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SCUTTLEBUTT 3080 - Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Scuttlebutt 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.
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Today's sponsors: Hall Spars & Rigging, Melges Performance Sailboats, and
Webb Institute.
ED BAIRD - BACK ON THE HELM
American Ed Baird was at the helm when the Alinghi team won the 32nd
America's Cup in 2007, which led to him being honored that year as the ISAF
Rolex World Sailor of the Year. But during the 33rd Match he was relegated
to an advisory role with the team, and with the future of the event unknown
at this stage, he is now taking advantage of other opportunities.
Last week it was announced that the Italian fashion house Prada was
returning to the America's Cup scene, where team owner Patrizio Bertelli - a
three-time America's Cup campaigner - had reassembled the Luna Rossa team
for the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta in La Maddalena, Sardinia next month.
With Ed Baird selected as helmsman, Scuttlebutt checked in with the Florida
resident to get an update:
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* What is the status of the Alinghi team?
ED BAIRD: I believe most contracts have wrapped up, and you're already aware
that daily operations have ceased. I was in Valencia last week, and it was
pretty quiet at the base. My guess is that Ernesto is waiting to see what
BMW Oracle's plans are before he makes any decisions, but we haven't spoken
for a while so I am not really sure.
* How should your participation with the Luna Rossa team be viewed?
ED BAIRD: I have been asked to sail with Luna Rossa for the next Louis
Vuitton event. I don't know what Mr. Bertelli is thinking for the longer
term. Again, I imagine it will hinge on what the plan is for the 34th Cup. I
think we all hope that teams like Luna Rossa will be interested in being
involved. For me, for the moment, it's been a real pleasure getting back in
the Cup boats for some match race training and it will be great to get into
some racing with the other teams again.
* With all that occurred during the build up to the 33rd Match, and the
match itself, what do you see as the big take away from that event?
ED BAIRD: Let me tell you a story. I spoke to a member of the winning team
and wanted to congratulate him. His reply to me was, "Look, let's see who
wins the next one and then congratulate them. For this last one, let's just
forget about it and move on." I thought that was good advice. The boats were
amazing. The process and the event were not. Let's do better.
* If you were king, tell us your plan for the 34th America's Cup.
ED BAIRD: Seems like it would be fun to have a lot of teams, all in the same
place, that could train, socialize and compete with each other for a couple
of years before selecting a challenger that would race in the Cup against
the defender. Monohulls for close racing. A fair race course that doesn't
heavily favor any one side. Didn't that work pretty well once or twice
before? I'm sure there's a place where that can be done.
Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0427/
BUILDING A GRASSROOTS SERIES
Soon after the Melges 24 was introduced to the sailboat market in 1993,
local fleets dotted the western U.S. Hot racing was ripe, but over time as
the class grew to its current elite status, local racing disappeared. Fast
forward to 2010, where a three-event series has been organized to energize
the region again: the Melges California Cup.
The first event is the Yachting Cup in San Diego (April 30-May 2), and with
twelve boats entered, which is twelve more than in 2009, perhaps the magic
is working. Andre Peixoto, one of the organizers, provides this report about
the idea behind the series:
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As a Melges 24 owner (USA 300 Trezentos), I want to sail my boat as much as
possible. With a sailing class' success directly correlated to the
involvement of its sailors -- owners and crew alike -- we began talking with
Melges racers up and down the Coast. We found that, rather than the more
common practice of dictating events, involving more sailors in the
organization of events tended to make them more excited and invested in what
was going on. Plus, they can be counted upon to have great ideas . . .
On Lake Tahoe, we have Dan Hauserman (USA 657 Personal Puff), who is a
long-time, active San Francisco Bay and Tahoe owner, doing a phenomenal job
making Lake Tahoe one of the premier one design sailing destinations on the
West Coast. Tahoe is a magical place to sail with amazing scenery and
challenging (warm) alpine conditions. With national events shifting from
coast to coast, year to year, there is often a large gap after them, with
many teams selling their boats and buying into other classes, only to come
back years later when major events return. With no dedicated, local series
for a class to fill the interim, I don't blame them.
The Melges California Cup was created to give an opportunity (and reason)
for local teams, without the time or budget to travel across the United
States, to grow and enjoy their programs, irrespective of where the Worlds
or Nationals might be held in any given year. The emphasis is on the quality
of competition, and equally the fun. To those ends, I believe we are seeing
some success. -- Scuttlebutt,
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0424/
HALL'S AIRFOIL SCR IS A WINNER
The Mills 68 Alegre won the Mini Maxi owner/driver division at Hublot Palma
Vela - their first regatta with Airfoil SCR rigging from Hall Spars.
