SCUTTLEBUTT No. 900 - September 13, 2001
Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
LIFE MUST GO ON
We are all deeply impacted by the horrendous happenings of yesterday in the USA. Having so many friends in the USA especially in New York all of us will know people who lost their lives. There is nothing any of us can say under these circumstances but to say the USA will find how many true friends they really have.
I sat all day unable to do anything and memory flashed back to the other day in my life Êthat had such a great impact which was the slaughter of the Israeli athletes on "Black Tuesday" in Munich. On the Wednesday we had to make the decision whether to cancel the Games or not and each Team Leader was asked to poll their Olympic Team what to do. The only person on our Sailing Team who we decided could give us insight was Jewish. I found him sitting on a bench in the boat park alone. His response was direct: "We should be racing today for if they feel they disrupt our lives the terrorists win."
The best way we can support the USA beyond giving our sincere sympathy and support is to continue to move forward positively believing in the democracy and freedoms that they so encompass. God Bless America!!
Paul Henderson, President, International Sailing Federation
FARR 40 WORLDS
There are three boats at the top of the leaderboard after the first day's racing, and in the words of the European Champion, Oscar Strugstad, 'It just shows how close the fleet is.' Strugstad, however, is not one of the leaders, having had a far from good day on the water, scoring uncharacteristically an eleventh and a 20th.
The day was shared between Britain's Tony Buckingham in A Bit of a Coup, John Coumantaros of the USA in Bambakou and Australia's reigning world champion, John Calvert-Jones. By the very slightest edge of the count-back, Buckingham, who won the second race, is adjudged the leader but all three have the same eight points. Buckingham had a seventh in the first race, while Coumantaros had a third and fifth and Calvert Jones had two fourth places. -- Bob Fisher
Top Five after Two Races: Bit of a Coup - 8 points, Bambakou - 8 points, Southern Star -8 points, Barking Mad - 11 points, Aleph - 11 points
Bob's complete report and full results at farr40.greencathedral.net
CANADA'S CUP
The 105-year-old Canada's Cup has come to symbolize true match racing supremacy on the Great Lakes.
Long known as the "America's Cup of the Great Lakes", the heavily embossed bowl now in possession of Bayview Yacht Club of Detroit Michigan, has been exchanged more often between competing U.S. and Canadian skippers than its salt water namesake. In 18 matches since the original 1896 series, the Canada's Cup has regularly crossed the international border. The tally to date: Canada 7, and the U.S. 11
Keen competition, reflecting the changing style of yacht racing, has seen the Cup Contest through its late 19th century Seawanhaka Rule, and several other formula's, to this years one design Farr 40 selection. The Canada's Cup has passed through five different yacht clubs over the last 105 years, and been raced for under 10 different racing rules.
Defending is Team Saturn, representing the Bayview Yacht Club, helmed by Robert Hughes. Challenging is Team Defiant, representing the Royal Canadian Yacht Club helmed by Terry McLaughlin.
After 11 matches, the Series Score is 6-5 Defiant over Heartbreaker . See www.byc.com/canadascup/
NEXUS WIND DATA
The Wind Data is a combined digital and analogue wind instrument. At only $429.95, it is the best price going on a quality wind data instrument. It is supplied complete with a masthead transducer and 82' of cable. Operates as a stand-alone instrument or can be incorporated into a Nexus System network. www.pyacht.net/online-store/scstore/h-nexus_stand_alones.htm
LAST LAP DECIDES ROLEX CUP WINNERS Ê
It started gently and ended gently, but the Rolex Cup once again lived up to its reputation for providing testing sailing for the crews of the 26 maxi yacht entries. In three divisions, the winners were not decided until the last race had been run. Even then, it was so close that it needed a tie-break in the Heavy Cruiser class to give Harry Macklowe in Unfurled the verdict over George Lindemann in the majestic, 180-foot, Adela.
And there was just half a point between the two top Wallys, Alessandro Grande in Vae Victis pipping Mattia Medici in Askherout.
Also out front every day was Raffael Raiola's IMS Maxi Idea, but the weeks light conditions really favoured the two smaller yachts who were fighting it out for the top prize in that division.
The founder of the Wally company, Luca Bassani, brought his new Tiketitoo and was one of the most striking yachts moored stern-to on the old port wall. The hull, mast and boom are all in a metallic bronze.
That much you can see. What is less visible is an array of underwater appendages which have been developed using airplane dynamics.There is a swinging keel and two canard dagger boards on each side, one forward, one aft. So, at any time, when you include the rudder, there could be four foils under the boat giving hydrodynamic lift.
