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SCUTTLEBUTT 2175 - September 7, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with America’s Cup coverage provided by UBS (http://www.ubs.com). SKIER TURNED SAILOR KNOCKING ON OLYMPICS DOOR (American Star sailors Andy Horton and Brad Nichol won their class last month at the 2006 Qingdao International Regatta, aka the Pre-Olympic Regatta. Here is an excerpt from the Williams College website about alumni Nichol) Growing up Brad Nichol lived in New Hampshire on one end of Lake Sunapee with the ski area Mt. Sunapee at the other end of the lake. In the summer he sailed on and when the weather turned cold he went skiing. At Williams Nichol was a member of the Alpine ski team in the fall and winter but in the spring he was the captain of the Eph club sailing team. "While the Williams sailing team was not a powerhouse by any stretch, it did allow me to keep my skills sharp, and even more importantly, it forced me to be an organized leader which is now paying great dividends in my Olympic campaign," said Nichol. To be competitive at the Olympic level a sailor has to attend the best races around the world and succeed. It takes a lot more than faith to get your boat from Germany to China as Nichol and his current teammate and Andy Horton did recently with great success. "The true transition from skiing to sailing came the year after I graduated from Williams when I was coaching ski racing at Killington Mountain School," said Nichol. "I received a phone call from a friend, John MacCausland, that I sailed against for many years who wanted to try to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics. It was an incredible opportunity to sail with an experienced veteran so I took two years off for my first Olympic campaign. We finished eighth but the experience was worthwhile." During 2004 Nichol was a professional sailor on a 40-foot grand prix racer but knew that he needed something more challenging. - Complete story: http://www.williams.edu/athletics/news.php?id=9800 29ER US NATIONALS: A FAMILY AFFAIR Skiff sailing is sailing on the edge--sailing fast from the trapeze, on a plane upwind and down. Every mistake is quickly rewarded by a capsize. Its “Senior Division” is for boats with a combined skipper and crew age >50--not an old person’s game. But at the 29er Nationals, hosted by the Cabrillo Beach YC, Bay Area sailing families enjoyed great success. On day one, skipper John Heineken and crew Matt Noble dominated the fleet, convincingly winning every race. Danny Cayard and Max Binstock finished the day in second place, while John’s sister, Erika and their dad, Paul Heineken, sailed well enough to lead the last race around one entire lap of the course, before the inevitable capsize. On returning to the dock, Paul, a 60 year old physician, injured his knee such that he couldn’t sail on day two. Having watched the day’s fun from a spectator boat, Danny’s dad, Paul Cayard, jumped into the fray. He volunteered to borrow sailing gear and step into the front of Erika’s 29er. This was a major leap of faith, as it was Erika’s second sailing regatta ever, and Paul Cayard had witnessed her first regatta last month at the Columbia River Gorge where there had been no shortage of capsizes. - Full story: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/0906 HEALTHIER HABITS (Here is an excerpt from the RCR Yachts Racer's News #183, September 6, 2006 weekly email, edited by Don Finkle, which has been posted on the Scuttlebutt Forums) I have been thinking a lot about the status of racing and just how healthy or not-healthy it is, and what might be done about it. The following are my own observations, conclusions, and some identifiable conflicts. The serious racers are doing fine and generally like the programs we have. The folks who are either not as serious or not as accomplished are often the ones who are not coming out to race. Serious big boat racers like windward-leeward courses. The more casual or novice sailors do not enjoy the W-Ls as much. Weeknight racing is a much easier sell. Weekend racing that requires a crew is a tough sell. Weekend events that are special or fixtures on the calendar, the few events where crew is easy to find, are still doing OK (such as YYC Level). Those weekend events that seem to be growing are the ones where a lot of crew is not needed, such as the short-handed series (single or double handed). Often the owner wants to go, but he/she cannot get crew, so the boat does not sail. Society has changed, and there is no turning back in the short term, if ever. That means we either accommodate the family in weekend sailing or it won't work. Scheduling too many events causes endless conflicts and that means the turn out for many of them is down. So we either use more common sense in our schedule planning or we are doomed to the status quo, or worse. – Full article: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3205#3205 CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER Euro Marine Trading and nke would like to congratulate Nicholas Troussel on his win in the Solitaire Afflelou le Figaro, and Adrien Hardy for his victory in the exciting 1st edition of Les Sables- Azores Mini Class Race. One look at the victory photographs of the world's toughest single-handed races will show a common element: that telltale yellow cord- the nke pilot Remote control. The world's best choose nke for peace of mind. Come see our race winning instruments on the new Beneteau First 10R at the Newport International Boat Show September 14th through the 17th. - http://www.euromarinetrading.com FARR 40 WORLDS Flash Gordon was firing on all cylinders today while other leading lights stalled out during a tricky opening day at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island. The formula for Flash Gordon's success includes world-renowned architect Helmut Jahn (Chicago, Ill.) steering his Flash Gordon upwind, then handing over to his son Evan downwind. An unorthodox approach, but one that did them no harm in the light south-westerly breeze that blew across Rhode Island Sound. In the first race of the day, Flash Gordon got a nice start off the pin end of the line, rounding the first mark narrowly ahead of Vincenzo Onorato's Mascalzone Latino (Portoferrio, Italy). By the leeward gate, Onorato had drawn level with the leader, his tactician Russell Coutts opting for the right-hand side while Flash Gordon's Mark Ivey took the left. Ivey's call paid off and Flash Gordon led for the rest of the race. For the second race the breeze had built from 7 knots up to 12 or 13, and this time Flash Gordon started near the committee boat, her start only bettered by Wolfgang Stolz's German entry Opus One. Once again Flash Gordon's strategy paid off while this time many of the leading lights struggled on the left side of the course. Flash Gordon and Opus One were sufficiently far ahead toward the top of the first leg that the Americans even put a couple of covering tacks on the Germans. - Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/f2a2u Results (after Day One): 1. Flash Gordon, Helmut Jahn, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 1-1, 2 points 2. Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, Valencia, ESP, 5-3, 8 3. Silver Bullet, Henrik Jensen, Copenhagen, DEN, 7-7, 14 4. Twins, Erik Maris, Paris, FRA, 14-4, 18 5. Pegasus, Philippe Kahn, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 13-5, 18 6. Nerone, Mezzaroma/Migliori, Rome, ITA, 3-16, 19 7. Opus One, Wolfgang Stolz, Frankfurt, GER, 20-2, 22 8. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, Boston, Mass/Newport, RI, USA, 10-14, 24 9. Ichi Ban, Matt Allen, Sydney, AUS, 4-22, 26 10. Appreciation, Jeff Siegal, Riverside, Conn., USA 8-19, 27 Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/fsony LOOKING BACK – MOVING FORWARD A little more than a year ago, Jim Swartz's Swan 601 had just hit the water for the 2005 Rolex Swan American Regatta. He and the boat, named Moneypenny, were getting their feet wet together. It was Swartz' first regatta in a certified big boat. But he'd done four tune-up regattas on a Mumm 30 earlier in the year and thanks to that practice he hit the ground running, winning that event, and hasn't stopped since. In the past 12 months, Moneypenny has sailed on the Pacific Ocean at the Rolex Big Boat Series, in the Gulf of Mexico at Acura Key West Race Week and to Bermuda. Now the 60-footer is in Sardinia readying itself for a fourth ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and another new experience, one-design competition. Five 601s are entered in the Rolex Swan Cup—the biennial world championship for the Finnish-built boats—and Swartz is eager to see put a year of practice and tuning to the test. - Sailing World, full story: http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=43976&typeID=400&catID=583 SAILING SHORTS * Interested in collegiate sailing? Sail Magazine has an article by Tufts sailor Gretchen Curtis that runs down the ins and outs for sailing at this level. Despite an east coast bias, the article provides some good information for the newbie: http://sailmag.com/features/CollegeSailing/ * Porto Cervo, Italy - The crews competing in the 2006 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, were challenged on Wednesday by another day of light winds. So far there has been no sign of the legendary Mistral, which can blow from the northwest at up to 45 knots. After an initial postponement on shore, the Race Committee selected a 26 mile coastal course for the Spirit of Tradition fleet, while the other fleets tackled a 35 mile course around the Archipelago de La Maddalena, on exactly the same route as yesterday but sailed clockwise. - Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/fgthe * 470 sailors are all set to start racing Friday at the 2006 470 World Championship Men & Women, with the event continuing on until September 13th in Rizhao, China. The total number of 147 participating teams from 33 countries sets a new record for a 470 Worlds event taking place outside Europe. 