|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2013 - January 20, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.EXPERT OPINION -- Neal McDonald "I have seen quite a lot of bad press that seems to have been pointed at the (Volvo Open 70) rule itself and maybe the race organizers and I think that if you asked every sailor there would be one aspect of the rule they would like to change, but on the whole, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this rule. The boats are fast, they are unbelievable boats, they are technically innovative, they are good looking to see, and I think sponsors like all that. They are terrific to sail, there is no doubt about it at all - they are fast, faster than any other monohull in the world. "But I think most of the criticism is unfounded. I am not sure it is made particularly aware to the outside world that these boats don't just arrive and we take them out, we get rules, a very well defined set of rules and we have to build the boat within these rules and a lot of the security issues are our own making. "The rules are clear in some areas, the keel itself for example is very well defined, we can't make that any less secure than the rule makes it, but the other areas we can have a free hand. The emphasis is to make the fastest boat and that often means the lightest. There is a very fine line between what is light and what is going to be robust. Some of us seem to have got that balance a little wrong, but that is our choice, that is not forced upon us." -- Neal McDonald, skipper of Ericsson Racing Team NOT DISABLED ENOUGH Australian Paralympic gold medallist Jamie Dunross has had a big setback in his quest to win the Alcoa IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships, and his bid to qualify for the 2008 games in Beijing, in search of another gold medal. Crew member Jeff Milligan, who sailed with Jamie at the Athens Paralympics in 2004, has been de-classified as disabled, the day before the start of the championship. Despite being an amputee, having lost his right foot, a change to the disabled classification rules, since the Paralympics has made him ineligible to compete. After six years of sailing with Jamie's crew, and competing in previous IFDS world championships, and the Paralympics Jeff is dumbfounded by the decision. "I've been training hard three days a week for 18 months," said Jeff, "spent a lot of money, a lot of time, then get here the day before the race, after two days of waiting for a decision, they said no, you can't sail." Though substitute crew Graeme Martin was on Noel Robins's gold medal winning crew with Jamie, at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney, he has not sailed competitively since. When Jeff was refused classification as a disabled sailor, the team protested the decision, but the international jury upheld the decision by the classification committee, after two days of hearings and deliberations.The skipper is both disappointed for Jeff, and annoyed that all the work they have put in as a team is now compromised. "The last thing I would expect, is that a person with a disability to be discriminated against, because their not disabled enough, I've sailed with Jeff for six years, and there is no way he sails like an able-bodied person," said Jamie. He continued, "it is very discriminatory, just lack of thought on the part of the classifiers, I thought this sport of sailing for people with disabilities, was including as many people as possible, not excluding." -- John Roberson, www.2006ifdsworlds.com.au DOWN TO THE WIRE It's down to the wire and overall victory is up for grabs in many of the 19 classes competing at Acura Key West 2006, presented by Nautica. There was a dramatic change in the Swan 45 World Championship while the Farr 40 and Melges 24 classes remain close going into the final day of the week-long regatta. Bellicosa, a New York entry skippered by Massimo Ferragamo, posted a first and third on Thursday to seize the lead in Swan 45 class. Howie Schiebler is calling tactics for Bellicosa, which vaulted from third to first in the overall standings. Things did not go as well for Goombay Smash, which had led the series for the initial three days. Skipper William Douglass (Newport, R.I.) posted a 6-12 line and now trails Bellicosa 29-31. Mascalzone Latino, skippered by Vincenzo Onorato, took control of the Farr 40 competition with scores of 2-3 on Thursday. Three-time America's Cup champion Russell Coutts is calling tactics for Mascalzone Latino, which leads fellow Italian entry Fiamma (Alessandro Barnaba) by eight points. There's a tie in Melges 24 with Dave Ullman's Pegasus 505 and Riccardo Simoneschi's Nautica knotted at 17 points apiece after one throwout is factored. Blu Moon, Franco Rossini's Swiss entry, dropped from first to third - five points behind Pegasus 505 and Nautica. Simoneschi, an Italian and former Star sailor making his Key West debut, notched a first and second on