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SCUTTLEBUTT 1365 - July 7, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. TRANSPAC Roy E. Disney's Pyewacket led Philippe Kahn's Pegasus 77 past the West End of Santa Catalina Island and into open ocean as the great match race of the 42nd Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii unfolded Sunday. "We're about a mile ahead of Pegasus, which is dead astern," Peter Isler, Pyewacket's navigator, reported by phone. "I can't see anybody else right now in the haze." The two lead boats passed the island 23 miles off the Pacific Coast a bit more than 2 1/2 hours after the start. Meanwhile, two smaller boats that started Friday dropped out. Lucky Dog, a J/125 being sailed doublehanded by Peter Putnam and Len Bose of Newport Beach, Calif., returned to its home port at noon Sunday because of a leak in the steering column of its rudder. The Cone of Silence, a Super 30 from Australia and the smallest boat in the race at 31 feet, withdrew reporting "structural damage." Skipper James Neill said he did not require assistance. Putnam said, "We got out 150 miles and found Saturday afternoon that the rudder was letting water into the boat. We thought it would be better to withdraw. We're OK but disapppointed." Another boat transmitted an automatic distress signal early Sunday morning---apparently accidentally. A Coast Guard C-130 responded to an EPIRB (emergency position indicator radio beacon) alarm sent by Nick Martin's Schock 40, On Point, from Wilmington, Calif. On Point reported later that it had taken a wave over the side that activated the alarm but caused no damage. The last 12 of 57 boats to start (now numbering 55) were surrounded by a sun-splashed spectator fleet at the end of the Independence Day holiday weekend in the U.S. They started in light wind off the cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Their destination is the landmark Diamond Head finish line 2,225 nautical miles away. Daily position reports, charts, news summaries, photos will be posted at http://www.transpacificyc.org FARR 40 WORLDS The fourth (and final) day of the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship saw Massimo Mezzaroma crowned as the new world champion after another impressive performance. Three races were run on the last day of the event, and Mezzaroma's team, which includes tactician Vasco Vascotto, had effectively won the regatta with a race to spare after posting a 2nd and a 1st in the first two races. The second race of the day proved pivotal for Richardson's Barking Mad. On their port approach to the top mark, they just got across the bow of Crocodile Rock before throwing in a tack to windward. Crocodile Rock could only watch as Barking Mad eased the mainsheet to accelerate, promptly removing all their stanchions and lifelines to the mast. Crocodile Rock retired, Barking Mad flew an 'I' flag accepting a 20% penalty, but was later disqualified. By now the battle was for second place overall. Illbruck's Nela, with John Kostecki calling the shots, had started the regatta slowly but had had nothing but a string of single digit results from the second day. Ultimately it was John Coumantaris' Bambakou that collected third overall, followed by Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi in fourth. About winning, Massimo Mezzaroma says, "There are no words to describe how happy we feel as a crew right now. We have traveled all over the world for the last three years sailing Farr 40 regattas, but it was here at home with an all Italian crew that we became world champions with the biggest ever fleet. This is a 100% crew victory. For the last three years we have spent 10-12 weeks together as a crew, racing, training, traveling. It has all been worth it." The next Rolex Farr 40 Worlds will be in San Francisco in September 2004. Final Results: (Yacht Owner/Tactician) 1. Nerone, Massimo Mezzaroma/ Vasco Vascotto , 51 pts; 2. Nela, Michael Illbruck/ John Kostecki 74 pts; 3. Bambakou, John Coumantaros/ Chris Larson, 92 pts; 4. Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli/ Russell Coutts, 99.5 pts; 5. Southern Star, John Calvert-Jones/ Grant Simmer, 100 pts; 6. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson/ Terry Hutchinson, 101.5 pts; 7. Morning Glory, Hasso Plattner/ Dee Smith, 102 pts; 8. Crocodile Rock, Harris/Geremia/ Vince Brun, 109 pts; 9. Struntje Light, Wolfgang Schaefer/ Michael Coxon, 110 pts; 10. Seven, Alberto Signorini/ Tommaso Chieffi, 126 pts. Complete results: http://www.farr40.org/racing/03worlds/results.htm Great photos: http://www.regattanews.com/PhotosArchive.asp?EventID=27 JUNIOR SAILING OF LONG ISLAND, WESTERN DISTRICTS Another 200 satisfied junior sailors wearing Pirate's Lair custom designed regatta tees. Gear up for your next event with our expanding line of Gill products or apparel from our extensive online catalog. Limited stock of North Sails Race Week gear still available at our online store. Inquire about online sales services for your event or organization. Call 888-SAIL-BUM for details. Check out the leader in regatta apparel at: http://www.pirateslair.com/sailing SWEDISH MATCH TOUR Marstrand, Sweden (July 6, 2003) - Great Britain's Chris Law of "The Outlaws" used a brilliant pre-start in the fifth and decisive match of the Swedish Match Cup finals to claim the championship of the last event on Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003. After winning the first two matches of the first-to-three points final, Law lost the third match after a penalty in the pre-start and then allowed that miscue to get him off-track in the fourth as well. "You gotta keep cool when a final stretches to five matches. This is a very tricky place to sail and we've sailed our own game this week, but in the last match we went back to basic match racing tactics," explained Law. This is Law's second win on Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003 to go along with the 2002 UBS Challenge in Newport, RI, USA. "I was actually surprised how well Chris maneuvered in the pre-start of the fifth match, staying behind us the whole time," said Jablonski. "Chris was the better sailor in the fifth race and the better sailor won." Jablonski's runner-up finish here catapulted him up the Swedish Match Tour Final Rankings from eighth place overall pre-event to fifth place, paying out an $US18,000 share of the US$200,000 prize purse, while Law moved up from fifth to fourth overall. In the petit finals, US Virgin Islander Peter Holmberg of Team Pelle Petterson Yachting defeated Denmark's Jesper Bank, a double Olympic gold medallist and former helmsman for the Victory Challenge 2-1 to finish third. Swedish Match Tour 2003/2004 begins next month with the Danish Open 2003, August 12-16. An announcement will be made shortly regarding the full schedule for Swedish Match Tour 2003/2004. Swedish Match Cup Final Standings-Top Ten 1.Chris Law, Great Britain/"The Outlaws" 2.Karol Jablonski, POL/Jablonski Sailing Team 3.Peter Holmberg, USVI/Team Pelle Petterson Yachting 4.Jesper Bank, Denmark 5.James Spithill, AUS/Team Spithill 6.Jesper Radich, Denmark 7.Peter Gilmour, AUS/Team Pizza-La 8.Mattias Rahm, SWE/Team Stena Bulk 9.Staffan Lindberg, Finland 10.Andy Beadsworth, GBR/Team Henri Lloyd Swedish Match Tour Final Standings 1.Jesper Radich, Denmark, 109 pts, US$60,000 2.James Spithill, AUS/Team Spithill, 96 pts, US$40,000 3.Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane, 84 pts, US$25,000 4.Chris Law, GBR/"The Outlaws", 76 pts, US$20,000 5.Karol Jablonski, POL/Jablonski Sailing Team, 66 pts, US$18,000 6.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto, 57 pts, US$15,000 7.Magnus Holmberg, SWE/Team StoraEnso, 50 pts, US$12,000 8.Paolo Cian, ITA/Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team, 47 pts, US$10,000 - Shawn McBride, http://www.swedishmatchtour.com SANTA CRUZ 50 FOR SALE Gone with the Wind wins class in Coastal Cup! You now have a chance to own the fastest ultralight 50. GWTW came into Catalina 3 hours before the next Santa Cruz 50 or 52 reaching a top speed of 27.5 kts and corrected out to first in front of Pegasus, the Transpac 52 and all other Class A boats. Details available at http://www.kkmi.com/YachtSales/GoneWithTheWind/GWTW.htm NEWS BRIEFS * Sweden's Marie Bjorling won an all-Swedish final to claim her second consecutive Swedish Match Cup Women's Class title in a thrilling five-match affair over countrywoman Mallin Kallstrom. After dropping the first match, Bjorling won the second with Kallstrom then moving to championship point in the third. Bjorling then demonstrated why she is the world's top ranked women's match racer by leading her crew to two straight victories, while defending her title in this premier women's match racing regatta. As winner of the Swedish Match Cup Bjorling receives an automatic entry into the Bermuda International Women's Match Racing Championship, scheduled to take place October 18-21 at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. - http://www.swedishmatchcup.com * The 2nd tour stop of the 2003 Volvo Champions Race concluded this past weekend in Schwerin, Germany, where