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SCUTTLEBUTT 3583 - Thursday, May 3, 2012Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Ullman Sails and Atlantis WeatherGear. BEHIND THE SCENES When the annual Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta arrived in San Diego (March 17-18), the 'feast of famine' winds of the winter season had promised a bountiful feast. A daunting forecast led to some pre-race pondering for San Diego Yacht Club Regatta Manager Jeff Johnson and event PRO Peter Reggio. At the Saturday morning skippers meeting, the prospect of windy racing - rare for San Diego - had caffeinated the crowd. But when Jeff announced to the huddled masses that the ocean courses would be moved inside San Diego Bay, it was not yet apparent if this was an overreaction or a prudent plan. Jeff describes what factored into the decision... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I will tell you the process we went through to make our decision, and am happy to educate people on this topic. However, I don't think it is productive to encourage people to second guess the Race Committee on weather calls for two main reasons: 1) While the racing is about the racers, the race committee has to be included in the 'stay safe' category, and there are very few competitors that understand what operating a 40' trawler/ 30' powerboat in rough open waters is like. Their discourse rarely includes our knowledge base. 2) I am sure there are many people that are capable in high wind/sea state, but the Race Committee is charged with the overall safety of the event. If a person goes overboard, is injured or the boat breaks and needs outside assistance, it is the RC that has to respond and puts the rest of the event in jeopardy from a resources standpoint. A plethora of light air experienced sailors in rough conditions is going to generate these problems. We are usually set up to, and have handled isolated problems that takes a markset boat off the event (if you need a cost associated with that service - call SeaTow and ask how much they charge for similar service). But if there are multiple requests, it brings the course to a standstill. We have had competitors too sick to play and request a ride in. We have had multiple boats with non-working motors request tows. In responding to those requests, we have nearly trashed markset boats (think 10 ton surging sailboat on waves versus 5 ton motorboat trying to stay out of the way and not get drug sideways!) Working on a boat that is anchored or idling in an agitated sea state is WAY more dangerous than sailing in same conditions. We have had skull fractures, broken arms, broken hands and separated shoulders from people just trying to 'be' on our primary RC boat under anchor during a regatta. I'll keep going on this point... read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/12/0501/ SECURITY THREAT FOR SAILING AT 2012 OLYMPICS Concerns have been raised that "unnamed" vessels could pose a security threat in Weymouth (UK) during the Olympics. Ex harbour master Cdr Peter Tambling said too many boats which could not be identified passed through the area where the sailing events will be held. The fears were raised as a large Olympic security exercise began off the Dorset coast. The Navy said it was not concerned about whether boats had names or not. A spokesman said it planned to maintain a plot of all vessels in the area and would intercept them if necessary. Exercise Olympic Guardian, in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, involves the Royal Navy and Dorset Police. Navy flagship HMS Bulwark and other ships have been stationed off Dorset. Cdr Tambling said: "What really worries me is the number of boats navigating with no names on or ID marks. How do you control a terrorist situation when you've got to battle with that? Half the yachts have no marks on them. To my mind if there's going to be any threat it will be on a jet-ski which won't show up on radar." -- BBC, read on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-17920483 PUT UP THE CODE WHAT?! Having trouble decoding spinnaker classifications? Not sure which kite you should add to your inventory? No need to worry. For over 40 years, Ullman Sails has been building the fastest, most efficient racing spinnakers. Our sail consultants will help you evaluate your current downwind inventory and pinpoint which sails will improve your performance around the buoys or offshore. Combine our personalized support with the best range of racing spinnakers on the market and you can rest assured that you made the right choice. Contact a local Ullman Sails loft for more information. Invest in your performance. http://www.ullmansails.com OUT WITH THE OLD... The year was 2007, and the 20-foot Laser SB3 was the rage in Europe. Huge fleets. Even talk about being an Olympic boat. The class hadn't yet landed in North America, but the momentum was there to make the jump. "We had no idea it would be this big," said designer Tony Castro. "I suppose we came up with something everyone was wanting all along. It's not quite a dinghy and it's not quite keelboat. It's both." The Laser SB3 "officially" debuted at the U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis in October 2007, but it faced competition. Both the Viper 640 and Melges 20 were also seeking to fill the same gap. Nearly five years later, the SB3 lost the battle, never gaining traction. But with over 650 boats now sailing in 20 countries worldwide, the class remained popular in other parts of the world. Tony Castro had given LaserPerformance (LP) the distribution rights to the Laser SB3, through a Licence Agreement from 2001. But it was announced today that this License Agreement has now been terminated. The reasons for its termination are confidential to Tony Castro and LP. Under the new structure Tony Castro retains the licence himself, and independently licenses the manufacturer of the boat, spars and sails. The new company Sportsboat World oversees the building of the boat, global sales distribution and general management. And the boat is now known as the SB20. The term Laser will no longer be used. "This is extremely good news for the SB20 class which is currently experiencing strong growth in several countries," Edward Russo (FRA), President of the SB20 World Council. "I am especially pleased to see the SB20 production being moved back to the UK. The promise of quality new boats, a steady supply of spares as well as technical support means the SB20 will continue to provide cost effective, international one-design competitive sailing for a long time to come." Source: SB20: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13701 Sailing World: http://tinyurl.com/SW-050212 COMMENT: Clearly, the situation at Laser Performance is troubling. Scuttlebutt has had its battles with the company, a chapter we are pleased is now closed. Given the importance of the Laser class to the sport, I do hope LP gets it together soon. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt BLUEBIRD SAILING (May 2, 2012; Day 11) - With the Volvo Ocean Race fleet now enjoying steady tradewinds of around 16 to 23 knots, the pace has picked up considerably. The three leaders, who were the first to hit this fresh breeze after the Doldrums, have been able to extend their lead over Abu Dhabi, now in fifth place, and Groupama 4. However, this average tempo of nearly twenty knots isn't set to last. Indeed, the easterly breeze will die away slowly as they make their approach on the Caribbean between now and Thursday evening, at which point the five VO70s will gradually slow up. Furthermore this drop in speed will affect the front of the fleet first of all. Despite getting dropped off the back of the fleet, Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker finds solace in the conditions. "How often do you get to sail boats as fantastic as these at their fastest angle for 2000 miles downwind dressed in shorts and T shirt? 'Not very' is the answer!" But not all is well for the crew on Abu Dhabi. "It's a great disappointment that we haven't had any rain yet," said Walker. "There are 11 very smelly men onboard Azzam desperately in need of a shower and the shower gel has been on deck in readiness for days." With the teams originally forecasted to arrive in Miami on May 6, the latest arrival time is now three days later. Concerning their supply of food and diesel, "I am confident we will be alright on all fronts but we are in 'power save' mode and the already sparse daily rations have been thinned down a bit more to create some food for Tuesday and Wednesday," said Walker. - Event media Leg 6 - Itajai, Brazil to Miami, USA (4,800 nm) Standings as of Wednesday, 02 May 2012, 22:02:09 UTC 1. PUMA Ocean Racing (USA), Ken Read (USA), 1741.2 nm Distance to Finish 2. CAMPER (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 2.1 nm Distance to Lead 3. Telefonica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 13.9 nm DTL 4. Groupama 4 (FRA), Frank Cammas (FRA), 121.5 nm DTL 5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 133.2 nm DTL 6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), Did not start Tracker/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-2011-12-schedule Video reports: http://www.youtube.com/user/volvooceanracevideos BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain (Oct. 29) and concludes in Galway, Ireland during early July 2012, six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles around the world via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient. Teams accumulate points through nine distance legs and ten In-Port races. - http://www.volvooceanrace.com ICSA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING Thirty-six college teams, representing the seven districts of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), have advanced to compete in the 2012 ICSA Dinghy Semifinals. The semifinals will be hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy on May 12-13 in C420s and CFJs, with the top nine teams from each group going on to compete in the 2012 ICSA/GILL Dinghy National Championship in Austin, Texas on June 6-8. Boats to be used are CFJ's. ICSA Dinghy Semifinals - East MAISA: Georgetown University, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Old Dominion University, Washington College. MCSA: University of Minnesota, University of Michigan, University of Illinois-Chicago. NEISA: Roger Williams University, Dartmouth College, Boston University, Brown University. NWICSA: University of Oregon. PCCSC: Stanford University, California State University Long Beach. SAISA: College of Charleston, Eckered College. SEISA: Texas A&M Galveston, University of Texas. ICSA Dinghy Semifinals - West MAISA: St. Mary's College of Maryland, U.S. Naval Academy, New York Maritime, Cornell University. MCSA: University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University. NEISA: Harvard University, Yale University, Boston College, Tufts University. NWICSA: University of Washington. PCCSC: University of California Santa Barbara, University of California Irvine. SAISA: University of Miami, University of South Florida, University of Florida. SEISA: Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State University. Event websites Semifinals: http://2012semis.collegesailing.org/ Finals: http://2012nationals.collegesailing.org/ DISCOVER: THE GIFT OF GEAR FOR MOTHER'S DAY You're probably not the most imaginative guy in the world, but let's face it; those roses are going to die, and she probably hasn't really worn the earrings you got her last year. So, how about making her the first one to have a new 2012 Atlantis Watch jacket or Watch vest? Clean lines, sweet style and a range of cool colors make this perfect new piece for enjoying life on the water this summer. Check out the new Watch range along with our other new styles for this season at http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com/NewFor2012. Discover life on the water. Discover your Atlantis. TEN TIPS FOR TAKING YOUR DOG ON A BOAT Most dogs love getting out on the water as much as you and I do - and you wouldn't leave you best friend stuck on shore every time you left the dock, would you? So the next time you grab your sailing bag or fishing rods, also grab the leash and the water bowl. Just remember to use these dogs-on-board tips, to keep the trip a fun one for everyone. 