|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1288 - March 18, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, 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. AROUND ALONE Leg 4 of Around Alone has claimed two masts and two booms. It has damaged two keels and forced Kiwi Graham Dalton to elect to retire. Leg 4 has frustrated Thierry Dubois, who won the leg in the Open 60 division, but only because first-finisher Bernard Stamm was penalized 48 hours for making a repair stop. And Leg 4 is threatening Alan Paris, whose BTC Velocity suffered rigging damage and is now being carefully nursed toward the Salvador, Brazil finish line some 1,600 miles ahead. Having jury-rigged a replacement item (for the diagonal 8 millimeter rod that runs from the chainplates to the inboard base of the lower spreader), Paris said, "I trust what I have done but not enough so that I can sleep at night. During the day I will sail on starboard and keep an eye on the mast. This means it will take me longer to get to Salvador, but my main goal is getting there safely." Leg 4 even frustrated Brad Van Liew-with intense heat and slow going up the American coast, after the rounding of Cape Horn-and that's including his fourth win in four legs over six months of sailing. As the only competitor in this Around alone to win four legs, Van Liew matches a record set in 1991 by Frenchman Yves Dupasquier. "Fortunately Clipper Ventures added another leg to this race, so I have a chance to set a new record," Van Liew quipped after arriving in Salvador over the weekend. - Sail Magazine website, full story: www.sailmagazine.com/Boats/NewsOfTheDay/ * The four Around Alone Race boats still sailing towards Salvador, Brazil are enjoying very different conditions with Bruce Schwab and Tim Kent closest to the finish beating into short steep seas, Kojiro Shiraishi finding the ocean calm enough for a swim, and Alan Paris finding the conditions somewhere in-between. - Brian Hancock, www.aroundalone.com STANDINGS: 2200 UTC March 17 CLASS 1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm Solidaires, finished; 2. Thierry Dubois, finished; 14; 3. Tiscali, Simone Bianchetti, finished; 4. Pindar, Emma Richards, finished; 5. Ocean Planet, Bruce Schwab, 532 miles from finish; Hexagon, Graham Dalton, dismasted, withdrew from race. CLASS 2: 1. Tommy Hilfiger, Brad Van Liew, finished; 2. Everest Horizontal, Tim Kent, 556 miles from finish; 3. Spirit of yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 702 mff; 4. BTC Velocity, Alan Paris, 1351 mff; Spirit of Canada, Derek Hatfield, 2351 mff - dismasted. SAILING SHORTS * Dennis Conner is not ruling out the possibility of sailing for a future Team New Zealand America's Cup bid. Conner says he was disappointed with the performance of the black boats during the America's Cup and wonders why no-one has been held accountable. He says he wants to help. Conner has bought some land in New Zealand and there is a possibility he may be interested in racing for a kiwi syndicate. - Hauraki News, full story: www.hauraki-news.com/LatestNews/TeamNZ-LN14.htm * BMW regards its sailing commitment (with Oracle BMW Racing) as a complete success. According to Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, Senior Vice President BMW Group Marketing, the exceptional cooperation of the German-American partners in particular had a very positive influence. "The investment in professional sailing has paid off and will subsequently strengthen our brand. At the moment we are reviewing the national and international options for additional sailing activities." - Hauraki News, www.hauraki-news.com/LatestNews/OracleRacing-LN9.htm * The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia announced a slight increase in the IRC upper limit, from 1.6 to 1.61, and the incorporation of an absolute size limit of 30 metres LOA, effective for this year's Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The CYCA decision follows a process of consultation with its owners and a review of the impact on boats in last year's race of changes to the IRC Rule effective from 1 July 2003 in Australia. The decision means that a boat such as Alfa Romeo, which won line honours in 2002, will remain eligible to compete in 2003 despite its rating having increased to 1.607. - Peter Campbell * The 2003 Case Book Supplement for the Racing Rules of Sailing has now been published and is available to download online: www.sailing.org/rrs2001 CAMET PERFORMANCE GEAR High performance sailors deserve high performance gear. The great looking Camet Sailing Shorts, Coolmax Shirts, Neoprene Hiking Pants and the Bubble Top are used by sailors from around the world. The Bubble Top is made by using advanced technology that compensates you for your hard work and sweating by flexing the specially designed Neoprene fabric to pump out the vapor. Ideal for Star class and dinghy sailors, the Bubble Top keeps you dry. Check out all Camet products on http://www.camet.com AWARDS * Henry Maxwell, Jr. is the winner of US Sailing's W. Van Alan Clark, Jr. National Sportsmanship Trophy. During the New England School Sailing Association (NESSA) Team Racing