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SCUTTLEBUTT 3191 - Tuesday, October 5, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Atlantis WeatherGear, North Sails, and J Boats A BRAND OF BROTHERS By Kimball Livingston, SAIL I am pretty sure the Johnstone brothers never imagined creating anything so very successful as the J/Boats, Inc., that we know today. But imagining success on some level - that would come naturally to Rod, the designer and to Bob, the marketer. Long before J/Boats became the Johnstone family business, sailing was a family passion. Then came a case of left brain meeting right brain and - Don’t worry. I’ll explain. First I want you to picture a boat on Narragansett Bay, taking a little light spray on deck in winds of maybe 16 knots. The Rhode Island sky was bright. Rod Johnstone was on the helm, his hair silver and windblown above a navy windbreaker, and we were playing hooky from last year’s Newport boat show. Frankly, we deserved this. But the indefatigable Mr. Johnstone wasn’t about to get lost in the glory of a fresh breeze and forget to ensure that the journalist aboard was made aware of the virtues of the 41st J/Boats design. Rod’s new J/95, 31 feet long with twin rudders, has a draft of only 3 feet with its bronze centerboard raised. “This is an ‘interesting’ time,” he explained. “A down market is always a challenge. If people are going to buy boats, what are they going to buy? We’re betting they’ll buy smaller. This boat is versatile. There’s nothing else like it, certainly not on the used-boat market.” He continued, “Along with the J/97 that Al [Rod’s youngest son] designed, these are the smallest boats we’ve done since the early 1990s. Boomers have retirement houses and they want to keep the boat at the dock, but how many docks have six feet of water? You can dock a J/95 in three feet of water. I think I know what boomers are going to want in five years. I ask, What do I want? Maybe that’s limiting, but there are people who agree with me that sailing and handling qualities come first. All our boats can tack through the breeze with just a jib. What we have here is a 31-foot boat that you can take out on a breezy day and be comfortable. You’re comfortable now, aren’t you?” I couldn’t think of any place better to be, so I guess that was a yes. But I’ve always been curious about one thing. Johnstone designs in general please my eye, whether they’re by Rod or Alan, aka Al. But I really, really, really like the shape of those belowdecks doors. They’re a signature touch, and for whatever quirky reason, they fulfill my sense of pleasure at being on a boat, definitely on a boat, and nowhere else. But why that choice? “We were brought up in the days of wooden boats,” Rod says. “We like those touches.” Then the man adds, “I’ve always agreed with Nathanael Herreshoff that half the reason to own a boat is to look at it.” -- Read on: http://sailmagazine.com/a_brand_of_brothers/ A HEALTHY DISTRACTION Circumstances beyond his control led Owen McNeil to give up hockey for sailing. Moving to the U.S. Virgin Islands might have had something to do with it. “All my (new) friends were sailing so I thought I’d try it,” said the 12-year-old Frontenac Public School student. “I was seven when we moved and I started sailing at eight.” When he returned to Burlington (Canada) last year, McNeil continued to sail (with the Port Credit Yacht Club), not only because he loved it, but because he excelled at it. Recently at the annual CORK regattas in Kingston, McNeil dominated the Ontario championships, winning every race in his Optimist class. Like many children, McNeil has had to deal with his parents’ separation, and found sailing a partial solution to the stress of changing family situations. “All I think about when I’m sailing is how to finish first,” said McNeil. “I don’t think of anything going on at home or any of my problems.” Despite the expense of keeping her son on the water, his mother as well as his grandmother, Elizabeth French, have managed to support his endeavours. Forgetting problems isn’t the only reason McNeil sails. “I like the competition. I like the water,” he said. “People tell me I have a born talent to do it.” -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/InsideHalton-100410 DISCOVER: GOLF ONE-FOUR No, it’s not the 14th hole, it’s the number of the new Atlantis booth at this week’s US Sailboat Show in Annapolis, and it’s where you can find the full Atlantis product line including the gear you’ll need for sailing this Fall at great prices. Take a look at the new Aegis line for women, the ultimate combination of world-class performance and exquisite style, as well as our new 100% worsted wool Navigator sweater. Come see us on the dock at the north end of Ego Alley, or pay us a visit online at http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com Discover Your Atlantis FORECAST: The long range weather forecast for this week’s US Sailboat Show in Annapolis calls for sunny skies in the upper 60’s. Perfect weather to tour the show, which is what Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck will be doing on Thursday and