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SCUTTLEBUTT 2524 - February 1, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. US SAILING'S 2008 ROLEX MIAMI OCR Miami, Fla. (January 31, 2008) – For another day of light-air races, 369 sailors from 34 countries took to Biscayne Bay for US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR, one of the world's most revered world-ranking regattas for sailors in Olympic and Paralympic classes. With racing having started on Monday, only one racing day remains before winners can be named in the Paralympic classes for SKUD-18, Sonar and 2.4mR. As well, Friday’s racing will determine the final fleet ranking in the Olympic classes for Laser, Laser Radial, Star and Yngling, but those fleets will then advance their top-ten finishers to compete in a single medal race on Saturday, replicating the Olympic format that will be followed this August when the Olympic Sailing Regatta is held in Qingdao, China. For Star sailors John Dane and Austin Sperry (Gulfport, Miss.), their performance Thursday was all-important in the Gold Fleet, which was determined yesterday after five races and now is comprised of the top 33 teams, leaving the remaining 33 teams to compete in a consolation Silver Fleet. Dane and Sperry, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics members who will represent the USA in the Olympic Games this year, posted a fourth and 13th in today's races, bringing them up to 12th from 16th overall yesterday and putting them well within striking distance of the top ten. -- Read on: http://www.rolexmiamiocr.org/media/pressreleases/day4.html Day 4 Results Laser (23 boats) -- 10 races 1. Maciej Grabowski (POL), 2-1-6-4-2-5-[8]-1-2-3, 26 2. Kyle Rogachenko (USA), 1-4-1-[24/OCS]-6-1-7-7-1-1, 29 3. Marcin Rudawski (POL), [11]-3-4-2-4-4-2-5-7-2, 33 Laser Radial (39 boats) -- 9 races 1. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA), 3-1-3-2-1-[12]-2-1-9, 22 2. Paige Railey (USA), 1-4-1-1-3-5-7-2-[16], 24 3. Penny Clark (GBR), 6-2-6-9-9-2-[10]-5-4, 43 Star (66 boats) – 7 races 1. Flavio Marazzi/Enrico De Maria (SUI), 2-1-6-[11]-4-2-4, 19 2. Eivind Melleby/Petter Morland Pedersen (NOR), 6-2-1-5-7-1-[8], 22 3. Xavier Rohart/Pascal Rambeau (FRA), 7-1-4-[34/BFD]-5-3-3, 23 Yngling (28 boats) -- 10 races 1. Mandy Mulder/ Faber/ Witteveen (NED), 10-5-[22]-5-2-11-1-7-2-4, 47 2. Ekaterina Skudina/ Krutskikh/ Ivanova (RUS), 19-2-3-3-9-1-5-[24]-4-12, 58 3. Song Xia Qun/Li Xioa Ni/Yu Yan Li (CHN), 2-8-5-[21]-20-4-4-1-17-11, 72 2.4mR (25 boats) -- 10 races 1. Damien Seguin (FRA), 4-2-1-3-1-3-[11]-4-4-4, 26 2. Stellan Berlin (SWE), 2-7-2-4-2-6-7-2-[18]-8, 40 3. Paul Tingley (CAN), 1-9-[26/OCS]-2-4-1-3-10-8-7, 45 SKUD-18 (10 boats) -- 9 races 1. Nick Scandone/Maureen McKinnon-Tucker (USA), 1-1-1-1-1-2-[3]-1-2, 10 2. Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett (USA), [5]-3-2-2-2-5-1-2-1, 18 3. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit (CAN), 3-2-3-4-4-1-[6]-4-3, 24 Sonar (11 boats) -- 8 races 1. Jens Kroker/Tobias Schuetz/Siegmund Mainka (GER), 1-[3]-2-2-1-2-2-1, 11 2. Bruno Jourden/ Larhant/ Vimont Vicary (FRA), 2-4-3-7-[12/DSQ]-1-7-5, 29 3. John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Steve Thomas (GBR), 6-2-1-5-4-7-6-[8], 31 Complete results: http://www.rolexmiamiocr.org/results/index.htm THE CANADIAN TRIO – MAKING THE BAND The Yngling World Championships are just around the corner and some teams have their work cut out for them. Canada, which has not yet qualified for the Olympics, has two teams registered for the 28-boat Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, the Grade 1 event that is the prelude to the Yngling World Championship that will be held on Biscayne Bay from February 8-15. That’s right! It has been years since there has been an Yngling fleet approaching that size gathered in North America. The unanticipated entry is that of Tine Moberg-Parker, Sarah Marshall and Cressida Robson. Moberg-Parker and Marshall are coming out of Olympic class retirement to sail their first Yngling regatta together. Tine Moberg-Parker was Canada’s single-handed Europe Dinghy sailor at the 1996 Olympics and Sarah Marshall was the crew of the Marshall/Stamper Women’s 470 team at the 1992 Olympics. What has happened since 1996, and why has this interesting trio come together over the past four months in Miami? -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/lf SAIL ANNOUNCES 2008 PITTMAN INNOVATION AWARDS SAIL’s annual Pittman Innovation Awards, named in honor the memory of former SAIL technical editor Freeman Pittman, who died in 1996 from ALS, otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, recognize the most innovative products in the sailboat market. Editors Peter Nielsen (Cruising Gear), David Schmidt (Racing and Safety Gear), Ben Ellison (Electronics) and Jay Paris (Systems) awarded sixteen new sailing products in