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SCUTTLEBUTT 2699 - Thursday, October 9, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. LISTENING TO THE SAILORS (Excerpt from a story posted on The Daily Sail subscription website) Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad has instigated a gathering of the clans this coming Sunday, the day after the teams set sail for Cape Town, in order to brainstorm the future of the event as well as to engender interest and dialogue. Those attending are primarily sailors or team representatives from all walks of the professional sailing community - existing Volvo teams, America's Cup teams, the French Open 60 and former ORMA teams along with industry heavyweights such as OC boss Mark Turner. Interestingly the conference is focusing on sailors and their input. "We need to listen to the sailors," Frostad tells us. "The sponsors are very important, no doubt about it, and we have brought a lot of sponsors, who are not in the race, down to Alicante already just to showcase the race to them, because sailing needs to be showcased and there are certain CEOs out there from big corporations who have never heard about it, they have barely know about the sport." Frostad believes that one of the keys to the success of his event is ensuring that all the top sailing heroes - the Coutts, Cayards, Daltons, Spithills, Kosteckis, etc - are clamoring to take part in the Volvo Ocean Race and a principle aim of his is finding out how to make this happen. "It's the same with all events - 'if he is there and he is there, then I have to be there'. We want to find out what it takes to create that effect so that most people are interested in being here." -- www.thedailysail.com * PUMA Sailing has partnered with Bladerider International to showcase a duo of fully PUMA-branded foiling Moths at all 11 Volvo Ocean Race Stopover cities. Crewed by world class Moth sailors, the mini 'il mostros' will provide entertainment for spectators as they blast around the harbour each day in every port. Lifting out of the water on their hydrofoils in just five knots of winds the moths can achieve speeds of over 25 knots in 20 knots of breeze. -- www.pumaoceanracing.com * Team Delta Lloyd is back on the water and sailing four days after their yacht's hull was damaged during the in-port race on Saturday. Ger O'Rourke's preparations for Saturday's first leg start were dealt an untimely blow on Alicante Bay when Team Russia speared bow-first into Delta Lloyd during the start of the second race. It left a sizeable puncture hole towards the back end of the hull on the starboard side, but, after an intensive repair operation, the boat returned to the water at 0930 this morning for a two-hour sail. http://www.volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2008/october/news-update/index.aspx AN INSTANT CLASSIC The Louis Vuitton Pacific Series has doubled in size, with the addition of two race boats loaned by the BMW Oracle Racing team permitting an entry of 12 teams. Eleven teams have already entered the international match racing event and all but two have already paid entry fees. There is only one racing slot remaining. "Thanks to the kind offer of BMW Oracle to lend two fully-equipped race boats we are able to expand the entry list to 12 boats," said Louis Vuitton spokesman Bruno Troublé. The two yachts, USA 87 and USA 89 will be shipped from Valencia, Spain to Auckland, New Zealand where the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will take place from January 31 to February 14, 2009. The American boats will join the Emirates Team New Zealand yachts NZL 92 and NZL 84 to provide two pairs of boats for match racing. Troublé said that the Italian team Mascalzone Latino had also spontaneously offered its boats for the series but the organizers had chosen the American boats because of similarities in their design. "Given the widespread support for the race, we think the LV Pacific Series will be an 'instant classic' and an important new date on the sailing calendar," said Russell Coutts, BMW Oracle Racing's CEO/Skipper. "We thank event sponsor Louis Vuitton and Bruno Troublé, and Emirates Team New Zealand for their vision and support, and we look forward to seeing all of the great racing teams on the water early next year." The following teams have officially entered: . Emirates Team New Zealand . K Challenge (France) . Mascalzone Latino (Italy) . BMW Oracle Racing (USA) . China Team (China) . Team French Spirit (France) . Australia First (Australia) . Team Shosholoza (Republic of South Africa) Three more teams have entered, but will announce their participation at a later date PICTURE-POSTCARD DAY BMW Oracle Racing got a picture-postcard day and a nice breeze on Tuesday as it began the second phase of testing aboard the massive trimaran that might be used in the next America's Cup. "It was a really nice day for sailing in San Diego," tactician John Kostecki said after the triple-hulled boat, which measures 90 feet by 90 feet, returned to its berth around sunset. "We had like 16 to 18 knots of wind, which is pretty unusual for around here." Kostecki said the boat reached speeds of 22 to 23 knots. "We weren't even pushing it," he said. "We weren't really full-on, then, either. I think normally in that condition we could get it up a lot faster, up to 28 or 30 knots." It's such a high-performance boat that the sailors wear helmets and life vests, which aren't normally part of the apparel for America's Cup crews. "It makes me feel a lot more comfortable," said Kostecki, who likens the crew to test pilots. "I thought about it a couple of times today, 'Well, I'm glad I've got this gear on.' " Even with all the time, effort and an estimated $10 million that have gone into it, the trimaran might not get the chance to sail for the oldest trophy in international sports. -- Excerpt from an Associated Press story by Bernie Wilson. Full story: http://xrl.us/os77e MARK