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SCUTTLEBUTT 1275 - March 1, 2003Powered 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 emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. RACE FIVE POSTPONED One loyal Kiwi sailing fan hung a banner from his boat today expressing solidarity with Team New Zealand on what could have been its last day in this America's Cup. "You'll Never Sail Alone," it said. It might as well have read, "You'll Never Sail." For the seventh time in 11 days racing was canceled because of the weather, delaying for at least a day match point of this best-of-nine series between the Kiwis and the Swiss challenger Alinghi, which leads 4-0. Team New Zealand rushed a replacement mast onto its black race boat overnight after a catastrophic dismasting in strong winds Friday. But expected sea breezes never materialized and the Kiwis were unable to try out the new rig in battle. After a two-hour wait, racing was postponed until Sunday (Saturday in the US), when a stronger breeze is expected. - Angus Phillips, The Washington Post, full story: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18644-2003Feb28.html DELAYED TELECAST - Today's ESPN2 telecast of Race 5 for the America's Cup will be delayed four and a half hours. It's scheduled for Saturday evening at 11:30 PM ET (8:30 PM PT). - www.jobsonsailing.com BEHIND THE SCENES - Peter Rusch Immediately after the finish of the last race of the XXXIst America's Cup, regardless of who is the winner, the XXXIInd America's Cup will begin with the acceptance of a Challenger of Record by the Defender. As the victorious boat crosses the finish line and is engulfed by cheering spectator craft, someone, somewhere will be handing across a letter to a representative of the winning Yacht Club that will serve as a Notice of Challenge for the next Match. Unlike most major sporting events, the America's Cup has no schedule, no venue, and in a sense, no regular teams. It is a Challenge based event between Yacht Clubs, who designate teams to sail on their behalf. The winning sailing team fulfils its role when it crosses the finishing line, and the Yacht Club for whom it won or successfully defended the Cup is then in control of the agenda for the next event. When you hold the America's Cup, you make the rules. As this America's Cup draws to a close, both competing Yacht Clubs will have sought out other Clubs to act as the Challenger of Record should they prevail to win or defend the America's Cup. This ensures the winner will find a Club with whom it can develop a working relationship. Under the terms of the Deed of Gift, a Club must accept the first valid challenge it receives, so the winner usually seeks out a 'hip-pocket' Challenge. This is a challenge that to an outsider appears spontaneous, but in reality, is anything but. The two Clubs - in this case, the new Defender, and the 'hip-pocket' Challenger will have already spent countless hours fine tuning the Defender's vision of the next event, slowly forging a Protocol that is acceptable to both parties. Usually, this all takes place before the current America's Cup series has actually finished. As the Challenger of Record must agree to and sign the Protocol for the next America's Cup Match, it makes sense for both parties to come to a full agreement before the end of the current Cup. * One can be sure that neither Team New Zealand, as a successful Defender, nor Alinghi as a successful Challenger, will allow themselves to be overtaken by events in such a way. Expect to hear an announcement about the next America's Cup within days of the final race. - America's Cup website, full story: http://americascup.yahoo.com/story2118.html THE NEXT CUP It was said Bertarelli had a strategy to "professionalise" the cup, making it better organised and more appealing to commercial sponsors, television and the public. From NZ point of view, America's Cup executive director Tony Thomas gave an assurance that if Team New Zealand retained the America's Cup, the next series would be similar to the present event. The main change he would look for next time would be to bring the commercial aspects of the challengers' Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup closer together. That could involve bringing such things as sponsorship and television rights into one organisation. The impression he had from Alinghi was that if they won the cup they would like to bring the sport under one organisation, which they would want to control. "I don't know what the challengers would think of having a challenger series that might be run by the defender... but I think there would be a lot of commercial sense in it," he said. But from a sporting point of view, if you're a traditionalist, the