SCUTTLEBUTT #413 - October 7, 1999

BLAZING SKIFFS DOWN UNDER

Over eighty 16-foot skiffs faced the starter for their first two state title heats. Belmont Skiff Clubs Snarlin' Al Cummings came out and gave the huge fleet two sailing lessons. With new jibs and spinnakers from Ullman Sails, he knew he would be fast, but this was with three year old mainsails! The quality of the construction that Ullman Sails maintain means that sails will be faster for longer - and Snarlin' Al will be first to tell you about it.

http://www.ullmansails.com/

AMERICA'S CUP
* Team NZ's second new yacht NZL-60 was launched in the Cup harbour today, and has just towed out for her first sail. The yacht is noticeably different from the radical NZL-57. The most obvious point of difference being in the way the designers have handled the bow - NZL-60 features a conventionally shaped metre or spoon bow, without the same sharp angle of attack as NZL-57, which was launched about a month ago.

From the bow area aft there would seem to a lot of similarity between the two hull shapes. Both are relatively narrow, with quite a high sheer, and plumb topsides. The stern on NZL-60 looks slightly more pinched than NZL-57 - however it is difficult to make accurate comparisions from the dock. NZL-60 is currently sailing with a more conventional mast, and not the "wing" section tested on NZL-57.

Compared to NZL-32, NZL-60 looks like a definite step forward in the same lineage. The newer boat looks more robust in deference to the higher winds that may be expected in the Hauraki Gulf, compared to the Pacific Ocean of San Diego.

The Team NZ approach to this Cup is certainly impressive in the clear steps that have been taken in the design and testing program.With each new step you can see the clear foot prints of where they have been and a clear direction of where they are headed - extending right back into 1995 - and projecting into February 2000. -- Richard Gladwell, http://www.sailing.org

* Virtual Spectator announced that Raytheon Marine will provide weather reporting, tracking, and display functions for its revolutionary new Internet program for live interactive reporting of sporting events on the World Wide Web.

Virtual Spectator will make its debut on October 18, 1999, at the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup sailing series in Auckland to select a challenger for the America's Cup. Although there will be no live television this year, as many as 100,000 sailing fans around the world will use Virtual Spectator to follow every tack and gybe in real time on their computer screens.

Raytheon is a significant technology supplier to Virtual Spectator, implementing its newly-released Raytech software, which provides critical components like wind instrumentation, weather viewers, real-time weather feeds, and technical consulting.

Virtual Spectator, in effect, creates a virtual stadium so that sailing fans anywhere in the world can view the racing in Auckland in full 3D, graphic animation. The detailed boat and sail images on user screens will be generated from graphics data on the CD-ROM which will be animated by race data transmitted from the course by each boat competing in the event.

The service starts this month with the first races of the Louis Vuitton Cup series and will continue through the Louis Vuitton finals next January. Live television coverage will not begin until the semi-finals of the Louis Vuitton Cup in early January. -- Keith Taylor

Web users can now make advance no-obligation reservations for this web technology breakthrough - to be released before the start of the Louis Vuitton Cup series - by registering online at http://www.virtualspectator.com

* Practice racing continued on the Hauraki Gulf this Wednesday, with the first carbon fibre blood being drawn in America's Cup 2000. America True lost a chunk of its bow and Young Australia a piece of its stern when the U.S. boat tried to duck the Aussies on a port-starboard crossing in yesterday's informal fleet race. The boats were sailing upwind with America True on port tack and Young Australia holding the right of way on starboard tack.

"We crossed ahead, but I guess they didn't think our overhang was that long," said an Australian crewman, Chris Carroll. "After the race we found a [square foot] piece of their boat on our transom." Another Aussie crewman, Nick Boss, said, "We're going to have it framed. They were really nice about it. They came over to us after the race and apologised, and offered to help us fix the damage." -- Rich Roberts, Quokka Sports, http://www.americascup.org/

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks.

-- From Madeleine Maddog McJones -- I think Bill Carey is doing the apples and oranges thing. I think you should not try an compare difficulty in different size boats especially without indicating off-shore versus buoy racing. Just call it challenge and enjoy your position on the "sport" boat! Or perhaps ask a smaller sport boat sailor about comparing difficulty. Add all of your above and then trapeze wires? It's all relative. In my experience, a mistake on a big boat buoy race can be more dangerous and costly to everyone on the course. Try getting out of the way of broaching 50-foot sled going 17 to 22 near the break wall. Where a mistake on a smaller boat can be recovered faster aka waterline and steerage, more mistakes can be tolerated on smaller boats, bow and stern. By the time you have a spin-wrap out of a big boat the leg is over. A big boat offshore race is a different animal, may tend to be longer race requiring a 'different' personality and mental skill set, night work, real seas, repair and with no breaks between races as well as knowing there is not hospital near by to replace that finger and lets not even go into loads.

