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SCUTTLEBUTT 3092 - Friday, May 14, 2010Scuttlebutt 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. Scuttlebutt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Scuttlebutt on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt Today’s sponsors: Mount Gay Rum gear and Holmatro. BRAD VAN LIEW: STEPS TO THE STARTLINE When Brad Van Liew hits the start line in La Rochelle, France on October 17, it will be his third time competing in the race now known as the VELUX 5 OCEANS 2010-11, the oldest single-handed round the world yacht race. Run every four years since 1982, the race is a series of five high-pressure ocean sprints within a marathon circumnavigation. In the course of the 30,000 mile race, the skippers cross five oceans alone. Brad announced in January the purchase of his boat, whose pedigree includes first place in the 1999 Fastnet Race and second in the important Transat Jacques Vabre that same year. Since acquiring the boat, he has sailed her across the Atlantic and is now in the midst of her refit in Charleston, SC. Here is an update report: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * Is the program currently where it needs to be for it to be successful? BVL: We launched the campaign in October 2009, but there was ample work prior to that announcement. We've maintained a two-pronged attack at being ready for the race, with one wing focused on the boat and one wing focused on funding. We are a small team and pushing hard - both in the boatyard and on the sponsorship front. We have the best shore team in the world for preparing for this race, and I have every confidence in their ability to get the boat ready. Of course I wish there was more time and more money, but my philosophy tends to include a great deal of calculated risk. Meg and I have done this twice before. It is scary financially, but American companies tend to need to see a campaign well underway before deciding to take on a major sponsorship position. Balance Bar signed on in 1998 within weeks of the start. Tommy Hilfiger gave us a bit more breathing room signing on about five months before the start. The name of the boat will be Team Lazarus until someone decides they want to name the boat and enjoy the primary branding on the sails and hull. We delivered more than $20 million in media value alone to Tommy Hilfiger during my last race, so the value is there for the company that sees a fit. * What has been the focus of the refit? BVL: Our focus of the refit has been to inspect every area of the boat, making sure she is safe and competitive for a full throttle 30,000 mile solo race around the globe. My goal is to be competitive, so every step I can take to gain a competitive advantage over others is key. Ultimately all systems need to be as reliable as possible, so everything has come off the boat and we are going through every system with a fine tooth comb and reassembling it. We are replacing some entire areas, like sails and lines. We have also totally redesigned the deck layout and sail handling, thankfully with the support of Harken and Spinlock. Autopilots and electronics are vital to me offshore alone, so we are replacing the electronics and autopilot package. The dynamics of the new ECO 60 class introduce other challenges, like using one set of sails for the entire race. Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0512 RISING STARS Split, Croatia (May 13, 2010; Day 3) - Light winds continue at the Finn European Championship, where the 97 competitors have only completed two races in three days. Two of the young sailors competing, Caleb Paine (USA) and Luke Lawrence (USA), are both part of the US Sailing Development Team. While this is Lawrence's first Finn championship, Paine's introduction was at last year's Finn Gold Cup in Denmark. Both are very ambitious sailors with Olympic dreams for 2012 and 2016. Both are also just 19 years old and gunning for the Junior European Championship this week. But how did they get into the Finn? Paine said, “I actually started in a Finn last year through the guys in the US, especially Scott Mason and Peter McDonald who helped me out a lot. Basically they realised I was too big for the Laser and said, “Here, try a Finn”. So I tried it and loved it. I signed up and bought a boat and here I am.” “I did the Finn Gold Cup in Copenhagen last year and the OCR in Miami this year. I am going to try and do the circuit this year and if I can get funding from Alphagraphics for next year it would help me a bunch.” Talking about his long term goal to represent the US in the Olympics he said, “For me it's extremely important to have a boat for heavyweights in the Olympics. If I don't have a boat to sail in the Olympics it sort of takes that dream away from me. And from many other people as well. At the moment the Finn is the ideal boat for that.” “Lawrence said, “I started off back in January. I was training