SCUTTLEBUTT #758 - February 22, 2001

Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk... with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome. Send to scuttlebutt@boats.com.

THE RACE
Tony Bullimore and his Team Legato are once again back in the race after a halt of exactly 60 hours. At practically the same moment, Grant Dalton and Club Med crept over the Equator. Innovation Explorer and Loick Peyron have got wind; they are speeding up the coast of Brazil. Further south, further away, in a not so Pacific Ocean, Cam Lewis and his Team Adventure are charging headlong into the heart of the depressions towards South America. Their wild ride has already propelled them as far as the longitude of the Poles on Warta-Polpharma, still in a virtual 3rd place in the overall ranking, but not for long.

Four less for Legato! So Tony Bullimore has set off again after having scrupulously respected the 60 hour penalty, but he has left no less than 4 behind in Wellington: Frenchmen Olivier Cusin and Armand Coursodon, and Britons Jason Owen and Rob Salvidge, all out for different medical reasons. So they are only 6 to confront the Pacific, without a navigator, because Jason Owen fulfilled that role.

Aboard Club Med, all the crew put 200 francs into an envelope, along with a prediction of when they will finish at Marseilles. Dalton refuses to speculate personally, knowing full well the chances of very light winds ahead (that continue to plague the Vendee Globe contestants). Most shoreside watchers have March 3 - 5 pegged as the arrival time of the big blue cat.

"It's my fault; I underestimated the consumption of the crew." The admission comes from Grant Dalton. There is not much of a surplus to satisfy the increasing appetite of Club Med's crew. These giant catamarans take an awful lot out of the system, principally, or so it would seem, on board Club Med which has a large wardrobe of headsails, whose handling demands considerable effort. The organism, sharpened by 42 days at sea, has a growing need for proteins. Running up and down the length of the trampolines of a 33 metre giant requires lots of energy. "Changing a headsail at the end of a watch is a real trial", explained Grant. "We have enough to ensure all meals as far as Marseilles. However we are short of all the little energetic "extras" like dried fruit and protein cereal bars that the boys adore after a sudden dose of effort. We have noticed significant weight loss in some of us, around 8 to 10 kilos!"

Latest positions 
1.Club Med / distance to finish 3118.9 
2.Innovation Explorer / 971.6 distance to leader 
3.Warta Polpharma / 6628.2 dtl 
4.TeamAdventure / 6707.1 dtl 
5.Team Legato / 8100.9 dtl

Event site www.therace.org

VENDEE GLOBE: WAVRE AND COVILLE UNDER 100 MILES TO GO
The fickle conditions reigning over the Bay of Biscay are not allowing the next two Vendee Globe skippers to give exact ETAs even with under 100 miles to go. Neck and neck since rounding Cape Horn, Dominique Wavre (UBP) and Thomas Coville (Sodebo) have been playing cat and mouse, tacking back and forth across the Bay of Biscay in the light breeze.

This morning the Swiss skipper Wavre, just 63 miles from the line, could still not see the end in sight. "Boat speed: 1.2 knots, speed to finish: 0.9 knots. A great mill pond. The NE wind should come back at the end of the morning." Just two hours later Wavre faxed the Race HQ to confirm: "I have reached the NW breeze. I should arrive this evening."

The tide times for Les Sables d'Olonne will only permit a boat to enter the channel until 1940hrs local time. Wavre is fighting hard to get in by then. If he doesn't arrive in time, the Swiss skipper wants to cross the line and then wait for his sparring partner Coville when the tide allows, for them both to enter the port together.

Mike Golding (Team Group 4), now the next skipper racing in the VendŽe Globe due in after the tragic dismasting of Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool), is fighting against opposing winds as well, back down near the Azores. He is also one skipper impatient to get this Vendee over with, not just due to the difficult North Atlantic weather systems and his lack of fuel, plus yet again a broken genoa furler fitting to boot, but also because he has finally run out of cigarettes..."I'm smoking the cushions!" he joked this morning.

Josh Hall (EBP/Gartmore) should be motivated by Golding's lost miles overnight, and still hopes he is in with a chance against his British rival. "A mid-Atlantic depression has formed just to our west - it should head towards the Biscay and it could give us the 6 day ride we need to get in from here and provide some fast sailing. We will have to see how it develops in the next 48hrs."