SAIL’s February 2008 issue. * Peter Nielsen’s Cruising Gear awards went to the EngineCheckUp, Wichard’s Gyb’Easy, Waterbuoy, and the Tallon Accessory System. * In the Racing Gear category, David Schmidt chose Ronstan’s Orbit Blocks, the Harken Rigtune Pro, and the Harken Pro-Trim Traveler. In Safety Gear, Spinlock’s DeckVest took the honors. * Electronics editor and expert, Ben Ellison, recognized these innovative products in the Electronics category: the Garmin MFDS, the Simrad A150 Class B AIS, Furuno’s FI-50 Instruments, and the Spot Satellite Messenger. * Jay Paris’ Systems innovations choices include the Offshore Systems Fuel Deck Filler Gauge and Digital Tank-Monitoring System, Ragasco Composite LPG Cylinders, Hella Marine’s LED Mega Beam, and Brunton Propellers Ionguard. At the Strictly Sail Chicago boat show, SAIL will be introducing the new Innovation Station located at the Navy Pier (January 31-February 3, 2008). The Innovation Station, located at booth #236, will feature each of the sixteen products chosen for this year’s SAIL’s Pittman Innovation Awards. -- Read on about all the award winning products: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5774;#5774 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Scuttlebutt has discount tickets to help attend the four-day Strictly Sail Chicago, the largest indoor sailboat show in the country. Details here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/01/butthead-benefit.html DOYLE SAILMAKERS EXPANDS Doyle Sailmakers is pleased to announce that Jim Miller and Eddie Williams have joined Doyle Sailmakers to form Doyle Virginia. The experienced local sailmakers, formerly with Quantum, bring over 25 years of extensive racing and cruising experience. In addition, Al Declercq has been selected to manage Doyle's expansion in Ohio and Western New York. The Doyle Detroit team will continue to work closely with Spike Boston, John Baxter, Bill Buchbinder, and Ed Botterell to provide unparalleled, consistent service for all Doyle customers throughout the Great Lakes. To contact your local Doyle loft, call 800-94-DOYLE, http://www.doylesails.com BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) (Day 82 – January 31, 2008) Things started to move a bit more swiftly this afternoon for race leader Paprec-Virbac 2, though the situation is far from clear. Jean-Pierre comments, "We'll have a hard time determining how the high pressure system might move, and things will be difficult all the way to Gibraltar." With current weather models contradicting each other, the Paprec-Virbac 2's skipper adds, "It's not the right time to make a big mistake, so we're assessing various scenarios, examining all the options we have. For the moment, it's a matter of catching those easterlies before they drop… that would certainly give us an edge." -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com Positions at 18:00 GMT (+gain/-loss from leader since previous day) 1-Paprec-Virbac 2, Jean-Pierre Dick/ Damian Foxall, 2,134 nm DTF (+160) 2-Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson/ Andrew Cape, 462 nm DTL (-20) 3-Temenos II, Dominique Wavre/ Michéle Paret, 1,440 (+97) 4-Mutua Madrilena, Javier Sanso Windmann/ Pachi Rivero, 1,535 (+85) 5-Educación sin Fronteras, Servane Escoffier/ Albert Bargues, 2,768 (+60) Retired - PRB, Vincent Riou / Sébastien Josse (broken mast) Retired -Delta Dore, Jérémie Beyou/ Sidney Gavignet (broken mast) Retired - Estrella Damm, Guillermo Altadill/ Jonathan McKee, (rudder damage) Retired - Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain/Jean-Luc Nélias (broken mast) * The Scuttlebutt website’s weekly snapshot of the fleet finds leader Paprec-Virbac 2 across the equator, and on the final stretch to Europe. However, light conditions have hampered progress, and both P-V 2 and Hugo Boss find themselves in a “so close, yet so far away” mode. These boats can likely smell the strong easterlies blowing west of the Canary Islands, which they will need to reach Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean Sea for the bolt to the finish at Barcelona, Spain. See photo from race tracker at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/bwr FOR THE RECORD * (Day 7 - January 31, 2008; 18:30 UTC) The North-South transfer has gone rather well for the 103-foot maxi trimaran. Franck Cammas' crew didn't waste any time after the Doldrums, accelerating again at 4 degrees South to over twenty knots in around fifteen knots of SE'ly. However, the change was even more radical from sunrise (7 degrees South), when the breeze backed favourably to the East. This enabled Groupama 3 to sail with the wind on the beam (and no longer upwind) with an added intensity to the breeze, which rose to 18-20 knots. All of a sudden, the average speeds surpassed thirty knots and their lead over Orange II shot up to over 500 miles... Given that the weather