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SCUTTLEBUTT 1637 - August 2, 2004Powered 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, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. ELEVEN DAYS AND COUNTING There are just 11 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday August 13, and things have reached fever pitch in Athens as preparations hit their final phase. Symbolic of the proximity to the start of the Olympics, the Olympic Village, a complex that will house 16,000 athletes and delegates opened its doors last week. The sailing Venue, the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre, opened yesterday, and tomorrow is boat allocation day for Laser Sailors to be followed by the first day of measurement on Wednesday. Today, the ISAF website goes into Olympic mode, with a new "Olympic" look. Live mark by mark roundings, a comprehensive image library and of course a full results and news service are getting cued up. The ISAF website also has begun a series of articles previewing participants in each of the eleven Olympic sailing events. http://www.sailing.org/ QUOTE / UNQUOTE - Ben Ainslie One of the reasons why Britain is sending such a potent team to Athens is because we are familiar with the venue. Understanding the nuances of wind and sea is crucial, yet surprisingly few countries put in the time we do. As times goes by, and not just in the Olympics but at other major events, professionalism is increasing. Half my Finn class rivals have put in several months at the venue. I've probably sailed in Athens a total of 25 weeks over the past three years. It's very different from track and field, where you might have a favourite training camp and your only competition at Athens is at the Games themselves. We often hear rival countries gripe that Britain spends so much money on Olympic sailing, but we are far from the biggest spenders. What the Royal Yachting Association are very shrewd at is understanding the priorities and using the money smartly. - From a insightful story by GBR Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie in the Daily Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/4pq5k WHISTLEBLOWERS Members of the International Jury will take on a new role as "whistleblowers" at the ACE Etchells World Championship 2004 regatta which gets under way off Mooloolaba on the Queensland Sunshine Coast this afternoon with a fleet of 85 boats. If they see an apparent rule breach, they will blow a whistle to attract the attention of the boat skipper that they have been "sighted", who they hope will then immediately take a 720 degrees turn penalty to exonerate their rules breach. "The objective is to encourage skippers who break the rules to take the a penalty turn, but of course they can protest if they consider they were forced into the situation by another boat," International Jury chairman Ronnie McCracken from Hong Kong, told skippers at last night's briefing. He explained there would be two Jury boats on the course throughout each race, but specifically watching for rule infringements at the start and at rounding marks. "The Jury members will not lodge protests against competitors, but will be available to give evidence if one boat lodged a protest against another, he added. - Peter Campbell, www.mooloolabaetchells.com/etchells2004/2004home.htm Curmudgeon's comment: - America's Cup legend Dennis Conner showed he is still a formidable force in international yacht racing when he out-sailed a fleet of 84 Etchells in the pre-World Championship "invitation race." We'll have the results from race one tomorrow. SAILING-IN-THE-GROOVE? Comfort with your crew, your boat, the venue and with your clothes all play an important part of how quickly you settle down and start focusing on the race course. Sailing Angle's apparel is engineered to protect you from the harsh realities and distractions of the boat and the racecourse: the camcleats in your bottom, the bleeding knees and UVs attacking your skin. Being comfortable improves your concentration and enables you to perform well. Buy our great Padded Sailing Shorts and Longs, UV-blocking Sailing Shirts and Knee Sleeves at APS, Layline, Team One and http://www.sailingangles.com and start winning today! SWEDISH MATCH TOUR Cascais, Portugal - Ed Baird and his crew on Team Musto won the inaugural Portugal Match Cup on the Swedish Match Tour. Baird and Russell Coutts put on a thrilling final series, one featuring numerous lead changes, seven penalties and enough match-race strategy to make a chess grand master envious. The two were the best performing skippers all week. Coutts entered the final undefeated in 11 races. Baird had lost only two in 13 starts. But in the end Baird defeated Coutts, 3-0. Baird (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and