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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 967 - December 18, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
GUEST EDITORIAL - Peter Huston Recently someone suggested that Larry hadn't earned the "right" to helm a boat in the America's Cup. Huh? Isn't the America's Cup really just the ultimate owner-driver regatta? Anyone who can fly the types of planes Larry does is certainly qualified to drive a sailboat that isn't capable of going faster than 20 knots. Besides, why would anyone think that Larry is going to do anything on the world stage that will embarrass himself, his company, the OracleRacing sponsors, or his teammates? He has won four Maxi Worlds. For those who embrace the fuzzy notion of "growing the sport through TV exposure", what better way could there be to gain a larger audience than to have one of the most recognized people in the world drive his own boat in the highest profile regatta? We should hope that the likes of Ernesto Bertarelli, Craig McCaw and Paul Allen also take their turn at the helm of the boats they have helped to fund. But the discussion about who drives the boat misses the larger point regarding participation in the America's Cup by guys like Larry Ellison. Consider for a moment that Oracle employs roughly 40,000 people - or about the same number of US SAILING members. I spoke with Oracle employees during the recent Oracle OpenWorld convention - none of who had ever been exposed to the sport prior to the formation of OracleRacing. If the rest of Oracle' s employees are only 10% as enthusiastic about OracleRacing as the Oracle employees to whom I spoke, then the sport has 40,000 new passionate evangelists. Perhaps we will see the same level of support from the employees of Serono, Prada, Nextel and all the rest of the companies whose CEO's have endorsed the sport through the expenditure of their money - and more importantly their time. For a sport that seems to be going through a period of serious dysfunction, lets work to help extend the benefit of personal participation - and not just check writing - that Larry Ellison brings to the game.
ELLEN On 3 January, press day at London Boat Show, Ellen's sailing plans for the next five years will be announced. Although at present this is top secret, Turner says we will be in for a surprise. Having spent an action-packed season sailing with Alain Gautier all the indicators have suggested that Ellen might take to trimaran sailing full time, particularly with the class' number one event - the Route du Rhum - taking place next November. But Turner says this is not likely to be the case. - James Boyd, madforsailing website Full story: www.madforsailing.com
PRACTICAL
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Joe Erwin (edited to our 250-word limit): Scuttlebutt readers seem a bit distressed (again) about publicity for sailing in the U.S. versus Europe. Yes, it's on TV over here (Frankfurt, Germany) a lot and crowds flock to the shores whenever ocean racer comes or goes --- but what else have they got to do. It's crowded over here and how many times can you go see the same old churches and castles. It's also expensive to do things Americans take for granted. For example, you have to get a license to play golf! Herewith, a little more perspective:
You must be a redneck sailor if . . . you judge how good a sailor someone is by how well they maneuver a boat trailer in the parking lot. * From Aaron Housten: With all due respect to Mr. Henderson, his 'Commandments' would be no more effective on the race course than the ones found in the Bible would be toward the traffic laws of most municipalities. As has been pointed out by several previous 'buttheads the problems with the current rules are not the rules themselves but rather the numerous .1, .2, a), b), provisions under them. Add to that the loose interpretation of the numerous transitionary moments during a typical race and you have the confusion we now suffer. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the race course with someone who only knows the 'commandments' while I am using the whole book. However, the idea of using the 'Sailing Commandments' is not entirely without merit. If it really is true that the reason that more people don't race is because of rules confusion it might be worthwhile to have 'entry level' races where the commandments are the only rules used. The inexperience of the competitors in that type of racing would very likely mean they would turn away from a confrontation rather than 'push' the limits. I really do wonder how true it is that potential racers stay away because of the rules. * From David James: I agree with the often expressed sentiment that the old rules were less ambiguous than the new ones due to generations of refinement in the appeals and amendment processes. However, amidst the calls for simplification many have also taken it for granted that the rules are intended solely as a sort of "defense" to prevent collisions and not as "offense" to be utilized as racing tactics. I would strenuously disagree with this perspective. Indeed, I would submit that utilising the rules as a sword as well as a shield is the very essence of tactics. The elegant chess match of positioning for a leeward mark rounding and the mastery of the ritual dance at a pin end start as one attempts to utilise the rules to one's own advantage and the disadvantage of one's competitors are just as rewarding aspects of our sport as the subtleties