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SCUTTLEBUTT 3390 - Monday, July 25, 2011Scuttlebutt 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: Harken and Hall Spars & Rigging. THE NEXT STEP FOR CANTING BALLAST When Australian-based photographer Andrea Francolini sent to Scuttlebutt a selection of sailing photos of a radical canting ballast racing design, we contacted Reichel Pugh Yacht Design for some insight into this creation. Here is an excerpt of their report: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We teamed up with McConaghy to this 42' racing design, commissioned by Ian Oatley, to realize the canting ballast concept he had envisioned. Ian's request was simple: to design and build a yacht that is purposed for the sheer pleasure of performance. Extending this envelope to rating considerations and handicap results would be secondary. The design focus was on shorthanded inshore racing such as the Sydney twilight racing but consideration was given for eventual limited category 4, short offshore races. The result promises to be an extraordinary sailing platform that should garner a lot of attention on Sydney Harbor. The design aims to further exploit the performance gains delivered by canting ballast systems, extending the righting arm of the bulb by increasing the 'cant' angle beyond what can be achieved by today's conventional canting keel boats. A major benefit of the system is the ability to lift the keel and bulb clear of the water, removing the added drag that cannot be avoided in conventional canting ballast designs. The concept is executed by canting the ballast fin and bulb along a rail system that follows the sectional shape of the hull. The fin head is supported by four pivoting trucks with rollers to provide an efficient low friction contact with the rails. The components are recessed into the hull and are enclosed by a flush sliding cover that maintains a fair hull shape at any cant angle. Keel cant angles greater than eighty degrees are achieved by this system without disrupting the layout of the deck. The design utilizes a fore / aft twin rudder arrangement. The two rudders are linked together but can also be independently adjusted. This flexibility allows the balance and lifting forces to be optimized for the conditions. The design parameters yield a very powerful and exciting package. With a displacement to length and sail area to displacement ratios similar to modern racing designs ten feet longer, the boat promises serious performance potential. Photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/11/0716/ Boat information: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/0716/ ATTRITION CONTINUES (July 24, 2011) - It was announced today that the field of competitors for the 34th America's Cup was reduced from nine teams to eight teams when the Venezia Challenge was unable to meet the requirements to continue in both the America's Cup World Series and the 34th America's Cup. Iain Murray, the America's Cup Regatta Director and Chief Executive of America's Cup Management Limited (ACRM) advised "Following discussions and attempts to resolve in a timely way, there was an agreement to meet certain obligations by this weekend and the deadline passed." The Italian challenger has advised that it was unable to meet required commitments within an agreed deadline. Accordingly the Golden Gate Yacht Club, has notified Club Canottieri Roggero di Lauria which is represented by Venezia Challenge, that the Italian Challenger has been excused from further participation. "Venezia Challenge failed to fulfill its commitments to remain eligible to continue in the 34th America's Cup," said Tom Ehman, Vice Commodore of the Golden Gate Yacht Club. In the meantime, preparations in Cascais, Portugal, continue apace with teams training hard in testing conditions for the opening event of the 34th America's Cup cycle, staged 6-14 August. -- http://tinyurl.com/AC-072411 SPECIFICS: The requirements that Venezia did not fulfill are related to Protocol 9.3: 9.3. - By 10 June 2011, all Competitors shall enter into an agreement with ACRM for the purchase of at least one AC45, and shall have paid the non-refundable deposit required by ACRM. A Competitor failing to do so shall cease to be eligible for the Event and for entitlements under Articles 5, 27 and 41, and all bonds and fees paid by such Competitor shall be forfeited. This does not prevent such a Competitor from applying for a late entry under Article 7.1 or Article 8.1. -- http://www.americascup.com/en/Discover/Documents/Protocol-and-Amendments/ TEAMS: The eight remaining teams for the America's Cup World Series and the 34th America's Cup: Defender - 1 Oracle Racing, Golden Gate Yacht Club (USA) Challenger - 7 Aleph-Equipe de France, Aleph Yacht Club (FRA) Artemis Racing, Kungliga Svenska Segal Sallskapet (SWE) China Team, Mei Fan Yacht Club (CHN) Emirates Team New Zealand, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (NZL) Energy Challenge, Yacht Club de France (FRA) Green Comm Racing, Real Club Nautico de Valencia (ESP) White Tiger Challenge, Sail Korea Yacht Club (ROK) Event website: http://www.americascup.com/ THE STRETCHIEST PAIR YOU'LL EVER WEAR With super stretch