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SCUTTLEBUTT 2503 – January 3, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. AN OLYMPIC DREAM, CLAIMED BY 2 WOMEN Two of the top Americans in women’s windsurfing are packing their wetsuits and traveling to New Zealand in early January to compete in the RS:X world championships as part of their training for the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. This is not unusual for athletes preparing for the Games, but only one of the women, Nancy Rios, is slated to represent the United States next summer. The other woman, Farrah Hall, is disputing the results of the team-selection trials in October. She contends that the results of an arbitration hearing in the winter will have her, not Rios, walking in the opening ceremony. Shortly after the trials, Hall filed a grievance with US Sailing, which has since been dismissed. Now she is awaiting the results of an arbitration hearing. Hall also plans on filing a complaint with the United States Olympic Committee, saying that the trials were unfair because they did not allow for appeals of jury decisions. The Olympic Committee’s bylaws allow for the elimination of appeals in a selection process, but Hall’s position is that the organizers of the trials did not receive approval to change the rules. It is not unusual for athletes to contest positions on Olympic teams. “Often these are two very deserving people for only one spot on a team,” said John Ruger, the U.S.O.C.’s athlete ombudsman. “When an athlete challenges for one of those positions it becomes a bit of a zero-sum game. It quickly becomes athlete against athlete.” Ruger became the U.S.O.C.’s first athlete ombudsman in 1999. He said he received about 500 inquiries a year, and so far there have been three arbitrations contesting spots for the 2008 Games. Besides Hall’s case, there is a pending hearing in rowing and one that was dismissed for tae kwon do. -- NY Times, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/yvb3tz 2007 SCUTTLEBUTT SAILORS OF THE YEAR Scuttlebutt has taken the short list of 2007 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nominees, and we are challenging you to select the sailors that you feel best embody the sport as it pertains to you. This is a challenging request as the sailors with the best record, or winning the more prestigious events, might not be your choice. How does an America's Cup helm compare to a Pan American Games helm or a Team Racing Worlds team? Like we said, this isn't easy. We suggest your criteria gauge the sailor's sportsmanship, varied accomplishments, and value to their team (if applicable). For additional background information on the nominees, and to place your vote and comments, go to http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/08/0102 MIXING SPEED AND PARADISE The first boat that crosses the line gets the gun. That’s the Gunboat, and the 2008 St Maarten Heineken regatta expects to see as many as six of the high-tech Gunboat catamarans to inject a shot of adrenaline into the multihull division of the 28th annual event to be held March 6-9 2008. The boats, built in Cape Town, South Africa, and sailed to the Caribbean on their own keel, are gaining worldwide popularity as an alternative to a performance monohull. Designed by Morrelli and Melvin, the hulls are made of composite materials, Swedish built carbon fiber mast and spars, and Kevlar rigging, making the boats light and fast but still providing all the cruising amenities. Said Gunboat company founder Peter Johnstone, "Gunboat is developing a premier owner based class, and the Heineken Regatta has clearly established itself as one of the best all around regattas in the world. A magical, tropical island hosting fabulous breezes, wonderful people, great racing, and parties. All of which are ideal elements for a Gunboat class event." The 2008 regatta can expect a mix of Gunboat 48s and 62s, but the company expects to have their bigger boats, the 66s and even a 90, at future events. -- http://www.heinekenregatta.com SYDNEY TO HOBART RACE - NOTHING BEATS THE CARBON COMBO Southern Spars would like to acknowledge the outstanding performances in the 2007 Sydney to Hobart race: Wild Oats XI taking out its third consecutive line honors win and STP65 Rosebud, the overall IRC winner. Using leading edge spar and rigging technology, both yachts have demonstrated the power in going 'all out' carbon on their rigs, with EC6+ continuous carbon rigging now being used on the yachts. Learn more about these rigs by visiting http://www.southernspars.com NOT …BUSINESS AS USUAL The upcoming Alex Caviglia Bluewater Classic, Jan. 18, 19, 20, 2008 @ Shake A Leg Miami will showcase two very interesting classes: * Hobie Adventure Island—This will be the first human powered hybrid sailing regatta in history. The AI is a Hobie Mirage Drive Kayak with two large akas, a roller furling 5.5 meter sail and you actually pedal and sail it AT THE SAME TIME. This reporter has had the pleasure of racing this craft all summer against a variety of sailboats, dinghies and windsurfers. The results are very interesting and somewhat surprising…..although only 16’ long, it has basically the same speed as a J-22 in moderate conditions in an upwind-downwind course, is definitely faster in 0-8, and probably not quite as fast when it is good and windy. But the Mirage Drive does provide