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SCUTTLEBUTT 1434- October 13, 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 focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. JONATHAN MCKEE Disaster has befallen American (Mini Transat) entrant Jonathan McKee. The race organizers believe that the most likely scenario is that McKee's Team McLube has dismasted. It is presumed that McKee has erected a jury rig, probably at first light Saturday. In the last 24 hours the American has sailed 75 miles compared to Sam Manuard's 151 miles. The organizers believe that McKee's course indicates that he is heading for Natal on the Brazilian coast to the north of Recife, however it maybe that McKee is unable to make the course with his lashed up rig. - The Daily Sail, http://www.thedailysail.com/ * Posted on the Yachting Universe website on Saturday 11 October @ 23:24:33: One thing is certain; the former Olympic champion has had a big mechanical problem. The race management still believes that he has dismasted and is making 5 knots under jury rig. This set up will prevent him from luffing however, which would explain his current course and the difficulties he is likely to have when the fleet are forced to leave the island of Fernando to starboard as the second passage mark of the leg. Unless the wind backs, McKee will suffer further problems as they dive south towards Salvador de Bahia. The second possibility for McKee is that he may have broken a rudder blade that would create less of a handicap. Whether this explains why he stopped for five hours when the beacon was set off remains to be seen. The coming hours will determine what has actually happened aboard " Team Mc Lube ", officially still racing and still leader. Behind him though, the race has turned into a gallop and it looks as if McKee's days in the driving seat are numbered. - http://www.yachtinguniverse.com/site/ * From Jonathan's wife, Libby, on Sunday: The Southern Atlantic continues to make it tough going for Jonathan. It appears from the latest position reports that he is underway, doing about 3.5 knots and heading fairly close to the wind. We still know nothing about what damage the boat has incurred. We do know that he is physically ok, appears to still be racing and is heading 25 degrees below the next mark at Fernando. Speculation about what he has broken or if he is heading to shore seems a little premature at this point. The way point of Fernando de Noronha is becoming a bit of a nuisance to all the competitors including Jonathan. However, the wind seems to have lifted to about 140 degrees and is more from the direction of the typical trade winds. The last report was a good one regarding Jonathan's progress. His course is up a few degrees so it looks like he has a chance to make the waypoint and leave it to starboard. His speed is up to about 4.5 knots. He is still out of radio communication so the nature and extent of his problems are still unknown. However, the lifting breeze and the ability to make the way point make finishing a viable option. Tomorrow's reports will give us a better sense for what he is planning. Standings at 1500 GMT Sunday: 1. Samuel Manuard Tip Top Too, 696 miles to finish 2. Armel Tripon Moulin Roty, 728 mtf 3. Jonathan McKee, Team McLube, 739 mtf 4. Pierre Rolland, Extrado, 759 mtf 5. Alex Pell, Aquatec - Santaiveri- Texknit, 795 mtf Event website: http://www.transat650.org/ MELGES 24 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN SAN FRANCISCO Cold--Wet--Maniac Boat. For a regatta like this you want warm gear. The Pirate's Lair supplies Gill, Henri Lloyd, and Pro-Rainer gear to regattas nationwide. If you need custom graphics, banners, tees, polos and fuzzy wear for your team or regatta, call or email The Pirate's Lair. (888) SAIL-BUM or http://www.pirateslair.com/sailing A GATHERING OF THE EAGLES Some seventy Melges 24 teams from nine nations are gathering at the St Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco in preparation for the Audi Melges 24 World Championship, which kicks off on Monday 13 October. The entry roster includes all the leading Melges 24 teams as well as some interesting new faces. Reigning World Champions Harry Melges and Jeff Ecklund have teamed up with Steve Inman and Hans Melges in a bid to get their hands on the title for a second time, whilst 2001 World Champion Flavio Favini is back in the class after time out for the Mescalzone Latino America's Cup Challenge. Having won the 1998 and 1999 Melges Worlds Vince Brun obviously has his sights set on a record third win and has joined forces with Brian and John Porter and Andy Burdick making a formidable combination. 