conditions are forecast to be stable for at least two days, we can expect a lot of headway to be marked out on the map as we approach the second weekend of sailing! -- http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en * Route de l'Or (crewed route from New York to San Francisco): (Day 14 - January 31, 2008; 23:30 UTC) The weather is improving for the 110-foot maxi-catamaran Gitana 13, increasing her average speed to 17.8 knots over the past 24 hour period, and accumulating 427 nm to now be 6,751 nm from the finish. Their current pace is at 22 knots along the Argentinean coast at 48.5 degrees S latitude, and about 500 nm from Cape Horn. -- http://www.gitana-team.com/en/gitana10/homepage.asp SAILING SHORTS * ISAF has been informed of the decision by the Disciplinary Chamber for Doping cases of the Swiss Olympic Association, in the Case of Mr Simon Daubney. The decision of the Chamber is that Simon Daubney has not infringed the Anti-Doping Rules and that the Chamber has withdrawn any sanctions against Simon Daubney. Effective immediately, ISAF has lifted Simon Daubney’ s provisional suspension of ISAF eligibility, in accordance with the ISAF Anti-Doping Code described in ISAF Regulation 21. -- http://www.sailing.org/22055.php * Sportlifestyle company, PUMA North America, has announced their partnership with Ronstan International Inc. as the official U.S. sailing sales agency for the sportlifestyle brand. As part of this agreement, Ronstan will focus on the marine specialty retail category in the United States and represent PUMA’s performance sailing line, which includes performance outerwear, apparel, footwear and accessories for sailing enthusiasts. Ronstan and PUMA officially announced their partnership and unveiled the PUMA performance sailing collection to the industry at the 13th annual Strictly Sailing Chicago Boat Show on January 31st. -- Complete announcement: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5780#5780 * Miami, FL - A scaly visitor has started calling the grounds around the Coconut Grove Sailing Club home and club members aren't too happy about it. The club says a 5-foot long crocodile was first spotted on their property over the weekend. Tuesday several members complained after the reptile took up a position on a shoreline to sun itself. Club officials say they're concerned since they operate a number of afterschool programs for children and special programs on the weekends for the younger set. -- Read on: http://cbs4.com/local/crocodile.coconut.grove.2.641785.html * Since the conclusion of the 2007 World Tour and the crowning of the 2007 ISAF Match Racing World Champion it’s been a relatively quite period in the match racing world with no new ISAF Grade WC or ISAF Grade 1 events counting in this release. Consequently both Mathieu Richard (FRA) and Claire Leroy (FRA) remain comfortably ahead at the top of the Open and Women’s Rankings respectively, giving France a top-spot monopoly for the third consecutive Ranking release. -- Complete report: http://www.sailing.org/22058.php RACING SEASON STARTS NOW Dave Perry, David Dellenbaugh, and Brad Dellenbaugh are teaching Rules and Tactics Seminars in 18 locations this winter. From fundamental principles to nuances highlighting the difference between right-of-way and control, understand the rules and the tactics the rules dictate so you can turn rules situations into tactical opportunities. Enrollment is limited. Sign up now (risk free) and receive Perry’s Rules Quiz book and Dellebaugh’s Rules DVDs with the course. Learn more at NorthU. Call 800-347-2457 or http://www.northu.com PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Acura Key West headquarters, 470 World Champs Erin Maxwell and Isabelle Kinsolving, a dismasting sequence, sentimental favorites Rick Merriman/Brian Sharp at Miami OCR, and a series of Don Allen images regarding the ACUP current events. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0201/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK Not all sailors can stop sailing just because the water turns hard in the winter. For some, this might even be when they start sailing. This week we have two videos of stand-up ice sailing: one shows the windsurfing adaptation, while the other shows the kitewing. Both are very well produced, and are courtesy of the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association (WISSA). Also, if you have a video you like, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/08/0128 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 Jessica Lord: The TV was tuned to "Good Morning America" this morning as I was drinking coffee and starting my day. As Diane Sawyer was leading into the weather segment, she told of a strangely startling article in the "New York Times" that said the Chinese had figured out a way to prevent weather (rain) from hampering the Olympic Games. This