and eco-friendly materials, Harken's padded Ballistic Eco Pants and Shorts are the new favorite on the water. Articulated knees, 4-way stretch, and quick-drying fabric are perfect for freedom on the foredeck or comfort in the cockpit. Even the knee/rear reinforcements are made of an exclusive Harken fabric to stretch with you. Pads are included, but no worries if you get hooked on the feel - both shorts and pants have non-padded versions for everyday wear. Check out the reviews and full selection at http://www.harkensport.com/cat/PantsShorts.html HANDICAPPING SYSTEMS DICTATE COURSES FOR SAILORS Ray and Winnie Adams usually sail the Beneteau 42 s7 Epic on the long course in the annual race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island. But this year, they're doing the Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race on the shore course. Adams doesn't want to sail under the IRC handicap rating system, which is required of all boats on the long course. For the first time in several years, host Bayview Yacht Club is offering a section on the shore course under a PHRF handicap rating, which will allow bigger boats to race the shore course using essentially the same number of sails, including spinnakers with poles, as they would have used on the long course. "I'm just hoping that eventually Bayview will race ORR," Adams said, referring to another handicap rule that has a growing following in Bayview Yacht Club, which hosts the race. "We have a feeling that it's a little more comprehensive rule." Handicap disputes are nothing new to sailing, and Bayview is hardly the first yacht club to have some dissension about the rules. No handicap rule will please everyone. Plus, when different races require different handicap systems, it can become time consuming and expensive for boat owners to keep up. Bayview has been discussing the ratings, and at this time it's unclear whether this will be the last year for IRC. What is clear is that Bayview wants to have a race that sailors enjoy. "The whole ratings dilemma is hopefully within the next few years going to be fixed," said Bayview commodore John Burke. "There has to be some kind of measurement system." -- Detroit Free Press, read on: http://tinyurl.com/DFP-072411 Race website: http://www.bycmack.com/mack/ SAILING SHORTS * Corona del Mar, CA (July 24, 2011) - After the twelve teams completed two round robins at the Governor's Cup International Junior Match Racing Championship, the four teams advancing to the semi-finals were San Diego YC and Newport Harbor YC from USA and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and Royal Port Nicholson YC from New Zealand. The finals proved to be an all American event, with the SDYC team of Nevin Snow, Jake LaDow, and Jake Reynolds taking the title by going 2-0 over NHYC. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron finished third. -- Details: http://tinyurl.com/GovCup-072111 * Cascade Locks, OR (July 24, 2011) - Frederick Vranizan (Shoreline, Wash. / Seattle YC) dominated the men's Laser fleet from start to finish and Christine Neville (Oakland, Calif. / ILCA) came from behind on Sunday to win the women's Laser Radial fleet at the 2011 U.S. Singlehanded Championship, a US SAILING National Championship event hosted by the Columbia Gorge Racing Association. -- Read on: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2011/USSC_2011_Final_Recap.htm * Cagliari, Italy (July 24, 2011) - Finishing second at two circuit regattas last year, Jochen Schuemann and Sebastien Col and the international crew of Audi Sailing Team powered by ALL4ONE won their first ever Audi MedCup Circuit regatta with a comfortable nine points margin over the Audi Azzurra Sailing Team who also completed their best overall finish of this 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit season so far. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/MedCup-072411 * Buzios, Brazil (July 22, 2011) - Tito Gonzalez sailing with his son Diego Gonzalez Parro and Cristian Herman Sanhueza continued their excellent form to win the South American Championship for the third year in a row. Gonzalez has won this event six times. In second was the Brazilian team of Claudio Biekarck, Gunner Ficker and Marcelo Batista da Silva, who dominated the International Masters Championship by winning all five races. The two events were sailed concurrently but scored separately. -- Full report: http://www.lightningclass.org/racing/results/2011/finalreportsaintlmasters. asp * Buzios, Brazil (July 24, 2011) - The first day of the Lighning World Championship saw the thirty boat fleet complete two race in winds of 10-15 knots. Chilean sailors are tied at the top, with Felipe Robles and newly crown South American champ Tito Gonzalez both scoring six points. 