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SCUTTLEBUTT 1251 - January 30, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. FINE TUNING As Team New Zealand moves into its final preparations for the America's Cup, the focus is moving on to in-house racing and veteran campaigner Rod Davis has been used to bring some variety into the action. Davis, who has just wound up his involvement with the Italian Prada team, is working to help prepare Dean Barker and his crew for their clash with Alinghi starting February 15. "It is good to have Rod involved. He brings a bit more unpredictability into the mix," said skipper Dean Barker. Davis is working in the afterguard with Bertrand Pacé in the intensive racing against Barker. Barker said Davis was principally working as tactician to Pacé, but would probably also helm the trial-horse boat in some of the in-house racing between NZL-81 and NZL-82. Davis, a veteran of nine America's Cup campaigns, has been released from the Italian Prada syndicate, which has now wrapped up its development programme in Auckland. Davis was the starting helmsman on board Luna Rossa in the Louis Vuitton Cup. "At this stage of the campaign it is great to be able to introduce a new sailing style in the final build-up to the Cup," Barker said. - Ivor Wilkins, Louis Vuitton Cup website, full story: www.louisvuittoncup.yahoo.com/story1799.html CAYARD SPEAKS (Rich Roberts interviewed Paul Cayard about his short-lived involvement the Oracle BMW Racing campaign. Here are two excerpts from the story posted on the Yacht Racing website.) Cayard: "As I told Larry Ellison way back, when he bought the boats from me back in 2000---which was the only time I ever talked to him---he said, 'Well, I just assumed that if you couldn't be the CEO or the skipper you wouldn't want to be part of our program.' I said, 'Hey, if there's gonna be a topnotch challenge out of San Francisco with a real chance to bring the Cup to the Bay, which is something I really believe in, I'd be happy to be part of the team.' And he said, 'Oh, in that case we'd love to have you.' That's the only time we ever talked." Roberts: How was it sitting this one out? Cayard: "Financially, I have to be honest. It worked out OK. I got paid the whole way and I didn't have to go down there and be away from my family." Roberts: Did you go to Auckland at all? Cayard: "I went in December for a week when there were only four teams left. A few people from other teams wanted to talk to me about next time. At 43 years old, I've been sailing for 35 years and I've done enough of these Cups to where I'm technically able to relate to the design team, and I have enough experience being at the top of these things to do a good job with the people and management side. Next time I'll be 46. It's not that huge a deal, but these are probably my most impactful years." Q: Were you rooting for Oracle? Cayard: "The obvious knee-jerk thing was that the last thing I want to see is Larry succeed. He was wrong. But the truth is, there would have been nothing better than to have the Cup in my backyard. I could live at home and go to work. I know I wouldn't have worked for Oracle, but I could have worked for someone else." Q: Your assessment of the Oracle campaign? Cayard: "Instability in the management and therefore a lack of leadership. There wasn't one person that everybody respected who on a daily basis was making the decisions, setting the tone, setting the pace, creating the right environment to foster everybody's best effort. People need to be motivated beyond a paycheck. When you melted it all down, people were there for the paycheck. There was no person who grabbed at their hearts and took 'em beyond, and that's what you have to do to win. You have to go way beyond the paycheck." Q: Were you surprised when Ellison brought Dickson back? Cayard: "Yeah. Letting Dickson go the first time wasn't a surprise because it occurred over a long period of time and it was the crew that didn't want him there. Everybody was aware of the pressures to get rid of him the first time." Q: Did you have problems with Dickson? Cayard: "I didn't really, but I never sailed with him. They always kept me and him opposite." There is a lot more to this interview: http://www.yachtracing.com/richroberts/012903.htm WEAPONS FOR THE MIDWINTER SAILING WARS! Padded Sailing Shorts or Padded optional Long Pants with optional knee pads, Kontrol- aggressive gripped palms with palm wraps, Waterproof Gloves and Socks, High Collar Sunblocker Sailing Shirts, Floatable waterproof