Friday. Send him an email to join him: craig@sailingscuttlebutt.com OLYMPIC SAILING: PLANNING AHEAD FOR 2016 By Carol Cronin, Boats.com The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has proposed some pretty dramatic changes to the Olympic roster - and that’s a good thing. For almost a year now, we’ve known that the 2016 Olympics will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - the very first time the Games will be held in South America. And if a pair of recent International Sailing Federation (ISAF) proposals are voted through, the sport of sailing may well be showing off some “firsts” as well. Decisions about the ten Olympic sailing events (men’s keelboat, women’s singlehanded, etc.) have historically been made five years out; decisions on actual equipment (the type of boat sailed) are made a year later, a few months after the last Games. It’s obviously difficult to discuss “events” in a vacuum, and in the past the process has often degenerated into a junior high school dance scene with the “popular” classes beating out the “wallflowers.” Many of us who are involved in Olympic sailing have been wishing for a fairer system that would both better represent the sport and provide more long-term continuity. There has also been a push for equipment that is more affordable, to encourage the growth of sailing around the world. Last December, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge (himself a former Finn sailor) stated that the “boats should be as cheap and as universally widespread as possible.” Well it looks like ISAF has been listening. Two submissions (096-10 and 097-10) will be voted on at November’s annual meeting that - if they pass - would lock in the ten different events and most of the equipment up to six years ahead of each Olympics. That means that decisions for 2016 could be final in the next few months, which would be great for both sailors and organizers. In addition to an increase in lead time, significant changes to the events (and therefore, the equipment) are also proposed. Some highlights: » Divide the ten events evenly by gender: four for men, four for women, and two mixed – one man and one woman on each team. (Currently there are six men’s events, four women’s events, and no mixing.) » Include windsurfing or kiteboarding. » Bring back the multihull, as a mixed event. » Combine the two 470 medals (men/women) into one mixed event (something I’ve been pushing for since 1996). » Where possible, use lower cost equipment that could be easily supplied at events. There’s more - read on here: http://www.boats.com/blog/2010/10/olympic-sailing-planning-ahead-for-2016/ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP * Seattle, WA (October 3, 2010) - New York Yacht Club’s Silver Panda found themselves in a familiar position on Sunday at the final round of the U.S. Team Racing Championship. Silver Panda won their fourth Hinman Trophy in five years and their record fifth overall. After losing in the final series last year to Team Extreme, 3-2, they won this year’s finale over the perennial power house from Great Britain, the West Kirby Hawks. Silver Panda, the 2009 ISAF Team Racing World Champions, returned four of the six competitors from last year, including Amanda Callahan (Canton, Mass.), Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.), Peter Levesque (Tiverton, R.I.), and Carrie Amarante (Wayne, N.J.). They were joined this year by Caroline Hall Levesque (Tiverton, N.J.) and re-joined by Clay Bischoff (Newport, R.I.). -- Full story: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2010_USTRC_Final_Recap.htm * Nassau, Bahamas (October 3, 2010) - A total of thirty six boats competed this past weekend on Montagu Bay in Nassau in the championship fleet of the 2010 Bahamas Opti National Championship. Sailors coming from Nassau, but also from Long Island, Abaco, Freeport, Governor’s Harbour and Harbour Island. Three races were sailed on Saturday in light wind conditions and four races were completed on Sunday in 8 to 11 knots winds. Fourteen year old Daniel Gibson from Nassau was crowned Bahamas Champion 2010. Daniel sailed consistently, finishing among the top six sailors in all races except for a seven place in race number two. This is the first time he is awarded the Geoffrey Holowesko Trophy. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/BSA-100410 * The International Etchells U.S. National Championship was hosted by New York YC at Harbour Court in Newport, R.I. Oct 2-3 in conjunction with SailNewport. Thirty three boats made it to the start line, which after six races saw Hank Lammens, Dirk Kneulman, and Moose McClintock win the event with a four point margin over the second place team of Jeffrey Siegal, Jeff Mardrigali, Willem Van Waay, and Cece Imbrie. Details here: http://www.nyyc.org/etrcchellsNationalsOCT/ * The 2010 Moore 24 U.S. Nationals in Santa Cruz, CA saw 30 boats take on the three day, eight race contest. Cruising through the first two days was Morgan Larson’s team, which took all top five scores and the overall lead into the final day. However, things got tight when Larson rolled a 16-9 compared to hard charging