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SCUTTLEBUTT 3076 - Thursday, April 22, 2010
Scuttlebutt 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.
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Today's sponsors: The Pirates Lair and Ullman Sails.
REDRESS SACRIFICED ON THE ALMIGHTY ALTAR OF TELEVISION
Most racing sailors will never experience a Medal Race, which was a feature
introduced for the 2008 Olympics to maximize the relevancy of the final race
of the event. The problem was that occasionally a sailor dominated their
event, and would then use their throw-out and not sail the final race. How
come, asked the worldwide media, could a sailor win a gold medal without
leaving the dock, while every other Olympic event saw its medals decided at
the end of competition?
The Medal Race was to be the fix. The plan required the top ten teams in the
standings to advance to a single final race which could not be thrown out,
and whose points earned would be double their finishing position. During the
2008 Games, the concept was not fully successful. In some instances the
points were close, and it did decide the final medal winners. But some of
the medals were still decided before the Medal Race, so it merely forced the
podium winners to compete in the finale.
To further tweak the system, ISAF has recently changed Addendum Q in the
Racing Rules of Sailing for specific events such as the Medal Race.
Regarding the changes, International Judge Jos Spijkerman states, "The
biggest change is that there's practically no redress for anything anymore.
That means that if someone breaking a rule in Part 2, damages your boat and
that makes you lose speed or even makes you leave the racecourse - there's
no redress possible! I'm afraid that has been sacrificed on the almighty
altar of television.
"The thinking in this is, that ideally the one sailing across the line
first, should win first prize. But that would mean starting with a new score
in the Medal Race. Everybody has a chance. Forgetting the previous eight or
ten races. A lot of drama, a lot of tension and very good television. But,
at this moment, this is even for ISAF one step too far. Looking at the
'trend' in the last decade, I think we will get there soon."
Jos Spijkerman report: http://tinyurl.com/Addendum-Q
Addendum Q revision: http://tinyurl.com/ISAF-Addendum-Q
BIRKENFELD DAMAGES CLAIM AGAINST KENDALL FAILS
American boardsailor Kimberly Birkenfeld has lost her nearly eight-year bid
to get $15 million damages from Olympic gold medallist Bruce Kendall. Once
the United States' top female boardsailor, Birkenfeld suffered severe brain
and spinal injuries in 2002 when her windsurfer collided with a Yachting New
Zealand-owned motorboat driven by Kendall in Greece.
She claimed she had stopped in the water when he ploughed into her, but
Kendall said she came at him at high speed and he was unable to avoid her.
Kendall, Birkenfeld's former coach, pulled her lifeless body out of the
water and resuscitated her, saving her life. She now needs a wheelchair to
go more than short distances and struggles to speak.
She had initially sought $15 million in damages, but Yachting NZ and Kendall
won orders limiting the amount of funds payable to about $500,000. Yachting
NZ never admitted liability for the accident but had offered on several
occasions to pay Birkenfeld the full amount, which she had declined.
In 2008 the Court of Appeal threw out Birkenfeld's appeal, after she argued
that the offer only dealt with quantum damages, not Kendall's alleged
negligence. Last July, the Supreme Court dismissed Birkenfeld's application
for leave to appeal her case saying it was "not persuaded that the hearing
in the Court of Appeal was unfair to her".
The Supreme Court today dismissed a further application filed by Birkenfeld,
who argued that a lack of a right to public access to court records deprived
her of the right to a fair and public hearing. The court said it was not
persuaded that the regulations concerning public access had a prejudicial
effect on the preparation of Birkenfeld's case. Birkenfeld has now had
appeals rejected by New Zealand courts in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Kendall won the men's boardsailing gold medal at Seoul in 1988. --
http://tinyurl.com/y6x7qda
LET YOUR RUM FLAG FLY!
The new Mount Gay Rum burgee is available online at The Pirates Lair Store!
Log on to http://pirateslair.com/store for official Mount Gay Rum apparel
and accessories as well as official Newport to Ensenada and Border Run
apparel. If you have a regatta to plan email us at
mailto:info@pirateslair.com
AND THE BEAT GOES ON.
This week there will be nearly 400 boats racing south in Southern
California, which is something that sailors have been doing this time of
year for decades. Just not exactly like this.
Now in its 63rd edition, the Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race
(N2E) will start its fleet (currently at 213 entrants) on Friday, where they
will line up off Balboa Pier in Newport Beach and head south down the
Southern California coast toward the finish off Ensenada, Baja Mexico, 125
nm down the track.