Gearbags, and Knee Sleeves are some of the gear Sailing Angles has to help you win these wind battles. Check out their new Shoreline Shorts (Quik-dry), great and inexpensive team gear at $39.95 for 3+. Team discounts available: minimum of 3 units. Embroidery available. Some gear available at APS, Layline, and Sailnet, or call them direct at (800) 666-3616 or go on-line: http://www.sailingangles.com JULES VERNE TROPHY * KINGFISHER 2: For Ellen MacArthur's dedicated team, who have worked non-stop now for 24 hours in freezing conditions in Plymouth Sound, the end of the pitsop is nearly in sight. The final fastenings are being secured on the mast track, and it is planned that Kingfisher 2 will slip her mooring and head out to a very rough English Channel during the night. The giant catamaran has been sitting at anchor in her orange B&Q livery just off of Plymouth Hoe since late last night. Conditions have not assisted the team, but the incredible effort of the team, coupled with fantastic local support, has delivered an extraordinary fast turnaround. The final repair has involved a small amount of work on the headboard car, and the replacement of two parts of the mast track at the 2nd and 3rd reef positions. The pressure to leave has been principally to catch a weather window, ie favourable following winds. But this is not just northerly winds at the start, in fact more importantly it is the forecast for 3 days down the track to the west of Spain and Portugal that is most critical. This 'link' between the Bay of Biscay and the Trade Winds is one of the most important in the Jules Verne course in terms of the record time. Assuming she does leave as planned, Kingfisher 2 would cross the start line off of Ushant, 120 miles south south west of Plymouth in the early hours of the morning. Conditions are expected to be quite wild in the English Channel with a large seaway and up to 50 knots of wind while sailing to Plymouth yesterday, the crew already saw 60 knots gusts. - http://www.kingfisherchallenges.com/ HELP: One of Ellen McArthur's rivals has stepped in to help her get back on track in her Jules Verne round-the-world record attempt after a technical problem delayed her start. Fellow British skipper Tracy Edwards, who had to postpone her Jules Verne attempt until 2004 in Maiden II due to a lack of funds, has offered to lend a piece of mast off her laid up yacht to get McArthur, sailing in Kingfisher 2, back on schedule. - CNN.Com, full story: www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/sailing/01/29/kingfisher.ppl/index.html * GERONIMO: Jammed between two weather systems, Geronimo has made slower progress over the last 24 hours as a result of slack winds of variable direction. Having covered 366 nautical miles point-to-point on her 18th day of racing, the trimaran is now experiencing the calm before the storm. According to Pierre Lasnier, Olivier de Kersauson and his 10-man crew may well be facing a personal Trafalgar by early evening tomorrow. "Over 40 knots of wind between midnight and 09:00 GMT", says the meteorologist. "It'll then move round to the south-west. Geronimo will then try to pick up speed again following the direct route of the depression and exploiting the calm wake it leaves behind at around 43° South". Another really big blow is scheduled for the start of next week. To avoid the worst of it, Geronimo will return to 41° South before the weather system deepens. As soon as the front has passed through, the south-westerly airstream should allow the Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Schneider Electric crew to set a course due East in the wake of the depression. http://www.grandsrecords.com JULES VERNE CLOSEUP (James Boyd caught up with skipper and phenomenon Ellen MacArthur in Plymouth Sound for an interview about her Jules Verne Trophy challenge. Here's a paragraph from his story posted on the Daily Sail website.) The biggest challenge facing MacArthur looks likely to be from Olivier de Kersauson's Geronimo. Now two and a half weeks into their attempt, the big tri is already more than two days ahead of Peyron's record. Ellen thinks her campaign has advantages over de Kersauson's. "We haven't tried to do anything really different," she says. "We've just tried to make everything that was there more reliable and a bit lighter. We know that that works, we know that the concept works - it's already been twice around the world - and we're relying on that as much as anything else. If you look at Geronimo, she went off and she didn't make it [last year], she