|
SCUTTLEBUTT 3033 - Monday, February 22, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors, providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.Scuttlebutt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Scuttlebutt on Facebook: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/facebook Today’s sponsors: Webb Institute and Paul Buttrose Yachts. A LOVE FEST SATURDAY AT CITY HALL By Kimball Livingston, yachting journalist What just happened in Valencia wasn’t an America’s Cup as we used to know it, or want to see it again. It was a rescue mission, something of a raid. A successful raid. Leading to this happy moment at City Hall, San Francisco. Having registered with the Pessimist Party as soon as people started taking positions on the likelihood of an America’s Cup match on San Francisco Bay, I have one question. Mind if I flipflop on that? There was a love fest Saturday at City Hall. Mayor Gavin Newsom handed BMW Oracle Racing team owner Larry Ellison the key to the city. Ellison gave the Mayor a team jacket which he promptly put on his back. And both made a lot of noise about finding a way to make this thing happen. “We will do whatever it takes,” Newsom said, “because of the magnitude of the opportunity.” “We don’t need taxpayer support,” Ellison said. “We need access to waterfront land. The 2007 match brought 680 million Euros to the economy in Valencia. That’s almost a billion U.S., and this should be even bigger.” That was said in the context of a weekend in which the America’s Cup was presented to the membership of the winning Golden Gate Yacht Club on Friday night, then to the city on Saturday, and then taken on tour, beginning with San Diego, on Sunday. And I’m pretty sure I heard Ellison, Russell Coutts, and Jimmy Spithill talking about bringing the big trimaran, USA 17, to San Francisco Bay. I could begin to warm up to the phrase that bugged me in Valencia, Bring it on. -- Read on: http://kimballlivingston.com/?p=1817 * PHOTOS: The Scuttlebutt website now hosts a tribute to the 33rd America’s Cup courtesy of the contributions from photographers Thierry Martinez, Carlo Borlenghi, Gilles Martin-Raget, Jurg Kaufmann, and Daniel Forster. View here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/americascup/ * CAMPAIGNING: Both San Diego, CA and Newport, RI are taking opportunities to express their interest in hosting the event. Former Cup winner Halsey Herreshoff came west for the events in San Francisco and San Diego, in part to help sway Ellison on behalf of Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri on the virtues of Newport. As for San Diego, the BMW Oracle team were embraced Sunday afternoon by the Mayor at a public ceremony, and were hosted that evening at the home of civic leader and America’s Cup booster Malin Burnham. ADDRESSING QUESTIONABLE SPORTSMANSHIP It is well documented that the defense club for the 33rd America’s Cup - Société Nautique De Genève (SNG) - had their Race Committee members go on strike and refuse to start the second (and final) race ordered by ISAF approved PRO Harold Bennett. This action was apparently due to SNG believing the waves were in excess of what was favorable for their boat. Through the quick action of Bennett, he recruited observers to take their place and got the race started, but now the question is how does the sport handle an alleged event of questionable sportsmanship. Taking an attempt to seek the relevant rules is International Judge/Umpire Jos M. Spijkerman. Here is an excerpt from his analysis of the situation: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When someone - RC-member, coach, parent, or anybody who has anything to do with the event - does something that could be a gross breach of a rule, good manners or sportsmanship, or might have conducted him/herself in such a manner that it brings the sport into disrepute, rule 69.2 gives the possibility to write a report and send it to the National Authority or to ISAF. The MNA and/or ISAF can start an investigation and, when appropriate, conduct a hearing. It may then take any disciplinary action they think is appropriate against that person(s), team, or club. Like Harold Bennett has stated, a report will be sent and the conduct of RC-members will be included. It is now up to the MNA or ISAF to decide what to do with that report. Rule 69.2 gives them a choice. They may or they may not conduct an investigation and take this matter further..... Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/y9h4lv2 WHAT DO THESE COMPANIES HAVE IN COMMON? Boeing, Derecktor Shipyards, ExxonMobil, Farr Yacht Design, Lockheed Martin, New England Boatworks, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Royal Caribbean, Sparkman & Stephens, Pedrick Yacht Design, Westport Shipyard, and countless others? They all employ graduates from Webb Institute, the premier US engineering college specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering. Located in Glen Cove, New York on the Long Island Sound, Webb provides four-year, full-tuition scholarships for every student and has a 100% graduate employment rate. If you or someone you know is interested in a first rate education leading to an exciting career with a great company, then visit http://www.webb-institute.edu/scuttlebutt