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SCUTTLEBUTT 2828 - Wednesday, April 22, 2009Scuttlebutt 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. Today's sponsors are MyBoatsGear.com, The Pirate’s Lair, and New York Yacht Club’s 155th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. LEADING THE CHARGE For the 2012 Olympics, there will be a new event: Women’s Match Racing. Among those leading the charge for the Americans is Genny Tulloch, currently the top ranked member of the US SAILING Team Alphagraphics. Here is the second half of Scuttlebutt’s interview with Genny where she comments on her youth and college sailing, women’s match racing in the U.S., and the Morning Light documentary: * You were the 2004 Quantum Female Sailor of the Year in college. What helped you achieve that honor? Genny Tulloch: “I grew up in the youth scene - first optis, then 420s and Laser Radials and 29ers. I did the whole circuit - from Texas circuit events to Opti Nationals and Team Trials and Europeans, Youth Champs, Ida Lewis, and Leiter, Bemis, and qualified for the Youth Worlds in the Laser Radial and the 420. I think it was important to do as many big events as possible in youth sailing, get into the mindset of sailing against great people from the rest of the country or the rest of the world. I think this helps prepare you for the level of competition you're going to get in college. “But college sailing is incredible. You practice and race so much in that four years of sailing - just starts and mark roundings and boat handling over and over again. I also had a really great team of sailors to race against every day, as well as excellent coaches, so I could really make the most of the time on the water spent college sailing. But I think my preparation prior to college also helped me get a leg up - I was runner up for that award my freshman year and actually won it my sophomore year, so I then spent my junior year doing more co-ed sailing and team racing and getting ready for an Olympic Campaign. (Editor note: Jenny graduated from Harvard in three years).” * For the elite youth sailors who anticipate campaigning for the Olympics, do you believe that college sailing is an important step, or should they begin campaigning during their college years? Genny Tulloch: “Good question. I do think college sailing is a really important step, but I don't necessarily think it should be instead of campaigning. I think a mixture of the two is really good: lots of college sailing, with Olympic sailing in the summer and some specific regattas throughout the year (Genny sailed 470’s during her junior year). Your college team might not be happy with you for taking off in favor of a different event (I remember my team being really mad at me for just that), but sometimes you have to do what's best for you and your future in sailing. But college sailing is really the one thing that we have in the U.S. that the other countries don't do as well as we do, so you have to use it to your full advantage.” Much more, complete interview here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0420 GGYC WANTS MULTI-CHALLENGER EVENT (Apr. 21, 2009) - The Société Nautique Genève (SNG), representing the America’s Cup defender Alinghi team, will meet on April 23rd with the newly established Challenger of Record, Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC), to seek an understanding on the format for the 33rd America’s Cup. GGYC issued this statement today: “The Golden Gate Yacht Club and its team, BMW ORACLE Racing, remain committed to a multiple challenger, mutual consent regatta. In preparation for our meeting with Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) this Thursday (23 April) in Geneva, Commodore Marcus Young sent a letter to his counterpart at SNG today reiterating our commitment and outlining two proposals for a multiple-challenger AC33. This letter is posted on our Club website, www.ggyc.com. We believe it is important to be clear and transparent in our respective positions. We are asking SNG to respond with their position in writing to avoid any confusion.” The letter referred to above can be read here: http://www.ggyc.com/GGYCltr.pdf => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Not only does GGYC want a multi-challenger event, but so do the ‘buttheads. The results from the poll in Scuttlebutt 2827 state that 66.52% of the respondents want the 33rd America's Cup to be the Defender and a multi-challenger field racing in monohulls. There were plenty of comments posted too. Read them all here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/09/0420 AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AIS Last October AIS Class B was approved for use in the US. To learn about AIS and what it can do for you, plus the equipment, read here: http://www.myboatsgear.com/newsletter/AIS.asp AIS is a signal sent out by commercial shipping and can be picked up with an AIS receiver