Championship in May 2002, Henry Maxwell demonstrated exceptional character and dedication to the success of the sport of sailing. Maxwell sailed with his team from the Williams School, at that time the defending champions of the event. The Williams School was in a very close race against Tabor Academy. The race would determine which New England team qualified for the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) Team Racing Nationals. Although the Williams School won the race on the water, the judges lodged a protest against Maxwell, who had entered another protest himself. After Maxwell realized he had indeed committed a foul and that his own protest was inappropriate, he retracted his protest and withdrew from the race. As a result of this decision, the Williams School lost the race, sending Tabor Academy to the Nationals. This award honors those people who are outstanding examples of dedication and graciousness in the sport of sailing, and for sharing these talents with others. Nominees include sailors who have performed a single exemplary act or who have consistently exemplified the finest tradition of the sport both on and off the water, through instruction and encouragement of others. - www.ussailing.org/sportsmanship/ * Clark Chapin has been named the recipient of C.R.E.W. Award. which recognizes US Sailing staff and volunteers who effectively set clear expectations, show mutual respect, and are committed to collaboration within the organization. Chapin is a long-time volunteer of US Sailing from Plymouth, Mich, who joined the ODCC executive committee in 1989. Nominated by his peers, Chapin was cited as follows: "He doesn't exemplify one or two of the C.R.E.W. values, but all of them, and he truly lives by them-and began doing so long before we wrote down these values and put them on a card." Another nomination read: "He's one of those rare type A personalities who is also genuinely thoughtful of others." - www.ussailing.org/awards/crewcard.htm CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * March 21-23 Star Olympic Pre-Trials at the US Sailing Center / Coral Reef Yacht Club. - www.ussailing.org/olympics/2004Trials/ * March 21-23 Snipe Pan Am Team Trials, Clearwater YC, FL. - www.clwyc.org/ * March 22: Marion to Berumda Race Symposium, "Preparing for an Offshore Passage" M.I.T. Cambridge, MA. www.mariontoburmuda.com * March 28-30: Olympic Classes Regatta, Alamitos Bay YC, Long Beach, CA. - www.abyc.org * March 28-30: Disabled Midwinters (Sonar & 2.4 Metre), St. Petersburg YC, FL - www.spyc.org/ * April 25: Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race, Newport Ocean Sailing Association. - www.nosa.org/ * August 1-3: Buzzards Bay Regatta, New Bedford YC. Approximately 400 boats PHRF boats, multi-hulls and one-designs will be participating in at least 14 classes. - www.BuzzardsBayRegatta.com LASER MIDWINTER WEST Mission Bay YC - 45 Lasers and 58 Radials sailed 6 races in breeze ranging from 8-18 knots. Sunday's racing was cancelled due to huge surf closing out the Mission Bay entrance. Final Results - Laser: 1. Zach Railey, 5 points; 2. Matt McQueen, 11; 3. Ben Richardson, 16; 4. Clay Johnson, 18; 5. Kevin Taugher, 30; Laser Radial: 1. Ryan Minth, 9; 2. Doug Hart, 17; 3. Parker Shinn, 17; 4. Adam Deermont, 28; 5. Bob Falk, 31. - Complete results: www.mbyc.org BUILT TOUGH The latest range from Aquapro, Raider RIB's, are built tough! Available in seven models, these are the ultimate go anywhere boats for all imaginable conditions. Ten years of research and development in hull design and inflatable tube technology have resulted in the conception of this fast, tough workboat. Available with a center console and optional bimini or spacious cabin and high visibility hard top, Aquapro Raider RIB's will take you anywhere in comfort, safety and style. More information at http://www.raiderboat.com VO 60 REUNION "The battle of the Baltic" promises to be one of this summer's major sailing events. Just two weeks after the announcement of the race there has already been positive responses from top V.O. 60 sailors and syndicates. "We think that the combination of three classic regattas will bring a lot of attention to our event and that is one of the key factors for success", says Patrik Mehks Project Manager at Viamare, the Swedish yacht and hotel conglomerate and organiser of the event. "That we have four strong syndicates today, just two weeks after the announcing the race, is very encouraging. We have contacts with some really strong syndicates that are just about to put the ink on paper, so there will be more to come." The two-week sprint version of Volvo Ocean Race, starts on June 21 when the fleet will participate in the opening race of the Kieler Woche; Eckenförde Race. After a windward/ leeward race in Kiel, the boats will race to Sandhamn finishing on June 25. The boats will then go to Stockholm for a 24-hour stopover with a parade of sail and plenty of public activities. The boats will be berthed at Skeppsbron, within sight of the royal castle, on June 27 and racing will start again with the Accenture Round Gotland Race on the June 29. Following that, they will race