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SCUTTLEBUTT 2240 – December 11, 2006Scuttlebutt 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). 170 YEARS LATER When Geoff Ross sails up the Derwent River to the finish line of his 12th Rolex Sydney Hobart this year, he’ll be marking 170 years since his ancestors first arrived in Hobart Town via convict ship. The sail number on his new 17m yacht Yendys (Sydney spelt backwards) is 1836 – the year that 23 year old farm servant Issabella Urquhart arrived in Hobart aboard the convict ship HMAS Westmoreland from her home of Inverary, Scotland to serve a seven year sentence. A year later, Frederick Rosser arrived in Hobart, having been sent to Hobart by a London court for allegedly breaking a glass window. Frederick, who always claimed his innocence, endured a torturous sea voyage with floggings aboard HMAS Recovery along with 284 other male convicts. After meeting in Hobart, Issabella and Frederick married and settled in New Norfolk, Tasmania to start a family, Frederick eventually becoming a police officer. Geoff Ross had no knowledge of this family history when he sailed his first race to Hobart in 1994. Research into the Ross family tree by an aunt found not only the arrival of Issabella and Frederick, but also turned up the transcript of Frederick’s court case and entries in the log books of the ships which carried the two convicts. When Geoff skippered his former Yendys to an Overall win in the 1999 Sydney Hobart, the victory was extra sweet with the knowledge that his family had come full circle. -- by Nicole Browne, full story: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/news.asp?key=2906 GOING FOR A BIG SLICE Pulau Duyong (Maylasia), which has earned its reputation as a high quality purpose-built stadium for sailing, is aiming to become a premier venue for all forms of sailing and water sports competition in the world. Its development will receive all the support from the Malaysian Federal government. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi envisioned this becoming a reality with additional facilities on the small island in the middle of Sungai Terengganu. 'It is possible. We can provide the best infrastructure to capture all forms of the world’s water sport events. Pulau Duyong will be ready to welcome these sports.' The second edition of the Monsoon Cup was a testimony of the island’s potential. The event drew the best sailors in the world in a prestigious sport often compared with Formula One motor racing. 'We want the younger generation to get involved in sailing,' Abdullah said before the award presentation to the Monsoon Cup winners. 'We will soon have a sailing academy at Pulau Duyong and we will have a more structured programme to teach those interested in sailing.' Abdullah said the fact that the organiser of another prestigious sailing event, the Volvo Ocean Race, had decided to make Pulau Duyong one of the stops in its race, augured well for the sports. (story from New Straits Times) -- Sail World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/ylc5hx TORNADO WORLDS (San Isidro, Argentina - Dec 10, 2006) On the final day of the Worlds, the breeze under 6 knots kept the competitors waiting on the water to start Race 9. When the breeze finally picked up the RC had to move the course due to the shallow conditions. By then only 1 race could be sailed and the Australians won the title with one race to spare. The battle for second was between local heroes Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola (ARG) and Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT). Both teams started together in the middle of the starting line but the Argentineans went all the way to the right side of the course while the Austrians decided for the middle. Santiago and Carlos rounded in first, followed by Dutch Mitch Booth & Pim Nieuwenhis in second and Spanish Fernando Echavarri & Anton Paz in third. The Austrians rounded seventh, never able to overtake the Argentine’s lead, thus falling to third overall. -- Event website: http://tornado2006.cnsi.org.ar/ Final Standings after nine races (48 boats - one discard): 1. Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby (AUS) 23 pts 2. Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola (ARG) 37 pts 3. Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) 41 pts 4. Iordanis Paschaladis & Constantinos Trigonis (GRE) 67 pts 5. Yann Guichard & Alexandre Guyader (FRA) 77 pts 16. Oskar Johansson & Kevin Stittle (CAN) 131 pts 25. Robbie Daniel & Gary Chu 13 (USA)) 163 pts 27. John Lovell & Charlie Ogletree (USA) 169 pts Complete results: http://tornado2006.cnsi.org.ar/archivos/mundial06_res.htm HARKEN.COM FOR STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY SHOPPING When your friends do nothing but eat, sleep, and talk sailing, your shopping list is easy. For sure-fire holiday hits, take a trip to Harken’s online store for must-have sailing accessories. Find sailor-designed and tested deck shoes and gloves, performance-enhancing sunglasses, cool sailing T’s, hats with attitude and belts to hold your pants up. Pack your gear in a Harken duffle, and when the temperature drops, turn up the heat with soft-shell fleece - jackets or vests. Visit the Harken store for great gifts under $25, $50, and $100: http://www.harken.com/Christmas/Christmas2006.php NO PARTY TOO FAR Skimming along on your back a few inches above the ice, even 25 miles per hour seems fast. The shore rushes toward you with startling speed, and when you turn to tack, the sail's boom threatens to scrape your face as the sail switches from one side of the boat to the other. One of the many challenges in iceboating - sailing on frozen lakes with boats that speed on metal runners - is finding the right conditions. Not only do racers need enough wind to fill their