87 teams will start in the Men’s Fleet and 60 in the Women’s Fleet. - http://470.rz.gov.cn * A total of 90 sailors are lined up to compete in the US Team Racing Championship for US Sailing's Hinman Trophy, with races beginning on Friday, September 8 and running through Sunday, September 10, hosted by the San Diego YC in California, with racing held off the San Diego cityfront. As the US Team Racing champions in 2003 and 2004, reigning world champions Cape Cod WHishbone (Tim Fallon, Karen Renzulli, Tim Wadlow, Erin Largay, Patrick Rynne, and Galen Largay) are the likely favorites, but they will need to beat out 14 other teams for the title. Complete report: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2006/teamracing.htm * At the end of this month Taskers, one of Perth, Australia’s oldest and best known family businesses, will be changing hands. For over 50 years Taskers have been supplying sails and spars to the sailing fraternity, and now has been sold to Taskers’ General Manager Jackson Digney. As part of the deal, the business under its new leadership, will move to the heart of the marine manufacturing industry in a new purpose built building in Sparks Road, Henderson. - http://www.taskers.com.au * BMW Oracle Racing, Challenger of Record for the 32nd America’s Cup, will train in Auckland, New Zealand, during the European winter/ New Zealand summer in final preparation for the challenger elimination races. The team’s main base of operations will remain in Valencia with only part of the team traveling to New Zealand for the winter sailing program. The team will operate in Auckland from the Viaduct Harbour starting in November before returning to Valencia, Spain prior to the Louis Vuitton Cup in April. - http://www.bmworacleracing.com * Correction: There was a bug with the link we provided in Issue 2174 that hosted Nate Rosenberg’s photos showing the masthead chute that he rigged on his Club 420. Here is a link that works: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3185#3185 ULLMAN SAILS QUALITY INVESTMENT! Why are Ullman Sails the "Fastest Sails on the Planet"? Simple…Ullman selects only premium sailcloth and marine hardware that the sail making industry can provide. Ullman Sails combines the latest proven sail design programs with proven construction technique that have an end result of simply the best sails available. Whether you race, cruise or just enjoy day sailing, look for top quality sails that combine performance, durability and service. There is only one clear choice… Ullman Sails. Call your nearest Ullman Sails loft or visit us at http://www.ullmansails.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or space (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, you can post your comments on the Scuttlebutt Forums, wherein we may include your submission in the newsletter. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Kirk Hackler: We have just received our handsome new Scuttlebutt burgee and it looks so good hanging on the flag halyard among the others from yacht clubs and other associations. Few know what the red @ means, and are pleasantly surprised to learn. Hopefully we will see many more in the future signifying our appreciation for Scuttlebutt news. Curmudgeon’s Comment: SSC burgees are available at the Scuttlebutt Store: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/store * From Guy Doran (posted in the Forums on the NASCAR thread) Enjoyed the refreshing perspectives by Craig Leweck on his first (and last) NASCAR race at California Speedway last weekend (in Issue 2174). I was there too. Craig’ s observations were pretty good, often amusing (“I saw the slower cars LET the fasters ones pass them. Very Corinthian.”) I became an avid NASCAR fan in the past year and have attended 3 races. I have also sailed competitively all my life, doing everything from Junior Frostbites, collegiates, Stars, Transpacs, yadda yadda. So why will I go back to NASCAR races? There’s something about them Craig didn’t mention or notice. NASCAR racing has an uproarious sandlot aspect to it that is magnetic and entertaining. Over the course of the 36-race season, drivers clash on the track (deliberate bumps) and in the pits (hollering and shoving). “Boys being boys”. And very UNCorinthian! Imagine bumping the stern of a competitor between races because you thought he didn’t play fair. Or image Russell Coutts and Ed Baird hollering and shoving on the dock after a match race. Ain’t gonna happen. But NASCAR racing has that element and capitalizes on it in a fun sort of way every week. They don’t just race. They “mix it up” in cars doing 200 mph. And yes, the fans DO party like sailors. No wonder NASCAR draws more