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SCUTTLEBUTT 3142 - Tuesday, July 27, 2010Scuttlebutt 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: Lewmar, North Sails, and OceanRacing.com. THE MASTER RETURNS John Bertrand, the most successful campaigner of the Laser's early years, is back in the class and striving to get to the head of it. Sailing World magazine's Dave Powlison checks in with the master: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In the 1970s and into the early 1980s, Californian John Bertrand was one of a select group of talented young sailors who, collectively, turned the world of dinghy sailing on its head. Starting with Lasers and eventually moving on to Finns, the "Laser Generation," as they'd been dubbed, perfected roll tacking and roll jibing, pushed the kinetics window to its limit, and, in the process, dominated the world of Laser and Finn sailing for close to a decade. For Bertrand, the zenith of his early career was a pair of successive Laser world titles, followed by similar success in the Finn and a silver medal in the 1984 Olympic Games. Then he disappeared from the dinghy scene. Now, three decades after he last set foot in a Laser, he's back, and playing catch up with a faster generation. DAVE POWLISON: You've made your living as a professional sailor, rolling up impressive big-boat credentials - setting some course records and even sailing as tactician in an America's Cup for Dennis Connor. For the casual observer, suddenly picking up the Laser again might seem unusual; what got you back into it? JOHN BERTRAND: About a year ago January I got back into the boat as a kind of a reward. I got back down to my Laser weight. The two years prior to that, I had been involved with some Olympic sailors - I coached Brad Funk, and that whole time Brad kept saying, "You should get back into the class." He was giving me a lot of encouragement, and I decided, "What the heck, I'll just give it a try." My son Alex had sailed Radials, and so I thought I'd jump in on a whim and do the 2009 Rolex Miami OCR. I thought I would be able to have some level of success, and I was quite humbled. DAVE POWLISON: What did you discover? JOHN BERTRAND: The generation that has come up through the Optimist has generated techniques that have really advanced things. Even though I was in good shape, I wasn't in any sort of sailing shape, so I suffered. I would get some pretty good starts, but I'd find myself in the second or third row within a minute or so of the start. In the first race, I was looking really good on the first beat, but on the run, the whole fleet passed me. The whole downwind technique is completely different, but I was just thrilled to be out there. --Read on: http://www.sailingworld.com/experts/the-master-returns SCUTTLEBUTT TRIVIA What one design class is holding its World Championship this week in northern Europe, and finds the USA contingent accounting for 11% of the 126 entrants coming from eleven countries? (Answer below) BMW ORACLE'S VISION FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP So just what has BMW Oracle Racing been up to in Valencia this past weekend? In their efforts to re-invigorate the America's Cup the holders are confronting myriad issues not least the disappointment evident among once loyal followers and even sponsors. Following the debacle leading up to the last multihull event there is much to be done and Larry Ellison and CEO Russell Coutts recognise the need for a wholesale shake up prior to 2013 or 2014. The 'to do' list is long but near the top is a commitment to turn sailing into a more compelling, understandable spectator sport for a wider, uninitiated audience. That's a TV or online audience. Finding ways to achieve that began last weekend. By looking at new boats - the fundamental question of whether the next America's Cup will be sailed in multihulls or monohulls is still wide open, but should be announced before the end of the summer - new courses and new ways of giving yacht racing mass appeal, BMOR are challenging convention. As previously reported pairs of RC44 monohulls and X40 catamarans have been used in a series of ambitious and unique experiments with a plethora of racing, media and technical experts providing input. But why change a formula that, in terms of the racing, couldn't have been closer in monohulls in 2007? The problem was it didn't suit TV. Among other things there were too many race delays due to weather, not enough action and races, which were too long for time sensitive broadcasting schedules. With no ongoing TV funding, the new defender has had to start from scratch, establishing the competition business plan and paying for it. It's easy to say, well Larry Ellison can afford it, but this time Ellison and Coutts are aiming to create something that will last, a legacy that will give the America's Cup a life beyond the next match - even if they lose. "The America's Cup must move on," said Tom Ehman, head of external affairs for BMOR. To get sailing fit for live broadcast either online or via TV ('what will be the difference by the time