SCUTTLEBUTT #759 - February 23, 2001

Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk... with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome. Send to scuttlebutt@boats.com.

THE RACE
Nothing would seem to get in the way of the fantastic progress of Club Med towards her final objective: Marseilles. The Equator is already far behind, the trades are there and Grant Dalton and his men are tackling them carefully and sparingly to windward, reeling in the miles and positioning themselves closer to Africa today than to the American continent. The situation is not quite so clear for Innovation Explorer, currently on the same longitude but being pushed by the easterly winds towards the coast of Brazil. Peyron is putting the accent on speed to the North, impatient also to cross over into the North Atlantic.

In the Pacific Ocean, the intrepid Poles on Warta-Polpharma have abandoned their beloved third place to the American "bulldozer"; Team Adventure is charging flat out to their south. Already almost at the latitude of Cape Horn, Cam Lewis is tramping on along the direct route. The Poles are happy with 25 knots of breeze. Handicapped yesterday by mainsheet traveller problems, they are putting the accent even more on safety. They are positioned 240 miles north of Team Adventure and will have to point their bows south soon; the gateway to Cape Horn is at 55 degrees south.

After leaving New Zealand yesterday, Team Legato is still in the grips of the anticyclone pressing down on this zone. There is air to their south. Tony Bullimore is also going to have to point his bows in the direction of the obscure latitudes. -- Denis van den Brink

Leading positions at 03:00 GMT today 1. Club Med 2,973 miles to finish - Rounded Cape Horn 11.02.01 2. Innovation Explorer +880 miles - Cape Horn 12.02.01 3. Team Adventure 6,518 miles - Left Wellington 19. 02. 01 4. Warta Polpharma 6,513 miles - Left Wellington 17. 02. 01 5. Team Legato 8,040 miles - Left Wellington 21. 02. 01

Event site www.therace.org

VENDEE GLOBE: WAVRE AND COVILLE FINISH
Dominique Wavre (Union Bancaire Privee) crossed the finish line of the Vendee Globe in 5th position at 1858hrs and 12 seconds French time. The Swiss skipper has spent 105 days, 2 hours, 47 minutes and 12 seconds at sea. He is the 5th skipper as well to have finished under the previous record time set by Christophe Auguin of 105 days and 20 hours. He sailed his final tack to the finish on a reach with the first steady breeze in a week.

Thomas Coville (Sodebo), with whom Wavre played cat and mouse, sailing neck and neck from Cape Horn all the way up the Atlantic, crossed the finish line in 6th place at 2335hrs and 00 seconds French time. Coville has therefore spent 105 days, 7 hours and 24 minutes racing solo round the world, thus beating Auguin's record as well.

Coville missed the tide; he will enter the port on his Open 60 tomorrow Friday February 23rd between 0700 - 0730hrs French time.

The next skipper to come in will be Thierry Dubois (Solidaires), who had to stop in New Zealand to change his alternator and failing batteries. Despite being knocked out of the race rankings, he nevertheless decided to bring the boat home and finish. He is due to arrive in Les Sables at the start of next week.

The two British skippers Mike Golding (Team Group 4) and Josh Hall (EBP/Gartmore) were yet again tested by more light airs in the vacuum between the two low pressure systems either side of them. Golding however, is placed further to the North East and so has finally reached some stronger breeze off the system of about 25 knots.

Hall remains optimistic about his tenuous situation, with Gallay (Voila.fr) closing the gap again, and expects to catch the depression in the West to head towards the finish.

Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool) has arrived in Vigo, where her team are pulling the stops out to get a jury rig assembled so that she can sail back to Les Sables d'Olonne. Classed or not, every skipper who makes it back to home port will receive the same welcome. -- Mary Ambler

Event site www.vendeeglobe.com

US WATERCRAFT NEW J22 BUILDER
J Boats, Inc. announced today that it has selected US Watercraft to be the U.S. builder of the International J/22. US Watercraft is the current U.S. builder of the International J/24, and a division of marine repair company Waterline Systems, based in Bristol, R.I. New International J/22s are expected to be available in May 2001.

The hull molds for the International J/22 were transferred from TPI Composites (who had built the J/22 from 1983 to 1998) to US Watercraft to assure that no changes are made in the strict building specifications set by international class rules. TPI will assist in the transition period by providing technical assistance.

The new J/22 will be equipped with an optimized Harken deck Layout, a lightweight KBS tiller, a molded fiberglass forward berth, molded seats amidships and a molded aft tank. The mast, boom, standing and running rigging will be supplied by Hall Spars & Rigging.

In addition to US Watercraft, there are two other JBoats-licensed builders of the International J/22 builders in South Africa and Italy.

Class site: www.j22class.org

SCHMUNDO
Here in Annapolis, just about everything we apply to the surfaces of a boat is fondly referred to as "schmundo". While West System epoxy concoctions are the ultimate schmundo, any high-quality filler, sealer, cleaner, coating or polish fits the definition. This spring you can order all the maintenance supplies you need from your desk at work, and be ready to go first thing Saturday morning. Think of all the time you'll save, and remember that if it's not from www.pyacht.com, it's not schmundo.