sails, but they also need a nice, big sheet of ice frozen to a safe level of thickness but without a layer of a snow that would bog down the runners. That's why top iceboaters are willing to haul themselves and their boats across the country - and the world - to Minnesota on the first weekend of every December, when conditions are usually right somewhere in the state for the Great Western Challenge, the kickoff of the iceboating season. -- by Richard Chin, Pioneer Press, full story: http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/16188311.htm SANTABUTT WANTS TO VISIT YOU But before the Curmudgeon’s alter-ego, ‘Santabutt’ can visit, you must first send him your holiday gift list. Each week, one lucky list wins a $50 gift certificate. Congrats to last week’s winner – the second from Canada – whose letter said that he/she was needing to move from their Ultimate 20 fleet in Ottawa, and for “Christmas would like 4 Ultimate 20s and a trailer and a truck to tow them. That way there will always be a fleet of Ultimate 20s when I go sailing.” There are only two weeks remaining to submit your “must have” items for this year’s holiday season. Post your gift list here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/2006/gifts YOUNG GUNS The ‘young guns’ series on the Volvo Ocean Race website takes a look at the aspiring young sailors who want to be the next generation of Volvo Ocean racers. These are the people who, in the summer months are out on the water, racing as much as they can, and, in the cold dark winter days, are found working tirelessly in boatyards. The reason? Their love of sailing and their desire to make it as professional sailors. Simon Fisher proved it is possible when he was appointed navigator of ABN Amro Two. Peter Greenhalgh wants to follow in his brother’s footsteps, and now, Will Best, former shore crew of Ericsson Racing team, makes his claim.... To any sailor who has experienced offshore sailing, the sight of a Volvo Open 70 in full flight makes the hair on the back of your neck prickle, but, not appreciated by many people, is the huge amount of work that goes into the preparation of these boats in order to go out and race. The shore crews often work day and night to make sure that their team’s boat is in top shape. Will Best (29) is a native of Wales and he was part of the Ericsson Racing Team shore crew for the last Volvo. His worth to the team was all too evident when the sailing team’s navigator Steve Hayles was taken ill at the last minute before the Cape Town in-port race and Will stepped in to take his place. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/yeoau9 MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE In 1996, John Williams threw a message in a bottle into the ocean off Cape Horn. Williams, a crewmember on the BT Global Challenge, wrote that he was doing a race and enclosed a copy of Santiana, a melancholy Welsh sea shanty that was one of his grandfather's favourites. The bottle must have circulated in the opposite direction, riding the Southern Ocean currents, maybe even doing a circumnavigation itself, until it was found this summer. After a decade's voyaging it had washed up in Strahan, Tasmania where it was picked up by artist Janet Claridge. She contacted the Royal Australian Yacht Squadron, who put her in touch with John via Challenge Business. -- Elaine Bunting's blog, http://tinyurl.com/ykv8l7 NEW J BOATS 40 FOOTER SEEN IN PARIS For the second time in five years (J/109 in 2001), a new J has been introduced on European soil. Last week, the J/122 debuted at the Paris Boat Show with rave reviews. J/Europe production for this IRC cruiser-racer is already booked through July with the first USA arrival in February. http://www.jboats.com/j122 GOOD THREADS A couple of threads caught our attention on the Scuttlebutt Forum: * SF Bay as AC Venue: This post discusses the problems of hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco, CA. The opinions offered range from the limitation of the bay, to how these limitations would provide some ‘must-see tv.’ As one user stated, “A SF event would NOT be your father's America's Cup. This would be very different for all the reasons you have outlined. The race legs will be short, the landscape confined, the obstacles many. Hate to say it, but it will be what people who seek more sailing on TV have been craving for. The racing will be "made for tv." This is likely the only premier sailing event that can get away with such drastic changes. And the changes will not be to lure tv and sponsors, but to merely adapt to the Bay. However, these changes will play perfectly for better coverage, both by spectators and cameras.” * Sewer: “I will sail some races on a Big-Boat in the next weeks, and my position will be the ‘Sewer.’ Just thinking about what my job will be, and how to do it the best way. Think I’ll be the one who drops the kite and packs it at the windward leg, won’t I? Would be great to get some advices here! If you are among the nearly 1600 Forum users, your comments to these threads (and others) are appreciated: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/2006 SAILING SHORTS * Scuttlebutt carried a story from the 'Lectronic Lattitude’ on the Emma Maersk in Issue 2195 (Oct. 5, 2006), which was reportedly under construction but when launched would be the largest container ship in the world. Well, we have learned now that she was launched in September 2006, and ‘Butthead James King has provided Scuttlebutt some photos and info that give a little more of the flavor of this magnificent monster: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/1205 * US Sailing and Sailing World are conducting their annual One-Design Survey to gauge the status of one-design classes around the country and foster the continued growth of our sport. Results from this year's survey will