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SCUTTLEBUTT 2133 - July 10, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.THE NEW ZEALAND PERSPECTIVE Grant Dalton, the managing director and leader of Emirates Team New Zealand, had this to say on the current state of their America’s Cup campaign: How do you see the performance of the fleet now? “You tend to always get a clear winner or favourite by the time the Louis Vuitton Cup starts because he's the only guy who's got it right and everybody else is just finding out that they haven't. I felt last year that the top four would separate more but in fact it's gone the other way. The relative performance of the top groups has improved by a smaller percentage, while the other teams have come up at a higher rate. Pretty much five or six teams could take a race off you. I'm not sure they'd beat you in a series, but it's not hard to lose a race.” With a base in New Zealand and one in Valencia, how do you divide your time? “We were a bit late getting here, the base was a bit late and so we were a bit bunched. We probably got our timing wrong by a couple of weeks. Having two bases and living and sailing in two hemispheres its benefits and its negatives. I'm not saying that different timing would have sorted our performance in the first regatta, but it would have helped, the sailors would have been more settled, the families happier. Our principal base is here. The sail making will stay here. When we move back to New Zealand we will do it more regatta style and take NZL 84 and some containers, tenders, chase boats etc.” When will the second new boat be launched? “It'll be in before Christmas.” - Official America’s Cup website, full interview: http://tinyurl.com/mdx2k TP52 BREITLING MEDCUP SERIES – 2ND EVENT (July 8, 2006) After a disappointing 15th place in the 19-boat fleet at Punta Ala in May, Siemens, skippered by British double Olympic medallist, rang the changes. With Walker taking over steering duties himself, adding American tactician Dee Smith to the afterguard and making small changes to their sails and rig, Siemens proved the form boat here in Castellon, Spain clinching the overall Trofeo Ciudad de Castellon today. While Warpath, skippered by Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup helm Dean Barker, won the final race today, the winners of the Breitling MedCup TP52 series first regatta in Punta Ala, Italy had to settle for second overall here but still retain their overall lead in the Breitling MedCup Series. For Peter de Ridder and the Mutua Madrilena crew, like Warpath mainly off Emirates Team New Zealand, third overall here keeps the Spanish flagged boat in second overall in the Breitling MedCup Series standings for the season, and giving de Ridder his second successive Corinthian Trophy as top amateur helm: “It is a nice reward but the main thing is to come here and win and meeting the challenge of lining up against guys like Dean and Ian and coming off best.” Said de Ridder, who admitted that he had taken the decision to change his plans with his Farr 40 later this season in order to focus more strongly on the Breitling MedCup TP52 series. Final Standings after seven races (top 5 of 19): 1. Siemens (Ian Walker/Eamon Conneely, Spain) 30pts 2. Warpath (Dean Barker/Steve & Fred Howe, USA) 37pts 3. Mutua Madrilena (Peter de Ridder/Peter de Ridder, Spain) 38pts 4. Orlanda (L Bressani/A Pirera, Italy) 43pts, 5. Caixa Galicia (R Bermudez/Vincenzo Tirado, Spain) 46pts Full results and more stories - http://www.medcup.org/ FINALLY AN OLD GOAT Paul Corneliussen will be an old goat - and he's proud of it. A Rochester Hills, MI resident, Corneliussen will be sailing in his 25th Port Huron to Mackinac Island race - formally known as the Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race - on Saturday. "We're pretty excited about it," said Corneliussen. "I'm taking my daughter for her first Mackinac race - she's 15. "This is my 25th Mackinac, which means I'm an old goat. "Three years ago, I made a deal with my daughter, who was 12, that she would have to wait to go with me until I was an old goat." Sailors who have done 25 Mackinac races are offi cially termed "old goats." Corneliussen's daughter Kirsten, a sophomore at Rochester High School, sails in the Harrison Townshipbased North Star Sail Club's junior program. She's been sailing for about eight years. "I like just being out on the water," she said. "It's something my dad likes to do, too, and it's a bond thing between the two of us." She understands how special the race to Mackinac Island is. Now in its 82nd year, the race is the oldest consecutively run offshore yacht race on fresh water - and one of the biggest. "This is the real thing," said Kirsten. "You can race on Tuesday nights in little regattas, but this is the big one." Corneliussen skippers a 36-foot Catalina sailboat named Sorority. The name comes from his weekend crew - besides Kirsten, he has twin 12-year-old daughters, Sara and Hanna. - by Bob Gross, The Oakland Press, full story: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/070906/loc_2006070904.shtml IS SALLY BLIND? No, she’s not blind, but she does wear glasses. Sally Barkow is sight challenged. She needs corrective lenses to see. So how does she do it – champion breeze reader - world title after world title? Sally relies on