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SCUTTLEBUTT 2368 - June 19, 2007Scuttlebutt 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). WHERE HAVE ALL THE DOCK PARTIES GONE? (An excerpt from Sailing Magazine columnist Chris Caswell's June story) I've taken to having lunch around the corner from my marina in a little dive, which has a well-earned reputation for being dark, worn, vaguely smelly, and having absolutely the best chili within a hundred miles. I was nursing a bowl of chili, browsing the Sunday paper, and plotting my next moves on getting that one @#* frozen bolt out so I could rebed a leaky mooring cleat. I should be smart enough to out-think a simple bolt, but this one has been winning so far. Let's leave it there. A couple was sitting at the next table reading the classifieds, and it seemed they were looking for a new boat. The man had read off a couple of ads for fiberglass 30-footers to his wife, noting the price and the gear on each boat. Their discussion revolved around boat values. Since I'd been reading the other local newspaper, I offered them my classifieds, which would have different boat ads. With the offer of the classifieds, I asked what kind of boat they were getting. It seemed a straightforward assumption, since we all sell our boats to buy other boats that are bigger and faster or, occasionally, smaller and simpler. They seemed of an age to be going up the ladder, but perhaps they were coming back down. The husband seemed embarrassed by the question. "We're not going to get another boat," he said. "We've decided to sell our boat and get out of boating." At that point, a reasonably polite and prudent person would have let the conversation lapse but, being neither, it only piqued my curiosity. I apologized for intruding, but asked why they were getting out. -- Read on: http://www.sailingmagazine.net/onthewind_0607.html BEHIND THE SCENES (T2P.tv's Tucker Thompson is in Valencia, Spain as part of the Versus television team of experts providing coverage of the America's Cup. Here is the latest posting to his America's Cup diary.) Forty seconds to you. What do you see out there?" The lefty is definitely filling in and there's more pressure on this side of the course. They are definitely lifting off of them," I respond. React to that and have Andy cover the other boat's options. Off Craig's throw in 10." The cameraman holds up his fingers. 5,4,3. Tucker it looks like things are changing out on the water. What do you see," asks Craig. Here we go! Talking about sailing is easy for me. I love it, and this job couldn't be any better. The America's Cup is the greatest show in sailing, and I am sitting in the best seat in the house- right on the course literally a few hundred yards from the race boats! There are only four of us on the boat from Versus, and 26 others on shore. They too are all excited to be covering the America's Cup here in Spain, but none of them will actually see any of the sailing! Yet, without them no one else across the US would see the sailing either. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/t2p/#June18 COLLEGE SAILOR OF THE YEAR - Trevor Moore: It is a high compliment when a younger sibling follows the path that has been cleared by an older brother or sister. And so it is for Dana Moore, older brother of Trevor Moore (Pomfret, Vt.), the 2007 College Sailor of the Year. When the family moved to Naples, Fla. from Scituate, Mass., Trevor followed Dana into sailing. He attended Seacrest Country Day School and made the rounds on the "Opti" circuit - eventually competing in three world championships. A goal of finishing top-five at the Opti Worlds was never realized, and by the time Trevor moved back to the family farm in Vermont to attend Woodstock Union School, he was burnt out. He took a year off from the sport, and when he ventured back it was on a Laser, again following Dana's example, and in 2002 he qualified for the national championships in which he finished seventh. The decision to attend Hobart College (Geneva, N.Y.) was well thought out -- it was close enough [and far enough] from Vermont for his Dad to visit, had great academics, and he could sail. And once he had met with Head Coach Scott Ikle, Trevor set himself the goal of becoming ICSA College Sailor of the Year partly because it was something that had eluded Dana, who was named an ICSA All-American in 1996 and was a nominee for the top honor before graduating from the College of Charleston in 1998. "After four years of hard work, devotion, and persistence, that dream came true," said Trevor. "Sailing