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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 808 - May 4, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome.
THE NEW LOOK For the past six months, the boatyard where the Team SEB boat has been built by a multinational team of specialists has observed strict secrecy. Today was the first time the boat had been brought out into the daylight, before the inquiring eyes of the assembled onlookers. The new boat has a large and spacious open cockpit, with two gangways below deck. The cockpit is arranged so that all functions can be handled simply and from a central location. Everything is designed down to the smallest detail to ensure fast and competitive sailing. This is because the new racing regulations for the Volvo Ocean Race mean that the same number of points are awarded for each leg, whatever the length. The relatively high number of shorter legs has had a major impact on the design of the boat. Team SEB's challenger for the Volvo Ocean Race, which starts in the autumn, has been designed by Farr Yacht Design. On the Team SEB side, comments and ideas as to how the new boat should look and function have come mainly from Gurra Krantz, Rodney Ardern, Tony Mutter (Sail Coordinator) and Sam Murch (Technical Manager). During the construction period, every single member of the crew has contributed input about specific details. The new is boat is fitted with a "T" keel. Both "L" and "T" keels can be used. Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Sweden has graciously agreed to christen the boat at a formal ceremony to be held at Nacka Strand marina, followed by an evening of celebration (18:30-22:00). The christening will be broadcast live on the Internet on www.teamseb.com
DID YOU KNOW?
BT GLOBAL CHALLENGE "Naturally I'm relieved and happy to put that behind me," said BP's Tony Botterill. "While I was out there, I was thinking 'How the hell am I going to carry on?' I wanted it to be over. It was unbelievably tiring, knackering; I was on quite a low. "But now it seems like a fantastic experience. It's almost like the burden has been lifted. You made it through Sydney to Cape Town, the storms, getting thrown around. It puts you on a high," said Botterill. "I'm not just relieved: overall I enjoyed it." Logica crew member Jasmine Georgiou noted that her mood had sunk with each degree of latitude, as Logica plunged south on the Great Circle Route to Cape Town. "When we hit the farthest south we were going to go on Leg Five, that was an incredible milestone for me. At that point, we were in the middle of the Southern Ocean; probably one of my lowest points - thinking of how long I've been away from home, family and friends, missing them all. It's such a boost to know I'm heading towards them now," Georgiou said. "This is it - we're heading home!" The Challenge fleet will remain at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront until the 13 May start of Leg Six. After briefly assembling in La Rochelle, France the yachts will bolt to Southampton, UK - where the 30,000-mile Race began roughly eight months ago. - Betsy Crowfoot Full story: www.btchallenge.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Jonathan Wales: Rich du Moulin has a good idea (require public 'Notice of Proposed Rulemaking'). As a racing sailor since 1950, I have been amazed at the number of rule changes especially in the past 15 years. It's at the point now that I'm not really sure starboard tack still has right of way. My frustration is why so many changes and "clarifications" are necessary in the first place. The reasons should be aired out before they are finalized, and there should be a vehicle by which all of us can give our governing body feedback, right away. US Sailing should be bound to some degree by this input, and we'd all be better off. At least we would be participating in the debate. Most of us race for the fun of it, and over the years we learn to react in certain ways during starts, mark roundings, and in other heavy traffic situations. Your reactions, based on years of consistency in rule applications, become almost instinctive in these circumstances. The worst thing is to doubt yourself. I think the rules used to be clearer. Luffing, for example. Mast abeam curtailed the luff; case closed. Now we are in a much more subjective environment, and others have made the case that protests are less frequent because there is significant doubt as to who is right. So in this sense, our sport has suffered. Rich has an idea that ought to be taken seriously. * From Monita Fontain, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association: As an avid sailor who has logged more than 20,000 miles in my wooden sailboat all over the world, I am tired of our family of boaters singling out members of our own community for attack. We all share a love for the water and enjoy recreating with family and friends - regardless of hull type. There is room for all of us on our nation's waterways, but no room for intolerance. Yet, intolerance abounds. A perfect example is the recent letter to Scuttlebutt criticizing the Administration's dedication to using sound policy to decide waterway management-not personal opinion. We applaud the Administration's steps in handling this issue openly, fairly, scientifically and without bias. The campaign against personal watercraft and all motorized recreation, led by the anti-access group BlueWater Network, biased - not factual. It is their legal settlement with the Park Service that forced the ban's review on a case-by-case basis. The personal watercraft (PWC) industry has invested more than $1 billion making these affordable, family boats 75% cleaner and 70% quieter than just three years ago. PWC also have no exposed propellers, so they don't harm marine life. Our boats will pass any environmental assessments with flying colors. Discrimination and intolerance were condemned by our society long ago. Why must it continue to rear its ugly head in the boating community. It's time for us to accept all boaters instead of passing judgment. Let's consider a ban on intolerance instead. * From Jesse Deupree (With regards to Peter Harken's comments in support of a PWC ban): I hate Jet Skis as much as the next sailor, but we all should be concerned about the basis for laws limiting access to open water- they just might come back and bite us. Many of the arguments against personal watercraft are aesthetic rather than grounded in science- and the pollution caused by two stroke engines is too often wildly exaggerated. Many of these arguments about pollution and noise will be extended to boats in general, as soon as they are accepted in the case of PWCs. The principles of marine law that protect our access to the water need to be defended- as an example, consider how the "need" to protect certain bottom habitats has become a general ban on anchoring in areas where protection