|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1534 - March 8, 2004Powered 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 focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. SOUTH AFRICA CHASES AMERICA'S CUP DREAM (March 07, 2004) South Africa will enter the America's Cup Challenge in 2007 - the first time this country has ever taken part in one of the world's oldest and fiercest sporting events. World-class Cape Town yachtsman Geoff Meek, who has won a string of races in his career, will skipper the South African entry, Shosolosa, which will be built in the city by top British designer, Jason Ker. The city's Royal Cape Yacht Club has been nominated as the SA Challenge club. The announcement was made at the weekend by Salvatore Sarno, chairman of Mediterranean Shipping Company South Africa, who is also managing director of the South African America's Cup Challenge campaign. The training vessel for the crew, the America's Cup Luna Rossa, arrives in the Cape Town harbour today. It will be the first America's Cup yacht seen in South Africa, and marks the official start of the South African Challenge. Sarno, an Italian who has lived in South Africa for 14 years, said the Luna Rossa will be refitted and re-rigged in the official SA Challenge colours: a black hull with a beaded wave pattern in the colours of the South African flag. - Cape Town, full story: http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=271&fArticleId=367722 America's Cup history will also be made. This will be the first time in the race's history that a black crew will take part. Thinking long-term, Sarno started to train young black crew members several years ago. "We will have six or seven highly trained, wonderfully skilled black crew on board," he said. - IOL, full story: http://tinyurl.com/3bwdn BIG DEBATE (Sailing forums have been busy debating the merits of how one America's Cup campaign, the Sausalito Challenge, is taking their pursuit of sponsorship dollars to eBay auction. Sausalito Challenge co-founder John Sweeney provides us their thoughts behind this decision) First off, we know of almost a dozen companies that will sponsor a Cup team. We also know that most have not made a decision on what team to sponsor. So it was logical to create a global marketing idea that got us in front of these decision makers before we missed out. Ebay was the only choice because we would be there largest auction they have ever had. The size of the auction would generate needed global marketing and awareness. We believe that any company looking at the Cup will have to take a strong look at our package. Why would you want to pay $25 million to be one of five sponsors when you can be the sole sponsor for $30 and have your own team? That's the theory at least; we will have to see if it works. The second point that many don't understand is that eBay actually does have the kind of folks who can make a decision to buy such a large item. Let me give you an example from a few months ago. I was looking to buy a Ferrari, and saw that eBay had almost 120 Ferraris for sale daily. After following the auctions, I realized that hundreds of Ferraris were being sold each week on eBay. I then saw an Enzo Ferrari being auctioned off. To my amazement there were 45 bidders at or around $1 million dollars. Now if you know eBay, you then realize that these folks are all pre-qualified to bid at this level. So you can see that at one time 45 millionaires were trying to buy this Enzo and all were surfing within an hour of each other. If you're buying an Enzo, you most likely have a ton of disposable income and also would likely be a high level CEO or business owner who makes key decisions. So the idea stemmed from this auction and ever since I have seen all sorts of exotics cars, yachts and watches sell on eBay for millions of dollars. We have had companies contact us this week from many different sectors. Airlines, Tech, Auto, F1, Fashion, Tourism Boards and several wealthy individuals (B's). If you look at what we offer, and what a regular America's Cup team sponsorship usually offers, there simply is no comparison. Yes, we are thinking of the sponsor first, but that doesn't mean you can't also have the best group of sailors/team. There are only two teams with funding right now, so we have just as good of a chance as the others to make it to the big show. Plus, we already have the facilities to start training, three America's Cup yachts and a healthy $10 million to get us started. Log onto eBay motors April 2-9 and watch for yourself. - John Sweeney, Co-Founder, Sausalito Challenge PROTECTIVE ACTIVE WEAR: SORENESS IS SLOWNESS