Thursday to jump up from fifth in the overall standings. Ullman, a California sailmaker, grabbed a bullet in Race 7 to overtake Blu Moon and Partners & Partners. A heated battle is also brewing in Transpac 52 class, which is professionally-crewed ala the Swan 45s and Farr 40s. Stay Calm II, a class newcomer owned by Stuart Robinson of London, clings to a two-point lead going into the last day. Moneypenny, a Swan 601 owned by Jim Swartz, maintained its one-point lead over Aera (Ker 55, Nick Lykiardopulo) in IRC 1. Those two boats are also contending for the inaugural US-IRC Championship, which combines results from IRC 1 and IRC 2 at this regatta. Masquerade, owned by Thomas Coates of San Francisco, is running away with the 29-boat J/105 class and Mid-Winter Championship after winning or placing second in every race. Chris Perkins is calling tactics for Coates, who holds a 20-point lead over California rival Rich Bergman (Zuni Bear). Storm, a J/109 owned by Rick Lyall of Wilton, Conn., received Industry Partner Boat of the Day honors. Veteran sailmaker Butch Ulmer is calling tactics for Storm, which posted a 1-4 result on Thursday. Racing in J/109 is extremely close with just two points separating the top three boats. -- Bill Wagner, complete results: www.Premiere-Racing.com Updated Images: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/keywest View and post comments: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi View dockside reports at Scuttleblog: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog LEADING TACTICAL NAVIGATION SOFTWARE B&G's Deckman software includes all the tools you need for short course round the buoys racing or long distance offshore and ocean racing. It gives you the best start to races with its unique start screen with information you can trust. Deckman has the industry leading routing engine for optimum route analysis along with the capability to edit GRIB files when taking into consideration observed weather changes. You can carry out boat testing functions for immediate analysis and improvement and update polar files for pre-start, navigation and performance. For more information, free demo, or upgrade software please see http://www.BandG.com/deckman.htm LIFE IS TOO SHORT (A report from watch leader Knut Frostad on the dismasted Brasil 1 in the Volvo Ocean Race.) Life is too short - the famous four words from our "Presidentsch" onboard, Marcello (Ferreira), could not have been more appropriate. Life is really too short to be stuck out here on a racing boat without a mast, about one week from shore. Being without a mast it is like cutting the wings off a bird, you just can't fly however hard you try. It is heartbreaking, and we are seriously heartbroken. Every single one of us. We did not deserve this. We have rigged the trysail from the mast, but with clew in the top. In the front we have now ended up with the storm jib on the spinnaker pole, braced out with all kinds of trimming features. A mainsail batten rolled into the top of the sail, enables us to shorten it and trim it better. At the moment we are doing a steady 9 knots, in about 30-35 knots of wind. We have one steering wheel and most electronics are still working, except the wind instruments of course, and the big satcom antenna, which got hit by the mast. The good news is that the whole crew is in good shape, and despite what we have been through, we have some energy reserves left. I f you dig deep enough there is always more than you imagine, and we are determined to get ready for the inshore race in Melbourne. We don't know how yet, but we will figure it out. Torben is definitely keeping his head up and knowing so well the friendship and team spirit we all share onboard Brasil 1, I just know it..: We will be back! Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 GMT Thursday 1. Team ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, 268 miles to finish 2. Team ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +324 miles 3. Movistar, Bouwe Bekking, +448 miles 4. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +850 miles 5. ING Real Estate Brunel, Grant Wharington, +1329 miles 6. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, +2509 miles 7. Ericsson Racing Team Neal McDonald, retired Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/ SCUTTLEBUTT POLL Following the finish of Leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race in Melbourne, Australia, there is scheduled an In-port race on February 4. Given the number of breakdowns within the VOR fleet during Leg 2 (and the previous problems during Leg 1), we wondered if it made any sense to abandon this buoy race, and use that extra time to insure that the fleet is fully prepared for Leg 3. Good arguments on either side of this, so let's take the poll: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/polls/06/0119 NEWS BRIEFS * The ISAF Grade 1 Auckland Match Racing Cup starts next Wednesday with observers saying it is