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SCUTTLEBUTT 3715 - Thursday, November 8, 2012
Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,
providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features
and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
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Today's sponsors: Ultimate Sailing and Ullman Sails.
JUST LIKE ATHLETIC CHESS
"It's the intellectual challenge that I enjoy," says Tony Parker. "You've
got hydrodynamics, aerodynamics, strategy, tactics, managerial questions
about crew styles... all of this combined makes sailboat racing. How can
you get bored doing that?"
Not that Parker would know much about being bored. The 67-year-old
Washington, DC, resident juggles running a government contracting company,
traveling to top-level regattas, acting as a district governor for the J/24
class association, and working as treasurer for the Republican National
Committee, an "incredibly time-consuming" volunteer job. Somewhere in
there, he spends time with his fiancee. We're not sure what vitamins he
takes to manage a schedule like that, but our interview revealed one
outstanding character trait, an important one on the race course: a
terrific sense of humor.
Parker grew up sailing "everything," he says, mostly Lightnings, in South
Freeport, ME, where his father owned a boatyard and started the Harraseeket
YC, which evolved into a summer social center. Becoming the New England
Junior Sailing Champion at the age of 16 cemented his interest in racing.
While at Harvard University, he competed on the sailing team and became
captain. When in the Navy, after doing a tour in Vietnam, he spent two
years coaching the U.S. Naval Academy's offshore sailing team.
Among Parker's high-level racing experiences were starting as crew on one
of the 12-meters in the America's Cup trials in 1967 and ending as the
tactician for one of the contenders in 1980. He also skippered four
Congressional Cups and placed second three times in a row.
In 1979, he bought his first of three J/24s, all named Bangor Packet. He
has won two J/24 East Coast Championships (1986 and 2009) and competed in
three of the last four J/24 World Championship Regattas, placing ninth in
Annapolis (2009) and placing sixth in Sweden (2010). He's "flat on his back
in amazement" at his third-place finish among 97 boats at the J/24 Worlds
in mid-September, with crew members Geoff Ewenson (tactician), Ross
Dierdorf, James Niblock, and Sarah Enright.
"What makes this thing fun is that I can race against the best sailors in
the world on a full-on pro level. That keeps me in the J/24. I think of it
as athletic chess. We're all going the same speed, so I have to ask, 'How
do I manage the race course?'"
This enthusiastic racing sailor does find time to cruise occasionally in
the Morris 47 Reindeer he owns with his boat partner Peter Driscoll. They
also race her offshore in the Newport Bermuda Race and the Annapolis to
Newport Race. -- SpinSheet, full interview:
http://issuu.com/cdeere/docs/nov_ss_2012/77
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ALL WE CAN DO NOW IS WAIT
By Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
The U.S. presidential election has now joined the America's Cup in the
category of "things you can't do much about." Part of the country isn't too
thrilled with the guy that got elected, and there remain plenty of sailboat
racers who aren't thrilled with the direction of the America's Cup. Can't
do much about either now.
The problem I've had with the new America's Cup format is they've turned a
chess match into a dodge ball game. The later is more fun to watch, but the
former is highly strategic. Typically, the more you understand a game, the
more you appreciate its strategy. ACUP 2.0 has strategy... it's just
different.
The America's Cup is match racing, and match racing is about controlling
the opponent. Get ahead and stay ahead. Moves and counter-moves. But the
multihulls don't maneuver well enough to control the opponent. Commentators
can't explain why leaders get passed. How come the leader split from their
opponent? Teams can no longer play only their opponent; they must play the
course. Like "speed golf."
The irony of ACUP 2.0 is the fans still don't like the match racing. They
like the fleet racing. Multihulls do provide more passing, with speed
differences that quickly change positions. But that goes both ways. In a
match race, a small lead can become a huge lead. When you only have two
boats, a huge lead is boring, no matter how fast you're going.
Regardless, the ACUP 2.0 has created a buzz. It has the attention of my
neighbors. That was its mission. It has its new audience. Now it needs its
new sponsors. Its oversized appetite must be fed. Can ACUP 2.0 become the
engine to energize the world economy?
