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SCUTTLEBUTT #329 - May 24, 1999AMERICA'S CUPRob Sutherland, the chief executive of the America's Cup Village in Auckland, has resigned without explanation nine months before the America's Cup. There have been tensions between Sutherland and Sir Peter Blake's Team New Zealand, who are managing the America's Cup 2000 and defending the trophy, because the Village has been competing against Team New Zealand for sponsorship money. The America's Cup Village development on Auckland's waterfront Viaduct Basin has cost large sums from the public purse but almost all public viewing has been denied by the development of high-priced apartments and the selling of the prime spectator area to American Express. - Electronic Telegraph, UK For the full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ ADECCO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - Report by Bob Fisher SCHEVENINGEN, HOLLAND-The final race of the North Sea Regatta, the first event in the Adecco World Championship, was abandoned when the fourth turning mark was missing. It was a great disappointment for Gunnar Krantz (SWE) and the crew of Lex Sea which had a substantial lead when the fleet reached the area where the buoy should have been. Lex Sea's navigator, Murray Ross, was the first to inform the Race Committee, by VHF radio, that the buoy was not in position, and in fact there was not one to be seen, and asked for advice. The Race Committee initially suggested that the Maxi One Designs should round the GPS position where the buoy should be, but it was pointed out that this was not equable as the leaders had already passed the position and would therefore lose their hard earned places. The Race Committee then informed the fleet that the race had been abandoned. With the race abandoned, the result of the regatta was settled on the outcome of the previous races. Ludde Ingvall's Skandia was the winner of the first event in the Adecco World Championship with Le Defi Bouygues Telecom - Transiciel second and RF Yachting third. Overall points with one discard: 1. EUR Skandia Ludde Ingvall 54.5, 2. FRA Le Defi Bouygues Telecom - Transiciel 42.5, 3. NZL RF Yachting Ross Field 40.5, 4. SWE Lex Sea Gunnar Krantz 34, 5. RSA Rainbow Magic Geoff Meek 29, 6. SUI Alinghimax Ernesto Bertarelli 28, 7. BEL Belgian Synphony Hans Bouscholte 15.5, 8. ITA Seac Banche Guido Maisto 15. 49ER GRAND PRIX The wind never really filled in and though the race committee moved several times in a desperate attempt to start a race, at 4PM they called it a day. There was some movement in the scores, however, due to issues of redress, which moved the Italian Bruni to split the dominance of the two Australians at the top of the scoreboard. Renault, sailed by Adam Beashel and Teague Czislowski have dominated this event in that they were able to read the fickle conditions in a brilliant display of technical sailing. The big news was the absence of the leg one winners, the McKee brothers from the USA. They missed the cut for the Gold Fleet by one place. RESULTS, Gold Fleet 1. Adam BEASHEL/TeaqueCZISLOWSKI, Australia (13) 2. Francesco BRUNI/Gabriele BRUNI, Italy (18) 3. Chris NICHOLSON/ Daniel PHILIPS BANDOL Australia (23) 4. Alister RICHARDSON/ Peter GREENHALGH, England (25) 5. Tim ROBINSON/Zeb ELLIOTT, England (38) Silver Fleet: 1. Pawel KACPROWSKI/Pawel KUZMICKI, Poland (15) 2. Andy MACK/Adam LOWRY, USA (21) 3. Jonathan McKEE/Charlie McKEE, USA (21) 4. Alex LANHAM-LOVE/William VOERMAN, South African (28) 5. Petri KARTO/Pellervo MATILAINEN, Finland Finland (29) Overall, Beashel leads Nicholson, with McKee holding third spot off the rising British stars in Richardson. Event site: http://www.eventsbandol.com COFFS HARBOUR TO FIJI YACHT RACE After battling wicked winds for most of the 1800-mile course the crew of Hugh Treharne's 51-footer, Bright Morning Star, were watching the breeze begin to decrease in strength as the yacht closed on the finish in Suva tonight. Bright Morning Star was still destined for the double - line and handicap honours. The latest position report for the day had them 50 nautical miles from the line. Original projections that it Bright Morning Star would reach the finish around 7pm Australian Eastern Standard Time became an open-ended guess. It is now possible that Treharne and his weather-beaten crew will not arrive at Royal Suva Yacht Club until the morning. Like all other yachts in the fleet Bright Morning Star has had to battle headwinds of up to 60 knots in the region to the south of New Caledonia. The bad weather was generated by an intense low-pressure system that developed mid week in the northern part of the Coral Sea. Treharne, backed by brother Ian and