is a mental game, and in 18 races sometimes you don't get the break you want, and it can be tough to come back. Looking back at what my team and coach have helped me accomplish...I can't thank them enough." -- There's more: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j1fFniBk? THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING At all the regattas around the world, just look at what the crews are wearing. It is no surprise that the Camet Padded Shorts, Rio, Bermuda Aruba, Cargo Shorts and Pants are everywhere - from Opti sailors to the Farr 40's, Maxi's and cruisers. The comfort of the pads, the reinforced Cordura seat, the quick drying breathable Supplex fabrics, and the 97.5% UV protection provide the solutions for hours on the water. Check out the Shorts, Code Zero shirts, Neoprene Hiking pants, X5 shirts, Rash Guards, and Mylar bags on the Camet web site: http://www.camet.com/?Click=122 THE TOP TEN (The results are in and the 'Messing About in Sailboats' blog has posted the Top Ten Sailing Songs, as determined by their readers. Here's an excerpt from their story.) No big surprise that "Son of Son of A Sailor" had the most votes, winning hands-down. Parrothead (Jimmy Buffet) has a big following. "Southern Cross" came second closely followed by "Sloop John B" and the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald". Parrothead gets in again with "Changes in Latitude ". Then it gets interesting. Whodathunk country boy, Lyle Lovett would make the list with if "I had a boat". Styx has a surprising number of fans and "Come Sail Away" makes the top 10. -- Full story: http://messingaboutinboats.typepad.com/sailing/ NEXT TIME? (Tom Ehman, who in his spare time edits the BMW Oracle Racing Team blog, has posted some interesting quotes from Alinghi's General Counsel, Hamish Ross, taken from a Reuters story by Jane Barrett that has been running in various papers around the world. Let me tease you with just a few of those quotes from Ross -- each followed by Ehman's comments.) "I think everyone would like to see the cycle be quicker this time and two years is the cycle people are talking about." -- Everyone except ETNZ and a couple of the smaller teams. "Timing partly depends on bigger sporting events which will compete for sponsorship and viewers, particularly the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 soccer World Cup." -- 2009 anyone? "It also depends on whether the Cup stays in Valencia or moves to a new venue where teams would need to build new bases, study new weather patterns and so create new boats and crews." -- If so, likely 2011 not 2009. "Valencia is a fantastic venue and in fact exceeded our expectations. Is it a hot prospect for next time? But (we) have a duty to look at other possibilities, suggesting a final decision could take some months." -- It does not take a rocket scientist, or a nine-time Cup vet, to read those tea leaves 'Valencia, get your act (no pun intended) and euros together, or we're outta here.' And that likely would mean 2011 not 2009. Read the full story: http://blog.bmworacleracing.com/stories/3318231/ TRICKY WINDS AND CURRENT KICK OFF RACING The wind came slowly and bearing gifts for those who could unlock its secrets on this, the first day of racing at the Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race Week XXII presented by Rolex. Some of the nearly 2000 sailors on 183 boats waited two hours for a northeasterly to die and switch to a light seabreeze from the southwest. The 7-9 knot winds were tricky and while the one-design and the PHRF racing circles completed two races, the circle for IRC racing completed only one. On the PHRF course, the wind switched 180 degrees at the end of the first race, so that the finish was unexpectedly upwind rather than downwind. -- Media Pro Int'l, Complete results: http://www.blockislandraceweek.com * Daily video shows of each day's racing: http://www.t2p.tv HALL AROUND THE WORLD The new, fully equipped Hall Spars & Rigging trailer is on site at Block Island Race Week, providing essential spar and rigging service to the fleet. Next month it will be at the Swan American Regatta. Our European service team just left Alicante, where they were backing up our TP 52 customers. Now they're in Palma to assist Hall superyacht customers. The service crew will wrap up June in Valencia supporting our most visible customer in the big showdown. Not sailing these events? No problem - Hall's performance products are only a click away. www.hallspars.com SAILING SHORTS * 150 of the country's top youth sailors will soon begin arriving in New