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SCUTTLEBUTT #514 - February 25, 2000AMERICA'S CUP: The Fallout from the decision not to run race #3 continues...Harold Bennett, America's Cup Principal Race Officer, on weather conditions: "We sat and agonised over those conditions. I must admit, at the bottom end of the course we had a bit of breeze. I think it was probably acceptable, but when we went further up the course, all our indicators led me to believe we were not going to see good conditions that would be fair. It was very shifty. We were getting up to 40 degrees (shifts) in the top end of the course and down the sides and quite a variation in wind strength. At no time did we see, at our windward end, anything above seven to seven and a half knots." Matteo Plazzi, navigator of Luna Rossa, on weather conditions: "For sure it was light conditions. We definitely agree about the postponement at a quarter past one. After maybe one hour or so, the wind built a little and we thought it was still light but stable enough for how a light wind can be stable. We gave our opinion to the Race Committee. We tried to sail because we had to look at a couple of sails. Then the decision was not to race and we fully accepted the decision of the Race Committee." Bob Rice, weather consultant to Team New Zealand, on weather conditions: "I knew it was going to be marginal. Our original forecast called for a peak speed of around eight to nine, or eight to ten knots. We hit the bottom end of that briefly but no, it was considered to be a very marginal day. Harold Bennett, on whether the length of the starting line is always the same: "Yes it is. We do it two ways. One, it is stepped out by the mark laying boat and the second one is on our onboard computer. We pick up the GPS (positions) off the marks and we have a grid that we put over the race course which has the 200 metres marked on that, and we are practically on top of that. So it is fairly accurate." WEATHER IN AUCKLAND TODAY Weather: A quick look at the weather animation suggests the gradient over the Auckland region will be shifting to the Southeast and weakening this afternoon. There's quite a lot of cloud around at present, but this should mostly go by the time racing starts. Look for a wind direction between 195 and 210 at 7-10 knots (the boats will read a couple of knots more than this). It could be a little shifty and the wind strength may increase a knot or two during the afternoon. Prada will deal with the cutoff time on site, Team New Zealand agrees. The Race Committee will seek approval on site to extend the time. -- America's Cup 2000 Louis Vuitton Media Centre LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (scuttlebutt@boats.com -- note temporary address for guest editor) Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree. -- From Chris Ericksen The most shameful part of this incident is all the naysaying. The specter of Vince Cook and Bennett hurling accusations at each other is appalling. The black eyes in our sport are being given by the conspiracy theorists, not PRO Bennett. -- From Eddie Warden Owen I am very surprised at Vince Cook making comments about Harold Bennets decision. I was there as coach to the Spanish team and we had some pretty crappy conditions in the final round robin just when we needed some steady conditions. A number of races were run where there were major windshifts on the first beat making it a procession on the first run. This is a disaster for the boat behind as the race starts again at the leeward mark but one boat is already in front. Think carefully Vince. You did a great job but was it perfect? Who said the Americas Cup was fair anyway. The challengers spent in excess of US$200 million? $300 million maybe, against the Kiwis tiny budget. Is that fair. Harold Bennett would have been castigated if he had run a crapshoot race. He couldn't win. Auckland is not an ideal place to run a regatta. The narrow land mass at this point does not produce a regular sea breeze making it very tough for weather forecasters and race officers. This is not a circus and at this level the sailors demand fair racing as there is a lot of money at stake. Stick to your guns Harold and make it a fair regatta. -- From Andy Rose Finally, as to yesterday's debacle, I agree with Gary Jobson that in any other class or regatta, the race would have been sailed. That is true even of the America's Cup in Newport or San Diego where 7-8 knots would have been considered quite adequate. We were able to complete the formerly longer courses in 12's in Newport in that kind of breeze and 12's can't compare to these boats in those conditions. But, in 1977 I never remember the NYYC committee asking us on Australia whether we thought it was a good idea if we raced on a given day. Did they ask you, Gary? -- From Dustin Romey In response to the comments about a rigged RC not racing in plenty of wind: I did hear Mr. Jobson mention that the RC was waiting for the direction to settle. I saw in the paper this morning that the wind was shifting from SW to NE (as in 180 degrees!). I remember a couple of challenger finals races that turned into one tack beats. And I've done enough races cursing the RC when the wind shifts drastically shortly after the start and we sail a parade around the course. Seems to me that the RC made a tough decision that none of us had to make, and it probably was the correct one. I have enough trouble second guessing an RC whose course I'm on. Doing it from a few thousand miles away is particularly unfair to them. GUEST EDITOR SPEAKS: This "why didn't they race in race three" thread is now closed. Back to drinking games and other more weighty issues... CREATE AWESOME CREW STUFF What's one of the easiest way to get crew? Give 'em awesome crew stuff. You don't have to spend a lot of money to have the best looking custom crew attire at the regatta. Honest! Frank Whitton at Pacific Yacht Embroidery can give you the quality stuff designed by California artists ... at really affordable prices. Call Frank for quotes and a free apparel catalog. (619) 226-8033 (pacyacht@aol.com). WORLD'S LARGEST CATAMARAN LAUNCHES FEB. 29 The BT sponsored catamaran Team Philips, the revolutionary 120ft carbon fibre yacht skippered by Pete Goss, is to be launched from its UK Riverside berth on Tuesday 29th February, with a live webcast starting at 9am which can be viewed worldwide at www.teamphilips.com. In April Pete Goss and his crew will take the mammoth 120ft catamaran around the world in an attempt to smash the Jules Verne record. The current record, set in 1997, is held by Frenchman Olivier de Kersauson and stands at 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and eight seconds. Goss and his team will aim to circle the globe even faster, travelling at maximum speeds of 40 knots Pete Goss first captured the public imagination with his dramatic life-saving rescue of French sailor Raphael Dinelli in the South Ocean on Boxing Day 1996 during the single handed Vendee Globe non stop round the world yacht race. He was welcomed back a hero and awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's greatest honour, by President Chirac. -- http://www.petegoss.com NEW ZEALAND SOUVENIRS?? You can only say you found it here...check out AmericasCupStore.com: Souvenirs from New Zealand - without the expensive airfare! The official store of the America's Cup is online with the widest selection of Official America's Cup 2000, America's Cup, Team New Zealand, and America One merchandise. This exciting event is only every four years -- shop the store and melt that card today!! Go to http://www.americascupstore.com SAN DIEGO - PUERTO VALLARTA RACE Skipper party! SDYC Race Administrator Jeff Johnson reports from Puerto Vallarta that Paradise Village is alive with sailors! A skipper/crew party is in full swing tonight with all the finished boats toasting to a great (and weather-weird) race. Meanwhile, however, there are still a small number of boats bobbing around in the water, stuck with no wind. Windswept reported 2 knots, and Simply Red described the waters as "calm and calmer." Sources say, though, that all will be probably be finished tomorrow morning. NOTE: while there was no report this morning from Stark Raving Mad, they happily crossed the finish line earlier today. Finish times will be available tomorrow morning. Follow the race (the curmudgeon is participating in the race and sailing on Stark Raving Mad) at http://www.sdyc.org/raceinfo/pv2kC.htm
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Note: Nelson Weiderman has created a "Curmudgeon Server" at http://noeticharbor.com/curmudgeon/. It randomly pulls Curmudgeonly wit from a database loaded with past 'Butt Observations, Counsels, etc. Check it out! |