his Team Musto crew Andy Horton (Newport, R.I.), Dean Phipps (Valencia, Spain), Guy Salter (Cowes, England) and Jon Ziskind (Newport, R.I.) won 40,000 Euros ($48,000) of the 150,000 Euro ($180,000) prize purse. With the victory, Baird scores 25 points towards the Swedish Match Tour championship and takes pole position in the race for the BMW 545i Touring that will be awarded to the champion next July in Sweden. In the Petit Final Peter Holmberg's Team Alinghi defeated Jesper Radich's Team Denmark, 2-0. - Sean McNeill, www.SwedishMatchTour.com Final Standings: 1. Ed Baird (USA) Team Musto, 14-2, €40,000 ($48,117.98) 2. Russell Coutts (NZL), 11-3, €25,000 ($30,073.74) 3. Peter Holmberg (USVI) Team Alinghi, 8-7, €20,000 ($24,058.99) 4. Jesper Radich (DEN) Team Denmark, 7-7, €15,000 ($18,044.24) 5. Peter Gilmour (AUS) Pizza-La Sailing Team, 7-5, €10,000 ($12,029.50) 6. Philippe Presti (FRA) le Défi Français, 9-7, €9000 ($10,826.55) 7. Staffan Lindberg (FIN), 7-8, €8000 ($9,623.60) 8. Bertrand Pacé (FRA) BMW Oracle Racing, 4-6, €7000 ($8,420.65) 9. Chris Law (GBR) The Outlaws, 4-6, €6000 ($7,217.70) 10. Michael Dunstan (AUS) OzBoyz Challenge, 2-8, €5000 ($6,014.75) 11. Geoff Meek (RSA) Shosholoza Challenge, 2-8, €3000 ($3,608.85) 12. Francisco Neto (POR) Team Henri Lloyd, 1-9, €2,000 ($2,405.90) (*USD amounts based on 7/31/04 exchange rate of 1Eur = 1.20295USD) TOUR DE FRANCE A LA VOILE With two windward leeward courses planned for this ultimate day in the 2004 edition of the Tour de France à la Voile, Bouygues Telecom began the day with a 15 point lead ahead of Defi Partage Marseille, who themselves were 11 points ahead of American Deneen Demourkas' multinational team who have lead the majority of the Tour, Groovederci. After a successful first race in an established, if shifty easterly with Bouygues Telecom narrowly taking victory after a tense duel with Groovederci, the second and final race of the day was cancelled shortly after the start due to a lack of wind off St Maxime. Bouygues Telecom won the outright victory in the Tour, with Defi Partage Marseille taking second and the former leader Groovederci completing the podium in third place. - Translation by Kate Jennings Final Results: 1. Bouygues Telecom, Pierre Loïc Berthet, 1161 2. Defi Partage Marseille, Thierry Bouchard/ Dimitri Deruelle, 1139 3. Groovederci, Deneen B. Demourkas/ Laurent Pages, 1132 Event website: http://www.tourvoile.fr/ SURPRISE Brad Butterworth admits he was surprised to learn of Ernesto Bertarelli's multi-million dollar loan to Team New Zealand. The Alinghi tactician, who sailed in both of Team New Zealand's winning campaigns, says it is not really anything to with the sailing team. He told Newstalk ZB's Peter Montgomery that Bertarelli's explanation - that he wants good challengers to take part in the cup - rings true. Brad Butterworth says Bertarelli is bound to cop some flak over the deal, but feels his boss would be damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. He says it will be interesting to see how the other syndicates react to the loan. - NZC.co.nz - http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/default.asp?id=41798 QUOTE / UNQUOTE "I'm astonished. It's almost unbelievable and it's unfair. I can see the attraction of having Team New Zealand because they are glamorous and they were holders. But we all have equal rights don't we, because we are all potential holders." - GBR Challenge chairman Peter Harrison from a story by Tim Jeffery in the Daily Telegraph about the $10 million loan that Swiss biotech billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli gave to Team New Zealand a to ensure the former America's Cup holders will contest the 2007 event in Valencia. Full story: http://tinyurl.com/4ctdm SUUNTO WATCHES-REPLACING LUCK-FEATURED AT SAILNET.COM Wrist-top computer M9 with GPS provides you with information enabling safe and responsible decisions at sea, along with tools to help make the right tactical decisions and analyze sailing performance. Suunto performance watches combine chronographic, sailing and navigational features in several stylish designs, including the Yachtsman's waterproof aluminum housing. http://www.sailnet.com/view.cfm?page=12730 NEWS BRIEFS * Strong tides and fickle winds were the dominant feature of the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Channel Race, the high scoring grand finale of the Rolex Commodores' Cup. Following strong performances by all three of their boats in the Channel Race, GBR Red (Bear of Britain, Farr 52 Kit Hobday/ Tim Louis; Exavyte, IMX 40, Jerry Otter; Jeronimo, J/109, Jonathan & Lisa Goring) been proclaimed the overall winners. The Irish team, who led this regatta throughout the week, dropped to third overall behind France Blue. - www.rorc.org * Apparently a kite-board