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SCUTTLEBUTT 3690 - Thursday, October 4, 2012Scuttlebutt 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: Ullman Sails and Atlantis WeatherGear. A DIFFERENT ERA - HOW IT USED TO BE By Paul Newell, Sailmaker, Isle of Wight When I was growing up we had almost free range on the sea. My father (a boat builder and long shoreman) put the limitations down by saying "Stay in sight. If you can't see me then I can't see you. And only sail the distance you can comfortably row back from and be back before it's dark" (note: the penalties were tough and rigorously enforced...no boating for a week) With that advice we learnt to row and learnt to row well. This gave us a decent range to play in, in almost all weather conditions. Gale force and upwards off shore winds were always noted and we stayed inshore but gale force and upwards onshore were always looked forward to. If we could get the boats out through the surf then play we did. All day. As a result big seas and heavy winds don't frighten me but it taught me huge respect for the power of the elements and I never take the sea for granted. This has stood me in good stead over the years in both racing and cruising. Big boats and small. But none of this "play" experience was under any form of instruction. We learnt how to be self sufficient and always got ourselves back home under our own steam and on time. As a result we all learnt how to swim, sail, row, fish, paddle, dive, not get sun burnt, drive with an outboard, paint, varnish, race, surf and, above all, have fun. The mates I learnt to do all this with are still mates today, some fifty years later. This also means we have lots of memories and lots of tricks to teach our kids and their mates too. This nannying of kids today is not good. I'm not suggesting that they go feral but does everything they do have to so regimented and "by the book" so that they all get a piece of paper to say that they can do it? It means that they can do it "by the book" but probably without the "play" knowledge would not be able to get themselves out of trouble when they get past their comfort zone. And I suspect their comfort zone is not much past a force three. Plowing along with a spinnaker up, in far too much wind, waiting for the inevitable nose-dive/broach/capsize was always one of the best things and looked on to by the old folk (parents etc.) with amusement. They, in the safe knowledge that we knew how to fix it when it broke. I feel this is all lost on the young of today with too many people trying to get all the kids up to the same standard at the expense of natural talent. Let the reins off a bit and see what happens. I'm sure that natural talent will come to the surface without the system coming to pieces. Source: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14586#14586 ITALIANS ELIMINATED FROM MATCH RACING San Francisco (October 3, 2012) - Racing at the America's Cup World Series San Francisco got underway today with seven races in the qualifying round of the match racing championship. With the wind gusting over 20 knots and creating a nasty chop on San Francisco Bay, eight of the eleven teams competed in an elimination round to determine who would advance to the Quarter Finals. Already pre-seeded was Artemis Racing - White (Terry Hutchinson), Oracle Team USA Coutts (Russell Coutts), and Oracle Team USA Spithill (Jimmy Spithill). Joining the pre-seeded teams will be: Artemis Racing - Red (Nathan Outteridge) Emirates Team New Zealand (Dean Barker) Energy Team (Loick Peyron) J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie) Team Korea (Peter Burling) Eliminated teams: Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper) Luna Rossa Swordfish (Iker Martinez) China Team (Phil Robertson). Quarterfinal Pairings for Thursday Thursday (12:25 pm PDT): Team Korea vs. Artemis Racing - White Thursday (12:42 pm PDT): Energy Team vs. Emirates Team New Zealand The daily broadcast on Thursday (16:30-18:30 PDT) will include only fleet racing for all 11 teams. Full report: http://media.americascup.com/pressreleases/?id=953 Race schedule: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-100312 Tips on how to follow the AC World Series in San Francisco (Oct. 3-7)... * LIVE: broadcast commentary can be heard on marine VHF channel 20. * MOBILE: the 'AC Race Tracker' app by CupExperience brings the LiveLine data to both Android and iPhone mobile devices. * BROADCAST: 35 networks throughout the world are carrying the races. In the U.S., commentators Gary Jobson and Todd Harris will host the YouTube broadcast Thursday through Saturday, moving over to NBC to host the 'Super Sunday' final races. BEHIND THE SCENES: Scuttlebutt's favorite kiwi Michelle Slade caught up with Emirates Team New Zealand' Dean Barker, where she succeeded in getting the stoic skipper to crack a smile. She posted her report on Sailing World: http://tinyurl.com/SW-100312 FIND THE RED & BLUE AT THE ANNAPOLIS BOAT SHOW In Annapolis this weekend? Headed to the U.S. Sailboat Show? Point yourself towards the red and blue on Dock F! The Ullman Sails team will be on hand to highlight our latest products, answer questions ranging from cloth durability to sail handling systems, and discuss ways to optimize your sail inventory. And the best part - a firsthand look at the attentive and knowledgeable customer service that sets us apart from our competitors. Our local experts will be at the stand through the weekend, including Jerry Latell, Justin Ailsworth and our newest loft owner, Matt Simington. See you there! http://www.ullmansails.com ANOTHER AGENDA The America's Cup tends to attract two types of teams: those that can legitimately contend and those with another agenda. The China Team has another agenda. "I want to help resurrect the sailing culture that has been lost (in China) since about 150 years ago," said Wang Chao-yong, president and CEO of China Equity Group, who sponsors the team. "I think the spirit of the America's Cup is what China needs today as a society. The concept of