SCUTTLEBUTT No. 736 - January 24, 2001
TEAM ADVENTURE
January 23, 2001 - The American catamaran Team Adventure will resume its
race around the world with only ten of its original complement of 14 crew.
Two crewmen said today that they were leaving the boat. Two others were
injured when the boat slammed into a wave on Friday and cannot continue.
Round-the-clock work to repair damage to the boat's main cross beam
continued today. Lewis now expects to set out in pursuit of the first two
boats in The Race on Thursday morning, four days after arriving in Cape Town.
Citing personal reasons, Rob Myles, the boat's rigger and foredeck man,
from Newport, RI, and Rick Deppe, the cameraman and communications expert,
from Annapolis, MD, both announced they would leave the boat in Cape Town.
Mast man Jeffery Wargo, from Seattle, WA, and Mikael Lundh from Sweden,
were injured when the boat was slammed a big wave that jolted it almost to
a standstill. The boat immediately diverted to Cape Town. Both were men
treated and released from Claremont Hospital in Cape Town but neither will
be fit to return immediately to the strenuous physical challenge of sailing
on the 110-foot catamaran.
Damage to the main crossbeam that links the two hulls and supports the
15-storey high mast was confined to a localized area. A three-foot square
portion of the outer skin on the underside was damaged, and an interior
bulkhead in the beam fractured. A number of half-frame bulkheads also
popped loose. "It looks like impact damage," Lewis said. "The damage
permitted some torqueing and twisting of the beam. It is not a major
problem, but it's a good thing we stopped to repair it."
Lewis said the strategy for the remaining three-quarters of The Race is to
sail the boat safely to Marseilles. "We will sail as a core team. While we
are still trying to find a place at the podium, we will be racing with
perhaps a bit more caution. I've been around before with five crew, so we
will learn from our accident and look forward. - Keith Taylor,
http://www.TeamAdventure.org
THE RACE
Grant Dalton has kept Club Med on a mission to club Innovation Explorer
into submission. It was the relentless speed of the leader that sucked Cam
Lewis and Team Adventure into a duel they failed to handle.
The super-confident Dalton is now luring Loick Peyron into the same dice
with destiny, much as the mythical Lorelei lured sailors onto the rocks.
According to German legend, there was once a beautiful young maiden, named
Lorelei, who threw herself into the river in despair because of a faithless
lover. Upon her death she was transformed into a siren and could from that
time on be heard singing on a rock along the Rhine River. Her hypnotic
music lured sailors to their death. Innovation Explorer, beware.
Peyron is following Club Med in surfing along the low pressure systems, but
she may well have to go further south as the present system will soon pass
her by and the wind she needs to keep up is to be found at a lower
latitude, entailing harsher conditions for boat and crew.
Warta Polpharma are concerned that if they stopped at Tristan da Cunha to
send back images to Poland, that Team Legato would catch them up. Instead,
they have decided to carry on without stopping and head south to pick up
the Roaring Forties and attempt to open a demoralizing gap ahead of Team
Legato.
However, Tony Bullimore remains bullish, and is still convinced he will
ensnare the Poles soon. - Martin Cross, NOW Sports website.
Positions at 17:00 GMT: 1. Club Med (6,067nm to finish) 2. Explorer (+723)
3. Team Adventure (+1874) 4. Warta Polpharma (+2894) 5. Team Legato (+3737)
Full story: http://www.now.com/feature.now?cid=997704&fid=1205819
EVERYWHERE
They are absolutely everywhere. They're in Norway, Japan, Spain, the UK and
Canada. There are two each in Australia and Mexico. Italy has three and
there are 10 in the USA. That's 22 in all, and every one of these Ullman
sail lofts will give a quote on a new sail to show you just how affordable
improved performance can be for your boats: http://www.ullmansails.com
VENDEE GLOBE -By Philippe Jeantot
Current Vende Globe leader, Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB), may only be hardly 1
degree in latitude ahead of Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher), on the other hand
their distance in longitude is much more important. This difference puts
the two leading skippers in slightly different weather systems where either
of them could feel the more favourable winds before the other one. The good
news is that the wind has at least returned to the scene of the action.
Advancing Northwards still, these two skippers have finally put the centre
of the high pressure zone behind them and have welcomed the wind rotation,
navigating on starboard in a light and variable 5 10 knot breeze.