For sailors in this region, the N2E race is as much festival as competition,
and is for many their first overnight race. Said America's Cup legend Dennis
Conner, "I have enjoyed the race since the mid-50s. My first races were on
PCC and Owens Cutters. In those days it was THE race everyone looked forward
to as there were much fewer races. Not much has changed in the race itself."
While the race hasn't changed much, the boats have. Prior to the 2009 N2E
race, organizers took the bold stance to support a ban of what was deemed by
some to be an unsafe boat - the Reynolds 33 catamaran. There had been
instances in Southern California racing where the R33 had capsized, and with
race organizers having managed a fleet of nearly 400 boats in the 2008 race,
they made the decision that the safety concern was not worth the risk.
Born out of this conflict was a new race, The Border Run, which had its
inaugural event in 2009. Conceived by supporters of the Reynolds 33, the
race starts in the same location as N2E, but finishes in San Diego rather
than going south of the border. Attracting 112 entrants in its first year,
this year's race starts its fleet (currently at 181 entrants) on Saturday
for its 69 nm or 90 nm course options.
What is notable about The Border Run is the variance of boats on their entry
list. While the N2E attracts what might be considered a mostly monohull
traditional inshore race fleet, The Border Run has a more diverse group. At
the top end is the ORR ULDB A class consisting of eight maxi sleds, but at
the other end are nine beach cats at +/- 20-feet along with a couple Hobie
Trifoilers.
And, of course, in The Border Run are four Reynolds 33, the boat which
initiated this conflict and competition for customers between the two races.
As for the seaworthiness of the R33, they have competed without incident
over the past couple years, but one of The Border Run entrants did capsize
last weekend in an event off Long Beach. But they were promptly righted, and
will be at the start line on Saturday. And the beat goes on.
Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race: http://www.nosa.org
The Border Run: http://www.theborderrun.org
Scuttlebutt Forum: http://tinyurl.com/2dc5njm
WIND REPORT: North Sails and Southern Spars have partnered with Sailing
Weather Service to provide 2 FREE weather forecasts for the Newport-Ensenada
Yacht Race, starting April 23, 2010. One forecast was sent out April 21st
and can be viewed online at North's weather center:
http://www.na.northsails.com/tabid/7321/Default.aspx. If you would like to
subscribe to receive the second forecast that will be emailed out on April
23, click here: http://www.na.northsails.com/tabid/7240/Default.aspx
LEAVING SAN FRANCISCO
(April 21, 2010; Day 2) - For the nine boat Clipper 09-10 Round The World
Yacht Race fleet, they commenced their leg from San Francisco to Jamaica
Tuesday evening, but not without a flurry of last minute action. 'Team
Finland' succeeded in a quick turnaround following their finish of the leg
from Qingdao, China on Monday, this delay a result of additional time needed
to prepare a replacement mast in China before they could start the leg.
Also, when 'Qingdao' skipper Chris Stanmore-Major was unable to arrive from
Europe in time due to cancelled flights from Iceland's volcanic ash,
transportation arrangements were made for Hannah Jenner to take over as a
late fill in. Jenner had been in Antigua so as to prepare 'Cork' for the
final leg from the Caribbean to UK.