to Marstrand, on the Swedish west coast, arriving Saturday July 5, during the Swedish Match Cup. - Lizzie Green, www.volvobalticrace.org NEIL BAKER There will be a celebration of the life of Neil Baker on Wednesday, March 26 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. at the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, 7201 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, California. Baker, 40, was found dead in his Garden Grove apartment March 12. He leaves his parents, Mike and Sherry Baker, of Long Beach, and wife Louise and children Madeleine, 3 1/2, and Michael, 2, of Irvine. Donations in Baker's name to yacht club junior programs or similar causes may be sent to: Louise Baker, 923 Monte Vista, Irvine, CA 92602. The Cal 20 Class Association has announced that its 2003 national championship regatta at the Long Beach Yacht Club will be dedicated to Baker. WINNERS ANNOUNCED We would like to thank all the websites that provide the Scuttlebutt newsletter as a feature to their viewers. To recognize those that have gone above and beyond, here is this week's list of favorites: Boats For Sale Award: http://www.charlestonyachtsales.com Junior Sailing Achievement Award: http://www.jsalis.org Olympic Dream Award: http://www.starteamholland.com Belated St. Patrick's Day Award: http://www.glenans-ireland.com/index.htm …and the Curmudgeon's Special Service Award: http://www.noeticharbor.com/curmudgeon If you would like your site to provide Scuttlebutt as a feature, or to see what we are talking about at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/affiliate LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Mike Weir: Thank goodness that people like Rich Hazleton have the common sense to write how we the judges think the rules should be interpreted. The promotion of cheating by US college coaches makes it a lot harder to enforce the RRS at open regattas in North America as the competitors from their programs don't seem to understand the real rule 42. I think that it is time we all thanked Rich for his perceptive insight into this problem. * From Craig Fletcher: Norman Davant is 100% correct - the world needs a universal measurement rule - now. Memo to the rule makers: Write the rule in stone, disband your committee with resolution to never meet again and sit back and watch your rule work. History shows multiple changes in past rules over taxed the owners check books and ultimately killed the rule. * From Chris Ericksen: Now it is clear to me! My old friend, Barton Beek, said in 'Butt 1286 that no Gold Star would be awarded in 2003, which puzzled me: why would the Star Class do such a thing? The answer was in the letter from ISAF President Paul Henderson's letter in 'Butt 1287: the Star Class chose not to designate their participation in the Cadiz Joint Worlds Championship of Olympic Classes as their Worlds and withheld sanction. Hurrah for the Star Class! Well done! Apparently the Star Class felt it could conform only so much to the dictates of the IOC and ISAF; they felt holding no Star Worlds would be better than holding one over which the class did not have control. President Henderson says that he believes "the positives of Olympic Status far outweigh the few erosions of class autonomy that designation brings." I guess that depends on where you're standing. And he "respectfully submits" that "the best sailors come into the Star because of the (chance to win) Olympic Gold." I respectfully submit that the best sailors come to the Star Class because the best sailors are in the Star Class, Olympics or no Olympics. Perhaps the turnout at the Cadiz regatta will decide which of us is right. * From Dick Rose, Chair, US Sailing Racing Rules Committee: Senet Bischoff wrote, "Now all we need is to have US Sailing and ISAF seek our feedback to other ISAF rules that don't work well in the real world." The US Sailing Racing Rules Committee has, for many years, sought out suggestions for improving the racing rules from all US Sailing members. The invitation is in the Foreword to the rulebook. Most of the changes that US Sailing proposes to ISAF begin life as a suggestion from a US Sailing member. If Senet or anyone else has suggestions for improving the rules, they should e-mail them to rules@ussailing.org. Please state the problem or ambiguity that you have spotted and suggest, if possible, how the rules should be changed to fix it. Scuttlebutt readers will be interested to hear that the US Racing Rules Committee is currently working on a proposal suggested by an intercollegiate coach and a team racing umpire for improving those parts of the Propulsion rule (Rule 42) that deal with roll tacking and sculling. * From Clark Chapin: Congratulations to Chicago Yacht Club's Janet Baxter on her nomination to be the first female President of US Sailing. Janet's direct approach and no-nonsense manner (well, maybe a little nonsense) will serve her well as she steps up to her new position. THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM Since cats always land on their feet and jelly bread always lands jelly-side down, what happens if you tie jelly bread to the back of a cat? |