Ellen hasn't breathed out yet, and is still waiting to see if the
anticyclone carries on moving North with them, or stops where it is and
lets them go from its clutches. "We are in the same weather system but
Michel is still further in the North and when the wind kicks in he'll get
going first. I'm more to the West of him still." However, Ellen, in her
more Westerly position, could herself get into more favourable conditions
first as she is furthest from the centre and thus the calms. Neck and neck,
the heat is rising out on the water between the Frenchman and the English girl.
Ellen is also watching closely the moves behind her from Marc Thiercelin
(Active Wear) & Roland Jourdain (Sill Matines La Potagre). Her two main
pursuers are placed more in the West to negotiate the bend round the calm
zones, an option which could pay well.
STANDINGS: 1. PRB, Michel Desjoyeaux, 4488 miles to finish, 2. Kingfisher,
Ellen MacArthur, 72 miles behind leader, 3. Active Wear, Marc Thiercelin,
261 miles behind leader, 4. Sill Matines & La Potagre, Roland Jourdain,
290 mbl, 5. Sodebo Savourons la Vie, Thomas Coville, 561 mbl.
http://www.vendeeglobe.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words
max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a
bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so
give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish
anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.)
* From: "J. Joseph Bainton" <bainton@baintonlaw.com> While I agree with
Peter Isler's comments about the unpleasant aspects of "making weight", I
think that he misses the main point, namely that in most classes, certainly
the Etchells Class, crew (team) weight is a measurement rule. Thus any
competitor may protest any other competitor for violating this measurement
rule in any and all races of a regatta.
Certainly if a team is observed barely making weight at the event official
competitor weighing and is subsequently observed consuming vast quantities
of burgers and beer, that team becomes a prime target for a good faith
protest. A team gaining weight above the class limit during a competition
is no different a cheat than a team that adds lead to the bilge, although -
until they think aobut it - most people in terms of moral turpitude would
not equate pigging out at the buffet table with adding ballast or a few
extra panels to a chute that just measured in.
A clear majority of sailors wanted this measurement rule. They got it. Now
they should not comnplain about having to live with it. If a significant
number of sailors do not like living with it, then perhaps our sport, like
many other sports including boxing and crew, should consider the
introduction of weight divisions in one design racing.
* From: Randy Smith <RSMITHHOME@aol.com> All Right Pedro! My enjoyment of
sailing has certainly been diminished lately due to the weigh-in
procedures. I raced in a non-weigh-in class at this year's Key West Race
Week, and experienced the following items for the first time in recent memory:
1) I ate solid food the week before the regatta,
2) I had a pizza at the airport in Miami,
3) I sailed the practice day without feeling like I was going to pass out,
4) Had normal digestive functions for the first half of the regatta.
I like Peter's ideas. Have the weigh-in at the end, and then there is no
need to purge and binge. Didn't eating disorders go out in the '80s anyways?
* From: Kane Williamson, Perth, Western Australia. I
believe that you should not have to weigh in at all. What should happen is
every crew has a random weigh in throughout the regatta and if you fail
your weigh in you will be DSQ (you would have to have a small grace period
to allow for fluids consumed on the race course) this would prevent the
mass weight loss that can cause so much damage to you body and mind and
would stop people pushing them selves to the point of exhaustion. I also
believe that it would make it fairer for everybody that is slightly under
the weight or spot on who don't need the weight loss. After all it is a
weight limit and should not be broken at any time during the regatta.
* From: "Riaz Latifullah" <riazlatifullah@earthlink.net> It's about time
someone wrote about the madness of starvation and dehydration prior to
major sailing events. As usual, Isler's comments are right on the mark.
This pre-race ritual is bad for the body and bad for the sport. Unnecessary
workouts, dieting and dehydration weaken the body and reduce the fun
factor. We all want to win, but sailing should be a test of sailing skills,
not crash dieting and strategies on how best to step on a scale.