Thankfully for Hall, after suffering a setback from the main halyard jamming the other day, Bernard Gallay (Voila.fr) has not been able to catch up, due to similar problems with his own rig. "I was stuck in big calms the day before yesterday. I also broke a main halyard and I had to climb the mast to replace it." Clearly, after Chabaud's dismasting all the skippers are now nervously looking at their rigs. -- Philippe Jeantot

Event site www.vendeeglobe.com

ORACLE RACING JOINS SWEDISH MATCH GRAND PRIX SAILING TOUR
Oracle Racing, intended challenger for the 2003 America's Cup, has agreed to compete on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour. Skipper Chris Dickson furthers the team's competitive preparation with his entry into both the upcoming Steinlager/Line 7 Cup (Auckland, NZ, March 12-17) and the Sun Microsytems Australia Cup (Perth, Australia, March 21-25).

"To be at the top of our game for the next Cup we need to constantly challenge ourselves and further our competitive match-racing portfolio," said Chris Dickson, Oracle Racing skipper. The America's Cup is a match race and the more practice we can do on the circuit, the better. The Swedish Match Tour provides a great opportunity to refine our skills and we look forward to competing."

The Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour is comprised of eight of the world's leading professional sailing events. In addition to over USD$400,000 in individual event prize money, the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour awards USD$200,000 to the top eight sailors on the Tour. The overall winners are determined by a point system based on a sailor's best six of eight finishes, with the first-place skipper netting USD$60,000.

For additional information on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour see www.swedishmatchgp.com.

HOBIE 33 MIDWINTERS
The Hobie 33 North American Class Association held its 2001 Midwinter Championships off Ft. Lauderdale on February 15-18. The regatta was dedicated to the memory of Michael DeKok, long time Hobie 33 sailor and 1998 Midwinter champion, who died just days before he was to sail his 'new' 33 Spring Bok in the regatta. Win Fowler and his crew in Altercation from Yarmouth, Maine, bested 13 other Hobies to win the 7 race, 1 throwout series over last year's champion, local Barbara Reed and crew in Risky Business.

Top five results: 
1) Altercation  Win Fowler   Yarmouth, ME     9 pts 
2) Risky Business Barbara Reed  Ft. Lauderdale FL  15 
3) Stingray  Rick Rahm   Miami FL   29 
4) Stealth  Stu Kevelighan  Detroit MI   30 
5) Bandit  Ken Benton   Ft. Lauderdale FL  33

BIG BARGAIN?
Slow sails are never cheap...no matter how little they cost. But you can improve your boat's performance with quality racing sails at a price that is truly affordable. Let the professionals at Ullman Sails help move your program to the next level. You can get a price quote online right now: http://www.ullmansails.com

BT CHALLENGE UPDATE
Quadstone, which smashed its bow when the yacht struck Save the Children, is expected to be ready to sail on March 3. Save the Children however, which suffered more serious structural damage when it was t-boned at the start of the Wellington to Sydney leg, will likely not be ready to leave Wellington until March 12 -- a day after the Sydney restart.

Roberts said, "Following the surveyors assessment both yachts require damaged steel to be cut out and replaced. Quadstone requires a new bow cone and Save the Children needs to have the 2 metre by .5 metre area of deck and hull replaced"

Both boats could be disqualified from the Race. Both yachts -- even Save the Children, with right of way -- could be penalized for not avoiding a collision, disqualified from this leg, or one or the other could be disqualified.

A potential March 3 departure from Wellington could land Quadstone in Sydney as late as March 11, the day of the start of Leg Five to Cape Town, with little time to provision and prepare for the 6,200-mile haul.