Complete results at www.yccs.com Ê
REDUCE FRICTION - INCREASE SPEED
Finish your boat with Nautical Ease Marine Polish for a clear, smooth, hard coating. Nautical Ease Polish reduces friction for increased speed and efficiency and helps to retard barnacles, algae and salt water build-up. For only $15.99, a pint of Nautical Ease Polish will do a 40 ft. boat hull from water line to rub rail not just once but twice. For more details, visit Yachting Essentials at: www.yachtingessentials.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
While Tom is away, send your letters to the Guest Editor at dmccreary@boats.com (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Bruce Vandeventer: As many of your readers are doubtless aware, the claim by VOR publicists that there is no current method of accurately measuring wave height is simply not true; NOAA's network of oceanographic buoys contain instruments to measure wave and swell height, period, steepness, and direction. This data, as well as meteorological data and water temperature, are all available online at the National Data Buoy Center website, www.ndbc.noaa.gov. There is also an automated voice service called "dial-a-buoy" where an automated system will read to you the data for a buoy of interest. Of course, there aren't any NOAA buoys in the Southern Ocean, only satellite coverage, so comparing the data obtained by yachts racing there to the satellite data would be valuable. As an 'electronic spectator' this is data that I would find interesting.
* From J. Joseph Bainton: Reply to John Diggins - The flaw in your analysis is that you fail to take into account the sailing instructions, which expressly permit retrieval of overboard crew member by tender.
* From Ernest Freeland: In response to Mark Green's Letter to the editor. Don't become disillusioned with model boat racing, while there are developmental classes that can run into the 1000's of dollars to sail there are also strong strict one-design classes. The CR-914, a 1:30 scale of a modern AC boat, is a class that adheres to strict one design rules and sells for $450 for everything you need. All kits are competitive out of the box.Ê
This is truly a sailors class where knowledge of tactics and rules are paramount to success. The class regularly has Local and Regional Regattas consisting of 20+ boats and National Regattas with 40 plus. In Annapolis on Sunday's for Frostbiting we will regularly have 20+ boats out for sailing, often as you look down the dock you see "joe winchgrinder" racing along side a "rock star" or professional in the sailing industry. There are not that many big boats regattas that produce this level of turn out on a regular basis.
Model yachting is a great tool to learn the rules of sailing as well as tactics and how to apply them. With races generally taking less then 10 minutes to complete youÊ get a lot of racing in a day. Two unique things about Model Yachting is that age plays no role in the competitiveness of the sailor and the fact that you are standing shoulder to shoulder with your competition which can offer some interesting conversation regarding rules etc.
* From James C. Malm: The 29er is a true double-handed boat.Ê The FJ & 420 can be sailed with one great sailor and a crew who is relatively new to the sport.Ê The 29er has two highly skilled positions.Ê The crew must be proficient at his job to keep the boat actively racing.Ê When a sailor tries a new boat it can expand their skills, define their strengths, and expose their weaknesses.Ê Some parents or youth sailors might be frustrated with the change in discipline/yacht, but sailors learn from the experience.
But, please don't hold every event for the next ten years in that boat.Ê The FJ, 420, 470, 505, Lido 14, Jet 14, Laser II, Snipe, Tech dingy, Lehman 12, Lark, JY15, Vanguard 15, Interclub, and any double handed boat around should get national exposure, and in some cases World exposure.
Their are sound financial reasons behind keeping events in the same boat, but all sailing venues do not have the same boats.Ê Youth sailors are in the developmental stages of sailing and every new experience can only help their future success. And isn't that the whole goal?
* From Brent Boyd: I have owned a 29er for two years and would like to clear up some comments made by Craig West. I have mixed feelings about the 29er selection for the ISAF Youth Worlds. I do know that the U.S. is behind the curve in both number of boats and sailing experience when you look at New Zealand, Britain, and Australia. It will be interesting to see how many boats show up in Sarasota for the U.S. qualifier in February.
Tactics, boathandling, rules, and sportsmanship are all part of 29er sailing except you take the first three to a higher level because things happen much faster. There are no tuning issues; shroud tension is the only consideration in this strict one-design class.
The boats are not fragile like the 49er. We have had no problems in two years. There were no breakdowns at the 29er nationals which was held in breezy, choppy conditions at Alamitos bay last weekend. These boats could survive a summer program if they weren't slammed into docks, chase boats, and other solid objects due to poor seamanship skills.
The 29er is not for everyone, but is good preparation for the adult boats like the Melges and other sport boats that are enjoying huge racing fleets with world-class sailors.
* From David Brookes: I would like to enter the debate on the Youth Classes at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Canada. While I sympathise with which double handed monohull should be included, what about the Multihull Class which again has been forgotten again!. The Hobie 16 was included in the recent ISAF Youth Worlds in France and it attracted the support of countries such as Guatemala which sent only one team, a multihull team. The Multihull Discipline also attracted more entries than the Mistral Girl's and Laser Girl's, but these disciplines where not dropped. In the 1999 ISAF Youth Worlds, Tahiti sent one entrant to these championships, a Hobie 16 sailor. Last month this same Tahitian now sailing for France finished 7 in the Tornado European Championship. This has come after a string of top placed finishes on the Tornado European circuit. If the governing bodies of sailing wish to expand sailing why do they continually push multihull classes away?Ê National Authorities certainly submit multihull sailors to the government to attract more subsidies when they collect medals.
