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SCUTTLEBUTT 2134 - July 11, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.BRITISH EYEING THE PRIZE You could be forgiven for not noticing, but a sailing race has been unfolding in the Mediterranean - the 32nd America’s Cup, the oldest prize in sport. The absence of a British-based challenge, after the unfortunate ducking of Peter Harrison’s dream in the wake of the 2003 Cup, has switched many off. The last preliminary races of 2006 have finished, but when the Cup reaches a climax from next April, there will be plenty of British interest. Those who bemoan the lack of a British challenge and pin their hopes to the mast of Keith Mills, the man who helped to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to London and is trying to draw together interest for the next America’s Cup after Valencia, are perhaps missing the point. “Keith is obviously looking at the project. One of its attractions and one of its problems is ‘where’s it going to be?’, ‘what boat is it going to be in?’ That’s why it has been around 150 years, it’s why it has got all this mystique, but it is also why it is a pain in the a*** for sponsors sometimes.” Mills will not be thinking of putting together a tub-thumping jolly British boat, but Percy would certainly be one of his targets. “Keith Mills is still very interested in heading a British bid,” Rod Carr, the chief executive of the Royal Yachting Association, said. “In this Cup there are four boats at the top, probably four in the middle and four at the bottom. There is no interest in being one of the last. Without being arrogant we would want to compete, and to do that you probably need £15 million a year.” “We were in Valencia in May and answered a few questions. We are well on the way to scoping things out. That hasn’t been finished and it will take the autumn to do that. Keith is determined to make a decision at Christmas.” - by Matthew Pryor, Times Online, full story: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4041-2263061,00.html HARD WATER While Scuttlebutt World Headquarters spends its money on Cable TV and Netflix, Jennifer Golison reports on their new hook-up: “Since we installed our satellite we now receive WRLDSPT (Channel 9477). It has a fabulous sailing show called ‘Hard Water.’ Just watched a great one on 2003 Melges Worlds in San Francisco and another on the Stars at the Bacardi Cup.” We took a look at this week’s schedule, and it includes shows on the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy; the Mumm World Championships, Elba, Italy; the Star World Championships, San Francisco, CA; the Kinks Cup Regatta, Thailand; the Voiles de St. Tropez, France; the ISAF & Clipper 'round the world Race; the Table Bay Regatta, Cape Town; Antigua Sailing Week; and the Caribbean Big Boat Series. - http://tinyurl.com/kcjqc OVER $200,000 RAISED Newport, RI (July 10, 2006) – This past weekend, teams of corporate executives traded their business suits and briefcases for life jackets and sailing gear to raise over $200,000 for Shake-A-Leg-Newport during the Wall Street Corporate Challenge Cup. Hosted at the Newport Shipyard July 7-8, the 15th annual regatta drew executives from the financial and legal world for two unforgettable days of racing aboard the legendary America’s Cup 12 Meter yachts. Proceeds – each of the teams raised $30,000 to participate in the regatta – will support Shake-A-Leg’s varied programs for people with spinal cord injuries and nervous system dysfunction. Team Mellon Financial Corporation (Boston, MA) won the six-race series with Proskauer Rose (New York, NY) in second-place and Parker/Vectrix, a partnership of Parker Hannifin (Cleveland, OH) and Vectrix, Inc. (Newport, RI), in third. - http://www.shakealeg.org AFFORDABLE WIRELESS CONTROL Introducing the new Lynx, an affordable wireless remote controller for the Ockam system. Each of the 5 control buttons is capable of being easily programmed to output any Ockam command. You can scroll through the pages on any display, operate the stopwatch or control the lighting to name a few. It ’s pre-programmed with a MOB function that switches the displays to back range and bearing to the point of activation. Like all Ockam components, the Lynx is designed to be compatible with any Ockam system. Just simply connect it to the existing bus, no additional wiring required. Contact mailto:lat@ockam.com FIGHTING HIGH FUEL COSTS File this under "what's old is new again." A German company is introducing sails it says may help propel ships across the sea cheaper and faster than modern engines. SkySails' system consists of an enormous towing kite and navigation software that can map the best route between two points for maximum wind efficiency. In development for more than four years, the system costs from roughly $380,000 to $3.2 million, depending on the size of the ship it's pulling. SkySails claims it will save one third of fuel costs. It recently signed its first contract with Beluga Shipping of Bremen, Germany, for one kite, but says it expects to sell 300 more within five years. Beluga says that the giant kite will help the company meet environmental regulations as well as cut fuel costs.The sail systems are meant as a retrofit technology that can work with any cargo ship as well as yachts of more than 79 feet. Ships can use their engines to begin and end voyages and use sail power in lieu of engines for the middle portion. Use both, and you go even faster. - Linda Stern, Newsweek Kite demo video: Slow Internet connection: http://tinyurl.com/hc3be Fast Internet Connection: http://tinyurl.com/fcesk BEST JUNIOR WOMEN Milwaukee, WI (July 10) - After an impressive and consistent showing, Amanda Johnson (Berwyn, PA) and Ellie O'Brien (Westfield, NJ) won US Sailing’s U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship today. The two young sailors, who sail out of New Jersey, showed up at the National Championship well-prepared, optimistic, and eager. Their experience and positive attitude paid off well: they took the lead on the first day of racing and never gave it up. Sailed in Club 420s, the U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is sponsored by Vanguard Sailboats and was hosted by Milwaukee Yacht Club, who stepped up to the plate earlier this year after Lake Pontchartrain Yacht Club in New Orleans needed more time to recover from Hurricane Katrina. The regatta win was by no means easy for Johnson and O’Brien: they defeated 41 other teams, all of whom came into the regatta with impressive sailing resumes. After two days of clinics, led by 2004 Olympian Meg Gaillard, the competitors were ready to get to work. With five races completed on the first day of the Championship, Johnson/O’Brien took a quick lead with finishes of 2-2-3-1-4. The rest of the fleet was immediately at least 17 points behind. And that is how the regatta ended: with 32 points total, the winners finished 17 points ahead of the second place team of Ann Haeger (Lake Forest, IL) and Lindsey Kent (Thiensville, WI). Sarah Lihan, the youngest female member of the 2006 US Sailing Team and sailing with Caroline Wright (both of Ft. Lauderdale, FL), finished third overall with 54 points. - http://www.ussailing.org/championships/youth/usjrw/double/ REPORTERS WANTED Scuttlebutt is looking for scribes to cover the following two island events: * It has been a lot of years since we were there, but we recall the Annual West Marine I-LYA Put-in-Bay Regatta in Ohio being a hoot. Held on South Bass Island in the western corner of Lake Erie at the end of the month, this event serves both one-design and handicap, and offers plenty of time in the schedule for “non-sailing” activities. Hard to go wrong with a regatta held off the “mainland.” Is Frosty’s still there? * Another great event, but one that we haven’t done, is the Whidbey Island Race Week. Marketed as the “Original Northwest Adult Summer Camp,” this one is open to all PHRF and one design keelboats, offers five days of racing, as well as great parties, rock and roll, volley ball, golf and the world famous Reggae Night! If you think you are able to convey the flavor of these events to the ‘buttheads, contact the Editor’s Desk at Scuttlebutt World Headquarters: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com CODE ZERO IS HERE It is time to leave the average T-shirt behind and go with this high performance technical shirt. The double circular knit, lightweight fabric is made for extreme wicking, comfort, and fast drying, while still offering maximum UV protection. Perfect for single and multiple layering. Features a comfortable crew neck and flatlock seams that move with you. Underarm and side panels allow for a comfortable range of motion. Used and tested by teams in Valencia, Miami, St. Maarten and St.Thomas. Three different color combinations, long or short sleeves. http://www.camet.com SAILING SHORTS * The deadline to submit your entry for the U.S. Team Racing Championship is July 29, 2006. Event details are at http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/ustrc/ * 254 Boats from 18 States, the USVI, Canada and France were in Newport, RI last weekend for the 22nd