came back and she had quite a few problems, but yet she's a new boat and they're still learning. We're a little more tested in that respect and a lot of the guys who're sailing on board have sailed her in her old configuration and that helps..." - Full story: http://thedailysail.com/ISM/articles.nsf/Interview/3E9D62E8DC466B0B80256CBB005F94B3?OpenDocument&Login ROLEX MIAMI OCR Despite cooler-than-normal temperatures in Southern Florida, 526 athletes sailing 328 boats generated their own kind of competitive heat today as they began racing in the 2003 Rolex Miami OCR. The global importance of this event, which hosts competition in 11 Olympic and Paralympic classes, is evident in the number of foreign sailors -- representing 34 countries -- lured here by the knowledge that they would find excellent competition against the best American sailors. More than half of the 328 boats sailing are foreign entries. Canada has the largest contingent with 55 entries, followed by Germany with 13, and Great Britain with 12. In its 14th year, the Rolex Miami OCR features six racing circles on Biscayne Bay, providing a spectacular show for spectators as well as high-rise dwellers. Sixty-eight Stars make for the largest class at this year's event and perhaps the most intriguing line-up of internationally recognized sailing names. Olympians from Greece, Ireland and Switzerland are among the foreign entries, who comprise over half the fleet, but it was Peter Bromby of Sandys, BER, who leads after three races today. U.S. sailors are at the top of the scoreboard in seven classes. Skipper Meg Gaillard of Jamestown, R.I. leads the Europe fleet, while Steve Hunt of San Diego, Calif. leads 470 Men's; Katie McDowell of Barrington, R.I. tops 470 Women's; and Andy Mack, White Salmon, Wash., leads the 49ers. In the Laser class, Mark Mendleblatt ( St. Petersburg, Fla.), came straight from his One World America's Cup campaign to take a one-point lead over Great Britain's Daniel Holman after today's three races. The class is the second largest here, with 49 entries. The much anticipated Yngling debut at the 2004 Olympics was previewed by skipper Betsy Alison's overall win today in that class. Alison, of Newport, R.I., is a five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. - Media Pro Int'l, for full results, visit www.ussailing.org/rolexmiamiocr/ ADMIRALS CUP The Royal Southern Yacht Club in Hampshire, Great Britain has submitted an entry for the 2003 Admirals Cup. The two-boat team entered, are to be Nick Hewson's Team Tonic, one of three Farr 52's based around the Solent, and an as yet unnamed Sinergia 40 owned by Nigel Biggs', Checkmate Sailing Team. The RORC has three other confirmed entries - the UNCL in France have entered a team lead by last years Commodore's Cup winning captain Gery Trentesaux, along with a further British team from GBR Challenge Head Peter Harrison. There is also a confirmed entry from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club in Sydney, and firm interest from the Spanish. - ISAF website, full story: www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=3807 OCKAM QUALITY AND ACCURACY Ockam components are manufactured and serviced in the USA, and are designed to true instrument standards. Parts and materials are selected based on highest performance and durability over the long haul in the toughest environment. Integrated measured heel in the wind solution is superior to one-size-fits-all assumptions about heel. Fine calibration is possible, providing significant and repeatable accuracy difference. Unlike other systems that force fit boat data to a template and then constantly readjust in varying conditions, Ockam calibrates to a specific boat and remains in synch as conditions change. For more, visit http://www.ockam.com. CLIPPER 2002 Nicola Reading, a 31-year-old Telecoms Marketing Manager from Beccles in Suffolk, UK, fell overboard whilst racing aboard the 60-foot Cape Town Clipper yacht in the Pacific Ocean at 08:55 GMT on Tuesday, 28 January. The incident occurred during the Ko Olina Cup Race from Galapagos to Hawaii, part of the Clipper 2002 Round the World Yacht Race. The crew member was successfully recovered, without injury, after 12 minutes in the water. Nicola, who is competing in the whole eleven-month challenge, fell overboard during a spinnaker drop. In squally conditions at 23:55 local time on Monday, 27 January, Nicola was on the foredeck gathering a lowered spinnaker when a gust caught the sail and pushed her over the side. The crew swiftly put into operation