-- From Lawrence Harasym ( In response to Bill Carey's letter) -- "Amen to that. It's about time the bow gets some credit. We're all guts without any glory. I do have one comment to challenge the bow duties of a Mumm 30: try dousing the huge A-chute a Melges 30 carries by yourself when the boat is on its ear going to weather and you're praying that the chute does not end up under the pole (don't want to rip it - owners don't like that) or, worse yet, it ends up under the boat (owners REALLY don't like that)..."

-- From Jack Salerno (regarding Matt Brown's comments in Butt #412 about the speed of sprit boats running upwards of 30 knots) -- I would suggest that he adjust the dampening on his knot meter.

-- From Bruce Schwab -- What! Giovanni Soldini not nomimated for the "world sailing awards"? So much for recognition "regardless of the disipline of the sport"! I am flabbergasted.

-- From Rick Hatch, Vancouver, BC -- No doubt the nominees discussed in 'Butt #412 are very accomplished sailors (particularly Roy Heiner; and, all three female nominees -a tough choice). Nevertheless, in a sport that (it would appear) is trying to capture the public's imagination, rekindle its enthusiasm and promote participation (thereby encouraging more extensive sponsorship), why not include a real sailing "hero" in the nominations - Giovanni Soldini. Surely his rescue of Isabelle Autissier in the 1998-99 Around Alone, in the middle of literally nowhere, has to rank as one of the great acts of seamanship in our sport. Just because he doesn't compete in an Olympic class is no reason to miss the opportunity to promote the sport outside of the racing fraternity.

-- From Mark Gaudio -- There is no question that TV exposure must stimulate some sort of "new" interest in sailing among the masses that are not already involved with racing or even cruising. To say that it is detrimental would not be accurate. To say that it is a necessity would also be inaccurate. The best way to grow the sport is at the toddler/junior level. If you can hook them young you stand a good chance of keeping them. Junior sailing must continue to "reel in" new participants if we expect to grow.

There are Junior programs that take non-members right here in Newport Beach. I commend these Yacht Clubs for having the foresight to let people have access to a Yacht Club Program, without requiring full membership ahead of time. Junior memberships are also available for a small fraction of the price.

I dearly hope that the feeling of juniors being "burned out" on local sailing doesn't enter their vocabulary, as it has to some in the past. It is important for the parents and administrators of these local programs (private and public) to keep the level of enthusiasm high, and the "fun Factor" roaring.

The bottom line is, to keep our sport growing (particularly racing) we must promote from the "bottom up" and continue to SUPPORT junior sailing at all levels. And people who apparently share this view and are getting your youngsters involved in some of the aspects of cruising and light hearted "fun racing" are to be applauded. KEEP IT UP!

J/24 WORLDS
GENOA, ITALY (76 boats) - With the northerly wind now established for 3 days the air temperature had dropped considerably. This provided the opportunity to catch up with the schedule of racing as the land could not warm and facilitate a sea breeeze. This resulted in a healthy 15-18 knot breeze throughout the day. -- Mark Jardine

Results after 5 races (1 discard): 1st ITA-456 Vasco Vascotto 8pts, 2nd ITA-428 Lorenzo Bressani 13pts, 3rd ARG-4677 Juan Grimaldi 23pts, 4th ITA-444 Roberto Martinez 24pts, 5th USA-5208 Tim Healy 24pts, 6th ITA-440 Gianfranco Noe 29pts.

J/24 International Website: http://www.j24class.org

SYDNEY HOBART
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Telstra launched the 1999 Telstra 55th Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on a positive note:

* Starting on December 26, 1999, the 630 nautical mile race has been dubbed the "Sail of the Century" - as the final long ocean race in the world for the 20th century.

* Telstra, in renewing its sponsorship for a further two years, has undertaken to provide each yacht in the race with a MiniSat tracking device as part of a significant upgrading of communications with the fleet.

With applications to enter the 1999 Sydney to Hobart being received at a steady rate, Commodore Hugo van Kretschmar today predicted that up to 100 yachts will line up on Sydney Harbour for another spectacular start on Boxing Day, December 26. "Indications are that most yachts that finished the race last year are fronting up again, while those who were forced to retire have 'unfinished business' in Bass Strait," the Commodore said.

