SCUTTLEBUTT #247 - December 30, 1998

Event website: http://www.syd-hob.telstra.com.au/index.cfm

MORE SYDNEY - HOBART
(The following summary, with its useful built-in hot links, is reprinted with permission from http://www.Yachtingnet.com)

The race is still on, with 14 boats in, but the stories about what went on the past several nights are filtering in. Terrifying stories about sinking boats, overturned life rafts and sailors slipping overboard into the darkness are now being told.

It even left the overall winner, Larry Ellison aboard Sayonara, dazed and wondering if this was his last sailboat race.

Initial reports were that the fleet was caught by surprise. However, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology put out a warning 24 hours before the start of the race.

The sponsoring yacht club, the Cruising Club of Australia, has agreed to do a review of the race and see if any changes need to be made. Although, some wonder if an open inquiry would be more appropriate.

At least two officials have said the race should go on. Victoria's premier has lent his support to race organizers. And Australia's Prime Minister, John Howard, said the race should continue.

Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo around the world, agrees and thinks that while this year's race was a tragedy, it is human nature to test our limits.

Meanwhile, the usually boisterous finish line in Hobart, legendary for its parties, was quiet, everyone thinking of those who had died.

In the case of three of the victims, their death may have come about because of a fateful decision to cut a vent in their overturned life raft.

Nearly everyone says that this week reminds them of what happened nearly 20 years ago in the Fastnet.

A TRIBUTE TO GLYN CHARLES:
I was lucky enough to sail a Soling with Glyn during the Winter of 1997/98. Glyn who had represented Great Britain in the Star Class at the Savannah Olympics had decided to go back into the Soling because of the loss of the Star for Sydney 2000. Glyn had a long history with the Soling Class, twice being runner-up in the British Olympic trials in 1988 and 1992. We (Glyn, Richard Sydenham and Myself) sailed from Hayling Island, Hampshire most days throughout October, November, December and January.

Glyn couldn't get enough of sailing. He loved being on the water. I remember one day it was blowing 30 knots, freezing cold and with a large swell. We'd been training for around three hours and Richard and I were both cold and exhausted. Whilst sailing upwind on a tuning exercise, Glyn looked to us both and said 'I could do this all day!'. This was a typical comment from Glyn. His enthusiasum for the sport of sailing was something else. He was a man who was prepared to work for what he wanted.

Glyn moved back to the Star after it was put back in as an Olympic Class. He sailed successfully on the circuit with Mark Covell and was placed 5th on the ISAF World rankings. Glyn had proved his status as one of Britains best sailors. Among his achievements included winning the British Laser Nationals and helming the British one tonner 'GBE' at the 1993 Admirals Cup. Glyn was thought of as one of the countries finest offshore sailors.

The loss of Glyn will hit the whole British Yachting community. He was liked by all, was approachable, friendly and one of the best people you could ever hope to sail with. My thoughts go to his girlfriend Annie and to his family.

Glyn Charles - A great sailor and a great friend. -- Jim Turner, 1996 & 1998 Fireball World Champion

COMMENTARY
Yes, the curmudgeon has read Rule 4 - "A boat is solely responsible for deciding whether or not to start or to continue racing."

The words are brief, concise and carefully crafted to let Race Committees completely off the hook. Obviously, if an organizing authority wants to send boats out into a hurricane, that's just fine as far as the Racing Rules of Sailing are concerned.

Before the Telstra Sydney to Hobart Race, Sayonara owner Larry Ellison was calling the event "the greatest ocean race in the world." But after Sayonara got to Hobart, it was a very different Ellison who talked with reporters. "It was just awful, he said. I've never experienced anything remotely like this. It's been a very emotional experience to get here. This is not what this is supposed to be about. A lot of us are upset.''

All of us have been to buoy racing regattas where the Race Committee has prudently abandoned the racing and sent the boats back to the yacht club. However, that does not seem to happen very often offshore. Why is that? Do we really want to look the other way as yacht racing evolves into the ultimate "extreme sport" or should the Race Committees take some responsibility too?

I'd be interested in your thoughts.

AMERICA'S CUP
There is no doubt that the Asian financial crisis has been the catalyst in slowing down the NIPPON CHALLENGE 2000. Peter Gilmour is still handling the sailing aspects, and will be the only foreigner involved in the challenge. The syndicate is now not expected in New Zealand until just before the start of the challenger series in 1999.

AGE OF RUSSIA -- Must be regarded as a very unlikely starter.

SPIRIT OF HONG KONG -- There has been no resolution to the financial problems they left behind in New Zealand after their aborted first showing. The America's Cup Challenge Association, the organising authority for the challenger series, believe the Hong Kong entry could still make the starting line, but we believe this must surely be wishful thinking.

