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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 1129 - August 5, 2002Scuttlebutt 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.
AMERICA'S CUP The Herald reported on Friday that negotiations to settle insurance issues and costs had reached a stalemate, worrying organisers of the challengers' series, the Louis Vuitton Cup, which is due to start in eight weeks. The Arbitration Panel was refusing to release any rulings on disputes between syndicates until members had a guarantee they would not be sued. Concern was growing that unless the legal issues were resolved, some of the panel might quit. With syndicates spending up to US$100 million on their campaigns, the panel had become concerned about crippling legal action stemming from their decisions. However, the Herald understands talks have been held between some syndicates and counsel for the panel since Friday, and a settlement is likely within days. - Helen Tunnah, NZ Herald Full story: www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/
2006 Hobday has a long America's Cup connection with de Savary since the 1980 Lionheart challenge. He served as deputy chairman and team manager for the 1983 Victory challenge and with the abortive Blue Arrow challenge at the end of the 1980s. Whilst discussing the matter with Yachting World's Tracey Clarke, Hobday confirmed that one of his staff had been "slightly over zealous" and "leaked a story into the Daily Mail last week which has caused no end of repercussions." Hobday asserted, "it is a conditional challenge and there are a lot of conditions." - Tracey Clarke and Kim Hollamby / Yachting World website Full story: www.yachting-world.com/auto/newsdesk/20020704150821americascup.html
OLYMPICS All nations, with the exception of host country Greece, must qualify for entry in each class at the Olympic Regatta, scheduled for August 13-29, 2004, in Athens, Greece. The qualification process is a result of entry limits set by the International Olympic Committee and the International Sailing Federation that specify no more than 400 total athletes in sailing, along with other restrictions. Starting this year, the world championships of each class will qualify their entry quota as follows: 35% in 2002, 45% in 2003, and 20% in 2004. For 2004, the nine classes (11 divisions) chosen for Olympic competition are: Europe (women); Finn (men); 470 (men and women); Laser (open); Mistral (men and women); 49er, Star, Tornado (all open); and Yngling (women).
FASTEST J/105 SAILS ON THE PLANET!
NEWS BRIEFS * The first of Team New Zealand's two boats to defend the Cup will be taken from its North Shore boatbuilding yard this week to the team's Halsey Street base for final work. The boat will have deck hardware fitted within the security of the base, ready for launching about the end of this month. - NZ Herald, www.nzherald.co.nz/americascup/ * With more than 800 boats racing each day, the Skandia Life Cowes Week is almost too big to cover. However, the regatta organizers have developed a website that does a good job of touching all of the bases: www.cowesweek.co.uk * Eleven teams/ 33 yachts in total will compete in this year's Rolex Commodores Cup, which will be raced off Cowes, Isle of Wight, between 11th and 18th August. The competition for three boat teams comprises a series of inshore and offshore races (including the RORC's famous flexi-course which ensures crews are kept at sea for 24 -36 hours irrespective of wind conditions). 50% of each crew must be amateur according to the ISAF Eligibility Code, thereafter the only restriction is that an amateur must helm during the inshore races and at the start of the offshore race.
