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SCUTTLEBUTT 2480 – November 21, 2007Scuttlebutt 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. THE BIRTH OF A NEW FLEET After extensive on-the-water testing, in late 2006 American Yacht Club (Rye, NY) selected the RS K6 as a new one-design class for the Club. Over prior years American had witnessed a decline in one-design keelboat racing at the Club and elsewhere in Western Long Island Sound. While the reasons for this are many, the Club believed that a modern design together with a time efficient racing program could reverse the trend, and a committee was formed to develop criteria and evaluate different boats. These criteria included good performance and sailing attributes, reasonable purchase and ownership costs, and the ability to be raced with a wide variety of crews without requiring large numbers. After considering some local existing classes, most of which were designed over 30 years ago, the committee decided early on that it was time to embrace a newer design that would take advantage of developments in materials, construction, and systems made over the last 20-30 years. Based on this, in the summer of 2006 various boats were selected for consideration, and extended on the water testing when possible. The extended testing was invaluable as there were many preconceptions (good and bad) about various boats that proved incorrect. As one can imagine, the process generated much debate and heated opinions. But matters were brought to a head in a December, 2006 meeting whereby only those ready to buy could vote for a particular boat. At that meeting the K6 was selected, and an initial order of 11 boats was soon placed by members followed by another four orders in the following months. Combined with a couple of evaluation boats that had been delivered to the Club in 2006, this created a total fleet for 2007 of 17 boats all of which are owned by individuals-not the Club. -- Complete report, photos, and YouTube video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1115 OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Among the teams competing last week at US Sailing’s Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship at the Houston Yacht Club was American 2008 Olympic Laser Radial representative Anna Tunnicliffe. Here she explains what it took for this single-handed sailor to adapt to the 4-person J/22, and how guts and focus in the final race allowed her team to climb up the standings and onto the podium: “We weren’t really focusing on the second and third overall boats because they were so far ahead of us on points (Cory Sertl and Derby Anderson had 38 and 40 points respectively to Tunnicliffe’s 53 points). In the last race, we went for the pin end and got a great start right at go and got out ahead and rounded the weather mark in second place and stayed there the whole race. It wasn’t until after we finished that we started counting boats and comparing scores and began to realize we might be third. We didn’t confirm it until we got ashore and saw the results. We came a long way this week with our sailing technique and teamwork. Sailing a Laser Radial, you have only yourself to answer to, and you can always gain a place or two by using sheer muscle-power to sail the boat harder. In a four-person boat, it’s more about tactics and teamwork.” -- http://www.annatunnicliffe.com * Here is a wrap-up report with stories from all the top ten teams: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1781&lang=1 NEW TEAMS ANNOUNCED (November 20, 2007) While uncertainty surrounds the planning for the 33rd America’s Cup due to the lawsuit between the defender Alinghi team and the BMW Oracle Racing Team/ Golden Gate YC, two new challengers were announced Tuesday, joining the five challenging teams already accepted: Desafío Español (ESP), Team Shosholoza (RSA), TEAMORIGIN (GBR), Team New Zealand (NZL), and United Internet Team Germany (GER). * The new Spanish syndicate AYRE Challenge has been accepted as a challenger for the 33rd America’s Cup. AYRE represents the Real Club Náutico de Dénia (Royal Yacht Club of Denia) and thus becomes the seventh official challenger for the next event The Real Club Náutico de Dénia is the biggest yacht club in the province of Alicante and one of the most active throughout Spain. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the club’s foundation. -- Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/2hvcsb * Mascalzone Latino, the team led by President Vincenzo Onorato that finished sixth in the 32nd America’s Cup this year, has launched with Reale Yach Club Canottieri Savoia its challenge to the 33rd America's Cup. What makes this entry interesting is that Onorato has been one of the most vocal opponents of Alinghi’s Protocol for the 33rd event, and one of the close allies of the BMW Oracle Racing team in their efforts to revise the rules. -- http://www.mascalzonelatino.it A ‘CAP’ TIVATING IDEA FROM ULTIMATE SAILING “Hold on to your hat”... the retractable strap on your Ultimate Sailing cap allows you to tether it to your shirt or jacket. Navy or Beige at $19.95 each. Available online with all the other Ultimate Sailing products: the Ultimate Sailing calendar, t-shirts, books, note-cards, and custom prints. http://www.ultimatesailing.com * Scuttlebutt publisher Craig Leweck spoke to photographer Sharon Green regarding her newly released 2008 Ultimate Sailing Calendar, which has graced sailor’s walls for the past 26 years. Besides mentioning that the 2007 version sold out in mid-December, she provides this 3:03 minute audio preview: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/07/sharon BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) (November 20, 2007) Following the crossing of the Canary Island scoring gate (Educación sin Fronteras is the only boat yet to leave the Canaries behind) the Barcelona World Race fleet has plenty of tactical decisions ahead on this long stage south to the next gate at Fernando de Noronha off the coast of Brazil. The leaders, Paprec-Virbac 2 and PRB elected to continue on a southern heading after passing the Canaries with Hugo Boss - suddenly up to third place - following in their tracks. Delta Dore can be proud of a stage victory in the passage from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands gate. The team completed the stage in 4 days, 4 hours and 35 minutes - incredibly, this was just one minute faster than the race leading Paprec-Virbac 2. In addition to picking up 2000 euros in prize money for the stage win, the boys on Delta Dore pick up scoring points towards the overall 'stage win' leaderboard. Of course, none of this changes the fact that Paprec Virbac 2 is ahead on the racetrack, although with yet one more big, light patch to navigate before the trade winds kick in, nothing is secure. -- Complete report: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com/default.asp?section=10&sid=10860 Day 10 Positions - November 20, 2007 - 18:00 (GMT) 1. Paprec-Virbac 2 - Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA)/Damian Foxall (IRE), 23,154 DTF 2. PRB - Vincent Riou (FRA)/Sébastien Josse (FRA), 28 miles DTL 3. Hugo Boss - Alex Thomson (GBR)/Andrew Cape (AUS), 84 4. Delta Dore - Jérémie Beyou (FRA)/Sidney Gavignet (FRA), 89 5. Temenos II - Dominique Wavre (SUI)/Michéle Paret (FRA), 118 6. Estrella Damm - Guillermo Altadill (ESP)/Jonathan McKee (USA), 120 7. Veolia Environnement - Roland Jourdain (FRA)/Jean-Luc Nélias (FRA), 138 8. Mutua Madrilena - Javier Sanso Windmann (ESP)/Pachi Rivero (ESP), 183 9. Educación sin Fronteras -Albert Bargués (ESP)/Servanne Escoffier (FRA),391 Race website: http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com => Curmudgeon’s Comment: In the last 24 hours, the lead boat is 156 miles closer to the finish, a daily pace that is over 40 miles a day faster than a week ago. For the most part, the fleet is slowly reeling in the leaders, with Hugo Boss making the biggest move, climbing from fifth to third overall, and taking 31 miles out of Paprec-Virbac 2’s lead. If you don’t have a globe handy, the fleet is in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately one-fifth of the way down from Gibraltar to the Cape of Good Hope, the point of land in southern South Africa, south of Cape Town, that marks the southernmost tip of Africa. Race tracker: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/bwr RE-ENERGIZING THE TRIED AND TRUE Ft Lauderdale, FL (November 20, 2007) - The Lauderdale Yacht Club hosted this past weekend the first of what it hopes will become an annual event, The Mercury Invitational. The Club has a very active fleet of Cape Cod Mercurys with 8-12 active participants sailing religiously every week. In an effort to bring a little more competition to the Club, The Mercury Invitational concept was developed by Mercury chairperson Jack Loving. The Club fleet sailed 3 qualifying regattas to pick the top 6 Club sailors, a 1 day regatta was held to pick the Club's top junior sailor and 5 all-stars were invited - Brad Funk, Morgan Reeser, Hal Gilreath, Ernesto Rodriguez, and Kevin Burnham. The event was held in front of the Club, round-robin style with the sailors changing boats between each race. The weather was perfect with 8-12 knots out of the northeast making for a very tricky course