a crew of sailing enthusiasts who paid for the "pleasure of the ride", sailed into the lead when ocean racing veteran Alby Burgin struck trouble three days ago. Bright Morning Star had been closing the gap before that. Tonight Alstar has 192nm to go to reach Suva Harbour. -- Rob Mundle Event website: http://www.sailing-online.com.au/fiji/ VIVA LA DIFFERENCE Gloves are gloves - right? That's what the curmudgeon thought until he tried a pair of Gill Amara Regatta gloves. Oh my, what a difference. While the spandex on the back and on the thumb made the gloves cool and fit wonderfully, it's the PADDED Amara double reinforcing on the palm and the fingers that make these gloves stand out from the competition. The curmudgeon's hands have never been so pampered. Try them - you'll feel the difference, instantly: http://www.douglasgill.com BOAT OF THE YEAR The Sydney AC 40, soon to make its debut as the "middle yacht" in the 1999 Admiral's Cup in England, last night was named Sailing Boat of the Year at the Boating Industry Association of Australia's Boat of the Year Awards at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show on the Gold Coast. Designed by the team of Iain murray, Ian burns and Andrew Dovell, the Sydney AC 40 has had considerable success in Australia and overseas since the first one was launched 12 months ago. Sledgehammer, owned by Ron Jones from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, is on its way to England as part of the Australian team for the Admiral's Cup in July, while Cruising Yacht Club of Australia member David Cowe has achieved some outstanding results with Loco, winning the Telstra Cup and Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race last December and the Sydney - Mooloolaba race just before Easter. Yacht builders Bashford International, based at Nowra on the NSW South Coast, and the Royal Ocean Racing Club have undertaken to supply each of the eight teams at the Admiral's Cup with a Sydney AC 40 at a nominal fee of one pound sterling, although many teams have already bought their own boats. The Sydney 40 is a powerful grand prix racing yacht, designed for one-design competition, such as the Admiral's Cup, or capable of being optimised for IMS offshore racing. - Peter Campbell LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected to be printed here are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks. -- From Johnny Lovell (In response to Rick Merriman's editorial in 'Butt #327) --It is my understanding that fundraising is supposed to be one of the functions of U. S. Sailing. However, how well defined the function is I don't know, and obviously the organization has failed to attract and keep major U. S. companies as sponsors of our Olympic hopefuls. I have served as an alternate in Barcelona, and on the U.S. Team in Savannah as the skipper in the Tornado Class. My experience as an Olympian has been greatly positive, but my crew and I have had to do most of our own fundraising and use our own personal funds for our Sydney 2000 campaign. We were told that U.S. Sailing had no money for us to go to the 1999 and 2000 Tornado Worlds. Both regattas are extremely important, the 1999 Worlds are the qualifying event for the Olympics and the 2000 Worlds are just eight months from the Olympic Games in Sydney on the Olympic course. We are unfunded for the Sydney Worlds unless we raise the money on our own (approximately $14,000.00) U. S. Sailing should have the contacts and the credibility to do major corporate fundraising, and the athletes should be moved up in priority. Sometimes I feel like we are low on the food chain when the money is spent. Perhaps you have hit upon a great idea, with the fundraising function being split off as a separate marketing arm of U.S. Sailing. There are probably people out there who would love to help with this. -- From Mark Turner -- I think Rick Merriman missed the commercial point re United Airlines sponsorship. Non-Americans do use airplanes too! With the continual globalization of businesses, it's likely there will be more and more of this - thankfully. -- From Andy Green, UK -- Ohhhh, United Airlines hit a nerve with the Americas eh? Bob Fisher as always makes the important points, Also, I think that United is one of thousands of US companies, most of whom are far more in-tune with sponsorship, its potentials and the ability for minor sports to convert customers than most in the UK. Perhaps US sailing should be trying to entice them rather than phoning United Airlines and asking them why they are supporting Brits. There are so many potential sponsors out there and the US has more than most. The Ultra 30 series is a good example of shoehorning sailing onto the television. It