Current positions Wellington to Sydney / Day 4 
1. LG Flatiron 
2. Spirit of Hong Kong 
3. Logica 
4. TeamSpirIT 
5. Compaq 6. BP

Full story at http://www.btchallenge.com

EASIER SAIL HANDLING
If you want easier sail handling and better performance look no further than a SAILMAN full batten system. Designed for yachts from 24ft to 80ft, the range includes track systems, in-mast systems and even slides specifically for composite spars. SAILMAN systems are well engineered, easy to install, simple to maintain and great to use so if you are thinking about full battens, talk to your Sailmaker about SAILMAN by Bainbridge International. More information: www.sailcloth.com

HARRISON SIGNS CHRIS MAIN TO GBR CHALLENGE
Peter Harrison has made a further addition to the GBR Challenge Sailing Team by recruiting New Zealand born Chris Main. Main, 26, was the tune up helmsman for the Nippon Challenge syndicate, recently purchased by GBR Challenge, in the last America's Cup. Harrison commented "Chris comes highly recommended and will add value to the GBR Challenge Sailing Team, which I will be enlarging to 26 sailors."

As Main, originally from Auckland, has moved to Britain before the 1st March deadline, he will be eligible to sail for GBR Challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup starting in October 2002 and the 2003 America's Cup. -- Mark Bullingham

In addition to David Barnes as General Manager, Harrison has recruited the following to form the Sailing Team: Andy Beadsworth, Ian Budgen, Mark Covell, Simon Fry, Andy Green, Neal Macdonald, Chris Mason, Guy Reid, Julian Salter, Mark Sheffield, James Stagg, Adrian Stead, Richard Sydenham, Jonathon Taylor, Jim Turner and Ian Walker.

The Technical Design Group members signed to date by Harrison are: Taro Takahashi, Akihiro Kanai (both formerly of Nippon Challenge) Jo Richards, and Derek Clark.

Team site: www.gbrchallenge.com

TVNZ TO COVER VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has agreed to transmit ten one hour documentaries covering each of the 9 legs of the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race. The channel will also carry regular updates on the race in its sports programmes on Saturday afternoons and daily newsfeeds during prime time news.

Jim Raven, MD of Granada Sport, broadcast media partner of the Volvo Ocean Race, said: " We are pleased that TVNZ will be following the race. Sailing is a popular sport in New Zealand and always attracts a significant audience. This deal also ensures TVNZ's involvement in the actual coverage of the arrivals and departures of the yachts in Auckland. We very much welcome this because their producers and camera operators are highly experienced in this area of production."

TVNZ has been the preferred broadcaster for New Zealand for more than 35 years. TVNZ's involvement in sailing is legendary, being involved in the Whitbread Race since its invention in 1973 and the Americas Cup for more than 20 years.

Upon signing the deal, Helge Alten, the Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race said, "TVNZ is the market leader in New Zealand and commands up to a 70% market share in the key audience demographics. Even though the market is relatively small, the legs to and from Auckland will be the ones which attract the largest numbers of people. The race comes from Sydney, taking part in the Sydney to Hobart race, and leaves for Cape Horn. It is great to have a broadcaster with such a huge amount of experience in yachting onboard." -- Lizzie Green

Volvo Ocean Race site: www.VolvoOceanRace.org

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.) PLEASE NOTE: For the next two weeks, send your emails to scuttlebutt@boats.com, Tom is off sailing until Feb. 27.

* From Geoffrey Ewenson <gewenson@yahoo.com> In a quick reply to Geoffrey Emanuel I would like to ask all who have yet to use the new starting system please refrain from bashing it too badly. While I may not agree with US Sailing on some subjects, and I am bewildered by the ISAF code for eligability, this new starting system is actually a positive step which needs to be accepted. The St. Petersburg NOOD Regatta used the new system this past weekend and, at least on the course I sailed on, things seemed to go very smoothly from a starting standpoint. There were very few if any delays in the starts and on average the time between starting fleets was six minuits. The added leeway of "seperate starts" allows the commitee to change the line to keep it square and seperate fleets that were sailing into each other on the course. The result is better racing for the individual fleets and a more empowered comittee. From my understanding talking to committee members in St. Pete. this is something that professional race committee people asked for, and are pleased with.

* From Mark Green <mgreen@corp-real-estate.com> Regarding the multihull shock absorbers, I agree with Tom Priest that they would be slow. But given the chipped teeth, slipped discs and other injuries these competitors are incurring on The Race, maybe spring loaded crew quarters are in order. At the very least, put the poor guys in hammocks athwartships.