prompted a discussion by a few scientists in how it is possible to "seed" clouds so as to produce rain, but everyone agreed that preventing rain was seemingly impossible. But if the Chinese have figured out a way to prevent rain, maybe they also figured out how to tweak the winds so as to favor their own sailing team? * From Glenn McCarthy: There was a day and age in the U.S. where Olympians were "selected" and the U.S. trials that were performed were just window dressing. In some cases, competitors found that the selection was already made before the trials even occurred (after they completed the trials), making it a vast waste of their time, effort and money to compete in the trials. It left a bad taste in their mouths for many years afterwards. Winning the trials was no guarantee that you would represent the U.S. in the Olympics in those days. In the 2000 games, Aussie Adam Beashel won his trials but was passed over and others were selected to go to the Olympics for Australia (Scuttlebutt issue #530). Turmoil? Frustration? Public opinions going wild? Yes, yes and yes. With a winner takes all approach, much of the potential manipulation of the system is removed, the game is clearly stated in a way that competitors, all sailors and the general public understands it, and everyone knows that when the winner is announced, they represent the U.S. in the Olympic Games. The U.S. has been through the variant of a "selections" process before, and from what was learned of it, that system tolerated abuse, unethical behavior, and cheating. The Olympic Games is winner take all event. Getting there should be no different. Do your historical research hard and deep before ever suggesting a selections process ever again. * From Mike Ingham: (Re 470 Worlds and US trials) Congratulations to the Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving team for winning the worlds. But negative press is taking away from Amanda Clark's/Sarah Mergenthauler's road to the Olympics. All of us competitors, no matter how good, have our ups and downs. Now I am not defending our selection process nor taking anything away from Erin and Isabelle, but don't take anything away from Amanda and Sarah either. They came a long way and won the trials in a convincing way; they don't need us to doubt them now. * From Dave Ullman: Commenting on Jim Mahaffy's letter in Issue 2523, wherein he thought I had won the US Olympic Trials leading into the 1980 Games. Actually, I did not win the trials in 1980, though they were a mute point as the US preparation for the Olympics was already canceled. While we were the current world champions at the time, Steve Benjamin sailed a great regatta to win. * From Peter Robinson: (regarding story in Issue 2521) Gregory Douglas has another distinction. While sailing in the 2004 Opti North Americans in Texas, he left his boat, and saved a fellow competitor who was trapped by the rigging under her turtled Opti. As I recall, Greg was given an award by the City of Corpus Christi, Texas. He is indeed a fine sailor and a fine young man. * From Bob Black: As a veteran press (and public relations) guy around the America's Cup going back to 1967, I appreciate the clarity and effort of Cory Friedman's reports in Scuttlebutt. They are lucid and informative. But, oh for the good old daze in Newport. Baron Marcel Bich, Sir Frank Packer, Bondie, Jim Hardy and most assuredly, Ted Turner. Perhaps those days could be summed up by Sir Frank Packer's statement to the press in 1970 when asked why he kept coming back for the Cup. "Alcohol," he growled in pure 'Strylian, "And delusions of grandeur." -- Friedman ACUP reports: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf/ * From Bryan Brieden: Have faith people, Mr. Friedman has a good handle on where this is all headed and from what I gather, The Right Honorable Justice Cahn will judge and our sport will survive and prevail! This is mere drama that has taken the place of the void caused by the screenwriters guild strike. Grab a cold one, maybe some pretzels and enjoy the show. The Cup has weathered worse and time will prove this true. That this, albeit unfortunate, will be a foot note in the long storied history of this Grand 'Ol Cup has provided, will play out. I believe patience is in order, as I don't believe lobbying these two parties will amount to a hill of beans. After all, they aren't elected politicians and have done what they've want all there lives. Do you really believe they're going to listen now! To quote the great Flip Wilson, "HERE COME THE JUDGE!" CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION If any other product I owned worked as well as my computer, I would throw it out. I can't ever remember having to reboot my refrigerator. Special thanks to Doyle Sailmakers and North U. A complete list of Scuttlebutt’s preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
