|
SCUTTLEBUTT No. 571 - May 17, 2000THE LATEST FROM DOWN UNDER - Suzanne McFadden Team New Zealand wants to start hiring crew next week before the cream of their sailors and designers jump ship to rival America's Cup syndicates.Big-budget campaigns are stepping up their attempts to lure the champion Kiwis overseas - one challenger representative is flying in from Britain this week to meet the Cup-winners. Now the new Team New Zealand troika - Russell Coutts, Brad Butterworth and Tom Schnackenberg - are heading home after three weeks in the Northern Hemisphere to try to salvage their team. After months of drawn-out negotiations between the old and the new trustees of Team New Zealand, the trio are confident the handover will take place in the next few days. Schnackenberg said in London yesterday that they were poised to start offering contracts to the Team New Zealand crew. "The changeover is charging along fine and we should be able to start hiring crew within a week or so if everything goes according to plan." There is still little concrete about the new challengers who started waving their chequebooks at Team New Zealand straight after they won the Cup in March. Two new syndicates appear to be shaping up in Switzerland. Watch Out, a group of watchmakers led by Geneva banker Pierre Essig, announced their $100 million bid in Bern late last week. Another Swiss group, headed by young pharmaceuticals billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli, are believed to have approached some of Team New Zealand's high-flyers with huge offers. Prada have even asked some Kiwis whether they would be interested in changing sides. The most publicised offers, though, have come from an American syndicate, supposedly from Seattle. They are sending a British representative to Auckland to talk to sailors, designers and boatbuilders this week. Australian skipper Peter Gilmour, strongly linked to the new team, will also be in town. Russell Green, Team New Zealand's rules adviser for the last Cup, said crew members were seriously considering the foreign offers - but he had advised them to be wary. "Some of the younger guys are a little bit tempted by the sign-up fee - money going straight into the bank," he said. "What I tell them is that they have to be careful in the America's Cup. How do they know these groups are still going to be around in 2002? "They could get a sign-up fee and six months' pay then have it all fold. With Team New Zealand, at least they know they're going to be in the match and they will be getting three years' income. "And Coutts says he will pay them substantially more than they got last time." Mr Green said some of the older hands in the crew were also attracted by the big offers. "As some of the older guys say, national pride doesn't pay for the groceries. "But most of the sailors say they're not going to make any moves until they've spoken with Team New Zealand again." - Suzanne McFadden, NZ Herald, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ac2000/ STAR WORLDS - Report by Dave Gendell Tuesday was the day the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce would love to be able to box up and set securely on the shelf to remove only when a special event is in need of an adrenaline boost. After kicking off the Nautica 2000 Star Class World Championship Regatta on a shifty and crowded Sunday and continuing through a long and slow Monday slog, the fleet of 112 was treated to a classic Chesapeake Bay seabreeze on Tuesday afternoon. After a delay of nearly two hours during which the spring ebb current built and the southerly established itself, the fleet started a five-leg windward/leeward course shortly before 2 p.m. The fleet got underway cleanly on the first attempt. By 3 p.m. the fleet was around the first weather mark, rolling in gusts to 17 knots, having experienced what observers on the stake boat called "a fast and furious" rounding. The Swiss team of Flavio and Rento Marazzi led the fleet followed in close order by the American brother duo of Brian and Alan Ledbetter and the Bahamian-flagged team of Lowe/Higgs. The team of Joe Londrigan and Mark Strube, who took a solid 20th on Opening Day but suffered through a 79th on Monday, were in fifth at the first mark and by the second weather turn, had ground their way to second and were breathing down the necks of the Marazzis. After a brief skirmish with Andersen/Just, Londrigan/Strube locked into the top spot for good. Reynolds/Liljedahl, who won the Opening Race, rounded the first weather mark in 52nd and eventually settled into the 22nd spot in the third contest. The U.S. Olympic representatives lie in third at the regatta's mid-point. But no team's regatta has been as successful as Gavin Brady and Jamie Gale (NZL 7939). The winners of Monday's race used the race's final four legs to claw past 40 boats, ultimately crossing the finish line in tenth place, vaulting to the top of the standings with 16 points after three races. - Dave Gendell STANDINGS AFTER THREE RACES: 1. NZL 7939 Brady, Gavin/Gale, Jamie 5-1-10 16 points; 2. CAN 7876 MacDonald, Ross/Bjorn, Kai 16-2-6 24; 3. USA 7995 Reynolds, Mark/Liljedahl, Magnus 1-3-22 26; 4. USA 7425 Schofield, Douglas/Schofield, Jr., Robert 7-6-15 28; 5. IRL 7763 Mansfield, Mark/O'Brien, David 10-17-11 38; 6. NED 7981 Neeleman, Mark/Schrier, Jos 17-9-16 42; 7. ESP 7937 Van Der Ploeg, Jose Maria/Trujillo, Rafael 14-16-14 44 7; 8. ITA 7879 D'Ali, Pietro/Colandinno, Ferdinando 11-5-31 47 8; 9. USA 7996 MacCausland, John/Trinter, Phil 3-12-37 52; 10. GER 7954 Hoesch, Vincent/Fendt, Florian 15-19-19 53. Event website: http://www.annapolisyc.com/starworlds2000/ FAVORITES Your favorite boat picture or logo will take on new life if you let Pacific Yacht Embroidery convert it to stitches. They specialize in custom work created by California artists. There's no reason to spend a lot of money to have the best looking crew attire at the regatta when Frank Whitton can give you the quality stuff and affordable prices. Call for quotes and an apparel catalog from Frank at 619-226-8033 (pacyacht@aol.com). WORRELL 1000 - Zack Leonard Davis Murray let out a loud whoop as he and Susan Korzeniewski surfed across the finish line. They weren't first, and they weren't last, they were just celebrating a beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean. The breeze was light to moderate and the fleet fought upwind the whole way. But the contrast to the grueling night leg that finished yesterday morning was evident. The Dutch team of Loos and Heemskerk were the big winners today. They made a 30-minute gain in the overall standings by zigging when the others zagged. Heemskerk's plan was to pass close to Cape Fear, but they ranged far offshore early in the leg and made solid gains. When the other teams realized what was happening they went offshore as well. The forecast called for the wind to shift from North to East or Southeast, so the logic was solid to head offshore. Sail off shore, take the header, tack and lay Cape Fear. But it didn't work out that way. Smyth and Struble of Team Blockade Runner and Brett Dryland and Rod Waterhouse of Rudee's went out looking for the wind shift, and got it, but the boats that short tacked the shore got an even larger starboard lift and layed the Cape in stronger breeze. Meanwhile, Heemskerk and Loos were determined to create separation from the other leaders to try to make up time. When Blockade Runner and Rudee's came off shore the Dutch headed in. "If they are going out, then we were going in," said Loos. The Dutch team had a large lead at the Cape and sailed to a 25 minute victory. Rudee's, Blockade Runner and Lambert and Livingston of Alexander's on the Bay had their work cut out for them. They rounded Cape Fear deep in the fleet and used their speed to move forward. Rudee's worked into second by the finish, followed by Sunnucks and Self, Team Guidant, sailed by Sandra Tartaglino and Carl Roberts, and finally by Smyth. Smyth and Struble finished only 3 and 1/2 minutes behind Dryland and Waterhouse to maintain a significant lead, but the top four teams are in the hunt. On the beach Todd Hart was speaking to a TV reporter. Still wearing dry suit and goggles Hart grinned broadly into the camera and testified, "This race is like a drug, once you've tried it you can't stop. I'll be doing it till I'm in a wheelchair." - Zack Leonard STANDINGS: 1. Blockade Runner Beach Resort, Smyth and Struble 2. Rudee's Rest., Dryland and Waterhouse, (00:31:16 behind) 3. Holland, Loos and Heemskerk (01:30:19) 4. Alexander's on the Bay, Lambert and Livingston (01:39:01). Full story and results: http://www.worrell1000.com/ LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) and to exclude personal attacks or irresponsible statements. This is not a chat room. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree. -- From William F. Cook - Jamie & Lou McWilliam say that Morgan Larson "exposes an almost unbelievable lack of understanding of what it is that makes sailing a lifelong fascination for its participants". I'd say that exposes a great lack of understanding as to who Morgan is and what he does. He is an extremely talented sailor who understands how to make a big, heavy sailboat (like an America's Cup yacht) win races. He and his crew, Kevin Hall, are also a darned good 49er team. I'd say that his talent and his love of the sport cover a fairly broad spectrum. He's a pretty decent guy, too. I think that Morgan's point is that Olympic sailing needs to be able to compete in today's "Xtreme" sports market. Most kids would rather go skateboarding, and Olympic sailing on the 49er is perhaps the best venue to deliver something they will view as a viable alternative. Maybe the tactics aren't quite as subtle in a skiff. But is tactical subtlety really something that's going to attract young people into the sport? I really do like the Star boat, particularly after being a measurer for and watching some of the World's here in Annpolis. Some of the best sailors in the world sail in this class, and I hope a way can be found to keep it in the Olympics. I am sure that the class is strong enough to persist no matter what happens. -- From Hogan Beatie - How can Jamie and Lou refute three truth's? Are they saying that is it tactically and/or technically easier to win a 49er race or regatta than in a Star or Soling? Are they saying that Stars and Solings are faster or more exciting for young people to watch than the 49er? Do pro golfers look like Star crew? Have they sailed all three boats? Are they comparing 