* From Glenn T. McCarthy <mccarthys@ussailing.net> I asked Cynthia Goss, one of sailing's most prolific writers, what does it take to get newspaper, radio and TV time in a major media market, like Chicago? It is both easy and difficult. "Some local sailor" needs to cultivate relationships with people at the media companies. The first step is to find someone at the media company who boats, even if it is the obituary writer. They will have the interest, and will start a relationship with "some local sailor". They will write the story and beg the sports editor for space. Additionally, you and your sailing friends must write the Sports Editor(s) and complain that there is no sailing coverage (they sell papers, radio time and TV time for a living, and if they don't know you care, they won't serve your needs).

This method does work. I received newspaper and radio time the past two weeks in Chicago (sailing in February?), promoting Roy Disney's visit this Friday with his Transpac film. I'm still working on a TV station. The newspaper connection is a Features Editor, the radio contact is a News Reporter and the TV connection Sells Advertising time. Common thread? They are all boaters, not necessarily sailors.

The trust and relationships that get developed between this "some local sailor" and the media is not a revolving door job. It must be a passion for the "some local sailor".

* From George Bailey <baileyg@mail.ecu.edu> Sailing is not and never will be a commitment for the masses. Sailing well under differeing conditions takes brains, self-discipline, devotion, self-reliance, guts and numerous other characteristics that are not typical of the average human being in contemporary U.S. Culture. And it is less political than most activities, in that one cannot con or fake one's way to success or survival, a feature that keeps lots of "leader" types who are good at fund raising out, since they made it where they are because of their political skills. Even those racers who always try to win by protesting everyone else still have to make it to the finish line. The sailing industry already convinced the masses to go sailing, which is why there are literally millions of boats sitting week after week going nowhere. It not for the average person. (And it is not a "sport.").

SHAKE-A-LEG'S WALL STREET AND CORPORATE CHALLENGE CUP
Dozens of Wall Street and business executives will trade their suits for sailing attire during Shake-A-Leg's 10th annual Wall Street and Corporate Challenge Cup. The two-day benefit regatta will be contested in five vintage America's Cup 12-meter yachts on Narragansett Bay and benefit the non-profit Shake-A-Leg-Newport, which will apply proceeds to its post-trauma rehabilitation programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders.

What's more, several participants in Shake-A-Leg-Newport's adaptive sailing program will leave their wheelchairs on the dock to join the racing action! For more information, contact: Larry Gadsby at Shake-A-Leg-Newport, 172-174 Bellevue Ave. #303, Newport, R.I. 02840, ph. 401-849-8898, fax 401-848-9072, larrygadsby@aol.com or visit www.wsccc.org

BIG PROBLEM.
For as long as I remember, I've used my tired, beat up old shorts for sailing. But no more.I've gotten spoiled by my fast drying Supplex Camet shorts, and with their foam pads that pamper my aging butt. And the Camet shorts do have a good look. So now I have a problem- what do I do with my old shorts? http://www.camet.com

72ND ANNUAL SCYA MIDWINTER REGATTA
Light winds and the threat of rain did not discourage more than 3,000 sailors in 700-plus boats from participating in 72nd Annual Southern California Yachting Association (SCYA) Midwinter Regatta, touted as "North America's largest regatta," on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18-19, 2001.

Twenty-five SCYA yacht clubs and associations hosted racing in locations from Santa Barbara to San Diego and including Arizona and the Mojave Desert. More than 100 classes were represented, including one-design monohulls and multihulls, model boats, powerboats racing in a predicted-log event and sailboats racing under PHRF, Portsmouth and ORCA handicap systems.

Mission Bay Yacht Club hosted 86 boats, the largest number at one yacht club, followed closely by 81 boats co-hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Shoreline Yacht Club of Long Beach. The largest one-design class was 21 Junior Naples Sabot "A's" at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, followed closely by 18 Stars at California Yacht Club.

At press time, full results are not yet posted to the Internet, but many host-club websites have posted results of the classes they hosted. To find the website of your host club, go to the SCYA website, www.scya.org. -- Chris Ericksen

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Two wrongs are only the beginning.