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SCUTTLEBUTT 2360 - June 7, 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).
IT'S NEW ZEALAND VS ALINGHI
(June 6, 2007) The bigger they are, the harder they fall – and Luna Rossa
went down hard. The final scoreline of 5-0 didn’t seem to reflect the
difference between the teams. But today’s race just served notice once again
that in match racing, in these boats, the tiniest edge can be turned into a
sweep, as ETNZ converted the slimmest of advantages at the first cross into
a 20 second lead that they held to the finish. And so, after four years and
four months of relentless hard work, the Kiwis are back where they started –
they have to beat Alinghi five times to win the America’s Cup.
It started (in Race 5) with Dean Barker and the ETNZ trimmers pulling off a
brilliant move to get out of the left-hand side of the dial-up – they got
themselves both separated and far enough back to flop onto port and swing
their bow round behind the transom of Luna Rossa. The Italians were left
with no option but to circle round and follow them out to the right-hand
side of the box. -- Read on:
http://markchisnell.blogspot.com/2007/06/its-new-zealand-v-alinghi.html
Louis Vuitton Cup – Final Results
1. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 1-1-1-1-1-_-_-_-_ = 5
3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA) 0-0-0-0-0-_-_-_-_ = 0
* Race schedule: The Louis Vuitton challenger finals are completed, with
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) and Alinghi (SUI) set to begin the America’s
Cup match on June 23rd. -- Complete schedule:
http://www.americascup.com/en/americascup/program/calendrier.php
* Happier times: At least the Luna Rossa team can take solace in the
magnificent spanking they gave BMW Oracle Racing in the Semi-Finals at the
start of race 5, earning two penalties on the American entry. Italian
television video from the start is online at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1hYEuJWjW8&eurl=
* Cayard’s comments: “Luna Rossa put up a new mainsail and made a change to
the appendage package Tuesday night. Their boat was faster, but not fast
enough. They were beaten by a better boat, and a better team.” --
http://www.cayardsailing.com/cs_evntRpt.cfm?EvntRpt=604
* Worst kept secret: It was reported on the Cup in Europe website that Ben
Ainslie will join Team Origin. Grant Dalton revealed the celebrated English
sailor's days in the team are just about numbered. Dalton said Ainslie, who
has two Olympic gold medals to his name, had indicated he wants to quit
Emirates Team New Zealand and join start-up America's Cup syndicate Team
GBR. -- http://www.cupineurope.com/NewsEN/2007/AC33.htm
AT LAST DEAN SMILES!
Dean Barker punched the air as he crossed the finish line of today’s
decisive race, the first skipper to have won the Louis Vuitton Cup with a
clean sweep. He even smiled. In fact he smiled a lot, as did the rest of the
Kiwis, who did enough smiling and backslapping to make up for the past two
months of tight-lipped stoicism that we have seen until today. Having beaten
Luna Rossa by 22 seconds, condemning the Italians to a 5-0 exit from the
Louis Vuitton Cup, Barker looked like a man who had banished his demons. He
has taken a first important step towards making amends for the humiliation
of that 5-0 defeat at the hands of Alinghi four years ago. -- SailJuice,
full story: http://sailjuice.blogspot.com/2007/06/at-last-dean-smiles.html
FEEDBACK FOR VERSUS
When watching the Louis Vuitton on Versus, you knew the action was getting
tight when one of the commentators noted that it was “all on.” While
watching Wednesday’s final Louis Vuitton race on Versus, it seemed to be
“all on” for the broadcasting team too. Craig Hummer and Peter Isler were
having great chats in the studio, the directors were frequently cutting to
replay footage to remind us of key moments during the race, they pulled out
the John Madden telestrator to help Isler explain situations, the
on-the-water team of Tucker Thompson and Andy Green were providing
significant analysis, and there was a new mix of wide-angle boat shots along
with the close-ups that gave a new sense of meaning to the entire show.
The Versus team is continuing to tune the product, and the Scuttlebutt
community should lend a hand. The America’s Cup match begins June 23, so
there is another 2+ weeks for them to raise the bar further. Scuttlebutt has
created a feedback page, and we are seeking the comments and suggestions of
the ‘buttheads. Let’s help the cause by voting on our favorite commentator,
and providing all our “expert” advice:
http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/07/0606
ULLMAN CUSTOMERS DOMINATE CAL RACE WEEK!