YOUR CALENDAR Please come join us at J World San Diego's Grand Opening of our new location and 20th Anniversary Celebration! On Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, special events will include: Tour of the new office, the J/80, J/105 & J/120, Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments, complimentary J/80 demonstration sails and Learn to Sail lectures, Door prizes with a chance to win a full year Captain's level Sailing club membership, Club member appreciation gifts, and a last chance to sign up for classes at our discounted rate! Stop by 2240 Shelter Island Drive, Suite 202 San Diego, Ca 92106 or call 619-224-4774 with any questions. http://www.jworldsandiego.com WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR With only one match remaining in the Round Robin, Ben Ainslie's (GBR) Team Origin, Ian Williams' (GBR) Team Pindar, and Johnie Berntsson's (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team are the only three teams of 24 which have definitely qualified for the next Quarter-Final stage at the King Edward VII Gold Cup presented by Argo Group. The top two teams from each group move on to the Quarter finals and the third and fourth place finishers in each group sail off in a 'Repechage' round robin on Thursday afternoon for their second chance to win one of the last two Quarter final slots. Following the Quarter-finals on Friday, winners move into the Semi-Finals on Saturday and the top two go to the Finals on Sunday. Among those in contention are the three French teams - Mathieu Richard's French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit, Sebastien Col's French Match Racing Team/K Challenge, and Damien Iehl's French Match Racing Team - as well as Andrew Horton (USA), Keith Swinton (AUS), and Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing Team. And if they win in their final matches, other contenders in the Repechage include Torvar Mirsky (AUS) and his Mirsky Racing Team, David Perry (USA), and Mattias Rahm (SWE) and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team. - Sail- World website: full story: http://xrl.us/os9mu Official websites: www.bermudagoldcup.com/ and www.worldmatchracingtour.com/ ON THE RED CARPET The curmudgeon got lucky last night. Somehow, my seats at the world premiere of Disney's Morning Light movie were right across the aisle from the young crew who sailed the TP52 on the Transpac Race. What a hoot! It was no surprise that the 500 invited guests at the premiere -- many of whom have logged many hundreds of offshore miles -- absolutely loved this film. But it was the upbeat, spontaneous reactions from the members of the Morning Light crew that left me with the evening's most indelible impression. Talking with Morning Light coaches Robbie Haines, Stan Honey and big Mike Howard during the reception prior to the screening left no doubt that they all held very high opinions of each of these young men and women. Watching the reactions of these team members during the film gave me a far better understanding why their coaches feel that way. What a great bunch of kids they seem to be, and Disney's masterfully edited documentary certainly captured the full gamut of their emotions during this life-altering adventure. Did I like the film? You bet I did! And I'm also very sure that Scuttlebutt readers will enjoy it every bit as much as I did. Will the film have 'legs' outside of the sailing community? I have no idea, but Roy Disney certainly has a very positive outlook on that subject. One thing I am sure about -- Roy and Leslie Disney have presented the sailing community with a true treasure. -- The Curmudgeon * To read Craig Leweck's film review of Morning Light published in Scuttlebutt 2691: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6473 * TiVo Time: If you missed Wednesday evening's 60-minute ESPN2 special that dealt with Morning Light crew selection, it's on again Thursday at 9 PM Pacific Time. TONNAGE Last Saturday there was a collision between the Nordic 40 Stand By and Maltese Falcon on San Francisco Bay. The smaller boat plowed into the 289-ft yacht's starboard beam, damaging a bit of the hull and rail. The top of the mast also punched a hole in one of Falcon's sails. As for the smaller boat, a big chunk was taken out of her bow. We haven't been able to locate the skipper of Stand By for comment, but (owner Tom) Perkins posted his version of what happened on photographer Peter Lyons' website to accompany the many photos Lyons captured of the incident. It reads as follows: "A few minutes before this photo sequence was taken, the Falcon had turned to port, to give the right of way to the smaller yacht, which was to leeward on the starboard tack. The Stand By was originally on a roughly reciprocal course to that of the Falcon. Prior to the photos shown here, Stand By was bearing away, and the two yachts were on safe courses to pass roughly with a distance of 200 feet separation. After Stand By had sailed past the Falcon's bow, the smaller vessel suddenly rounded up, possibly to tack in order to follow the Falcon, when she lost control. With her main sheeted hard in, the smaller boat was unable to bear away to avoid a collision. A San Francisco Bay Pilot was on the Falcon's bridge overseeing the Falcon's course at all times. The pilot is also an experienced sailor and sailboat owner. Because of the Falcon's tonnage, a licensed pilot is required whenever the yacht is underway, approaching, or inside the Bay. The Stand By did not stop after the collision. The Falcon furled her sails and pursued the 40-footer under power, in order to determine her name and registration number. The pilot radioed the U.S. Coast Guard, which intercepted Stand By and boarded her. The accident was caused by Stand By's sudden change of course, which was much too quick to permit the Falcon to respond. The Falcon sustained damage to hull, capping rail, superstructure and main lower topsail, but fortunately