for the OCRs in the Laser and in the process of going to the gym I put on about 10 pounds, which made me too heavy for the Laser so I decided to take the next step with the Finn. So I found a boat and sailed the OCRs. I did pretty well, so decided to stay with it. I made the US Sailing development team and they shipped my boat over here and I have been doing all the events since.” -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9859#9859 SAILORS’ MUST-HAVE…….. With sailors across the country gearing up for their season on the water, check out the apparel and gear in the Mount Gay Rum line that is offered by The Pirates Lair. Performance gear, waterproof jackets, moisture wicking t-shirts, shorts and more-all with the legendary Mount Gay Rum logo. Check out the newest 12”x18” Mount Gay Rum burgee and so many more items that will maximize your sailing season. Order by calling The Pirates Lair, the official supplier of Mount Gay Rum gear, at 888-724-5286 or shop on-line: http://www.pirateslair.com/store/index.html Remember to visit the Mount Gay Rum website at http://www.mountgay.com NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK (May 13, 2010) - After five races of the Portugal Trophy Cascais, the first regatta of the 2010 Audi MedCup Circuit, the British crew of TeamOrigin 1851 lead overall by two points ahead of defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand. In a thrilling finish to the second race of the day, when the TP52 Series’ pair of four times Olympic medallists, Jochen Schuemann (GER) steering Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER) and Ben Ainslie (GBR) steering TeamOrigin 1851 (GBR) duelled down the closing minutes of a fast, full throttle final run, it was the German boat which just pipped the British crew by only one second. Added to their fourth place in the first race, Circuit newcomers TeamOrigin’s consistency was the result of smart tactical sailing in the puffy, and shifty NW’ly winds. In the first race the breeze averaged around 10-14 knots, but the second TP52 contest enjoyed the strongest winds of the regatta so far with gusts to 22-23 knots producing fast and exciting downwind sailing. Dealing with adversity was Quantum Racing (USA), which sailed the day without skipper Terry Hutchinson. Tactician Adrian Stead (GBR) explains, “Unfortunately just when we were hosting the mainsail Terry got hit by the boom on the top on his head and was very dizzy and disorientated, very sick so he had a scan, but it looks it's going to be alright, we had a little giggle, we took out one of our shore crew members and I ended up driving and someone else doing the tactics and pit but we just had to try to make the best of the day with what we had, but hopefully Terry will be back tomorrow (Friday). Last time I helmed a whole race was in 2005." Overall - Day 2 1. TeamOrigin (GBR), 4-9-2-4-2, 21 points 2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 6-11-1-1-4, 23 3. Synergy (RUS), 8-1-6-3-5, 23 4. Quantum Racing (USA), 1-5-8-2-10, 26 5. Audi A1 powered by ALL4ONE (FRA/GER), 9-7-4-6-1, 27 6. Cristabella (GBR), 2-8-3-5-9, 27 points 7. Artemis (SWE), 3-6-7-8-3, 27 8. Matador (ARG), 7-2-5-9-8, 31 9. Luna Rossa (ITA), 5-3-9-10-6, 33 10. Bigamist 7 (POR), 11-4-11-7-11, 44 11. Bribon (ESP), 10-10-10-12(DNC)-7, 49 Complete report: http://www.medcup.org/news/?id=3046 POLL QUESTION: DESERVING OF A SECOND CHANCE? The America's Cup Hall of Fame was created to honor the challengers, defenders, and legendary personages of the world's most distinguished sporting competition. Each nominee is judged on the basis of outstanding ability, international recognition, character, performance, and contributions to the America’s Cup. Needless to say, the Hall of Fame Honor Roll of Members represents a very elite group. The Selection Committee of the America’s Cup Hall of Fame is an equally impressive group, and they made a decision to include in the 2010 induction list a candidate that had earned a two year ban from the sport due to an Anti Doping violation during the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007 - Simon Daubney (NZL). The highest court of international sport found Daubney guilty of the violation. But this violation was not a grievous act, and there was arguably no competitive advantage gained from the substance found (cocaine). Daubney broke a rule, yes, but is he guilty of being a bad person, or just guilty of getting caught? Or, as Daubney has long contended, not guilty at all? The Selection Committee made the decision that Daubney’s Anti Doping violation during the America’s Cup did not sufficiently take away from his character or his contributions to the America’s Cup. What do you think? Does Simon Daubney deserve to be extended the privilege and honor of being a inducted in the America’s Cup Hall of Fame, and be recognized for his accomplishments during his seven America’s Cup campaigns? Vote