the man overboard recovery drill they spend so long practicing and Nicola was brought back on board, shaken but unharmed. This is the only time an incident of this nature has occurred in the Clipper Race, which has so far successfully taken over 700 amateur crew around the world. STANDINGS: 1. Jersey, 343nm distance from finish; 2. Bristol, 346 dff; 3. Liverpool, 370 dff; 4. London, 372 dff; 5. Glasgow, 455 dff; 6. Hong Kong; 458 dff; 7. Cape Town, 516 dff; 8. New York, 611 dff. http://www.clipper-ventures.com/ LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Handley Richard (re Ross Bateson's statements): Before extolling the virtues of the "all British" GBR Challenge, look down some of the CV's from the GBR website. Last time I talked to Chris Main, Mal Page or Ben Morrison-Jack I didn't hear any pommy accent! Now look at the boat builders and other support staff, Yes, many Brits but also a number of other countries also represented. Get over this nationalistic attitude and accept the America's Cup for what it is... the pinnacle event for the world's best sailors. Do you really mind who plays for Manchester United isn't always British? Or do you really mind a German driving an Italian F1 car? Just enjoy the racing and support your team, maybe with a few more foreigner's they might make the semi finals of the LVC. * From Graeme Lee: When Ernesto Berterelli made his recent comments about the NZ attitude to his challenge, and how it may affect the future of the event, he should reflect on the marvelous reception handed out to Prada last time - and ponder on what has changed this time. * From Bud Thompson: It seems New Zealanders are shooting themselves in the foot. With all the "stuff" going on with them and two great sailors who had a bit to do with getting the Cup to their land I would think they would be proud of them and maybe some day find out what caused the jump. Making a good living is certainly a must for anyone but there would appear be some deeper concerns involved judging by the stories now emerging. * From Mark Green (Re: George Backhus comments in 'butt 1250): What a shame that the editor's scissors weren't a little quicker so that the political opinions of ex-pat George Backhus did not appear in a forum about sailing. My children also own boats, not guns, as I am sure many of the readers of this publication could also say. My suggestion, Mr. Backhus, is that you sail your yacht back to your home country, bringing your ideas and vision for a more peaceful planet, and get to work creating one. Otherwise, please don't impose your simplistic opinions and judgements on those of us who are actively involved in bettering our communities and our country. If you choose to be a world sailor, then do the world a favor and bring to those you meet the good wishes of the vast majority of the American people, the principles of freedom and democracy that made this country great and the ideals to which we, as a country, aspire. And if you do meet an "ugly American" perhaps you could remind them directly (and not the rest of us generally) that they could be better ambassadors for their country. * From Tom Spelman: Perhaps Mr. George Backhus (Butt 1250) should ponder the notion that if Americans had not 'Played with guns' in 1945 all New Zealanders would be living under the flag of the Empire of Japan., instead of preparing to win a third Cup! Let's keep politics out of Scuttlebutt. CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: I agree, so this thread is being killed right now - with the curmudgeon's apologies for letting it get started. * From Fred Frye, M.D. 1987 San Diego YC Commodore: I would like to remind the NZRYS that when the Americas Cup was in the possession of San Diego Yacht Club it was not hidden away in our clubhouse. The Cup traveled nationally and internationally during the years 1987 -95. Not only did many Americans have an opportunity to see the Cup but others did as well throughout the world.. Tom Wilson was the custodian of the Cup and was responsible for the scheduling. He and his wife Jane accompanied the Cup many times. This was even picked up in a fictional novelized account of the Cup and the races . Tom Wilson died last year and he understood the traditions and the importance of the Cup. His widow Jane continues as a stalwart contribution member of SDYC (race committee duties) Their service to the San Diego Yacht Club and the Cup should not be dismissed by the RNZYS is such a cavalier fashion. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed Up? |
