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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 1112 - July 11, 2002Scuttlebutt 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, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
PAUL CAYARD "I don't have any plan to go to Auckland," Cayard said. Not as a sailor, certainly. Perhaps, with his insight and charisma, as a TV commentator? "I have been contacted by Outdoor Life [Network]," Cayard said, referring to the group that has TV rights for the U.S. "I don't know if I really want to do that, and if I did I would have to run it by Oracle [now Oracle BMW]." Cayard, at home in the San Francisco suburb of Kentfield, can't make a professional move without Larry Ellison's permission. He remains under contract, in limbo, through the duration of this AC next February. * Ellison still hasn't explained why, in his wisdom, he bumped one of the world's most successful sailors from his sailing team last October. But, apparently, Ellison has enough regard for Cayard's abilities---Whitbread winner, participant in the last six ACs, two as the leader, and still in his prime at 43---to freeze him in an administrative position and prevent him from joining a rival American team. "I know it's just an issue with one person," Cayard said. "I don't feel like I was removed for any type of inferior performance. In fact, it might have been the contrary. I'm pretty confident in myself and I've had plenty of positive feedback on my performance [from] within Oracle." There have been upsides, other than a continuing steady income. * Rich Roberts: How would you rank the challengers? Paul Cayard: "[Switzerland's] Alinghi [led by Coutts] is gonna be tough because they have the most solid sailing team that's been through the most battles together, [along with] a number of AmericaOne guys that are there. The big question mark for them is what are they gonna get for their boat? The Auckland venue will help them because it's a very tricky venue, not just a one-way racetrack. There is opportunity for good tactics, good starts, good match racing skills to make up for a slight deficit in boat speed. "Stars & Stripes next. They have two boats. [Reichel/Pugh] is going to do a good job for them on the boats. They have a good sailing team and have succeeded in remaining out of the fray of who appear to be the big dogs. That's going to play out well for them. Some people are not rating them just because they don't have $80 million, but that might be a mistake. "Prada should be there, but Prada has a huge problem on its hands with this lawsuit [for suing Oracle over its "spy" barge]. It's gonna take some serious bending of the rules to let 'em off the hook. It is one of the few infringements in the [America's Cup] Protocol where the penalty is very precisely described." RR: Disqualification? PC: "Right. It doesn't matter if you're completely right. It says 'if you sue.' This is going to consume a lot of their energy. It may actually finish them off. It depends on how strong a backbone the Arbitration Panel and Team New Zealand want to have on this issue. "[Seattle's] One World has been living under a mountain of problems for a long time. Their boats [designed by Laurie Davidson] should be good, but I'm not as convinced as I am of Oracle's boats. "The Brits could surprise some people. They're a young, clean, fresh team without a lot of baggage and egos of the top people. They're missing some experience and America's Cup worldliness, but there's no pressure on them." "The French and [Italy's Mascalzone Latino] are underfunded or late---not really playing to win. Sweden is playing to win, but I just have a gut feel that they would come in behind the Brits." (Note: Cayard declined to include Oracle BMW in his rankings.) Now go to the Yacht Racing website and read Roberts' whole interview with Cayard: www.yachtracing.com/richroberts/cayard-7-02.html
DEAN BARKER madforsailing: How relevant is the Swedish Match Tour to the America's Cup? Barker: I don't think it bears any resemblance to be honest. The America's Cup is a development and design game and it is about the whole program. For sure the skills and the things you're trying to develop, that comes about from doing events like the Swedish Match Cup. You know that unless you've got the complete package, it won't matter how well you match race you won't beat a faster boat or it's a lot harder. The match racing skills that come from sailing these sorts of boats are applicable to whatever class you sail. But I think it's the fine tuning... the being ready to go and race in an America's Cup race can only be brought about by top quality racing in America's Cup boats. You certainly wouldn't get ready for this regatta by going out and practicing in America's Cup boats, you'd have to sail boat of a similar size and manoeuvrability. Full interview: www.madforsailing.com
READY TO SHIP TO YOU!
NEWS BRIEFS
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Pennie Lamb: I agree with Ben Nieting one should be allowed to choose whether or not you wear your PFD, however those that have to rescue you should also be given the right to choose whether or not they put their lives in danger going after you! * From John Holmberg: We in the Virgin Islands that race dinghies and beach cats wear PFD's almost with out exception- in the beach cat class we have found that a wetsuit and a PFD make the wearer more resistant to fatigue, bruises, sunburn, chills and heat problems. The last item is hard to believe, however in a wetsuit on a hot day- simply splash water on or take a dip between races to stay cool due to the evaporation. The secure feeling of having floatation on allows us to push the envelope while racing and the several times we have been dumped or separated from the boat have been mostly laughing matters.
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
HENRI LLOYD TECHNOLOGY
ROGER TATTERSALL
VIC-MAUI RACE "Atalanta", a custom Tripp 74 owned and navigated by Richard Hedreen and skippered by Stuart Lochner, has also finished. Sailing for Seattle's Corinthian Yacht Club, she ended her race July 10 at 03:14:41. Unofficially, she has clinched third in her division, and overall. While the rest of the fleet generally reported good winds in the 20+ range, "Niye Keema" and "The Rusty Unit" haven't been so lucky. The lack of wind has finally forced "Niye Keema" to abandon the race due to her short fuel supply. At roll call, she reported she has just enough to get out of the High and into the trades, and then intends to sail to Hawaii. - Peter Bennett, Class leaders - A: Mystic (1st overall); B: Mojo Riding (7th ovarall); C: Charlemagne (8th overall) D: Oriole (11th overall). - www.vicmaui.org
JUNIOR WOMEN'S DOUBLE HANDED CHAMPIONSHIP
Top 5 Teams:
HIHO REGATTA
SWEDISH MATCH TOUR The day's "excitement" occurred in the sixth flight in the first match which featured Prada Challenge's Gavin Brady and GOL Sailing Team's Bjorn Hansen of Sweden. A collision occurred between the two boats when Brady cut behind Hansen and left a meter-long gash in the hull of the leeward boat, forcing the organizers to juggle the day's remaining schedule and jump ahead to Flights 9 and 10 which featured byes for four skippers. The day's conditions started out light but the breeze filled in after noon, building to 12 knots. - Shawn McBride, www.swedishmatchtour.com
STANDINGS:
WORLD SAILING GAMES In the nine days of racing, competitors experienced every condition from a full Mistral, when only the kite surfers were out to calms. The weather has proved testing for all, with the wind proving shifty with very local patterns over the Bay of Marseille. North American who finished in the top 10 of their class included: Double-handed Dinghy Women - 470 8. PROVAN JEN/GIRKE NIKOLA (CAN) Hobie 16: KORZENIEWSKI SUSAN/O' CONNOR STEPHANIE (USA) J/80: 10. MILLEN/REESE/MC GLAUGHLIN/BROWN (CAN); J/22: 9. ZILLIMAN/MCDOWELL/WULFF/HAWKINS(USA); Boards Women - Bic Techno: 10. MARIOTT KAREN (USA) - www.sailing-games.com
Overall results:
WEST MARINE PACIFIC CUP
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * August 2-4: Buzzards Bay Regatta, hosted by the Beverly YC and the Community Boating Center of New Bedford. Some 400 boats competing in J/22, J/24, J/105, Laser & Laser Radial, 29er, Shields, 420, Vanguard 15, Frers 33 plus PHRF Race, Cruising and Multi-Hull classes. www.buzzardsbayregatta.com * August 14-25: Nautica 2002 Star Class World Championships, California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey, California. More than twenty countries will be represented. Entry Deadline is 19 July. www.starworlds2002.com
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM |
