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SCUTTLEBUTT 3661 - Thursday, August 23, 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 Harken. WHEN WE WANTED GRETEL TO WIN By Charles Pinning, Providence Journal As I grew up in Newport, a couple of things felt certain to me: The New York Yankees would probably win the World Series, and America would retain the America's Cup. From 1950 to 1962, the Yankees made 11 World Series appearances and won 8 of them. As for the America's Cup races, America had never lost the series since first winning it, in 1851, the longest winning streak in the history of sport. By 1962, that translated into 18 consecutive victories. And since 1930, Newport had been home to the races. America's Cup and Newport had become synonymous, but the truth was, very few Newporters had anything to do with the races. It was a rich man's sport, and the defending club was the New York Yacht Club. So, it would filter down upon the rest of us, like Hollywood snow, mainly through the newspapers, which is where people got their news back then. There was extra hub-bub on lower Thames Street, but the races themselves were held way off Brenton Point, so far off you really couldn't see them from land. You had to be on a spectator boat to actually see the races. During the summer of 1962, America was challenged by Australia's Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, which arrived with their lovely yacht named Gretel. We, the common folk, immediately fell in love with the Aussies. Was it their happy-go- lucky ways? Their general affability when you saw them around town? Their accents? Or was it simply the name of their boat, Gretel, that conjured up a fairy tale, a sweet girl in braids moving innocently into the deep, dark forest of American dominance? The defending American yacht was named Weatherly. A clean and windy name, but not a personal-sounding one. It sounded like the name that was going to win. Again. So, I guess we were rooting for the underdog with the name of a little girl. The races were held in the middle of September, the first on a Saturday. Weatherly won. Nuts. Here we go again. But when I got home from school on Tuesday -- I had just entered the 5th grade -- my mother was almost in tears. "Gretel won," she said. "Little Gretel won!" The whole town was really dialed in after that, waiting for her next victory, which never came. Weatherly won the next three in a row and with it, the Cup. But somehow, life never felt the same after that. There was hope... read on: http://tinyurl.com/ProJo-082212 "MALICE" SHOWS HER SPEED AT AIRLIE BEACH RW In her first-ever regatta, the new Nacra 36 Carbon catamaran "Malice" proved her speed last week in Australia, winning the tightly contested OMR Multihull class at Airlie Beach RW! Congratulations to owner Mal Richardson and team who sailed an excellent event, beating regatta leader "Trilogy" by five points in the final race to secure the division. Ullman Sails Whitsunday's Dale Mitchell managed the sail development for "Malice" - the first Nacra 36 built with full carbon hulls - working closely with Ullman Sails designer Bruce Hollis on a new set of GP Race sails and Red Line spinnakers for the catamaran. http://www.ullmansails.com AINSLIE WINS CLASH OF GOLD MEDALISTS San Francisco, CA (August 22, 2012) - Racing officially began today at America's Cup World Series San Francisco, the first regatta of the second season of the AC World Series featuring 11 crews racing the AC45s on San Francisco Bay. The wind gods were hospitable today, offering breeze in the mid teens for the match racing which dominated the schedule. Three pairs competed for the right to advance to the quarterfinal round of the event's match racing championship (scheduled Thursday and Friday). The three matches of the qualifying round for the ACWS San Francisco Match Racing Championship have all concluded with scores of 2-0: Luna Rossa Swordfish (Paul Campbell James, GBR) defeated China Team (Phil Robertson, NZL), Luna Rossa Piranha (Chris Draper, GBR) defeated Artemis Racing Red (Santiago Lange, ARG) and J.P. Morgan BAR (Ben Ainslie, GBR) defeated Team Korea (Nathan Outteridge, AUS). The final match was easily the most entertaining of the three, pitting Olympic gold medalists Ainslie against Outteridge, with the British star posting a come-from-behind win in both matches to win by 13 and 29 seconds. The winners move onto the quarterfinal round which begins Thursday, with two fleet races also scheduled. Racing is planned for 2 to 4 pm PDT. Here is some information to help follow the event: - Event details: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-Aug-21-26 - Crew list: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-0812-Crew-List - Latitude 38 viewing guide: http://tinyurl.com/Lat-38-ACWS-0812 PHOTOS: The big boys are rolling into town, with Artemis Racing's AC72 photographed as it is unloaded off the freighter and into San Francisco Bay: http://blueplanettimes.com/?p=9602 LIGHTS EQUAL ACTION Jack Griffin of CupExperience.com explains what all the flashing lights mean on an AC45 catamaran: "In strong winds there's just too much noise to call 'Protest' to another boat, and the LiveLine system give the umpires and Race Committee some amazing new ways to run a race. The 'aft media post' on the back of the AC45 carries the GPS antennas that allow tracking the boat's position to within 2 cm! It also carries the