus 10% of their profits help support the fight against Leukemia and other blood cancers. See what the buzz is all about, plus Scuttlebutt readers can get 20% off (excludes wristbands). Just enter "butthead" at checkout. -- http://www.isailfast.com 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 Cam Lewis: Chris Law -- among friends and competitors in the Finn Class from my earliest racing at the Top international level in 1978 through 1980, Chris Law was one of my favorites- he showed me some of his transom a few times, taught me plenty of tricks on and off the water, and especially in the last race of the 1980 Gold Cup at Takapuna, New Zealand. I was racing to win the Cup against fellow American John Bertrand and Chris came roaring up from behind us as we flew down the course, surfing the big waves in the 25 to 30 knots of wind down the last run, Chris was standing up in his Finn like the Duke on a big board on the North Shore in the old days, completely in control. Peter Montgomery was calling the race for NZ TV and Radio , when I listened later to the broadcast, it sounded like an adrenalin junky horse race with the 3 of us merry Finnsters neck in neck with more pizzazz than closest Derby battle ever--the Long story short-Chris impressed the hell out of me in raw talent and camaraderie, he won the race and I won the Gold Cup and we remained friends forever. I look forward to a wild balls to the wall surfing run in a Finn with him again someday. * From Jo Ann Mathieu (edited to our 250-word limit): I am impressed with the commentary Lynn Fitzpatrick displayed in her piece in yesterday’s ‘Butt. Knowing her locally among the Miami racing scene, where she is such an integral part of building the junior and collegiate levels, along with the Olympic Class and world events, she is speaking from experience! It is truly ridiculous that this world class racing community cannot convince even the Miami Herald to pay attention to the local international playing field for world class events that matter on the bigger world stages from here... that this locale doesn't matter? Nor does the major money pumped into this community for these events? Even the world class major regattas that hosted many of the players of the recent America's Cup!? We do have major players from all over this state competing worldwide. I see them out there on the race course when I'm doing Race Committee work on these impressive regattas. But, there is nothing much published. I am a member of the Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami. I have recently been appointed the web master to upgrade our site, which needs to embellish our claims to be the Sailboat Racing Capital of America. And there is good reason for that title. We need to keep the focus on our local media, to create the knowledge and interest beyond what the competitors already know, and promote them in the bigger forum! And expand our vision nationally and internationally, to encourage the regattas we have proudly hosted. * From Howard Paul: How can Mr. Butterworth feel that a 90' boat is going to minimize the costs? How does he justify the defender sailing in the challenger series? A few well placed missteps by the defender could easily skew the results as to who gets into the semi-finals. This doesn't sound very Cricket to me! * From John C. Quigley: (edited to the 250-word limit) Just as it was all beginning to get interesting on the water and the presentation of the event through the media was actually reaching the wider public and doing something really important for the sport and future sponsors - that is to say making it accessible and consumable to a broader audience thereby creating value - these self interested prima donnas screw it up again! Bertarelli and Co. may think that the intrigue is a frightfully cunning ploy and will keep the audience engaged but in fact it does the opposite and is a massive turn off. Enough of this nonsense. Alinghi has betrayed the trust of the community. Let them keep the Cup and play with themselves in their own bath. Cheaper and same result. Serious current and potential Challengers should come together now collectively - create a professional and independent Race Management Company, owned as a mutual, non-profit making, and funded by the collective teams wishing to compete. Lay down the values and ethos of the organization, brief the management company with what is expected/ required, appoint an independent Governance/ Oversight/ Steering Committee made up of sane and wise heads, spend 6 months creating a framework of events to preserve the value in existing boats and a way forwards for design to take the event forwards - ideally in a One Design framework. Call it the 'Blake Cup' which may help keep a focus on what the game is all about. * From Ken Guyer: Roger Watkiss in Butt 2399, regarding Oracle and Ellison's legal challenge to the new Cup protocol said, "If Americans think this is a way to get back into a Cup that has been hi-jacked by eurocrats....". Let's make something real clear. A lot of U.S. sailors do not consider Oracle or Ellison as an American challenge. He had so little faith in the ability of our country's sailors, he stacked his team with Kiwis with a couple of token yanks tossed in. Don't worry Roger, if a true American challenge was created with the kind of funding Oracle had, they would give the rest of the challengers and the defender a run for the money. * From Dulaney Collins: As a "cuppie", I'd say that adhering to the Deed of Gift and the intention of a "friendly competition between foreign nations" is impossible. Any future America's Cup ended when a "loser's press conference" was scheduled during the 32nd--- that is not friendly, very unsportsmanlike, and leaves a terrible impression for the sailing community as well as the general public. Forget the lawyers and the courtroom drama; get out on the water and sail! Leave Ernie Bertie to count his money and whine like we've already heard him do! * From John Rumsey: Regarding the refit of the Windward Passage in 1981 after it was purchased form Mark and Fritz Johnson by Bill Johnson of Atlanta. The design of the new rig and keel were done, after some discussion with Allen Gurney, by Doug Peterson and completed by Ross yachts of Clearwater FL The Original keel had about 30% dead wood which added unneeded wetted surface. The new keel was of Doug's favorite shape of the time, all lead, and added to the performance of the boat both up wind and down, winning the SORC and the Maxi Worlds in 82 and 83. When the original keel was poured, on site, in 1968 in Freeport the mould cracked and swelled on one side. The resulting deformity had to be planed off to the designed shape. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Don't bother me. I'm living happily ever after. Special thanks to Doyle Sailmakers, Melges Performance Sailboats, and SailFast apparel. |