Alegre's Airfoil SCR is part of an aggressive upgrade designed to enhance
the three-year-old design's winning edge. Airfoil SCR pares standing rigging
frontal area to a bare minimum, reducing windage up to 50% over other
composite products. And reducing windage means an increase in speed. Just
ask Alegre. Airfoil SCR is the first and only airfoil carbon rigging on the
market, and it's only available from Hall. http://www.hallspars.com
WEATHER WAS PERFECT - FOR TOURISTS
Hyeres, France (April 27, 2010) - The AP flags were raised and lowered
several times today at Semaine Olympique Francaise as sailors met the same
light air fate as the past two days. By the end of the day, all classes were
able to squeak out a race or two, but it wasn't the full day of consistent
racing they craved. With racing ending Friday, sailors must make every race
count in order to stay in the top 10 of their respective fleets.
Top performances included a solid sixth place by Bryan Boyd (USA) in the
51-boat Finn class, which also put him in sixth place position after two
races overall. While American skipper Genny Tulloch did not qualify for the
quarterfinals through their initial group round robin, they won their only
race today in the repechage round robin series which will provide the final
two slots in the quarters. Tulloch was assisted today by loaner crew Deb
Capozzi from Anne Tunnicliffe's team, who was able to fill in for the day
after Alice Manard fell ill.
American contenders Zach Railey (Finn) and Amanda Clark/ Sarah Chin (470 W)
plummeted from the top ten, and will be needing additional races to overcome
respective BFD and OCS starting penalties earned today. Unfortunately, light
and variable winds between 7 and 10 knots are forecasted for Wednesday.
Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.net
USSTAG website (reports, photos, videos): http://tinyurl.com/US-SOF-2010
BACKGROUND: Semaine Olympique Francaise is one of the major regattas in the
international Olympic sailing circuit and the fourth of seven events in the
2009-10 ISAF Sailing World Cup series.
SUMMER OF '84: While guys like Russell Coutts, Torben Grael, and Hans Fogh
got their share of medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, the US Olympic
Sailing Team did pretty well too, medaling in all seven events of the Los
Angeles Games. Do you remember who was on that team? (Hint: Paul Cayard was
an alternate). Check out the team photo and enter to win the Atlantis
WeatherGear Microburst Jacket that will be raffled on May 3rd. -- Link:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/10/awg
A DOG'S BREAKFAST
The weather at the Semaine Olympique Francaise in Hyeres, France hasn't been
itself this week. As Finn athlete Brian Boyd (USA) notes, "We're all used to
cold howling winds here, but this week has been more suitable for
supermodels working on their tans."
Boyd was colourful in his description of Tuesday. "In conditions that can
only be charitably referred to as a 'dog's breakfast' the race committee did
about all they could do to get one race," said Boyd. "At about 30 seconds to
the start, a massive lefty arrived and most of the fleet flopped to port to
get across the line. I have a hard time piecing the happenings of the first
beat together, but suffice it to say that about 10 boats on the right got
into a private seam of pressure and were gone. The rest of us tacked on
about 17 different shifts, and tried to avoid the myriad of windless holes
to scoop up the scraps left by the top group."