connected to your VHF antenna. The AIS signal tells you the sending vessels SOG, COG, Position and destination. AIS is very useful information for the boater, for navigating in shipping channels, and open Oceans. RSS feeds are available at http://www.Myboatsgear.com FLEET TIGHTENS DURING CARIBBEAN FLY-BY by Bouwe Bekking, Telefónica Blue skipper (Apr. 21, 2009; Day 11) - We have been on the receiving end now for roughly 36 hours, losing mile after mile, which is part of the game. I don’t think it will stop for at least another 20 hours, as then finally the others will hit the wall as well. I have seen this happen several times in previous round the world races and also in this race it happened a few times, so we are fully preparing ourselves for a re-start. This leg can become another very close one. Of course we want to win, but can see as well that it serves our sport and the Volvo Ocean Race big time if we have this close racing going on. We might be still in the driving seat, but having the others closer brings also that extra adrenaline pumping through your veins, as the racing gets even more exciting. All are well onboard, good food, no health issues and finally a day with no spray over the decks. So yesterday (Monday) was a day for drying gear out, plus working a bit on the tan, by getting some sun rays on our bodies. Not too forget lots of our guys actually shaved their ‘beard’ off, which is something totally new, as normally I am the only one who does this. I know Xabi (Xabier Fernandez) had some pressure from his son, who doesn’t like to see his father looking like a pirate, but the others??? The remainder of this leg looks to go relatively quickly and we might be in for a Sunday day time finish, which of course would be excellent to kick off the Boston stopover. -- http://tinyurl.com/cxp5h8 Crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. Leg Six from Rio de Janiero, Brazil to Boston, MA, USA is 4,900 nm, with the finish estimated on April 26th. Current positions (as of Apr. 21, 22:15 GMT): 1. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 1,546 nm Distance to Finish 2. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 27 nm Distance to Leader 3. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, 30 nm DTL 4. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 40 nm DTL 5. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, 60 nm DTL 6. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 61 nm DTL 7. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 100 nm DTL Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, Did Not Start Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 TOP COLLEGE TEAMS ADVANCE TO SEMI-FINALS By virtue of regional qualifications, the top 36 college sailing teams will now advance to the Western and Eastern Semi-Final championships. The teams scheduled to attend the Western Semi-Finals hosted by Harvard at Fan Pier in Boston on May 2-3 are: MAISA: NY Maritime, Washington Coll, Hobart/WmSmith, Pennsylvania MCSA: Wisconsin, St. Thomas NEISA: Boston College, Connecticut Coll, Yale, Harvard NWICSA: Western Washington PCCSC: Hawaii, Cal Maritime SAISA: Charleston, South Florida, Florida SEISA: Texas, Oklahoma The teams scheduled to attend the Eastern Semi-Finals hosted by MIT at Fan Pier in Boston on May 2-3 are: MAISA: Georgetown, Navy, St. Mary's, Old Dominion MCSA: Minnesota, Michigan, Northwestern NEISA: Roger Williams, Boston Univ, Vermont, Tufts NWICSA: U/Washington PCCSC: UC/Santa Barbara, Stanford SAISA: Eckerd, U/Miami SEISA: Tulane, Texas A&M Galveston Each Semi-Final event will be sailed in FJs, with the top nine from the West and the top nine from the East to advance to the ICSA/Gill National Coed Dinghy Championship at St. Francis YC/Stanford on June 1-3. * FOOTNOTE: At the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA) Coed Dinghy Championships, hosted by Boston College & UMASS Boston on April 18-19, 2009, Boston College, Roger Williams, Connecticut College, BU, Yale, Vermont, Harvard, and Tufts had qualified for the Coed Dinghy Semi-Final championships. However, at the conclusion of the event it was discovered that Connecticut College team had made a clerical error in filling out the RP form. The imposition of the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) penalty moved Conn to ninth place and Brown into eighth in the final qualifying spot. In a tremendous display of sportsmanship the Brown team has declined the berth so that Conn can still attend the ICSA Semi-Final Championship. NEISA has decided that the results achieved by the teams on the water determine the seedings at the Semi-finals. College sailing website: http://www.collegesailing.org NMMA PARES DOWN BOAT SHOW SCHEDULE The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is discontinuing three of its shows - the San Diego Boat Show, the Schaumburg Boat & Sportshow, and the Virginia In-Water Boat Expo & Sailfest."In the current state of