teamwork, entrepreneurship, innovation, that's what China needs right now." "We have had our America's Cup team, as well as the Olympic sailing in Qingdao, the China Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race stopover, and all of these have helped to raise the profile of sailing in China," said Wang. "All of this has meant more public interest in sailing," he added. "People are now looking at sailing as a leisure activity, a lifestyle choice, and this is something new and growing very quickly. "We have decided to take a longer-term view. Instead of working with international talent just to get better results now, we are looking to incubate our homegrown talent, and the Red Bull Youth America's Cup fits into that strategy very well." -- Full report: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/2012-10/03/content_15795941.htm EDITOR'S NOTE: It should be noted that in the AC World Series events, the China Team has mostly worked with international talent that have not delivered better results. However, two Chinese sailors are onboard their five man roster for the ACWS event this week. MINOPRIO IS BACK Hamilton, Bermuda (October 3, 2012) - Former Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT) Champion, Adam Minoprio, went unbeaten on the second day of racing at the Argo Group Gold Cup in Bermuda, an event he finished second at in 2008 and 2009. Now he is hoping to finish with a clean sweep on Thursday to secure the first pick of Quarter Final opponents. Minoprio (NZL) Argo Group BlackMatch won the Tour in 2009, becoming the youngest ever skipper to do so, aged just 24. Having spent some time away from match racing, sailing in the Volvo Ocean Race, he returned to the premier international series at the recent Match Race France and now feels that he is starting to get back in tune with the standard needed to compete at the highest level. "In the two years we've been out the game has changed and the level has built so last week at Match Race France with the conditions there, it was extremely tough," said Minoprio. "This week we've had some beautifully light air conditions and the IOD's with their long keels put a lot on the match racing tactics." The Kiwi is on top of Qualifying Group 2 with a 5-1 record, while Taylor Canfield (ISV) Canfield Racing continued his momentum on the other side of the draw, establishing a 6-0 record to be on top of Group 1. Qualifying will continue Thursday, with the top four teams in each group advancing to the Quarter Finals. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/WMRT-100312 KIDS ARE BACK: The Renaissance Re Junior Gold Cup begins Thursday, which will see 16 elite international competitors from 15 countries along with 22 Bermudians battling in Optimists on the Great Sound. The event is now celebrating its 10th year, with past participants Lance Fraser of Bermuda, Taylor Canfield of the USVI and Nicolai Sehested now competing as adults in the Argo Group Gold Cup for some of the $100,000 in prize money and a spot for their name on the King Edward VII Gold Cup. -- Full story: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14583#14583 PROMOTION THROUGH PARTNERSHIP By Martha Stewart I have become very interested in The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a wonderful small public high school located on Governors Island (in Upper New York Bay just off the southern tip of Manhattan Island), founded by Murray Fisher. The school partners with New York City's maritime community and uses New York Harbor's marine resources to create an extraordinary public high school experience that instills in its students the skills and ethic of environmental stewardship. Harbor School's mission is to graduate students prepared for success in college and who have earned a technical credential in one of the six marine fields: Aquaculture, Marine Biology Research, Marine Systems Technology, Ocean Engineering, Professional SCUBA diving, and Vessel Operations. Last Thursday I had the thrilling opportunity of sailing in the second annual Harbor School Regatta to benefit the Harbor School. Hannah Swett, one of my Godchildren, who comes from a very famous sailing family, invited me to sail with her and her mother, Ellie Burgess, upon the historic America's Cup 12-meter boat, Intrepid. I first met Ellie many years ago when were neighbors in New York City. I had many exciting sails with her and her family and learned what I know about sailing from them. Hannah's sailing credentials include Collegiate all American, multiple world and national champion, Rolex Yachts Woman of the Year, America's Cup Sailor, and was nominated for Rolex World Sailor of the Year. Please enjoy these photos of the Regatta taken by photographer Lori Hawkins: http://tinyurl.com/MB-100312 EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, this is written by THAT Martha Stewart. DISCOVER: THE BEST SAILING SEASON There's something about sailing in the Fall in New England. Cooler temperatures, fewer boats, more consistent breeze and better light all combine to make it our favorite time of year to get out on the water. If you love Fall sailing too, make sure you've got the right clothes for it - gear that will keep you warm, dry and nimble like the Resolute jacket and pant and the new Brimbles fleece sweater. For chillier days, check out the new Challenger insulated jacket, available at your local dealer, the Atlantis website or at this week's US Sailboat Show in Annapolis. Discover the joys of Fall sailing. Discover your Atlantis. http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com SAILING SHORTS * Rovinj, Croatia (October 3, 2012) - Valentin Zavadnikov and Leonid Lebedev's Synergy Russian Sailing Team today claimed the 2012 match racing title at the Adris RC44 World Championship, in a nail biting finale that went to the wire on the waters off Rovinj, Croatia. With helm Ed Baird (USA), the series extended over five regattas - in Puerto Calero, Canary Islands; Cascais, Portgual; the Austria Cup on Lake Traunsee, Marstrand, Sweden, and Croatia. The fleet racing for