With the election behind us, and the America's Cup ahead of us, all we can
do now is wait and see how it all turns out. We should know more in 10
months. -- Forum,
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14760
HELPING RECOVERY EFFORTS
Since its landfall on Monday evening October 29, Hurricane Sandy has left a
wake of destruction throughout the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United
States. To help recovery efforts, Scuttlebutt seeks to share information
from those affected by Hurricane Sandy. Here is an update:
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* As a public health and safety precaution, the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection is advising recreational boaters, anglers and
crabbers to temporarily avoid the waters of northern Barnegat Bay, from
Barnegat Light to Point Pleasant, and is advising residents not to eat any
fish, crustaceans or shellfish from these waters because of potential
contamination from pathogens - bacteria and viruses. Water sampling in the
area is showing elevated levels of contaminants, likely because of damage
caused by Hurricane Sandy, which knocked several waste water treatment
facilities in the state offline, resulting in the temporary runoff of
effluents into some waterways, according to a statement issued by Gov.
Chris Christie. -- Soundings, read on: http://tinyurl.com/TOT-110712
* Damage estimates now reach as high as $50 billion, which would make Sandy
the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane in history. At least 113 lives were
lost across 10 states, and more than 1 million people are still without
power across New York and New Jersey. Where the damage was worst, aid
workers, National Guardsmen, soldiers, and groups of civilian volunteers
arrived, bringing supplies, beginning cleanup, providing what was needed --
in many cases, neighbor helping neighbor. Collected here are images of
Sandy recovery from just the past weekend, showing what has been
accomplished so far and the massive amount of work that remains to be done:
http://tinyurl.com/TA-110712
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Please send your report to:
Email: info@sailingscuttlebutt.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/SBUTT-FBOOK-Sandy
Forum: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14705
FULFILLING A DREAM
IYRS, which stands for International Yacht Restoration School, prepares
students for careers in all aspects of modern boatbuilding. With campuses
in Newport and Bristol, Rhode Island, IYRS was well positioned to help
student Felix Schliebitz fulfill a longtime dream of working for a Volvo
Ocean Race team. Here Felix shares his experience of working for PUMA Ocean
Racing during the 2011-12 race:
* What were your responsibilities for the PUMA team?
FELIX SCHLIEBITZ: I was the "nipper" of the team. I had 37 bosses; my
initial job was reorganizing and cleaning overseas containers, painting
plywood boards for the sail loft, building crates for our spare mast and
rigging, and moving stuff. I was responsible for my own actions. Be there
on time, help where I can, and just be available and approachable.
Initially the focus was on soft-skills: being sociable, attentive,
meticulous, honest and accountable; keeping my station clean and putting
the tools back where they belonged. Easy. The fact that I could also help
out with the electrical and mechanical side of things and I knew which way
to hold a screwdriver was discovered later.
* What was the most exciting experience you had working for PUMA?
FELIX SCHLIEBITZ: It was a fantastic team effort. We had a guy on our team
who worked something like five America's Cup campaigns and two Volvo Ocean
Races. He said it was the best team he ever worked for. What an awesome
bunch of people - a huge pleasure to work and travel with. We had some long
hours and some stressful times and some nasty food, but it was so much fun
going to work every morning and hanging out making, cleaning, moving,
launching, repairing, polishing, and packing and unpacking the best boat in
the race.
Full interview: http://tinyurl.com/FS-110712
ULLMAN SAILS HEADED TO METS
As the world's biggest marine equipment trade show (METS) gets underway
next week, the Ullman Sails group will be right in the thick of it at
Amsterdam's RAI Convention Center. Come meet our European team from 12
different countries, including members of our design team, loft owners, and
President David Ullman. We will be exhibiting in Hall 6, available to
discuss our products and expertise in areas ranging from racing and one
design through to multihulls, traditional sails and super yachts. It's an
exciting show - don't miss visiting the Ullman Sails squad at stand 6.101!