here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/10/0513/ SAILING SHORTS * In the Sailing World College Rankings as of May 13, 2010, and with just the national championships remaining, Boston College is the top ranked coed team and women's team in the country. -- Full ranking: http://tinyurl.com/25cvvkb * IRC certificate holders now have an automatic subscription to every other issue of Seahorse Magazine - in digital format. The complimentary subscription is activated by clicking on the link and using the boat name and exact boat weight (as it appears on your IRC certificate) as the name and password information: http://tinyurl.com/34snwd9 * (May 13, 2010) - After the light winds cancelled the first day of the Expert Olympic Garda 2010 - Eurolymp on Lake Garda (Italy), winds of around 10 to 15 knots allowed for each of the seven Olympic classes to complete three races. Leading the 35-boat Star fleet is George Szabo/ Mark Strube (USA), while Tania Elías Calles (MEX) leads the 26 Laser Radials. -- Event website: http://expertolympicgarda.fragliavelariva.it/ NEW HOLMATRO WINCHES TO SAIL IN ROUTE DU RHUM The new Holmatro winches with the Grip & Run drum have been chosen as an optional upgrade on the new Pogo 40S2 which skipper Jacques Fournier will sail in this year’s Route du Rhum. Holmatro is very pleased that their new winches will get the chance to prove their performance in this important and challenging race from Saint Malo, France to Guadeloupe, FWI. Built by Pogo Structures, the POGO 40S2 is a completely new design built for offshore racing making it a perfect candidate for Holmatro winches and races like the Route du Rhum. For more information see: http://www.holmatro.com/winches PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include black and white boat, shoe boat, full boat, scary boat, serene boat, haul boat, classic boat, and pink boat. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0514/ SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK Photographer Jacqueline Schmitz provides this insight into what the top youth sailors did during 2010 Spring Break by attending the CISA Advanced Racing Clinic in Long Beach, CA. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/0514 BONUS: Aspiring American Olympian Clay Johnson shows what Laser training is like at the International Sailing Academy in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt/posts/102970123082156 SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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 Cory E. Friedman: Inducting into the America's Cup Hall of Fame a sailor banned from the sport for a doping violation in America’s Cup competition is an outrage. That is the same WADA anti-doping regime that stripped Olympic medals from dopers and even stripped medals from their relay teammates. Mark McGuire was never even caught, but his chances of getting into the Baseball Hall of fame are nil. Can sailors be even more obtuse than MLB? Honors in sailing should be an example for young sailors coming up. How in the world can Hall of Fame induction for a doper do anything but send the worst possible message about doping? It might be a different situation if the offender had publicly shown remorse and had spent years with kids spreading the message that they should not make the same mistake he did, but there is no evidence that is the case. ISAF showed its utter spinelessness in the aftermath of the AC 33 Race Committee Mutiny. This is even worse. The ability of sailors to put our sport in the worst possible light is truly incredible. * From Di Pearson, boatingOZ.com.au: One of the stories we published today is the annual America’s Cup Hall Of Fame inductees, and once again, I was disappointed at the exclusion of Syd Fischer. I feel so strongly about this, I feel compelled to throw in my” two Bob’s worth” - for what it’s worth! Some of the words that come to my mind when I think of Fischer’s exclusion, yet again, are: disgraceful, insulting, dishonourable, appalling, disturbing, reprehensible and travesty. One doubts the validity of this so called “Hall of Fame” when you look at Syd Fischer’s America’s Cup achievements and his continued exclusion from the list of the illustrious. He has equalled Sir Thomas Lipton’s record as the head of five America’s Cup campaigns. He self-funded every one of those campaigns, with a small amount of support from sponsors, ran the show, was hands-on in every campaign and sailed on the boat for some races. He has also been a big contributor the Cup itself and the Challenger of Record, trying to keep the Cup 'honest' over many decades. If it weren’t for Syd Fischer, the likes of Iain Murray, James Spithill and so many others would not be where they are today in sailing - ask them, they’ll agree. Fischer has always been able to pinpoint young talent and given them opportunities in the ‘big league’ when nobody else would even dream of doing so. For this