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SCUTTLEBUTT 3505 - Friday, January 13, 2012Scuttlebutt 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: Amazon.com, North U, and New England Boatworks. UPROAR REGARDING SEAMANSHIP AWARD RECIPIENT Abu Dhabi, UAE (January 12, 2012) - The Volvo Ocean Race presents a seamanship award after each distance leg, but the selection of two Team Sanya crew who acted to save a mast from crashing has been widely condemned by fellow sailors. Richard Mason and Jared Henderson were honoured by Volvo Ocean Race organisers for their bravery in climbing the mast to make it safe after the boat suffered rigging damage near Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. But, according to other sailing teams, Mason and Henderson's actions were only necessary due to a rash tactical move by skipper Mike Sanderson and navigator Aksel Magdahl that drove the boat straight into a tropical storm. Andrew Cape, navigator on Telefonica, walked out of the gala prize-giving in Abu Dhabi in protest when the award was presented while others criticised Team Sanya's tactics. "As skippers, it is our job to minimise the risk to our guys because there is enough risk in this race as it is," said Chris Nicholson, skipper of Camper "There is no way I would entertain taking a navigational direction thinking it could win the seamanship award. No way. The safety of the crew is paramount. We looked at it but decided we wouldn't take the boat there." Cape himself was incensed by the decision to give the award to Team Sanya. "If I had asked my crew to accept that decision, they would have laughed at me. When I saw them go, I thought good luck. They do not deserve the seamanship award," he said. Team Sanya made the move north on the sixth day of the second leg in a bid to escape a low pressure trough that had stifled progress for the best part of four days. It was one of two radical bold decisions taken on the same day after Groupama opted to go south in search of breeze but Team Sanya's strategy held greater risk since they knew there was a tropical storm ahead which they may or may not miss. "We've been seeing this option for so long and we think it's still there. There are some risks - mainly for the first 24 hours," Magdahl said at the time. The strategy paid off for a while and they gained a 300 mile lead over the rest of the fleet but a day later, a broken shroud supporting the mast was spotted by a crew member and emergency repairs made before the mast fell. -- The Telegraph, read on: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-011212 Overall leaderboard after Leg 2 1. Telefonica (ESP), Iker Martinez (ESP), 6-1-1-1, 66 pts 2. CAMPER (NZL), Chris Nicholson (AUS), 3-2-2-2, 58 pts 3. Groupama (FRA), Frank Cammas (FRA), 5-3-5-4, 42 pts 4. PUMA Ocean Racing (USA), Ken Read (USA), 2-DNF-3-3, 28 pts 5. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (UAE), Ian Walker (GBR), 1-DNF-4-5, 19 pts 6. Team Sanya (CHN), Mike Sanderson (NZL), 4-DNF-6-6-0**, 4 pts ** Still racing. If Team Sanya finishes the first stage of Leg 2 under racing conditions, they will collect four points for sixth place for the first stage of Leg 2 and then automatically add one more under race rules for the second stage and a further two points for the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race. Tracking/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html Video reports: http://www.youtube.com/user/volvooceanracevideos Course details: http://tinyurl.com/Piracy-121111 RACE SCHEDULE: The five teams are in Abu Dhabi will compete in the In-Port Race on Friday (Jan. 13) before they start Leg 3 to Sanya, China on Saturday (Jan. 14). As in Leg 2, Leg 3 will be similar with a Stage 1 short sprint to meet the ship which will transport the five boats to the safe haven port. If all goes to plan, Team Sanya will join the fleet there, and all six boats will compete in Stage 2 to Sanya. - http://tinyurl.com/VOR-2011-12-schedule VIEWING: Watch the Abu Dhabi In-Port Race on January 13th at 10am GMT (5am EST) and Leg 3 Start on January 14th at 10am GMT (5am EST), both with live HD Coverage starting 15 minutes before on the Volvo Ocean Race Livestream Channel: http://new.livestream.com/volvooceanrace BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started in Alicante, Spain and concludes in Galway, Ireland during early July 2012, six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world's most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient. Teams accumulate points through nine distance legs and ten In-Port races. - http://www.volvooceanrace.