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SCUTTLEBUTT 2493 – December 11, 2007Scuttlebutt 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. MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE She has 27,000 miles to go, at about 5 miles an hour. A 43-year-old successful real estate broker from Mayo, Florida, Heather Neill will be both Captain and crew of her meticulously prepared 20 foot Flicka sailing yacht, FLIGHT OF YEARS. And, while most of the rest of the world is hung over this coming New Year’s morning, Heather will be embarking on her gradual sail around the world. Departing from Steinhatchee, Florida, her first landfall will be Isla Mujures, Mexico. Then through the Panama Canal and down the long ocean crossing to the Marquesas, she’ll probably be over a month out of sight of land. West across the long Indian Ocean, up through Muslim pirate territory to the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic and back home, she expects to spend about three years at sea. On what is motivating Neill to take on this adventure, she replies, “If you really have to ask ‘why’, you would probably never really understand my answer anyway. It’s just something I’ve got to do at this point in my life. Before it’s too late!” -- Read on: http://www.solo-sailor.com/Captain_Heather.htm FROM RAGS TO RICHES When you sail collegiately in California, the events are all BYOB, as in Bring Your Own Boat. But when you are a newly recognized team, and the only boat you have is a beater Flying Junior, you are not quite in the game. That was the situation of Santa Clara University, which despite being California's oldest-operating institution of higher education, saw its sailing club in only its second year as a recognized club sport at the school, and it was painfully under-equipped. Based in Redwood City, the SCU team had been surviving by borrowing boats from the neighboring Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation and Stanford University. However, that was before alumni Jim Diepenbrock heard of their situation. “When I found out that SCU now has a sailing club, and that they actually had to borrow Sanford’s hand-me-downs for practice,” said Diepenbrock. “A light bulb went off.” Diepenbrock, a third-generation SCU graduate along with all four of his siblings, presented the team with two brand-new, 13-foot college racing sailboats. The donation was made through the R. James Diepenbrock Foundation in honor of Jim’s father, a man who was “passionate about sailing and about Santa Clara University.” -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1208 BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) (Day 30 - December 10, 2007) The exertion of pushing an Open 60 through the Southern Ocean is becoming clear as the race leaders battle through near 40-knot winds and towering seas while accruing extreme boat speeds. Says leading skipper Jean-Pierre onboard Paprec-Virbac 2, "We are trying to make sure that everything is under control as it really is quite hard on the boat." Further back boats like Temenos II and Mutua Madrileña are facing closehauled wind angles that are providing much smaller daily mileage totals. Says Mutua Madrileña skipper Javier Sansó, “We have to go down to 45 south to find downwind conditions again. I don't know if you can imagine what a southerly wind in this part of the planet really means; the Southerly comes straight from the Antarctic; the outside air temperature is 9 degrees and the water 12, which rains down like piercing needles on our faces." Due to rudder damage on Sunday, Estrella Damm should be in Cape Town by Wednesday evening to make repairs in an effort to get the boat back onto the race course as quickly as possible. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com Positions at 18:00 GMT - Distance to leader (+gain/-loss since previous day) 1-Paprec-Virbac 2, Jean-Pierre Dick/ Damian Foxall, 16,772 mi DTF (+472) 2-Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain/ Jean-Luc Nélias, 117 mi DTL (-35) 3-Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson/ Andrew Cape, 201 (-77) 4-Delta Dore, Jérémie Beyou/ Sidney Gavignet, 413 (-98) 5-Temenos II, Dominique Wavre/ Michéle Paret, 830 (-178) 6-Mutua Madrilena, Javier Sanso Windmann/ Pachi Rivero, 1212 (-218) 7-Estrella Damm, Guillermo Altadill/ Jonathan McKee, 1461 (-505) 8-Educación sin Fronteras, Servane Escoffier/ Albert Bargues, 1955 (-232) Dropped out - PRB, Vincent Riou / Sébastien Josse (broken mast) * (Day 17 - December 10, 2007 - 17:50 UTC) With 14,551 miles remaining, the pace of Francis Joyon’s solo round the world record attempt continues to climb. His path across the Indian Ocean has dropped down to the 45-degree latitude, while his 24-hour speed average is up to 24.8 knots and 596.2 mile per day. Joyon’s advance over Ellen Macarthur’s record pace in 2005 has risen as well, now up 57 miles to 1,733. -- http://www.trimaran-idec.com THE NEW CAMET AGILITY SHORTS Tagged as the ultimate do-it-all design, the Camet Agility short is ideal for any seasonal outing with an aerobic component. In addition to the shorts breathable and versatile function, the two-tone shell features side pockets placed high for easy access when sailing. Cametflex ™ is 98% nylon and 2% CFlex double weave with 3 way mechanical stretch. The yarns are specifically processed to resist deformation. The resulting fabric has great stretch and no propensity to hold moisture, with super durable water repellency. See it at http://www.camet.com/?Click=645 SEVEN REASONS FOR A CAT FIGHT Noted blogger Tillerman of The Proper Course blog provides seven reasons why a cat fight would be good for the America's Cup. 1. Tradition A match sailed under the Deed of Gift would be more traditional. We have strayed a long way from the original concept of the Cup since the 1850's. The way it was supposed to work was that some rich old coot would write a posh letter to the New York Yacht Club essentially saying, "My boat's faster than your boat. Nah nah nah nah." The NYYC would accept the challenge by writing another posh letter saying effectively, "See you next July off Sandy Hook. Nah nah nah nah." The NYYC would then find some other rich old coot with a faster boat, meet the first rich old coot off Sandy Hook, crush him, and all would be well with the world. So let's get back to that tradition. One defender. One challenger. Two crazy rich old coots. The way it was meant to be. Yachting needs to honor its traditions. 