an added boost in all conditions, more so in lighter than windier, of course. Pedaling will be allowed all over the course, all the time. No sailing/pedaling into the wind with your sail luffing, everything else is good to go. * O’Pen Bic Dinghy—A dinghy for youth that is really changing the game….simple, durable, very high performance (fully planning), no bailing and strict one design. In the racing, they run downwind slaloms where the competitors actually have to turn the boat over (!) and they also do freestyle in addition to the traditional racing. But the winner is the kid who has the most FUN, not necessarily the winner of the triangles. Sailing is supposed to be fun, isn’t it? I believe that Bic will redefine youth sailing not only with this boat, but with how they actually conduct the events, putting the emphasis back onto FUN and less on tech. Newport was a huge success, Miami will be even better. More info: http://tinyurl.com/2xwlhl HOLDER OF CUP SHOCKED (It was just over twenty years ago that the America’s Cup found itself in the NY Supreme Court. Here’s a nice recap of the events, dated November 27, 1987) A court decision two days ago upholding New Zealand's challenge for the America's Cup next summer has left the guardian of the cup - the San Diego Yacht Club - in turmoil. But officials of the New York Yacht Club, which held the trophy for 132 years, have said that they expected the court to rule as it did. San Diego Yacht Club officials met late Wednesday night and again yesterday with their attorneys to decide how to proceed in the wake of the New York State Supreme Court ruling. Thomas Ehman Jr., manager of a 1991 America's Cup defense for the San Diego club, said yesterday that he was ''very surprised and very disappointed'' at the ruling. Despite previous statements by the San Diego club's officials that they would appeal an adverse ruling, Ehman said that the club and his management group, Sail America, were reconsidering the idea. On Wednesday, Justice Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick ruled against San Diego on two counts. She accepted New Zealand's challenge, which the San Diego club had rejected, and she refused to allow San Diego to reinterpret basic tenets in the regatta's deed of gift. The century-old document, which sets the rules for racing, was fundamental to both rulings. The New York court oversees the deed as a charitable trust. -- NY Times, read on: http://tinyurl.com/2cquym * Curmudgeon’s Comments: If you would like to read a seemingly convincing argument why the latest legal maneuvering by Alinghi is doomed to fail, here is Sail-World NZ's Editor Richard Gladwell’s comments: http://tinyurl.com/yrmpxz COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS FOR THE SPORT Ever wonder what about the fancy headsets worn by the crew on some of premier racing programs? “The Loop” communication system was on three of the 2007 America’s Cup teams, notably Alinghi, as well as multiple maxi programs. Scuttlebutt reader Paul Larkin, the founder of CSC&E, produces “The Loop” and he himself is still a sailor on the America’s Cup and maxi scene. Here is his report on what his company has developed: Technology has increasingly been incorporated all over the racing industry, and consequently the yachts are continually becoming faster and louder. This was putting a premium on crew work and taxing crew communication. The technical growth in yachting was so impressive everywhere, but ironically we still could not simply speak to each other despite all the impressive technology surrounding us. Crews resorted to yelling and hand signals. The advent of the Z-max 86 class in 2003 with Pyewacket and Morning Glory prompted a search into advanced crew communication systems. For the next three years communication products (headsets, radios, intercoms) touting clear communication in hazardous environments were gathered from the world over, military and otherwise, and ultimately all failed to provide what was needed. In the military or hazardous industry the individuals all wore helmets and so we sailors were at a disadvantage. Radios were not under consideration because buttons needed to be pushed or one channel lockout repeatedly caused too many issues. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/0102 THREE BULLETS TO START A WINNING NEW YEAR The New Orleans 2008 Capdevielle Series started with a bang – three bangs, actually – as Ullman Sails customers Jeff Lindheim with David Bolyard and Snoann Jones won all three races in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Race of Champions Regatta, December 29-30, 2007. The regatta was raced in Flying Scots in light breezes ranging from 2-10 knots. Lindheim’s team represented Ponchartrain Yacht Club and walked away with two records with their win. Ponchartrain took home its third-straight trophy (a record) and Lindheim was named winning skipper for the second-straight year (also a record). Contact a local Ullman Sails loft and http://www.ullmansails.com BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) (Day 53 – January 2, 2008) Along the route from New Zealand toward Cape Horn at the tip of South America, Paprec-Virbac 2 has begun to make miles to the north as they need to climb over 120 miles to make it through the ice safety gate. Despite the seawater temperature approaching 10-degrees Celsius at their position of 53-degrees latitude, P-V2 has reported seven recent icebergs sightings. However, it is their shorter southern route that has helped them extend their lead over the more northern Hugo Boss, who is hoping that stronger winds over the next couple of days will hopefully close up the margin before both boats reach Cape Horn. As planned, third-placed Temenos II has hauled out at Wellington (NZL) for experts to inspect the growth of keel rust, and initial reports claim that it is a superficial issue and not an indicator of internal damage to the keel structure. Also stopping in Wellington is fourth place Mutua Madrileña to check all the boat’s systems and repair a few issues before heading onto Cape Horn. Race regulations will require both teams a compulsory minimum stop of 48 hours as a form of penalty. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com Positions at 18:00 GMT - Distance to leader (+gain/-loss since previous day) 1-Paprec-Virbac 2, Jean-Pierre Dick/ Damian Foxall, 9,134 nm DTF (+301) 2-Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson/ Andrew Cape, 836 nm DTL (-92) 3-Temenos II, Dominique Wavre/ Michéle Paret, 2,211 (-349) 4-Mutua Madrilena, Javier Sanso Windmann/ Pachi Rivero, 2,334 (-136) 5-Educación sin Fronteras, Servane Escoffier/ Albert Bargues, 2,921 (-85) Retired - PRB, Vincent Riou / Sébastien Josse (broken mast) Retired -Delta Dore, Jérémie Beyou/ Sidney Gavignet (broken mast) Retired - Estrella Damm, Guillermo Altadill/ Jonathan McKee, (rudder damage) Retired - Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain/ Jean-Luc Nélias (broken mast) * (Day 40 – January 2, 2008 - 16:34 UTC) With 5,494 nm remaining in their attempt to set a new solo round the world record, Francis Joyon and his maxi-trimaran IDEC have posted an average speed of 19.9 knots and a distance covered of 476.9nm in the past 24-hours. Joyon maintains a comfortable margin ahead of the record set by Ellen MacArthur in 2005, though he has lost 62 miles since yesterday, still holding an advance of 3,391 nm as he works his way north in the Atlantic Ocean toward the finish at Brest, France. -- http://www.trimaran-idec.com * (Day 16 – January 2, 2008 – 21:30 UTC) In his solo round the world record attempt, Thomas Coville and the maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O are now in the roaring forties, making the turn at the tip of the African Continent and gaining good pace toward breaking the record set by Ellen MacArthur in 2005. In the past 24 hours, his average speed has been 21.6 knots while covering 518.4nm, extending his advance over MacArthur to 525nm. -- http://www.sodebo-voile.com/actu/news-eng.html * An optimal weather window for Franck Cammas and his nine man crew onboard the 105-foot maxi trimaran Groupama 3 has collapsed, dashing their hopes for a planned departure on Thursday, January 3rd to begin their Jules Verne Trophy attempt for the fully crewed round the world record. The center of the low pressure has disintegrated prior to making Europe, thus providing for an upwind start from Ushant, France, and dispelling any chances to make rapid headway to the African tradewinds. Bruno Peyron, aboard the maxi-catamaran Orange 2, set the current record March 2005, when his team sailed the course in 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes, and 4 seconds at an average speed of 17.89 knots. -- http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en 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 Dina Kowalyshyn, Naval Architect: Thanks for presenting that series of shots of the Coast Guard’s 47’ MLB platform in the Photos of the Week. I have been working to support its sustainment for the Coast Guard for the last 4 years and I can tell you that it is an amazing boat…and crew! They were all topside for that roll in Morro Bay, CA! The sailing community should be happy to see them out practicing… they might need them one day. The next generation of USCG boats is on the horizon with the first Response Boat – Medium due to be delivered in March of 2008. Intended as a replacement of the 41’ UTB, the RB-M is another step forward, with 180 of them to be built between now and 2012. It is fast (42.5 knots) and maneuverable, and designed for search and rescue with prominent fendering, large rescue recesses like the MLB to get people out of the water, and the ability to re-right after a capsize. It is not intended for surf, but it is fully capable in 8-foot seas and 30-knot winds and will survive 12 ft seas and 50-knot winds. Photos of the Week: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/1221 Response Boat – Medium: http://www.responseboatproject.net/default.aspx * From John Tormey: The nominees for the US Rolex awards look to cover the gamut of events, making this annual apple vs orange comparison hard to assess. Is it time for this award to better recognize the diversity of the sport, and have additional categories, like best team or best amateur? I have a hunch that a potential winner is going to lose due to the lack of publicity and or understanding of their accomplishment. We all know what Ed Baird did, but what did it take to win the Snipe, Lightning, Melges 24, Team Race Worlds, or Pan Am Games? CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this. Special thanks to Southern Spars and Ullman Sails. A complete list of Scuttlebutt’s preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