Orleans to prepare for the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship, at Southern Yacht Club, June 22-28. The competitors are from 23 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Racing will be held over four days on Lake Pontchartrain in four classes: the singlehanded Laser and Laser Radial and the doublehanded 29er and Club 420. A total of 273 sailors applied for the 150 slots available at the event-which is organized nationally by US Sailing and locally by the host club. -- http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/youthchamp. * All race courses of Kieler Woche were becalmed all day long on Monday and consequently the competitors of the Olympic Classes practiced patience around the Schilksee harbour. The weather forecast for Tuesday (SE 5 - 10 knots) causes the race organization and competitors to plan additional racing tomorrow. -- http://www.kieler-woche.de * This week on the Volvo Sailing podcast we talk to the new skipper of the second Sony Ericsson boat in the next Volvo Ocean Race Sweden's Anders Lewander. We also catch up with events at the Giraglia Rolex Cup Race with Giles Pearman. - http://www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast/ * Dubai has agreed to buy the Queen Elizabeth 2 for US$100 million ($134 million) and turn the famous cruise ship into a floating hotel off the Gulf emirates' man-made islands, state-owned private equity firm Istithmar said. The QE2 is the longest-serving ship in the 168-year history of the Cunard line. Istithmar is building three palm-frond shaped islands off Dubai's coast. -- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=61&objectid=10446513 * Graham Dalton, onboard his Open 50 Southern Man - AGD, completed his global circumnavigation when he arrived Monday in Bilbao, Spain. Although Dalton was plagued with problems and is not classed as a finisher in the Velux 5 Oceans race, he decided to complete the 'spiritual journey' in memory of his beloved deceased son, Tony. His son tragically died of cancer and the boat is called Southern man AGD, his son's initials. -- http://www.velux5oceans.com * Leopard, Mike Slade's new 98-ft Farr designed canting keel all-out racing machine, went sailing for the first time yesterday on The Solent, having arrived in parts from builder McConaghy in Australia just three weeks before. Skipper Chris Sherlock reports that all went well, and that she's entered in the Around the Island (Isle of Wight) Race this weekend. -- www.latitude38.com/LectronicLat/LectronicLat.html VANGUARD SPONSORS THE FUTURE Vanguard sponsors the US Youth Championship, June 22-28, in New Orleans, LA at Southern Yacht Club. There are very few regattas like this that consistently produce future All American, Olympic, and Americas Cup sailors. Vanguard is proud to contribute to the next generation. Stay tuned at teamvanguard.com and http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/youthchamp 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 Stan Hinman: I'm amazed by the lack of comments about Artemis TP-52 fiasco in The MedCup regatta last week; Artemis missing a mark and still receiving a 1st place score for half of the coastal race. The jury's decision encourages tailing end boats to drop out the 1st half of the race and proceeding (missing marks) to the scoring gate beginning the second half of the race. Mathematically the boats will improve in the standings. The jury's discussion has reduced the two halves of the coastal race to independent point gathering events. In regards to rule 69, I do not see these potential actions as malicious or hindering other competitors. It is actually sailing well clear and out of the way of others, and playing the pure points game that the jury now endorsees. * From Chris Caswell: I'm joining a bit late, but one impressive Swiss sailor was Louis Noverraz, who took a silver medal in the 5.5 Meter class in the 1968 Olympics, making him one of the oldest Olympic athletes. He went on to skipper Baron Bich's 1970 America's Cup challenger before he was replaced by Bich himself. Interestingly, both the first Bich Twelve, Chancegger, and France I, were built by the Egger boatyard of Switzerland, but just across the border in France so they didn't violate the "built-in-country" rule of the day. * From Eric A Sorensen (re They threw a party and a race broke out): Not only does the Elliot Bay Marina host a party after the race (which can be finished with your motor on if desired). They also allow for visiting boats to moor overnight that night for no cost. This is a fun place to have a race. Where else would you see TP 52s and other go fast machines going up against any cruising / liveaboard you can imagine? There are a bunch of boats on the course. The last race of 2006 saw a live band and several door prizes and a catered buffet for all at no cost! Most of the sponsorship were local businesses which do well with sailors, breweries, chandleries, and banks. I am docked 70 miles north but that was a priority last summer and will be one of my South Sound Events every summer. * Damian Christie, Melbourne, Australia, (re Nationality and the America's Cup Deed of Gift): BYM is mistaken when it says that Team New Zealand/ Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) would have to apply to the New York Supreme Court to amend the America's Cup's Deed of Gift (in order to reintroduce nationality requirements to the Cup). All RNZYS would need do is appoint a Challenger of Record and establish protocols for the next Cup match. The Deed is very specific about this: 'The Club challenging for the Cup and the Club holding the same may, by mutual consent, make any arrangement satisfactory to both as to the dates, courses, number of trials, rules and sailing regulations, and any and all other conditions of the match .' Therefore, as the winner, RNZYS could easily reinstate nationality requirements by appointing a likeminded Challenger of Record to thrash out the conditions of the next match (Britain's new TeamOrigin has been mooted as a candidate because it will be a patriotic British challenge and Kiwi Mike Sanderson is the team director). There would be absolutely no need for the Kiwis to visit the New York courts. BYM's account of the 1988 mismatch however does reinforce the strong influence the Cup holder historically has on the setting of the rules and even the outcome (eg Dennis Conner/San Diego Yacht Club's blatant catamaran defense). The Cup holder has traditionally rewritten the rules to its advantage since time immemorial and that won't change, regardless of the outcome of the 32nd Cup match. * From Jeff Butzer: This is about a common frustration when becoming a US Sailing Judge. Like many candidates, I did some Protest Committee work in a local club, went to the seminar, passed the test, yachta, yachta. It stalls-out when you try to find PCs to chair, in settings where others on the PC have enough sway to vouch for your capabilities. In traveling around the country for the past few years, volunteering for RC and PC duty, I've witnessed what could be part of the problem. Sailing by the rules can be a catch-can thing in local club races, and some regional regattas. Most sailors do their turns. But there are significant numbers of sailors, usually not at the front of the fleet that let things slide. The reasons are known; "I'm new and don't know the rules very well," which can transition into; "I'm old and I've always gotten by." Or, the buddy thing; "You let me go this time, I'll let you go next time." Subverting the rules causes missed opportunities. Sailors sail poorly, which can lead to problems that the rules otherwise prevent. Although not as important, each time it happens you could also be missing out on the PC opportunity that you need for certification. Part of the deal is that we agree to follow the rules. If we do what we say we do, then the rest of the process, like getting the PC time needed for certification, is more likely to happen. * From Donald Brewster: Amused to see the old Ondine II on which I sailed the second half of the 1970 or 1971 SORC under the sport's then most distinctly different same-yacht watch captains (Dick Bertram and John J "Donny" McNamara) and the ever-disdainful eye of Sven Joffs, Huey's pro from the moment as a delivery skipper he totalled Huey's previous Ondine at the entrance to Gorda Sound (that boat's spar becoming the flagpole at Mosquito Island), as he watched (in penance?) waves of mainly unqualified crews (18 or more, sometimes a lot more, at a time) wreak havoc on his baby. The stories that 73-footer could tell, if she could only speak, would be among the best yarns in our sport - given that the 70's were filled with oversized characters, condoned if not encouraged misbehaviours, and great familiarity bred by a more inter-connected group of racers. Anecdotes from just that single series would be more than a full chapter in a riveting summer-reading book. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." -- Oscar Wilde Special thanks to Camet International, Hall Spars & Rigging, and Vanguard Sailboats. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