Ironically, the worldwide publicity given the stormswept 1998 race has created even greater potential for international competitors, with the CYCA receiving positive inquiries from yacht owners in the USA, Russia. Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and Holland. One of the strongest indicators to the fleet size is the number of sailors actively participating in special safety training exercises and seminars being held by the CYCA and other yacht clubs in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

Another pointer to a strong entry for the 1999 Race is the interest being shown by yacht owners in competing in the mandatory qualifying races which include the Cabbage Tree Island Race (NSW), Maria Island Race (Tasmania), Haystack Island Race (South Australia) and the Melbourne to Stanley Race (Victoria).

Applications to enter the 1999 Telstra Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race close with the CYCA on November 1, with accepted yachts having until November 26 to submit their formal entries. -- Peter Campbell

TIP O' THE WEEK
What Are You Looking At? Upwind and down, your eyes are the most immediate source of critical data. Exercising a rhythm when gathering data will keep all the pertinent information flowing as needed. As you sail upwind check these areas one by one in succession, when you get done start all over again. The actual order is up to you, but discipline yourself to check in on all the areas. Your eyes should be constantly on the move.

UPWIND 1) Luff of jib, check the telltales and keep them flowing. If you're fast maybe burn a little by pinching just a touch, if your feeling sluggish (the boat that is) then foot just a bit.

2) The Horizon; cross checking the angle of heel with the feel of the boat will keep you going fast. Every boat's taste for heel is different, learn what is fast for yours and maintain it with body weight, steering and sail trim.

3) Water; look out for puffs, lulls, flat water and choppy water. Keeping tabs on this information will allow you to make good tactical decisions and will assist you in making slight adjustments to course as you work your way through the waves.

4) Look Up; the leech of the main, make sure it is trimmed to perfection, this is the throttle, work it.

5) Look In; the boom and traveller setting. This should just be a quick check to make certain all is well.

6) Scan; quick check for other boats, right of way boats are one thing, clear air is another.

7) Leech of Jib; if your boat is set-up so you can see it easily from where you are steering, check it out. A telltale 75% of the way up with a window in the main is very handy for checking if the jib has flow.

DOWNWIND 1) Luff of Spinnaker; same as the jib, keep it flowing

2) Horizon; check that angle of heel

3) Water; keep looking for puffs, lulls and waves; this time, however, a quick look over your shoulder will help in assessing the best possibility for the next puff.

4) Look Up; check the mainsail, sheet tension and vang tension to make certain you are keeping that top batten parallel to the boom, adjust that vang to do so.

5)Scan; look for other boats and make certain your air is clear. -- The Coach, http://www.Sailweb.net

AUCKLAND UPDATE
(Reprinted with permission from DEFENCE 2000, which is available for US $48 per year from John@roake.gen.nz)

Why is it that fields in the next paddock are always greener? Americans supporting New Zealand, New Zealand companies sponsoring American syndicates, Australians supporting Japanese and vice versa and so on and so on. The mismatch of sponsors is par for the course. The Swiss desperately in need of sponsorship earlier, must have been dismayed to find Switzerland's prestigious watch brand, Omega, supporting Team New Zealand. It is all somewhat hard to understand. But nevertheless, Omega has announced it has signed agreements to become the official timekeeper for the Cup defender, Team New Zealand, as well as the Cup regatta. "Omega is proud to support Sir Peter Blake, the America's Cup and Team New Zealand in this yachting event, where timing and precision are required," said Omega's Australasian managing director, Graham Davies.

NEED ADVICE? Millions of people turn to Dr. Laura each day for advice. She's good, but she really doesn't know much about smart battery chargers, selecting an auto-pilot, hydraulic steering, antifouling bottom paint, EPIRBs, or how to select a radar. And I don't think you should look to her for tips on propeller selection or headsail controls. However, there is information on all of these subjects and much much more in the West Advisor section of the West Marine website. It's an incredible resource that can save you a lot of misery and money: http://www.westmarine.com/

WOMEN'S MELGES 24 NAs
The Women's Yacht Racing Fleet of San Diego is hosting the 7th annual Women's Melges 24 Southwest Classic which will also be the 1999 Women's Melges 24 North American Championships. This year's event is on October 30th and 31st, and will be held just outside San Diego bay. Seven races are planned. -- Erika Lawson

The Notice of Race and Entry Form: http://www.ccs.ucsd.edu/~erika/wyrf/melges.

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
(Seen on the back of a passing motorcyclist) -- If You Can Read This, My Wife Fell Off.