2011 Master champion Claus Biekarck of Brazil is in third with 10 points. Results: http://tinyurl.com/Lightning-072411 * Locarno, Switzerland (July 24, 2011) - Americans Zack Downing and Andrew Cates secured the 29er European Championship despite being non-Europeans. Downing and Cates were also the top youth team of the 155 competitors. The top female team was Lin Ea Cenholt Christiansen and Stine Quorning (DEN) with the top European team ISAF Youth World gold medallists Carlos Robles and Florian Trittel (ESP). Australians James Sly and Tom Dwyer finished in second place. Full results: http://www.29ereuropeans.org * The Beringer Bowl Overnight Ocean Race, hosted by the Boston Yacht Club left Marblehead, MA on Friday night July 22 bound for Provincetown, MA. Warm weather made for a pleasant ride, though no one would have complained if there was a bit more wind. Doug Mitchell and the crew of The Cone of Silence won Class A and the Beringer Bowl, Joe Fallon and his crew on Sojourn won Class B and the Merrigan Cup. For full results, check here: http://www.bostonyachtclub.net/Racing/Results2011/Beringer2011-results.htm SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar EIGHT BELLS - TOM ORLOW Tom Orlow, a long time Little Traverse Yacht Club member (Harbor Springs, MI) and co-director of Little Traverse Sailors with his wife, Linda, suffered a stroke on Tuesday, July 19th while on his beloved boat, Northern Light, returning from the Chicago-Mackinac race. Tom was a fixture at LTYC with his booming voice and quick smile. He and Linda contributed so much to the love and learning of sailing both for adults and children. Just a testament to their success is the fact that the LTS sessions this summer are filled to capacity. Kids love LTS and Tom and Linda and their capable staff help with that. Tom would be proud of the LTS staff this week; they have really stepped up despite their grief. -- Kathie Breighner, LTYCVice Commodore EIGHT BELLS - DARCY LLOYD HARVEY Australian sailing and football legend, Darcy Lloyd Harvey (88) passed away peacefully at home on Saturday July 23rd in Port Lincoln, South Australia. He was father of well known yachtsmen, Neil and Mick Harvey, as well as three daughters, Helen, Anne Marie and Julie. He started his sailing career at Port Lincoln Yacht Club in the 30's as a bailer boy on sixteen foot skiffs and later sailed International 12 square meter and Lightweight sharpies. A highlight of his early career was crewing as for'ard hand for a regatta for Jim Hardy, the start of a life long relationship. (over many Hardy's wines). In 1960, he was one of the instrumental members in establishing the Junior program at Port Lincoln Yacht Club and fulfilled the role of start and rescue boat operator up until his death. His trusty start rescue boat ' Chugger' was retired recently to the Axel Stenross Maritime Museum in Port Lincoln, SA after 50 years service . Many of his junior sailors have gone on to sail in America's Cup, Admirals Cup and world championships. Darcy was predeceased by his first wife Grace (1957), and second wife Verlie (2003). He was honored with the Order of Australia Medal in 2010 for his contribution to sailing, Australian rules football and the community. Darcy was a life Member of Wayback Football Club for 55 years as well as Life Member of Port Lincoln Yacht Club. Darcy was a Member of M1 Commando Unit in World War II, with the 10/48 Australian Infantry Battalion in Darwin, the Tiwi Islands, Borneo and Sarawak. He was deployed by rubber boat from the USS Stingray and he and his group were rescued some months later and flown back to a bomb leveled Darwin in a Catalina PBY Flying boat. His legacy lives on. TRANSOCEANIC MONOPOLY The Transpac and Transat Races were both won by boats with Hall spars. Bella Mente (RP74), racing for the first time with a Seamless spar package from Hall, won the Barn Door trophy and Division 1 of the Transpac. Patches (TP52) with its Hall spars and SCR Airfoil rigging, won Division 2. In the Transatlantic Race, the Hall-rigged Puma's Mar Mostro (VOR70) won Division 1 and IRC Overall, and Zaraffa (RP65), just refit with a full set of SCR, won Division 3. If you want to monopolize the game, switch to Hall spars and SCR rigging. http://www.hallspars.com 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 may be 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 John Longley, Event Director, 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships: It's easy to criticise the America's Cup Defender over clash of event dates (in Scuttlebutt 3389). The reality is that sailing has a very full calendar and clashes are inevitable. From our viewpoint they are working hard to minimise these clashes. They had originally planned to have the third ACWS from 10th to 18th December 2011. That would have gone head to head with the second week of the ISAF Sailing World Championships which only happens once every four years. They subsequently moved to the 12 - 20th November for which we are very grateful. * From David Redfern: Regarding Gregory Scott's letter in Scuttlebutt 3389 about Canadian rules, I recall when sailing round Newfoundland that a Canadian told me with great pride that "Canada is the most legislated country in the world". On a glorious day in Grand Bank I was invited for a beer on a boat and we sat down below. I asked why we weren't on deck in the sun. The answer was that even moored to the dock, the Mounties would breathalise him and if over the limit he would lose his car license as well. * From Bruce Thompson: Given the interest in the recent events during the Chicago-Mac, I would like to recommend that everyone take some time to review the 1998 Lake Michigan Crew Overboard Study compiled by Gene and Glenn McCarthy. It has served as a basis for many of the improvements in safety at sea. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/USSA-072411 I would also like to pass along a thought to the crew of Sociable. Like them, I was involved in a rescue operation where we saved some, but not all of those in the water (LM Case 15). Like Kevin Costner's character in the film about Coast Guard rescue swimmers, The Guardian, it's the ones that you couldn't save that stick in your mind. One minute you're minding your own business and then you're thrown into a rescue situation where your intention is to save them all. Learning that mere mortals are no match for the forces of nature is a difficult lesson. In recent days, much has been made about gathering all the facts before making any decisions. If you are ever put into this kind of situation you will quickly learn that you do not have the luxury of contemplation. I received nothing but praise for the ad hoc operation we put together on the fly. All I know is we did the best we could under the circumstances. I expect that with time the crew of Sociable will also come to appreciate what they have accomplished. They saved the life of a very brave young man who went back under the boat to pull out his fellow crewman. That is quite an achievement. UPDATE: A preliminary inquiry into the capsize of the Kiwi 35 WingNuts during the Chicago to Mackinac finds that the two onboard deaths were due to head trauma. Full story: http://tinyurl.com/MLive-072411 * From John Sangmeister: Thank you to Liz Stott who reported of Dave Kendall's death in Scuttlebutt 3389. Dave learned to fly a Bonanza twin by the age of 16. In high school we sailed from Marion to Nantucket on his family's Herreshoff yawl that old man Nat built. Dave dead reckoned with a prop and string knot meter and RDF and got us to Brandt Point without a hitch. His knowledge and quiet competence were impressive even then. He is survived by his wife Dana and three children Daniel, Hannah and Samuel the youngest at 15 months. Our deepest sympathies to the entire Kendall family. He was worthy of his heritage. A complete obituary is posted here: http://tinyurl.com/Legacy-072411 * From Damian Christie, Melbourne: I concur with John Robb's sentiments in Scuttlebutt 3389. It is farcical that the same Kiwis who have won the Cup for Team New Zealand and Alinghi in campaigns dating back to 1995 are sailing for Oracle in the AC45 regatta in Cascais. The America's Cup is supposed to be a "friendly competition between foreign nations", yet these professional sailing arrangements go against the vein of the very preamble that defines the Cup. Nowadays you don't even have to win the Cup to earn the right to defend it the next time around! As part of Russell Coutts' crew in Cascais, Murray Jones and Simon Daubney now find themselves back in the familiar position of defender - despite being on the vanquished Alinghi in the 2010 Cup. All the absence of a nationality rule has done is favour the rich teams who can buy the best talent worldwide (Alinghi, Oracle) and decimate existing and aspiring teams. It ruined TNZ's 2003 defence and has made it virtually impossible for an aspiring country like Australia to get its own team to the start line for 2013. It does not impress me - an Australian - to see James Spithill sailing for Oracle while the next Australian wunderkind Torvar Mirsky is representing the Italian Venezia Challenge. That is partly Australia's fault (our lack of interest in the America's Cup today is shameful!) but the absence of a nationality rule also fails to protect the local talent pool of aspiring teams. * From Doug Ford: In #3389 John Robb comments on how many of the AC34 Oracle crew are Kiwis and goes on to mention that many of these are the same Kiwis who 'defected' to the Swiss team in 2003. For me a bigger irony is that it was the Kiwis, as Defenders in 2003, who removed the nationality rule which stipulated that all the crew members must be nationals of the challenging syndicate! I'm not sure what drove this decision but I believe it caused some acrimony at the time. I agree with John that it spoils the concept that the Cup is nation against nation. COMMENT: If you have no connection with soccer or Olympic competition, the nationality clause still makes it possible to be interested in the World Cup or the Olympics every four years. There are many examples in professional sports where there is no nationality clause; however, those sports have established teams which market aggressively to gain the support of their fans. And that is the challenge of the America's Cup, as defender Oracle Racing is trying to create an event that has fan support yet does not have a nationality clause. It is notable that Emirates Team New Zealand, which has faithful fans and loyal sponsors, is the closest to being a national team among the established America's Cup competitors. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Politicians are like bananas. They are green when they first comes in, then they turn yellow and eventually turn rotten. 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