SCUTTLEBUTT No. 767 - March 7, 2001

Scuttlebutt 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 and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome.

THE RACE
Innovation Explorer has finished The Race, in second position. A 15 to 20 knot wind propelled the boat at full speed towards the finishing line, which she crossed today, Tuesday 6th March 2001, at 11 h, 32m and 38 s GMT. It took them exactly 64 days, 22 hours, 32 minutes and 38 seconds to complete this circumnavigation via the three capes punctuated by a compulsory passage through the Cook Straits (New Zealand). Innovation Explorer covered 28,764.2 miles or 53,271.3 km at an average speed of 18.45 knots, or 34.2 kph.

Welcomed by thousands of people, the crew of Innovation Explorer was joined on the podium by the crew of Club Med and by Michel Desjoyeaux (winner of the 2000/2001 VendŽe Globe) who had come to welcome them also, to the greatest pleasure of the Marseilles public, massed in front of the podium. "Thank you Marseilles!" exclaimed Lo•ck Peyron, "I have known lots of race finishes, and even if I had been warned by my colleagues who came before us, I would never have imagined such a welcome."

Cam Lewis, skipper Team Adventure celebrated his birthday today as the 110-foot American catamaran sped north for the second straight day in moderating conditions and warmer weather. Lewis reported that his cat was positioned 1,000 miles due east of Buenos Aires and 2,780 miles due west of Cape Town, with 2,200 miles to sail before it reached the Equator and 5,300 miles remaining to the finish in Marseilles.

This morning Tony Bullimore and his crew had Team Legato surfing at 27 knots, bound for Cape Horn. For Bullimore, the frustrations over the past week when fickle winds in the 'Roaring Forty' latitudes cost them 1,000 miles on their closest rival Warta Polpharma, are now light years away as they storm on down into the 'Screaming Fifties' "We have a daily target of 320 miles to hit in order to finish back in Marseilles within the deadline and need to bank as many miles as possible when the conditions are like this," said Bullimore. With two 400+ mile days under their belt since leaving the calms on Sunday, they have already built up a 188 mile credit.

POSITIONS - March 7 @ 0500 GMT: Team Adventure, 5066.2 from finish; Warta Polpharma, 5877 from finish; Team Legato, 8543 from finish.

Website: www.therace.org

COMPARISON
(On the NOW Sports website, Martin Cross did a comparison of The Race statistics for Club Med and Innovation Explorer. Here are a few of those numbers.)

CLUB MED - Time: 62 days, six hours and 56 minutes, Distance covered: 27,407 nautical miles, Average speed: 18.3 knots.

INNOVATION EXPLORER - Time: 64 days, 22 hours and 32 minutes, Distance covered: 28,764, nautical miles, Average speed: 18.45 knots.

Full comparison: http://www.now.com/feature.now?fid=1345475&cid=997704

COMMENTARY: Innovation Explorer was not far behind Club Med in The Race, especially when you consider the handicap she suffered by a lack of good sails to see her through the wind range. Let's hope Bruno Peyron sees fit to run the event again, as it has great potential for the future. - Madforsailing website, http://www.madforsailing.com/

INNOVATION EXPLORER
Innovation Explorer was one of three sister ships designed by Gilles Ollier for the event and the second one in the water. Financed by an anonymous patron, Innovation Explorer was jointly skippered by Loick Peyron, brother of The Race's organiser, and Skip Novak, but the boat's potential always appeared hindered by the lack of a decent campaign budget.

"Loick pushed us all the way," conceded Grant Dalton, the Club Med skipper, when he finished last Saturday. "If circumstances had been different it could have been him today, not us." After Steve Fossett's PlayStation retired with sail damage and Cam Lewis's other sister ship, Team Adventure, put into Cape Town for repairs, the largely French crew on Innovation Explorer were Club Med's only real threat. - Tim Jeffery, Daily Telegraph, UK

Full story:
http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2001/03/06/soyots07.xml

BACARDI CUP
MIAMI, Fl. (March 6, 2001)-For the second consecutive day, inclement weather forced race officials to postpone the second race of the BACARDI Cup Star-Class Regatta. Officials announced that two races would be held Wednesday, March 7, with the first warning flag scheduled for 10:50 a.m., weather permitting.

