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SCUTTLEBUTT 3634 - Tuesday, July 17, 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: North Sails, Summit Yachts, and SailFast. A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT (July 16, 2012) - Entering the second week of the 2308nm Vic-Maui International Yacht Race, Tom Huseby's J/145 Double Take is now 380nm from the finish, building an 80nm lead on the fleet while on top of the handicap heap as well. Here Tom's son Max provides onboard insight: "The trip thus far has been a life-changing event for me in the best ways possible. It took me a long time (years) to come around to even thinking of the idea of offshore racing for roughly two weeks, but I don't regret my decision in the slightest. All of it redefines incredible: The food (thank you Mother, aka Janice), the wind, the waves, the seeming-less never-ending expanse of ocean, and of course the company. These guys are all awesome. Smelly, but awesome. I've developed new levels of relation with friends and family alike that I'm sure will last a life time. That, in itself, is worth the trip. "However, it wasn't until last night's shift (when we were happily mobbing at a steady 19NM in the pitch black with heavy rain accompanied by wind reaching up to 30 knots, in shorts no less.. I like to call it "Sqaulin") that I thought to myself for the first time, 'Wow, a lot of people must think we're totally F***-in crazy.' It made me grin. Waking up every four to six hours has become practically passe, sleeping in the same clothes that you wear on your shift is expected (as well as tossing articles overboard if they get too stench-ey), and the obnoxiously loud spinnaker winch is pretty much white noise as this point. "The only things that constantly keep me going like a freight train on auto-pilot is the knowledge (thanks to Brad's extremely helpful computer and navigating... or navi-guessing depending on the situation) that we're almost there, and Mila Kunis's company when I pass out (I put a picture of her above my bunk... thank you Maxim magazine). And we're ahead. My fingers are crossed for an epic finish that yields some epic results. Considering how hard everyone works and how little they all complain, we deserve it." Race website: http://www.vicmaui.org NO EXCUSE TO LOSE (July 16, 2012) - National Sailing Hall of Famer and three-time winner of US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Dennis Conner is the last man standing in US Sailing's Greatest American Sailor Tournament. Six weeks ago, US Sailing launched an online tournament featuring 64 American sailing living legends in a bracket style format, similar to the NCAA's March Madness. Sailors went head-to-head each week and fans were encouraged to submit their votes for these intriguing match-ups. Conner proved to be the people's choice after edging fellow Hall of Famer Buddy Melges in last week's Championship Round. "Winning the tournament really meant a lot to me in view of all the great sailors included, many who were my heroes," Conner explained. "This is my legacy and I am very appreciative of all those who voted for me, especially with Buddy involved, who I have great respect and affection for." In 1987, Conner and his San Diego based crew on Stars & Stripes won back the America's Cup in dominating fashion as a challenger over Australia's defender Kookaburra III. Just over 25 years later, this career defining win remains one of the most iconic achievements in American sailing history. -- Read on: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2012/Conner_Wins_Greatest_Sailor.htm SUMMER SAVINGS FROM NORTH SAILS NOW is the time to SAVE on North sails...! Check with your local sail loft to ask how you can take advantage of our summer savings program. North offers an extensive line of products designed to meet the needs and budgets of all sailors. Whether you race in your local Yacht Club's weekday regattas or cruise with your family, North Sails has got you covered. North Sails also offers one year of Free Sail Care & Repair on all new North sails (some restrictions apply). When performance counts, the choice is clear: http://na.northsails.com NEW PUBLISHED APPEAL #108 The US Sailing Appeals Committee recently published Appeal #108 which discusses the relationship between rules 11 (windward/leeward) and 16 (changing course) when a leeward boat is luffing a windward boat. The decision reminds that a leeward boat may need to curtail its luff towards the windward boat in order to continue to give the windward boat room to keep clear, provided the windward boat is responding promptly to the luff. Here were the relevant rules: Rule 11, On the Same Tack, Overlapped Rule 15, Acquiring Right of Way Rule 16.1, Changing Course Facts and Decision of the Protest Committee... In 6-8 knots of wind, two Naval Academy 44s (44-foot sloops, 29,000 lbs. displacement, fin keel, spade rudder) were approaching the starting line on starboard