challengers run their series and the defenders run their series ... that's been running for 150 years". - Hauraki News, full story: www.hauraki-news.com/LatestNews/XXXII-LN8.htm GET ADVANCED BOAT BUILDING TECHNOLOGY - HULA OPTIONAL New England Boatworks builds state-of-the-art offshore racers, world-cruisers, America's Cuppers, and luxury motoryachts and lobster yachts. We utilize Kevlar, carbon, aluminum, and honeycomb and foam cores to create elegantly engineered, beautiful yachts. And if your present yacht needs refit, repair, or race-prepping, we'll do that, too. We're ready to make your future beautiful - hula or not. http://www.neboatworks.com GBR CHALLENGE Over the past two months the GBR Challenge Management Team has been reviewing the 2000 - 2003 campaign and developing ongoing plans and budgets for a second campaign based on the two possible outcomes of this 31st America's Cup Match between Team New Zealand and Alinghi of Switzerland. Peter Harrison, Founder and Chairman, and other members of the GBR Challenge Management Team announced today a plan for a conditional second challenge which focuses on two areas: I. A design and development programme II. A plan to attract commercial partners to participate in the next campaign The design and commercial partnership programmes will start in the UK in April 2003 and will be led by Leslie Ryan, Head of Sponsorship and Marketing, and Derek Clark, GBR Challenge Design Co-ordinator. Design team members include Rob Humphreys, Phil Morrison and Akihiro Kanai. There will be no sailing programme in the plan for 2003 and schedules will only be decided when the next America's Cup Defender, venue and timing are known. GBR Challenge is very keen to retain and build on the talent and experience they have developed within the sailing team and during this year the sailors will be able to pursue their own programmes before the longer term schedule is finalised and a team pulled back together. The advantage to GBR Challenge of continuing into a second challenge will undoubtedly be the fact that they are starting off with the two current AC boats and a considerable database of experience and performance together with the basis of a talented design team. - Leslie Ryan RACING OFFSHORE The Safety at Sea Committee of US Sailing has received requests from two major offshore races (Transpac and Newport Bermuda Race) to add the following to the ISAF Special Regulations: "US Sailing prescribes that flotation and harness shall be worn by all crewmembers on deck from sundown to sunrise." This is being considered for Category 0 and 1 races run by U.S. organizations only. These types of races take racing boats out beyond easy reach of professional Search and Rescue operations or medical assistance. This proposed change could have an effect on less than 8 races held annually in the U.S. and will not affect the vast majority of racing in the U.S. For more information and to share your opinion with the Safety at Sea Committee, go to www.ussailing.org/News/2003/LongDistanceSafety.htm SAILING SHORTS Having covered nearly 750 miles since their dismasting, Kingfisher2 has under 1500 miles to sail under jury rig to SW Australia. Weather conditions have been good and the catamaran has been averaging around 8 knots - if these averages are maintained then Ellen and the crew may be stepping ashore in Fremantle in 10 days time. 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 or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Paul Henderson, ISAF President: ISAF must respond to the issue that Keelboats will be eliminated from the Olympic Games and that Sailing be reduced from 11 Events and 400 sailors down to 10 events and 360 sailors in 2008. This was an issue brought forward from the IOC Program Commission without any prior discussion with ISAF. Thirteen of the 28 other sports were also asked to reduce events and three were targeted to be eliminated Baseball and Softball. ISAF lobbied very strongly against this recommendation to the IOC President Jacques Rogge who as you all know is an Olympic Sailor who personally was opposed to the elimination of Keelboats. The Executive Board of the IOC, who makes the final decision, met last week and has responded to the ISAF request and said that for 2008 the events and sailors will remain as is at 11 events and 400 sailors. For 2012 ISAF must reduce the number of events to 10, which was the number before Sydney, and down to 380 sailors. The other key issue is that ISAF will decide which event to delete not the IOC which means Keelboats will not be eliminated. One of the major arguments was that the facilities needed for the Paralympics are the same as for the Olympic Keelboats. There is no need to lobby any IOC Official