set to become one of New Zealand's most significant events. From 25-29 January, New Zealand will once again see the world's most talented sailors and skippers in town - including former Match Racing World Champions Ed Baird (USA), Bertrand Pace (FRA) and New Zealand's Dean Barker and Chris Dickson. Other skippers include Ian Williams (GBR), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Mathieu Richard (FRA) Sebastain Col (FRA) Staffan Lindberg (FIN) and Camerson Appleton (NZL). The Cup has a lucrative $US100,000 prize pool. -- http://www.aucklandmatchracingcup.co.nz/ * Although the waves on Perth's Swan River are only small, Britannia definitely ruled them today on the opening day of the 2006 Alcoa IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships, winning three of the four races sailed. Leaders after 2 races, no discard - Sonars: 1. John Robertson/ Stodel/ Thomas (GBR) 3pts; 2. Jens Kroker/ Schoenberg/ Schuetz (GER) 7pts; 3. Jamie Dunross/ Harrison/ Martin (AUS) 8pts. 2.4 Metres: 1. Helena Lucas (GBR) 2pts; 2. Bjornar Erikstad (NOR) 5pts; 3. Heiko Kroeger (GER) 5.5 pts. -- www.2006ifdsworlds.com.au * Despite patchy up and down winds in Melbourne, Mauricio SantaCruz Brazilians on Bruschetta managed fourth and second places in Races 9 and 10 to build their lead in the J/24 World Championship; Leaders (40 boats- 1 discard): Mauricio SantaCruz (Brazil) 34pts; 2. Wataru Sakamoto (Japan) 54pts; 3. Ian Southworth (GBR) 58pts; 4. Mike Ingham (USA) 65pts; 5. Luigi Ravioli (Italy) 73pts; .6. Doug McGain (AUS) 78pts; 7. David Klatt (USA) 83pts; 8. Sean Wallis (AUS) 88pts; 9. Yasutaka Funazawa (Japan) 91pts; 10. Sean Kirkjian (AUS) 100pts. -- http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/ Great images: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/j24worlds * After eight years of operating as an independent distributor for the US Market, representing the Spinlock, Deckware and Oceanair Interiors line of products; Maritime Trading Company (MTC) has merged with Oceanair Marine Limited. The united company will operate as a division of Oceanair Marine (headquartered in Selsey, England) and will be based out of the existing MTC offices in Manchester, Vermont. Doug Lyman has become a member of the Oceanair Marine Ltd. Board of Directors and will also continue as a member of the Product Development Team at Spinlock Ltd. -- www.oceanair.co.uk DON'T GET COLD FEET The Figawi Foul Weather Boot from Sperry Top-Sider® is ready for whatever Mother Nature sends your way. These fully insulated, knee-high boots feature seam-sealed waterproof construction and toggle closures to keep your feet warm and dry. Sperry Top-Sider's signature non-marking Super-Tack™ rubber outsoles with Quadro-Grip Wave-Siping™ keep you firmly planted on both wet and dry surfaces. And, their contoured EVA midsoles help absorb pounding waves, keeping you and your feet comfortable for hours on end. Available in charcoal grey with yellow accents, the Figawi Foul Weather Boot has a suggested retail price of $149.95. Additional information: Click Here 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 thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Jon Alvord: For the last five years the updates on Key West Race Week have come through Scuttlebutt, and nearly every time they forget, or just don't, mention the Corsair fleets. While I know you don't write the release, why not push for some equal exposure. They are first in the class this year and as Doran Cushing mentioned in 'butt 2012 I'm sure their speeds are well over most of the fleet with half the crew! Curmudgeon's Comments: We forwarded Jon Letter to the press office at Acura Key West and got the following reply: "Every boat and each of the nineteen classes in the 4 divisions at Acura Key West 2006, presented by Nautica are important. The daily press release does have a grand prix focus and the wrap-up releases are more comprehensive. During race week, all courses are covered in the daily newspaper and the stories are posted on the web site. Please see the "Race Week News" pages at: http://www.premiere-racing.com/ * From John Tormey: Doran Cushing made nice commentary in 'Butt 2012 about the Corsair 28Rs not getting enough attention in Key West, and how they are relishing in the big wind conditions, putting up big speeds and fun. I took a moment to check out their results after the breeze from the fifth race held on Wednesday, and saw that three-fourths of the fleet scored DNC's, include all-star cat sailor Randy Smyth. Hmm, maybe that class is struggling too. * From Peter Brazier: Fair enough for the critics of the latest technology to have their say but they are wasting their breath. You can resist progress but you can't prevent it. For Volvo to have stayed with the 60's would have been akin to the America's Cup staying with 12 meters after Fremantle. And like the America's Cup it is the campaign costs rather than the boat building costs that are the barrier