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SCUTTLEBUTT 3170 - Friday, September 3, 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: e Sailing Yachts and West Marine. PETER GILMOUR: THE POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE Australian Peter Gilmour is a three-time season champion of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), and last fall joined a group of investors that purchased the tour. He remains actively involved in the tour as both a competitor and administrator, and shared with Scuttlebutt his thoughts regarding the use of multihull boats for the America's Cup: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I am a big advocate for change in sailing and believe that generally commercialization has been happening too slowly, however, this possible change for the America's Cup (from monohull to multihull) is a beauty that is even stretching my own way of thinking! The change for our sport is for sure a significant one, if the AC goes to multihulls for AC34 and future editions so long as BMW Oracle/Golden Gate YC remain the defender. The World Match Racing Tour has been the clear pathway for sailors and teams to develop their skills, attitude and success towards the America's Cup. When you look at the last 30 years of America's Cup skippers, you see that John Bertrand, Dennis Conner, Russell Coutts, Ed Baird and James Spithill (not sure about Buddy Melges) and their crews - and the vast group of challengers/defenders that they overcame - have all participated in some small or large part in the Tour or the foundation events that now make up the World Match Racing Tour. Most recently I look at the tremendous skill Russell, Ed and James (as well as more recently Ernesto and Larry) have acquired and the reliability that this has translated to in sailing terms and that it would be essential for the Tour to move with the times. We would be open to looking at including multihull events on to the Tour calendar if it worked for the teams and our event promoters. The key platforms of what the Tour represents is that, fleets are owned and maintained in identical performance by the event/promoter, there is significant prize money on the outcome, a substantial amount of racing whereby the teams are really tested, the ISAF Match Racing Rules are in play, and also a significant media presence all ensures that the "ability to perform under pressure" is quantified by the final result. We'd need to be sure that the essence of match racing, the one-on-one, in your face, up close and personal gladiatorial battle would not be diminished by the difference that cats would bring. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/0902/ WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR St. Moritz, Switzerland (September 2, 2010) - Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team was the aggressor on day two of the St. Moritz Match Race, the sixth of the nine event World Match Racing Tour, storming through a run of five successive victories including a comprehensive defeat of the reigning 'King of the Mountain', Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing. If the spectators expected the relative newcomer to the ISAF World Match Racing Tour to be apprehensive after a disappointing opening day, he did not show it. As the thermally-induced Maloja wind rushed in, the young Frenchman exhibited some deft moves on the water, leading Minoprio around mark one by three lengths and eventually extending his lead all the way to the finish. The ISAF World Match Racing Tour has a rich history of nurturing the best match racing talent and Iehl looked every bit a champion in the making today. Commented Iehl, "We had a clear game plan today which gave us the great starts we needed, as well as a strategy that delivered the best course through all the wind shifts. Our teamwork and manoeuvres were spot on too - it was a perfect progression for us from yesterday." With seven teams advancing to the next stage, three are confirmed as having made the quarter finals, but another six - including some veteran stars - are still in the hunt for the remaining four places. Results after Day 2 of the St. Moritz Match Race: Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar: 7-1 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN: 6-2 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team: 6-2 Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing: 5-3 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team: 5-4 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team: 5-4 Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team: 5-4 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team: 4-4 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra: 4-4 Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team: 2-7 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team: 2-7 Jerome Clerc (SUI) CER: 0-8 Tour website: http://www.wmrt.com BACKGROUND: The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series, featuring 9 events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with "Special Event" status. Prize money is awarded for each event, with event points culminating in the crowning of the "ISAF Match Racing World Champion". E SAILING YACHTS: JOIN US IN NEWPORT! e Sailing Yachts continues to be the leading innovator in the performance daysailer market. Others have tried to match it, but the e33 is in a league of its own when it comes to performance, quality, and an easy, comfortable ride. The reviews keep getting better, and our alliance with Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding is producing world class e33s with the e27 and e44 models actively on the boards for 2011. Designers Persak & Wurmfeld and e Sailing Yachts cofounder and America's Cup winner Robbie Doyle will be showing off a 2010 e33 in Newport September 16-19. Join us! More at http://www.esailingyachts.com FINN WORLDS San Francisco, CA (September 2, 2010) - After another two windy races today at the 2010 Finn Gold Cup on San Francisco Bay, Rafa Trujillo (ESP) scored a 1-3 to close the gap on leader Ed Wright (GBR) who scored 2-5, though they increased their lead over the rest of the fleet. Race seven was led initially by Trujillo but Wright shot past on the run. Trujillo favored the middle ground on the second beat to retake the lead and held it to the finish Thomas Le Breton suffered gear failure and slipped