The fleet will follow a SSE route down the western coastline, and are
expected to arrive in Panama around May 11th after which they will transit
the Panama Canal before commencing a 591-mile sprint to Jamaica. -- Event
website: http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com
SAILING SHORTS
* (April 21, 2010) - For the ten teams competing at the Rolex Farr 40 Worlds
in the Dominican Republic, it was a long, hot morning waiting dockside at
the Casa de Campo Marina for the breeze to fill in. After an hour and a half
delay, the fleet was underway by 1pm. But the tropical Caribbean -
temperatures in the 90 F and high humidity - tested crewmembers'
concentration and focus. Three races were completed in mostly light winds,
with the top three places held by Transfusion, Guido Belgiorno-Nettis (AUS),
Barking Mad, Jim Richardson (USA), and Nerone, Massimo Mezzarona/Alberto
Signorini (ITA). -- Full report:
http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=100281&lang=1
* (April 21, 2010) - The sailing record between New York and Barcelona has
been set at 12 days, 06 hours, 03 minutes and 48 seconds. Estrella Damm's
co-skippers Alex Pella, Pepe Ribes and Stan Schreyer opened a new chapter in
the history of sailing records when they became the fastest crew to go from
travel the distance by sailboat. Also competing in the Open 60 New York
Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record challenge was W Hotels' co-skippers
Pachi Rivero, Tono Piris and Peter Becker, who took 12 days, 15 hours, 23
minutes and 50 seconds to finish the 3,666 nm route. -- Event website:
http://www.ny-bcn.org/
* Danny Pletsch and Kari Sachs from Larchmont Yacht Club repeated as
Interclub National Champions by four points over two-time national champions
and fleet mates John and Molly Baxter. The regatta, arguably the most
competitive of the frostbiting championships, was hosted by the Community
Boating Center in New Bedford, Massachusetts. -- Full report:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9666
* (April 21, 2010) - The latest update of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings
have been released, with the next issue of the rankings to be released on
May 12, 2010 and will include the results from the Semaine Olympique
Francaise in France. North Americans are ranked in the top ten in most
events, with three each in the Laser Radial and Star, and two in Women's
Match Race. -- http://www.sailing.org/32457.php
THE SCHOCK FACTOR AT AHMANSON CUP
Last weekend Ullman Sails customers in the Schock 35 class set the pace for
the summer race season, taking first and second place in division at Newport
Harbor Yacht Club's 2010 Ahmanson Cup in Southern California. Steve Arkle
and team on "Power Play" claimed first place with bullets in the first and
last races of the weekend. Following closely in second place was David
Michaelis' crew on "Mako," who finished just two points behind "Power Play."
The Ahmanson Cup hosted over 45 competitors and also marked the first event
of the Ullman Sails Inshore Championships. Invest in your performance.
http://www.ullmansails.com
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free,
self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and
sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this
weekend:
Apr 23-25 - The Leukemia Cup Regatta - Dallas, TX, USA
Apr 24-May 2 - American Yacht Club Spring Series - Rye, NY, USA
Apr 24-May 7 - Fireball World Championship - Bridgetown, Barbados
View all the events 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 JSA Office:
Here is a classic sportsmanship story that I heard originally from an Opti
dad who played golf.
Early in Bobby Jones' amateur career, he was in the final playoff of the
1925 U.S. Open. During the match as he was setting up to play his shot, his
iron caused a slight movement of the ball. He immediately turned to the
marshals and called a penalty on himself. The marshals discussed among
themselves and decided that neither they nor anyone else had witnessed any
incident, so the decision was left to Jones.
Bobby Jones called the two-stroke penalty on himself, not knowing that he
would lose the tournament by one stroke. When he was praised for his
gesture, Jones replied, "You may as well praise a man for not robbing a
bank." The USGA's sportsmanship award is named the Bob Jones Award in his
honor. -- Scuttleblog, http://tinyurl.com/classic-sportsmanship-story
* From Richard Hazelton, Editor 48 degrees North Sailing Magazine:
Regarding Chris Caswell's article (in Scuttlebutt 3075), "Have we become in
this soccer-mom, Little League, uber-aggressive world so focused on
competition that we've forgotten how to have fun?"
Yes!
* From Elliot Oldak:
Chris Caswell's article in #3075 hits the nail right on the head....School
administrators, teachers and instructors, who understand kids and how to
instill appreciation for the water and sailing for life!
* From Robert Mott, Tiburon CA: (re, Sail magazine's report in 'Butt 3075)
Take a look at Wikipedia's piece about the Sargasso Sea (at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargasso_Sea), which encloses the Patch --
"Owing to surface currents, the Sargasso accumulates a high concentration of
non-biodegradable plastic waste. The huge North Atlantic Garbage Patch is
similar to another ocean phenomenon, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch."
What goes around comes around.
* From Peter Kremlick: (re, commentary in Scuttlebutt 3075)
Owen Muyt may have had his wine but he sure missed an opportunity to teach a
young smarty pants what it really means to be a rule abiding competitor. Why
was there no protest filed? The assertion that no other boats saw such a
gross infraction is hardly an excuse to not follow the rules or not file a
protest. Different classes - so what!
By not following the infraction to the proper solution Mr Muyt has
reinforced the young man's notion that he can just bluster his way through a
fleet. The next time the lad tries such a stunt someone could get hurt. Live
(and die) by the rules regardless!
* From Chris Simon IU, IJ: (re, commentary in Scuttlebutt 3075)
Owen Muyt may have compensated his skipper by procuring a bottle of wine
from the 'winner' under the racing rules, but how did he compensate all the
other competitors who might have received a bottle of wine if he had
protested the Melges?