the world's top fifteen Tornado and 49er crews competed in this four day event on the Lake of Schwerin. Racing took place directly in front of the beach with the rounding marks not more than 20 metres away from the spectators, who also enjoyed live commentary during this fan-friendly event. Three time World Champion Chris Nicholson and his crew Gary Boyd from Australia dominated the 49er class while Americans Robbie Daniels and Andreas Straume won the last race to win the Tornado class. Complete story (in German) and results at http://www.yacht.de * Twenty-eight of the sixty-three entries in the Daimlerchrysler North Atlantic Challenge have finished as of Sunday evening. Zaraffa, which was first to finish on June 28th, also still retains handicap honors. - http://www.dcnac.de * The latest ISAF World Sailing Rankings for the Olympic Classes have been released. North American sailors landing in the top twenty include: Star- 3. Mark Reynolds/MagnusLiljedahl (USA), 5. Peter Bromby/Martin Siese (BER); Europe- 16. Meg Gaillard (USA); 49er- Tim Wadlow/Pete Spaulding (USA); 470 Women- 13. Jennifer Provan/Nikola Girke (CAN), 15. Katie McDowell/Isabelle Kinsolving (USA); Tornado- 15. John Lovell/Charlie Ogletree (USA), 16. Enrique Suarez Figueroa/Jorge Hernandez (PR), 19. Robbie Daniel/Tjiddo Veenstra (USA); Yngling- 1. Betsy Alison/Suzy Leech/Lee Icyda (USA), 3. Hannah Swett/Melissa Purdy/Joan Touchette (USA), 5. Jody Swanson/Cory Sertl/Elizabeth Katzig (USA), 6. Carol Cronin/Liz Filter/Bridgett Hallawell. Complete rankings at http://www.sailing.org/rankings 2004 US SNIPE TEAM TO BE NAMED The top three teams in the upcoming US Snipe Nationals will earn the right to represent the USA at the 2004 Western Hemisphere Championships in Bahia, Brazil. The nationals already has fifty teams registered for a week of serious sailing and serious fun in Marion, MA. Whether you're looking for tough national or international competition or friendly family sailing, you'll find it in the Snipe class. For regatta results, calendar info or helpful articles, go to http://www.snipeus.org CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * July 17-26: Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Portugal Event website: http://www.worldyouthsailingmadeira.com * August 15-17: Cal 20 Nationals in Long Beach, CA. Information available at http://www.cal20.com/championship.html IT'S ALL GREEK TO US Our mention of democracy being born in the US when the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 brought in a slew of mail. Our apologies go out to all readers, and particularly those of Greek descent, as we understand it was in Greece that this concept was first born. LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Richard Hazelton, Editor 48 ° North Sailing Magazine: I think it's interesting that making the America's Cup being more viewer friendly, both in person and for TV, is considered crucial to it's survival, yet here we have yet another ocean race (Antarctica Cup International Yacht Race 2005) which has the money to offer millions in prize money without continuous TV coverage (no doubt there will be some documentaries) and, except for the start and finish, a spectator fleet that consists mostly of whales, seals and penguins. * From Henry (Harry) H. Anderson, Jr. (edited to our 250 word limit): The tributes to Briggs S. Cunningham have been heavily oriented towards his sports and vintage car career thereby overlooking many of his successes and contributions in yachting. Those of us who sailed as juniors on Long Island Sound will always remember the support that he provided with his power yacht Chaperone, aptly named for its role towing us to regattas, carrying regatta officials, rescuing capsized juniors and especially assisting the junior sailing program at the Pequot Yacht Club in his home port of Southport, CT. His interest in providing opportunities for young sailors included the donation by himself and his first wife, Lucie (Bedford), to Yale University of the property at Short Beach, Branford to accommodate the Yale Sailing Center. When the venerable Atlantic Class was virtually on its last garboards, it was Briggs who had a mold made so that the wooden hulls could be replaced in grp. It was also by reason of Brigg's sponsorship of the prototype of the Raven that the class became popular in parts of the east and the mid-west. After the 1958 America's Cup Match Briggs became a member of the AC Selection Committee. It was characteristic of him, when during the trials the day was waning and the Committee was