1. Bring plenty of fresh water. Dogs can't perspire, and they'll need to lap up lots of H2O in order to stay cool, especially when the sun is blazing. 2. Let him off the leash - if you trust him not to take a flying leap. Usually dogs won't jump from a boat that's moving (except in the case of a poorly trained hunting dog, or an inexperienced puppy), and he'll be curious, and want to move around a lot. Note, however, that when the boat isn't moving plenty of dogs will take an unexpected plunge. 3. Bring a piece of indoor-outdoor carpet. Lay it in the cockpit, and your dog will be able to keep a solid footing. Fiberglass nonskid decks may provide a secure footing to you and I, but they can be quite slippery to a dag's paws. 4. Don't cut bait, and leave it sitting out. Do so, and there's a good chance it'll get gobbled up. Yech - worm breath! 5. Don't leave lures swinging from fishing rod tips. A dangling temptation with hooks is NOT what you want your pup to go chasing after. Read on for tips 6-10: http://tinyurl.com/Boats-com-050212 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: * Schaefer Marine - New Inner Forestay Release Lever * CrewConnect: Sailing Crew / Team Management Web App * T2Ptv Launches New Video Website View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news SAILING SHORTS * (May 2, 2012) - In the Sailing World's final college rankings of the spring season, Georgetown leads both the coed and women's rankings. Charleston, Stanford, Yale, and Boston College round out the coed top five, while Boston College holds a close second in the women's rankings. -- Details: http://tinyurl.com/SW-C-050212 * Falmouth Harbour, Antigua (May 2, 2012) - After several days of competition on the water during Antigua Sailing Week 2012, the focus gave way last night toward an inspiring and entertaining musical ride courtesy of Ky-Mani Marley, son of legendary reggae artist, Bob Marley. Naturally, today was a layday, with racing to resume on Thursday. -- Read on: http://www.sailingweek.com/v3/news.php?id=201 * Weather support is being offered for major events on both side of the U.S. this weekend. At the Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD, Chris Larson will be presenting a free local conditions, current and weather briefing on May 3rd at 6:15pm at the Sailing World tent located at the AYC Junior Annex. Additionally, daily forecasts are available for the Yachting Cup in San Diego. Details: http://na.northsails.com/weather.aspx * The Daily Mirror is reporting that the 246-foot Phocea, recently crashed into the rocks off Sardinia. Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were aboard the yacht. Three people were seriously injured in the crash. The luxury yacht is owned by Lebanese billionaire Mouna Ayoub. It's not known how the crash happened or how serious the damage to the boat is. -- http://www.luxist.com/2005/08/16/phocea-yacht-involved-in-a-crash * The 3rd annual 2012 Etchells Atlantic Series begins with the first two events of the series being held at the Shelter Island Yacht Club located on the eastern end of Long Island, NY. Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13632 * The Royal Thames Yacht Club, in the heart of London's West End, will host the Cumberland Cup on May 11-13. Launched in 2008, the Cumberland Cup, now raced in J80s, has come to be regarded as the most important two-boat team racing event in the World. Competing will be Eastern Yacht Club (Marblehead, MA), New York YC, Seawanhaka Corinthian YC (Long Island), Southern YC (New Orleans), Royal Northern and Clyde YC (Scotland), Royal Perth YC (Australia), Island Royals (a combined team from Royal London YC, Royal Corinthian YC and Royal Yacht Squadron) and the Royal Thames YC. -- Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13682 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this weekend: * May 5 - The 59th Annual Mug Race - Jacksonville, FL, USA * May 9 - Regata al Sol XXVII - Pensacola, FL, USA * May 11 - The Atlantic Cup - Charleston to New York, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Doug Peterson: The Hunter 376 Aegean hit about in the middle of the picture (of North Coronado Island, see link). It is a vertical wall. The bow would have hit before the keel. Hitting this at 7+ knots would destroy the boat instantly. The bits were found quite a bit after. There is about 1 knot of currant here going South. Link: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt/posts/406272912737902 * From Forum (Enhance) The locals call the waters off North Coronado Island "Barf Point." Waves, enhanced by very strong currents bounce off the sheer cliffs (no beach) and make that area very rough. If anyone is going to get seasick, this is the place it happens. I was in the race and passed by the islands that Sat morning and saw spray of waves go 20-30 feet in the air. The swell was up. Motoring directly into the island was probably bad, but getting trapped by the current in the little cove (study the Google map) was probably much worse. Wave after 6' wave must of slammed the boat into the rock wall, until it broke apart. See photo: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13693#13693 * From Patrick LaRoche: Concerning the multihull selection for the 2016 Olympics (in Scuttlebutt 3582), if the Nacra 17 gets chosen, Canada and USA (along with a lot of countries) will have the same problem we had with the Tornado... NO fleet and very expensive. One hopes that ISAF doesn't make a misguided decision. If you're going to pick any cat, at least pick one that exists around the world and that is affordable and proven. With the Viper we have a model and development plan on bringing junior development up into multi hull into already existing fleets. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION For every action, there is a corresponding over-reaction. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Quantum Sails - APS - Atlantis WeatherGear North Sails - J Boats - Team One Newport - North U JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Ullman Sails - Gowrie Group - Southern Spars Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