"I managed to pick my way through the minefield and lead the second pack of
boats and round the top mark in 11th. Comparatively, the breeze steadied a
bit for the middle lap of the race, and I was able to close the gap a bit on
the leaders. Heading up the third beat, I spotted and picked up my own
little seam of pressure on the right to leapfrog about four boats that
languished on the left. One last good run got me inside of a French boat at
the gybe to the finish, and I held on to cross the line in sixth. All in
all, entirely acceptable given the variable conditions. Today was all about
avoiding a catastrophe." --
http://www.finnclass.org/News/swc2010/Hyeres2010_2.htm
SAILING SHORTS
* (April 27, 2010) - It was Winds 1, Yachts 0 today as Tim Lynch's J24,
Erin, took a death roll and sank on the last leg of Race 5 of Bermuda
International Invitational Race Week regatta. Erin was flying downwind under
spinnaker in 30 knots of wind on Bermuda's Great Sound. She took a knockdown
and stuck her mast in the water. The cockpit and cabin flooded almost
immediately. No one was injured, and Lynch and his crew were picked up
quickly by chase boats on the course. Efforts to raise Erin from about fifty
feet of water continued Tuesday afternoon. -- Full report:
http://tinyurl.com/2d9f3qs
* English Harbour, Antigua (April 27, 2010; Day 3) - Today's conditions
confirmed exactly why Antigua Sailing Week is so special, as 15-18kts of
breeze from the south-east, sparkling sunshine under a crystal clear blue
sky, and big, surfing turquoise blue waves rolling in from the east, are the
sort of conditions sailors' dreams are made of. With five wins in a row, and
first place overall more or less guaranteed in Racing 2 fleet, the timing of
Wednesday's layday is perfect for Lindsey Duda's Santa Cruz 52 Sin Duda to
now shift their focus toward the party points. -- Full report:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9705#9705
* (April 27, 2010; Day 8) - The nine boats competing in the Clipper 09-10
Round The World Yacht are enjoying a poorly kept secret, that being how
distance racing down the Mexican coastline is marked by warm winds that
provide lovely offwind sailing. Spirit of Australia continues to maintain
her lead, with 1713 nm to the finish. -- Event website:
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/
* The RC 44 Austria Cup will take place on April 29 - May 4. The level of
the Tour is such that it is impossible to name a favourite. The second
regatta of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2010 will begin on Thursday, April
29, on Lake Traunsee, in Austria, with James Spithill, Russell Coutts and
Larry Ellison making their return on the circuit following their America's
Cup win. They will sail against Ray Davies, Paul Cayard, Rod Davis, Markus
Wieser, Terry Hutchinson, Cameron Appleton, Christian Binder and many more
of the world's best sailors. -- Full report:
http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=2304
* The World Sailing Speed Record Council announced the ratification of a new
Indian Ocean Intermediate Record by Franck Cammas (FRA) and a crew of 9
onboard the 103-foot trimaran Groupama 3. Setting the time from February
15th to the February 23rd 2010 of 8 days 17 hours 40 minutes, Cammas bested
the previous record set by Bruno Peyron (FRA) on Orange II of 9d 11h 4m in
2005. -- http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/
MELGES ROCKS NEWPORT
Newport, Rhode Island will be the site of the next Melges Rocks party and
yes, there will be a major championship there as well. The Melges 24 fleet
will gather together for their 2010 National Championship and the Melges
32's will race for their East Coast Title. In addition, there will be Melges
20's on hand from some demonstration rides. Professional PRO, Cool Boats and
Great Competition in Newport June 25-27. -- http://www.melges.com
LETTERS AND FORUM
Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The
Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer
than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One
letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for
elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is
available on the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
-- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Molly Winans, SpinSheet editor:
You may know SpinSheet staffer and sailing coach, Amy Gross-Kehoe, as
everyone else in the world of sailing seems to have encountered her on one
coast or another. She was US SAILING Sailor of the Week in January. In honor
of her battle with brain cancer since fall 2009, a small group of us (the
five of us left in town who are not sailing in the Annapolis NOOD Regatta)
are running a 5K next Sunday, May 2, in Washington, DC called Race for Hope
DC to benefit efforts to cure this disease. As anyone who knows her will
testify, Amy's grace and humor in the middle of this tough time have been
truly amazing. If Scuttlebutt readers would like to make a donation, here's
an opportunity. Even a modest donation of $20 would make a difference. Thank
you! -- Donation link: http://tinyurl.com/25tshfx
* From Eric Lind, Traverse Area Community Sailing president:
Me thinks that Nicholas Hayes is a bit off course (in his Scuttlebutt 3078
report). I can proudly report that the Grand Traverse Yacht Club in Traverse
City, MI, is at full membership and busting at the seams! We have just
celebrated our 50th Anniversary and are still getting used to our NEW
clubhouse that opened last year following an unfortunate fire that occurred
two years ago last week. Our membership is made up of sailboat racers,
cruisers, and yes, powerboaters. We embrace all boaters and 'hangers on' and
are open Wednesdays and Fridays year round. If you find yourself in the NW
MI area please stop in and enjoy. Blue blazers are not required.
One of the best parts of GTYC is the kids. They are everywhere, always
present, and new additions are popping up every month. And, most of them are
sailors thanks to the Traverse Area Community Sailing (TACS) program. TACS
has been in operation since 1994 and we now teach more than 300 area youth
how to sail each year. Our programs include Learn to Sail, Advanced Sailing,
TACS Racing Team (summer), High School Sailing Team (spring and fall), Adult
Learn to Sail, and we have recently introduced an Adaptive Sailing Program
and are about to start a Rowing Club.