as ISAF has already accomplished what was required. * From Vince Cooke: With reference to TNZ former trustees' rejoinder, please be advised that, along with thousands of other America's Cup followers I read your statement of 5 Feb 2003 prior to my commentary herein. * From Katie Pettibone: The idea of Alinghi retiring in race one and now race 4 are not realistic. In the top of any sport preparation is part of winning. Would we want the Volvo Ocean boats to retire from a leg when a competitor breaks a mast as we did in the last two Around the World races? No. Would we want the Around Alone boats to retire from a leg when a competitor retires from a breakage or even "wait" for them to catch up for a restart? No. Or how about in Formula One Racing when a car crashes -should we have all the cars stop racing and start over the next day so that the breakdown car can start again? Now add to it the multi millions that are riding on the outcome. It isn't feasible nor would it be interesting. Racing at the top level requires intense preparation and this requirement is one of the reasons why the winner is the winner. Provided no one is in danger, why should the better team wait until the competitor gets their shit together? Try suggesting that to the professional boxers! * Geoff Becker: Reading all the opinions saying that Alinghi should have retired when New Zealand broke down in Race 1 makes me wonder; how do those people feel now? Should Alinghi have retired in Race 4 as well? The bigger picture is this, if Alinghi were to retire after every catastrophic New Zealand breakdown, we would be two weeks into a sailing regatta and only two races to show for it. I think a better question to ask is this; why didn't New Zealand come to the race course prepared to sail in the conditions of the day? Preparation isn't just part of this, or any large regatta, it is everything. All the money is spent and all the time and energy put in for this moment, if you aren't ready, you shouldn't expect a second chance. * From Michelle Orr: While I agree with Russell Coutts' comments about having an independent Race Committee deciding when the races should go on, I question his sincerity when he comments that, "America's Cup racing has got to be geared towards television". If he truly felt this way, wouldn't Team Alinghi have bowed out of Race 4 after TNZ's 2nd disastrous breakdown? A 4-0 score doesn't make for great competition or television. I don't have much respect for a team who has won 2 of the 4 races due to the technical problems of their competitor. I know, I know, the competition isn't just about the sailing, but also about the boats and their design and construction, and if someone's designs are failing blah blah blah. But after reading other 'Butt-head's comments about the history of other boats bowing out after a competitor's breakdown, I wish Coutts and Team Alinghi had done the same. It would be more exciting for television, Russell, wouldn't it? Lastly, since Russell is breaking so many records here, I wish the records were 100% achieved in sailing races where both boats crossed the finish line. * From Peter Dreyfuss: Does anyone think that because of the 'Hula' appendage, TNZ may be carrying extra water (weight) in the void between the HULA and the hull? If there is an appreciable void, and the 1/4 inch separation between the Hula and the hull is not enough to allow water to flow through, then TNZ is dragging that water along with them, and that adds a lot of force to the pitching moment equation. * Dick Katz: Let me see...Choppy stormy seas, 20 knots of wind, your competition slams into a wave and breaks her mast...three men overboard - you are three boat lengths away and you sail on to finish the race. Huh? Why didn't Alinghi immediately turn around, offer assistance, make sure everyone's OK...and then continue? Sure, there are assist boats all around, and certainly I would be happy to see my competition break down, but me thinks that scene on the Hauraki Gulf was far more dangerous than was portrayed. * From John J. Ford: If my memory serves me correctly, some years ago, Ted Turner stated that boats racing in the upcoming Fastnet Race were pushing the envelope too much as far as giving up safety to crew and boat in order to race a faster boat. His warning/prediction went unheeded. The trade off proved disastrous with lives and boats lost. Seems Team New Zealand, all these years later, has pushed that same envelope with too much gusto. Good thing the America's Cup 2003 is racing within the confines of the Hauraki Gulf with support boats lurking within close proximity. * From Pam Birmingham: I planned my day around being ready to do nothing but watch race 4, finally. Sat down, turned on the