gets three 1/2 hour prime slots on BBC Grandstand at the weekend, paid for by the sponsors who like crash and burn sailing and the primetime exposure. Once they are in, they have been persuaded that supporting the Olympics would also be worthwhile. Does the American TV need a few more of these type of programs to get sponsors IN? Conversion to supporting Olympic sailing then becomes much easier. -- From Matt Ciesicki -- In an age of flagless multi-national corporations, what would you expect United to do? They are competing with British Airways and Virgin to book passengers to the US, and this is simply a marketing opportunity for them (just as Continental flew hundreds of Australian sailors to the US when Continental opened their service Down Under). I think it's fair to note that United is the protected airline sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee and US SAILING. I don't think that precludes them from helping others out. Instead of bitching, we should applaud United's worldwide support of sailors and sailing and show them and other air carriers - they get some value in return. (How am I doing Tom Ehman?). -- From Brent R. Boyd -- This is for Brad Ruetenik is 'Butt #325 regarding skiff sailing. Agreed skiffs are the way to get kids interested in sailing or to keep them sailing. Eight 29'er have been purchased on the West Coast and that should double or triple by the end of the summer. I bought USA 108 and can't keep my kids off the boat. This is the first boat they actually want to practice in. We have been through Sabots, FJ's, and 420's. The 29'er is the wave of the future. If you see USA 108 on San Diego Bay, catch us if you can and go for a ride. There should be four 29'ers in San Diego by this summer. Three regattas are planned to be in Santa Barbara this summer. -- From Steve Kuritz -- Stability from signage. I'm afraid that SDYC has just moved the equipment and dollar war to a new level. Soon everyone will be adding signage. Sure, first it will be small and unobtrusive but later as the true benefits are shown the signage will become large and gaudy. Teams will start acquiring larger crew because of the added room for signage. Skippers will have their bowmen in XXL uniforms in search of that little bit of extra space (Actually, that's already happening). I think that the rules makers need to get on top of this in a hurry. We might have seen the last of Corinthian sailing as this spending war reaches toward its ultimate end. Crews will be too embarrassed to show up in their uniforms with only a boat name or maybe a sail number. Fleets will be decimated. I know that you are just reporting the facts and that "others" are responsible for opening Pandora's box. We need rational signage limitations. Maybe just the left and right breast, and maybe a shoulder, or two, and the cuff, then, the shorts. Oh, God it's hopeless. AUCKLAND UPDATE (Reprinted with permission from DEFENCE 2000, which is available for US $48 per year from John@roake.gen.nz) * CM Research's new Auckland survey shows that 59 per cent or 649,000 people in greater Auckland will visit the America's Cup regatta. This is almost double the total of a 1997 survey. Further, eleven per cent or 265,000 people from other New Zealand centres will visit Auckland during the Cup. * Alan Bond, long associated with Australia's previous America's Cup challenges, will be well remembered in Auckland in 2000. Southern Cross III, the 165 ft super yacht, built in 1986 in Japan for Bond (with other people's money) will be visiting Auckland for the Cup. But it is not the biggest to book a berth in Viaduct Harbour. This honour will go to the 200 ft long American super yacht Itasca. JUST LAUNCHED Last Wednesday morning Laura MacDonald, wife of Scott MacDonald, owner of the Doyle Sailmakers Los Angeles franchise and Director of Sales for Boatscape.com, gave birth to a healthy 9 pound baby girl. The 19 inch baby is named Kylie Skye MacDonald, and she looks forward to meeting everyone on her first sailing outing over the 4th of July weekend in Catalina. CAN WE TALK? It always helps when you can talk about your problems with someone who really understands. And when those problems involve sailing hardware and rigging, no one will be more understanding and helpful than the experienced staff at Sailing Supply -- the only call you ever need to make for quality solutions and equipment at competitive prices. Sailing Supply has all the good stuff, and when you love what you do, you do it better than anyone else. (800) 532-3831. http://www.sailingsupply.com/ COMEBACK Noel Robbins, former America's Cup, Admiral's Cup and winning Two Ton Cup helmsman back in the 1970s and early 1980s, is making a welcome return