Sailing Angles padded sailing shorts and long pants, knee sleeves, aggressive gripped padded sailing gloves with palm wraps, droop hiking suits, UV-Rated 50 sunshirts with high collars are our weapons to protect you from the pains of playing hard and sailing strong. Our built-in and optional protectors will help you sail, pain free, flexible, and focused in you pursuit of excellence! This gear helps you get there, smiling! Find all these and more at http://www.sailingangles.com AT LAST THEY MEET (The two new MaxZ86s, Pyewacket and Morning Glory raced for the first time at the Heineken regatta in St Maarten this week. Matthew Sheahan was aboard Pyewacket for this report) Two hours 30mins after the start and 35 miles later Pyewacket took line honours at the end of the first race in the Heineken regatta in St Maarten, beating Morning Glory by 55 seconds. But for me, aboard Pyewacket and many others watching, it was the spectacle of these two extraordinary maxis slicing downwind that was most impressive. The final result was almost incidental. Seeing an 86 footer planning with ease makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up whether your watching or participating and carving through the 250 boat fleet at 20 knots plus is not something I'll forget easily either. When you see them in the flesh and in action, these boats really are as impressive as many have been suggesting and offer an exciting vision of the future for high performance racing. - Matthew Sheahan, Yachting World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/33h4n Curmudgeon's Comment: While Pyewacket may have won the first battle, by the end of the series Morning Glory had won the war. Full results, http://www.heinekenregatta.com FOR THE RECORD * (March 7, 2004 - 1710 GMT - Day 29-1/2) Steve Fossett and Cheyenne put the pedal down even harder on Day 29 of their Round The World attempt, running off 304 miles over the past 12 hours (avg 25.33 kts). Their lead over the 2002 RTW record position of Orange is over 1800 nm, and they will cross the International Date Line later today some 4 days ahead of the record-holder. The next 12 - 24 hours could also be very productive, as both sea state and wind direction seem to be cooperating. Commented Fossett, "Although we now enjoy a 4 day lead, we are not relaxing. Matching the record pace becomes more difficult because Orange had a truly outstanding Pacific crossing in 2002. Our full concentration is now directed to maintaining our speed - while not causing stress to boat. We think of all the equipment problems we had in the first half, and know that we have many more problems to solve in order to get to the finish line." - http://www.fossettchallenge.com * Every major weather system scattered across the Atlantic seems to demand its tribute from Geronimo. After an Azores High that was displaced too far to the East, the Doldrums marked the passage of the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran by doubling in volume. Now it's the turn of the St. Helena High to demand its 15 minutes of fame. Normally centred over the island of Napoleon's exile, it now sprawls all the way from Argentina to South Africa, literally barring the South Atlantic. Yes, it's moving towards Africa, but rather slowly and by stretching itself out like slug. The passage to the South is not forecast to open up appreciably until March 10, and even then a long way to the West. The problem is that Geronimo will be there well before then. Oh for the South, its well-established weather systems and long, high speed tacks! - http://www.trimaran-geronimo.com/index.php?lang=en Curmudgeon's Comment: It appears for now that Cheyenne is in phase with the world weather conditions and Geronimo clearly is not. Although Cheyenne is blistering the RTW record, the Geronimo website reminds us that their attempt does not comply with the requirements of the Jules Verne Trophy. J/100 NEWS UPDATE J Boats' new 33' daysailer, the J/100 is beginning production next week at TPI Composites in Rhode Island. The hull is long and sleek, the cockpit huge, and the mast tall, Hall and carbon.....just a few reasons why this J may be 100% perfect for your next day's sail. http://www.jboats.com BACARDI CUP Miami, FL- The much anticipated Bacardi Cup got in their first race on Sunday, but their fancy event website provides neither a story nor results as of our press-time. Thanks to the Star Class organization, who found their way to post the standings for this ninety-three boat "star" studded fleet: 1. Paul Cayard / Phil Trinter, USA; 2. Marc Pickel / Ingo Borkowski, GER; 3. Ross Macdonald / Mike Wolfs, CAN; 4. Frederik Loof / Anders Ekstrom, SWE; 1. Rick Merriman / Bill Bennett , USA; 12. Mark Reynolds / Steve Erickson, USA; 17. Vince Brun / Mike Dorgan, USA; 18. Peter Bromby / Lee White, BER; 77 (BFD). Geroge Szabo / Mark Staube , USA; 77 (BFD). Iain Percy / Steve Mitchell , GBR - Star Class website, http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=428 Event website: http://www.bacardicup.com MORE AMERICA'S CUP * OzBoyz Challenge has confirmed the participation of a team in the 2004 Match Racing European Circuit. The OzBoyz Challenge Match Racing Team will commence their program with the Elba Cup. This Grade 1 event will be held from May 02nd to 09th on the picturesque Island of Elba in Italy. The details of the OzBoyz Challenge Match Racing Team will be released in March 04. - Cup in Europe, full story: http://www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/2007OzBoyzLN.htm * The organizer of the 32nd America's Cup, AC Management, will announce the 2004 racing schedule on March 16th for the "Pre-Regattas" to be held this fall. Valencia, host of the next defense in 2007, has already been named as one site, and target dates for all three events have been released (September 5-12, September 25-October 3, and October 17-23), but the two remaining locations are yet to be determined. Valencia's pre-regatta, which had been tentatively planned (although officially unconfirmed) for September 5-12, will likely exchange those dates for one of the two later slots on the fall schedule. Though the other two cities chosen to hold the 2004 Pre-Regattas are not known, one is expected to be in the north of Europe and one in the south. It is also believed that one of the cities could be a venue passed over by ACM's selection of Valencia for the America's Cup match. - CupInfo, Félix García, full story: http://www.cupinfo.com/en/valencia-prep6.php NEWS BRIEFS * São Paulo, Brazil- Tommy Sumner of Brazil, with crew Felipe Brito and Mark Pineda, beat eleven other teams to repeat as 2004 Lightning Youth World Champion. Americans Robert Ramirez, Eric Aronsohn, and Nick Oliveira were the top North American finishers in eighth place. Full results, http://tinyurl.com/2t5a4 * St Petersburg, FL- Sixty-two boats competed last week in the Thistle Midwinters East, with the Toledo, OH team of Skip Dieball, J. Francis and S. Paisley winning the event. The victory completes a bi-coastal midwinter coup for Dieball, as he won the Thistle Midwinters West in San Diego, CA in January. - Full results and photos, http://www.spyc.org * David Mendelblatt beat out Tom Whitehurst and sixty-four other entrants at the 2004 Sunfish Midwinter in Pensacola, FL. - Full results, http://tinyurl.com/322te * Investigators on Friday were piecing together the cause of a fatal boating collision between a cabin cruiser and a sailboard on the Indian River Lagoon near the Melbourne Causeway (FL). "He accelerated, got up on plane and hit the boardsailor," said Lt. Steve Wayne of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "It's an awful situation," said Schuyler Dejung of Indialantic as he packed up his sailboard near the area where the accident occurred. "I've never had even a close call. Generally the boaters have been courteous." The area is popular with sailors, Dejung said. - Full story, http://tinyurl.com/282fn SUPER DEALS AT THE PIRATE'S LAIR * 144+ Sandwich bill hats with embroidery and shipping - $5.00 ea. * 12+ Custom rashguards with your event or team logo - $25.00 ea. * Custom regatta tees - $7.00 ea. * Embroidered polos starting at $15.00 ea. It's never too late to start planning your regatta. Email info@pirateslair.com for details on specials, or log on to http://www.pirateslair.com/sailing 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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Magnus Wheatley: Laughable! That's the only word I can come up with for the latest accommodation prices around the Agios Kosmas sailing centre in Athens (for the '04 Olympics). Paul Henderson's assertions that the centre is fantastic and, more than likely, the best facilities of any sport may well be valid but I would like to throw into the pot that I have just been quoted 297 Euros per night for a double room (approx $367.00 USD) at the Hotel London, Glyfada. What's more, the crafty Greeks are insisting on a minimum stay of 20 nights, so by my math that adds up to 5940 Euros (approx. $7,340.00 USD)! I could buy a boat for that kind of money! Instead, with tongue firmly in cheek, I'm busy buying up as many hotels on the South Coast of England for the Olympics in 2012 (so sure am I of the London bid!) to artificially inflate all the prices