SCUTTLEBUTT #514 - February 25, 2000
AMERICA'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
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give you the quality stuff designed by California artists ... at really
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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
Ullman Sails Tuesday Night Seminars Tuesday March 7th at 7pm Where: The
Newport Beach Loft, 410 29th Street Who: Pete Melvin of the Morelli &
Melvin Design Team What: Playstation, current holder of the World
24hour distance record. For more information please contact the loft Phone
(949)675-6970 Fax (949)675-6276
http://www.ullmansails.com/
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
What should you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered
plant?
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!
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