as the sailors had to play off the sea wall on the left and a sand bar on the right. -- Complete report and photos: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5545 SAILING SHORTS * Canadian athletes will receive a paycheque for landing on the podium at the Olympics. The Canadian Olympic Committee announced that starting next summer in Beijing, the Athlete Excellence Fund will give a cash reward to competitors who finish in the top three. Canadians who strike gold will get $20,000, while silver and bronze medallists will get $15,000 and $10,000, respectively. -- Calgary Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yunxtz * Brunswick, Maine -- An investigation into hazing is nearing an end at Bowdoin College, and officials say they will release a report of their findings by this week The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs continues to look into alleged incidents of hazing that may have taken place at a squash team party in 2005 and a sailing team party in 2004. -- http://www.hanknuwer.com/blog/?p=972 * A 58,000-gallon oil spill from a Chinese tanker earlier this month in San Francisco, CA has left the recreational boating industry wondering about the most effective way to clean 11,000 local boats. One of the leading members of the US Congress has also asked for a separate investigation into how the US Coast Guard handled the spill. On November 7, the Chinese tanker Cosco Busan collided into the Bay Bridge. The resultant oil discharge fouled more than 40 miles of shoreline, and killed thousands of sea birds. -- IBI News, full story: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20071020143650ibinews.html * (November 20, 2007) Athens (GRE), Bangkok (THA), Moscow (RUS), Singapore (SIN) and Turin (ITA) were selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Candidate Cities to host the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2010. The cities were selected unanimously from a total of nine cities that also included Debrecen (HUN), Guatemala City (GUA), Kuala Lumpur (MAS) and Poznan (POL). -- Full story: http://www.sailing.org/21500.php * On November 14th, 330 members of the New York YC held a fundraiser for America's Olympic and Paralympic sailing teams. Gary Jobson served as master of ceremonies, and in attendance were 14 Olympic sailors and six Paralympic sailors. The event raised $300,000, and the club will split the funds evenly between the athletes. -- Complete report: http://forums.sailingworld.com/blogs/?q=node/106 * Tortola, British Virgin Islands -- Team Bitter End Holmberg, led by John Holmberg, managed to knock the defending champion Alec Anderson’s Team bmobile BVI from their perch at last weekend's third annual Nanny Cay Nations Cup. The Nanny Cay Nations Cup is a round-robin fleet racing regatta where the simple requirement for entry is that all crew members carry the same passport. -- Complete report: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5540 * (November 20, 2007) The winners of three of the four classes competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre, a 4,300-mile doublehanded ocean race from Le Harve, France to Salvador, Brazil, have now been decided. In the multihulls, the ORMA 60 winner Groupama with Franck Cammas/ Steve Ravussin finished last Wednesday, while the Class 50 winner Crèpes Whaou!,Franck Yves Escoffier/Karine Fauconnier finished today. Also winning on Tuesday was the monohull IMOCA 60 Foncia, Michel Desjoyeaux/ Emmanuel Le Borgne; the Class 40 leader Télécom Italia, Giovanni Soldini/Pietro D'ali still has 1226 miles to go. -- Event website: http://www.jacques-vabre.com/en HIT THE 2008 RACING SEASON WITH SPEED The 2008 racing season is fast approaching. Is your sail inventory ready? From the International Grand Prix circuit to highly competitive One Design events or just local club racing, Ullman Sails has the right sail design technology and cloth selection to deliver the ‘Fastest Sails on the Planet.’ Ullman Sails “FiberPath” sails are arguably the lightest, strongest, string load-bearing sails available. And “FiberPath” delivers superior longevity compared to the alternatives. For more information on the technology and advantages of “FiberPath” or to get a quote from our highly experienced sailmakers, contact your local Ullman Sails loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com EIGHT BELLS Beloved yachtsperson, Louise Burgess Logan, a long time member of the Fort Worth Boat Club, sailor, and pal, died last week in Troop, Texas at age of 97. She was living in a retirement center there. She is survived by her daughter Barbara and son Tom. Louise was the widow of Harry Logan who was also