49er sailing with the World Wrestling Federation? What the heck! Morgan's letter made a case for not removing the 49er from Olympic competition because it shouldn't be. The 49er is a great boat and one that showcases sailing as a very physical sport. -- From David Pedrick (In response to Bruce Parson's query about Americap's combination time-on-time and time-on-distance scoring method, this system was under development as a simplified form of IMS prior to being co-opted for US Sailing's Americap system) - Called "Performance Line Scoring (PLS)'" the TOT/TOD system that has your interest is available to you through the Offshore Racing Council (ORC) as the ORC Club Handicapping System. PLS is one of several simplifed scoring options available under ORC Club, which has issued approximately 3000 certificates internationally in less than two years. With the ORC's IMS VPP at its center, ORC Club has simple application procedures and offers simpified scoring systems to race organizers. Even yachts without sisterships whose hulls have been measured can obtain an ORC Club certificate easily. Please contact the ORC Club Handicap System's principal administrator Ken Weller for further information about the use of the ORC Club system outside the United States. (ORCclub@compuserve.com, or visit the ORC's web site, www.ORC.org.) -- From Alexander Meller (Prompted by Tucker Strasser's comments in Scuttlebutt No. 569) - I pay membership fees to three different one design class associations (as well as being a member of US Sailing and a member of the US Sailing One Design Class Council). PHRF, IMS, MORC et al, should have their own national and international associations, and those sailors should not be getting class association-like services from US Sailing without at least paying additionally for them. Aside from the simple fairness of it, from my no-longer-participating-in-PHRF outsiders perspective PHRF would be well served to have at least a national association, and less local variances in ratings. -- From John Rousmaniere - Some Cup skippers may have won more races in a row, but in the category that counts at the end of the day - match wins (including winning against all odds) - the most successful helmsman in America's Cup history is not Conner or Coutts or Charlie Barr. He is Harold S. Vanderbilt, an amateur skipper who won three straight Cup matches (1930, 1934, and 1937), taking 12 and losing 2 races. He also managed and partially owned all three of the J-Class winners: Enterprise, Rainbow, and Ranger. Vanderbilt mastered all the science and all the arts. He propelled and personally supervised the research that positioned the first and third boats at the cutting edge of sailing technology, and he chose the sailors who helped him make technology function properly. When the middle boat, Rainbow, did not enjoy the design edge of the other two or her competitor, Vanderbilt's aggressiveness and managerial skills brought the underdog home the winner in the 1934 match. He is the best. -- From Peter Huston - How on earth can Herb McCormick validate these Cup rumors by even mentioning Bill Gates, Jim Clark and Bill Koch in the same sentence? Koch has already denied in 'Butt that he will have any involvement in the next Cup. He also suggested that Jim Clark was not a likely candidate as a syndicate funder either. But to even consider for one minute that Jim Clark and Bill Gates might team up to support an America's Cup team is beyond comprehension. Consider that Jim Clark had a fair bit to do with Netscape, and it was the Netscape action with the DOJ that has resulted in the recent government action against Microsoft. It is more likely that I will grow a full head of hair tonight and marry Britney Spears this weekend than it is that Gates and Clark will be spending any time together discussing and funding a sailboat race. -- From Scott Truesdell - Chris Caswell mentioned the embarrassing and expensive charter of a foreign-built boat by Yachting Magazine during a San Diego A-Cup. As anyone who has had more than the most casual involvement with boats in foreign ports can attest, the United States Coast Guard is not the only national maritime authority that takes interest in the national registration of charter vessels. Virtually every country takes a perversely intense interest in this seemingly archaic and pointless detail. I'm sure the scrutiny must be historically rooted in taxes, port usage fees, protection of trade, and other fiduciary concerns, but it certainly sounds silly and old fashioned to most folks! -- From Susie Pegel, the skipper of Star #7325, 2-time Star District 4 champion, 2-time silver chevron winner, District 5 championship race winner - I think my crew Tom George is getting a chuckle from the comments that women aren't strong enough to trim in a Star mainsail. He knows better having sailed with me, even in winds up to 30 mph at Marina del Rey in February. Granted we weren't trimmed in "block and block" but who would be in that much wind? "Block and block" isn't the thing, it's how your leech looks. If "block and block" is your goal, get a bendy mast, a big crew and plenty of purchase on your mainsheet. I think this myth that women can't sail Stars is fiction made up by men to discourage women from joining