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SCUTTLEBUTT 2255 – January 9, 2007
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is
distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of
Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing).
MAYBE THEY WANT TO JOIN SSC
(Scuttlebutt Sailing Club has lots of members, but we suspect they all sail
on the water and not on the web. Leave it to the Brits to propose an online
sail, as reported here on the Yachting Monthly website.)
An Olympic promise to sail a yacht around the globe to launch the London
games has drifted into troubled waters. The bid that secured the 2012
Olympics for the capital included the extravagant 'FriendShip' scheme, which
would have seen an ocean-going clipper launched at the closing ceremony of
the Beijing Games, beginning a four-year global voyage. The trip was
described to the International Olympic Committee as 'a journey of discovery,
carrying a cargo emblematic of the UK's cultural riches.' Arriving in
Britain, the boat was to make a 'triumphant' entrance up the Thames,
heralding the start of the Games of the 30th Olympiad. However, the idea now
looks to be axed after mayor Ken Livingstone revealed that Lord Coe is
reconsidering it. An alternative option under discussion is to replace the
ship with a 'virtual vessel' which will 'sail' the internet… -- Read on:
http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20070008105904ymnews.html
MONDAY MORNING TACTICIAN
(American Andrew Campbell is the top ranked Laser sailor in the US, and was
the 2006 College Sailor of the Year. Below is an excerpt from Andrew’s blog,
where he discusses how to avoid letdowns in the big event.)
As it is the first week of the new year, I think it is appropriate to
discuss the potential for focus on a long term schedule and the idea of
peaking for the right events. Upon completion of the Orange Bowl Regatta in
Miami and coaching the Laser sailors on the CISA team, I headed slightly
north in Florida to Jensen Beach for the USTRA Midwinters. Watching how the
sailors held up over the week of breeze on Biscayne Bay, and then again on
the Intracoastal Waterway in Martin County, it interested me that the two
events were very important to some people within each fleet. Lots of
dollars, time, travel and logistical work went into hundreds of sailors
getting to Florida and being able to rig up and race for 5 days at both
events. Granted, a fair amount of planning went into my coaching of the
Orange Bowl and sailing the Midwinters, but they were not major events in my
sailing schedule. What caught my attention was the determination of some
sailors to have a good regatta, and then letting minor breakdowns and lack
of preparation cause them to fall short of their goals for the event.
Hopefully this column will give you a different perspective on how to
approach your upcoming season. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/yffom7
NUMEROLOGY AND THE CUP
(Jan 8, 2007) Today BMW Oracle Racing confirmed what many had come to
suspect once Luna Rossa announced, some weeks ago, that they had been
allocated sail number 94 -- that 98 is, indeed, the American team's second
(and final) new sail number for AC 32. That leaves only number 100 allocated
but unclaimed. Most of our readers will have long since deduced that it
likely belongs to the Defender and joins SUI-91 as the other Swiss sail
number for this AC cycle.
And with there not being enough lead time now to start and reasonably finish
a new ACC yacht, it can be safely assumed (as we long ago projected here on
the CCB) that for AC 32 we will get to sail number 100, just. When you think
about it, that is some major achievement for an expensive, high-tech class
that has been around only since 1990. -- America’s Cup Challenger Commission
blog, full post: http://tinyurl.com/ygmskt
NOT JUST ANY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION!
