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SCUTTLEBUTT 3402 - Wednesday, August 10, 2011Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: APS, Gowrie Group, and Vineyard Race. US TAKES BRONZE AT LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC TEST EVENT Weymouth/Portland, GBR (August 10, 2011) - Marit Bouwmeester (NED) opened up a 24 point lead after eight races in the Laser Radial after yet another fantastic day at the Weymouth and Portland International Regatta. After two big wind days the conditions were lighter and shiftier with winds ranging from 9-12 knots. The World #1 and ISAF Sailing World Cup Laser Radial title holder has been the standout sailor in the Laser Radial and with seven top three finishes out of eight races she goes into Races 9 and 10 with a strong lead. Evi van Acker is second on 35 points. Paige Railey (USA) is in third place on 56 points following a sixth in Race 7 before discarding an OCS in Race 8. Silja Lehtinen (FIN) advanced to the final of the Women's Match Racing as she breezed past Sally Barkow (USA) 3-0 in the first semi final. But in the second semi final Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) met Claire Leroy (FRA) and went 2-0 up against the World #1 French match racer. In the petit final Leroy faced Sally Barkow (USA) to decide the bronze medal. In the first two races penalties ultimately cost Leroy the race as she went 2-0 down, the bronze going to Barkow as Leroy lost the third flight against Skudina. The 49ers, Finns and Stars resume sailing on Wednesday after their reserve day and the 470, Laser and Laser Radials continue. -- Full report and results: http://www.sailing.org/london2012/news/36456.php Canadian Sailing Team: http://tinyurl.com/CYA-080411 US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics: http://tinyurl.com/USSTAG-073111 BACKGROUND: The 2011 Weymouth and Portland International Regatta is designed to test the Olympic sailing venue and its operations in advance of the 2012 Games. Racing for the ten Olympic sailing events is August 2-13, where 325 entries representing 135 countries will compete across five courses on Portland Harbor and Weymouth Bay. Consistent with the Olympic Games, each country is allowed just one representative in each event. * US Laser sailor Brad Funk is sitting in 14 place tied overall after 8 races at the Olympic Test Event. In his blog posted today he reports on the extremely frustrating conditions that the fleet's been up against, and his chances of making it into the medal race. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/42lyehz THE WAVE, MUSCAT LEADS EXTREME 40 FLEET AT COWES Cowes, GBR (August 9, 2011) - After the drama and action-packed first four days of Act 5 from Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, the breezy conditions that cart-wheeled the Extreme 40 Aberdeen Asset Management yesterday, eased off today at the halfway stage of the UK round of the 2011 Extreme Sailing SeriesT. The racing started with a round of one-on-one speed duels before the 11 teams lined up to race as one fleet for the first time since day 1. It was a case of playing the shifts, finding the best patches of pressure out of the 6-8 knots of breeze, and keeping out of the adverse tide on the upwind legs, tacking as close into shore as they dared. For Sidney Gavignet's Oman Air, they dared too much and went aground in the final race right in front of the Race Village. Crew man David (Freddie) Carr leapt into the water to manhandle the Extreme 40 off the beach. After the seven races today, including five full-fleet races, The Wave, Muscat skippered by Leigh McMillan has taken over the lead at the top of the overall leaderboard from Luna Rossa. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/42kj8j5 Overall standings after 23 races 1. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) - 118 pts 2. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) - 114.4 pts* 3. Luna Rossa (ITA) - 114 pts 4. Alinghi (SUI) - 99 pts 5. Team GAC Pindar (GBR) - 89 pts 6. Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT) - 86 pts 7. Oman Air (OMA) - 83 pts 8. Niceforyou (ITA) - 66 pts 9. Emirates Team NZ (NZL) - 58 pts 10. Aberdeen Asset Management (EUR) - 58 pts 11. Team Extreme (EUR) - 48 pts 12. Artemis Racing (SWE) - 21 pts * Redress given BACKGROUND: The Extreme Sailing Season is embarking on its fifth season, with Cowes as the fifth stop for the nine event tour that will travel through Asia, Europe, and North America this year. The platform used is the one design Extreme 40 catamaran, with each five day event combining 'open-water' racing with 'stadium' short-course racing in front of the public. The 2011 ESS has grown in part due to the multihull format planned for the 34th America's Cup in 2013. -- http://www.extremesailingseries.com/ YOU MUSTO HEARD THE NEWS. Musto One Design Smocks are now 50% off at APS! OD Sailors and Scholastic Racers: Get a deal as you gear up for the climes of Fall! These smocks are lightweight and durable - perfect if you're looking for minimal bulk in your waterproof, windproof, and breathable foul weather gear. APS, "The World Leader in Outfitting Performance Sailors," brings you top of the line gear that will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable out on the course. Kick off the season right. Outfit yourself with Musto! To read more about this smock's great features, click here: http://bit.ly/DiscountMusto EMIRATES TEAM NZ REQUEST CHALLENGERS 'HAVE THEIR SAY' (August 8, 2011) - In a statement released today by Emirates Team New Zealand, the Team announced that it wants all challengers for the 34th America's Cup to be given a say on whether or not they should be allowed to maintain their own internet sites containing America's Cup content mirrored with the 34th America's Cup site. The team has been in dispute with the America's Cup Event Authority about a protocol clause that stipulates competitors' sole America's Cup internet presence must be on micro-sites hosted on the America's Cup web site, except for social media. Following mediation today, Emirates Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton said teams should be given the opportunity to vote on the issue. For that to happen Oracle Racing as the defender and Artemis Racing as the challenger of record must co-operate. Dalton said commercial teams should be given the opportunity to preserve their brands and build for the future. Emirates Team New Zealand, as a commercial team competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, the Extreme Sailing Series and the America's Cup, feels strongly that the protocol restriction disadvantages its ability to operate in the commercial world. "This is an opportunity for the privately funded defender and challenger of record to do the right thing and allow a popular vote on this important commercial issue." * After two lay days, the America's Cup World Series resumes in Cascais, Portugal on Wednesday. -- Event website: http://www.americascup.com SURVIVING WITHOUT PROS By Christopher Howell The term one-design usually conjures up visions of a pack of Lasers banging it out in the harbor or a 130 J/22s converging on Annapolis for a World Championship. Normally, these are small trailer-able boats driven by road warriors who drag their rides from one end of the country to the other. Unfortunately, those road warriors grow up and many times move on to more stable platforms that suit their lifestyle. That usually means accepting the dreaded handicap sailboat racing. But for those who refuse to spend their time on the water with a stop watch and a calculator, there are still a few options. This year, in the height of a sputtering economic recovery, the J/105 will have 41 boats on the line for their North American Championship in Marblehead, MA. This 35-foot racer cruiser is made for those who will not give up the intensity of one-design racing, with solid one-design rules providing the foundation for growth. Unlike the very few other one-design classes over 30-feet, there are no pro sailors allowed in Class events. Imagine, over 5 million dollars of fiberglass and sails on the race course at the North American Championship and not a sailmaker in sight. What - you say - no pro to tune my boat? No sailmaker on my ride to guide me around the course, to prove their sails are best? Some say this "no pro" rule is short-sighted but frankly the owners love it. Let's face it, this is still recreation! What is more frustrating than investing your time and money into your race program and then getting your ass kicked by an all-pro boat! While the ability of competitors will always vary, and some teams will always invest more in their preparation, the "no pro" rule manages the expense of providing an honest test for the whole crew. I admit I was skeptical about this "no pro" thing when I took over the Class admin duties three years ago. But I'll be dammed if it doesn't work! The Class Rules and bylaws are well written, and the Class never stops tweaking and improving what they are doing. The Class Officers are extremely dedicated, and they don't mess around when it comes to the rules. The term one-design defines this Class, and the over 350 active racers in the US would have it