2003 European Champion Luca Santella, with tactician Morgan Larson, has his eye on a grand slam this year, whilst Jamie Lea, winner of the last two Melges 24 World Ranking Series, will be determined to finally take a major championship to go with his ranking successes. Frenchman Philippe Ligot's high successful P&P Sailing Team are joined by helmsman Morgan Reeser and with Sebastian Col on tactics could well do some damage. US sailors to keep an eye on are Dave Ullman, Argyle Campbell, Bruce Ayres and Don Jesberg whilst the European contingent includes Paul Brotherton, Benoit Charon, Stuart Rix, Rob Smith, Egidio Babbi, Rob Greenhalgh and Oliver Ponthieu. Of the new faces John Bertrand and his Windquest team will be worth watching, as will James Spithill's Southern Spars crew of One World America's Cup Challenge veterans Scott Vogel and Matthew Mason with Mark Hauser. - Fiona Brown, www.melges24.com. NEWS BRIEFS * In a best-of-seven series match race series sailed in a shifty 9-15 knot breeze, Terry Hutchinson won the Senator's Cup Regatta presented by Annapolis Volvo during the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis. The two-time America's Cup veteran defeated Gavin Brady, current helmsman of Oracle BMW Racing. This two-day charity event was sailed in Swan 45s with the proceeds benefiting the Annapolis Community Foundation and the Box of Rain organization which helps underprivileged kids in the Annapolis area experience sailing. www.senatorscup.com * The website of Bedford Basin YC in Nova Scotia has posted some amazing photos of the damage caused by Hurricane Juan. The damage from the worst storm to hit Nova Scotia, Canada in at least 50 years is extraordinary. Boats were lifted and tossed on the shore all around the basin. To see shore side homes with boats in living rooms and other the devastation, go to the URL, then click the 'resources' pull down menu, and the 'photo gallery'. http://www.bbyc.ns.ca/ * Portoferraio, Island of Elba, Italy - Italians Claudio Rechhi and Carla Ubertelli's Cheyenne navigated their way through the last day of very tough conditions to claim the Mumm 30 World Championship title. The Mumm 30 Worlds in 2004 returns to North America and will be hosted by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, on August 25-28. The regatta ended Saturday, but unfortunately, complete results were not available on the event website at our distribution time Sunday night: http://www.mumm30.org/racing/2003worlds/default.htm * The Storm Trysail club ran its Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta in blustery conditions on western Long Island Sound. Georgetown University sailing the Express 37 Lora Ann triumphed in the seven-race weekend series over a team from the US Naval Academy by three points. The defending champs from the University of Michigan finished third. www.stormtrysail.org NEW J/133 MAKES SPLASH It accelerates so quickly in the lightest of puffs you wouldn't know there was a full cruising interior with 6'4" headroom. Introducing the 43' J/133, the newest racer-cruiser from J Boats. See one this fall in Newport, Chicago or Hamble. Click here for pix: http://www.jboats.com/j133 COMMENTARY (Following is a brief excerpt from a story by Angus Phillips in the Sunday issue of the Washington Post.) The Volvo Ocean Race as usual has an information tent at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis this weekend, but how much information you'll be able to glean there is a good question. Two years before the start of the prestigious 'round-the-world race, which once again will stop in Chesapeake Bay, not a single, credible announced team is in place, not a single boat is sailing or boat designer under contract. Even the start and finish lines haven't been designated. Much remains up in the air, but executive director Glenn Bourke was upbeat anyway in a high-profile visit here, as were his hosts. Bourke spoke at a news conference Tuesday at the Maryland State House alongside Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens, all of whom gave high marks to the Baltimore/ Annapolis stop, which drew huge crowds when the Volvo was here in 2002 and when its predecessor, the Whitbread, stopped in 1998. Everyone agrees the event is a boost for the hosts, who expect to mop up $26 million in direct spending from teams, supporters, tourists coming in for a gander and the like. "Politicians love events like this" because they showcase the city and the state, Ehrlich said, "and we like the money. It's a great investment - put a little in and get a lot out." Indeed, it's hard for anyone interested in boats and the sea not to be intrigued by the quadrennial visit of a fleet of state-of-the-art ocean racers crewed by some of the best sailors in the world, fresh from Cape Horn and the Southern