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SCUTTLEBUTT 2132 - July 7, 2006
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
SHATTERED
4 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes and 54 seconds is the new time to beat for the
North Atlantic crossing, as this is the time set by Bruno Peyron and his
eleven crewmen Thursday evening on board the maxi-catamaran Orange II. With
an average speed of 28.02 knots, Orange II had kept up an average speed of
almost 32 knots for the first three days, with the distance covered each day
never falling below 750 miles.
American Steve Fossett's record was beaten by 9hours, 4 minutes and 12
seconds. Steve Fossett has already congratulated the crew. “We received a
little message from Steve on Wednesday,” Bruno Peyron added, “as pleasant as
ever, each time we break one of his records, he’s such a decent chap. I’m
joking, because he’s pleased it was us. In any case, someone had to smash it
one day!” Regarding the damage to the rudder, Bruno replied, “We lost
between 6 an 8 hours with this incident with the rudder. It gives our
friends and enemies a bit of a chance to try and beat us… and it will give
us another chance to come back and try again, even if it wasn’t deliberate.”
Given the rudder damage, Bruno strongly believes that the record will soon
be less than four days.
- http://www.orange-sailing-team.com/en
CASE CLOSED
In Scuttlebutt Issue 2123 (June 26, 2006), it was reported that Stuart
Childerley and his crew Simon Russell and Roger Marino had won the 2006
Etchells European Championship and British Nationals. In the same issue,
there was a letter submitted that claimed that Childerley and crew had won
both events using a previously ruled 'illegal' carbon tiller. Since then,
Scuttlebutt has published a number of letters on this subject, with comments
ranging from cheating to the ambiguities of the class rules. Thankfully,
Scuttlebutt has now received a letter from Stuart, who will get the final
word on this debate, wherein any future comments can be posted in the
Scuttlebutt Forums.
To read Stuart’s letter to Scuttlebutt:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/SChilderley/
YOUTH WORLDS
US Sailing will send 10 members of the US Youth World Team to represent the
United States at the 2006 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in
Weymouth and Portland, Great Britain. Home of the 2012 Olympic Sailing
Competition, the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will host
the regatta from July 12-21, 2006. "This is the most important international
youth event of the year," said Dean Brenner, Chairman of US Sailing's
Olympic Sailing Committee. "It’s the event where our best and brightest
young talent represents the U.S. on the world stage.”
More than 350 of the world's best young sailors from a record 64 nations
will compete for seven gold medals in the following classes: singlehanded
Laser (boys) and Laser Radial (girls), the doublehanded 420 (boys and
girls), the RS:X windsurfer (boys and girls), and multihull Hobie 16 (open).
The members of the 2006 US Youth World Team are:
- Girls Singlehanded: Stephanie Roble (East Troy, WI)
- Boys Singlehanded: Royce Weber (Surf City, NJ)
- Girls Doublehanded: Emily Dellenbaugh (Easton, CT) and Briana Provancha
(San Diego, CA)
- Boys Doublehanded: Michael Menninger (Costa Mesa, CA) and Nick Martin
(San Diego, CA)
- Open Multihull: Evan Miller (Panama City, FL) and Kyler Hast (Lynn Haven,
FL)
- Boys Windsurfer: James Sobeck (East Quogue, NY)
- Girls Windsurfer: Nancy Rios (Cocoa, FL)
The 2006 US Youth World Team will be accompanied by Team Leader David
Dellenbaugh (Easton, CT) and coaches Brett Davis (St. Petersburg, FL) and
Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Coronado, CA). For information on the 2006 Volvo
Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship: http://www.youthworlds.org
GOLDEN APPLES IN THE BASH TO THE ONION PATCH
UK-Halsey scored two “three-peats” plus one other gold performance in this
year’s Bermuda Race. Richard du Moulin, who won the doublehanded two
previous times, won again in IRC. Eduardo Salvati won the J/44 class under
ORR, for three-in-a-row. Henry Fretz sailed his Corby 41.5 to first, Class 8
IRC (but our UK Ultra sails shared his sailplan with others). Of course, we
had lots of other UK-Halsey sails out there and lots of very happy owners,
some just seconds short of victories. Congratulations to all: we’re honored
to have sailed with you. 800-253-2002 or http://www.ukhalsey.com
NO BEN
On Sunday 8th July, the 50th Finn Gold Cup will get underway in the
picturesque Adriatic port of Split in Croatia. With 108 entries from 29
countries entered for the regatta it will be the largest for 24 years as
well as perhaps the closest. In fact the class is guaranteed a new name on
the cup as no previous winner of one of the toughest events in yachting is
taking part, although the line-up includes a string of former European
Champions and Olympic medallists.