there were no injuries to persons aboard either vessel." "We spoke to others who were aboard Falcon, such as Tad Lacey, who has been sailing and racing the Bay for more than 50 years, and they were dumbfounded at what happened. Lacey and the others said the boats were passing with no problem until Stand By suddenly luffed up. "We sailed aboard Falcon the next day, and can confirm that many small boat skippers seemed intent on getting as close as possible to Falcon -- even if it meant crossing a short distance in front of her bow with a backwinded genoa or sailing on a reciprocal course. Please folks, give a little room. Besides, the view is even better from several hundred feet away." -- Excerpt from a story by Richard Spindler posted with pictures on the Latitude 38 website: http://xrl.us/os823 GOING BIG IN THE LITTLE ENSENADA RACE In Southwestern Yacht Club's 2008 Little Ensenada Race, 93 competitors headed south Saturday from San Diego to go racing and maybe enjoy a taco south of the border. Ullman Sails customers claimed top spots in several divisions, including Jack Taylor's SC-50 "Horizon" which took top honors with a repeat victory in PHRF-1. John Laun's "Caper" finished first in the J/120 one-design fleet. P.K. and Vance Edwards' "Wind Dancer" won PHRF-4, and David Baer's Catalina 30 "Casamar" beat the PHRF-5 division by almost 30 minutes! All were fully powered by Ullman Sails. Invest in your performance. Visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com SAILING SHORTS * Heavy medal in Annapolis "I'll bring myself and my medal," says Zach Railey, America's best Finn sailor and Olympic silver medalist who will roll into Annapolis, Md., this weekend for an exclusive presentation at the U.S. Sailboat Show. The public is invited to come and hear how this Olympic star emerged from the cauldron of tricky winds and currents off Qingdao with a medal in hand. Attendance is free and boat show entry is not required. Location: Annapolis Marriot Waterfront Hotel, Sunday, Oct. 12, at 12:00 p.m. * Only four spots remain open to fill the limit of 40 boats for the Del Rey Yacht Club's International Race Series to Puerto Vallarta next January 31. And those who sign up by October 31 for the 20th biennial event, presented by Corum Swiss Timepieces, will get a $200 discount on their entry fees. In the event's new format of four races in one, the object is to provide serious racers an opportunity to compete between layovers at Turtle Bay, Magdalena Bay and Cabo San Lucas for as many legs as they choose to sail. -- http://www.pv09.com/ * Ethanol-laden gasoline, dubbed "E-10" for its 10% ethanol content, is now commonplace at marina fuel docks. The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) recommendations that boat owners stop at the fuel dock and top off the tank before hauling out, leaving it nearly full with just a little room for expansion to ensure that spring commissioning will go smoothly. That's because E-10 can phase separate, or form two separate solutions in the gas tank - water and fuel - over a long winter storage period. Once this happens, the engine may not run and internal damage can occur. -- http://www.BoatUS.com * The RC 44's managed to complete two more flights in the Friuli Venezia Giulia RC44 Cup on Wednesday. BMW Oracle Racing (Larry Ellison) Cro-A-Sail, Ceeref and Artemis are the winners of the day. However, with only three flights completed the contest is not valid. The fleet regatta starts tomorrow. -- www.rc44.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are a few of the events that are coming up: Oct 10-17 - Fall Flotilla Sail with Sailing Rally - Las Vegas, NV Oct 10-12 - Old Man Of The Sea - Fort Worth, TX Oct 11-12 - STC's Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta - Larchmont, NY View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Scott Ridgeway: I don't envy the task of the Rolex Yachtsman of the Year judges -- there were a lot of outstanding performances in 2008. First, there was the incredible Etchells campaign that Bill Hardesty launched in 2007 which culminated in a 2008 Etchells World Championship in Chicago last June. That was followed by Zack Railey's rise for relative obscurity on the international Finn circuit to winning a Silver Medal for Team USA in Qingdao. And then there is the sentimental favorite, Nick Scandone, who not only defeated the best of the SKUD 18 sailors at the Paralympics -- he fought off an even tougher battle with ALS to bring home a Gold Medal. And you can't forget Paul Foerster who won both US Sailing's O'Day Championship and then the 2008 Sunfish World Championship. But there is one other player who can't be overlooked by the judges - Terry Hutchinson. With no America's Cup activity taking place this year, the best of the World's professional sailors were all gathered in the Mediterranean for the TP52 MedCup circuit. Hutchinson had the daunting task of putting together a new boat, a new crew and directing the never-ending sail development program as he functioned as both skipper and helmsman of Quantum Racing. This team got better with each regatta and won the 2008 MedCup with unprecedented ease . against the best sailors in the world. I think this may be the year that US Sailing finally gives Terry a new watch. * From David Foscarini, Scarborough, ON, Canada: I was lucky enough to see the Morning Light movie Saturday Oct 4. I highly recommend the movie to anyone who knows anything about sailing or has any aspirations to big boat sailing. I think if we get enough sailors to see the movie they will tell their non-sailing friends to see the movie, then the movie will be a success and sailing in general benefits. So see it and tell your friends! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION I got a lot of exercise in the last few years . . . just getting over the hill. Special thanks to at J World San Diego and Ullman Sails. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