Ocean. But who will these racers be? "I wish I could tell you," said Bourke with a sigh. He claims five campaigns are in final stages of fundraising and promised an announcement of one in four to six weeks. Meantime, he's stuck trying to drum up interest in an event to which names and faces cannot yet be attached. Bourke said the top five come from new places but would not be specific. Dockside scuttlebutt has two Spanish teams in the mix, from Galicia on the Atlantic Coast and Barcelona; other likely players are said to be from Denmark, Germany, Brazil and Sweden. Three other teams have announced plans to race, including one from Maryland, but all are in formative stages and Bourke said none are yet on his short list of likely contenders. Angus Phillips, The Washington Post, full story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12930-2003Oct11.html AMERICA'S CUP (From a post by Cheryl in the forum section of the 2007AC.com website.) Yesterday's Sunday Star Times contained some interesting news about Alinghi and AC developments. The article is not online. Summarizing some major points: - Bertarelli will not be funding Alinghi's America's Cup defence. He believes Alinghi will be able to find corporate sponsorship to fully fund its defence. He will, however, underwrite the defense. For the 2003 challenge Bertarelli provided 50% of the funding. Brad Butterworth and Grant Simmer said they were confident Alinghi could find close to 100% corporate sponsorship. Russell Coutts has started looking for sponsorship and was in Germany last week. - Alinghi is considering engaging several more New Zealand sailors (not from Team NZ) for its defense. - Grant Simmer said there was the possibility of a South African challenge. The South Africans had made inquiries about buying one of Alinghi's old boats. - Alinghi has started planning their defense boat. Grant Simmer predicted new developments in mast and sails to add speed. "There are big improvements to be made, like how the mast moves. They are fairly subtle changes if you're not a sailor, but still it's the little improvements that will win us the cup." 14@10.lziyacFtd0C.1@.ef0bf7b" class="scuttlebuttlink">http://isuzu21.webcrossing.com/WebX?14@10.lziyacFtd0C.1@.ef0bf7b KAENON POLARIZED EYES ANOTHER PODIUM Last month Kaenon Polarized dominated the podium. Ben Ainslie and Hannah Swett led the way in Cadiz, Ken Read dominated the Etchells Worlds, and Gavin Brady and John Kostecki drank the magnums at the Moet Cup. This week in San Francisco, Harry Melges, Brian Porter, Pease Glaser and many others will rely on the Kaenon Polarized advantage for a podium spot at the Melges 24 Worlds. Kaenon Polarized. Evolve Optically. Available in the San Francisco Bay area at Lombardi's, Solstice in Corte Madeira, Destination 1440 in Bezerkely, and West Marine around the Bay. http://www.kaenon.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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Peter Huston: Indeed Bernard Stamm's record was impressive, but if his effort was so Corinthian, they why was his boat named after a French clothing company? I'd say instead that Bob Miller's team is more Corinthian because it seems complete absent any commercial sponsorship. Congratulations Mari Cha 4, a beautiful boat that will soon, if it hasn't already, take its place in the history books along side boats like Ticonderoga and Windward Passage. * From Jeff Penny, Vancouver B.C. Canada: Records are meant to be broken. Everyone I know, sailors & non-sailors were glued to their PC's watching the events unfold. Watching new technology and bigger faster boats break records is great for the on going development of the sport of sailing. Better boats, new technology, faster records equal more money for everyone from sponsors & more T.V. coverage. I know that I will never sail a boat like Mari-Cha IV or be able to own one, but I tell you that it gave me goose bumps watching this record fall like a stone, & the best thing is someone else will come along & shatter this record. I can't wait for there around the world attempt. * From John Cole: Those grapes must taste pretty sour. Good job Bernard Stamm - good job Mari-Cha IV. I hope we all live long enough to see someone beat the new record. * From Jef d'Etiveaud/ Mari-Cha IV Navigator/ Project Manager (In response to the candid letter claiming that we "bought the Atlantic record"): I would be grateful if Mr. Kurt Biancully could give us the price for a Jules Verne monohull record. We would very much like to buy this one as well. I'd love to know on what market these are traded. Can one buy 27 000 miles of blue skies and following seas there as well? * From John McBrearty (Response to J. Joseph Bainton): If