running of the Newport Regatta. Sail Newport. With eighteen classes racing covering 5 racing circles in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, there is racing absolutely everywhere. The Largest keelboat class at this year's event was the Etchells with thirty boats, which was won by Hank Lammens of Norwalk, CT. See event photos and results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/0710 * Thanks to photographer Glennon Stratton for the images from the Summer Gold Cup regatta at Newport Harbor Yacht Club. As the photos show, well over 60 sabots in a small bay made things pretty interesting (too bad NHYC couldn ’t provide any results on their website). - http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/0709/ * The WSSR Council announces the ratification of a new outright Transatlantic West to East World Record by the 120 ft catamaran Orange II. Skipper Bruno Peyron and a crew of 11 completed the 2925 nm distance on the 2nd to the 6th July 2006 in 4 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes, and 54 seconds at an average speed of 28 knots. The previous record of 4 days, 17 hours, 28 minutes, and 6 seconds was held by Steve Fossett in October 2001. - John Reed, Secretary to the WSSR Council * ACC Technical Director Ken McAlpine announced that he has allocated sail number 93, meaning that another America’s Cup team has commenced construction of a new yacht. New sail numbers are expected to be allocated regularly for the next weeks given the time it takes most teams to build and ship a new yacht to Valencia. - http://www.challengercommission.com * On Tuesday 11 July at 1600 UTC, www.sailing.org will be moving onto a new server. This means that the ISAF Sailor Classification system will be temporarily unavailable. Sailors wishing to apply for a classification should ensure they do so before 1600. The Classification system should be back online after twelve hours at approximately, 0400 UTC. ISAF apologizes for any inconvenience caused by this break in service. Whilst most ISAF Sailors Classifications are confirmed within a few days, sailors are reminded that as it may take up to 28 days to confirm a Classification. - http://www.sailing.org/classification/classificationcode.asp * NOAA has just introduced a new, free public service at http://www.NauticalCharts.gov/viewer. "This NOAA On-Line Chart Viewer is a great web-based tool for planning routes, research and quick reference," promises NOAA's Tom Loeper. Included are more than 1,000 charts of U.S. waters - updated weekly - covering 3.4 million square nautical miles. Loeper invites questions and comments, and can be reached by mailto:thomas.loeper@noaa.gov (as reported on ‘Lectronic Latitude) * West Marine reported net sales for its second quarter ended July 1, 2006 of US$264.5 million, an increase of 4.3 per cent compared to the same quarter a year ago. Same-store sales also increased 2.3 per cent for the quarter. The company did not report a net income or loss in the statement it released, but said that it would revise its earnings guidance in a conference call on August 8th, when it released operational results. - IBI News, http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20060607143115ibinews.html * AM910 Radio Disney will bring the fun and excitement of Disney to Bayview Yacht Club's Port Huron to Mackinac Race Family Night on Thursday, July 13 from 5 until 8 pm. At 7 pm, it's the D-Tour, Radio Disney's live interactive show featuring games, dance routines, and family fun in a high-energy DJ format. Families from the audience will have the chance to compete for DVDs, fun "wearables" and other goodies while the crowd dances to Disney hits. Radio Disney will be located at 405 Water Street one block off Main Street in Port Huron. * Elyxir, a Santa Cruz 52 downwind racer moved into the lead the 43 entrants of the West Marine Pacific Cup as four of the "big" boats in Division E, carve through the rest of the fleet for the overall lead. The Doublehanded class is now led by Slim, with Lorne and Mark Millner aboard. Riva who lost her fleet lead to the quicker Division E yachts, continues with the lead in Division D. - Complete results: http://www.pacificcup.org/ Correction: Not too many pointed out the error in Issue 2133 about the Port Huron to Mackinac Island race being held on Lake Michigan (it’s held on Lake Huron), but Reg Brown of Charleston, SC didn’t hesitate. Thanks Reg for keeping us honest. - Curmudgeon J BOATS UNVEILS NEW 30 FOOTER Already a hit in Europe with 50 boats built, the new J/92S will be touring North American boatshows