LINE 7 SPONSORS SWEDISH MATCH GRAND PRIX TOUR
Line 7, a leading brand of high performance sailing apparel, and co-sponsor of the Steinlager/Line 7 Cup in Auckland, NZ, since 1996, has signed on as a sponsor of the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour, the world's leading professional sailing series. Under the agreement, Line 7 becomes "Exclusive Clothing Supplier" of the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour. Additionally, Line 7 will host the official Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour online store featuring Tour apparel and merchandise.

First introduced in New Zealand, in 1965, Line 7 is an established name in the world of sailing. It is also one of the few clothing brands to have retained an exclusive presence in yachting - demonstrating a commitment to professionals, enthusiasts and casual sailors alike.

Featuring America's Cup seasoned professional skippers and teams, the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour continues in Auckland, New Zealand, at the Steinlager/Line 7 Cup, March 12-17, 2001. For additional information on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour and to view the official Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour online store visit www.swedishmatchgp.com.

THANKS DAVE
Ullman Sails has brought you this issue of Scuttlebutt. If you need more boatspeed, one proven and affordable way to make it happen is to work with the pros at Ullman Sails to spruce up your sail inventory. For information or a price quote: www.ullmansails.com

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.) PLEASE NOTE: For the next two weeks, send your emails to scuttlebutt@boats.com, Tom is off sailing until Feb. 27.

From T. Park McRitchie <quikspray@aol.com>
Kudos to all the folks at the US Sailing site at Jensen Beach, FL this past weekend. They ran a spotless C420 Midwinters. Race management was great with the addition of adequate patrol/safety boats making sure that all the competitors were properly hydrated and fed on the water. The beach location was not hindered by lack of fresh water wash downs, as almost 1000' of water hose was run to accommodate the competitors in two locations. Jack LeForte, Sr., Todd Hudgins and their adept registration and support crew made this event memorable to the young sailors. And again, Wes Durant was polishing his skills with scoring and data. Thanks again folks, it couldn't have been accomplished as well without you.

* From Chris Welsh <cawelsh@home.com>
After my last Scuttlebutt comment about US Sailing and the Albatross YC fiasco, I received a personal email from a US Sailing official to the effect of "If you don't like it, join and change it", along with a few pointed comments that I was not qualified to comment on US Sailing in the first place. The point is, I don't want to be a member in the first place - I am forced to join to sail in certain events. Becoming more involved is not the answer for me - less involvement by US Sailing in my sailing life is. Parallel to the whole ISAF membership issue, I could understand maybe having the owner or skipper be a member - but is every member of the crew necessary?

In another recreational arena, flying, I gladly am a member of several national flying organizations because I perceive much more value than cost. All are voluntary. If US Sailing has so much to offer, let the organization survive on its merits. End the forced memberships, and let the market voice its opinion of the job being performed, and the necessity for that job to be done in the first place. US Sailing's responsiveness to its audience would probably change as a result.

It is hard for me to look at competitive sailing today and see that it was broken 25 years ago, and has been fixed today, especially as a result of US Sailing's efforts. There certainly is more bureacracy and politics, but does the amount of administration going on correlate positively to the amount of recreation we all enjoy in the sport and the satisfaction received?

GUEST EDITORIAL: SOME YACHT CLUB HAS GOT TO DO THIS
This website really has no particular bearing with sailing (other than drinking, which is of course an integral part of the experience), but it struck me as a phenomenally smart way to get perfect strangers to buy rounds of drinks.

Go to www.bogwomen.com/CAM/WebDocs/map/PUBFrameset.asp. This is the home page of the Pig and Bicycle Pub in Glen Lachart, Scotland. They have a great virtual tour, a live webcam and... you have the opportunity to buy (online, fully secure transaction) a round of drinks for the lads and lassies at the bar. Then listen and watch as they cheer and toast you (and post your name on their website). This pub has spent a lot of time and money setting this up, but now they get people from all around the world to buy the residents and tourists rounds of drinks. All day, every day, forever. Brilliant.

This should be mandatory for any club hosting a world championship; it would give the class members and family who could not attend the opportunity to buy rounds for the winners (and losers). Hold the awards ceremony at Mahogany Ridge and the whole world could watch. Now THAT would be proper media coverage of an event! I will personally buy a large round of drinks at the first Yacht Club that sets this up. (With the exception, please, of the Aussies' "Quiet Little Drink", which would cost me my house.) Any takers? -- David McCreary

EVENT CALENDAR
The Acura SORC gets underway February 27. See www.acurasorc.com

Mexorc will begin February 25 in Puerto Vallarta, daily results can be checked on Mexorc's website. www.mexorc.com.mx

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
A fool and his money are soon partying