both the 2012 season prize as well as the beginning of the Adris RC44 World Championship starts Thursday. -- Full report: http://www.rc44.com/news/view/match_racing_championship_goes_to_the_wire * It was announced that the Luna Rossa Challenge 2013 team will launch their AC72 catamaran on October 26 in Auckland, New Zealand. Additionally, the Artemis Racing team expects to be sailing their AC72 in San Francisco by the end of October. * CLARIFICATION: In Scuttlebutt 3689 it was reported that the gold medal won by Helena Lucas (singlehanded event) at the 2012 Paralympic Games was Great Britain's first ever Paralympic sailing medalist. This information came from the International Sailing Federation, and while it is technically correct, a British team led by Andrew Cassell did win the gold medal in the 'mixed crewboat' event at the 1996 Paralympics Games when sailing was a demonstration sport. Results: http://tinyurl.com/PG-100312 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: * Wanted - NAYRU insignia * Pearson True North 33 (2005) for sale * Yachting Magazine Editor required in Sydney, AUS 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 Fredrick Roswold: Not going to build a combined base because the looky-lous won't walk that far (as reported in Scuttlebutt 3689)? This America's Cup is already a fiasco with only three boats and is only one more reneged agreement or two crashes away from becoming a disaster. When the dust has settled, the Cup decided, the accounts totaled and losses written off, and all the fans turned back to their tubes to watch roller derby, then maybe it will be time for another reinvention We need to take the AC out of the realm of stupid pandering and puts it back where it belongs, a pinnacle of sailing that happens once in a while, and that sailors, and maybe only sailors, can appreciate. EDITOR'S NOTE: Following the report in Scuttlebutt 3689 on how the America's Cup event organizers have scrapped the plan to keep all the team bases together, we received emails from both AC Event Authority (ACEA) and Emirates Team New Zealand (ETNZ). The former is restating the explanation we carried in our report, while the later is now recruiting the City to intervene. "We hope authorities are able to step in and hold organizers accountable for this further retreat which is symptomatic of a continuing pattern," said ETNZ managing director Grant Dalton. Complete statements here: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14570 * From Roger Baker: I must take the dissenting view on Glenn McCarthy's (Scuttlebutt 3688) opinion. I have just come to the end of my daughter's involvement with youth sailing. She just graduated college this spring after sailing on her own since 6-7 years in the Opti. She is currently figuring out the next step, grad school, work, etc. At this time she is sailing and doing some coaching. She along with others her age are doing the same thing. It seems to me there are many more involved now than when I was her age, some 35 + years ago. Times have changed. We no longer have the time for the every weekend multi-class regattas which I participated in on Great South Bay of Long Island. These events were very "multi-generation friendly". Our leisure time is more limited now and we must get as much out of it as we can. Hence more class regattas, both youth and adult. There are many current examples of multi-generation sailing. Take the Lightening and Thistle classes. Both of these classes have sailors from preteen to "older than dirt". I was at Cedar Point in CT a couple of years ago for the Thistle Nationals where the age range spanned was from 10 to 70 years old. Most of the people I know who are concerned (negatively) with youth in sailing are "older than dirt", have not been involved in youth sailing for decades (except for the discussions with like minded geriatrics at the bar), or are sailors who have never been involved in youth sailing. -- Forum, read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14582#14582 * From Herb Motley: Another element of sailing silos (Scuttlebutt 3688) is the approach to the Racing Rules. And I'm not complaining about the various changes over the past 15 years, here, though the attempt to make rules uniform for fleet racing and match racing and team racing don't reflect the different nature of those three events. Much more important is the approach to the rules as an aggressive tactic which has now crept up from the college ranks to the "adults" we find on the course today. The RRS evolved from the Rules of the Road designed to avoid collisions and damage to boats and people. The old fashioned idea was to sail your boat fast on the best course to get there before your competitors. The rules were there to keep you out of trouble. Too often today, the rules are used as a tactical weapon whereby you place your boat in position to cause your competitor to foul you and take a penalty, giving you an advantage. This frequently is combined with loud, sometimes abusive, verbal hails to establish the point of law. Is this fun? Does this promote enjoyment of a day on the water sailing against other boats? Does this attitude have anything to do with fleets which had 30 boats on the line shrinking to 3? -- Forum, read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14581#14581 * From Antonio F. Sanpere: In St. Croix we encourage boats to take kids onboard during regattas. This past March, Stan Joines bought my J/36 and we raced with six teenagers and won both the Rolex in St. Thomas and the BVI International regatta. The look in their faces on the podium was out of this world. The crowd was non-stop applauding. Stan is a high school teacher and has always raced with teens from his school. We are doing our bit to continue with this great example. During the international regatta, we allow one teen in any boat not counting towards crew/ weight maximum. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Coffee keeps me busy until it's acceptable to drink wine. 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