our industry, our shows' exhibitors are compromised by an overabundance of boat shows in these markets," said Ben Wold, NMMA executive vice president, in a statement. "By moving forward without the Virginia, San Diego and Schaumburg shows, we'll be able to focus on delivering improved quality at our other shows and create a stronger selling environment for our exhibitors at remaining NMMA shows." -- Soundings Trade Only, read on: http://tinyurl.com/d95lxj JUST IN TIME FOR ALL THE BIG RACES! MOUNT GAY RUM BURGEE Be the first to fly the new Mount Gay Rum burgee! Double walled, printed both sides and sewn tape edges make it more than a wall hanger. Quantities are limited. Log on to http://www.pirateslair.com/store/index.html for this and other excellent Mount Gay Rum gear. PARITY IN HYÈRES Hyères, France (Apr. 21, 2009; Day 3) - With light winds prevailing again today, the Semaine Olympique Française, the fourth of seven International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup events, is now at its midpoint with six countries tied for the most entrants currently on the podium (3): United States, France, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, and Croatia. For the top North Americans, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) continues her climb up the standings, winning the only Laser Radial race of the day to move to second but still 15 points off the lead. Americans Stu McNay and Graham Biehl in the Men’s 470 had their first race out of the top ten (6-12) to drop them to third. Andrew MacDonald/Brian Faith (USA) remain second overall in the Star, while Paralympic Gold Medalist Paul Tingley (CAN) now has moved up to third in the 2.4m. Other news amongst the fleet has been the steady rise in the Women’s 470 standings of Molly Carapiet/ Molly O’Bryan Vandemoer (USA), who are now in 9th and only six points from fifth. Unfortunately, American Brad Funk’s chance of salvaging his Laser event now appears over, as his starting disqualification (BFD) on Monday is now matched by a DNF today, dropping him to 49th. Series racing will continue Wednesday and Thursday before the top ten from each event move on to the double-point, non-discardable Medal Race on Friday. Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.net Event video: http://www.sailing.org/worldcuptv.php SAILING SHORTS * Hamilton, Bermuda (April 21, 2009) - Somers Kempe won the IOD A Series of Bermuda Race Week, with that class moving on to a six-race B Series and the overall thirteen-race Vrengen Gold Cup Series. Trevor Boyce, 2008 J/24 Race Week champ, came back to take the lead after rolling three perfect bullets today, with Californian Peter Vessella also converting three firsts to lead the Laser class over perennial Bermuda winner Malcolm Smith. -- Full story: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7353#7353 * (Apr. 21, 2009) - The second event of the RC 44 Championship Tour 2009 begins tomorrow (Wednesday) in Sardinia. The event marks the beginning of DHL’s GoGreen program, aimed at compensating the carbon footprint of the RC 44 Championship Tour. Nine top level teams will compete for the title. The Cagliari Cup is organised by Yacht Club Cagliari, with the support of the City of Cagliari. Among the competitors are Cameron Appleton, Sébastien Col, Larry Ellison, Russell Coutts, Karol Jablonski, Torbjorn Tornqvist, Dean Barker, and Philippe Presti. -- Full report: http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=1997 * The fourth leg of the five leg Portimão Global Ocean Race from Ilhabela (BRA) to Charleston (USA) will begin April 25th. Chris Tibbs, a meteorologist and weather router, has provided a detailed synopsis for what lays ahead of the three doublehanded Class 40s and the one singlehanded Open 40. -- Full report: http://www.portimaoglobaloceanrace.com/?page=news&news_id=270&lang=en * Following selection of the Elliott 6m as the boat for the new Women’s Match Racing event at the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) published an order and distribution protocol and invited its Member National Authorities (MNAs) to apply for a building slot. Having received applications for over 70 boats and from 16 MNAs (representing Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America), ISAF has now created the distribution order and have allocated the building slots to all nations. -- Read on: http://www.sailing.org/28038.php * North Sails and Sailing Weather Services have joined forces to provide free weather forecasts for those racing in the Sperry Top-Sider Annapolis NOOD Regatta from April 24-26, 2009. To receive these daily forecasts via email, simply log on to North’s online Weather Center: http://www.na.northsails.com/tabid/7240/Default.aspx BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE WINDWARD GATE What do you get when you combine a large sailing area, shallow water, and a surplus of skilled race committee personnel? You get options, which