New Year’s Resolutions: #1 - Lose weight! #2 - Buy a new pair of Camet
sailing shorts! We know that they are durable, long lasting, and you might
be able to get other season out of them…but it’s time to change colors or
styles (or even get yourself a Camet vest to keep you feeling just right in
Key West). Plus our shorts have an adjustable waist just in case you succeed
at Resolution #1! Shop, Click, Buy! -- http://www.camet.com
OPTIMIST WORLDS
Julian Autenrieth from the Bayerischer Y.C., Germany is the 2006 IODA World
Champion. The final day of the championship was nail-biting! Race 15a was
completed by 1230 in shifting winds but several attempts to sail the other
four divisions were abandoned as the Race Committee and sailors waited in
32° heat for the huge swings to give way to the incoming northerly. By
chance Julian was in the same start as the overnight leader Griselda Khng
(SIN). His target was to finish in the top nine and two points ahead of his
rival. This he did with very little to spare and emerged as champion by just
two points. Latin American sentiment was consoled by the well-deserved
bronze taken by Edgar Diminich of Ecuador who, at 55kg, contradicted the
idea that this was a regatta for lightweights. Champions of girls' sailing
may regret that we do not have a female champion to follow Tina Lutz's 2005
win but it is notable that 7 of the top 21 sailors were female. Top three
North Americans of the 228 entrants were Ramon Gonzalez (23, Puerto Rico),
Antoine Screve (29, USA), and Jose D Reyes Marin (34, Mexico). -- Results:
http://www.optimistworlds.org.uy/results/overall-results.htm
ON THE FORUM
Below are some recent posts on the Scuttlebutt Forum:
* Looking for place to stay in Key West: Does anyone need another roommate
to share expenses in Key West?
* Sailing Resolutions: What are your sailing New Years resolutions?
* Gross Misconduct at Laser PCCs: While I appreciate Jim Capron's attempt at
information on 'Butt, it seems he leaves out a lot. Who starts such an
action? Does the sailor on the receiving end? The RC? The YC? Leaving it to
a sailor who might feel intimidated seems wrong. Can a 3rd party protest
this, sailor or observer? Does it have to do through the protest committee?
It would be helpful if Mr. Capron could tell us all how these actions get
started in "the process". What does it mean that he "believes" the protest
committee has "the obligation"?
Post your comments here: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
NEW ROAD TO MACKINAC
There will be a new course for the Port Huron to Mackinac race this summer -
only the fourth time in the history of the race that sponsor Bayview Yacht
Club of Detroit has changed the course. And this will be the first time that
shore course boats will see a change in their direction and strategy,
because there is now only one course, no matter the size and age of your
boat. The new course puts all Mackinac racers on a line up Lake Huron to a
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buoy about 37 nautical miles
northeast of Alpena.
Previously, larger or faster boats would sail the so-called long course,
rounding near Southampton, Ontario, before turning back across Lake Huron
and on to Mackinac. Slower or smaller boats would sail the more direct route
up the Michigan shore. The new course will mean former shore course boats
will sail 12 miles farther and boats that used to take the long course will
race 37 miles less. -- Full story:
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/grmetro_article.aspx?storyid=68113
HOST A SUDDENLY ALONE SEMINAR WITH JOHN ROUSMANIERE
Safety First. Suppose, through injury, illness, or crew overboard, you were
to find yourself Suddenly Alone. How would you respond? What should you do?
John Rousmaniere leads Suddenly Alone seminars that teach Safety. Safety
through prevention. Safety through preparation. Safety through planning.
Safety through practice. After implementing the plans and going through the
exercises taught at the seminar, you will be prepared and “know you can
handle it.” Your group or club can host a Suddenly Alone seminar. Contact
North U for details: 800-347-2457 or http://www.NorthU.com
SWEET SAILING
We could not have asked for better weather for the first regatta weekend of
the new year in Miami. Etchells and Star sailors were treated to sunny
skies, light to moderate breeze, and temperatures in the 80’s. Coconut Grove
sailing facilities were operating at full capacity Friday, Saturday and
Sunday to accommodate the 65- boat Etchells fleet for the 2007 Sid Doren