to entry. The Volvo 70 box rule should be embraced and become a development class not exclusive to the Volvo Race. The Whitbread was at its participation peak when IOR and its level rating classes were strong. IOR maxis raced the Whitbread. IOR maxis raced the big offshore races and regattas alongside the smaller IOR classes. The ORC has now introduced the GP Classes - GP26, GP33 & GP42. Then there is the TP52 which ought to be brought into that series. Surely it would make sense for the Volvo 70 to be a GP class above that - modified to eschew Volvo Race specific equipment etc. And while they are at it make a box rule to pick up the 100' IRC racers before they become too disparate. The proprietary rules would need to be handed over to be administered by the ORC. Name changes would be needed to make them consumable by international users and comprehendible to the media/public. Something like: 100' = Super Maxi; 70' = Maxi; 52' = Maxi Chaser; to leverage off the current vernacular. * From Jerry Moulton: I think there is a common mis-spelling creeping in to our usage. Shouldn't in be Can'ting (as in Cannoting) keel. I admit that cannoting keel is not really very euphonious but it seems more accurate. * From Reynald Neron: I wonder… Some of your readers tell us that canting keels should not be on a sailing yacht because they keep breaking and are unsafe. But masts have been breaking too, for as long as I can remember. Does it means that masts should not be on a sailing boat either? * From Ryan Hamm: OK already. We know that Magnus does not think it is safe. The Volvo Ocean Race does not build the boats, nor do the sponsors of the event. Like the America's Cup you set some parameters and let the different teams design a boat. It is their job to do it safely. Remember the AC boat that split in half. Was that the fault of the America's Cup. No. Please end this thread and let's watch what designers for teams have come up with. So far I am not all that impressed. But I do not blame the organizers of the race. If we do we will lose all organizers and sponsors across the board. Enough already. * From Chris Ericksen: If I may add another "boat-part-that-is-not-found-in-Bristol" to the one submitted by Douglas Sisk (which, by the way, we spell "fraculator" in the Etchells class), I love the name of the metal plate attached to the front of a mast above the whisker-pole fitting to eliminate the pole end scratching the anodized finish on the mast. When the Lido Class was looking to legalize this item some years ago, a former Thistle sailor loaned us the term they use in Thistles: "thrompkin." I have no idea of the derivation of this term, nor that of the fraculator. * From Bob Fisher: Douglass Sisk has been a trifle twee in naming the "frackulator". In good old Anglo-Saxon-speak, as used aboard my last boat, it was the f**kulator, so called because if the bowman failed to observe its proper use, it was bound to f**k you later. * From Mark Eustis: If Mr. Hollom were sailing here on the Chesapeake (not that little bay over there, we're talking about the real Bay, here, in the middle and on the Right Coast) and he was asked to hoist a main, we might point out it's best to loose the smart pig before he pulled any strings. Then again, if he's such a grumpy ol' man, he probably oughta head downstairs and have a grain beverage or two before he crawls back in the fornicatorium for a nap. Maybe that'll improve his outlook. Oh, for them on the Left Coast what's wondering, it's a cunningham. * From Malcolm McKeag: Johnny Smullen (re big breeze at Key West) says: "Howling? I think the Volvo boys would be rolling around at the simile of a howling 20-25 knots at Key West, surely howling starts at 40'." Actually, and in Southern Ocean contexts, it is Roaring that traditionally starts at the Forties. Howling begins at the Fifties and Screaming doesn't get going 'til the Sixties. * From Matthew Jessup: Whereas washing sails is the best way to remove existing mildew, prevention is the key to fighting it. Unlike silicone based lubricants, McLube Sailkote is a dry lubricant that repels dirt, grime, salt and other harmful substances. McLube greatly reduces water absorption, friction, mildew growth and chafe. In controlled testing we have shown that Sailkote can reduce water absorption by over 50% and can cut dry time in half. Here at North Sails South Carolina We use Mclube Sailkote Plus on all of our sails new or used, the Plus indicates an added fungicide to prevent future mildew growth. We have customers that keep their sails furled for 50 weeks out of the year with no signs of mildew growth, an impressive fact considering the local climate is similar to that of Florida. Many of the sails we receive are shipped to locations around the world to be subjected to every type of mildew there is, all with great results. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." ~ Dave Barry Special thanks to B&G Instruments and Sperry Top-Sider |