TV, nothing about racing. After a long search on ESPNs horribly slow website, I found to my dismay it was scheduled for midnight! Those of us that work and have to get up at 5am can't stay up that late. If OLN still had to rights to air the racing, you bet they would have made it their priority. I hope the sponsors know they sure didn't get their advertising dollars worth. ESPN does not deserve to cover the Cup again, let OLN have the entire package, the fans would appreciate it. * From Rob Fooks: Thanks, ESPN2. Instead of a live broadcast of the critical and 9-day-delayed fourth race of the America's Cup, where the wind and action was dramatic, and the results were pivitol for the entire half-billion dollar, two-year-long global sporting event, we are treated to a taped episode of complete and utter worthless cr*p: "Streetball." Yeah, it was real important that we see a posse full of gangstas with their drawers around their ankles rap and curse their way up and down a blacktop all the while displaying marginal high school basketball skilzzs... "The Best Ballers Not in the NBA." Not! I don't know how we would have lived without our dose of that. Culturally epic and eminently important, for sure. Or perhaps it was Eminem-ently important. Thanks - thanks a bunch. * From Frank Betz: Dear ESPN: Your decision not to televise the America's Cup 2/27 was a disgrace. There may be no limit of absurd sports that have been invented to fill TV time, but to run something as preposterous as your pre-recorded street ball program in lieu of the Cup coverage you could have provided insults every sailor in your constituency. Although we are used to being passed up by the media, to ignore a premier event in the sport as though it were no more than a game of stoop baseball in the Bronx is an outrageous sleight. I hope whoever made this call gets gumboils. * From Mick Domagala: How terribly sad that John Street of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron is so misguided about his point of view regarding Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth. How terrible that his focus is on the location of some piece of hardware, rather than recognition of the fact that he is in the chosen company of not one, but two teams of the world's best sailors. So many clubs (maybe every other club?) would be happy to have just one of these men as members - the RNZYS has all of them and are unhappy about it * From Dennis Cherone: I ask Mr.Street to think back to when Dennis Conner lost the cup when San Diego Yacht Club held it. SDYC didn't expel DC. SDYC didn't take his picture off the Commodores wall. And no one tried to have him expelled. Dennis Conner lost the cup the first time while racing for New York Yacht Club. In this years go round he was representing NYYC again. I think Mr. Street needs to rethink his motives and actions. If he is successful in ousting Coutts and Butterworth he will regret it for years to come. You see Mr. Street, a time may come when the RNZYS needs them. * From George P. Parthemos: After reading with interest in # 1274, Mr. John Street's proposal to terminate the membership of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, may I respectfully submit for membership to the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club the names of Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth for lifetime membership to the Scuttlebutt Yacht Club, with all rights and privileges thereto. May I have a second? CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: Done deal! * From Bill Kardash: On my last trip to New Zealand I enjoyed some of the fine wines of the South Island. It sounds like Auckland is now the place to go for sour grapes. I hope cooler heads from RNZYS will reign in those who would attempt to expel Coutts and Butterworth "for injuring the reputation" of the RNZYS. Being magnanimous as a winner is less important than being gracious in defeat. Be proud of your sons; they have earned it. * From Jim Nash: As a two time Regatta Chair for Kaneohe Yacht Club, I must take exception to a remark atributed to Russell Coutts regarding the the duties of the Race Committee (RC). While I agree with the rest of the excerpt I read in Butt1274, the duty of the RC MUST always be to the sailors first. Factor in TV for the sake of the wider exposure many feel is needed second. * From Paolo Sheaffer: First no Swiss flag above the clip-on bridge, and now their yacht club memberships are subject to review? That seems to be the new "Kiwi can-do attitude." I will cling to my memories of wonderful people in a wonderful country, because this stuff is ridiculously petty. THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Willpower: The ability to eat only one salted peanut. |