"We went out there and the conditions looked favorable for a race. The winds were 16 knots on average and then during the race they jumped dramatically to an average of 24 knots," explained principal race officer Dr. Bill Smoak. "In the opinion of the race officer, the conditions became hazardous for the majority of the sailors and the safety of the fleet is most important."

After Sunday's opening race, skipper Mark Reynolds and crew Magnus Liljedahl - the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalists in the Star Class - were first among 65 competitors. Liljedahl, who is from Coral Gables, won the BACARDI Cup in 1997 and 1998 with Reynolds and in 1996 with Vince Brun. Reynolds, from San Diego, is a six-time BACARDI Cup champion.

Website: http://www.starclass.org/

TURN YOUR PASSION INTO YOUR CAREER
Sailmakers wanted (As well as sailmakers trainees)- Because of North Sails unprecedented growth, North Sails Manufacturing is hiring at all levels, all skills, all over the country. Excellent wages, 401K with company match, Health and Dental Insurance. These opportunities offer room for advancement, growth potential, & structured training. Join our team and let your sailing skills work for you. Specific locations include: North Sails Manufacturing in Long Island, Rhode Island, San Diego, Toronto, Connecticut & Maryland. Contact Peter Bove, Director of Manufacturing, for the nearest or best suited opportunity: peter@nmo.northsails.com, 203-783-0871.

CHANGING TIMES
The International Tornado class had its rule changes adopted by ISAF. This comes as a monumental step forwards for the class in its 30-odd year history since being designed by Rodney March in the late 60s. The issue of changing the boat to add twin-trapeze, spinnaker and a bigger mainsail and jib has been bubbling away since 1992, and now it's finally happened.

In the last year the class has come under increasing pressure from ISAF to bring itself up to scratch with other high performance cat classes, and add twin-trapeze and spinnaker. This was apparent at the Quiberon evaluation event which ISAF ran in March last year to gain an idea of the comparisons between the Tornado and the other F18 and F20 type cats.

ISAF came away from the evaluation event determined to push the Tornado towards being more spectacular and high performance. In what I believe was the first ruling of its type at the November ISAF conference in November 2000, the Tornado class was pressured into adopting the assigned changes dictated by the ISAF Events committee, in order to maintain its Olympic status. It has taken until 1 March 2001 to change the class rules legally in order to ensure that the class maintains its Olympic status for the forthcoming Games in Athens.

The position for the Tornado sailors is now one of huge change as a spinnaker system and a whole new development for mainsail and jib are required. - Hugh Styles, Madforsailing website.

Full story:
http://www.madforsailing.com/SAIL/Articles.nsf/LookUp/E6E5E9FACDCCD8EA80256A030038D70A?OpenDocument

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON leweck@earthlink.net
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.)

* From: Russ Lenarz bycsailor@aol.com
There already exists a system the would fit the criteria that Bill Lee is talking about. It is IRC and IRM. It has proven to be very successful and several people who have sailed under this system from the US have asked the question. Why are we not using this system? Americap or Americap II or whatever US SAILING wants to call it these days will never gain wide -spread acceptance. The time has come for them to face the fact the IRC and IRM works and with a little modification it can work here too. It's that simple.

* From: Mike Urwin,mikeurwin@rorcrating.com,
RORC Technical Manager (in response to Bill Lee and Ludde Ingvall in Butt 766) - Bill accurately describes the already existing IR2000 Rule. IRC deals with existing boats and with cruiser/racers generally. IRM is for new boats and for those wishing to play hardball. IRM ratings are entirely independent of hull shape. The math behind the calculation of rating under IRC and IRM are entirely separate.