and thereby go against the Olympic spirit of 'sport for all'...no wonder sailing can't shake its elitist image. However I look forward to over-paying for a campsite in Athens on the 14th August and employing shanks's pony as my means of transport. * From Clifford Bradford: With respect to Portland's wind farm issues it may be possible to stop the wind turbines during sailing events. There are other offshore wind turbine installations in Europe (I know of one off the Dutch coast I think). Does anyone have experience sailing near those? As sailors we ought to be conscious of the environment and the fact is that every kilowatt a wind turbine produces is one that a fossil fuel burning power plant won't have to produce. * From Kevin Hall: The US Olympic Sailing Committee exists to try to identify our country's best prospects for a medal in each class during the years before the Games. In 1998 Morgan Larson, and Jonathan and Charlie McKee and I mapped out a road we believed was most likely to lead to a medal in the 49er. This road would require breaking with the tradition of having the Trials just a few months before the Games, and in essence meet the European format half way: we requested that the Trials be a year before the Games, so the winning team could rest and then have the ability to prepare for one event (the Games), not two (the Trials then the Games), with the undiluted backing of the OSC for the final year. The OSC saw the wisdom in this and our Trials were in October for the Olympics the following September, and the McKees went on to win a bronze medal. Once the US Olympic Team is selected, the OSC exists to help each athlete or team prepare for the Olympic regatta. This includes funding, logistics, shipping, coaching, and a bit of paperwork. I am now on the 2004 US Olympic Team, and considered by US Sailing to be a medal prospect, though a darkhorse. I am confident that US Sailing and the OSC are doing everything they can to provide me the opportunity to sail my best in Athens. * From Terry Hutchinson: Having competed against Kevin Hall since we were kids, it was great to see Kevin succeed at the Finn trials. Like Lance, Kevin is a testament to what a little human will power can do and overcome. I hope that everybody at US Sailing and the Olympic committee do not under react and take "this is not a big deal attitude" as Kevin has battled and deserves to be in the Olympics. * From Ian Bruce: What an extraordinary, but not unexpected, outcome to the Iverson saga. We are slowly but surely slip-sliding away from the reason we (99% of all sailors) are in the sport. We like to sail and we like to compete but what we really want to do is go head to head with our friends and others who make up the community we sail in and to enjoy their company after. This is obviously not Olympic sailing but at least one Class, the Star, does offer the added bonus of being able to sail against the Olympic rock stars as many are well established, and long standing, members of our community and not transients seeking a medal. George is one such person and there are six more mentioned in yesterday's Butt reference to the Bacardi. Come and sail with us, George, at the inaugural Montreal Star Regatta this June (Montreal is the newest Star Fleet). We are just up the road from you and we don't give a damn what you or your skipper weigh! * From Harrison Hine: One of the reasons I left the Star Class was the European takeover of the class and the insane weight policy put in place by the Italian president. They were arrogant and ignored the long time traditions of the class. It's bad enough that a few small insignificant sailing countries dominate the International Federation, but it's worse when you take a venerable organization like the ISCYRA and start putting in restrictive rules that don't improve or promote the class. The Star Class is the "ONLY" one design organization to last any length of time with a strong organization. The competitive nature of the sailing in the Star Class is it's main appeal, but the class organization run by rational and experienced yachtsmen has kept the class alive and thriving through thick and thin. It's too bad that a small group were able to come in and change the basic nature of a the classic one design class. * From Craig Fletcher: (re: Chris Ericksen's statement, "Have we forgotten that this is just a game we're playing, for God's sake? It's just sailboat racing, folks, not real life.") If sailboat racing is not real life, what is? CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION The difference between a jet ski and a vacuum cleaner is the location of the dirt bag. |