If the intent of weighing-in is to keep the playing field level, then it's
time to ensure crew weights remain within limits throughout the event. I
favor weighing the top-five crew later in the regatta or just after the
last race. Post-race/regatta inspections of boats are common - top placing
finishers of the Bermuda Race are inspected to ensure they have the
necessary safety gear (at least they were the last time I did the race) and
some dinghy classes measure or weigh the top few boats after the last race
at major regattas. Unfortunately, cunning crew may devise clever ways to
alter their weight. Perhaps this will lead to new articles about creative
post-race head call strategies for panic-stricken winning crews. Finally,
by only weighing a few crew, race organizers may be relieved of having to
watch everyone strip down to their last piece of clothing.
* From: Lyman White <lymanwhite@home.com> (Edited to our 250-word limit.)
Several years ago Key West Race Week 'allowed' a fleet of multihulls to
compete at Race Week. There were a few altercations (a port / stb. event
and a third party protest) not unlike any other fleet There were also some
outstanding speeds obtained, both upwind and downwind that raised more than
a couple of brows.
Although the multihull fraternity was interested in increasing its
participation at Race Week the following year, we were told by the
organizing authority that multihulls would not be invited back. Under
objection, we were told variously that it was because of the excessive
speeds we generated and the danger this created while in the vicinity of
the other fleets. Several of us thought the real reason was because we
really humbled the sport boat fleets.
Offers were made to sail 'away' from the other fleets, and even to provide
our own course workers. All overtures were received with a cordial yet cold
shoulder. Race Week is used by manufacturers to showcase their boats. The
primary focus in this showcase is the speed of the boat upwind and
downwind. Is it fair or politically correct for the multihull community to
be kept from competing at Race Week? Of course the organizers have the
right to invite whom they wish, but in the spirit of fellowship and
competition, I believe a fleet of multihulls belongs at Race Week.
* From: "Phillip Ross" <celsius@racca.asn.au> I followed the AC for years
and then was lucky enough to be involved in the Kookaburra campaign in '87
(we came second!). The new boats are quite magnificent & provide fantastic
"ooh aah" factor (necessary for media exposure) but is short lived in
long-time attention-grabbing as it primarily involves straight-lining.
The old dinosaurs provided what match-racing (and the AC) was all about -
getting your opponent into trouble and working hard to make sure he stays
there. The 12's were difficult to sail and manoeuvre and that is what made
them great sailing and watching - lotsa grunt, lotsa tactics. That sort of
close quarter action also made it easier for TV coverage.
* From: David D Few, NCPHRF committee <dfew@juno.com> To this engineer
and amateur assessor of designs, the newer IACC boats are a thing of beauty
compared to the 12 metre boats and the huge hole they dug in the water, not
to mention the marked difference in performance and the technological
trickle down that we will eventually see in production boats. Not too many
years ago the SA/D andD/L's we now see in production boats with reasonable
interiors was only a dream.
AMERICA'S CUP
Top rower Rob Waddell is trying out for Team New Zealand. The Olympic gold
medallist is considering laying down his oars for a while and grabbing the
handles on an America's Cup boat.
Waddell spent four days sailing on board the Black Magic boats with the new
Team NZ crew before Christmas. Team NZ are trying out grinding candidates
for the 2003 Cup and Waddell would have to earn his spot in the team, gold
medal or not. "My long term goal is still Athens [the 2004 Olympics]. But
now I'm looking at what could help that, what could fit in with it,"
Waddell said yesterday.
* Team NZ said no decision had been made on the grinding position - the
last vacant spot on the sailing crew. But they confirmed the job would not
necessarily go to an experienced yachtsman, and they were looking at the
possibility of training an elite athlete for the physically demanding job.
In their last America's Cup campaign, Team NZ took on top multisport
athlete Jonathan Macbeth. - Suzanne McFadden, NZ Herald.
Fill story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ac2000/
SWISS CHALLENGE
The Swiss Challenge for the America's Cup and UBS have just signed an
important partnership contract. UBS will become one of the main partners of
Swiss Challenge. The Swiss Challenge for the America Cup was created by
Ernesto Bertarelli. Russell Coutts, the skipper, won the last two editions
of the America's Cup.
AWARDS
Keith Burhans, Sonar Mainsail Trimmer on the USA Paralympic Team has been
chosen to receive the Major Don Holleder Award. This award is presented
annually by the Rochester Press Radio Club to a person whose active life
has exhibited the highest level of sportsmanship, character, courage and
achievement consistent with the name of Don Holleder.