of the next Match in 2013 or 2014?' many ask) BMOR have looked at stock car racing (NASCAR) in the USA, the National Basketball League, the NFL, ice hockey and other sports to see how live yacht racing coverage can be progressed to appeal more, much more, to the viewer. Among the technical firepower in Valencia last weekend were ace navigator Stan Honey and Ken Milnes who in former lives ran a company called Sportvision. They are now members of the BMOR team and are bringing some remarkable technology to the table. They worked out how to track ice hockey pucks using graphics and get that live on screen. They provided the same technology for NFL and other sports. Now by using incredibly accurate GPS positioning and being able to integrate onboard boat data with live footage they are bringing this remarkable tool - one which could be the key to attracting bigger audiences - to yachting. -- Yachting World, read on: http://tinyurl.com/24ve7ny WORRY-FREE WINCHING With the sailing season now in full swing, deck hardware specialist Lewmar has taken the initiative to produce a video to provide less-experienced sailors with some top tips on safe winching. Whether you're sailing with guests this summer or would like some expert advice yourself, transatlantic sailor Lia Ditton provides a guide to worry-free winching in this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaC8V8ecdpw PHOTO GALLERIES * For the 45 young women that came to Miami, Florida for the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship, they were assured a few things. They would get great coaching, warm water sailing, and no dudes. They would also get their picture taken, courtesy of local shooter John Payne: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0726/ * The Club 420 is the dominant doublehanded youth boat in North America, and the class attracted 109 boats to its North American Championship last week in Brant Beach, NJ. Photographer Justin Chando shares the action on the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0726a/ * The TP52 Audi MedCup circuit is where the spotlight shines brightest amid professional sailing, with the circus in Barcelona, Spain last week. For some teams, seeking to succeed at this level is the goal, while other teams use the circuit to ultimately achieve their America's Cup aspiration. Regardless, the TP52 is a seriously sexy sailing machine, and Scuttlebutt is lucky to have a huge photo gallery courtesy of Chris Cameron, Studio Borlenghi, Sander van der Borch, and Chris Schmid: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0725/ * Thirty-seven boats were in the Italian sailing paradise of Lake Garda for the Audi Melges 20 Gold Cup, which is what a class calls its most prestigious event when it has not yet fulfilled the requirements needed by the International Sailing Federation for it to use the 'World Championship' title. Shooter Luca Butto provides some eye candy of both the boat and venue: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0725a/ * Seven days of racing, 147 competing boats, 11 divisions, two National Championships, one North American Championship, 1200 sailors and one great sailing town of Newport. It all adds up to New York Yacht Club's (NYYC) Race Week at Newport presented by Rolex. It was smooth sailing for the most part. other than when severe thunderstorms passed over Rhode Island Sound. Daniel Forster provides Scuttlebutt with these images: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0726b/ CHAMPAGNE SAILING By Tillerman, esteemed blogger It is now abundantly clear that the Olympic sailing organizers got it all wrong with the "medal race" concept - the idea that they would make the last race of the regatta more exciting by allowing only the top ten sailors to race in it, awarding double points, and not allowing that score to be thrown out. Sailing should instead learn from the immensely popular sport of cycling and copy the Tour de France format where, for reasons I have not been able to discover or understand, the last stage is largely ceremonial. So, this year, Alberto Contador, who was leading Andy Schleck by the slimmest of margins, cruised along in the final "race" sipping champagne, shooting his friends with a squirt gun, and sticking his fingers in the air to indicate how many times he had won the Tour. Apparently Mr. Schleck was too much of a nice guy to pedal a bit harder and beat Mr. Contador while he was performing these antics. Or something. Fantastic. Let's do it, Olympic sailing organizers. Scrap the medal race. Go for the ceremonial race. A bottle of champagne and a squirt gun on every boat and let's party. -- http://propercourse.blogspot.com/2010/07/champagne-sailing.html LONGSHOT RETURNS In 1993, at Bodega Bay, Russell Long took his last ride on Longshot, his custom Ketterman built trifoiler, which had just been outfitted with new foil wings. She bolted out of the gate a blasted up to near 50 knots when the back stay parted and she "blew up" scattering pieces about the harbor. Russell emerged shaken but unscathed. Longshots parts were gathered and eventually