to international competition. He will represent Australia at the World Disabled Sailing Championship in Cadiz, Spain, next September, as skipper of a Parlympic Sonar class yacht. Back in 1977, when Alan Bond was making his second bid to win the America's Cup, he chose the young Perth yachtsman as his helmsman for the new Ben Lexcen designed 12-metre class yacht, Australia. Noel had been a champion sailor in dinghies, but his career in high-performance open boats was cut short by a serious car accident which left him with severe injuries. However, he fought back courageously and despite being handicapped in his movements, turned to keelboat racing, with success in YW Diamonds and then in the Soling class, at that time very strong in WA. Noel sailed Australia well at Newport, Rhode Island, becoming the challenger after beating the French and the Swedes, but Australia proved no match for the New York Yacht Club's defender, Courageous, skippered by the flamboyant Ted Turner. Subsequently, Noel sailed in the Admiral's Cup and won the Two Ton Cup with Peter Briggs' Hitchhiker, and then played a major role in planning the Perth's hosting of the America's Cup Defence in 1987. The Australian Yachting Federation is sending two crews to sail in the Paralympic Sonar class keelboat at the World Disabled Sailing Championships, with Noel as skipper of one and Hobart sailor David Ross helming the other. -- Peter Campbell WORRELL 1000 -- by Thatcher Drew The wind held for the final race and so did Randy Smyth and Keith Notary. After 90+ hours of sailing, Chick's Beach held off Rudee's Restaurant (Brett Dryland & Rod Waterhouse). by only 23 minutes. Randy limped off the beach with his wife and baby. The farther he got from the strand, the more he let it show. The Smyths cut short the interviews and missed the champagne in favor of a visit to the emergency room to tend to a badly infected knee. We now know that the doctor in Kill Devil Hills told Randy not to sail. The knee, which received a nasty rope burn in Ft. Lauderdale, had become worse over the course of the race until it ballooned out with infection on Thursday night. Smyth and Dryland sailed a very long match race. They got to know each other better than any competitor should, watching one another for a thousand miles, neither letting the other get too far out front, neither letting the other find the good air. When one tacked the other did too - except sometimes they didn't and that's when it got interesting, trying to guess what was in the other's mind, deciding whether to cover or let them go. Most often they covered because that was the name of the game. Later, in an elevator lobby Brett identified the moment it "got away". "It was at Hatteras Inlet. We were right behind Randy. We were purposely staying with him so he wouldn't get away from us. The wind was light and he just sailed off." Did he get a puff? Was Brett left in a hole? "No, we were right behind him. I still don't know what he did. I suppose some day we'll talk it over." Final Standings: 1. Chick's Beach (Randy Smyth / Keith Notary), 2. Rudee Restaurant, (Brett A. Dryland / Rod J. Waterhouse), 3. Pomodoro (Hans H. Meijer /Brian J. Lambert), 4. Tybee Island, 5. Worrell Bros. Restaurant, 6. Big Brothers / Big Sisters, 7. Outer Banks, 8. Lions International, 9. Turtle, 10. Extreme (retired), 11. Taipan (retired), 12. Michigan (retired), 13. Entegra (retired) Event website: http://www.worrell1000.com AROUND ALONE Finally released from the clutches of a high-pressure system that had slowed his progress to a slow drift, Brad Van Liew blazed across the finish lineSunday, making better than 12 knots this morning to wrap up Leg 4 of the Around Alone race after a passage of 42d, 23h, 30m, 51s. Van Liew, the only American to complete the fifth running of "America's only race around the planet," did so at 10:30 a.m. local time (1430 GMT) to record an elapsed time of 150d, 20h, 22m, 20s. Those numbers -- despite the addition of over seven days spent returning to Punta del Este under jury rig after an early dismasting, then fitting a new rig -- were strong enough to retain third place in Class II behind overall winner J.P. Mouligne and Mike Garside. Van Liew said he experienced a full range of emotions as he crossed the finish line outside Charleston Harbor. "It felt really good, really sad, and really weird all at once," he said. " "From a personal aspect, I now know that if I say I'm gonna do something, I really can make it happen," he said. "And that's a powerful thing..." -- Herb McCormick For the full story: http://www.aroundalone.com THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION To make a real sponge cake, you need to borrow all the ingredients. |