alone, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, where he should have been installed years ago. -- Read on: http://www.boatingoz.com.au/website/story.asp?story=29195 * From Giancarlo Basile: I agree with Tim Zimmermann (in Scuttlebutt 3090) about what he thinks of the Jessica Watson's solo circumnavigation: today's improvements in communications are a big help, so it is not exactly true that her sailing was unassisted, as it really was for Robin-Knox Johnston, Bernard Moitessier, etc. Nevertheless, Jessica Watson's performance is still great: almost seven months of solo sailing, crossing the oceans one after the other in the roaring forties and the furious fifties, being severely knocked down more than once and succesfully closing the circle makes me think that Jessica Watson deserves the highest consideration as a first class sailor. * From Brian Hancock: I agree 100% with Richard Clark (in Scuttlebutt 3091). If you have sailed around the world you have a certain perspective on what she has/ will accomplish when she ties the loop this weekend. It's a brutal experience and a monumental achievement. Maybe she has had a few DVD's to watch but she had been out there over 200 days, all alone, dealing with whatever the wind gods have thrown her way. Her story is without a doubt the most inspirational to come out in the last half century and I hope that it inspires not only sailors, but everyone to strive high and go for the gold. I stand in awe. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: The youngest person to sail around the world solo, non-stop and unassisted, 16 year old Australian Jessica Watson is expected to complete her historic voyage, arriving back in Sydney to a hero’s welcome on Saturday 15 May. An active thread on the subject is ongoing in the Scuttlebutt Forum: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9861#9861 * From Dan Knox: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 3091) Is there anyone out there that thinks that the International Olympic Committee cares more about sport than it does about TV revenue? For those sailors out there training every day to live their Olympic dream, I salute you and wish you only the best but if the IOC really cared about the sport why are they changing the rules to make sailing get better TV ratings? What exactly do TV ratings have to do with “essence of sports”? Whenever someone like ISAF Secretary General Jerome Pels speaks about preserving “what is intrinsically valuable about the spirit of sport” and the “essence of Olympism”. I can’t help but think how the Olympic Games have become nothing more than a business platform to maximize revenue. And really I have no problem with the Olympics’ as a TV show. I’m not quite sure I understand where sport part comes in during these ever more entertaining and expensive Opening and Closing ceremonies but I’m sure the tickets are expensive and the TV ratings are excellent. Great TV but “essence of sport”? No, you would come closer to seeing “essence of sport” by watching a bunch of young sailors in a few Opti’s most Saturday mornings at any number of places. I realize that everything today has a price and revenue and sponsorship are important but please let’s not kid ourselves about the organizations like the IOC and the ISAF doing anything more than looking out for their own interests. * From Tim Patterson: (re, letter in Scuttlebutt 3091) Well said, Tom, I think you should say it anytime someone suggests such a scheme. Soon enough the racing will tell if the newbie needs more time or less. We are all sailing for fun in PHRF, are we not? * From Reynald Neron: I had to comment concerning a reader's mail on how to attract new people into the sport. I quote: “I personally cannot imagine the appeal of a handicap system that rewards mediocrity and punishes excellence.” So this is assuming that newbies=mediocre and "salties"=excellence. Hum... that attitude is not going to help much attract newbies onto yachts, is it? While I am no president of anything, I have seen many newbies which were better sailors than salties. They learnt better, and more importantly, they know they don’t know it all. Salties, sometimes, have no idea... and believe they are excellent... bad combination. * From Walter I. Bostwick, St. Thomas, VI: The Barnacle Bill's fun summer sailing series had the "Fun Factor" PHRF. Start with your regular numbers, if you win you get a 9 point rating hit, 6 point hit for 2nd, 3 points for 3rd, and bottom three boats of fleet get rating bonus. Keeps sailors coming back to see how they do next week with the new handicap. This is suggested only if your good sailors and crews have a sense of humor. But if not, why sail against them anyway. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Double-Stuffed Oreos should just be called Oreos, and regular Oreos should be called Diet Oreos. Special thanks to Mount Gay Rum gear and Holmatro. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