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE "We need a better result in the next leg. If we don't get it, that is when we start to panic. My feeling is that we will be similar to the Juan K boats upwind though they might have an edge and we have not done any running. But if we are fast upwind and fast running we could win the next three legs and everyone will be saying how fast our boat is. Let's hope so. I keep asking when our boat will be fast." -- Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker, read on: http://tinyurl.com/Telegraph-011212 ONE OF WORST DISASTERS IN RACING HISTORY Remember THE PROVING GROUND, G. Bruce Knecht's bestselling book about the disastrous 1998 Sydney to Hobart Race? The New York Times called is "harrowing." The Washington Post said it was "a page-turner." Esquire magazine declared: "What a fantastic adventure story this is." A tenth anniversary edition of the book was recently published, and it is also available as an e-book - which just hit the Wall Street Journal's Top 10 list! This edition also includes a new Afterword that catches up with all of THE PROVING GROUND'S remarkable characters - and it describes how Larry Ellison's experience in the Hobart led to his decision to pursue the America's Cup. Start reading now: http://www.Amazon.com/theprovingground BIGGER AND FASTER ROUND THE WORLD? How big and how fast could a design go? It's a fascinating spiral of calculations, including money. How long will it be before the fastest round the world record is broken again? Could it go down to down to 40 days and be beaten by an even bigger multihull than the 130ft Banque Populaire V? The answer to both is a qualified yes. It's possible. But the margins are getting smaller, the risks higher, and the huge sums needed are in shorter supply. This round the world record time may stay for a while (set this week at 45 days 13 hours 42 minutes and 53 seconds). It is the first time in over a decade that another potentially faster vessel has not been in build as a record time was being broken. Banque Populaire cost Euros 14 million to build and it took four years to achieve the end objective. Meanwhile, running costs have been around Euros 3 million a year. So the price tag of a venture with almost exclusively French appeal has soared to around Euros 26 million. You have to conclude that further development is a long way off. The cheapest way to break the record again, though, would be to use the same boat. Given a few tweaks and a great deal of luck with the weather, as many as two or three extra days could be gained, according to experts. But it's a chancy game that could take several seasons. And so we're back to that whopping Euros 3 million bill a year to run a boat capable of doing almost nothing else. It's not a deal many sponsors would snap up right now. -- Elaine Bunting, Yachting World, read on: http://tinyurl.com/YW-011212 A FEW SIMPLE RULES OF THE ROAD Coach Rod Davis, the man behind the scenes for America's Cup challenger Emirates Team New Zealand, blogs on the rules when they're on the road ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The racing team has done a lot of touring since coming together in 2004. Most of the time it has been as a small group for match racing events - Extreme 40 regattas and the like. It's a very close-knit "community" that you'd not find in teams of 20 or so. We have come up with some rules that we live by. Rule number 1 No phones at dinner. As soon as a phone comes out the offender is fined. Fines are immediate and can be paid at the bar. Sounds old school but it really bugs me to have a get together and someone is Skyping their sister, surfing the net, or on Facebook. It's not right! Special permission can be granted to have a phone on the table. I think we gave permission once in France. At the time some questioned the wisdom of allowing any exception to the "rules are rules" policy, but Burg's wife was in labour back in New Zealand. Rule number 2 Change the shirt or change your beer. It never fails to amaze me how many people just don't get it. An example from the past: How can a team member wearing the Emirates Team New Zealand shirt, proudly displaying our sponsors, including Estrella Damm, order a competing beer? In the bottle no less! Imagine if a director of Estrella Damm was socialising with his/her team and seen drinking a competitors' product. Not a good look for anyone. Rule number 3 While we are at it, clear away the empties. As the team has matured over the years I don't have to use this line much. Picture this: You see yachties sitting, having a good time, perhaps a bit loud, at a table littered with empty beer bottles. Now picture the same scene but the only bottles in sight are those in use. A very different perception of the same situation. Better yet, no bottles and the beer is in a glass. All Black management discovered long ago that people tended to drink less if they drink from a glass. Much more...read on: http://etnzblog.com/#!2012/01/a-few-simple-rules-of-the-road QUOTE / UNQUOTE "To give you a peek of how much the AC game has changed: For the 2007 America's Cup in Valencia ETNZ had 32 sailors and nine designers. For the 2013 Cup we have 11 sailors and 30 designers." - Rod Davis, Emirates Team New Zealand coach,: http://tinyurl.com/ACUP-011212 US SAILING MEMBER BENEFITS US Sailing skippers get a $30 discount on North U Seminars. And the first 20 registrants for any North U Seminar get a free North U Long Sleeve T. North U Seminars are coming to nearly 40 cities; or keep your slippers on and attend a webinar. North U is offering a full slate of Seminars, Webinars, CDs, DVDs, Clinics, Coaching & Race Weeks through the winter and spring of 2012. You can spend a lifetime learning to be a better sailor. We accelerate the process. North U: 800-347-2457 http://www.northu.com RANDOM LEG VERSUS SAUSAGE RACES With the holiday decorations tucked away, Southern California racers gathered in Marina del Rey last weekend for the start of the 2012 season - the annual 22nm race along the Los Angeles coastline to Malibu and return. The popularity of this race - often the biggest regatta of the year on the Santa Monica Bay - has little to do with Malibu's history of Hollywood stars and surfing legends. What it does offer is the opportunity for a crew of average joes to enjoy an adventurous race and not be required to do a litany of highly skilled crew maneuvers. Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck reflects on growing up in Marina del Rey. "The buoy races are now a blur, but I fondly remember racing to Malibu. It wasn't always a thrill, often a close reach both ways, but it was different. Subtle tactical strategy, lots of hours tweaking sail shapes, and the time hanging out with the crew formed bonds." With participation in random leg racing on the increase in the SM Bay, and sausage regattas on the decline, the new Pacific Cup Deepwater Series is being launched in 2012 by California Yacht Club to tap into this market demand. With a three hour target time, each unique race will explore a different section of the Santa Monica Bay for boats rated under PHRF, Cruising Class and ORCA. "I can see how putting a crew together for a random leg race is way easier than a buoy race, plus they take away some of the advantage from the highly trained teams," noted Leweck. "If you combine fewer turns with wider racing lanes, I suspect the racing remains closer, and the less experienced teams can stay in the hunt." Is your area seeing this trend? Comments welcome. Forum: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13148 SAILING SHORTS * (January 12, 2012) - Despite a blustery beginning for the 47 entrants of the 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale - Key West Race (160 nm), challenging conditions have led to 19 boats drop outs so far. George David's R/P 90 Rambler was first to finish today in just over 24 hours (1:00:09:45), with the bulk of the fleet still calculating whether they can finish within the 48 hour deadline from the start on Wednesday. -- Race website: http://www.keywestrace.org * Charlotte Harbor, FL (January 12, 2012) - Shifty winds that grew throughout the day shuffled and tightened the leaderboard on Day Three of the 2012 International Association for Disabled Sailing World Championships. By the end of racing, the leaders in all three classes changed, setting up a highly competitive homestretch on Charlotte Harbor. Leaders are Damien Seguin (FRA) in the 2.4mR, Alexandra Rickham/ Niki Birrell (GBR) in the SKUD, and John Robertson/ Hannah Stodel/ Steve Thomas (GBR) in the Sonar. Eleven races are scheduled in total for each class. Racing resumes Friday and concludes Sunday. -- Event website: http://www.ifdsworlds2012.com * Organizers for the Sperry Top-Sider Charleston Race Week (April 19-22) in Charleston, SC expect nearly 300 boats to attend the 2012 edition. Open to one-design boats between 20-80 feet LOA, and IRC, and PHRF monohull boats which are 24-80 feet LOA. Entry fee ranges from $450.00 to $550.00 with an early entry discount of $50.00 available by January 31, 2012. Non-US Sailing members shall add $25.00 to entry fee. Details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/12/0112 * (January 12, 2012) - The Challenger of Record for the 34th America's Cup, Artemis Racing, had confirmed that the partnership between Team New Zealand (ETNZ) and Luna Rossa can not proceed with all of their publicly announced plans without violating the Protocol for the 34th America's Cup. The America's Cup Jury issued their decision on 28 December 2011, finding that the partnership agreement was in conflict with rules intended to insure teams could not manipulate some of the Protocol's cost controlling limits. -- Full report: http://www.americascup.com/en/Teams/Artemis-Racing/Latest/News/1012/Media PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include disabled sailing, Rolex winners, patriotic guys, school competition, record winners, and life in the Persian Gulf. Here are this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/12/0113/ BONUS: Photographer John Payne doesn't miss too many events in South Florida. Here are his images from two events last weekend: Etchells: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/12/0111/ Snipe: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/12/0111a/ SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com NEW ENGLAND BOATWORKS: NEW PROJECTS AND EQUIPMENT NEB's new autoclave combined with 5-axis milling machine and skilled crew produces the finest carbon components, including those for our 72' IRC Mini-Maxi scheduled to launch in April. For new builds, carbon components, race preparation and modifications, service or refits, contact NEB at 401-683-4000 or http://www.NEBoatworks.com Go PUMA MAR MOSTRO! VIDEO OF THE WEEK Imagine a convention of small trailerable sailboats from past and present boat manufacturers; a convention where you can meet fellow pocket cruiser sailors from all over the US and Canada, check out their boats, and sail beside them on a beautiful desert lake surrounded by jagged mountains. Can you? It's happening... the Pocket Cruiser Convention in Lake Havasu City, Arizona on February 13 to 20, 2012. With a 172 boats now registered from 24 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces, this is truly a 'birds of a feather' event. Here's a pretty funny promotional video... enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/12/0113 BONUS: On a frozen lake in Minnesota, some men dare to go where few have gone before. Want to join them? Here you go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpWmmPOCMjw BONUS: Think you have what it takes to be a sailmaker? Judge for yourself from this video of the North Sails San Diego Service crew doing some major work on a mega yacht genoa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH59QHK4pK8 BONUS: Week 2 on January 13, 2012 "World on Water" Global Boating Weekly News Show reports on the finish of Leg 2 of the Global Ocean Race in Wellington, New Zealand, in the VOR, Sanya returns to racing in Leg 2 Stage 1 Madagascar, the World Optimist Champion is named in Napier, New Zealand, the rest of the VOR fleet have a quick 98 mile sprint race in Leg 2 Stage 2 into Abu Dhabi, UAE, Loick Peyron and his crew are crowned Jules Verne Trophy Champions by sailing around the world faster than any other crewed vessel and in our action segment "Fresh to Frightening" we see the official footage of the RNLI rescuing the grounded yacht Kestral. See it on http://www.boatson.tv at approx 1200 GMT, 0700 EST. SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com 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 * From Reynald Neron: In Scuttlebutt 3504 there are two different and yet similar comments regarding sponsorship and offshore sailing. Peter Brown tells us that sailors should do everything they can to please the sponsors (for the Volvo Ocean race) while John Harwood-Bee serves us a bit more "Freedom Fries" as he does not understand the value of the Trophe Jules Verne. Elaine Bunting said (in Scuttlebutt 3502) earlier that Mr Fossett is not mentioned in the Trophe Jules Verne results, and we all know why. I would like to point out that at the time, the organisation managing the Trophe Jules Verne denied that they wanted Mr F to pay more than his competitors. Someone's word against someone else's... The Trophe Jules Vernes is a marketing tool. The French (and the English) created it to renew the interest of the sponsors for the world record. The French (and the English) have invented offshore sailing as we know it today in the 70s and 80s. Yet in the 90s, as it was difficult to attract sponsors to pay for ever more costly campaigns, the various French (and English) teams decided to work together to create an event. They gave that event a brand name, and are actively marketing that name, hence creating an interest for the media, and the sponsors. Some of those sailors have been working for 20 years to get to where they are now, and to increase the popularity of sailing in France (and England) to where it is today. -- Forum, read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13144 CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Don't get too excited if you finish a jigsaw puzzle in 6 months and the box says 2 to 4 years. SPONSORS THIS WEEK APS - Ribcraft - North Sails - Harken Melges Performance Sailboats - IYRS - Mount Gay Rum Ullman Sails - Amazon.com - North U. - New England Boatworks Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