a long time FWBC member and a partner at, McGown, Godfrey, and Logan. Louise referred to the firm as McGown, By Godfrey and Slow Gin”. She was lovingly known to as “ Easy Louise” . Her father owned a farm on the promontory east of the spillway that we know now as Eagle Mountain. She could remember looking across the valley to the north (where the Boat Club now is) and the Trinity River to the east when the land was all covered with corn. In the early thirties her father gave the Boat Club the land it now owns when the club moved from Lake Worth to Eagle Mountain Lake. Members of her family also owned the engineering firm, Carter Burgess. -- Read on: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5541 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: This remembrance by Grey McGown is as much a tribute to Louise as it is a history lesson on Texas boating. Very interesting! CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) The adage of “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t work anymore. For the event chairperson, you need to use all the tools at your disposal, and leveraging the Internet and the sailing media is a pretty big tool. One of the primary sources of information for sailors and scribes is the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar, where events are held in a shared database that is broadly marketed. A popular feature is the crew list that Key West Race Week annually uses, which currently holds 73 entries for crew eager to join the January 2008 event. View the calendar 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 Glenn McCarthy: Is the sport of Sailing the only sport that goes through the "equipment" selection every four years for the Olympics, or is this just peculiar to Sailing? For example, does the 100-meter run have choices of clay, cement, asphalt, synthetic, etc. pavements? * From David Barrow: Oh heck, I hit that reply button again! Recently reading Scuttlebutt has been rather stressful with all of the traumas with the America's cup, Tornado's eviction from the Olympics, two round the world races, Volvo ports changing drama, and everyone getting very, very excited. These are all commercial events, yes, including the Olympics, and not relevant to us ordinary mortals other than to have an opinion, and seemingly get stressed about. It seems that a good rant is the order of the day - I can almost see the steam coming out of my computer every morning. It would seem to me that the best thing to do is get on my little Scow and go for a sail down Lymington river, with a beer, and watch the wild life, and still, after 40 years, be amazed at how the wind makes that little boat skim across the water, and captivated by the noise of the water lapping the boat, the rig gently creaking gaff against mast. Peace * From Howard Paul: It's no wonder US Sailing fails in raising the kind of money needed to field a competitive team. They have never marketed the team correctly. First of all they never put a face(s) to the competitors. Ask me to give money to support a team that is undecided until a year or less before the Olympics. Who are these people I am supporting? US Sailing has to create a team right after the Olympics for the next Olympics based on a ranking system and a desire to compete in the next Olympics. Then support the team for a specified time say 6 months or a year. Based on their performance and that of others that want to compete adjust the ranking list. For instance you rank competitors 1-5 of each class giving support to the top 2 or 3. Then as a team out performs one of the supported teams the rankings change and so does the support. By doing this US Sailing has a vehicle to get press releases out about the competitors and how they are doing putting a face to their names and the team. I know this will work because I knew someone who had a son trying to compete and every time I saw him I asked how he was doing. It was easy for them to hit me up to help their son on his quest. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: While we are not sure if any sport names its team that early (or even could), now that the team is named, we’ll see if the marketing machine heats up. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “I love Thanksgiving turkey. It's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts.” -- Arnold Schwarzenegger => Curmudgeon’s Comment: I like Thanksgiving turkey too, and plan to eat my share with family and friends on Thursday to celebrate the American holiday. There will be no Scuttlebutt Newsletter on Thursday… look for the next issue to come on Friday. Special thanks to Ultimate Sailing and Ullman Sails. |