ISAF must support smaller countries that sail only multihulls and the general multihull community at large. If sailing is to grow we must embrace the multihulls are these classes are growing not declining in numbers. We must support the classes that exist and their youth programs. Ê
* From Ian Farquharson: I had a hard time getting both my kids (both girls) interested in sailing. Why? Because it's too slow and kids want speed and excitment. When they finally did the junior club sailing lessons, all they wanted to do was sail on the fastest dinghy the club could offer.
I still have a hard time getting them out on the boat (and I have a J105 which is no slouch) - it just can't compete with the high speed skiffs in getting their interest. I can attest to the high level of tactics and excitement racing with bowsprits and asymetrics though. Lets not apply our old-timers mentality when it comes to dictating what our kids want. I am strongly in favour of the 29'er.
* From Beth Holland: While FJ's and Collegiate 420's make the sport affordable for high school and college teams with limited funding, it does not necessarily develop great sailors. (Not much tuning involved with a stump for a mast) This is not a new debate for high school and college coaches. There is a greater problem, however, that currently exists that should be the focus of discussion: consistency.
The Opti kids focus on big fleet tactics in a boat that barely sails upwind and requires minimal boathandling. They then jump into boats that demand both muscle and finesse. However, all summer, they sail long courses with traps and chutes, only to arrive at the short-course team-racing dominated high school season back where they left off. If a sailor continues on to college, team racing takes a back seat to more short course fleet racing with no traps to be seen. Anyone else see why we struggle in international competition?
The 29'er would be a fantastic addition to youth sailing. These kids need to learn about sail plan, tuning, rigging, and how to make a boat go fast. Placing them in a skiff would allow them to learn how to take one piece of knowledge and apply it to the next. The larger questions remains those of consistency. How will youth sailing adapt to make this new class a true benefit for the kids? What is the larger goal of adding it? Will it effect the rest of a kids' youth and college sailing career?
* Richard Brown: New Zealand was one of the first countries to adopt the 29er and a small but strong fleet was established and indeed produced the first World Champion. At a review meeting approximately one year after the introduction the top sailors were saying they found it boring and they would prefer to sail 470s which sail in an even smaller fleet in NZ. Interestingly the same sailors represented NZ at the Youth Worlds sailing 420s and did very poorly, which says something for the complexity of the 420. Having said that, other similar level sailors swear by the 29er and no doubt will eventually progress to the 49er. The moral of the story appears to be that the two forms of sailing are quite different and appeal to different tastes. So be it.
GUEST EDITOR: This seems like a perfect place to end this thread. So be it.
LONG ISLAND SOUND TEAM RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS
After 55 races sailed under ideal conditions the Pequot Yacht Club repeated it 2000 success winning the 2001 Long Island Sound Team Racing Championships. The seventh annual New York Yacht Club InterClub Team Race for the YRA-LIS Glencairn Trophy was held at Indian Harbor Yacht Club on September 7 and 8 with teams representing six area clubs: American YC, Indian Harbor YC, Larchmont YC, Manhasset Bay YC, New York YC and Pequot YC. This unique event is composed of both a Masters event and an open round. The combined results qualify and seed teams for the finals.
On Friday, Masters teams completed 30 races. Larchmont won in a two-way tie with New York. The Larchmont Masters team was Team Captain Butch Ulmer. Final results in the Masters round were: 1) Larchmont YC [8-2], 2) New York YC [8-2], 3) Manhasset Bay YC [5-5], 4) Pequot YC [4-6], 5) American YC [3-7] and 6) Indian Harbor YC [2-8]
In the finals, top-seeded New York faced off with 4th seed Manhasset Bay while Larchmont and Pequot sparred in the other bracket. Pequot and New York advanced to the finals. In the finals Pequot win the first and New York the second. In both races, mark-traps and aggressive pass-backs led to many lead changes. In the final race, Pequot led with a 1,2,3 at the first weather mark and despite valiant efforts by Team NYYC to change the standings they went on to win. The Pequot team, captained by David Perry who sailed with his wife Betsy, included David and Susan Dellenbaugh, David Rosow & George Gosselin and Richard Gresham sailing with Nancy Foote.
Photos, complete results at www.nyyc.org
CHICAGO YC SAILOR DROWNED
A Chicago man who drowned in Lake Michigan after falling overboard during a weekend sailboat race wore an inflatable lifesaving device that was never activated, a spokesman for the raceÕs sponsor, the Chicago Yacht Club, said today.
It is unclear if Michael Eggly, 31, failed to pull the activation cord or if the device was faulty, club spokesman Bob Christie said. Eggly was a first-time crewmember aboard the 40-foot vessel Virago in SundayÕs Frank Heyes Regatta.
Full story: www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-010910eggly.story
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM
Can you grow birds by planting birdseed?
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