has just broken the 40 knot barrier. The World Sailing Speed Records Council has received a claim from Manu Taub (FRA) in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, sailing a "Radical" Windsurfer with 10 sq mts of kite. The claimed speed was 40.58 kts over 500 metres in 30/ 35 knots wind on July 30. * Sacked America's Cup skipper Russell Coutts says he will take legal action, following his dismissal by Swiss syndicate Team Alinghi last month. "I am going to defend myself through the legal system," he said. "I have not given up hope of taking part in the next Cup in 2007 in Valencia," he told a Swiss newspaper. - BBC website, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/3525552.stm * Canadian Bill Abbott, his wife Joanne and Paul Davis are the Soling Worlds Masters Champions, at Lake Michigan. In a close battle that turned into match racing USA 842 Stu Walker, Doug Loup, Andrew Dizer from Annapolis beat Joe Hoeksema his wife Rose and Matias Collins who finished third. www.soling.com/results/ShowResults.asp?ID=138 * Although the Newport to Bermuda Race officials did not recognize the new elapsed time course record set by Hasso Plattner's Morning Glory in the "Demonstration Division" of their 44th Bermuda Race, it has now been officially recognized by the World Sailing Speed Council as the monohull world record - 2 days 39 minutes 22 seconds, 13.09 kts. - http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ * There has been a lot of discussion of the recent changes to Article 13.12 of the America's Cup Protocol which will probably keep Russell Coutts from getting another gig for the 2007 event. We've posted that amendment on the Scuttlebutt website - now you can judge for yourself: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/04/acupprotocol714.pdf * The US sent seven teams to the 420 European Championship in Zadar, Croatia. The 55-boat Ladies division was won by Pippa Wilson/ Harriette Trumble (GBR) with the USA's Leigh Kempton/ Kaity Storck finishing 6th overall. Croatians Matija Longin/ Pavle Kostov won the 83-boat Men's fleet with Adam Roberts/ Nick Martin (USA) finishing 15th in the Gold fleet. This is the 5th year CISA has sent a US team to major I-420 regattas. http://www.uskok.biz.hr/420ec2004 * Krysha Pohl and Morgan Commette of the USA battled to the last leg of the Snipe Women's World Championship, finishing second by two points behind the new champions, sisters Andrea & Mariana Foglia of Uruguay. Held in Oslo, Norway July 22-27, 35 boats from eight countries competed in varying conditions. Laura Jeffers and Sherri Welch of Florida finished 11th overall. - www.snipe.no * Sandhamn, Sweeden - Sweden's Peder Arvefors, sailing with his sister Tintan, his 13-year old son plus Martin and Magnus Grävare, is the new J/80 World champion. The USA's Kerry Klingler/ Robert Miller finished second, six points back, with Ingemar Sundstedt from Sweden taking third place in the 56-boat fleet. www.ksss.se/j80worlds2004.htm MAD MARTHA MONTHS July and August are Mad Martha Months at Team One Newport. Martha started Team One Newport almost 20 years ago and people said she was crazy. Well, the only thing crazy right now is how low she is selling some discontinued items on the web! Go to http://www.team1newport.com and hit the specials page for items that are coming on line daily through the months of July and August. Team One Newport has the best and latest gear from all the top sailing clothing manufacturers! Call 800-VIP-GEAR for a free catalog! LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Stephen Sumner: This is becoming a farce, of a mockery, of a sham! What a mess, if things carry on the way they seem to be going then we feel the AC is not any where as viable as it was; especially if you take out Mr Couttes. Mr Bertarelli should look around and maybe look to see how many people are in fact interested in this sport and how much damage might be caused! Seahorse International that has just come out makes for good reading as always, the bit for me and my crew was the possible concept of Mr Couttes and Cayard running a one design regatta in 80ft trapeze boats! We say bring it on! * From Tracy Edwards: I think Russell Coutts should forget the America's Cup and come and do The Oryx Cup! * From Chris Welsh: Loans from rival syndicates to "prop up" the competition? (A good event wouldn't need propping up) Retroactively barring the leading helmsman from sailing? (true nationality requirements would have precluded this development) $160 Million is necessary in order to conduct a campaign? (patently absurd) The spirit of Corinthian competition in the America's Cup is dead. Sell the Cup to the highest bidder - oops, did we already do that? It seems the America's Cup is going the way of IOR racing, and several other formulas before