Memorial, the 35-boat Star Levin Cup fleet. While those lucky 275 sailors
were out racing, many aspiring Olympians sailing other classes of boats
unloaded containers and trailers and started to rig up to train for the
Rolex Miami OCR. -- Full story:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0108
Sid Doren Memorial
1 - Jud Smith, Henry Frazer, Ian Cook - 7 pts.; 2 - Oscar Strugstad, Andy
Beadsworth, Simon Fry - 21 pts.; 3 - Phil Garland, Moose McClintock, Dave
Moffet - 25 pts.; 4 - Bruce Golison, Steve Flam, Jay Golison and Golison’s
daughter – 28 pts; 5 - Simon Williams, Bill Bennett, Cameron Appleton - 29
pts. -- Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/yzxkve
Star Levin Cup
1 - Augie Diaz, Federico Englehardt - 8 pts.; 2 - Peter Bromby, Bill
McNiven - 12 pts; 3 - Eric Doyle, Steve Calder - 15 pts.; 4- Rick Merriman,
Eric Monroe - 20 pts.; 5 - Peter McChesney, Shane Swingelborg - 24 pts. --
Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/yfqmos
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
SAILING SHORTS
* St. Mary's College of Maryland and Point Loma High School of San Diego
made the most of what little wind there was in winning the college and high
school championships of the 22nd annual Rose Bowl Regatta on 6-7 January in
Long Beach, USA. The largest combined college and high school regatta in the
nation was organized and conducted by the US Sailing Centre of Long Beach
and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. More than 400 sailors sailed two-person CFJ
dinghies, dealing with windless delays while rotating boats off the beach
every two races. -- Full story: http://www.abyc.org/upload/rb07wrap.doc
* (Auckland, New Zealand – Jan 8, 2007) USA 98, BMW Oracle Racing’s second
race yacht designed and built for the America’s Cup in 2007, arrived at the
team’s temporary training base in Auckland this morning. The high-tech
24-metre-long racing yacht departed from BMW Oracle Racing’s custom building
facility in Anacortes, WA, USA, before Christmas via truck and container
ship for the trans-Pacific voyage to Tauranga, New Zealand. The race yacht
is now being prepared for sailing next week on the Hauraki Gulf.
* Yachting World’s Matthew Sheahan's has posted two audio podcasts online
that he conducted at the London Boat Show, where he interviews British
America's Cup backer Sir Keith Mills, Alex Thompson, Ellen MacArthur, Iain
Percy,Ben Ainslie, and Shirley Robertson: http://tinyurl.com/ydcerh
* The US Naval Academy is hosting a premier Laser Radial Clinic on June
7-10, 2007, where the coaching staff features: Anna Tunnicliffe, #1 Ranked
Radial sailor in the world, Molly O'Bryan, College All American, and US
Sailing Team Member, and Molly Carapiet, College Singlehanded National
Champion and All American. The US Naval Academy will house all of the
sailors, and will provide hulls and spars. The Clinic will be directed by
John Vandemoer, coach for the US Naval Academy. Applications and more
information can be found at: http://www.usna.edu/SailingTeam/go.php?ID=22
J BOATS CLASSES RETURN TO KEY WEST
J's represent 31% of the competing fleet at Acura Key West Race Week, thanks
to the return of the J/80, J/105, J/109, and J/120 classes, all celebrating
their 2007 Midwinter Championships. The J/92S debuts as well at the PHRF
National Championship. Follow the J action at http://www.jboats.com
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 Lou Sandoval: Read the commentary regarding ESPN's 60 most demanding
sports (in Issue 2254), when you think about it, this should come as no
surprise. Outside of our immediate sailing community, the average person has
a very limited understanding of what goes in to competitive sailing. Think
of the times ESPN has attempted coverage of a sailing event, the education
process for the non-sailing reporters is extensive. "What is that flat,
round thing called again??" To the “Average, Land loving Joe”- sailing is
still a bunch of rich guys riding around on their expensive boats. It won't
be until we change that impression, that they will truly understand what
goes into our sport.
* From Matthew Reid: (regarding ESPN’s list of the top 60 most demanding
sports in Issue 2254) Aaaauuuuggghhhh! Another false crack to the eye of
ocean racing. I wonder what Hans Horrevoets or the guys from the 1998
Sydney/Hobart would have to say about fishing being ranked and ocean racing
not making the list. Or even delivery crews who don't have the luxury of a
cruiser’s relaxed schedule. Many a time they must go through hell and high
water to get the yacht delivered by starting time...I know, I've been there.