remote control camera with pan, tilt and zoom (plus a remotely controlled wiper!). And, it carries the 'warning light stack' - green to show when a boat is within 3 boat lengths of a course limit or a turning mark, red to indicate a protest and blue to indicate a penalty." -- Photos/full report: http://tinyurl.com/CE-082212 DETOUR (August 22, 2012) - l'Hydroptere DCNS, the fastest sailboat on the planet, arrived under the Golden Gate Bridge and moored in San Francisco Bay at 4 a.m. Wednesday following an intense sail up the California coast from Los Angeles. The 60-foot foiling trimaran is visiting the legendary San Francisco Bay to take in America's Cup World Series racing and demonstrate its record-breaking technology in the area's tough sailing conditions while on weather standby to break the world sailing speed record for the Transpacific route from Los Angeles to Honolulu. "All the sailing we're doing on l'Hydroptere DCNS helps us prepare for the Transpacific record attempt," said skipper Alain Thebault. "Deprived of wind so far in our bid to take off for Hawaii, we needed to trial the boat during a delivery spanning several days, and it was the perfect moment to head up to San Francisco. As we await the awaking of the wind god on the route to Hawaii, we'll endeavor to create some very fine images here." The boat was shipped to Los Angeles in July for assembly, installation of new systems, and Pacific Ocean testing in her bid to break the Transpacific world speed sailing record. Deprived of optimum weather for a record run, the San Francisco Bay visit is an opportunity for the flying trimaran, accompanied by its title sponsor DCNS, to share the bay with the famous America's Cup AC45 catamarans that are racing in the bay through Sunday. It is also an opportunity to present its technology in the San Francisco Bay / Silicon Valley region, one of the world's great centers of innovation. "We left Long Beach in very sunny conditions and almost no wind," said Jacques Vincent, the boat's co-skipper. "When we entered Northern California waters, the weather changed radically, with up to 30 knots of wind and tough sea conditions. We battled upwind for 2 days, and the boat proved again its seaworthiness. During the passage, we tested absolutely everything aboard. On site we'll be carrying out a few sea trials and doubtless we'll be gunning for a record time between the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge. Naturally, at the slightest hint of a favourable weather window to Honolulu, we'll drop back down to position ourselves at Long Beach." l'Hydroptere DCNS established a new world speed record in 2009 when it average 50.17 knots over one nautical mile, as ratified by the World Speed Record Council. Standing 60 feet long, 79 feet wide, and over nine stories tall, it combines aerospace and marine technologies, using hydrofoils and a newly developed stabilization system to lift the boat and attain stable, wind-powered high speeds on the open ocean. -- http://www.hydroptere.com TELL YOUR OTHER SANDALS TO TAKE A WALK Harken Sport Beachcombers are no ordinary sandals. Not only do they have orthotic-quality foot support, they have the same 360-degree grip that made our deck shoes famous. Our padded straps dry quickly and prevent blisters. Non-marking soles keep your deck clean, and they also float just in case (just tell em it's a man overboard drill). Men's and women's full sizes - get a pair now at http://www.harkensport.com/cat/new.html or http://www.amazon.com SAILING SHORTS * Kingston, ONT (August 22, 2012) - The CORK OCR (Olympic Classes Regatta) concluded today for Olympic and elite development classes (Aug. 18-22). Included was the Finn North Americans, which saw Canada's future battle its presen, with Canadian Olympic Finn sailor Greg Douglas barely holding off young team mate, Finn Youth Worlds Champion Martin Robataille. The eight events included Kite Course Racing, which was won by Andy Wong (CAN). Details here: http://www.cork.org/results/2012-results-resultats-2012/ * (August 22, 2012) - The 42 yachts competing in the Atlantic Nationals in Blue Hill, Maine, finally got off to a great start Tuesday with three races in 10-12 knot winds and sparkling conditions. Most consistent was former champion Norm Peck III from Niantic Bay Yacht Club, who ended the day with a very consistent 1,2,4. In joint second place with 13 points each are Bill Barton from the home club, Kollegewidgwok Yacht Club, and Steve Benjamin, representing Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. Three more races are scheduled for the next two days. -- Daily reports: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14346 * (August 22, 2012) - Tropical Storm Isaac is holding its own as it moves through the northern Lesser Antilles, and is expected to gradually strengthen trend as it moves west through the northeastern Caribbean on Thursday. The official forecast calls for Isaac to become a hurricane by Friday morning, but perhaps the more ominous threat in the short term is the potential for extremely heavy rainfall over the islands near Isaac's path. Over a foot of rainfall, and potentially as much as 20 inches in a few locales, is possible on the island of Hispaniola, home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/W-082212 * (August 22, 2012) - US Sailing and Sperry Top-Sider have agreed on a new multi-year sponsorship deal, which follows the April announcement