Ullman customers won 8 of 14 classes, sweeping the top three slots in 3
classes at Ullman Sails Inshore Championship Series. Ullman 1st place
customers: Fast 50’s, Alec Oberschmidt’s R/P 50 “Staghound”; Sportboats,
Geoff Logenecker’s “Nemesis”; J/105’s, Jeff Janov’s “Invinsible”; J/109’s,
Gary Mozer’s “Current Obsession”; Schock 35’s, Don/ Dave Michaelis’ “Mako”;
PHRF C, Susan Taylor’s J/24 “Take Five”; Martin 242’s, Paul Zambriski’s “9
Lives”; and Holder 20’s, Ron Van Heel’s “Picanate”. Final stop on the Ullman
Sails Inshore Championship is Long Beach Race Week, June 22-24. “For the
Fastest Sails on the Planet” visit http://www.ullmansails.com
OLYMPIC UPDATE: EUROPEAN CHAMPS
* Laser Europeans, Hyeres, France: (June 6, 2007) After an onshore delay the
fleet was sent to the water around 2:00 pm, with the wind finally filling
enough to get off one race starting around 4:30 pm. The qualifying series in
the 155-boat senior division is now completed after 6 races (with one
throw-out), with the fleet being split into the Gold and Silver groups to
start the final series on Thursday. All scores are carried forward less the
throw-out. Canadian Michael Leigh remains the top North American in third;
those having a good sixth race include Bernard Luttmer (CAN, 1st) and Brad
Funk (USA, 4th). In the 103-boat youth division, Kyle Rogachenko (USA)
finished 2nd today to lay claim as the top North American in eighth place
overall. -- Brad Funk, complete results:
http://coych.nikopo.com/?page=affnews
* Finn Europeans, Lake Balaton, Hungary: (June 6, 2007) Wednesday dawned
colder and cloudy on Lake Balaton, with more light winds providing very
tricky conditions. A fickle 4-6 knot breeze allowed for the completion of
only one race, which finally started for the 92-boat fleet under a black
flag after two general recalls. After 3 races, the top North American
entrant Geoffrey Ewenson (USA) rolled a 7th place on Wednesday to pull him
up to 12th. Two more races are scheduled for Thursday, wind permitting. --
Full results:
http://www.spartacus.hu/hun/hirek/versenyeredmenyek/doc/Finn_1-3.htm
* 470 Europeans, Thessaloniki, Greece: (June 6, 2007) The fleet was skunked
again, but unlike Tuesday when there was too much wind, today there proved
to be no wind at all. Racing resumes Thursday with three races on the
program to finish the Qualifying series. In the 92-boat men’s fleet, the top
North American team is Mikee Anderson/ David Hughes (USA) in 21st, and in
the 48-boat women’s fleet, it is Amanda Clark/ Sarah Merghenthaler (USA) in
12th. -- Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving, event website:
http://www.ncth.gr/470/
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR
(This story comes from the ‘Messing About in Sailboats’ blog, where they are
seeking help with sailing song suggestions. Read on.)
I would like to enlist your help in a project. And there's an incentive! I
got to thinking about my favorite sailing songs. Frankly compared to most
categories, the list is short. Top 10 Car songs - the list is endless. Top
10 Soccer songs - I could go on forever. But when it comes to songs where
sailing is an integral part, I really had to scratch my head. I came up with
the following list. As you can see I was stretching. Some are just plain
lame:
Southern Cross - Crobsy Stills Nash
Sailing - Chris Cross (laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame)
We are sailing - Rod Stewart
Dingle Regatta - The Pogues
Irish Rover - the Pogues with the Dubliners (My personal favorite)
Sloop Jonby - Beach Boys
Change in Latitudes - Jimmy Buffet
Wooden Ships - CSN again
Redemption Song - Bob Marley (Stretching...)
Fog on the Tyne - Can't remember who
I'm shipping up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys
Down by the sea - Men at Work (Their worst song IMHO)
That was it. Pathetic really. Here's where you come in.
• Part 1 - Tell me your favorite sailing songs.
• Part Deux - I will run a poll on my blog for a month so that anyone who
wants to can vote for their favorite songs.
• Part 3 - The good bit! I will send you a CD of the Top 10 songs for
sending me your contribution. -- http://tinyurl.com/2ncrpp
JANET BAXTER HONORED
With near-perfect weather and a capacity crowd, the sixth annual Women’s
Sailing Conference sponsored by BoatUS filled the Corinthian Yacht Club in
scenic Marblehead, MA, with a lively day-long series of classes and
workshops. The conference organized by the National Women’s Sailing
Association (NWSA) gives women sailors, from novices to experts, an
opportunity to network with other women while learning new skills or
brushing up on old ones. A highlight of the day’s events was the
presentation of the Leadership in Women’s Sailing Award to Janet Baxter, a
Chicago-based racer, sailing judge and the first woman to be elected
president of United States Sailing Association, the national governing body
of the sport in the US. -- Read on:
http://www.boatus.com/news/releases/2007/june/07wsc.asp
ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES
I don't know if Brian Moran felt different at his dot-com job than others in
the Bay Area felt at theirs. What he describes certainly sounds familiar: He
weathered the bust. He made good money. His work wasn't overly taxing. But
he was sort of bored. Less familiar is what he did about it. While other
unfulfilled office workers plodded their way into grumbling acceptance, the
31-year-old San Francisco resident jumped ship. He landed not at a slightly
cooler office or, say, the MFA program that always beckoned. He landed in
the San Francisco Bay.
That was five years ago and he still smiles -- actually smiles -- when asked
about his current job. What's rare isn't a career change. What's rare, I
think, is choosing happiness over that alternative offered by so many office
jobs or, for that matter, any job we gradually surrender to: the vague
promise of something possibly leading to happiness. Anyway, to this day
Brian still lands in the bay each morning -- he pulls on his flippers and
mask and slides on in. Brian dives under boats and cleans their hulls. – SF
Chronicle, full story: http://tinyurl.com/39puvg
* Larry Jacobson and Ken Smith of the Emery Cove-based Stevens 50 Julia
think that their circumnavigation may be the first by a gay couple. "We've
met other gays out here," writes Jacobson, "but we're the only ones that
were circumnavigating. Our plan is to sail under the Golden Gate Bridge on
August 4 at noon, so break out the rainbow flags!" Jacobson and Smith left
the Bay on December 7 of 2001, and completed their circumnavigation last
month in Zihuatanejo. -- Lectronic Latitude, http://tinyurl.com/2lbc4x
THE GIFT FOR THE DAD WHO HAS EVERYTHING
Looking for a great gift for a Dad who has it all this boating season? Why
not get him his own professional grade Ribcraft RIB. The 15’ Ribcraft 150,
the US SAILING 15, or the 19’ Ribcraft 190 make perfect tenders, runabouts,
or boats for watching the kids sail. Enjoy hassle free boating on the
Official RIB of US SAILING and the boat of choice of yacht clubs and first
responders. Hey, and guess what Dads? It’s OK to treat yourselves too!
Contact Ribcraft today to learn how their line of professional grade rigid
inflatable boats is perfect for Dad. http://www.ribcraftusa.com
POWER IN NUMBERS
A broken levee forced one of New Orleans' premiere sailing families to leave
the Big Easy, but not the sport that led them around the world and into the
heart of one Hilton Head Island (South Carolina) boy. When the Potts family
needed to relocate in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, they decided to settle
in Sag Harbor, N.Y., so teenage son Pearson Potts Jr. could continue to
train as an Optimist sailor. "After the hurricane, there was no real sailing
anymore in that part of the country," said Marisa Potts, Pearson's mother.
"So the idea was to put together a group of kids from all over the country
to sail as one big group."
Connor Brady, an Opti sailor who attends Hilton Head Island Middle School,
knew the Potts family from competing in regattas along the East Coast. He
joined their team, GUST -- or Greater United Sailing Team -- in the autumn
of 2006. "When you form a team, you can all put in money and get a coach,"
said Joyce Brady, Connor's mother. "Before, it was just kind of Team Brady."
Now, Connor Brady is one of about a dozen sailors who train together
whenever and wherever possible. -- Full story:
http://www.islandpacket.com/sports/local/story/6530925p-5811235c.html
SAILING SHORTS
* Palmer Johnson has begun construction of a series of new manufacturing
facilities in its Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, location. The new buildings will
allow Palmer Johnson to streamline its production facilities and increase
the number of builds. Palmer Johnson builds semi-custom sports yachts from
120 to 150 feet in length. -- IBI Magazine, full story:
http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070505162501ibinews.html
* The ISAF World Match Race Rankings were released 6 June 2007, and there
appears to be no stopping Claire Leroy (FRA) as the French skipper holds the
world #1 spot for the 20th consecutive release of the Women’s ISAF World
Match Race Rankings. In the Open Rankings, Ian Williams (GBR) also stays at
#1, although he has the on form Mathieu Richard (FRA) hot on his heels. --
ISAF, full report:
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j6qFnAA7?&format=popup
* (Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy) Three races, three different winners and
only three points separating the top three boats. The Rolex Farr 40
Europeans got underway on Wednesday with only 7-8 knots of breeze, with
Eivind Astrup and Norwegian Steam leading after three 7 nautical mile
windward-leeward races. -- Full report:
http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1629
* US Sailing’s elimination calendar is now posted for the three Chubb U.S.