Scott Easom’s 1-1. With the event on the line, Larson won the final race and the title, with Easom’s 14th dropping him two points back into second overall. -- Results: http://www.scyc.org/results/2010_Moore24_Nationals_Results.htm MUCH CLOSER THAN IT APPEARS Hamilton, Bermuda (October 4, 2010) - Everyone knows it but no one is saying it – that sums up the atmosphere on the waters of Hamilton Harbour on Practice Day of Argo Group Gold Cup. Five of the 22 teams competing in Bermuda all still have a chance of snatching the overall ISAF Match Racing World Championship. Their skippers have been playing down the challenges which await them in a bid to deflect any additional pressure. Current overall Tour leader Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team holds a 17-point advantage over his nearest rival Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, however with the Championship decided by each team’s five best scores across the first eight events, plus the Monsoon Cup at the end the series, he can only increase his overall score with a first or second place. The week’s headline could well come from second-placed Minoprio, who starts the event counting a sixth place among his five best scores meaning a better result will close the gap on Richard. If Minoprio wins and Richard is third or lower, both will go into the season’s finale, the Monsoon Cup, equal on points. The qualifying rounds begin Tuesday with the finals scheduled for Sunday, October 10. -- Full details: http://tinyurl.com/WMRT-100410 ONE YEAR FREE SAIL CARE & REPAIR ON NEW NORTH SAILS North Sails is providing one year free sail care & repair on all new North sails purchased in 2010. Honored anywhere in North’s worldwide network of sail care locations, you will be in good hands no matter where your travels take you. Free sail care & repair is available on North cruising, racing, and one-design sails. Sails MUST be registered online & some restrictions apply. When performance & durability matter, the choice is clear: http://www.na.northsails.com/tabid/17678/Default.aspx NEARLY DOUBLE THE ENTRIES Momentum is growing for winter racing in Florida as top national and international programs are adding their luster and names to the growing list of entries for Key West 2011, presented by Nautica. With racing still over three months away, the competition is shaping up to be world-class with the entry tally running well ahead of the past two years at this time. “Sometimes you don’t know what to make of the early numbers”, said Event Director Peter Craig. “But having nearly double the entries by October 1st is good news any way you look at it. It’s great to see the Farr 30 class back with a one design start in 2011.” Racing will be held January 17-21. While the recent economic slide hasn’t been kind to event participation, there is hope that the pendulum is getting ready to swing back. The combination of great weather, professional race management, and onshore activities is pretty alluring. Observed Craig, “Having Key West as your venue during the month of January doesn’t hurt.” Besides the Farr 30 class resurgence, which already has eight veteran programs entered, the IRC fleet is sure to be one of the marquee attractions. It will feature a strong TP52 class and mini-maxis Bella Mente (R/P 69), Numbers (J/V 66), Titan (R/P 72 chartered by former America’s Cup Skipper Bill Koch) and the former Shockwave (R/P 69). -- Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/1004/ SAILING SHORTS * US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR will bring together the world’s top sailors for elite-level competition in the classes selected for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games from January 23-29, 2011. Held on picturesque Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Fla., this prestigious event is the second stop on the International Sailing Federation’s (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2010-2011 circuit. The Notice of Race is now available, and starting November 2, 2010 competitors and coaches will be required to register online. The registration deadline for all classes, as well as coaches, is January 7, 2011. Details here: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/News/2011_Press_Releases/2011_RMOCR_NOR.htm * From September 7 to October 13, 2010, US SAILING will hold its annual election to fill three seats on its Board of Directors. All current US SAILING adult and family members are entitled to vote. The candidates are Ed Adams, Mitch Brindley, Scott Iklé, Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, and Susan Epstein. Details: http://about.ussailing.org/Directory/BOD/2010_Board_Election.htm * Online entry is now open for the 3rd edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, a 605 mile race around the Caribbean islands starting from Antigua on February 21, 2011. Details here: http://caribbean600.rorc.org A 40 FOOTER THAT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES J/122s recently earned overall honors at Chicago-Mac, Doublehanded Mac and LI Sound IRC Champs, plus division wins at Bayview-Mac, Rolex IRC Nationals, and