tack. At about one minute before the start (position 1), W (NA 32) was clear ahead and her speed was about 2.5 knots (10.5 seconds per boat length). Shortly before position 2, L (NA 25), whose speed was about 3 knots (8.5 seconds per boat length) established an overlap from clear astern. Between positions 2 and 4, L was changing her course, first by luffing and then by bearing away, and W was changing her course to keep clear. No contact occurred. L protested W for breaking rule 11. Neither boat was penalized by the protest committee. L appealed. Read on for the decision of the Appeals Committee: http://raceadmin.ussailing.org/Assets/Race+Admin/Appeals/Appeal+108.pdf ISAF YOUTH SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Dublin Bay, Ireland (July 16, 2012) - Mother Nature was not content merely to throw more testing westerly offshore winds at the 343 future Olympians racing at the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships. For day three's two races, the under 19-year-old sailors from 61 nations faced additional challenges of torrential rain and reduced visibility. The largest class at the Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships is the Laser Radial Boys with 58 competitors. At the front here America's Mitchell Kiss is two points clear of Russia's Maxim Nikolaev. Kiss, who heralds from Michigan on the Great Lakes, scored a 8-5 today. "I felt today went good. We are just trying to bang out top 10s and get to the end of the regatta - it is a long way but I'll try my best. The conditions were really challenging at the beginning, lots of puffs, lots of shifts, etc," said Kiss. Kiss says he is pleased he is leading and having finished third at the Laser Youth Worlds in Australia knows he has the potential to win. "I have to work hard and try and maintain it and not get distracted. The conditions are pretty challenging here. The shifts and the puffs coming from every side is really tough." With seven races now sailed and a layday tomorrow (Tuesday), the Youth Worlds have reached their halfway stage with still three days of competition left on Dublin Bay. -- Full story: http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/news/38943.php Top Positions - North America Boy's Laser Radial - 1. Mitchell Kiss (USA) Girl's Laser Radial - 20. Violet Stafford (CAN) Boy's 420 - 10. Ian Barrows/ Ian Coyle (ISV) Girl's 420 - 12. Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick/ Abigail Rohman (USA) Boy's RS:X - 11. Ignacio Berenguer (MEX) Girl's RS:X - 19. Cristina Ortiz (MEX) Open SL16 - 10. Jeremy Herrin/ Sam Armington (USA) Open 29er - 4. Quinn Wilson/ Dane Wilson (USA) Complete results: http://www.isafyouthworlds.com/editions/2012/results.php SUMMIT YACHTS TOP THE CHARTS IN INTERNATIONAL RACING Andy Kearnan's Summit 35 "L Altra Donna" took a First in IRC Class in The Australia IRC Championship recently, as Mike Bartholomew's "Tokoloshe" won first place in the IRC Spring Series in GB. And in Asia, The Koh Samui Regatta became a battleground for one of the strongest IRC fleets in the world, where Bill Bremner's "Foxy Lady 6" took top honors with 4 first place finishes on the final day of racing! These beautiful, fast and well built yachts top the charts wherever they go. Check out our complete line at http://www.summit-yachts.com NEW TECHNOLOGY A new sensor system from the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute can help to detect weak points on time and warn yachtsmen when breaking point has been reached. Prof. Wolfgang Schade and his team in the Project Group for Fiber Optical Sensor Systems in the German town of Goslar have developed "nerves of glass" which can measure the forces that act on hulls, masts, and sails. Schade and his team's next objective is to adapt the measurement technology so it is fit for use in competitive racing. "We have now fitted sail battens with fiber optic sensors, which will help competitors in future to find the optimal trim..." explains Schade. For the first time, the fiber optic sensors and the connected measuring equipment - which is no bigger than a cigarette packet and contains an LED light source, spectrometer, and electronics - are supplying reproducible values. This data tells the crew in which areas there is too much or too little pressure, or how stresses shift to different areas, for example when the sheets are pulled in tighter. The results provided by the sensor technology will be accessible everywhere on board at all times - Schade's team has already developed an app that allows crew members to access real time data from their smart phones. The new measuring system will be launched shortly under the name NextSailSystem. Source: http://www.sciencecodex.com/sailing_with_nerves_of_glass-94873 SAILING SHORTS * (July 16, 2012) - The staggered start schedule for the 2070 nautical mile Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii began today for the slowest of the crewed teams and all the doublehanded