FOR THE RECORD (Day 22 - February 21, 2010; 16:25 UTC) - After the Groupama 3 team suffered through an exceedingly painful South Atlantic route, and an entrance to the Indian Ocean that had seen front after front escape their clutches, they have finally hooked onto a stable W to NW'ly system since midday Thursday that has kept average speeds at 30 knots to allow skipper Franck Cammas and crew to reduce the deficit which separates them from the Jules Verne Trophy holder. Groupama 3 is now approaching the longitude of Cape Leeuwin, just seven days after passing Cape Agulhas! The team should cross the longitude of Cape Leeuwin late Sunday night/Monday morning with a deficit of less than five hours in relation to the reference time. Above all they are set to achieve the best time over this section of the course between Cape Agulhas and the SW tip of Australia. "We're really not feeling fatigued because we've never had to draw on our reserves,” said bowman Bruno Jeanjean “Of course above thirty-five knots of speed, you get shaken about quite a lot and you have to hang on whilst you're in your bunk, but we're sleeping well. Thomas told me that this particular crossing of the Indian has gone fairly smoothly in relation to what he's experienced here in the past... We're still sailing on relatively well organised seas and for the time being, we've only had one 40 knot gust. Furthermore, it's not cold and the sea temperature is still 10°C.” -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/yduabos Current position as of February 21, 2010 (22:00:00 UTC): Ahead/behind record: -123.7 nm Speed (avg) over past 24 hours: 28.4 knots Distance over past 24 hours: 681.5 nm Distance to go: 13,796 nm Data: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne/positions.asp?lg=en Map: http://cammas-groupama.geovoile.com/julesverne/index.asp?lg=en * After their start on January 31, 2010, Franck Cammas and his nine crew on Groupama 3 must cross finish line off Ushant, France before March 23rd (06:14:57 UTC) to establish a new time for the Jules Verne Trophy (21,760 nm) for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by any type of yacht with no restrictions. Current record holder is Bruno Peyron and crew, who in 2005 sailed Orange 2 to a time of 50 days, 16 hours, and 20 minutes at an average of 17.89 knots. QUOTE / UNQUOTE "When you go up forward to unfurl the gennaker, you hook yourself on. Stability is all relative and, with fatigue added to the mix, you have to remain prudent. It's fairly exposed. The helmsman is our guardian angel. He has our lives in his hands. The tether is very short on our harnesses so as we don't go over the side if we're ejected." -- Jacques Caraes, bowman on Groupama 3 during Jules Verne Trophy attempt. DIARY OF A NAVIGATOR Navigator Stan Honey (USA) is among the nine crew sailing with skipper Franck Cammas onboard the 103-foot maxi trimaran Groupama 3 during their attempt to win the Jules Verne Trophy, a fully crewed round the world record attempt under sail. Stan will be updating ‘butthead readers from onboard Groupama 3, and replied to a few questions below: * The main focus is the Jules Verne Trophy, but are there other goals? STAN HONEY: Setting a Jules Verne Trophy record is the team's objective. It is my personal objective as well, although having the opportunity to sail with these guys on this boat is terrific apart from the JV. * There is a balance between maximum speed and caring for the boat and crew. What are the factors that dictate the decision on how hard to push? STAN HONEY: Sea-state is almost always the reason when an offshore multihull has to throttle back. For that reason, the consideration of sea-state is critical in course selection. Tactique, one of the routing programs that I use, allows me to create a data model describing the performance impact of swells, windwaves, and cross sea. The performance impact varies with swell size, angle, and the size and cross angle with wind waves. Tactique uses that model in conjunction with the polars in the calculation of routes. On this attempt we have been fortunate with sea-state and have not throttled back. On the other hand, we had a very difficult weather pattern in the South Atlantic and lost 1000 miles there due to light air. On our first Jules Verne attempt starting in November 2009, we slowed for sea-state for much of the first 24 hours, but still had the fastest ever passage to the equator. * Given that the 33rd America’s Cup was a multihull event, was the Groupama 3 following the event? STAN HONEY: The Cup was of great interest to the crew, and we managed to watch parts of it onboard via Inmarsat. Sylvain, our meteorologist at Meteo France, also sent along highlights by text chat. The team was divided. Franck and some of the guys had worked with BMW Oracle and so had a history there. Stève Ravussin is Swiss, and so was a (very) outspoken Alinghi fan. The guys assumed that I would be an Oracle fan as an American. I loved watching the two amazing boats race, but I have been cheering for the clock, and have just wanted the 33rd Match to come to an end as quickly as possible. (Editor note: Stan has also been working with TeamOrigin). Complete diary: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/1111/ WHEN ONLY THE FASTEST IS FAST ENOUGH This summer, the huge ‘Union Jack’ doors of the Columbine shed in East Cowes will part and true to the shed's origins, one more and perhaps final, amazing flying boat will emerge. The UK based team behind the VESTAS SAILROCKET project are building a new boat to finish the job of setting the outright world speed sailing record. The new craft will be an evolution of the innovative concept upon which their original craft was based. The new boat is being built in the VESTAS R&D facilities at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. It will incorporate many features to make it more versatile and practical to sail at world record speeds in a wider range of winds and sea states. The team will launch the new boat in East Cowes in time for the British summer and hope to carry out testing in the UK over the following months. If initial trials go well, the team will endeavour to bring the world record back to UK waters. Pilot/project leader, Paul Larsen- “This represents a fantastic opportunity to develop a real breakthrough concept. Our first interpretation of it did a brilliant job of demonstrating the potential. I’m very proud of what we have achieved but also very aware that we haven’t finished the job. I personally can’t live with that. The first boat did what it was supposed to do... but by the time it did, the record had moved on. As it stands we still need to go two knots faster to break the current world record. I still believe our first boat could break that record but I also know she is near her limits. As a team we are now well positioned to design and build a much better, safer and above all faster boat which is more suitable for the challenges to come.” -- Read on: http://www.sailrocket.com/stories * The current world speed sailing record as verified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council is 51.36 knots, set September 4, 2009 by Alain Thébault (FRA) and 10 crew on the 60-foot l’Hydroptère. TWO TIME AMERICAS CUP WINNER, SEEKS NEW CUSTODIAN Intrepid, one of Olin Stephens most famous breakthrough designs, winner of the Americas Cup in 1967 and 1970, considered by many as the ‘best and most handsome 12 Metre ever designed’, is for sale. Rebuilt mahogany and oak by her current owner in 1996 and maintained by the same captain since, she has consistently hounded her more modern aluminum rivals in 12 Metre regattas from New England waters to Cowes and Europe. In cruising mode, Intrepid maintains an excellent book of business with Americas Cup Charters in Newport. Freshly painted in pristine condition - view the Intrepid portfolio at http://www.americascupcharters.com/intrepid.html. For sale through Paul Buttrose Yachts. Ph. 954 294 6962 or http://www.paulbuttrose.com http://www.paulbuttrose.com SAILING SHORTS * The Clearwater Yacht Club hosted the Laser Midwinters East Regatta on February 18-21, 2010 at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Clearwater, Florida. Winning the 90 boat Laser fleet was Emil Cedergardh (SWE) with a 14 point margin on runner-up Lee Parkhill (CAN). Besting the 94 Laser Radials was Paige Railey (USA) with Lisa Ross (CAN) 13 points back in second. Esteban Echavarria of Columbia won the fifteen boat Laser 4.7 fleet. -- Results: http://www.regattaprocessing.com/CLWYC/LMWE10/index.php * (February 21, 2010) - Thirty-one entrants were in Sydney, Australia last week for the J.J. Giltinan Championship, the premier event for the 18-footer class. Australians Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton, and Tom Clout are the 2010 Giltinan champions. The Gotta Love It 7 team trio dominated the final race of the championship to take the championship by four points over Thurlow Fisher Lawyers sailed by countryment Michael Coxon, Aaron Links, and Trent Barnabas. Lone North American entrant Howie Hamlin (USA) finished sixteenth. Complete photos and daily reports: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/jj/ * In a race that has thrown everything at the crews, ‘Spirit of Australia’ has claimed victory of the Singapore to Qingdao, China leg of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race. Having moved into the lead five days ago, the team crossed the finish line on February 20 at 1307 local time (0507 GMT). Since beginning this ten month event on September 13, 2009 the fleet of ten identical 68-foot yachts has seen one team lose their boat on a reef and another get dismasted. The next leg departs for San Francisco on March 2, with the fleet expected by early April. -- Event website: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com * Dozens of sailing students were forced to spend over 40 hours in life rafts being battered by huge seas, after their training ship sank off the coast of Brazil last Wednesday. The three-masted SV Concordia was part way through a five month voyage around the world when a sudden, vertical blast of wind knocked the 188-foot-long ship on its side, forcing the 48 students and 16 training staff to scramble for the life boats before it sank. All 64 people aboard were rescued by Brazilian navy early on Friday. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/yg755pq SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Norman Davant (re, America’s Cup in San Francisco) Based on what I have read there seems to be a lot of “expert” information from people that don’t spend a lot of time actually racing on San Francisco Bay. As the tactician for the current IRC National Champion which we won on the bay and the long standing Chairman of the St. Francis Yacht Club Rolex Big Boat Series, I think my perspective might have some value. First the whole idea that the bay is not big enough is just plain nonsense. We successfully lay courses every year for multiple classes of boats, from Maxi’s to Melges 32’s, on multiple concurrently running courses, accommodating over 100 boats. The AC courses will be dictated by the type of boat selected for AC34, and by the dominant breeze pattern - which in San Francisco fairly dependably blows out of a single direction 8 months out of the year – no need to worry about plotting 3 mile courses over a 360 degree circle. Will they be racing 90’ multihulls in AC 34? Not likely. I suspect the boats will be high performance, highly maneuverable, fully human powered boats in the 60-70’ foot range and the courses will be fairly tight to provide for the best spectator and TV experience. Based on what I have personally experienced in racing mini-maxi’s maxi’s and TP52’s, the racing would be truly fantastic. Planing into the leeward marks at 20 plus knots trying to pick the correct gate and at the same time hoping the boys up front get the kite on the deck is just plain great racing. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9277#9277 * From Dick Enersen: From some of the feedback in my e-mail, it seems that a few readers were upset by my report in Scuttlebutt 3031 (re, feasibility of hosting the America’s Cup in San Francisco). I am sorry if what I wrote was a “buzz-killer” for some people, and perhaps I should have waited a while to point out the difficulties which confront bringing a traditional, Auckland/Valencia style, Cup summer to San Francisco Bay. Because I write for a knowledgeable sailing audience, many of whom have raced here, I didn’t feel I had to list the many positive attributes of San Francisco Bay: fresh and predictable wind, relatively flat water, terrific shoreside vantage points, a large and vibrant yachting community and excellent boatyards, not to mention its beauty and the outstanding amenities of the cities and towns which surround it. Frequent World Championships and a full local racing schedule, including the annual Rolex Big Boat Series, all testify to its suitability for fleet racing in boats of all sizes. My piece was intended to outline various, distinct, reasons why it will be very difficult to conduct a traditional, summer long, America's Cup competition on the Bay, and to stimulate discussion of those issues. The central conflict revolves around “traditional.” There is no question that it will be difficult to conduct fair racing for ACC boats, which draw 13 feet, on two, or three, three-mile-leg, windward/leeward courses for an entire summer. The basic tenet of the Deed of Gift, however, is "mutual consent," between challenger(s) and defender. Agreement between the parties (unheard of in the 33rd edition) allows for creative alternatives to traditional Cup regattas. If there were to be mutual consent to sail the regatta in Knarrs, for example, we could have one hell of a regatta with a bare minimum of strain. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9276#9276 * From Ray Wulff: If Larry Ellison and the defender committee were serious about bringing the Cup back the level it previously was, the only location considered in the states should be on the East Coast. Why you ask? Having it on the East coast would mean it could be broadcast in Europe in prime time. (Good for the European sponsors, good for the TV rights, good for US companies wanting to promote themselves in Europe). Having it on the West Coast would alienate an entire list of sponsors. I believe having it back in Newport is an easy story to write for media, and would no doubt bring more teams from Europe. That is the angle Rhode Island proposals should focus on, and the ORACLE team should consider. * From Frederic Berg: Well, well well, let's admit it, if we want to find out the best sailing has to offer, you can't beat pitting two stinking filthy rich sailing aficionados at each other's throats. We have just been treated, for free, one might add, to the most advanced, expensive, fastest sailing dual ever achieved on this planet. Isn't this what Americas Cup is all about? Forget all the rules and class boats - leave that to the elegance of Louis Vuitton. Let's find out who can muster the best technology applied to sailing and let it rip. Speed is king and the 33rd America’s Cup delivered like no other Cup series in recent history. Isn't that what George Schuyler was really after? Now imagine a series offshore in Hawaii in the Molokai channel. Twenty-five knot balmy trades, 8 to 12 foot seas, plenty of sunshine and two ninety foot multihulls battling it out for supremacy. That's real sailing! CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION When in doubt, just take the next small step. Special thanks to Webb Institute and Paul Buttrose Yachts. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