back with Giles Scott (GBR) climbing to third. Trujillo again led to the top mark in race eight with the winds topping 22 knots and a very nasty sea running. He lost the lead to defending champion Jonas Hogh Christensen (DEN) on the second beat and the Dane led until the final thrilling stages of the fast spray filled second reach when Daniel Birgmark (SWE) first sailed under Trujillo and then Hogh Christensen to win the race. Racing continues with two races scheduled each day until Friday, September 3rd, where the medal race for the top 10 and the final race for the rest will be on Saturday, September 4th. Additional details at: Event website: http://www.finngoldcup.com/ Results: http://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=342 SIMPLY AWESOME TO WATCH The International Finn class rules have altered Rule 42 (Propulsion) of the Racing Rule of Sailing. Their rules may permit pumping, rocking and ooching, after starting and except on a beat to windward, when the wind speed exceeds a specified limit. The Finn Class recommends that race committees allow for open kinetics in winds of 12 knots and above (measured at deck level), indicating this to the fleet by either raising code flag O at the start or at a mark of the course. Also, if the wind speed decreases, the race committee may 'turn off the green light' at a mark by displaying flag R. Needless to say, code flag O has been well used this week at the Finn Gold Cup in San Francisco. Describing what this rule provision means is Finn class communications chairman Robert Deaves: "Sailing Finns in these conditions is all about power. Only the fittest, strongest and smartest survive in these testing waters. The effort to perform, to do well, is immense. After the finish of the free pumping final two races, with boats surfing and planing just metres apart, most of the sailors have to stop to catch their breath and regain their strength after 15 minutes of full on downwind sailing. It could be compared to running a 1500 metres sprint, but on top of two 20 minute upwind legs and a 20 minute flat downwind. No other class needs this level of power and stamina for such long periods as the Finn. If you want to go fast then you need to drive it hard. It is simply awesome to watch." Class information: http://www.sailing.org/classes/FINN.php LASER WORLDS Hayling Island, England (September 2, 2010) - Overall leader Tom Slingsby carries forward his consistent momentum into the critical six race Finals phase of the Laser World Championships buoyed by his fourth race win and a fifth from the last day of Qualifying heats in Hayling Bay off Hayling Island. The 159 competitors racing on the last day of the qualifying stages could find little to fault with the sparkling English summer weather conditions as another day of sunshine, moderate 8-11 knot breezes was complemented by a worthwhile swell to offer the downwind specialists the chance to shine. But even if the winds looked ideal, appearances were deceptive as at least two of the top four sailors sailed their discards on this last qualifying day. While Australia's Slingsby retained his run of form, world champion Paul Goodison confessed later to a couple of 'schoolboy errors' in the first race, contributing to his 14th and hit the windward mark in the second race when he finished fifth. The Skandia Team GBR sailor, Olympic and World Champion, goes forward to the three days of Finals in second 14 points, behind Slingsby. Slingsby admitted that he owes much of his revitalised attack this season to his lacklustre World Championships last year, when he finished 17th. After winning Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth he said today that he is especially happy to have found an extra gear to his downwind speed, completing a package which he feels can win him the title, he won in 2007 and 2008, again. The qualifying series concludes September 2nd, with the final series from September 3-5. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/32vmteh SCOREBOARD: Clearly the Kiwi contingent has stepped up their Laser program with four sailors in the top ten. On the opposite end seems to be the North Americans, with only Canadians Michael Leigh (18th) and Christopher Dold (53rd), USVI'S Thomas Barrows (41st), and American Derick Vranizan (51st) qualifying for the Gold fleet, with nine others missing the cut. -- Current standings: http://www.laserworlds2010.co.uk/laserworlds/standard/results.htm SPECIAL OFFER: SAVE UP TO $50 ON YOUR NEXT PURCHASE Can you believe it's already here? Labor Day weekend is just a few days away. Let West Marine give you an excuse to squeeze in another few trips out on the water before fall. Save up to $50 on your next purchase. Some restrictions apply. Click here for offer details and coupon information: http://bit.ly/ScuttlebuttLaborDayOffer BRINGING THE SPORT BACK For the 10 Olympic sailing events, it has been a busy week with the Laser, Finn, and RS:X classes all hosting their World Championships. Making an appearance at the RS:X World Championship in Kerteminde, Denmark was sailmaker and windsurfing legend Neil Pryde, also the creator of the RS:X class, from his home in Hong Kong. "From what I have seen so far, it is just fantastic," said Pryde of the event. "It is great for the sport of windsurfing that we now have a discipline bringing the sport back into the mainstream sailing scene, whereas it has gone off and done its own thing over the years: For the future of windsurfing that is going to be very important." At present Pryde has much to discuss in terms of new boards. The RS:1 is due to go into production imminently. According to Pryde it is designed to be "an intermediate board, a stepping stone into the RS:X, little less expensive, more popular in design and style. The family resemblance is similar. It will still be a very good performing board and probably a little lighter than the RS:X we have today. Our aim is to create a second tier international windsurfing class." Further down the track, Pryde also hopes to introduce a new lighter version of the RS:X for use at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. The new board, at present without a name, will be 3kg or 20% lighter than the present board. -- Event website: http://worldwindsurfingchampionships2010.rsxclass.com/ SAILING SHORTS * Ridgeway, ONT (September 2, 2010) - The third day of the Snipe Western Hemisphere & Orient Championship could not have gotten any better for regatta leaders Ernesto Rodriguez and Mary Hall (USA). Continuing on a winning streak, the duo posted a 1-2-1 to give them a significant lead over the fleet. With one race left in the Championship and the possibility of a second discard race, the regatta is virtually done for these two. The forecast for tomorrow (Friday) may have some rain and significantly more wind for the final race and a second discard counted in may mix up the standings behind Rodriguez/Hall. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10469#10469 * The 2010 5O5 Canadian Championship in Kingston, ONT was not decided until the very last race, with Jeff Boyd/ Martin Tenhove and Henry Amthor/ Clayton James tied on points. It was match racing its best. The fleet went one way and the two boats went the other. Unfortunately it was all for not because the Boyd/Tenhove boat was OCS and that solved the problem of who would take the event. Amthor/James were the winners taking the Canadian Championships home to America. The ghost of Canada now lives on the walls of Hampton Yacht Club for the next year. -- Full story: http://www.505.ca/505/regattareports505ca/Cdns2010_cork.htm * The 51st edition of the Victory U.S. Nationals was hosted by Mission Bay Yacht Club, held in the ocean this past weekend. The Fresno team led by Scooter Holmes took it home again. There was some great racing from this early sixties Frank Butler design, with fifteen boats enjoying the great San Diego weather, along with some second race drama when Kurt Kammerer's rudder broke away from the boat during the very start of race 2. - Results: http://www.mbyc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=699&Itemid=51 * (September 2, 2010) - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and members of his economic development team met today with software billionaire Larry Ellison to get feedback on the city's proposal to host the next America's Cup. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/SFGate090210 * Sixteen of the world's best women's match racing teams, representing nine countries, will compete in the second annual Buddy Melges Challenge in Sheboygan, Wisconsin USA. The Challenge will be held from September 8 to 12. The US Sailing Center Sheboygan will host the event using the Center's fleet of Elliott 6m boats. The Elliott 6m is the boat selected for the Women's Match Racing equipment in the 2012 Olympic Games, which will be held in Weymouth, England. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10467 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Opti towing, rainbow hunting, super yacht partying, sunset worshiping, color fouling, E-Scow surfing, New England gunkholing, and Fireball sailing. Here are this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0903/ BONUS: If you have ever one of those "too many chiefs, not enough Indians" sailing experiences, than you will get a good laugh from this comic strip by Dave Foster: http://www.davefostercomics.com/dnj/10%2008%2004%20four%20a.jpg SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK Television Producer Digby Fox filmed the 2010 Etchells World Championship in Dublin, Ireland (August 19-28, 2010), which saw Australian sailing legend John Bertrand and his crew Andrew Palfry and Tom Slingsby dominate the event. While a broadcast version of his production will be played on Sky Sports, Eurosport, Star Asia, etc. in September, he has provided the 'buttheads with a special 3-part series of the event: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/0903/ BONUS 1: Here are a couple videos with PUMA Ocean Racing skipper Ken Read and 95.9 WATD's Goldie Bounce Golf host Liza Churchill. From watching these videos we learned that: 1) technology allows anybody to be an online media person, and 2) Kenny has time to sit with a blonde haired girl. Enjoy: http://sailingscuttlebutt.blogspot.com/2010/09/sailing-and-golf.html BONUS 2: If you have ever been curious what it is like to do the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race on San Francisco Bay, this video was taken by one of the windsurfers wearing a helmet camera: http://tinyurl.com/Waterhound-B2B BONUS 3: If Bonus 2 did not give you enough perspective of the speed that is being delivered in the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race, here is a clip from on top the Golden Gate Bridge: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=430212089230&saved BONUS 4: While Bruce Golison did not have onboard cameras when he won the 2010 Etchells North Americans in San Diego, he did wear a pair of video sunglasses during a Lido 14 summer beer can race on his home waters in Long Beach, CA: http://tinyurl.com/Golison-Lido-video SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Rand Winters (re, Gus Miller story in Scuttlebutt #3169) Gus Miller is an unsung hero or idol to those of us who have sailed in the Finn. He is an unknown outside of the Finn culture; you do not hear his name bantered about. But like Dick Tillman, or Ted Turner, he has certainly been there helping young sailors all his life. I had the opportunity to sail the Finn with him at the beginning of his Finn career at University of Michigan Sailing club in 1966 and 1967 before I went into the Army. There were three wooden Finns and one glass boat. We all learned how to glue wooden masts together to keep sailing. I changed into different classes over the years, but Gus kept working in the Finn. A year or so ago Sailing World magazine had a good article on the Finn and Gus' name was mentioned as having won a Gold Cup race in Europe when he was in his 50s. May all of us wish Gus the best and hope that all of us youngsters (I am 66) can sail as actively as he is doing now. HOLIDAY WEEKEND This Monday, September 6th is known in the U.S. as Labor Day, one of 10 federal holidays in the country, and celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The staff at Scuttlebutt World Headquarters will be enjoying the weekend too, so don't look for the Monday edition of the Scuttlebutt newsletter. Any burning updates can be found either at Scuttlebutt's Twitter or Facebook pages. Otherwise, the newsletter will return Tuesday at its normal program time. Have a great weekend! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. Special thanks to e Sailing Yachts and West Marine. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