SPIRIT OF BRITAIN -- Still does not have funding in place and are maintaining a relatively low profile. The tough UK market for sponsorship is proving difficult, but nevertheless Angus Melrose, the project director, is confident of making the start line. -- Excerpt from DEFENCE 2000, which is available from John@roake.gen.nz for US $48 per year.

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Letters may be edited for space (250 words max) or clarity -- or to exclude personal attacks.

-- From Jordan J. Dobrikin -- Pursuant to Jim Durden's and J.C. "Chris" Luppens comments in a/the Race Management "thread". The US Sailing and Canadian Yachting Associations Programs are excellent: and there are many well trained Race Management Officers and Judges available in most, if not ALL, racing areas . The problem is that they are ignored and/or under utilized; by to many, Yacht Clubs, Sailing Clubs/Associations and other Organizing Committees. Even worse many of these Clubs and Organizations are not even, aware, of the resources available to them.

What is needed is a concerted effort to promote the use of trained, qualified, volunteers. All to often Race Organization as well as Management, is left to a subset of the participants; thus opening up the possibility of "conflict of interest" This is, indeed, a touchy subject; however it occurs, primarily in "club" racing, more often than acceptable.

--Jeffrey Littell-- I just received the 1999 master calendar for the Association of Orange Coast Yacht Clubs which lists 160 events for the year. Is there any wonder why race management, protest committees, and the quality of trophies suffer? We're our own worst enemies!

-- From Peter Huston -- To Dave Irish - Yes, I do have a better idea than "user pays". It's called "sponsor pays". If Mumm doesn't want to step up to the plate and pay this bill, I'm sure there are plenty of other companies who would be willing to do so, if of course, there was a comprehensive sponsorship program in place within US SAILING.

-- Scott MacLeod -- I met Glyn Charles at the '85 Laser Worlds in Sweden and then sailed Finns against him. He was a great sailor and competitor but more importantly a great person. He will be missed. Does anyone know of any type of electronic devise one could wear whereby if they are lost overboard they could be tracked like a small EPHIRB? In this electronic age you would think the technology exists.

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MAC RECORDS
The last sailing of the Chicago to Mackinac race saw a great deal of controversy over whether or not a new record was set for the 333 mile course. This debate has continued onto the letters to the editor pages of sailing magazines months after the finish.

In attempt to find the facts of the controversial situation Torresen Sailing Site conducted research about regulations concerning sailing speed records, and the actual records for both the Chicago to Mackinac and Port Huron to Mackinac Course. We received help from several sources. We did not find records for all categories, and ask that people who know of additional record holders contact us. Our research has turned up the following records and record holders.

For the Chicago to Macinac course we have the following records:

• Outright: Stars and Stripes sailed by Steve Fossett a 60 foot multihull
• 19 hours 50 minutes and 15 seconds, an average of 16.65 knots.
• The any type singlehanded record: David Rearick on a 33 foot monohull in
• a time of 1 days 17 hours 53 minutes and 50 seconds for an average speed of
• 7.92 knots.
• The monohull record: Dick Jennings on his 67 foot monohull Pied Piper, in
• a time of 1 day 1 hour 50 minutes 44 seconds for an average of 12.88 knots.

• Any type of vessel, sailed singlehanded by a woman
• Monohull vessel, sailed singlehanded by a woman
• Any type of vessel, any number of all female crew
• Monohull vessel, any number of female crew.

• The outright and any type singlehanded record is held by Jan Gougeon
• sailing his 35 foot multi hull in a time of 1 day 2 hours and 9 minutes an
• average speed of 9.96 knots.
• The any type singlehanded, and monohull singlehanded by a woman record:
• Cheryl Cameron sailing a 36 foot monohull in a time of 2 days 11 minutes
• for an average speed of 5.39 knots.
• The monohull any number of crew: Windquest, Dick Devoss' 70 foot monohull
• in a time of 1 day 8 hours 13 minutes and 1 second for an average of 9.70
• knots.
• The monohull singlehanded record: Jim Otton on his 40 foot monohull in a
• time of 1 day 15 hours 46 minutes and 22 seconds for an average of 6.51 knots.

• Any type all female crew
• Monohull all female crew.

Event website: http://sailing.org/rsa/98youthworlds/volvo_youth.htm

AROUND ALONE
Standings (distance to finish in parenthesis) CLASS I: 1. Soldini (375) 2. Golding (611) 3. Thiercelin (754) 4. Autissier (774) CLASS II: 1. Mouligne (853) 2. Garside (1332) 3. Van Liew (1685) 4. Yazykov (1997)

Event website; http://www.aroundalone.com

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
It's easier to be nostalgic when you don't remember the details.