* From Jim Linville: (re, commentary in Scuttlebutt 3075)
Owen, you should have protested. Period! It is your duty to the sport. It
simply isn't enough to badger someone who you think should have done the
turns or whatever. If you don't protest and take it to the room or if you
don't see turns done pretty darned quickly, then you just aren't serious
about it. Wine is nice, but it doesn't count, especially only one bottle
(Wait, was it a Lynch Bages 1968? If so forget it, you made a good deal).
By the way, if you didn't get the flag up promptly (first reasonable
opportunity) you lose. Check the appeals; going below to get the flag loses
you the protest. I have this discussion with folks I sail with: Ask where
the protest flag is, and if the answer is "below" then you are sailing for
fun and you've made up your mind ahead of time that you can't protest. If
you intend to defend your rights, have the flag in the skipper's pocket, the
tacticians pocket or furled on a shroud or the vang. If it is anywhere else,
you won't get to it fast enough and you'll lose. -- Scuttlebutt Forum, read
on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9668#9668
* From Tony Sanpere: (re, professionalism in the sport)
At the Hospice Regatta in St. Croix this year, one of the competitors from
Puerto Rico brought a very experienced professional eight-time Rolex winner
to drive his boat in Performance Cruising Class. I can see doing this if you
are racing in Spinnaker Racing Class but in the lowly class that I entered
with my dacron sails because I don't want to race all out against
professionals. I don't have a problem if they own the boat and want to race
at a lower level and enjoy the regatta as I do even after 40 years of
racing. But to do this just to get a win regardless of the cost?
* From Chris Shining: (re, letter in Scuttlebutt 3075)
If what Mr. Dunning claims is true - "At the moment I know of many
professional crews that are paid to sail but are still claiming to be Group
1 sailors (non-compensated under ISAF Sailor Classification Code)." - he
should put his money where his 'claim' is and 'out' the offending sailors.
As a former North Sails employee and former compensated Group 3 sailor, I
have heard disgruntled skippers and crew make this claim countless times
without ever doing something about it. Sack up and out the offenders or stop
the whining.
I am not naive enough to believe it is not happening but I am tired of
people claiming to 'know' of offending sailors and doing nothing about it.
Our sport requires us to self-police our own rules and if your are making
claims about others and not doing anything about it then you are equally to
blame.
Remember you can shake a label of a***hole, I know many guys who have, but
the label of 'cheat' will always stick. Either be part of the solution or
you can stay of the course as well.
=> Curmudgeon's Comment: The ISAF website displays a list of all sailors
with their current classification. If you believe that the classification of
another sailor is incorrect, ISAF states that you are entitled to, (1) ask
the event's Organising Authority, the Class Association or ISAF in
confidence to investigate, which then may refer the case to the ISAF
Classification Commission, whose panel will review the classification or,
(2) protest the boat on which the sailor is racing at an event that is using
the Code or where a class is using the Code. -- http://tinyurl.com/26dmclk
* From Ronald de Waal, owner of J Class Velsheda:
In order to give a more complete and balanced picture I would like to react
to the correspondence and letters Dr Clark has aired about the J-Class and
which were published by Yachting World among others (reprinted in
Scuttlebutt 3073).
It is still a mystery to me why Dr Clark spent more then two years building
Hanuman, having Gerard Dijkstra and his office deeply involved to create the
fastest J, using the know how they assembled refitting all the other
existing Js, entering the regatta in Antigua, practise and then not race.
Dr Clark did not cut any corners building the boat with carbon rigging, a
lightweight interior as well as building a full wardrobe of racing sails. Dr
Clark surely was aware of the way the boats were being raced with a mix of
professionals and non-professionals. This is being done so that we can sail
these big complex boats well, and also for safety reason.
With the Velsheda programme we have been sailing with the same crew for 8
years, some have been with us for 10 years. As a sponsor for Team NZ we had
some of the guys of the team sailing with us as a return favour, which has
been the situation for many years now. -- Yachting World, read on:
http://tinyurl.com/23merq2
KENNY WANTS A 'BUTTHEAD TO BUY HIS BOAT
Champion sailor Kenny Read is getting ready for the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean
Race, and does not want to see his 2005 Pearson True North 38 downeast power
boat being left unused like it was when he skippered PUMA Ocean Racing in
the 2008-9 VOR. It has low miles and is ready to provide a memorable summer.
Lying in Newport, RI, details on Ken's fantastic coastal cruiser are here:
http://www.spyglassforsale.com
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at
once.
Special thanks to The Pirates Lair and Ullman Sails.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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