The absence of the current World Champion – and the winner of the last four
world championships – is considered by many to be a shame, but it may also
open up the competition enormously. Ben Ainslie (GBR) is sorry not to be
there to defend his title, but commitments with Emirates Team New Zealand
take priority. “I’m not competing this year as it is during a vital testing
time in Valencia with ETNZ. Like the rest of the team my focus has to be on
the AC next year. It’s hard to plan the future at the moment but the next
big regatta I intend to compete in is the 2007 Gold Cup.”
Commenting on the form of current sailors, he said, “From the outside it
looks as though Ed Wright (GBR), Dan Slater (NZL) and Emilios Papathansiou
(GRE) are the on-form sailors. Rafael Trujillo (ESP) has been training hard
here in Valencia and I expect the Croatians, especially Ivan
Kljakovic-Gaspic (CRO) and Marin Misura (CRO), to be strong on their home
waters. The class looks wide open at the moment so it is anyone’s for the
taking. I hope it is a great event and the best sailor comes out on top.
They will have to earn it in such a tight fleet!”
North American entrants are Derek Mess and Christopher Cook from Canada, and
Conrad Brown, Andras Nady, and Zach Railey from the USA. Event website:
http://www.jklabud.hr/2006/index.php?regata=finn&lang=eng
GOOD, BETTER, BEST…
What is Random Pairs Team Racing? As explained by Liz Hall, “Random Pairs
team racing is a series of 2 on 2 team races that pair teammates and
opponents randomly. You could race with one boat in one race and against
them the next. Hopefully, by the end of the day you'll have sailed with and
against almost everybody.” Liz forwarded the following report from Reid Van
Gorder, who provides his comments on Random Pair Team Racing event in
Newport, RI last weekend:
The use of superlatives requires at least three comparable items to be
grammatically correct, yet people insist on tossing around words like
widest, shiniest, and most delectable as if the rules of the English
language mean absolutely nothing. The nerve of these scofflaws, as they end
their sentences in prepositions and dangle participles like fish bait, is
likely ignored by all but the most neurotic of readers, namely me. However,
for the sake of my middle school English teacher who treated The Elements of
Style with as much reverence as the Bible, I would like to clarify the fact
that this year's 2-on-2 Random Pairs Team Race was the third annual and thus
qualifies for the superlative classification of "best ever."
Such an outrageous claim is easily backed by the fact that this was the
first year that races were not delayed due to a lack of wind. Instead, the
competitors were graced with a steady 12-18 knots of breeze that managed to
flip more than one boat and also caused some rather embarrassing collisions
(one of which involved the near decapitation of a member of the race
committee). With so much drama in the pre-start sequence, one can only
imagine the amount of suspense that developed at each of the four roundings
featured on the Digital-N course. Yet, the highlight of the day occurred
during a final best-of-three series that was used to break a tie for third
place and occurred directly offshore of the Bristol Yacht Club.
The sailing was certainly commendable, but the crowd's enthusiastic cheering
and heckling was what made the event memorable. For in that very moment it
became evident that regardless of the animosity that tends to develop
between an extremely competitive group of athletes, sailors are capable of
leaving the hostility on the water and greeting their opponents with the
light-hearted ribbing that can only fully develop in a familial setting. And
there we stood, a family of sailors all bonded by the simple belief that
drifting on the open sea is far preferable to any activity that can be found
on land; that sailing, in itself, is superlative. Results:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/july1results.htm
NEW CHALLENGES
Lowell North is an amazing man. He has won an Olympic gold medal and five
world championships in the elite Star class. He has skippered in the
America's Cup trials, triumphed in ocean races and spent five years sailing
around the world. Still, to many in the sailing world, North is best known
as the founder of the sailmaking conglomerate that bears his name. More than
a businessman, North was the engineer/visionary who revolutionized sail
design and the sport. So, you might think that North would be cutting back
and enjoying a leisurely life at the age of 76. Think again.