and participating in the class. When my mother bought me my first Star at the end of the 1987 Star Worlds in Chicago, my parents specifically went over and asked Bill Buchan if he thought a woman could sail a Star. He said "I don't see why not." Enough said. My mom went ahead and bought me #6860 , a former boat of Mr. Buchan's. The most wind I've ever raced a Star in was 40 mph at the 1988 Star North Americans in Ithaca. When it gets that windy, it's survival for everyone as evidenced by the infamous Vince Brun leeward mark death roll in that regatta. Disaster even befalls the best of men! My advice to women is go out and try Star sailing. It's not as hard as men might lead you to believe. -- From Coach Jon Rogers, Coronado Yacht Club Jr. Program - Haven't seen any complete results from High School National Championship (Mallory) held this past weekend at the Long Beach Olympic Sailing Center, but do know that again So. Cal. teams dominated this event that included the top 20 teams from across the states and Hawaii. Last year's performance at Grosse Point YC near Detroit, where the top four were from California, proved to be no fluke, as this years top five were Newport Harbor High, Coronado HS, University of San Diego HS, Bishops HS, and Wilson HS. Sixth place went to a strong team from Point Pleasant Boro, NJ. The regatta included brand new Vanguard FJ's, brand new sails, excellent Race Committee (32 races completed in 2 days), and a mere 8 points separating the top four skippers in the "A" Division. CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: Thanks for the input Jon. Like you, I can't find the results either. GOBBLING UP THE OCEAN In an email to Mission Control directly from the boat, Skipper Steve Fossett advised that after setting a terrific pace for the first 36 hours the maxi cat PlayStation and her crew were encountering a few unexpected challenges. "We tore a sail at dinner time Monday night. All hands were called to wrestle the big sail onto the trampoline nets between our hulls. Good thing we have crew with sail making experience. Nick Moloney led a team to sew it back together. It was a five hour project in the dark while we continued sailing, but we've got the sail back up. " "This evening we will enter the ice fields just north of the Titanic. It will be tense all night with a careful watch being maintained. Just to make it more interesting, there will be dense fog in the ice fields. " Our average speed over the first 1 ? days is just over the speed needed to break the Transatlantic Record. However, today is forecast to be our slowest day as we beat upwind to cross a low pressure trough." Project Meteorologist Chris Bedford had a somewhat dampening prediction for the crew in their bid to break the 10 year old TransAtlantic benchmark: "The winds are becoming lighter and changing direction. PlayStation will run into a wind shift this evening, the breeze will blow in a South Easterly direction and this will continue into tomorrow." Website: http://www.fossettchallenge.com/ QUOTE / UNQUOTE "When I showed them the new drawings, there was much shaking of heads. It was tough to convince them to even build a model to tank test, but when we did, we found it was quite a jump." - Team New Zealand's head designer Laurie Davidson in an interview with Richard Hazelton, 48 Degrees North Full story: http://www.48north.com/apr2000/davidson.htm HAWAIIAN EXPRESS CAMPAIGN Honolulu resident Bruce Burgess has launched the definitive yachting challenge -this year he will compete in two of the world's most exacting yachting events - The Europe 1 New Man Star Transatlantic Race in June and the Vendee Globe in November. With little sponsorship support, Burgess has committed his own resources to the effort and has received help from a dedicated group of volunteers. "I can't say I am not disappointed," he said, "but I am the only American and I am going to make that count. I will cross that starting line, sponsorship or not." Burgess and a team of professional yachtsmen from Hawaii have been in France for the past six weeks preparing Hawaiian Express, the Open 60 Class yacht that will carry him across the Atlantic and around the world. There are a number of elements to this assault on single-handed sailing, not the least of which is for Burgess to be the first American to finish the Vendee Globe. Since there was not time to build a new boat, he has purchased an Open 60 yacht that won the first Vendee Globe in 1989 and placed third in the last Vendee Globe in 1996. Taking a proven racer across the Atlantic and into the Southern Ocean is a prudent decision. Burgess' campaign is a four-year program. The first component is the Europe 1 New Man Transatlantic Race then the Vendee Globe. After the Vendee, he hopes to build a new boat to campaign in single-handed and double-handed events, including Transpac and Pacific Cup, through to the start of the Around Alone in 2002. Aside from the proven race boat Bruce will take to sea, he is an experienced blue water sailor. He has more than 170,000 sea miles under his belt and has raced in Australia and New Zealand. - Gail Burgess Email: BURGESSHIexpress@cs.com THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Success generally occurs in private - failure in full view. |