Kaenon Polarized Rx. Kaenon Polarized prescription lenses are constructed from the same superior SR-91 polarized lens materials all the top dogs are using from Kaenon to see what others don’t. The finest optics in the business are available from Kaenon Polarized. Prescription or non-prescription. For men and women. Ask for it by name: Kaenon Polarized Rx. Evolve Optically. http://www.kaenon.com MAKING THE SHOW (Annapolis, MD) The recent America’s Cup racing marked a major breakthrough in Tucker Thompson's budding career as a television commentator for the sport of sailing. Thompson, an Annapolis resident, narrated four shows about Louis Vuitton Act 12 that appeared on the Outdoor Life Network. He performed well enough in that role to earn a spot on the broadcast team for the OLN's coverage of the actual America's Cup next summer off Valencia, Spain. Thompson has done work for OLN before, but never such a high-profile event. He previously narrated 10 shows about the Swedish Match Tour for the network. Thompson is accustomed to doing on-water commentary of live racing for T2P Productions, the company he co-owns along with fellow Annapolitan Bruce Nairn. The pair have taped nearly 300 regatta shows for viewing on t2p.tv. "This latest opportunity with OLN is just an extension of what Bruce and I have been doing for six years," Thompson said. "It solidifies that all the work we have done has been worth it and we are headed in the right direction." Outdoor Life Network recently bought the rights to broadcast both the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup. Al Trautwig will serve as lead announcer with Thompson and Andy Green of Great Britain providing color commentary. - by Bill Wagner, The Capital, full story: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2006/07_06-37/SAL LOCAL HEROES The San Diego sailing community recently endured the loss of Jimmy Elms, the son of Snipe legend Earl Elms. Not long after Jimmy’s memorial service, an email was sent out from long time snipe sailor Don Bedford, who is an officer of the snipe class and of Mission Bay YC. Don had organized the idea of rehabilitating an old 13’ Boston Whaler support boat for MBYC and renaming it in Jimmy’s honor. The boat needed everything: engine, steering controls, fiberglass repair, misc. parts, and a complete gelcoat spray both inside and out. The project needed both funds and manpower. It was a great idea, and because of Don’s efforts, it will happen. It will bring together Jimmy’s friends, and in the end there will be a lasting reminder of Jimmy, who was a great guy that did not deserve to die so young. Do you have a story of a local hero? Add it to the Scuttlebutt Forums here: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=2706#2706 MIXING WATERS The 2007 4.7 Worlds in South Africa are planning a unique celebration as part of their opening ceremonies. Called the “Mixing of the Waters,” a selected member of each competing Yacht Club will be asked to bring a small bottle of water from their Club. At the Opening Ceremony the representatives from each club will be requested to come up and pour their water into a large ceremonial vessel. This will then be blessed with an interdenominational prayer and taken to the waters edge and, with all competitors and supporters present, poured into the local waters. Mixing the waters of each competing club with the waters at host Hermanus Yacht Club will indicate that the different cultures are mixed in the waters the event is to be sailed in. It has another significance and that is each member of the various clubs represented can feel that they are at least sailing on a bit of their home waters. - Event website: http://laser47worlds07.sailing.org.za SPINLOCK SAILING TIP Replaced lines or sails? Halyards slipping? Service your clutch instead of replacing it. Replacement cams, bases, and handles are available for all Spinlock clutches, as well as updated designs with the same hole spacing for ease of installation. Everything you need to service, repair, or upgrade your existing Spinlock hardware including replacement sides, wedge kits, sidemount kits, and even handle labels. Call toll free 877-SPINLOC for technical support and a catalog, or visit online for a list of stocking dealers. Spinlock: The Experts in Ropeholding. http://www.spinlock.co.uk QUOTE / UNQUOTE Bruno Peyron on setting the new record for an Atlantic crossing: “It takes four ingredients to succeed in this type of performance: the tool, the men, the weather, and a bit of luck. Thanks to the designers and the boatyard, we have the world’s current fastest boat. The men showed they were capable of taming the beast. The weather was OK… and as for our luck…it wasn’t always with us what with the damage to the rudder, but we were lucky enough for it not to stop us.” SAILING SHORTS * The French America’s Cup team, Areva Challenge, reports that Thierry Peponnet will no longer be skipper and helmsman but will remain with the team. His new role is still to be defined. Sébastian Col will take over the helm and begin training with the team on FRA 60 in September. * Monica Azon, Sandra Azon and Graciela Pisonero (ESP) produced a fantastic last race in La Rochelle, France to win the 2006 Yngling World Championships for the second time by the narrowest of margins. The open title went to John Ingalls, James Randall