The relationship between GTYC and TACS is wonderful. Our kids have been
embraced by the Laser and Interlake Fleets and many are crewing on bigger
boats for the Wednesday Night and weekend PHRF races as well. Sailing is
strong in Traverse City and still growing.
* From Kevin Crandall:
I read Nicholas Hayes segment with great interest- as a 35 Y/O balancing my
young family (2 girls), work, house chores and "other" leisure activities
make joining a yacht club that much harder. I come from a strong racing
background, and my wife embraced and crewed for many years- but the
prospects of fitting it in now is laughable.
I roughly overlaid a line of my age on Nicholas' graph, and I think I will
be predicted to join when I am 75! What a wake-up call! I want to join now -
and we will be first in line to join a sailing club that can magically
address our needs.
* From Cam Lewis:
The 2010 Newport Beach to Ensenada race, billed as the biggest international
yacht race, was once again a fantastic race. LoeReal, a trimaran originally
built as a movie prop for WATERWORLD, since brought up to grand prix race
condition by H. Enloe from El Paso, Texas, sailed the 125 miles course in 9
hours 52 minutes and 33 seconds, over 4 hours ahead of the fastest monohull.
Not a record time as last year she had done it an hour plus faster and there
is an older Stars and Stripes cat record for the course too. I do trust that
someday soon there will be more big fast multihulls out west. Remember
Valencia AC 33?? Why not buy an old ORMA 60 tri and join in on the fun?
There are plenty in Europe for sale and since the West coast of the USA is
sled city, get in on the fun. My sleds always had more than one runner when
I was sliding down hills as a kid.
=> Curmudgeon's Comment: Cam was punishing me during the race by emailing
his course updates via MotionX-GPS from his iPhone. Here was their route:
http://tinyurl.com/2c92l3f
* From Garry Hoyt: (EIGHT BELLS in Scuttlebutt 3078)
If anyone ever exemplified the best spirit of Caribbean racing, it would be
fun loving Rudy Thompson of St. Thomas. Sail on Rudy, and may flights of sea
birds see you to safe harbor.
* From Jack Jouett:
Rudy Thomson was not only a superb sailor on the sea but a pixy on land with
the great ability to help junior sailors rise up - the St Thomas Yacht Club
and all the Caribbean will miss him. I sailed with him and against him for
20 years. -- Scuttlebutt Forum:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9681#9681
* From Tim Gregoire:
While certainly not as dramatic as what happened in Mexico (see story in
Scuttlebutt 3079), there was a similar rescue of a kiteboarder in Milwaukee
this past Sunday, and I was struck by the coincidences. Seems two Wrights
(David and Dan) can do no wrong. Read story here:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/92055699.html
* From Art Karpf, New Rochelle, NY:
I remember the 1950 edition of Larchmont Race Week, when only one-designs
competed. One race a day on two weekends and the weekdays between them
(except for Junior Day on Wednesday). Faster classes went off first sailing
longer courses, but all classes had to round a mark about 1/2 mile to
leeward of the finish line, to ensure that everyone finished to windward.
Halfway up that short weather leg, a 9-year-old was skippering his Penguin
with his younger sister as crew. Sailing on starboard tack, he saw a sleek
green IOD sloop approaching on port tack, so he called out, "Starboard tack"
as he had been taught. The silver-haired skipper of the IOD looked to
leeward, saw the Penguin and replied, "Hold your course, son" and dipped
down to duck the Penguin.
That 9-year-old sailor was astounded, and after the race couldn't stop
talking about the crossing. To think that the great Corny Shields had ducked
his stern! That's the way gentlemen sailed in those days. (And no, I was not
that kid, but I was 6 years older and sailing my Penguin just a few yards
from them.) -- Scuttlebutt Forum,
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=9667#9667
THE NEXT GREAT YACHT DESIGNER?
Here's the story of a young lady ready to join Webb Institute, the country's
premier college of Naval Architecture and Marine engineering, to be educated
for a career in the world of yacht design. Samantha Griswold - Bay Shore
High School: http://tinyurl.com/Samantha-Griswold
The Webb program combines mechanical, electrical and civil engineering with
the principals of architecture and design leading to a B.S. degree in Naval
Architecture and Marine Engineering. All students receive a full tuition
scholarship and we have 100% job placement. Webb's waterfront campus is
located on Long Island Sound in New York. For more information visit
http://www.webb-institute.edu
CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM
"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" - Satchel Paige
Special thanks to Hall Spars & Rigging, Melges Performance Sailboats, and
Webb Institute.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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