Junior Championships: Singlehanded for the Smythe Trophy, Doublehanded for
the Bemis Trophy, and Triplehanded for the Sears Cup. --
http://www.ussailing.org/championships
* The first night of the every-Tuesday-in-June Summer Solstice Team Race
Series saw 16 yacht clubs in the northeast start the round-robin regatta at
seven different host clubs. The formula of team racing allows different
abilities to compete on the same course using a local fleet, with
experienced and less experienced sailors participating in a half dozen fun,
"instructional/ competitive" races followed by a rules and tactics debrief
over pizza and beer. Participating yacht clubs include: American,
Centerport, Indian Harbor, Kings Point MMA, Manhasset Bay, Larchmont, New
York, Noroton, Norwalk, Northport, Pequot, Riverside, Seawanhaka, Sea Cliff,
Stamford and Storm Trysail. For info, contact mailto:dugganb@nyyc.org
* (June 6, 2007) The Women’s International Match Racing Association (WIMRA)
is honored to announce the appointment of Liz Baylis (USA) as the interim
Executive Director of the Association. WIMRA was formed in 1996 to promote
women's international match-race sailing and advocate for the inclusion of a
Women's Match-Racing Event in the Olympic Games. Over the next few month
WIMRA, in conjunction with North U., will be planning, organizing, and
running match racing clinics throughout the world to bring match racing to a
growing group of sailors. -- http://www.wimra.org
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Here are a few of the events that are coming up:
June 8-10 - Invitational Regatta for the Hoag Cup - Newport Beach, CA, USA
June 8-10 - NYYC Annual Regatta Presented by Rolex - Newport, RI, USA
June 9-10 - Hobelman One Design Regatta - Chicago, IL, USA
June 9-10 - Lipton Cup Challenge - San Diego, California, USA
June 9-10 - Live on the Edge Multihull Regatta - Eugene, Oregon, USA
June 9-10 - UK Halsey PHRF and One-Design Regatta - Waukegan, IL, USA
View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
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 Bill Elmer: My daughter came back Monday from an Optimist clinic and
regatta at Cavalaire, France where they sailed in winds gusting over 40
knots. A few anecdotes included getting flattened by a big gust when they
were just luffing between races, being literally spit out of her boat when
squeezed between two other semi out-of-control boats, plus and all other
kinds of “fun” stuff. On Tuesday morning I tuned in to watch the Louis
Vuitton race and she plunked down next to me. After a rather short view the
comment she made was along the lines of “this is way too technical, and sort
of a bore,” and departed. ‘Nuf said?
* From Hank Evans, Des Moines, IA: Pretty sad state of affairs: When the
"Americans" can't take a single mark from the Italians and the Italians
can't take a single mark from the Kiwi's, it is really scary to think how
far behind the cutting edge we are. And that is with the pick of all the
people and boats that Oracle's money could buy. Ouch!
* From Guy Sandusky, Jemez Springs, NM: It's my opinion you need accept no
further submissions for the Tribute to Dads contest. The clear winner has to
be Kelly McCarthy's tribute to her step-dad Bruce Goldsmith. While I've
sailed and raced the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie, extensively, I did
not know Bruce. Yet after reading Kelly's poem, I feel as if I did. And as
such, I miss him a great deal...
Curmudgeon’s Comments: Alternatively, we would like for Kelly’s poem to
shine the light a bit brighter on this year’s Father’s Day. The sudden and
tragic passing of Bruce Goldsmith is a sad reminder of how there are no
guarantees in life, and that we should use what little time we have wisely.
If you haven’t already done so, please post your note to:
=> Dad: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/07/FD
=> Bruce: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/07/bg
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
Integrity is like oxygen. The higher you go, the less there is.
Special thanks to Ullman Sails and Ribcraft RIBS.
Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender
of the 32nd America's Cup.
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