discussing whether or not to hold one more race, to comment in the vein "They came here to sail, not to go to social events; let's start them right away." * From Stephen A. Van Dyck (on the loss of Briggs Cunningham): In the summer of 1959, after skippering Columbia in the '58 AC defense, Briggs was back as usual at our home club, Pequot, in Southport, CT. Like he had done for so many summers before, and did for so many summers afterward, he quietly supported our junior program. His role? He watched our races, quietly offered advice when asked and took us as crew on his Atlantic. And believe it or not, he patiently towed us in and out and often to far away regattas. He and his gorgeous 40' launch Escort were a fixture to all who sailed the junior regattas. As more Americas Cup summers came along Briggs was invariably found in Newport, RI. His role? Helping NYYC teams. He contributed money, watched every race and only offered advice when asked. It was an after-race ritual to check in with Briggs. But you had to ask if you wanted his valuable thoughts. In the '70 A-Cup when I made a fatal tactical error he was on the dock to help me get things back in focus. When we won he was still quietly in the background, soaking up our victory. Briggs was the quintessential Corinthian sportsman and gentleman. He did it because he loved it. I doubt that a bigger man with a smaller ego ever held a tiller. Those who were blessed to know him know how true this is. * From Ward Detwiler: (edited to our 250 word limit) In response to the statement in Midwest Wake Up Call that "it appears that a few states have a little work to do in the area of junior sailing development," I would like to concur that Midwest sailors do have some work to do to produce the number of top-level sailors that the coasts produce. However, a few obstacles hamper Midwest juniors. One such obstacle is the great distances between midwestern cities themselves, and the distance between the Midwest and the east coast, which makes travel to big regattas difficult. We can't just throw the boats on the trailers and drive forty minutes to a regatta with a hundred boats. Most Midwest sailors can only make it to one big regatta a year. Another big obstacle is the two and a half month sailing season. Unlike the Californians and southeastern sailors, Midwest juniors can't sail all year. While Midwest sailors might not finish as well as sailors from other regions, we have to work twice as hard to get there Lastly, as a member of Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, MI, and a product of the junior program there, I have to point out that our junior program consistently produces all-american, Olympic, and America's Cup sailors. Just this year Lauren Padilla and Nathan Hollerbach were named to the Collegiate All-American list. While it may be true that Midwest sailors don't always post top results at national regattas, a number of us do quite well. * From Scott Diamond, Chicago Yacht Club Jr. Activities Committee: Get the facts straight, there were 5 sailors from Chicago Yacht Club alone and at least 2 from Columbia Yacht Club in Chicago at last weeks Jr. Sailing Event in Milwaukee. Last time I checked, Chicago was in the Midwest. Jr. Sailing in the Midwest is on the rise. Rumors have it to keep a look out for a Midwest Jr. Sailing symposium sometime in the late fall. * From Mike Kurzawa: To suggest, as the July 3rd Scuttlebutt does, that the Midwest states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin (don't forget Illinois and Iowa) are somehow deficient in junior sailing development is totally unfounded and a mistaken suggestion. Instead there is great strength, great enthusiasm, great participation and great support for junior sailing and racing.....perhaps even to the point of being a bit overwhelming. Within the scow-world of the Inland Lakes Yachting Association and her many home lakes - places like Minnetonka, Pewaukee, Geneva, Beulah, Cedar, Pine, North, Delavan, Okoboji and so on - the development of junior sailing receives the utmost attention. Usually this is in the Opti and the Inland's traditional "X" boat which continues to be fully modernized by Melges Boat Works into one slick little racing craft. Lasers and 420's are there too....but as only part of the overall program. You might care to visit and see what you appear to be missing. Curmudgeon's comment: Looks like I am eating a little crow here. Keep up the good work! CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL Don't cry because the weekend is over; smile because it happened. |