After being scared, cold, no sleep for many days, dealing with equipment
failure, reefing alone in 35+ knots in the black of night with 20 foot seas
on the nose and green water everywhere, going up the rig, etc., you cannot
tell me or any of my peers that our sport doesn't rank in the top 20 at
least. This is typical of why the media ignores our sport. The most common
misconception, I believe, is that ocean racing is imagined to be guys in
khaki shorts, topsiders, champagne flutes, and sunnies flashing their bright
smiles and high-fiving each other on their way to some tropical destination.
* From Chris Branning, Morning Light crewmember: (In response to Bruce Bates
comment in Issue 2253 on how sending a bunch of High School kids alone on
the Transpac race is not a good idea.) Crossing the finish line will be our
response.
* From Bob Keim, Nashville, TN: I spent $8,000 making a Catalina 22
competitive at my level of skill. We are limited to $2,200 worth of sails
per year. I have learned more about sailing the past two years I have raced
my C22 than I did in the previous 20 years. The help and guidance of
previous national champions Pete Harper, Dennis Slayton and Dick King have
been instrumental in making this class stronger and stronger over the years.
I race about 12 one design races a year in a boat that can be pulled with a
small truck and set up by two people in 20-40 minutes. We will expect 50-60
boats for the Nationals this coming July on Lake Erie. Here, here for ODR!
* From G. E. Kriese, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI: Wally Cross makes some
excellent points (Save One Design, Scuttlebutt 2254) when he describes Doug
Scheibner's restoration of a 27 year old Tartan Ten. Wally says "I always
encourage customers to buy a one design boat that they can afford to race at
the top." The International Etchells should be at the top of the list of
reasonably priced boats that regular people can afford to own and race
against the best. Strict one-design rules and sail limitations have resulted
in the steady growth of fleets around the world since Skip Etchells designed
his masterpiece 40 years ago.
* From Adrian Blunt, Victoria, BC: I do not wish to detract from the
magnitude of Ken Barnes' personal challenge and his terrible experience in
losing his boat & being rescued at sea off Cape Horn (as reported in Issue
2254). However, some abbreviated reports state Barnes was "trying to be the
first solo sailor to circumnavigate the world non-stop from the US West
coast.” While technically correct in stating the "US West coast", I think
such reports neglect to recognize 63 year old, Victoria, BC sailor Tony
Gooch completed the first, continental west coast, solo circumnavigation in
2003 (see http://www.taonui.com).
* From Michael Roth: (Re: Sailing on TV) You can make anything interesting
and sellable on television with the right combination of talent, action and
a sharp producer. I was involved in the production Extreme Sailing Hawaii, a
one-hour television show about the 2005 Waikiki Offshore Series. It is still
airing monthly on the water channel. The key is the story. I had to calm the
producer down when he heard us joking that we cheated death again. He was
ready to make it into a blood sport. The show pits the pros on Pegasus
against the weekend warriors on Braveheart and both the TP52's against the
Bigger is better 72' Beecom. It is still available online at the WYC
Boatique. -- http://waikikiyc.com/boatique
* From Andrew Armstrong: I am confused as to the thought process behind the
unfortunate events experienced by Ken Barnes off the coast of Chile.
Understandably, he had incurred major damage to his rig and portions of the
boat, but it did not appear he was in any danger of sinking. During the time
he "spent little time thinking about the situation" what exactly was he
thinking about? According to his fiancée, he was more interested in how to
charge his batteries for the Sat phone, than trying to jury rig the boat and
sail 500 miles to the Chilean coast. If the boat was so damaged that sailing
was out of the question, then why was it not scuttled? It seems to me that
Mr. Barnes simply threw in the towel and requested he be saved at the
expense of the Chilean government and the thoughtful sailors on the trawler.
In his attempt to sail the globe it does not appear that he factored in the
responsibility he has towards the sailing community worldwide. I sincerely
hope that his 44 foot ketch does not become the next casualty for the other
guy sailing his boat responsibly.
Curmudgeon’s Comment: Further discussion on this subject can be done in this
Forum thread:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3920#3920
CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Special thanks to Camet International, North U, and J/Boats.
Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender
of the 32nd America's Cup.
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