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) * From Andrew Besheer: It should be noted that Jack Sutphen, highlighted in 'Butt 1128 for winning the PC Nationals was a many time multiple season champion at Larchmont YC prior to moving to the left coast. The annual prize given to the best frostbite crew was rededicated this season in memory of his late wife Jean who also spent more than her fair share of winters racing IC dinghy's. * From John B. Kelley: Given the ongoing "legal standoff" regarding the America's Cup arbitration panel, & their fear of financial litigation: isn't it time to bewail the profound gloomy depths to which a once-upon-a-time "gentlemen's sport" has sunk (i.e., competitive sailing)? Seems we're afflicted these days at every turn by the power of "filthy lucre"! * From Rand Milton The threat of ruinous litigation in the America's Cup is terrible for our sport! All the competitors, as an entry requirement, should be required to sign a waiver eliminating lawsuits against the arbitration panel which has been empowered to enforce the rules of the event. I am sure there must be acceptable solution to this problem, otherwise the panel will not be able to do its job which could ultimately destroy the credibility of the America's Cup. In general, we sign waivers holding RC's harmless against litigation in most regattas. So why can't this be done in the America's Cup? Let the outcome be decided on the water, not in a court room! * From Chris Bouzaid: I understand that, on national TV, in New Zealand, they showed the raising of Stars and Stripes. I assume all of Team New Zealand, (which really means everyone in the country) turned their TV's off immediately to ensure they did not break the terms of the Protocol. * From Mike Kennedy: I believe that I speak for thousands of racing sailors and enthusiasts of the sport that would like to hear the positions, arguments and/ or reasonings of such as Time Warner, Dish Network, DirecTV and Outdoor Life Network for why, as of now, the Louis Vuitton Series is not going to be available to those of us in the State of Hawaii. * From Dave Few (Regarding Jack Mallinckrodt's statement in #1128, "all scoring systems require knowledge of course distance and time on the course.") The TOT system using PHRF TCF as specified in the USS Handicap Manual requires only the elapsed time for each boat. Comparison of TOT and TOD systems reveals that Scoring by these two systems, approach the task from different philosophies, with similar results only when conditions are nominal, --moderate winds, no unfavorable or favorable currents and accurate course distances. Time on Distance - Regardless of the conditions of wind, current, accuracy of course measurement, and time taken to sail the race, assumes you are always "x" seconds a mile faster or slower than your competitor. Time on Time - Regardless of the conditions of wind, current, time to sail the race and accuracy of course measurement (not a factor for TOT) assumes you are always the same "%" faster or slower than your competitor. TOT has a tendency to cancel out the beneficial or detrimental effects of wind and current, and accuracy of course length since time on the course is the operative parameter not the length of the course. TOT & TOD both retain the relevancy of the conditions for which your boat is optimized. Neither system is perfect but TOT seems fairer overall to the NCPHRF committee still using single number ratings. It is about as simple as you can get though probably less accurate than Americap-II (depending on the still debatable accuracy of the A&B ratings) * From Brendan Hanna (Regarding Americap: Enough already): The option is there. Use it or don't. This is getting rather tedious!
FUN PHOTOS
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BACK TO (OCKAM) SCHOOL
CONTROLLING THE PIN
UBS CHALLENGE In claiming the UBS Challenge title Law and his crew of Tucker Thompson, Dobbs Davis and Jeff Brock not only outdueled Baird but also bested the nine America's Cup affiliated crews assembled this week. For Baird, it is the second time he has finished as a runner-up at a Swedish Match Tour event, previously coming in second to Denmark's Jesper Radich at this past May's Match Race Germany. In the petit finals OneWorld Challenge skipper Peter Gilmour and his Pizza La team put on a textbook match racing demonstration to sweep past Mascalzone Latino's Paolo Cian 2-0, to claim the $12,000 third place prize. - Shawn McBride Final standings:
1. Chris Law, Great Britain/The Outlaws, $35,000
RANKINGS - Swedish Match Racing Tour 2002/2003:
MELGES 24 WORLDS
1. USA - Harry Melges / Jeff Ecklund, 36
OPTIMIST NATIONALS
THISTLE NATIONALS
INDEPENDENCE CUP/NORTH AMERICAN CHALLENGE CUP
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS
- August 9-11: Rochecster YC - www.rochesteryc.com/JrOlympics.htm * August 13-18: Danish Open 2002 - Swedish Match Tour, Copenhagen, Denmark. www.danishopen.dk * Feb. 7-14, 2003: Marina del Rey to Puerto Vallarta International Yacht Race, Del Rey Yacht Club. 1125-nautical mile. PHRF divisions for racing, cruising and cruising non-spinnaker. www.dryc.org/
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