entries. In all, 16 of the 46 boats began the crossing in conditions reported to be cold and overcast with winds in the high teens. Race starts continue through Thursday. -- Full report: http://www.sailblast.blogspot.com/2012/07/and-theyre-off-to-hawaii.html * Corona del Mar, CA (July 16, 2012) - Australian Jordan Reece, who finished second at the World Match Race Tour event last week in Chicago, will arrive on Tuesday to start another five days of racing in the 46th Annual International Junior Match Race Championship. Better known as the Governor's Cup, the event has grown to become the pre-eminent championship for competitors under 21 years. Reece, who failed to win in 2010 and 2011, will have his final chance this year before he ages out. However, standing in his way is the defending champions from San Diego Yacht Club led by Nevin Snow. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14155 * Headquartered in Arundel, Maine, The Landing School has announced the development of a full scholarship specifically for students from Bermuda. This scholarship is being awarded to students from Bermuda who have the credentials to attend The Landing School and the career goals that match one of four Landing School full-time programs: Marine Systems, Yacht Design, Composite Boat Building or Wooden Boat Building (Cruising or Small Boats). The scholarship provides tuition for one full year as well as all living expenses. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/LS-070212 REMEMBER THE FIRST SAILFAST SHIRT? We're bringing back a classic, the original SailFast performance shirt. And for one day only Scuttlebutt readers can get one for just $25. Go to http://www.isailfast.com and order one now. While supplies last. 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 Bruce Parsons, Newfoundland: I was amazed to see this product referred to as new (Psi Bands in Scuttlebutt 3633). I have been using these for over twenty five years. The pressure point on the wrist is that arrived at millennia ago in acupuncture. Three finger widths down from the fold in the skin where the hand meets the arm, in the centre of the wrist. If you don't have them, it is a little convoluted to do this to yourself on both wrists at the same time, but it does work. We have several pair on board at all times. By the way I have found that seasickness is the only thing I have become less susceptible as I grow older, and I am told it is because the inner ear degrades, like many things, with age, and so the dissonance between ear and eye, the cause of seasickness, is reduced. * From Bob Johnstone: Thinking about beginner boats and sailing programs, I wonder how many of todays top sailors got their start off the beach in a Sunfish. Hard to imagine more fun for a young sailor than planing in moderate breezes then flopping into the water to cool off on hot days after capsizing a boat that's easy to right. AND, it's a boat that offers the challenge of competing against adults. * From John Lambert, Cumberland, ME: In Scuttlebutt 3633, Nicholas Hayes said, when writing about the Optimist, "Folks either hate them or they're resigned to them." I write as an enthusiastic proponent of the Optimist. Starting in 1999, the first of my three daughters began sailing and then racing Optimists with the last ending her Optimist career in 2010. They, my spouse and I had a wonderful time with memorable travel and lifelong friends. The skills acquired in the Optimist were immediately transferable to high school, team racing, and the C420. The kids learned to love to sail and I am confident that they will be lifelong sailors. The Optimist is also an important tool in growing sailing. Whether the purchaser is a club, community sailing program, or parent, the Optimists are reasonably affordable and allow entry to a sport that can seem intimidating to the new. Used boats are easy to find and resale is painless. The Optimist works from learning to sail through the most competitive youth sailing. While some mourn the ubiquity of the Optimist, sometimes at the expense of the local, historic boat, to turn this great sport - racing sailboats- from a marginal activity to a mainstream sport, we need a strong one design, affordable boat available worldwide, like the Optimist (just like the uniformity of a soccer ball). We have kept our first Optimist to teach our unborn grandchildren; knowing that the boat will still be competitive for almost any level in which they might want to race. Now, if we could just find something like the Optimist for the post-college crowd. COMMENT: John's closing sentence deserves a follow up, but first I wanted to note that Nick's article was directed at the attributes of sailing programs and not the boats being used. As for boats for the post-college crowd, this never used to be a question. If every teenager looked today at what one-design fleets are active in their area, and then occasionally joined in, they may have the answer to the question even before college begins. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt * From Dan Cooney: Regarding the note from Justin Assad in Scuttlebutt 3633, here's the specific gear we are using at Beverly Yacht Club. Our racing kids are not having any issues with unintended release and the system seems to be working well. RWO Marine Products, http://tinyurl.com/RWO-071612 Spreader Bar, with Quick Release Hook, #R4020 Replacement Hooks, #R4023 They are located in England. The US Distributor is Oceanair Marine in VT. * From Guy Buchanan: Regarding his letter in Scuttlebutt 3633, what Mr. Assad is missing is not trapeze hooks, but personal responsibility; not his own, but as a general concept. Perhaps thanks to the discussions that went on here after the SSA death he now feels that quick release hooks are "essential at the learn-to-trapeze level". Really? Why? I learned to use a basic hook harness at 15 and taught many down to age eight to use one. I never lost a student. Indeed, in many, many years of racing trapeze dinghies I never heard of a death, though many had stories of getting caught, and the potential for drowning made for many a scary "campfire story." We even used "automatic" trapeze systems, which guaranteed you were attached to the boat when it went over, yet I still cannot remember a single drowning. (I imagine they happened, just not often enough to be noticed.) Could it be that Mr. Assad can't find his trapeze hooks because when Ms. Constants drowned, most of the responses to the tragedy were to blame the hook, the lack of training, the lack of supervision, or the lack of nearby assistance? Is it possible (probable?) that hook manufacturers are looking really hard at their culpability in manufacturing such a dangerous object? Can the potential liability possibly be worth the meager profit they get from selling them? Not since you decided to heap the responsibility on the hook. What's wrong with calling Ms. Constants death a tragedy, and leaving it at that? -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14175#14175 EDITOR'S NOTE: Since the drowning death that occurred on June 23, 2011 in Annapolis, MD, there has been a lot of thought put into why the accident happened. We have now compiled it all in a Forum thread for easy access. Here is the link: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14157 * From Terry Bischoff: During my tenure as a PRO at the OCR in Miami, I witnessed a number of incidents regarding coach boats (from Scuttlebutt 3631). One of the worst, was a number of Stars under tow after completion of their race. These tows went directly through a circle of 470s which were still racing. The worst example was one Star towed directly through the gate of the 470 course, totally ignoring the waves form the 470 race committee. The following morning the Star PRO issued a stern warning to any repeating the previous days' rude behavior. But why was this necessary? Another example of the disregard by coaches toward others than their team is displayed by their lack of interest to teams without the resources to employ coaches. In Miami to get from the US Sailing Center to the racing area can be very difficult especially in light winds. One year a team of 470 women without a coach asked me as the PRO if I could arrange tows for them, as they were barely moving out from the Miami shore. They told me that their requests to other teams with coaches were ignored or bluntly denied. I personally monitored their situation the next morning, and probably against my protocols arranged that they were at least towed out from the islands and into Biscayne Bay itself, where they could find some wind. Again, a complete lack of sportsmanship. Other examples of lack of interest to other competitors by coaches could be related, but I think the above examples make the point. Personally, I think that coaches should be eliminated from Championship events in all classes, not only Olympic classes. I highlight Championships here, not beer can or regattas of lessor status, but some might disagree here also. If you have reached the finals of your class champs, you should be able to continue on without a coach. I exclude high school and collegiate racing here, where coaching is necessary as in a basketball game. Level the playing field, it would be very good for the sport at this level. SELLING. BUYING. HIRING. The Scuttlebutt website provides a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. For free. As a bonus, each week the Scuttlebutt newsletter includes some of the recent ad postings. Have an ad? Post it in the Classified Ad section of the Forum. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Kindness consists of loving people more than they deserve. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Kaenon Polarized - Vineyard Race - North Sails J Boats - Point Loma Outfitting - Pure Yachting Ullman Sails - APS - New England Boatworks Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
