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SCUTTLEBUTT 3254 - Tuesday, January 11, 2011Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: North Sails, West Marine, and Lewmar/Navtec. PUTTING THE "FAMILY" BACK IN SAILING By Matthew Princing, family man & golden retriever lover There are many articles and books floating around about the state of sailing today. They discuss the decline in our sport by various demographics and point towards influences like the economy, access to sailing and perception. The economy is certainly and issue, especially in the Midwest where my family lives and sails. We are somewhat challenged by the fact that we are a blue collar area and we have lost a record number of well paying jobs which limit our spendable income. Boats unfortunately are quiet easy to put on the back burner and become deemed not a priority (this is blasphemy to a true sailor but it happens). Our sailing clubs in turn suffer due to lack of members and income coming in that drives our sailing programs so access to sailing suffers. There is a whole generation of kids out there that haven't had the chance to try sailing; to me that is a shame. Perception of sailing has never really been stellar. Many uneducated journalists have mistakenly reported that sailing is a sport of the rich, the elite. This of course couldn't be farther from the truth. Are there wealthy sailors, yes there are but on the same side of things there are many more middle class sailors and quite a few that would be considered poor by many standards. You certainly don't have to be wealthy to afford a very nice sailboat. My belief is that we need to put the fun and the family back into sailing. It starts with me. I will do what I can. These two go hand in hand and we can raise the next generation of sailing families. I grew up the son of a power boater, floating condo kind of situation. We were a very small minority at a predominantly sailing club. It wasn't long before my brother and I were sailing and soon the whole family. I bought my first boat about a month before I graduated college. I was bitten by the Lightning (www.lightningclass.org) bug by a family friend that let me sail an old woodie off his beach. I bought the first of four Lightning's (so far) that spring and joined the local fleet in Bay City, MI. That was 1991, I am still there. Why? Friends and family. We have fun. The Lightning class is very family oriented as are other classes we participate in like the J/22 Class (www.j22usa.com). We have made lifelong friends in both classes and plan our schedules to meet up with our friends somewhere on the regatta scene or at fleet races. I wasn't the "family" sailor though; I was probably part of the problem. I drove my family away from sailing early on due to a competitive streak that was relentless and perhaps a short fuse. Age has mellowed me but also increased my desire to sail and be surrounded by my family. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/MP-011011 OUTTERIDGE NEAR FLAWLESS IN QUALIFYING Belmont, NSW, Australia (January 10, 2011) - Just another day at the office for Nathan Outteridge (AUS) who flawlessly handled the gusty 16-18 knot Easterly on Lake Macquarie at the 2011 Zhik Moth Worlds during the final day of the Qualifying Series. In the last start of the day he blasted off the line at 20 knots, after dipping the line from above the start boat. His scoreline now hosts eight bullets from the nine race qualifying series. The top 55 proceed to Gold Fleet, with 54 sailors making up Silver. Sailors carry over their rank from the Qualifying Series as points into the 3-day Final Series (e.g. Outteridge starts with 1 point) starting Tuesday. After a lay-day on Wednesday, racing will commence Thursday and conclude on Friday. Brad Funk (USA) remains the top North American after rolling through a 7-5-5 today. "I am content, considering some of the challenges I faced. I am finding it's a 24hr recovery program to sail these boats every day, and feel I will be making my move tomorrow with the help from Moma home cooking (whey protein, amino acids), plus gallons of water, and of course, stretching a lot. New discovery for arm recovery made too: the arm-equivalent to compression tights helps the arms manage the mainsheet all day. Trying to start the trend." 2009 World Champion Bora Gulari (USA) also had a good day with two seconds and a forth to sit in 11th position. He's going faster now after having replaced his rudder vertical which was splitting down the middle. There's also a tight battle for leading lady with Sam England (AUS), Emma Aspington (SWE), and Linsdsay Bergan (USA) all qualifying for Gold with 51, 52, and 53 points, respectively. Current results: http://tinyurl.com/Day3-011011 Worlds: http://www.mothworlds.org/belmont/ Brad Funk: http://www.funksailing.com/ Matt Knowles: http://knowlesmoth.blogspot.com/ Chris Rast: http://fasterandhigher.blogspot.com/ J/111 CLASS SAIL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BY NORTH SAILS North Sails' Class Sail Development (CSD) program devotes countless design and development hours to 12 of the most popular offshore one design classes including the newest addition to our program, the J/111 class. North Sails has partnered with SAIL Magazine and other industry leaders to support SAIL's 'Best Around the Buoys' contest by providing a complete set of J/111 CSD sails for KW Race Week. Congratulations and good luck to contest winner Jim Sminchak from Cleveland, OH. When performance counts, the choice is clear. http://www.na.northsails.com FIRST CASUALTY IN BLAST REACHING CONDITIONS (January 10, 2011: Day 11) It's been a hard day's work for the Barcelona World RACE skippers, as reaching angles in up to 30 knots saw three boats (Virbac Paprec 3, Mapfre and Groupe Bel) clocking up over 400 miles in the past 24 hours, and several other nudging similar mileage. The leading pair of Virbac Paprec 3 and Foncia passed the Cape Verde islands early this morning, having set a relentless pace that has piled on the pressure for every team. Many have spoken of sailing with as much sail area as they dare, and hand driving near constantly in a bid to maintain the high average speeds. Sopping wet sails are stacked on deck to optimise weight trim, while soaked sailors sleep in oilskins to dive on deck and relieve exhausted co-skippers from the helm. No change to the rankings this evening, but third and fourth placed Estrella Damm and Mirabaud are now within reach of the chasing pack. As the closely-matched pair snuck west to divert the north of the Cape Verde islands, Mapfre, who has been thundering down the west of the track and now holds the fastest average speeds of the fleet (at 19.9 knots since the last position report), has closed the gap. CASUALTY: Jean Le Cam (FRA) and Spanish co-skipper Bruno Garcia have reported Monday evening that their IMOCA Open 60 President has lost its mast. Sailing at speeds of between 16 and 20 knots, they said the boat hit a wave and the mast broke. Both are skippers are unharmed and they are currently under power to cover the 83 miles which separated them from San Antao, the most northerly island of the Cape Verde group. CONCERN: The British skipper, Alex Thomson, who had been making plans to rejoin Hugo Boss after being sidelined with an emergency appendectomy two days before the start, announced Monday that he must delay leaving the UK to join his boat in the Cape Verde Islands as originally planned. Alex's baby son Oscar, who was born 3 days ago on the 7 January, has been diagnosed with a heart condition called coarctation of the aorta. Both parents will remain with their young son in Southampton General Hospital while further tests are carried out this week. A further update will be made later this week when more detailed information is available. Race Tracker: http://tracking.barcelonaworldrace.org Standings (top 5 of 14 as of 20:01:08) 1. Virbac-Paprec, Jean Pierre Dick & Loick Peyron, 22,395 nm DTF 2. Foncia, Michel Desjoyeaux & Francois Gabart, 51.3 nm DTL 3. Estrella Damm Sailing Team, Alex Pella & Pepe Ribes, 220.6 nm DTL 4. Mirabaud, Dominique Wavre & Michele Paret, 243.2 DTL 5. Mapfre, Iker Martinez & Xabi Fernandez, 273.5 nm DTL Full rankings: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org/en/ranking BACKGROUND: This is the second edition of the non-stop Barcelona World Race, the only double-handed race around the world. Fourteen teams are competing on Open 60s which started December 31st and is expected to finish by late March. The 25,000 nautical mile course is from Barcelona to Barcelona via three capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn, Cook Strait, putting Antarctica to starboard. Race website: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org NO OTHER PLACE WE'D RATHER BE When the 24th edition of Key West 2011, presented by Nautica begins next Monday (January 17th) Olympic medalists, world champions and America's Cup veterans will be on the starting line. International legend Russell Coutts will be on hand for the southernmost debut of the RC 44 class, while the "big boat class" will feature four mini maxis including Titan, chartered by former America's Cup skipper Bill Koch. The Melges 32 class has become Key West's competitive standard in recent years. The list of tacticians tells that story and includes 2010 Beijing Olympic Gold medalist Paul Goodison, currently the #1 ranked Laser sailor in the world. Other one-designs include the talent-laden international Melges 24 class - with the fleet already working toward their 2011 Worlds in Texas, a revitalized Farr 30 and J/Boat's always competitive J/105 and J/80 classes. IRC, Multihull and PHRF classes complete the mix. The entry count is now at 136 boats competing in 13 separate classes, with competitive teams from no less than 15 countries and 24 American states. Warm temperatures are greeting the early arrivals and the long term forecasts call for more sunshine and temperature in the 70s right through the weekend. -- Event website: http://www.premiere-racing.com/keywest11/pages/KW11_home_page.htm => Curmudgeon's