Mr. Bainton had his way, the exploding Ford Pinto would still be on the roads of America because no injured party would be willing to pay the fees of Ford Motor Company's team of lawyers if victim lost. As for a $50,000.00-$100,000.00 per month lawyer's fee for defense, at $200.00 per hour (most insurance companies limit the amount they pay to their lawers to around $100-$150 per hour) , that's 250-500 hours per month. For a period of 1-2 years? That would be an obscene amount of money for any person/ entity to pay if they had done nothing wrong. However, nobody who had done nothing wrong would see the need to spend that much defending him/her or themselves. Incidentally, since he brought up the infamous "hot coffee" case, the lady involved had third degree burns (the ones that leave horrendous scars) from her belly button to her knees, including the most sensitive regions in between. The jury that heard all the evidence was is the best position to judge what happened. * From Bruce Monro: I was general counsel for the St. Francis Yacht Club when we had to deal with the tragic death of Larry Kline during the 1994 Big Boat Series. Larry was the skipper of an experimental boat that used a hiking rack for stability. The rack broke and every crew member except one was dumped into San Francisco Bay. Our crash boats and some volunteer boats picked the crew out of the water, but Larry lapsed into unconsciousness on the way to the dock. The paramedics were unable to revive him. All the other crew members were successfully rescued. Larry's widow sued the boat owner, the boat builder and our club. Litigation discovery established that the welds holding the rack to the boat were inadequate and broke under load. The club's liability was based on an argument that we should have rescued Larry sooner and we should not have let the boat into the regatta because of its experimental nature. Against my advice, the insurance company settled for an amount I am not at liberty to disclose. Without cases like this going the distance in a court of law, we have no precedents to tell us what liability exists or does not exist for yacht clubs. Unfortunately, insurance companies would rather pay some amount in settlement rather than find out what liability really exists. Until we get some good legal precedents, yacht clubs will continue to pay insurance premiums based on liability assumptions that have not been established in court. * From David Brookes, Executive Director, International Hobie Class Association, Australia: Life continues for the Hobie 17 & 18 around the world. While there is disappointment that Hobie Cat Company has decided to discontinue production of these great boats, other Hobie Manufactures continue to build these 2 stalwart catamarans. The racing cat sailor will still see the Hobie 17 & 18 at many regattas around the world. There is a scheduled Hobie 17 & 18 World Championships in Melbourne January 2005 so the Class is still racing and is looking towards the future. With strong fleet racing world wide the organisers have received positive responses from the North American Hobie 17 & 18 sailor's to attend these world championships. The Hobie 17 & 18 will still continue to be two of the most popular world wide catamarans ever produced with very competitive racing now and in the future. * From Dan Mangus, Director of Marketing, Hobie Cat Company: It is true that the Hobie 17 and Hobie 18 are no longer being produced, but the bright side to this announcement is that we have introduced some boats in recent years that have, slowly but surely, rendered the H17s and H18s virtually obsolete. The Hobie Getaway, in particular, has fulfilled, and to some extent surpassed, many of the features of both boats for the recreational user, and for less money. The Hobie Tiger and, to a lesser extent, the Hobie FX-1 in this size range have raised the bar a bit on the racing side of things, and have re-invigorated the racing scene in many parts of the country. Our Hobie 16 sales remain constant, which in itself is unusual for a boat of its vintage, and thus remains a very healthy and important part of our product lineup. As with previously discontinued models (Hobie 14 for example), we expect that sailing and racing of these boats will continue to be strong for many years to come. With this in mind, we have set aside parts to support those boats for the foreseeable future. In addition, our network of dealers have many parts and some may even have these boat models (new) in stock. There are 11 models in the current Hobie USA product lineup: www.hobiecat.com CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL To keep a healthy level of insanity, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down. |