that: ascending popularity, then good racing, followed by large egos, ascending costs, declining participation, death of the rule/event, and finally, good racing again when the boats which have no other purpose are sold for pennies and raced at the amateur level on a shoestring. Just so this is not criticism without a solution as well, I suggest the cities of Newport, Rhode Island, and Perth, Australia should start a new match racing event with cost cutting measures, real nationality requirements, and potential for a boat to be competitive in more than one cup challenge. The America's Cup in Perth has to have been the most exciting racing sailing has ever presented in a mass appeal event. * Al Schreitmueller (Re: the America's Cup situation): what a remarkable marketing gaff- and from people who you would think have passed business 101! To watch the best in sailing I have stayed up to all hours of the night and hit the web site numerous times during the day. In America, the National Football League had a strike and the owners used replacement players. No one cared. What if Lance Armstrong was banned from the Tour de France? Jeff Gordon from NASCAR? The fans will walk. With all due respect to the high-rollers, you are not why I care. And if they are responsible for excluding the players I root for, I'm running, not walking. So Mr's Cayard & Coutts, there couldn't be a better time to announce what you are working on... if the sponsors really understood what just happened and how the (spending and very close) sailing community feels about it (and their own), they might pause... * From Cliff Bradford (Regarding the Swedish Match 40s): Why is it that a boat that was not designed to anything but a geometric box (trailer?) rule have a feature (the double knuckle) that was dictated by another rule (IACC) that has no bearing on it's design? It is a feature that was incorporated into IACC boats to gain the length that the rules wouldn't let them have with a "normal" boat shape. Why not then simply design in the extra length? Also why not a tiller instead of wheel? Considering that the boats are likely to shipped around, a tiller would probably be more robust and I'm sure the helmspersons would prefer the feel. - Reply from Scott MacLeod, Swedish Match Tour Director, Yes, as a one-design class there was no need to have the double knuckle in the design for performance. The double-knuckle was included because one of our design parameters was for the boat to look like an IACC yacht when sailing for TV and the public. We also wanted it to perform like an IACC yacht in the dial-up and pre-start which we have achieved given the positive response from the skippers. We also couldn't just put in extra length or beam because of the constraints of shipping by container. As a sailor I would have preferred a tiller but our TV people wanted a wheel. With a wheel you can see who is actually driving the boat as the skipper is standing up and you can see the boat maneuver when the skippers turns the yacht during the pre-start. You'll be amazed at the way these skippers throw these boats around in the pre-start from the onboard cameras. The wheel picks up all the action which is better for the public and TV. You can check the boats out at www.swedishmatch.tv - Curmudgeon's Comment: Take a look at photos of the SM 40s posted on the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/sm40/ * From Dick Rath: It was with a strange mixture of great pride and deep humility that I joined yesterday in Connecticut with fellow members of the Storm Trysail Club, sailing industry leaders, world class sailors, and most importantly, the family and close friends of Russell Hoyt to say a final farewell to this unique individual, gifted sailor, talented seaman, extraordinary friend to the sport of sailing and, for me personally, a good friend and mate. Adding to the warm recollections and accurate portrayal of the man in Kim Roberts note written earlier today, Russell was generous to a fault with his time, expertise, and resources. He was also unassuming, loyal, and honest; when Russell said he was going to do something you could always count that he would. Few who knew him realized that their good friend and sailing buddy was also the founder and former CEO of Walden Books. Russell would simply rather talk about sailing. He was a great teller of sea stories, war stories, and seriously good jokes. Fortunate indeed am I to recount a day on the waters off Newport with Russell and his friends Shuff Willman and Fang swapping stories and sailing a notch or two above the competition. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS You have to stay in shape. Like the grandmother who started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today … and no one has any idea where she is. |