and Mikael Komar (USA). The Spanish team finished level on points with their German rivals Ulrika Schuemann, Runa Kappen and Ute Hoeptner, and won on countback thanks to their two bullets in the opening stages of the championship. Defending World Champions Sally Barkow, Carrie Howe and Debbie Capozzi (USA) finished third. - Full results: http://tinyurl.com/r8fu9 * 189 entries have completed seven races in the 2006 IODA North American Championship being held July 3rd through July 11th 2006 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Sean Lee from Singapore currently leads Puerto Rico’s Iván Aponte, with top US entrant Taylor Lutz in sixth and Diego Reyes of Mexico in twelfth. During a break in the championship schedule, the county Team Racing Championship event finished with Peru winning, with Singapore in second and Argentina in third. - http://optinam2006.com/results.html * The Japanese sailing yacht, Beecom, a Reichel-Pugh 72, has abandoned her attempt to establish a new WSSRC time from San Francisco, United States to Yokohama, Japan due to increasingly fickle wind conditions. Planning and provisioning are underway for the sloop and her crew to soon attempt a similar record from Honolulu to Yokohama. – http://www.superyachting.com * All 43 entrants in the biennial 14th Biennial West Marine Pacific Cup race from San Francisco to Kaneohe Bay have started and are well on their way to Oahu, HI. Staggered starts for six divisions ran all last week, with Riva, a J/46 out of Portland, OR, leading the fleet and her division. 2 Guys On The Edge reported they found a huge fishing net wrapped solidly around the keel, which had caused them to spin out with the kite up. They were forced to drop sails and dive to cut it off before continuing. - http://www.pacificcup.org/ * The Snipe Junior Nationals on Lake Erie in Erie, PA were won over the weekend by Tyler Sinks and Ben Todter of San Diego, CA, with Floridians Austin Kana and Morgan Commette in second. Winning the Junior/Senior Nationals (junior skipper with senior crew) was Katie Levinson and Harry Levinson of Massachusetts. Senior Nationals qualifying begins on Monday. - http://www.erieyachtclub.org/2006snipe/results.htm CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar VANGUARD TRIVIA QUESTION What do the new Vanguard Laser tiller and the new Boeing 787 jet have in common? They are both constructed using the latest carbon fiber technology. The result is a lightweight tiller that is stronger and stiffer than aluminum. For more information and to find your local dealer, visit http://www.teamvanguard.com IN MEMORIAM Whatever he did in life, Charles Streatch, publisher of 48 North Sailing Magazine, put everything he had into it. He embraced it all, including his final days that ended June 25, 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Originally from Canada, he became a citizen of the U.S. in New York City in 1954. Chuck attended Oregon State University and m 1959 earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism, with a minor in Chemical Engineering, from the University of Oregon. Chuck was founding publisher of the -48 north sailing magazine, which he operated from 1981 until his death. He is survived by his wife Mary of Seattle, step-daughter Marcia Fox of Phoenix, AZ, several cousins including Linda (and Cec Lukenbill, Sherry Johnson and Allan Johnson, all of Calgary, Alberta. There will be a celebration of Chuck's life on Thursday, July 13, 2006 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the 48 North office. Call 206-789-7350 for more information. Please sign the online guest book and share your memories of Chuck at http://www.columbiafuneral.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thought at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From George Backhus: Regarding the "Loophole Law" for avoiding California state and local taxes on the purchase of a vessel (in Issue 2132), it has been my personal experience that one can follow the letter of the law, and still end up with a bill in the mailbox from the tax man. Furthermore, if one purchases the vessel in another state (for example, Florida) that allows a sales tax exemption if the vessel leaves the state immediately, one may find yet another "U O Me tax" bill in the mail from that state. California's, and probably other state's attitudes toward these exemptions, is that you are guilty, in other words you owe the tax, until you prove yourself innocent. If one takes advantage of this loophole (and why wouldn't ya), just remember that the burden of proof for the exemption is on the purchaser, not on the tax collector. I advise that one keep a seamless paper trail documenting the location of the vessel during the time the vessel is "offshore." This might include marina receipts, fuel dock receipts, repair bills, Customs and Immigration documents, and anything else that can positively place the vessel out of the state during the waiting period. I suggest that this paperwork be retained in a safe place for at least seven years. In the event you are billed for sales tax, and you could be even years after the transaction, this should hopefully make the tax man go away. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Always drink upstream from the herd. Special thanks to Kaenon Polarized, Spinlock, and Vanguard Sailboats. |