North last winter entered a partnership with Blair Francis and Larry Boline
to purchase a J-105 and seek the 2006 J-105 North American Championship.
“He's very competitive,” said Boline. “His intention is to win.” Shortly
after the San Diegans purchased Triple Play and moved the sloop into a
boatyard for modifications, Boline said he heard about the engineer North's
propensity for tinkering. “The boat is all marked up with grease paint,”
said Boline. “Lowell's got a million ideas ... things most of us can't even
understand.” - by Bill Center, Union-Tribune, full story:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20060704-9999-lz1s4boat.html
SUMMER VACATION FUN...
Going sailing, hiking, cycling, or shopping? Be sure to have a lightweight
waterproof breathable jacket for the fast changing weather. Team One Newport
has a great selection of jackets to suit you. Try the Musto Caribbean jacket
for men and women, or the Henri-Lloyd Breeze jacket for the guys and the
Axis jacket for women. Gill has the Coast-lite for men and women. They are
great gear pieces to carry with you all the time! And they come in women's
sizing!! Team One Newport is your source for the best sailing and outdoor
gear as well as active clothing! Call 800-VIP-GEAR for a catalog or visit
http://www.team1newport.com
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watching a Rhodes 33 yacht sink in the surf off of Newport Beach, CA is not
the kind of footage we hope for when choosing our weekly video, but this
remarkable film is must see, and shows how easily dreams can end when Mother
Nature plays hardball. If you have a video you would like to share, please
send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for
this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/#media
LOOPHOLE LAW
(July 5, 2006) A one-year "temporary" law that requires California residents
to keep yachts offshore for a full year to avoid paying state sales taxes
could be extended for another year, according to the e-newsletter Triton.
Chapter 226, which was set to expire June 30, would push the expiration date
for the law to June 30, 2007. The California legislature was to decide about
the extension late last week. Prior to the change in the law, California
required that residents purchasing a boat in the state had to keep the boat
out of state for 90 days or pay state and local taxes. Typically, many
Californians would take delivery of their boats 3 miles offshore, and then
keep their boats in Mexico or Washington state for 90 days before returning
to California. After that, they would be exempt from the tax. – IBI News,
http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20060605143209ibinews.html
SAILING SHORTS
* Thursday was a day off at the Women’s Yngling World Championship in La
Rochelle, France, where Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, and Victoria Rawlinson
(GBR) have a ten points lead over defending world champions Sally Barkow,
Carrie Howe and Debbie Capozzi (USA). Racing continues Friday and concludes
on Saturday. - http://tinyurl.com/jrpbn
* 189 entries have completed four races in the 2006 IODA North American
Championship being held July 3rd through July 11th 2006 in Ponce, Puerto
Rico. Sean Lee from Singapore currently leads Puerto Rico’s Iván Aponte,
with top American Taylor Lutz in fifth. -
http://optinam2006.com/results.html
* Portsmouth, RI (July 6, 2006) - US Sailing, the national governing body of
the sport, has announced its slate of nominees for its Board of Directors.
Starting October 19, the membership of US Sailing will have the opportunity
and responsibility to vote for its fellow members to serve them and the
organization for the coming year. In addition, the organization's Nominating
Committee has announced that Jim Capron (Annapolis, MD) has been nominated
to serve as President. This is the first time in the history of the
organization that members can elect the members of its Board of Directors.
Details: http://www.ussailing.org/BOD/election
* The eighth and final stage of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour, the
Locman Cup – Elba Island, is scheduled July 11-16 on Elba Island off Italy’s
Tuscan coast. - http://www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com
SAILING SWAPMEET
The Scuttlebutt Classifieds provide free listings for Boats and Gear For
Sale, a section to post things that you want (Boats/Gear/Jobs) and an area
for Job Openings. Recent listings include Morrelli & Melvin Design &
Engineering seeking an Engineer/Yacht Designer, Charleston Spar seeking a
sales and marketing professional, various KVH Quadro parts for sale, and
someone looking for a used Farr 40 spinnaker. Check all the listings at
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/classifieds
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 thought at the Scuttlebutt website:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi)
* From Jack Griffin (re, story in Issue 2131 about going to Valencia):
Thanks to Peter Brown… he got it exactly right about what is going on in
Valencia. I have been splitting my time between Valencia and my home near
Geneva since Act 4 in October 2004. The change in the city and especially
Port America's Cup has been fantastic. As for most of the Cup bashers - they
should try a couple of things:
1. Come to Valencia. Even to watch the training. But especially once the
racing starts up again in April '07 for Act 13, and through the Cup match.