is not necessary (check Florida). It is not hard for me to imagine being unable to have a regatta because it can't pass an "environmental impact statement", if the general principle of open access is too casually given up. Defending PWCs is like defending Nazi marches in the name of free speech. Sometimes it just has to be done. * From Jon Alvord: Statements in 'Butt about PWC's is just terrible. I love to sail, I own a F-31R trimaran, NAcra 5.8na Catamaran, and powerboat (came with the house). I enjoy riding on jet skis and would just assume have a PWC anchored next to me rather than a Sailboat, which usually has a very annoying genset going untill 10-11pm. My tri is very energy conscious, I have a couple lights, one battery and a solar charger, I don't need more. PWC owners have as much right as the powerboat owner to put his craft where he wants to. For all those that knock them, have you tried them? They are fun for a day or two. * From JA Booker: In no way, at no time do racing rules limit or supersede a skipper's responsibility for his/her crew. Get serious about your responsibility or get off the water. My crew drinks well...after the racing is over. If prone to seasickness they are encouraged to use non chemical means for relief. If they smoke pot or otherwise, its on their own time off the water. I'm not interested. If anyone shows up impaired they stay at the dock. If they are otherwise inclined to cheat, they don't come back. Does it really need to be more complicated than that? * From Bob Magtanong: I think the lunatic fringe misses the point on drug testing. Your regulatory body may test at WORLD CLASS events (you know, qualifiers, events where a substantial number of olympic contenders may participate, etc.). Last time I checked my club's Wednesday night races weren't of that caliber so I think the CYA would leave it alone. If you CHOOSE (that means it's your choice) to participate at the top levels, you should be expected to play by their rules. That probably means you will have to pee in a cup. If you feel that it violates your rights, DON'T PLAY. You DO NOT have the right to play, they allow you to participate. I understood what Paul Henderson wrote, it wasn't in some special Canadian code. It seemed quite clear, if you use unapproved (notice unapproved, not illegal) drugs at top events and are caught, you will be banned from events sanctioned by your national authority. The lunatic fringe should READ the text before they fly off the handle. * From Art LeVasseur: The list of banned substances listed on the ISAF web page includes caffeine. To hold all recreational sailors in every sailboat race conducted under the RRS to the same anti doping requirements expected of Olympic athletes is absurd. How many boats are planning to race the Mackinac races next July with no coffee or cola on board? * From John McBrearty: Interesting that USSA wants to penalize people who use drugs on their list which includes blood pressure medication and coffee. On the other hand, they completely ignore nicotine, which in addition to being terrible for your health does have a calming effect on the central nervous system. I am not going to rat anyone out but, at Congressional Cup 2001 several skippers were seen puffing on a ciggy between races. Calming their nerves not to mention feeding their craving. The fact that top class sailors can smoke and be competive points out the real differenc between sailing and other sports. With the exception of very few classes, we only need to be a little fit. Leave the anti-doping rules to sports where they are necessary, swimming, track & field, cycling, etc. In sailing, they appear to be politically correct overkill. * From Pat Healy: Performance enhancing drugs that cause long-term health complications are a part of sailing today. Anyone who does not think so is naive. Long distance crews taking stimulants to stay awake or stay perched on the weather rail. Diet pills to help big-framed people be competitive in classes that favor light sailors. Pills to help crews gain weight from muscles rather than milkshake fat. Beta blockers that help a competitor deal with the stress of racing. I do not think anyone succumbed to the temptation, but does anyone believe that the professional strength trainers working with the '00 Japanese or '95 Women's AMERICA's Cup did not know how steroids helped build muscle mass quickly? I am glad that the IOC, ISAF, USOC and US SAILING are willing to take a stand and force the issue. I am also proud of Mark Reynolds when he says he will present himself for testing anytime and anywhere. Our sport is lucky to have that kind of leadership. * From Steve Barnes: A number of years ago, I attended a Padre baseball game (albeit with low attendance) and after a questionable inning ending call at second base, I actually had a long distance conversation regarding the call with the second base umpire. Our short exchange was so unusual it stuck in my mind. Scuttlebutt is a forum that actually is having dialog with the umpires! Regardless of one's point of view, the ability to have this dialog with opinions and responses is extraordinarily healthy and is a positive influence on our sport.
TEST DRIVE They come with either cutoff fingers or a three finger design. I tried the three finger model and liked it so much that I'm sure you'll never see the curmudgeon wear cutoff sailing glove again. www.sailingangles.com
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ON THE WATER Conventional logic dictates that any boat's wind shadow extends downwind and aft roughly 12 times the length of that vessel's mast. That measurement diminishes in strong breezes, but the rule of thumb still holds that if you're less than eight boatlengths from the boat ahead, your progress is going to be adversely affected by its wind shadow. Still, there might be a reason why you shouldn't, or couldn't, tack when in a bad lane. Consider these possibilities:
1. Would you would be tacking right into the bad air of a boat already on
the new tack? If any of the above situations happens to be the case, you can take some comfort in knowing that the best racers make bad lanes work for them. To pick a good bail-out spot from a bad lane, these sailors continue for a little while in that lane as they keep an eye out for a better opportunity to get into a good lane. But they don't just sit complacently in that bad lane in the mean time, they alter the way they're sailing the boat to minimize the effect of the other boat's wind shadow. These sailors will either sheet in and pinch their boat higher or ease sheets and drive lower to "live" in that lane a little longer. Pinching up out of someone's bad air or footing through it are weapons every sailor needs to practice and have in his or her arsenal to deal with the inevitability of bad lanes. - Brad Read, SailNet website. Full story: www.sailnet.com
JUST FOR YOU
THE CURMUDGEON'S OXYMORONS |