be presented at US Sailing's One-Design Sailing Symposium in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 20-21, 2007. To ensure your class is represented in the report, encourage your class secretary or other officer to complete their short web survey here: http://tinyurl.com/yeaeyg EIGHT BELLS Quentin McGown, 75, a familiar face for the sport in the southwest, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, at home. Growing up at the Fort Worth Boat Club, of which his father was one of the founders and its first commodore, instilled a love for the sport that he shared with everyone that he met. He served as secretary of the Boat Club, commodore of the Texas Yachting Association and senior judge for the United States Yacht Racing Union. For many years he chaired the youth sailing program at the Boat Club, encouraging young competitors and helping many of them go on to win national and international trophies. He established the Longhorn Youth Racing Association to provide financial and equipment support to help sailors campaign throughout the country. With an infectious sense of humor and a willingness to help anyone in need, his was a life well lived and well loved. -- Star Telegram, http://tinyurl.com/yg2pqz COUNTDOWN TO KEY WEST! North America’s premiere international regatta – Acura Key West 2007 (Jan 15-19) is fast approaching. World-class competition featuring IRC, One Designs and a PHRF National Championship, professional race management, incredible conditions and a 20th year celebration. There’s still time to enter, but you better do it soon. Details and online entry: http://www.Premiere-Racing.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 Jack Thurman: Regarding Donal McClement’s letter in ‘butt 2239 about the sailor classification observations made by Wally Cross at the Mumm 30 Worlds, and how violators of the code are subject to Rule 69 violations. Hmm, isn’t that the penalty that takes so long to process in the US that it has become a tiger with no teeth. I bet the Laser class would welcome another one-design class finding themselves under the spotlight, err, flashlight of the US Review Board. * From Magnus Wheatley: (re, Fisher’s letter in Issue 2238) Moth, Moth, Moth! Bob Fisher more than anybody in sailing knows what he's talking about so if he says simplify the points scoring then we should all damn well listen to him rather than the ridiculous letter in Friday's Butt making a case to further complicate the issue. Sailing is currently bottom in the TV rankings at the Games. Here's the answer...Bladerider Moths...Absolutely guaranteed to be on the front page of every newspaper, magazine and TV schedule in the world come 2012. It's the greatest advance in sailing in 40 years as my friend Harold Cudmore concurs and it would be the biggest travesty of all time if we didn't adopt them as Olympic boats for 2012. Why don't ISAF pressure the IOC, in light of the stunning development, to have them as a demonstration class in 2008? Failing that as I know it's political...why don't the Bladerider boys simply turn up in Qingdao and blast around the harbour...I guarantee not one cameraman will be looking at the Star, Tornado, 470 or Yngling if that were to happen. * From Dave Carroll: The recent article in Scuttlebutt (in Issue 2237) regarding scoring brought several things to mind that I felt were in need of a fix—certainly for a series of races in regattas and especially for one design dingy sailors. A long time ago--before the 720 rule was even thought of--I seem to remember the rules for scoring where I sailed were: DNF = number of finishers +1 DNS = number of starters +1 DSQ= number of finishers +2 So, as I recall, it was better to retire than take a DSQ if you committed a foul. This penalty encouraged learning the rules, and not committing a foul. Now we are not only allowed to exonerate ourselves by taking a 720 penalty, we can do this and still protest the incident. Besides that, a DSQ scores the same as a non-finisher, thus encouraging going to the room and taking your chances rather than taking your lumps. Finally, the current scoring system allows throw-outs of bad races, including DSQ's. I personally feel that the scoring system has gone soft, encourages fouls and protests of situations which are clearly violations of the rules. The 720 penalty is usually fair, but having it both ways seems ambivalent. Tossing out a bad race might be a good idea--especially if there is a breakdown--but tossing out a DSQ serves as an invitation and enticement to push the rules, not to encourage fair sailing. * From Rory Ramsden: The double elimination knock out system leading to quarterfinals, semi finals, and finals has been around for years in windsurfing. It has been in the RRS Windsurfing edition, since Appendix B was thoroughly amended a few years ago. It works with lots of competitors, different course formats, and wind speeds. It allows for a best of three final races which some believe is farer that the current scoring system for the Olympic medal races. The scoring system in high profile events does not have to be different! This is a new concept for dinghies and keelboats so testing needs to be done with other Olympic fleets first before it can be considered for the Olympic Regatta. However, it would certainly make the scoring a lot easier for non-sailors to understand. Another benefit would be that juries would have to decide protests immediately after the race in which the incident occurred. Windsurfing juries hear these protests on the beach for all to see! CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION When a man marries a woman, they become one; the trouble starts when they try to decide which one. Special thanks to Harken Yacht Equipment, J/Boats, and Premiere Racing. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