IRC Great Lakes. This one-design also sports a comfortable cockpit and beautiful cruising interior, making it the most versatile and super-fun 40 footer you'll find. http://www.jboats.com/j122 GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter are limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From George Clyde, Legal and Rules Advisor - GBR Challenge: The reason that there will be no British entry in the America’s Cup in 2013, in my personal opinion, is rooted in the failure of the British yachting and corporate community, including Sir Keith Mills and others in his sponsorship group, to take advantage of the momentum that had been developed by Peter Harrison with GBR Challenge in the 31st America’s Cup in New Zealand - the first British challenge in many years. GBR Challenge, with funds provided by Harrison, began with only a handful of people with current America’s Cup experience and developed into a very respectable first-time challenge, with some of the best of Britain’s sailors, designers, technicians and coaches. For the 32nd America’s Cup in Valencia, Harrison kept the team active and offered to provide £25 million, if it would be matched by his countrymen. If the British yachting and corporate community had responded to that invitation, a restructured GBR Challenge could have launched a very credible British campaign with a real chance of victory in Valencia. Although neither the team nor Harrison was perfect, there was enormous potential to develop a strong British presence in the America’s Cup that was sadly lost. The jewels of the GBR Challenge campaign - sailors and designers who were ready to employ all they had learned for Britain - ended up as key players in other teams in Valencia, and the momentum to bring Britain back into the America’s Cup was gone. * From Murray Ross: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 3090) Why would anyone be concerned about what Team Origin thinks of the AC Multihull rules? They have never challenged for the Cup or sailed the LV Trails to pick a Challenger. I can't see why Teams who have no AC experience should be so vocal about what the Defender is doing. I am sure Team Origin would be capable of mounting a reasonable challenge to be the Challenger, but right from the start, they were unhappy about the prospect of the Cup being sailed in catamarans, so best to get stuck in or bow out and leave it to other Teams to move forward. I think Larry, Russell and the BMW Oracle Team have great vision and I look forward to viewing the 2013 AC where ever it is sailed. * From Richard Johnson, Pinole, CA: I've been involved in Yacht Club Racing Activities for about 30 (plus) years, mostly beer can stuff, and I have a mono-hulled yacht berthed in my Club's marina. We have about 200 boats in our marina and about 4, perhaps 5 are multi-hulls. I believe that this is fairly representative of most marinas here in the SF Bay Area. Our Club conducts a number of race events during the year and yes, there are some multi-hulls entered but they are in the minority. Yes, they are faster that a mono-hull but it appears to me that as of today, the mono-hull is the choice of the majority of yacht owners. For several years, I have enjoyed the pre-start activities in the AC and thought this was all lost in the most recent contest. If it were up to a vote of the Yachting Community, I believe mono-hulled boats would be their popular choice. There are people who like Drag Races, an event that is over in 1320 feet and there are those who enjoy watching contestants turning both left and right. Just a thought. * From Katrina Johnson: Thank you Noel Sterrett for showing just how perfect multihulls are. I showed his two video links (in Scuttlebutt 3190) to 14 non-sailing friends. I asked them two questions: Which looked most exciting and which event would you like to go to? They all said that the cats were exciting, the monos looked like nothing and they wanted to go the cat event! The AC is an event at one end of the sport. It has always been for rich people. If you can't afford it don't play, if you want a level playing field go race one designs and if you are a professional sailor, shut up and just get on with the job you are employed to do. Slagging off multihull sailors is not clever and shows ignorance and to the outside observer does nothing but damage to the sport! => Curmudgeon’s Comment: I think Katrina has nailed it. The opinion of sailing enthusiasts is perhaps not the primary opinion, as this group will ultimately become sufficiently interested because it is their sport. The plan for the 34th America’s Cup is to grab the attention of the significantly larger, non-sailing population. The goal of this event is commercial viability, which requires a large viewership to warrant commercial support and media attention. This event will resemble nothing we have seen before. With boat speed of 40+ knots, how can it? CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION A little inaccuracy saves a world of explanation. Special thanks to Atlantis WeatherGear, North Sails, and J Boats. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