Ludde's quote epitomises the ethos behind IR2000: to be progressive and permissive. To recognise and encompass modern developments and trends, but at the same time under IRC to look after the interests of the bulk of the fleets.

More information if anybody wants it is on the Rule website at www.rorcrating.com or direct from me.

* From: Geoffrey Emanuel GESAIL@aol.com
Politics, Politics, politics! The major scourge of the human race and ... you guessed it, the various rating rules. Having raced offshore under IOR, IMS and PHRF, they all have their merits and flaws. But the real problems start with people and politics.

So the solution to this problem? First, rotate rating officials early and often (how about term limits of say four years?) Second, encourage owners to provide VPP input and any other useful information for "out of the box" custom boats up front before a preliminary rating is given. Third, stop whining! 95% of the boats rated under the aforementioned systems are rated fairly!

* From: Raymond Pendleton raypendleton@mac.com
I am guessing George Bailey's comments about turning sailing into a contact sport were tongue-in-cheek. It should be noted that one popular sport I can think of has none of the attributes he speaks of, and yet, has so much popularity that it has its own TV channel, with programming 24 hours a day. You guessed it - golf! No physical contact and its competitors even call their own violations of the rules.

* From: Jason Khoury (edited to our 250-word limit) - I have read and re-read Mr. Bailey's submittal in yesterday's butt and am completely awe struck and frankly appalled by his propositions. If you want a demolition derby, start participating in Monstertrucks, NASCAR or as you put it, the WWF. If placing my vessel, or the life of my crew and I is what it takes to make sailing a more "POPULAR" spectator sport, then, I for one, do not wish to have anyone spectate. I am very sure that those sailors and other individuals who make their living in the sailing industry would agree completely. Increasing damage to vessels, displaying carnage on the course, and enjoying the thrill of crewmen's lives at mortal risk is so beneath the dignity of this sport. If you want to see some good short course racing, go down to any body of water where there is a junior program and watch the kids racing sabots, opti's and other dinghys.

If you truly want to make sailing a spectator sport, then, you must gain the interest of the spectator. The only way this happens is to get them involved and participating in the sport. Start by getting more children involved in junior sailing, so they grow up with yachting and develop an interest in it. It is hard to take an interest in something that is totally foreign to you. And remember Mr. Bailey, we racing sailors only make up a small percentage of all sailors who love and enjoy this sport!

* From: Dan Nerney nerney@ids.net
George Bailey is right! Sailing is always going to be a participatory sport unless there is an imminent risk of death or extreme danger, then the voyeurs will tune in. Only when Vince McMahon replaces Gary Jobson will it find it's place in the pantheon of American TV.

* From: Ron Baerwitz LaffingBaer@aol.com
I love George Bailey's ideas. But George forgot the helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards and team jerseys to flash things up. Oh yeah, we could have a lot of "Silicone Mommas" motoring around the parameter of the course too. Hey, sleaze sells! WSF - World Sailing Federation - where do I buy the stock? Forget that - where do I try out?

* From: Dieter Loibner DiLoi@aol.com
The Internet enables anyone to distribute anything to a broad audience faster and cheaper than in print. Unfortunately, the results often prove that along the way the process of gathering, fact-checking, editing and distributing the content in a timely fashion gets compromised. Compare the Internet to desktop publishing in the eighties when many Mac owners mistook themselves for graphic artists when they weren't.

The point is that whoever benefits from publicity is well-advised to ensure that the process is taken care of properly. Otherwise, the reader who now also is his own editor, will remember that sailing indeed is like sex: active participation beats watching or reading about it. Which is not altogether bad.

* From: "Andrew Mason"andym@formsys.com
The admission of Buddy Melges to the America's Cup Hall of Fame has reminded me that when I spoke to Halsey Herreshoff at the Hereshoff Museum about three years ago, he mentioned that Ben Lexcen had not been included in the America's Cup Hall of Fame.