Comment: The headline is my choice, and it is where I will be next week. If you are not already packing to do the same, you can't deny you wish you were. For those that pulled the trigger, see me in the tent so I can buy you a Mount Gay Rum drinkee. PHOTO GALLERY * It is not just birds that fly south for the winter - the Etchells class does it too. Their four event Jaguar Cup series in Miami, FL attracts a crowd of non locals seeking some reprieve from Mother Nature's glacial grasp. Photographer John Payne follow the 43 boat fleet this past weekend at their Sidney Doren Memorial, suffering through 70 degree temperatures and winds up to 20 knots. Who needs summer? Photos here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0110/ * When the 2012 Olympics added women's keelboat match racing, it was a game changer. Events were created, fleets of boats were delivered, and a new game had to be learned. But while the match racing we tend to see is in big boats where the crew wear designer outfits, the women's event is in Elliott 6m boats with sailors geared up in new age form-fitting composite sailing gear that stretches and protects them as they go to combat. Photos from John Payne during the USSTAG Women's Match Race Qualifying Regatta - won by Sally Barkow - clearly demonstrate that you better have your hair pulled back if you're going to play this game: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0109/ WEST MARINE 72-HOUR FOUL WEATHER GEAR SALE (1/11-1/13) With holiday shopping madness behind us, it's time to get serious and think about ourselves for a moment. That's right, I said it. I think we need a little relief from all the selfless "giving" we did last month. In fact, we should probably change the name of this sale to, "I'm over the whole giving thing and I want a get myself a little somethin' special sale". So here it is, a chance to freshen up your technical apparel, protect yourself from the elements and most of all, look good out on the water. SAVE 25% on select Foul Weather Gear, Boots & More from brands like West Marine, Helly Hansen, Zhik, SLAM, Gill and Henri Lloyd. Sale prices good online only, Tuesday through Thursday. -- http://bit.ly/WM-FWG-Sale FOR WOMEN THAT WANT TO MATCH RACE * Dave Perry, U.S. Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Lead Coach for Women's Match Racing, has compiled a pathway of opportunities in 2011 for U.S. women sailors looking to raise the level of their match racing game with a possible eye on the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. -- Details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/0109/ * Due to a generous grant from an anonymous supporter of match racing, Dave Perry will be offering an advanced match race training session on February 18-20, 2011 with no coaching or boat charter fee. Dave will coach the advanced tactics and strategies needed to be competitive and successful in Match Racing on the National level. On the water, Dave will run the sailors through all the scenarios, with on-the-spot feedback, and video replay after sailing. Details here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/0110/ SOMBER ENVIRONMENTAL REFLECTIONS The planet has seen some drastic changes within its eco systems in the past few decades. From rising sea levels to extremes in seasonal weather patterns, and from diminishing wildlife to the movement of ocean currents, it is believed that climate change is exacting its influence on the world. For the experienced skippers of the VELUX 5 OCEANS these changes have been observed at first hand and their commentary is alarming. In the past 12 years Derek Hatfield and Brad Van Liew have racked up four round the world voyages between them, with the current edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS adding two more to their tally. Their commitment to the sport means they have spent years of their lives dedicated to the sea and have seen the changes brought by global warming close-up. Derek and Brad are no scientists but instead can offer unique personal observations on the environment they love and live for - and they have a grave warning. "I'm not a scientist but I know that things are changing - I see it in the oceans," said Canadian sailor Derek, a former mounted policeman who took up ocean racing in the early 1990s. "Even crossing the Atlantic from Canada to France for the start of the VELUX 5 OCEANS I didn't see one dolphin or one whale. The ocean is dying. I made my first transatlantic crossing in 1993 and I would see dozens of dolphins, and maybe two whales every day. Now you can cross the ocean and there's hardly any life there, it's just a body of water. It's unbelievable how it has changed in just a few years." -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/V5O-011011 * (January 10, 2011; Day 26) - The VELUX 5 OCEANS leader Brad Van Liew (USA) is approaching the bottom of New Zealand, where he will need to turn toward the north to reach the finish in Wellington, situated at the bottom of New Zealand's North Island and famously buffeted most days by air funneled through Cook Strait. Van Liew has 1108 nm remaining on Leg 2, and holds a lead of 237 nm over second placed Zbigniew Gutkowski (POL). -- http://www.velux5oceans.com/ SAILING SHORTS * Long Beach, CA (January 9, 2011) - Top-ranked Boston College won the Collegiate division and Point Loma dominated the high school finish line---no surprises in the 26th annual Rose Bowl Regatta, but it wasn't as easy as that. Sailing their two-person CFJ dinghies outside off Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier instead of inside Alamitos Bay for the first time, the nation's largest combined competition tested 30 of the best college teams and the class of 54 of California's high school sailors before the best came to the top Sunday afternoon. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11106#11106 * The elapsed time record for the 811 mile Pineapple Cup Race set by Tom Hill's Titan 12 in the 2005 edition from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Montego Bay, Jamaica will be in serious jeopardy when this classic that starts February 5th. George David's Rambler 100 (ex Speedboat) heads the current list of 22 entrants that includes IRC maxi boats Beau Geste, Bella Pita and Donnybrook looking for line honors and a record breaking run to beat current record of 2d, 10h, 24m, 42s. Pineapple Cup Race website: http://montegobayrace.com * When the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race commences from the UK in August 2011, the fleet of 10 Clipper 68s and their crews will embark on an adventure that covers 40,000 miles, 15 races, and 13 countries. It will also be the third and final Clipper race for the Ed Dubois designed boats as a new fleet which will be delivered for the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Yacht Race. The Clipper 70 is the third generation of Clipper racing yacht and has been designed by renowned naval architect Tony Castro. -- Details: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/index.php/race_news/?item=12414 LEWMAR/NAVTEC DAY AT KEY WEST RACE WEEK It will be Lewmar/Navtec day at Key West Race Week on Tuesday, January 18! Successful competitors will receive Lewmar prizes, while visitors to the venue can try their hand at the Lewmar Grinding Competition on the Lewmar/Navtec stand. Come and meet the Lewmar/Navtec Team who is there to provide technical support and to demonstrate the latest products throughout the week. Products featured include the Lewmar EVO Winch Range, the new HTX Block Range, and Navtec hydraulic controls including the new System X Control Panel. For more product information, click on http://www.lewmar.com FREE CLASSIFIED ADS The Scuttlebutt Classified Ads provide a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. Here are recent ads: For Sale - * Beneteau First 36.7 Class Mainsail *Ocean Alexander 46 Sedan * USA 11 - STARS & STIPES IACC Now Hiring - * Sailing, Boating, & Windsurfing Instructors Oakland, CA * Rocky Hill School Sailing Coach -Rhode Island * Talentcoach Laser - The Netherlands View/post ads here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/classified_ads GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Robert Bausch: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 3253) What is it with this guy Tom Ehman, is he trying to jinx the America's Cup being in San Francisco? Now that we feel good that it is, he seems to be trying everything he can to cast doubt on it happening, complete with sly comments like "... if, for any reason, the deal with San Francisco falls apart...". Doesn't he get it, that the Cup is going to be in the City? => Curmudgeon's Comment: I think we're all eager for the America's Cup to move forward, and I agree that comments like those don't help. * From David Redfern (re, Paul Henderson's comment in Scuttlebutt 3253) Many years ago, I was on a 12m in the Solent, and the crew was racing hard alongside the monster J Boat Velsheda. We had, as a guest, Derek Bell, multi winner of the Le Mans 24hr race and the elite of world racing drivers. The 12 was being pushed very hard and I feared something would go bang, which it did like a gunshot. Derek's face was alight; he said that was amongst most exciting things he'd done. I reminded him we were probably travelling at no more than 18mph. He was speechless! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "There's no such word as 'can't'. I hear it too much from young people: 'I can't do it.' You can. In the Sail Training Association, which I helped establish, the first thing we did when they signed up was send them up the mast. It was frightening but it wasn't dangerous, although they didn't know that. It was important they overcame their fears." -- Sir Robin Knox-Johnston (GBR), who in 1969 was the first to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe, http://tinyurl.com/RKJ-CO SPONSORS THIS WEEK Quantum Sails - APS - North Sails - West Marine - Lewmar Atlantis WeatherGear - IYRS - Ullman Sails Morris Yachts - North U - Mount Gay Rum Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