trucked to Southern California. Russell soon followed another passion, in protecting the environment and has spent the past 15 years working with projects such a his Blue Water Network and Friends of the Earth Which among other things ended the use of 2 stroke engines on Lake Tahoe and forced the fuel efficiency issues in Washington and Detroit. Longshot was recently towed back to Watsonville, CA, had a few tweaks and adjustments made, and readied for another go at the record books. She still holds the class A 500 Meter Course record set in 1992 in Tarifa, Spain of 43.55 knots according to speedsailing.com. Russell has his sights set a bit higher, that being the overall 500 Meter speed record set by Hydroptere of 51.36 knots set in Hyere's, France in 2009. Russell was trialing Longshot's new configuration this past weekend at Oyster Point, on the Southern San Francisco Bay. Photos and video interview here: http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?509-Longshot-Rides-Again NORTH-POWERED BOATS RULE NYYC RACE WEEK Congratulations to the 'Numbers' and 'Rambler' teams for finishing 1st & 2nd in IRC-1 at the Rolex U.S. IRC Nationals held as part of NYYC Race Week. Congratulations also to 'Robotic Oncology' and 'Arethusa' for finishing 1st & 3rd (IRC-3) and 'Avalanche' and 'Partnership' for finishing 2nd & 3rd (IRC-4). North-powered boats also finished 1,2,3,4,5,6 in the Swan 42 class; 2nd & 4th in the J/122 class; 1,2,3 in the J/109 class; 1st & 2nd in PHRF 1; 1st & 3rd in the Beneteau 36.7 class and 2nd in PHRF 2. When performance counts, the choice is clear: http://na.northsails.com TRIVIA ANSWER A massive 14 boat American team is in Aarhus, Denmark for the 2010 5O5 SAP World Championship. The Pre-Worlds is Monday through Wednesday, with the World Championship held Friday, July 30 - Thursday, August 5. Leading the USA charge will be 2009 Worlds runner-up Mike Holt and Carl Smit and perennial class champion Howie Hamlin sailing with Andy Zinn. -- Event website: http://www.505sapworldchampionship2010.com SAILING SHORTS * (July 26, 2010) - As of 18:54 CST, 142 of the 353 boats had finished the 102nd Running of the 333 mile Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Karl Kwok's Farr 80 Beau Geste (Hong Kong, China) was the first finishing boat in the racing division, arriving Sunday (21:43:10) with an elapsed time of 31:13:10. Currently holding overall honors is David and Sandra Askew's J/122 Flying Jenny VI from Annapolis, MD. -- Race website: http://www.cycracetomackinac.com/ * San Francisco, CA (July 24, 2010) - The 2010 Starboard Severne US Windsurfing National & Formula North American Championships wrapped up this past Saturday with the crowning of Brazilian Paolo dos Reis as the new Formula Racing North American Champion, while fellow Brazilian Wilhelm Schurmann Captured the Slalom title, and Australian Phil McGain captured the Overall Title. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10210 * Annapolis, MD (July 25, 2010) - The 2010 Lightning Atlantic Coast Championship was sailed in nearly 100 degree heat on Chesapeake Bay, with 38 boats competing in the two day event. Winds were challenging as a westerly fought the southerly sea breeze. A few top teams were slowed by OCS results which helped pave the way for David Starck (Buffalo, NY), Jody Starck, and Tom Starck to victory. Full results: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/results/2010/acc/results.asp * Baltimore, MD (July 25, 2010) - The Coast Guard responded to 37 distress calls resulting in more than 77 people assisted or rescued after a severe thunderstorm developed in the Chesapeake Bay Sunday afternoon. At 3:05 p.m., the National Weather Service Radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing destructive winds in excess of 70 mph. A marine broadcast was issued to notify mariners to seek shelter immediately. At approximately 3:25 p.m., Sector Baltimore watchstanders received the first call notifying them that vessels were being affected by the storm. Within minutes, multiple calls came in to the command center. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/26ljyzf * The Notice of Race for the 2010 Rolex Osprey Cup has been posted by organizers St. Petersburg Yacht Club (St. Petersburg, Fla.) to the website. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade 1 match racing regatta - scheduled for October 20-23 - annually attracts the world's top women sailors. Women sailors interested in competing should apply for an invitation online by August 1. -- Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10209 * Sydney, Australia (July 26, 2010) - A sailboat largely constructed from 12,500 recycled plastic bottles has completed a 4-month journey across the Pacific Ocean meant to raise awareness about the perils of plastic waste. The Plastiki, a 60-foot (18-meter) catamaran, and its six crew weathered fierce ocean storms during its 8,000 nautical miles at sea. It left San Francisco on March 20, stopping along the way at various South Pacific island nations including Kiribati and Samoa. It docked Monday in Sydney Harbour. -- Read on: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128765142 * BMW Group announced it will be the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) from now through 2016. BMW Group will also be the Official Mobility Partner of four National Governing Bodies (NGBs): USA Bobsled & Skeleton, US Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field. BMW Group will use its experts, deep technology base and facilities to help the Olympic and Paralympic Teams improve their training and performance. BMW Group's expertise in light weight construction and aerodynamics helped the BMW ORACLE Racing Team design a technically advanced yacht that won the America's Cup sailing competition this year. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/2fg4z4n * CORRECTION: The link in Scuttlebutt 3141 for the Laser Radial Youth Worlds had an error, but this one will work: http://www.laserworlds2010.co.uk/radialyouth TIMING IS EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO GOOD STARTS Optimum Time sailing watches feature large digital displays, pre-programmed ISAF start sequences, synchronization to the next gun, are waterproof and shock-resistant. Ocean Racing's waterproof Offshore Duffel and Backpack utilize heavy-duty waterproof material, waterproof zippers and have seams that are sewn, taped and RF welded so your stuff stays dry. http://www.OceanRacing.com LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Eric Camiel: (re, A MADE-FOR-TV AMERICA'S CUP in #3141) I've shot and directed several America's Cup films and many other sailing and sports films as well. Seeing the test rushes makes me envious of the access and terrific, exciting shots they were able to get. These along with good graphics and narration can tell the story of the race. What is missing, however, and what is uniquely available in sailing coverage are the shots that tell the story of the people, what they are thinking, feeling, doing as athletes and as individuals during the race. In sailing, given that access, we have the unique ability to show the human drama of the "Thrill of Victory" and the "Agony of Defeat" in real time, without narration or talking heads, in a way that is impossible in most other sports. Shots of faces, body language, dialog and emotion are available. We should make getting and using them a priority instead of just trying to tell the story of the race. Admittedly, the human story is harder to tell, but the astounding success of 'Deadliest Catch' show is based not primarily on their spectacular shots but on the ability of the cameramen and editors to tell the personal stories of the fishermen. * From Bill Tingle, Pittsburgh, PA: The comments by blogger Tillerman in Scuttlebut 3137 (regarding etiquette in biking and sailing) reminded me that while falling asleep on the night before the final race of a Flying Scot Regatta, I read in a sports journal that Bicycle Racing is the ultimate portrayer of the Corinthian Spirit. The article gave some examples. When a leading cyclist was Interfered with by a spectator and knocked off of his bike, the other competitors in the leading group stopped and waited until he was up and going again. In another case, during a mountain climb when the group was going through a contestant's home village, the whole group stopped while he received greetings from his family and neighbors. In the last race of the regatta the next morning I needed a good finish to win the trophy. I rounded the last mark about two lengths ahead of a group of five boats. With a short beat to the finish in a brisk breeze, it looked to be a sure win. Unfortunately, about half way up the beat my hat blew off. It was a Sally Barkow Team hat that my granddaughter had given me and it was very precious to me. My decision was quick. I decided I wanted the hat more than I wanted the trophy so I made a circle to pick up the hat. As my crew pulled the hat from the water, I looked around to see how many places I had lost. Lo and behold - the trailing boats were all doing circles while waiting for me to pick up my hat. What a dream! * From Kent Fox, Fleet Captain, Lauderdale Yacht Club: Congratulations to Erika Reineke, 2010 Laser Radial Youth World Champion. With a work ethic second to none, Erika embodies everything we want from our junior sailors both on and off the water. Erika is proof positive that passing down the lessons learned from years of international competition and endless training can have a profound effect on a sailor and a program. Erika's coach Brad Funk and her mentor Anna Tunnicliffe have tutored and fueled an already passionate and talented sailor to achieve great things. She also serves as an example and mentor herself to both our laser program and our talented group of optimist sailors. We too often hear about the problems with junior sailing. I applaud Erika's victory and all that it represents. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION You're never too old to learn something stupid. Special thanks to Lewmar, North Sails, and OceanRacing.com. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