This is the first time this award has been given to a Paralympian. Also,
this is the first time it has been awarded to a Sailor, and tradition was
broken to award it to an amateur athlete. The list of Holleder Award
winners from the most recent years include Doug Flutie, Gale Sayers, Don
Allen, Jean Giambrione, Marv Levy, Charles Mechen, Nick Urzetta, Pete
Pavia, Jeff Blatnick, Wilma Rudolph and Ray Meyer.
TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE
The problems associated with the discomfort experienced with wetsuits have
been solved with a new Bubble Top that lets your body breathe while you
sail. The breathing action increases with higher levels of physical
activity - thus this neoprene is able to respond to your exercise level.
This product creates and maintains its own microclimate, which keeps you
comfortable whether you're working hard or not. As a result you'll be
comfortable all day long. Definitely a must have item for the small boat
sailor. See them, and all the great Camet Products at: http://www.camet.com
BLOCK ISLAND
The Storm Trysail Club is planning innovations for this year's Block Island
Race Week, June 24-29. The Regatta Committee has added additional weight
limit tolerances to the YRA of Western Long Island Sound's PHRF
regulations. STC will allow any PHRF boat to take as many as two additional
crewmembers (180 lbs each) provided they declare these crewmembers on their
entry. These boats will be assessed an additional 3 seconds per mile
penalty per additional crewmember. In addition, any PHRF boat can add a
member of the crew without penalty, provided that the crew is 13 years of
age or younger.
This year's event will also feature a Navigator's Class for the older,
heavier keelboats. This class will return to the classic, longer courses
using government marks - Amy Gross-Kehoe
SPONSORSHIP
The regional office of Volvo Cars has officially withdrawn their
sponsorship of Southern California's Volvo Inshore Championships, which
this year was to be comprised of Newport Harbor YC's Ahmanson Series, San
Diego YC's Yachting/Leukemia Cup, California Yacht Club's Cal Race Week and
North Sails Race Week in Long Beach. Without this funding, the future of
the series is in jeopardy and until further notice there are no plans to
continue. However, It should be made absolutely clear that this development
should in no way impact the quality and strength of the above individual
events. - John Gladstone, VIC Series Director
MIAMI ORC
The eleventh annual Miami Olympic Classes Regatta (OCR), set to start this
week, will pit numerous fresh faces against seasoned veterans as sailors
vie to establish campaigns for the 2004 Olympics in Greece. Competition
will be held January 24-27, 2001, on Biscayne Bay, in eight of the nine
classes selected for the 2004 Olympic Regatta - Europe, Finn, 470, 49er,
Laser, Mistral, Star and Tornado. (Due to its late selection as an Olympic
class, the Yngling class did not meet the minimum number of boats required
by organizers to conduct a race.) Seven to 12 races are scheduled, with the
warning signal for the first race each day at 11:00 a.m. Four races shall
be completed to constitute a series.
Registered to date are sailors representing ten countries: Austria, Canada,
France, Finland, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Mexico and the
Virgin Islands. Performing well at the Miami OCR is critical for U.S.
sailors hoping to make the 2001U.S. Sailing Team - all eight classes will
use the event as a ranking regatta. Annually, the top-five ranked sailors
in each Olympic class are named to the U.S. Sailing Team and receive
coaching and support from the Olympic Sailing Committee of US SAILING.
The Miami OCR is the only International Sailing Federation (ISAF) grade-one
ranking event in the U.S. The event is hosted by the U.S. Sailing Center;
Coral Reef, Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne and Miami Yacht Clubs; and the
Coconut Grove Sailing Club.
Results will be added to information already online:
www.ussailing.org/Olympics/MiamiOCR
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
* "The slightest technical hitch could hold us up for at least 48 hours.
That means that 36 hours later, Lock would be in front again!" - Club
Med's co-skipper Grant Dalton, www.therace.org
* "[Thursday] when I was in my bunk and we smacked a wave, I woke up and
my feet were tingling from getting smacked into the bulkhead. Obviously
it's always feet forward while sleeping. I think we got lucky that the
spinal injuries aren't more serious, but wow, what [a] wake up." - Rob
Myles, until yesterday, a Team Adventure foredeck man.
http://www.quokkasailing.com/stories/2001/01/SLQ_0122_therace_WFC.html
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
If you do a job bad enough the first time, you won't be asked to do it again.
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