this fall. Owners are raving about the speed and stability of this new J. If a family-oriented, performance sprit boat with inboard auxiliary and week-ending accommodations sounds appealing, take a look http://www.jboats.com/j92s DEAR ABBEY My 13 year old daughter (let’s call her Lucy) stopped sailing awhile back so I gave/loaned (subject to dinner table debate) her brand new pram sail to her 11 year old sister (let’s call her Lisa) - an active junior racer. This was consensual at the time. Now Lucy wants her sail back for Nationals. Dad has been asked to remove Lisa’s sail numbers and correct the situation. OK, not too big a deal, but my guess is that Lucy’s time in the pram is going to be very limited after Nationals, something I won't say to her. So do I buy a new sail to make the bickering stop, or do I tell Lucy that her lack of commitment to the sport does not warrant it? The new sail will likely get used for two regattas and then sit in the garage until eternity. I guess it is a small price to pay to keep your kids in your favorite game just a tiny bit longer. I've inquired into buying a barely used sail that might pass the smell test with Lucy but most people replace them when they are fairly tired. If I make her sail with the older, tired sail, she may end up hating both the sport and me. Any brilliant ideas or should I just suck it up and be happy they're sailing Nationals? - Challenged Father Curmudgeon’s Comment: For all you “experienced parents” out there, now is your chance to pass on your wisdom. MAKE THE RIGHT CALL AT THE TOP OF THE RUN (Rounding the weather mark with a well formulated plan, says America's Cup veteran Moose McClintock, will help you make the most of the downwind legs.) Don't you hate it when you round the weather mark in the top group and immediately lose distance and positions to crews that jibe right away? There you are, dread in your eyes, watching your lead slip away. It's worse when you're the one who jibes away, only to witness the rest of the fleet leaving you in their wake. "Why did we just do that?" you ask. Whenever you find yourself in either of these situations, it's usually because you have only a vague plan about what you want to do, and it doesn't pan out. You must have a strategy for exiting the weather mark, one that's based on your positioning, keeping your air clear, and avoiding traffic. One of the first things you should ask yourself is whether the beat is skewed. If the wind speed is constant and you've spent the majority of the weather leg on one tack, your downwind leg will reflect the same disparity of time on either jibe. In other words, if you've spent a lot of time on starboard tack while sailing upwind—because the breeze is shifting to the right, for example—you'll be spending a lot of time on port tack downwind. By jibing to port early in the run, you position yourself on the "long tack" to the leeward mark. This is the headed tack relative to the course geometry—remember that you want to sail the headed tack downwind. Jibing to port right away will position you directly upwind of the leeward mark sooner, allowing you to take advantage of any shifts from a dead upwind position rather than from an edge. I generally point this out to the rest of the crew near the top of the beat and then keep my eyes open for any late shift. - Sailing World, complete article: http://tinyurl.com/gaq32 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thought at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Damian Craig: Thanks for the blurb about Jimmy Elms. He was a great sailor and a real class act. I think it’s extremely important to talk about how he died...melalnoma. Jimmy had a blister between his toes that he thought was from wearing sandals all the time and therefore thought nothing of it. Well it was Melanoma and less than 12 months later he was dead from brain cancer. We love the outdoors and we love our sailing but lets remember there are risks. In this case I'm talking specifically about the sun. Take care, cover up, wear sunscreen and get checked frequently. We'll all miss you Jimmy. * James Marta: We all have, at one time or another spilled some diesel on the deck of our boats. The best remover of diesel is Coca Cola! The phosphoric acid cleans better than any detergent and won't harm the marine life. And, the deck doesn't remain slick with soap scum. Try it! CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Accomplishing the impossible only means the boss will add it to your regular duties. Special thanks to Ockam Instruments, Camet International, and J/Boats. |