no other way. The J/105 North American Championship is August 11-14. You may not always recognize the names on the leader board, and that is just the way they like it! Event website: http://tinyurl.com/J105-NA-2011 SAILING SUCCESS ALL ABOUT HARD WORK By Justin Magill Mahtomedi, IA (August 9, 2011) - Time, dedication and support is what it take to be competitive in sailing. Mahtomedi High School student Willy Crary has all of those, and he has been making the most of it this summer. At the National X Scow Sailing Championships in Clear Lake, Iowa, he was able to beat out more than 100 boats and win the senior division. Of the six races he and Susie Voltz won three and finished in the top 10 in the rest, including a second-place finish in one of them. Known as the main focal point to the success of the races, he is quick to give credit to those who help him, those who support him. "Many factors contribute to my success at the Inland Championships," he said. "One of the major factors is that I have had great coaches including Gordy Bowers who was the head coach of the US Olympic sailing team. "While my job on the boat is important, without a great crew I could not be so successful. Susie Voltz has been crewing with me for five years." Success so far has not stopped Crary and his crew. They are constantly trying to get better and in order to test themselves, the competition must be strong. Instead of staying put with their own age group, he insists on sailing in the older divisions, to keep excelling and to never settle for what they have earned so far. "Sailing against older people pushes me beyond the level of the people my own age," he said. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/3v73xcl PURCHASE ONE-DESIGN INSURANCE INSTANTLY ONLINE FROM GOWRIE Gowrie Group just launched a One-Design website which enables sailors to customize their coverage, get an instant quote, and buy an insurance policy online - all in a matter of minutes. This One-Design insurance program is endorsed by US SAILING and is available to 135 one-design classes. $300,000 in liability coverage is standard on all policies, with an option to buy up to $2 million. Sail smart this season and protect your boat and lifestyle with an insurance policy designed specifically for one-design sailors. Get an instant quote and purchase the policy online now at: http://www.gowrie.com/onedesignquote SAILING SHORTS * The East Coast classic Chester Race Week, Canada's largest keel boat regatta, starts on Wednesday, hosted by the Chester Yacht Club on the beautiful waters of Mahone Bay, near Halifax, Canada. A fleet of over 132 yachts are pre-registered, ranging from smaller day sailors to multi-million ocean yachts, all which will compete on three separate courses. Competition runs from Wednesday to Saturday. -- Event website: http://chesterraceweek.com/ * The Snipe Worlds begin on Wednesday in Rungsted, Denmark, with three races on the schedule. A practice race was held Tuesday with most of the 60 boat fleet, representing 18 nations, out in 5-12 knots from the west northwest, very shifty off the land, which competitors expect to see again later in the week. Top competitors on the line tomorrow include reigning World champions Bruno Bethlem and Dante Bianchi (BRA) and multi-world Champion Augie Diaz (USA). -- Event website: http://snipeworlds.kdy.dk/index.php4/con32.php4 * Spartan, a 72' New York 50 Class sloop designed by the famed Nathanael G. Herreshoff in 1912, led the Herreshoff Class fleet in the recent twelfth annual Castine Classic Yacht Race to Camden. Spartan, skippered by Charles Ryan, bested the 58' P Class Joyant, also built in the same year by Herreshoff and sailed by Bob McNeil. Alera, the first 43.5' New York 30 Class sloop built in 1904, took third place, skippered by Claas van der Linde. This year's Castine Classic drew a record fleet of 42 boats during three days of classic boat racing. Spartan took honors in all three of these races. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/43s99pv * (August 9, 2011) - Gold Coast Australia, one of two Australian teams competing in the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, has secured victory in the first race from Southampton to Madeira, crossing the finish line at 1237 local time (1137GMT). For the final part of the 1,340-mile leg it has been a two-way battle for supremacy between the Gold Coast entry and Visit Finland. The Finnish team is expected to cross the finish line later this evening in second place. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/3txaocv POST YOUR INDUSTRY UPDATES HERE The Marine Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum was created so companies could get guaranteed exposure by posting their own personnel, product and service updates online. Here is the link to post Industry News updates: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS YEAR'S VINEYARD RACE WEEKEND Take part in the East Coast classic, presented by Thomson Reuters and hosted by Stamford Yacht Club. Three courses to choose from: cruising division; multihull division; race tracking and post-race trophy party. Join Tom Whidden at our skippers' meeting. Start date: Sept. 2. Register today: http://www.stamfordyc.com/intraclub/query/catquery.html?doc_number=676 CORRECTION There was a mistake in Sunday's edition regarding US Sailing's Board of Director Nominees. Shannon Bush is no longer running for the Board. Shannon is in her final year (4th year) as the Committee Chair for US SAILING's Youth Sailing Championships, and according to US Sailing, is instead looking ahead to an expanded role with the Championships Committee. GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * Bill Canfield, St. Thomas Yacht Club: Where is the sport of sailing that I once loved, headed? After two hours surfing the web I'm not sure if it's not straight to hell! Coverage of the Americas Cup no longer reports who won but rather "how many crew remained on the boat at the finish" or how many cartwheels were performed while sailing on a mystery course. Supposedly rules exist but they really don't have much to do with the RRS and they can change event to event. No one, even the sailors seem to understand the courses and pre starts. I'm sorry but none of this stokes my interest. My once love and fascination with the AC is already gone. Trying to keep up with Olympic classes is worse I checked out the 49er and 29er NA website and found that at our US National's and North American's they expect only about 6-8 boats in each class and the dates of events can change after they are set or be listed as "to be sailed in early September more info to follow" Are these the sailing classes that Olympics sailing rests it future on? Worse yet it may be the nonexistent coed Catamaran class that really doesn't exist at this point in time or kite boards which have more in common with flying than sailing. -- Read on at Scuttlebutt Forum: http://tinyurl.com/3eq9czr * From George Morris (re Scuttlebutt 3401): Thanks for posting my moan about the Cascais video coverage. I eventually found the replay I was looking for on the AmericasCup YouTube channel http://www.YouTube.com/user/AmericasCup. This is not the same as AmericasCup.com. There are also two on-board feeds which are fantastic. I downloaded all of them to RealPlayer so as to play them without streaming problems. Sailing is indeed about participation and not about spectators but I was so stimulated by the coverage that I went out into the wind and the rain and the cold to sail my Weta trimaran for an hour and a half! * From Annie Gardiner (re Scuttlebutt 3401): Loved the article about women on the water! However, it said: "But women's sailing seemed to go dormant in the 1990s. In fact, there was no racing for the Queen's Cup in 1992 and 1995." The nineties were HUGE! What about the All Women's Team of America3? Olympic sailing for women was growing as well as lots of other one design classes. Women's sailing organizations were forming as early as the late 70's in Miami, early 80's in San Diego, and in a bunch of places that have water including Europe and down under. Cheers to the men who support women sailing (we love having men around) and cheers to the women who get out of their comfort zone and go for it! And as for the sweaty yellers, you guys can stick together, and cheers to the men and women who treat each other with respect both on and off the water. The Jekyll and Hyde, Captain Bligh syndrome is not a pleasant experience for anyone, male or female. * From Richard Barker (re Scuttlebutt 3401): As the tanker is the right of way boat and is severely restricted in its ability to maneuver and the sailboat is the give way boat the sentence in the story about the collision in Cowes should read "sailboat hits supertanker" not "supertanker hits sailboat". The story gives the impression that the sailboat had the right of way when it clearly did not. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION The farther away the future is, the better it looks. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Vineyard Race - Point Loma Outfitting - North Sails - APS LaserPerformance - Ullman Sails - Gowrie Group - Quantum Sails Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