than 100,000 spectators to its races every weekend. Between regattas I’ll be among them, cheering my “boy” in the #48 car as he wrestles in the dust with the other 42 drivers each week. – Read complete post here: http://tinyurl.com/kqvqk * From Rodger Martin: (re NASCAR blog in Issue 2174) NASCAR racing appeals to a certain group. Sailors might enjoy sports car, vintage or American Le Mans racing on varied, non-oval tracks like Lime Rock, Virginia International, Laguna Seca, etc. It is beautiful & exciting; captivating & addictive! * From Kurt M. Lowman: (regarding Ed Cesare’s letter [Huzza for the Stamford Yacht Club] in Issue 2174) To my thinking the Race Committee acted irresponsibly in starting this year’s Vineyard Race given the already deplorable weather conditions and a forecast for even worse conditions to come. Over half of the fleet decided not to leave the dock and of the 26 that did start, most retired very quickly. Fortunately, our owner had the good judgment to invoke Rule 4 and recognized that no yacht race is worth risking injury to his crew. * From Bob Afflerbach: I’m certainly glad to hear from Jan Pehrson of the Marin Independent Journal (in Issue 2174) that sailing about 10 years ago was like a parade with little opportunity to move up in windward and leeward courses, because those of us remembering sailing one-designs and were having nothing but windward-leeward courses back in the 40’s, yes Nineteen-Forties, since I would guess you can’t remember that, and in college we were getting 5 or 6 races in on our weekend collegiate events. Obviously we were having a much better time than those in the west and didn’t know it. Maybe Ms. Pehrson should read up on some of those events, however, might have to dig deep into the storage. * From Andrew Bray, Editor, Yachting World: As a Brit am I alone in getting intensely annoyed when, every time after British success in Olympic events, the losers start moaning that of course they win as they have such huge budgets? Yes the Team GBR is well funded, but no more so than many other top sailing nations. But have you ever considered why? It is quite simply the recognition of excellence. The process was started back in the 1980s with an effective and far sighted national authority, the Royal Yachting Association (which also, incidentally, administers the world¹s best yacht training scheme, the Yachtmaster). They implemented a very effective youth training scheme under the tutelage of Jim Saltonstall. Saltonstall’s babes, as they were known, went on to be youth champions, national champions, world champions and, yes, Olympic champions. One Ben Ainslie was amongst them. With success and excellence established through the youth training scheme (which still continues so watch this space for more Ainslies), then funding followed with lottery money and sponsorships. So stop moaning and put your own houses and youth training schemes in order. It didn’t happen overnight in the UK and it won’t with anyone else. But with the right schemes and motivation, tomorrow you’ll be asking what all the funding fuss was about. * From Steve Morrell, Editor, Southwinds Magazine: Christy Schisler's comments (in Issue 2174) about the growth of sailing/racing in Mexico hit home with me. Last year, I had a recently retired couple stay with me while they looked to buy a sailboat to live and retire on. They seriously considered staying in Florida and tuning their sailing skills while they learned the liveaboard life. While looking for their ideal boat, they checked out marinas and read about the cruising/ liveaboard life in West Florida. After finding their boat, they decided to have it shipped to Mexico (where they still happily live aboard) - after they learned how the cost of boating and liveaboards was skyrocketing and communities all over Florida were becoming anti-boater. They began to see that cruisers and liveaboards were more and more looked down upon by "landlivers" as less than upstanding citizens. Facing that attitude and the rising costs of boating, they moved to Mexico. Has anyone recently noticed how Mexico is becoming boater-friendly, building and expanding marinas and opportunities for visiting cruisers, while here in the U.S., the opposite trend is occurring? Here in the South, if we don't overcome this problem, sailing will continue to fall off, as the sport is all about the average person who owns the average sailboat and just wants to enjoy the life. The rock-star life of the expensive-boat racing world is exciting and inspiring, but it is not the core of sailing. These people like my friends are. How many publications are dedicated to them and how many to racing? CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Following the rules will not get the job done. - Dilbert's Rules of Order This issue of Scuttlebutt presented by Euro Marine Trading and Ullman Sails America’s Cup coverage in Scuttlebutt brought to you by UBS. |