of spinnaker trim and roll tacks. * From: Campbell Field: The introduction of a celebrity Class for an event like the VOR would generate huge media interest, as the potential for fatalities is high. Since the former Whitbread 'went professional' post '85/'86, there have not been any fatalities, previously the record was not so clean. Liken this to the movie star who may or may not have interest in Formula One motor racing getting behind the wheel of an F1 car for the Monaco GP - raise the profile of the event with a 'human story'? The potential for killing themselves and other competitors makes this insane. A 'dead' human story. There are safe events that draw massive media interest. BT Global challenge - amateur crews, bullet-proof yachts, a platform for average people not wanting to be professional to sail around the world. Here corporate sponsorship is attracted by the personal interest story, not because of highly tuned 'on the edge' racing machines of the professional arena. For aspiring Amateurs, the opportunity to measure themselves against the 'pros' exists daily, for every person, in every harbour, globally. Professionals do not just materialise, they started somewhere - down at their local Yacht Club, sailing whenever and with whomever they can, learning from every minute on the water and never losing the desire to succeed. Every yachtsman you see on the VOR, Vendee, Tour de France and other 'big events' has done the time, still sails at a local level for the love of racing, and enjoys every minute. * From G. Scott: I started sailing when I was about 16 on my fathers 33ft boat. And soon started racing one design on a Rhodes 19, Went to the nationals my first year. Soon I sold the Rhodes and started racing my father's 33 footer in PHFR, graduated to a 36ft and thought we were in the big time now! Then the expenses started to mount. New sails, rigging changes and hours working on the bottom. By the time we saved enough money to buy our first new set of mylars, everyone showed up at the startline with kavlar. We were always the next generation behind. Sails, gear, lines, entry fees, etc., pushed us to sell the boat. It used to be about fun and excitement on the racecourse, camaraderie with the other racers Everybody helping everyone out. And there also used to be 10 to 20 boats on the startline, now we are lucky to get 7 or 8 to show up per section. It just became unaffordable for the family racer. Now the ones with the most money win! The sport should be trying your best to win, excepting your loses and learning from your mistakes. Having fun, there is no room for egos on my boat! The best place to get crew? Junior sailors at your local club. They have no egos and are willing to learn - and most of all have fun * From David Motherwell: In response to the postings from Chris Spalding about Sailing with Juniors, I have to say that I think the best solution is also the simplest. Junior programs are doing a decent job of introducing the sport but clearly the problem is that the retention rate is not very good as an individual moves beyond a club's Junior Program. I know that what worked for me was having the opportunity to get out on a keel boat as a junior. My endeavors on the rugby pitch enhanced the wrong physiology for me to be competitive in a dinghy. It was a distance race on a Cal 29 that got me hooked at 13 and opened the door to the clubs keel boat activities. I can't remember if we won but it was a great day for me. Rod Davis' recent comments about going back to basics also play into this. It's about having fun, but part of the fun is also sharing it with others. Every boat that is out racing should try to have a junior (or novice) on board, but not because of a rating credit (handicaps are screwy enough already). Its much more important than that, most of us were that junior at one point. The missing link is that every club needs a person to facilitate a list of Juniors wanting rides and match that to a list of Boats willing to take a Junior racing. Make it easy to take a junior sailing. * From Craig Schmidt: Something doesn't sit right in the "logic" of Dave Irish's comment (Butt 966) about the amateurs bearing the cost of protection from the pros. This reminds me of the gangster era tactic of collecting protection money from small shopkeepers so the rich and powerful "Mob" would allow them to stay in business.
SIR PETER BLAKE New Zealanders have shown a love for a parade, especially when Sir Peter Blake has been at the head of it. Now the City of Sails will host one more gathering for Sir Peter; a sad one to farewell the murdered sailor whose body now lies in an English cemetery. It is no easy task on the cusp of Christmas to organize what is certain to be a major tribute, and already there are concerns that some groups won't get what they want. Grant Richardson, a friend of Sir Peter, wants a procession of keelers around the Waitemata Harbour, but he fears it won't come off. He says he put his idea to the Internal Affairs Department and the Auckland City Council, but hasn't heard back from them. Auckland Mayor John Banks has a lot on his hands - the venue for the memorial, for starters. Today he confirmed the service would be at the Auckland Domain, which could cater for 230,000 people. - Waikato Times as reported on the Stuff NZ website Full story: www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1043865a1905,FF.html
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THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM |
