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SCUTTLEBUTT 1795 - March 15, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections,
contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting
viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal
attacks for elsewhere.
LOICK PEYRON
(Loick Peyron is a legend in France where offshore yacht racing is thought
of as a lifestyle which typifies the very soul of the country. For over
twenty five years Loick has been at the very top of his field designing,
building and winning races in some of the most radical and awe inspiring
yachts. Louay Pierre Habib interviewed Peyron for the Bang the Corner
website - here's a brief excerpt.)
Bangthecorner: Why do you think France has been the leader in the world in
single- handed offshore sailing?
Peyron: France discovered solo offshore sailing in 1964, with the famous
Eric Tabarly bringing back incredible stories from his adventures, Eric
Tabarly's first victory was in the single-handed Transat in 64,the French
media and sponsors became very attracted to solo events... so for a lot of
reasons (solo budgets are really smaller than crew race) we had generations
of solo sailors, and solo events: Figaro, Route du Rhum, Vendee Globe...
the wrong way to see it, is to believe that French solo sailors are not
efficient with crew. I am sure that the solo experience is one of the best
ways to learn how to manage a crew.
BTC: Whilst yachting in France is very popular in terms of the number of
people who participate or watch the racing such as the Tour de France à la
Voile or the Vendee Globe, France has not been able to find sponsorship for
an Americas Cup team, why is this?
Peyron: France is very passionate about sailing and not only solo racing
but all types, the French people have a close association with the sea, to
them water is life. But it is difficult to obtain sponsorship outside
France because of the language barrier, which makes it so hard for a French
team to find high-level financial support for the events such as the
America's Cup, it is very difficult. We are famous for cutting off the
heads of rich people in 1789. So may be that is why French yachting does
not get sponsorship from abroad!
We don't have any more "private owners" in France, only company sponsors,
that is part of the reason why we do not have enough sponsorship or have
not attained a high level of technology for events such as the America's
Cup. People from outside France find it difficult to understand our ways,
it is difficult for them to analyze France. - Bang the Corner website
Full interview: www.bangthecorner.com/default.asp?m=da&id=17267
TROUBLE IN PARADISE
Honolulu, Hawaii - A group of boaters at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor that
would be displaced under a proposed dock deal between the state and the
Waikiki Yacht Club is fighting the plan and has filed a lawsuit to stop it.
Under the deal, the state would provide space at the harbor to boats
displaced from the yacht club while the club builds a new dock of its own.
In exchange, the yacht club would give the state a used dock for the Ala
Wai Harbor. The losers would be several boats now tied up at Ala Wai
transient berths, space that would go to the boats from the yacht club if
the deal is approved. The state land board today will hear a request that
the state accept the used dock for the Ala Wai Harbor as a gift.
The yacht club is about to start work on its final $400,000 phase of
construction to replace all of its aging docks, and has offered to give the
state a floating modular dock that could be moved across the harbor to
replace the state's F dock, which has been condemned. Commodore Todd M.
Wyrick said the old dock still is usable and the donation would benefit the
state. James Gonser, Honolulu Advertiser, full story:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/11/ln/ln30p.html
TRIVIA QUIZ
What was unique about Mir's finish in the 1969 Transpac? Answer below.
GOING TO KOREA
US Sailing has announced the members of the US Youth World Team that will
represent the U.S.A. at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship
sailed July 14-23 on Suyong Bay in Busan, Korea:
- Girls Laser Radial: Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
- Boys Laser: Royce Weber (Surf City, N.J.)
- Hobie 16: TJ and Jerry Tullo (Staten Island, N.Y.)
- Boys International 420: Adam Roberts and Nick Martin (San Diego, Calif.)
- Girls International 420: Megan Magill and Briana Provancha (San Diego,
Calif.)
The seven athletes of the 2005 US Youth World Team will be accompanied by
US Sailing's Youth Development Coach Mike Kalin. - Marlieke Eaton,
www.worldyouthsailingbusan.com.
NEED COACH BOATS, SUPPORT BOATS, OR MARK BOATS?
Ribcraft, the leading builder of safety, coach, and mark boats to yacht
clubs and sailing programs, has long recognized the need for high quality,
commercially-built support boats that are not just durable and safe, but
economically sensitive. First to offer a special buy direct program
specifically for sailing programs, Ribcraft enables clubs to save money
while at the same time purchasing a boat built around the club's specific
needs. Ribcraft RIBs are ideally suited for the wear and tear of junior
sailing programs and race committees. Find out for yourself what the
leading yacht clubs already know at http://www.ribcraftusa.com
PULVERIZED
The maxi-catamaran Orange II should complete its round the world tomorrow
night, Tuesday. Its race time will be 50 days and around ten hours. Another
big day at sea and the record will be exploded; pulverized by over a week.
Having made 630 miles over the past 24 hours and the Azores archipelago now
in its wake, the way to Brest now seems free of obstacles. Ideally situated
at the front of an Atlantic depression, Orange II will be able to maintain
this pace with, of course, one established rule that has been the guiding
principal throughout this hopefully soon to be victorious campaign: not
taking any unconsidered risks, constantly checking all the gear, making
sure it's as good as new according to the crew. The wind has been blowing
at over 30 knots from the SW since last night. Bruno and his navigator are
waiting for the wind to head, a more S'ly wind then kicking in to aid their
progress as far as Ouessant.
At 0010 GMT on Tuesday Orange II had covered 25,281 nm at an average speed
of 22.1 knots, having sailed 639 nm in the previous 24 hours. Orange II is
now 2843 ahead of the absolute record held by Steve Fossett's Cheyenne with
only 702 nm to go. - www.maxicatamaran-orange.com/
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
NO BIG BOAT YET
The RYA has decided to extend the deadline for expressions of interest for
the 'big boat' class to compete in the 2005 Admiral's Cup this July in
Cowes. The RYA Selection Committee proposes to enter two teams and still
intend to run trials during the months of April and June as previously
published. The selection committee, comprising of Chairman Iain
Macdonald-Smith, Mike Richards and David Atkinson, have extended the
deadline until 8 April to allow discussions with several owners of big
boats and syndicates of owners to be completed.
The Admiral's Cup is a team event, with each team consisting of three boats
entered by the National Authority. The 'big boat' in the team will race
under IRC and will have a TCC between 1.300 and 1.550, the second and third
boats will both be popular one-design classes, the Swan 45 and the smaller
Mumm 30. Due to the developments within the Mumm 30 and Swan 45 classes it
is not seen necessary to extend the deadline for these classes. - Sailweb
website, full story: www.sailweb.co.uk/default.asp#330
ORYX QUEST 2005
At 10:00 GMT on Monday Daedalus rounded Cape Horn 50 miles to the south of
the island. They are on a direct course for the Strait of Le Maire sailing
at 16 knots. Standings at 0004 GMT Tuesday: 1. Doha 2006, 6585 miles to
finish, 2. Daedalus 3581 miles to leader; Retired: Geronimo & Cheyenne. -
www.oryxquest.com/
AROUND THE WORLD ON THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE
Once again, Camet clothing has been chosen by teams who are sailing in the
Global Challenge. Teams are using the lightweight, breathable, and fast
drying Camet shorts - with the foam pads - and the Coolmax long and short
sleeved shirts for the long stretches in the hot weather and for the best
sun protection. Around the world or just on a day sail, Camet clothing is
the number one choice. Check out the new Molokai Vests with optional foam
pads for protection against the lifelines, and the new canvas Porto Cervo
Shorts. http://www.camet.com
PHOTO OP
We've loaded three new galleries on the Scuttlebutt website. We have Acura
Miami Race Week images by Rick Tomlinson and Jack Hardway:
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/mrw/. We've also posted new images of
the Laser Midwinters West at California YC
(www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/lmw/ ) plus a special section devoted
to the baby seal that tried out several boats before deciding to crew for
Kathy Luciano on her Laser Radial during the final three races.
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/seal/
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
Still battling against gales and storms in the Southern Ocean, the Global
Challenge fleet remains within 250 miles of each other 16 days into leg 4
of their 'wrong way' RTW race. Team Save the Children experienced another
'freak' wave but suffered no serious injuries, just 'bumps and bruises'
"The wind was occasionally gusting up to 45 knots and for the first time
every foredeck crew member was in helmets and visors." Team Save the
Children had decided to drop their No. 3 Yankee at watch changeover, to
take advantage of more hands on deck. Just as they were dropping the sail,
a 'freak' wave broke over the bow and No.1 bowman Anthony Campbell (Campo)
watched the rest of the foredeck crew get washed down the deck by "the
power of the water," which apparently had to be "felt to be believed".
Campo's leg was bruised when the wave pushed him against the forestay but
although it is reportedly painful, it is not serious and he will be back on
deck in a couple of days. Ending up pinned against the guard wire between
two of his crewmates as he tried to make his way off the foredeck, "Hands
on my lifejacket appeared from nowhere and before I knew it I was down
below," said Campo. "It's times like these when you are glad we are such a
close-knit group."
"Another session hurtling through freezing foam like white water rafting in
a deep freeze." Barclays Adventurer's Richard George, a Company Director
from Pershore, describes the ongoing fight against leg 4, which is living
up to the claims made by the Global Challenge - the crews are being tested
to the extreme. "So, suddenly and bizarrely," he continued, "passing the
waypoint … has become the most important thing in our lives." Waypoint
Bravo is the only tangible landmark for the teams in the wilderness between
Sydney and Cape Town. Tactically, emotionally and geographically, Bravo's
significance may be difficult to comprehend for those of us on land, but in
the minds of the Crew Volunteers, it will signal the beginning of the end -
they'll be going 'downhill' towards Cape Town.
BP Explorer leads the 12-boat fleet - 14 miles ahead of Imagine It Done,
with Team Stelmar 16 miles further back. - www.globalchallenge2004.com/
NEWS BRIEFS
The ABN Amro Volvo Ocean Race syndicate has selected five more sailors to
continue on to the second boat crew selection finals in Portugal: Luke
Molloy - Australia, Emil Wiberg - Sweden, Phil Harmer - Australia, Jeremy
Elliott - Ireland and Simon Shaw - United Kingdom. The final crew selection
begins today, March 15, in Portimao in the Algarve region with the crew
announced on March 26. -
http://team.abnamro.com/web/show/id=44970/contentid=409
* Yachting NSW in Australia has announced the appointment of Kristen
Kosmala as their new Coaching and Programs Manager. The restructured
position will play a key role in increasing NSW coaching accreditation
standards and identifying and servicing talented youth athletes in the
sport. Kosmala, a member of the Australian crew at the Olympic Sailing
Competition in Athens, brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to
the role which will assist in the identification of talented athletes and
coordinate programs and events to support their development.
www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j6fFhyBB?
* More than fifty boats are expected to start the New Harbor YC's 800-mile
race to Cabo San Lucas on Saturday. With Roy Disney's Pyewacket out of the
race with mast problems, Randall Pittman's DuBois 90 Genuine Risk and Doug
Baker's Magnitude 80 will undoubtedly be the boats dueling for line honors.
Entry list: http://tinyurl.com/3hopm
* Lewmar has introduced the Integra Pedestal, the first rack and pinion
steering pedestal to integrate an autopilot drive motor into a steering
pedestal. With the autopilot drive already inside the pedestal the
installation time will be dramatically reduced. The Pedestal has many
built-in features including harness bolts, cockpit lighting, built in
compass housing, instrument mounting positions and a pre-installed and
removable inclined guard rail with three optional heights available to suit
additional instrumentation. A single instrument can be mounted directly to
the UPVC top molding, and a pre-installed single lever engine control has
been added. - http://tinyurl.com/4sfza
"MAN OVERBOARD!"
How fast do you surf downwind…14, 16kts? At 16kts, you travel 260 yards in
just the first 30 seconds after a man-overboard! SeaMarshall automatic
beacons and onboard receivers can mean the difference between successful
recovery and tragedy. For detailed information on SeaMarshall safety gear,
contact Chip Barber: mailto:admin@chbarber.com; http://www.chbarber.com
HEAVENLY BODY
Inmarsat has launched a new satellite which is 60 times more powerful than
its predecessors the Inmarsat-3 satellites. The first Inmarsat-4 satellite
is the size of a London double-decker bus and weighs six tons. The I-4
satellite is one of the largest and most powerful commercial satellites
ever launched. Inmarsat intends to launch a second I-4 satellite later this
year. That is when its new Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service, an
IP and circuit-switched service offering high-bandwidth services, including
internet access, and LAN at speeds of up to 432kbit/s. - Yachting Monthly,
www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20050214170454ymnews.html
TRIVIA ANSWER
Mir, George O'Brien's 78-foot ketch from Vancouver, B.C., is the only boat
ever to finish sailing backward. After a knockdown destroyed the main mast
400 yards from the finish line, the crew rigged a sail to the mizzen.
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. This is not a chat room nor a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From David Tew (Re: Tom Whidden's comments on winning and losing): One
summer Tom was the sailing instructor at the Wianno Yacht Club in
Osterville, Massachusetts (Cape Cod). He was indeed very competitive. Late
one afternoon he and another sailor wanted to race two of the local 16'
sloops to a buoy far into Nantucket Sound and return. He was looking for
crew and I was hanging around, so he asked me along. His concentration was
fierce, the race was close, yet after about forty-five minutes of the
weather leg I needed to relieve myself. I made a move to 'go' off the
transom, but (I doubt he'll remember this) he said I should use the bilge
where I was since it would keep my weight in the right position forward and
to leeward in the dying breeze. He didn't like to give up any advantage.
I'm glad to hear he's relaxed some.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." Oscar Wilde
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