that Sperry Top-Sider had become the title sponsor of the US Sailing Team. Sperry will expand their sponsorship involvement of US Sailing National Championship events along with the US Sailing Road Show, a grassroots sail education program that contributes to community sailing organizations throughout the summer. -- Full report: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2012/USS_Sperry_0812.htm * Campione del Garda, Italy (August 22, 2012) - Scott Babbage (AUS) continues to set the pace at the 117-boat Zhik Nautica Moth World Championship, winning the first six races before posting an 11th in the seventh race. Conditions today started with a 25-knot "Peler" and 1-meter waves early in the morning to a dying "Ora" late in the afternoon. Baggage hold an eight point lead over second-placed Anthony Kotoun (ISV), with Joshua McKnight (AUS), Bora Gulari (USA), and Joe Turner (AUS) completing the top five. Similar conditions are expected for racing on Thursday; racing concludes Sunday. -- http://www.mothworlds.org/campione/ 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: * Weather Underground launches new boating weather page * RYA Tactics new eBook by Mark Rushall * Samson - Introducing Xceed-78 View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news 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 Paul Tara: Regarding "A Sailor's Rule For Wearing a Life Vest" (Scuttlebutt 3659), here's a fairly accurate description of hypothermic shock for Bill Schanen and Scuttlebutt readers to consider. Let's see if they can identify the author and work without Googling. "How I went over I do not know, though I did know, and instantly, why those in the water were so desirous of getting back on the steamer. The water was cold -- so cold that it was painful. The pang, as I plunged into it, was as quick and sharp as that of fire. It bit to the marrow. It was like the grip of death. I gasped with the anguish and shock of it, filling my lungs before the life-preserver popped me to the surface. The taste of the salt was strong in my mouth, and I was strangling with the acrid stuff in my throat and lungs." Me, even after 30 years racing 505's, I don't swim that well. I don't care if it's a fat keelboat, a ski boat, a bass boat, a dinghy, or a RIB, I always wear my PFD, and I find the backstroke to be reasonably effective when I have it on. * From Gerard Wolf: Regarding Bill Schanen's missive regarding mandatory use of pfd's at all times. Right On Bill!. I have met Bill over the years and consider him an excellent seaman and judge of sailing requirements. Requiring PFD's at all times is an onerous mandate. * From Craig Fletcher: Reading in Scuttlebutt 3660, we have a New Zealand computer expert controlling an Australian helmsmen with a New Zealand crew (one American) led by a New Zealand CEO funded by an American billionaire, who uses the America's Cup as his personal toy. Please explain to me as an American, why I should care who wins the AMERICA'S CUP? With no national pride on the line, the America's Cup will be fun to watch, but who really cares who wins! EDITOR'S NOTE: Defender CEO Russell Coutts has acknowledged the mistake of not including a nationality clause in the 34th America's Cup. However, a bigger concern now for the U.S. is the 35th America's Cup will likely have a nationality clause, but will there be any Americans prepared to compete in it? * From Kent Gardam: The article on 'Wind, Water and WI-FI' in Scuttlebutt 3660 leads me to ask that with the advance in technology on the new AC boats that is making the decisions for the sailors on when to tack, gybe and how to trim the sails, isn't the logical next step to employ computer controls to also do those tasks and eliminate the need for having to accommodate any sailors on board at all? That would certainly finally put to rest that conundrum of whether the nationality of the sailors on any entry should be an issue. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thankfully, the rules of the event (as agreed upon by defender and challenger of record) have excluded this possibility. It was an important measure, in my opinion, for the 34th America's Cup to require manpower as opposed to stored power to turn the winches. But without such restrictions, the America's Cup could quickly become a battle between teenagers with game controllers. The umpires are already on land. The sailors could be too. SEND US YOUR RACE REPORTS Posting your event information on the free, self-serve Scuttlebutt Event Calendar tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. But don't stop there... send us your race reports too. Here are some of the upcoming events listed on the calendar: Aug 24-26 - CORK Sportboat and One-Design - Kingston, ON, Canada Aug 24-26 - Newport Bucket Regatta - Newport, RI, USA Aug 25-26 - Suunto IRC Canadian Championship - Toronto, Ontario, Canada Aug 25-26 - Etchells Great Lakes Championship - Chicago, IL, USA Aug 31 - Vineyard Race - Stamford, CT, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Flying advice: Speed is life, altitude is life insurance. No one has ever collided with the sky. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Hall Spars & Rigging - JK3 Nautical Enterprises - North Sails - APS KO Sailing - IYRS - Point Loma Outfitting - Allen Insurance And Financial Ullman Sails - Harken - Quantum Sails - The Pirates Lair Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