is what International Race Officer Dave Brennan had when he went about solving the problem of weather mark crisis at the 2008 Etchells Florida State Championship on Biscayne Bay in Miami, FL. The story has been told and retold in Scuttlebutt, that being the experiment of the Windward Gate to address the congestion caused by 90 boats approaching the windward mark after a two mile leg. As Brennan described, “The starboard tack lay line stack-up was ½ nm long. Some of the boats in the middle and the back of the fleet had over stood the windward mark by ¼ nm. Boats exiting the offset mark for the first run became a parade with starboard tack boats hesitant to jibe.” The Scuttlebutt Forum has hosted what is perhaps the most comprehensive reporting on this subject, and now has the latest commentary by Brennan. What is most interesting by this recent posting is the Bird’s Eye imagery that is provided by Kattack Performance Software, which compares the single weather mark at the 83-boat 2008 Etchells World Championship in Chicago and the windward gate at the 55-boat 2009 Mid-Winter Regatta in Miami, FL. View post here: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7351#7351 NEW YORK YACHT CLUB ANNUAL REGATTA PRESENTED BY ROLEX Much is new at the oldest regatta in America. Entry fees have been rolled back to 2006 prices for the New York Yacht Club’s 155th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, June 12-14 in Newport, RI. As always, there is no fee for Friday’s optional Around-the-Island Race. Post-race activities include a presentation by Sailors for the Sea, and cocktails, awards, and a new dinner on Friday. Saturday’s dinner features cocktails, a slide show, panel discussions and lots and lots of camaraderie at the NYYC’s Harbour Court. For IRC, Cruising, PHRF, Classics, 12 & 6 Metres and One-Designs. Sign up now at http://www.nyyc.org/155annual CELEBRATING EARTH DAY - APRIL 22 by Paul V. Oliva Among the exhibits at the Strictly Sail Pacific boat show was the Derek M. Baylis , which was designed and built by Tom Wylie with the express purpose of doing ocean conservation work. I had the chance to chat with David Robinson, who is the managing director of SeaLife Conservation and captain of the Baylis . Launched in 2003, it took about a year for Tom to seize upon an interesting concept with the Monterey Bay Aquarium: take people out for two-hour sails and use various marine biology tools to show the marine ecosystem. After the program was launched in 2004, they started collecting garbage they found in the water. They ultimately realized the power of GPS-based geocoding of the collection point of the garbage and analysis of the type and age of the garbage. By 2005 they had a year's data and were on their way to the program they have today: working with local politicians and merchants to reduce plastic and other garbage making its way into our bays and ocean. The demise of styrofoam chowder cups at Monterey Bay fisherman's wharf was an early example of their work. The cups appeared as more than 7 percent of the garbage around Monterey Bay. David's group was able to drive the change from cups made out of styrofoam to a biodegradable alternative called bagasse, and they can show the resulting decrease in styrofoam in Monterey Bay. David has the Derek M. Baylis staying berthed at Jack London Square (Oakland, CA) in preparation for taking out local politicians and staff from Palo Alto and Redwood City on Earth Day (April 22nd). The focus will be on efforts to reduce plastic bags and styrofoam in San Franicsco Bay. Aside from that, the no-shroud, cat ketch rigged Derek M. Baylis is a beautiful example of Wylie's design and marine engineering vision. Really stunning! * SeaLife Conservation website: http://www.sealifeconservation.org LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get 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 Chad Corning: One of the best stories from the IC Nationals this year was the third place finish of Pedro Lorson and Mimi Berry from Manhasset Bay YC. After 20+ years of trying this was their best finish ever. Longtime IC sailors Ted Scott and Sonya Smith (New Bedford YC) lost a tie break for fifth and class grand wizard Neal Fowler (Hyannis YC) sailing with Rob Hitchcock came eighth. It was a great event – thanks to all the teams that made the trip. Full results: http://www.larchmontyc.org/racing/documents/ICNationals09_IC.pdf * From Loren Davidson: (from Scuttlebutt 2825) I see that one of my songs has been featured in a video by Harry Manko on the Scuttlebutt site. It's kinda cute. I do love sailing, and never get to do enough of it. You can always hear more of my music from my main page, www.lorendavidson.com, and select the "Music" link at the top. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Special thanks to MyBoatsGear.com, The Pirate’s Lair, and New York Yacht Club’s 155th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