I do not believe this situation has been remedied since my visit, and think it is a shame that in the U.S. Ben has not received the recognition he deserves. I feel that the man who revolutionised the design of 12 Metres and had a major role in winning the America's Cup away from the U.S. for the first time in 132 years should be treated better.

SPONSORSHIP
Two large Swedish companies -Investor and Ericsson - have signed-on as partners in Team SEB for the Volvo Ocean Race.

The agreement gives Investor the possibility to take part in events during the race's stopovers and the rights to get visualised in the project. During the last years Investor has developed a large international investment business. To become partner in Team SEB is one activity to promote Investor internationally.

Ericsson enters the project to further develop an existing co-operation with SEB within the mobile financial area. "The involvement in the Team SEB-project gives us the possibility to show the practical use of modern techniques and communication combined with financial service," says Bo Albertsson, marketing director Ericsson mobile.

SEB is the Principal Partner in the Team SEB project and has the right to name the project as well as the boat. - Fredrik Trahn

Even website:www.VolvoOceanRace.org

NEW AND AWESOME
Modeled after the very useful, quick drying, rugged padded Camet Sailing Shorts, Camet has now launched their Camet Sailing Pants. They come in Navy and Khaki, have reinforced Cordura seat and knees, and the optional 1/4" foam seat pads, to make those long beats more bearable. Check them out on: http://www.camet.com

FOR THE RECORD
Club Med's sprint around the globe won't be recognized as an official round-the-world record by the World Speed Sailing Record Council, which demands a start further north than Barcelona (to meet theoretical minimum distance requirements). But the official circumnavigation record holder, Olivier De Kersauson's "Sport Elec," in fact in 1997 sailed fewer miles, took more than nine days longer, and sailed at an average speed that was almost 4 knots slower than Club Med. To dispel any remaining questions, during The Race Club Med also set a new 24-hour record and smashed Sport Elec's "Equator to Equator" and "Cape Horn to the Equator" records. De Kersauson himself knows where he stands: he is about to complete a 130-foot trimaran so he can keep up with the new generation of mega-cats.

The truth is that no one's records-not even Club Med's-are safe for long. After surveying Club Med at the dock, Yann Pennfornis, one of the boat's principal designers, came away with plenty of good ideas. "The next generation will be 5 percent faster," he predicts." - Tim Zimmermann, www.outsidemag.com

INDUSTRY NEWS
Banks sails UK and the owners of five U.S. Banks Sails production lofts have formed a new management structure to oversee sales and distribution of Banks Sails in the United States. Joining David Banks, Managing Director of Banks Sails U.K., as members of a new board of directors of Banks Sails U.S.A., are loft owners John Maudlin of Banks Sails Gulf Coast, Dale Waagmeester of Banks Sails Northwest, Eamonn deLisser of Banks Sails Southeast, Todd Johnston of Banks Sails New England and Jim Sminchak of Banks Sails Cleveland. - www.bankssails.com

ST. MAARTEN HEINEKEN REGATTA
James Dolan's custom Maxi 78 Sagamore was the winner of the big boat class at the 21st annual St. Maarten Heineken Regatta held March 2-4. She also won the Best Elapsed Time Around the Island and Most Worthy Performance trophies. Arien van Vemde's Swan 60 Sotto Voce from Holland was second in the big boat class, with Isam Kabbani's Carrol Marine 60 Rima in third.

Weather conditions for the three day, four race, four party event were Caribbean-perfect, with moderate southeast breezes of 12 to 18 knots, flat seas and sunny skies. Two hundred and fifty-five boats (and one large whale) participated in 20 classes from 24 countries. An estimated 2,500 people took part, and there were 64 boats over 50 feet on the racecourse. - http://www.heinekenregatta.com/

THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
You won't get old if you keep learning new tricks.