Invest in your performance. http://www.ullmansails.com
DARK HORSE
For many Jeremie Beyou (FRA) is the dark horse of this Vendee Globe. He is
afforded the ultimate respect by his peers and rivals not least as one of
the few sailors to have twice won the Solitaire du Figaro, France's hotly
contested annual solo offshore race which is raced in identical one design
35 footers.
Indeed it is this remarkable record in the foundation class for solo racing
that has made him the 'go to' co-skipper for two handed IMOCA races. He was
handpicked by France's Vincent Riou, by Michel Desjoyeaux and by
Jean-Pierre Dick as the sailor they wanted most to complement their skills
in double-handed Transatlantic races.
And so Beyou starts the Vendee Globe for the second time Saturday, armed
with an up close and personal experience of some of his key rivals.
Beyou had to retire from the last race, sailing into Brazil with multiple
rig problems. He had two broken spreaders, a damaged shroud and runner and
the carbon mast was partly delaminating. Bitterly disappointed after his
four year Vendee Globe campaign Delta Dore ended before he had even got to
the Southern Ocean with the Farr design, the skipper from the Bay of
Morlaix scarcely had time to regroup before he was back in action at the
top level.
Since then he has done a Jules Verne attempt as navigator on Banque
Populaire in 2009-10. He returned to his roots in the Figaro class and won
the Solitaire du Figaro for a second time in 2011 before going on to win
the Jacques Vabre transatlantic alongside Jean-Pierre Dick on Virbac-Paprec
3. These wins were the perfect catharsis to bury any lasting regrets about
his last Vendee Globe.
And the French skipper is sailing the boat which won the last race in the
hands of Michel Desjoyeaux. "I am older, feeling better and more relaxed
this time. Everything which happened last time is in the past." Says Beyou,
"I think if the last Vendee Globe had proved to have been the last time I
did the Vendee Globe then I would be sad now, but I don't think of this as
a chance for revenge. I went and raced the Trophee Jules Verne, the
Soltaire du Figaro and so on since then. As you race new races you forget
the disappointments." -- Read on:
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/article/2351/the-dark-horse.html
BACKGROUND: Twenty skippers will compete in the 7th edition of the Vendee
Globe, a solo, non-stop around the world race in the IMOCA Open 60 class.
Starting in Les Sables d'Olonne, France on November 10, the west to east
course passes the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn
before returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. In the 2008-9 edition, Michel
Desjoyeaux (FRA) smashed the race record by completing the race in 84 days.
-- http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/
IS YOUR EVENT LISTED BELOW?
Posting your event information on the free, self-serve Scuttlebutt Event
Calendar tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing
media. But don't stop there. If your event is listed below, please send us
your race reports too:
* Nov 8 - Nassau Cup Ocean Race - Miami, FL, USA
* Nov 9-13 - Caribbean NOOD Championship - B.V.I.
* Nov 14-18 - J/24 North American Championship - Jacksonville, FL, USA
View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
SAILING SHORTS
* (November 6, 2012) - American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), the sole
distributor in the continental United States of Suzuki Motor Corporation
(SMC) automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and marine outboard
engines, today announced that it plans to realign its business to focus on
the long-term growth of its Motorcycles/ATV and Marine divisions. ASMC will
wind down and discontinue new automobile sales in the continental U.S. ASMC
will restructure its operations under chapter 11. -- Full report:
http://tinyurl.com/BI-110712
* The US Sailing Board of Directors, with the affirmative vote of the House
of Delegates, has passed a series of bylaws and regulations in an effort to
reorganize their leadership structure. This reorganization is designed to
more effectively serve members through streamlined communications between
the Board, committees and members. -- Read on:
http://about.ussailing.org/US_Sailing_Reorganization_2012.htm
* The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider presented the 2012 "Charlie Awards"
to the sailors who achieved excellence in the following categories:
Breakthrough Performance, Commercial Award, Best Teammate, Social Media
Award, and Outstanding Service to the Team. The awards were presented
November 3, in San Francisco, Calif, following US Sailing's Annual General
Meeting. -- Full report:
http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/News/2012/2012_Awards_Presented.htm
* In Sailing World's College Rankings as of November 7, 2012, Georgetown
maintains the lead atop the coed college rankings while Yale leads the
women's rankings. Twenty-one coaches voted in this poll, with all votes
coming from the eastern districts with the exception of Hawaii and
Stanford. Full rankings:
http://www.sailingworld.com/racing/college/sailing-worlds-college-rankings
* CORRECTION: In Scuttlebutt 3714, there was an error with the link that
provided an overview of the changes made in the Racing Rules of Sailing for
2013-2016, along with a short explanation of the changes, have been
published by US Racing Rules Committee Chairman Rob Overton. Here is the
correct link: http://tinyurl.com/Whoops-110712
INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES
The Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides an opportunity
for companies to announce new products and services. Here are some of
recent postings:
* Dan Cooney Joins Gowrie Group
* BVI Watersports Centre FOR SALE
* Aquaseal Marine high strength marine adhesives and sealants
* METS Dame award nominee - Sailfuse
View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news
GUEST COMMENTARY
Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community.
Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted
comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250
words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should
save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Bill Lynn:
Marblehead has lost a great sailor and a real gentleman in Bob Sides (Eight
Bells, Sbutt 3714). I've never met a nicer guy, and he could still kick
your ass in an Etchells well into his 70s.
* From John Simmons:
Absolutely unbelievable! No disrespect to Ben Ainslie, but his selection
(in Scuttlebutt 3714) for ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year stinks on so
many levels:
1) Ben's assault at the 2011 Worlds was criminal, or at least, worthy of
suspension from the sport.
2) Ben was not the most accomplished sailor within the nomination period.
All three Australian nominees had done more.
3) ISAF is administered in Britain. Ben is British. Ben's brother-in-law
runs ISAF.
4) Helena Lucas got screwed. She was a more worthy nominee for the female
award than Ben was for the male award, but the voters knew they couldn't
select Brits for both male and female awards.
Simply stated, there was no attempt by ISAF to mask their desires for Ben
to be their "Poster Boy". Quite honestly, I feel badly for Ben. He must be
unbelievably embarrassed.
* From Mark Lammens:
Paul Elvstrom's Olympic record of four gold medals was broken at the 2012
Games, by a Finn sailor no less. However, Elvstrom has had an unprecedented
positive influence in sailing, more than any other sailor.
He has his 4 Olympic gold medals and 15 medals at world championships - 11
of them gold - in 8 different boat types -. He has developed sails and
equipment, like the automatic bailer, boom vang, hiking straps and ratchet
block. He built several boats, including the Trapeze, and shared his
immense knowledge with his books, articles and speeches. He has also
originated several international yacht racing rules.
He had four daughters, but Olympic sailing was many years away from having
a woman's category. As a 56 year old, he raced with his daughter in a
physical boat (Tornado) and just missed out on the Bronze at the 1984
Olympics. As a 57 year old, he won a bronze with his daughter at the 1985
Tornado World Championship.
His biggest influence is on friendships and sportsmanship with his most
famous quote: "You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have
lost the respect of your competitors."
In 1983 the Olympic Order in bronze was bestowed on Elvstrom, and in 1996
he was chosen as Danish Sportsman of the Century.
In a different era, Elvstrom would have many Rolex watches.
* From Ron Stokley:
Amen to Scuttlebutt for pointing out in #3714 what was amazingly not
obvious to the 130+ voters for the Male ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Award.
The award is to be "...presented to the individual(s) who are deemed to
have most distinguished themselves during the qualifying period..."
Ben distinguished himself by assaulting a media member and winning half as
many world championships as three of the other nominees. Nice job ISAF!
I can't wait to see what other decisions ISAF makes this week at the annual
meeting.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
"There's no vaccine against stupidity." - Maxine
SPONSORS THIS WEEK
Summit Yachts - IYRS - Team One Newport - North Sails
Soft Deck - Doyle Sails - Ribcraft - Ultimate Sailing
Ullman Sails - The Pirates Lair - Harken - Point Loma Outfitting
Camet - Dieball Sailing - Key West Race Week
Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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