See if Peter Brown's first person observations are on target.
2. Failing that, read a bit of Cup history, like "Temple to the Wind" about
Reliance and the 1903 Cup or "The America's Cup Races" by Stone, Talyor and
Robinson (out of print but easy enough to find on Amazon used books).
Scandinavian crews on "American" yachts, a Scot who became a US citizen and
as an "American" the winningest helmsman in Cup history (Charlie Barr),
lawyers, spies, saboteurs, and, of course, tycoons and money. Lipton Tea or
Red Bull, JP Morgan & Company or UBS. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même
chose.
3. If unable to come to Valencia and unwilling to learn a bit of history,
refrain from showing ignorance.
* From Chris Boome: (re Russell Coutts’ multihull comments) On a much more
local level (less $'s), I have also been bitten by the multi-hull bug. I
have recently sailed a few races on the new 24 foot Corsair Sprint. It is
simple, fast and not very expensive (about $50K), but loads of fun. Here in
San Francisco the multi hulls start last and it is real fun to fly past the
boats that started 15 minutes ahead of you after a half hour sailing. It's
getting harder and harder to justify the pain and suffering I must endure to
race my Laser.
* From Stevan Johnson: (re a letter in Issue 2131) Slow down a little there
Fred. There are a lot of Farr boats around the world and I've sailed on a
few of them and currently own one - White Cloud, a Cookson 12m built in NZ
in 1996 (Farr Design 336). Ten years of fairly constant racing in the
southern hemisphere and now around the Pacific NW. The boat has done Sydney
Hobart, Kenwood Cups, two Van Isle 360's, Swiftsures, and on and on. Nary a
creak or a grown. I have complete confidence in the boat when pounding up-
wind in 30 knots plus. Or surfing downhill in the same kind of breeze.
Great, solid boat. Oh, and its fun to cruise too!
* From Russell Bowler, President, Farr Yacht Design: I have been overwhelmed
by the support of knowledgeable people in the industry following the
publication of an interview with Gilles Ollier (Isssue 2126). It is
gratifying to receive such support from people who know the facts and know
the game. An engineer gets very little thanks from society when things work
(when did you last give thanks to an engineer when you crossed a bridge). I
have no issue with Gilles’ comments, as I don't think he was intentionally
trying to be derogatory, just a little clumsy with the English language.
Next time we meet we will have a good discussion, as I am sure we can learn
a lot from each other about why boats break.
However, your publication of a blogger’s uninformed rant in today's 'butt
(Letters Section, Issue 2131) is a sad reflection on how easy it is to get
an opinion published while cruising the Southern Hemisphere, pontificating
on issues of which the blogger has no real knowledge or right to comment. It
is more disturbing that you would choose to publish a note from this source.
Quite frankly, I am happy that this blogger will not go to sea in one of our
designs and wish him contentment as he floats around the oceans in his
Serendipity IOR 43. If he cares to contact me directly for discussion on our
work I would be happy to oblige. In the mean time we will continue to push
the frontiers and work at providing sailors with exciting high performance
boats and reliable structures.
Curmudgeon’s Comment: This thread has run its course in the newsletter. Any
further comments can be made in the Forums:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2715#2715
* From Jerry Norman: (Re Doran Cushing comments) It seems strange that
someone who is professing equal freedom to read or not read finds it
necessary to insult other legitimate information outlets, upstanding
businesses or those who may believe that global warming is still a theory
and not yet a scientific fact. If Mr. Cushing cannot provide objective
sailing commentary without revealing his bias at every turn then he maybe he
should find another outlet for his comments - perhaps in the "un-biased"
press he so proudly works for. Please keep SB sailing oriented.
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
Things are more like they are today than they ever have been before.
Special thanks to UK-Halsey and Team One Newport.
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