2. Excitement There's no argument, multihulls are faster and more exciting than big monohulls with all those tons of spent uranium or whatever metal they use now in their keels to slow them down. Let's face it, the 50 knot speed barrier will be first broken by some kind of multihull (not counting windsurfers). Can you imagine a round-the-buoys race between two cats sailing at that speed (or anywhere near it)? => Read on for reasons 3 through 7: http://tinyurl.com/2mhc9f AMERICA’S CUP: READER’S DIGEST VERSION * Despite all the uncertainty that surrounds the next event, a third Spanish challenge is surfacing: http://www.decisionchallenge.com/ * Grant Simmer of Alinghi expands on the vision statement that Ernesto Bertarelli issued on Friday. -- http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=19703 * Rumors persist that the Spanish challenger Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV) is prepared to file an appeal on the New York Supreme Court ruling from November 27, 2007. The final order by Justice Cahn is expected this week, and it is following that order when either CNEV or defender Société Nautique Genève (SNG) can appeal. It is widely suspected that the purpose of appeal is not to seek to overturn the original ruling, as that is deemed extremely unlikely, but rather to postpone the possibility of a Deed of Gift challenge with the BMW Oracle Racing team. -- http://tinyurl.com/yrlfnm SAILING SHORTS * For all the creative sailors out there, US SAILING has launched a design contest to create the 2008 logo for the USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals program. US SAILING organizes 25 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festivals each year for over 4,500 youth sailors, and a poster is produced each winter to support and promote the program. The poster is distributed to about 6,000 sailing organizations and sailors, with artwork from the poster is also incorporated on T-shirts, stickers, hats and knit shirts. The deadline to submit your design is January 2, 2008. – Complete details: http://www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo/Postercontest08.asp * PHRF of the Chesapeake has made an adjustment to their 2008 Safety Requirements that allows “CBYRA recognized One-design classes that otherwise meet the minimum equipment and accommodations standards but whose manufactured as-built design does not meet the ORC Category 4 requirements for lifelines may be allowed to sail in Category 4P races provided: 1) all competitors wear personal flotation from the warning signal of their start until the boat has finished racing and 2) all competitors wear safety harnesses and are clipped in from sunset until sunrise or if the Race Committee so prescribes.” Read paragraph 4.2 for details: http://www.phrfchesbay.com/specregs.pdf * A study released Monday by the Maryland Stadium Authority concludes that a proposal for a National Sailing Hall of Fame in Annapolis will boost tourism and enhance the downtown area. The study also said the planned site at City Dock will fit in well with the city's waterfront and its history. Under a memorandum of understanding signed two years ago, backers of the Hall of Fame and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources agreed on a site for the building on state land at the end of Prince George Street. -- ABC 7 News, full story: http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1207/479292.html * (December 10, 2007) Competitors from New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan converged for the inaugural Ice-Opti North-American Championship, which was sailed last weekend on Wampler Lake near Jackson, MI. Thirteen kids attended a one-day seminar with some of the best iceboaters in the world on Friday, and then ran six races Saturday in light winds. Griffin Sherry of Clinton Twp., MI won the event, which was cut short by a day due to approaching bad weather. -- http://iceboat.org/optis/0708/championship.html * The Notice of Race for Charleston Race Week 2008 is now posted online. More than 150 entries are expected for the event dated April 17-20, 2008. Details at http://www.charlestonraceweek.com * (December 10, 2007) The fall college rankings list schools in order of strength within each district. -- Sailing World: http://tinyurl.com/2vqoh9 NEED DINGHY SAILOR CHRISTMAS IDEAS? Look no further than Vanguard. Not only can you get Free Gear (dollies, covers, or Magic Marine gear) now with the purchase and delivery of a Vanguard boat by December 31st, but you can also purchase the hottest sportboat in North America, the SB3. For complete details, visit http://www.teamvanguard.com * A prominent marketing position at Vanguard Sailboats has just been added to the Scuttlebutt Classifieds. See all job 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 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 Mark Thomson: Regarding Mr Henderson's comments in Issue 2492 on the Olympics, it's fascinating that the Curmudgeon can “…love Henderson for sharing his valued perspective on this issue. He discards many of the mis-truths...", yet ‘mudgy fails to challenge the extraordinary statement "...our top sailors gravitated to the keelboats." How on earth can such a statement be justified? Explain to me what objective measure exists to support the view that the top multihull sailors are in any way less talented than keelboat sailors. * From Ben Fuller: Not to take away from Fred Eaton's accomplishment of winning the International C-Class Catamaran Championship (story in Issue 2492), it should be noted that Steve Clark, who was the reigning US C Class Champion, basically gave Fred his Cogito Class C program design and specs as well as sold him his trial horse. And Steve kept his boat constant making no changes as a standard or benchmark. If only the other America’s Cup program showed even a fraction of this sportsmanlike attitude. It was done for the best interest of the class and the event. * From Robie Pierce: I have been doing this ‘sailors with disability’ gig for 18 years. I was there in the infant days just looking for a handshake. Eventually we got a full embrace, and today sailors with disabilities are fully integrated and accepted as sailors with the same passion for the sport as our able body brethren. I have seen the great, the bad, and the ugly. Never have I seen or been associated with a fellow disabled sailor who epitomizes the words Corinthian, courageous, dedicated, or sportsman better than Nick Scandone. He truly gives the word disability a good name! He will travel to China and he will bring home his Gold Medal. No doubt about it. * From Antonio Vettese, editor - Vela e Motore: I agree with Bob Fisher in Issue 2492 in every point. I just want to add that in the 32 edition of the Cup, AC Management had marketed the ancient legend of the Cup…a conquest made by 150 years of regattas. In other words, the big income and the public interest for the event this past summer was a result of ACM being able to sell the old event more than building a new one. The proposed new format, at the moment, doesn't have any main sponsor and it is said that this is the true reason for the "postponement" and is the evidence of the new format weakness. * From Andy Rose: I could not agree with my friend Bob Fisher more in his open letter to Mr. Bertarelli although Bob as usual expressed my feelings much better than I could have done. At this point, let's bring on the cats or tris or whatever and get Bob's predicted "hiccup" out of the way. * From Gregory Scott: I just can't get a grip on how Alinghi is so isolated from reality, Sponsors must be screaming mad. Being attached to that camp is becoming toxic. * From Mark Osterman: Like countless other sailors, I am at the same time fascinated and horrified with the current goings on, not only with the America's Cup but also with the Olympic event selection process. But then reality sets in. I have personally known only three AC sailors. That's probably more than the average North American sailor. Currently, in Canada, there can't be more than a dozen serious contenders for the 2008 Olympic berths. The American Olympic trials in the fall were scarsely better, if you adjust for different population numbers. Only the Laser, Finn and Star classes seemed to have serious numbers and real classes (as well as class). The long and the short of it is that the overwhelming majority of sailors in North America will get along just fine regardless of what shenanigans occur between Ernesto and Larry, or what ISAF might decide. I can't wait to get Lightning sailing again next summer, and to accompany my daughter throughout the Opti circuit. Big numbers of competitors, fierce competitors, great fun and for the adults, adult beverages. Plus great friendships (We miss you, Colin Park, Bruce Goldsmith, Russell Scrim). This is what sailing is all about and to hell with the billionaires and politicians. * From Rich Roberts: Glad to see Paul Mixon and Bill Pinkney of the BVI receive some recognition in Issue 2490 for their success in integrating African Americans into sailing, which has been the whitest of sports for way too long. Perhaps it will inspire US Sailing and American yacht clubs to pursue similar programs. Or perhaps not. In recent years the community-supported US Sailing Center in Long Beach, Calif. has done remarkably well in reaching out to the whole diverse populace of the Los Angeles region, and young Steve Manson of Baltimore certainly made a major upbeat impression with Roy E. Disney's Morning Light program in this year's Transpac---both examples disproving the conception that blacks don't sail because they don't care to. Instead, those rare exceptions suggest that the problem isn't a lack of interest but a lack of opportunity. Maybe it's time for yachties to ask themselves, what can my club do to grow the sport of sailing on a new foundation of diversity? A HOLIDAY GIFT FOR SCUTTLEBUTT Ever since the early days of the Scuttlebutt newsletter, readership growth has been by word-of-mouth. With the holiday season at hand, the best present you can give the Curmudgeon is to continue telling your friends about the publication. To make this easy, click on the link, and then add names from your contact list. Thanks in advance for the support! Here is the link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/wordofmouth 15% OFF, JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Surprise that special sailor with a gift from the Onne van der Wal Gallery. Limited Edition prints, mini prints, NEW mini canvas prints, 2008 calendars and much more are on sale now. Visit us in Newport or on our online gallery, http://www.vanderwal.com CURMUDGEON’S COUNSEL "The further backward you look, the farther forward you can see." - Winston Churchill Special thanks to Camet International, Vanguard Sailboats, and Onne van der Wal gallery. A complete list of Scuttlebutt’s preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
