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SCUTTLEBUTT 1518 - February 13, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. THE MODEL SKIPPER - Bill Gladstone Having Trouble Building a Winning Program? Here are 21 team building techniques we've observed. 1 - When it is time to put the jib up prior to the start on a blustery day, sail a close reach to maximize spray across the foredeck. By soaking the crew prior to the start they won't be so reluctant to get wet during the race. Do not reach off in an effort to keep the foredeck dry. 2 - If things are going slowly during a late spinnaker hook up, shout instruction from the helm. While it may be difficult to hear details, a simple yell of "Hurry up" provides lots of inspiration. Since the crew are generally taking their time, waiting for inspiration, the "Hurry" hail is a big help. 3 - When you are steering upwind, pinch up above close hauled until the foredeck crew hail back, "Stop Pinching." It's the only way you know their head is in the game. 4 - Wait until the last possible moment to make your mark rounding call. Jibe set? Float Drop? Don't tell anyone until the last second. The crew loves a challenge. If you tell them too early, the challenge is gone. (Truth is, the crew generally has it figured out long before you do, so your late announcement won't matter much...) 5 - Sail with old sails. That way, if (when) you lose, you'll have a handy excuse, so the crew wonąt have to take the heat. Likewise, use faulty or broken equipment, and don't upgrade. 6 - Don't practice. How many times do I have to tell you, this is a leisure activity, not a sport? And who's got time for practice anyway - there's hardly enough time to make the races, much less get out for extra sailing time. Besides, people learn best under pressure. 7 - Separate yourself from the crew. For example, buy yourself imported beer, but treat your crew to domestic swill. This will firm up the bond among the team members while reinforcing a critical hierarchy. 8 - Keep your starting plan a secret. Or better still, don't make a plan. Your ability to ad-lib will show your crew that you are a "flexible thinker," without rigid preconceptions. 9 - Claim accomplishments for yourself, and blame your crew for any failings. For example, use the "I" word when talking about victory, and the "they" word when describing mistakes. Remember, there is no "We" in victory, and no "I" in screw up. 10 - Arrive late. Set a dock time well before the race to make sure the crew is all there when you arrive. You shouldn't have to wait around for them. This excerpt was reprinted with permission from the North U Trim book. www.NorthU.com To read all of Gladstone's team building techniques: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/04/0211northu/ FOR THE RECORD Olivier de Kersauson's Cap Gemini et Schneider Electric sponsored trimaran continues her charge, although her last 24 hour run of 370 miles has dropped her back a bit on Orange's 2002 position. She has since, though, picked up speed again and this morning, 12 February, was speeding along at 21. Further south Cheyenne has finished her tactical move to the west and although she is 656 miles behind Orange's virtual position, she too has picked up speed and was reporting 21 knots as well. - Andrew Bray, Yachting World, www.yachting-world.com * The Daily Sail's James Boyd went sailing on Bruno Peyron's new Orange II and was surprised how different it was from the first generation of the Ollier maxi-catamarans. Here are two brief excerpts from his story: At 120ft long Orange II is not merely a scaled-up version of the first generation Ollier cats. She has enormous freeboard. When we walked down the pontoon she was tied up to off the Le Defi America's Cup base in Lorient, you could not only not see on deck but the bottom third of the mast was obscured. The bow of the new boat is an impressive 3.3m tall - some 0.8m taller than the previous generation - and this enlarged freeboard extends all the way aft. The reason for the extra freeboard is to reduce the chance of burying the forward cross beam into waves. "The designers had to do something about the upwind sailing coming from the other boats because on those we had to slow her down sometimes to 7 or 8 knots because otherwise you were slamming so hard you just wouldn't make it," explains Orange II watch leader, Herve Jan Orange II's hull section shape is also very different. Generally the hulls are considerably finer but deeper. "We have been working to have a boat that is a bit faster in upwind conditions to be able to catch the systems faster especially in the Atlantic or to cross a ridge or something like that," explains Bruno Peyron. The finer hull shape is also hoped to improve light weather performance. The section is also much more V-eed in shape in order to make for a more comfortable ride on board. - James Boyd, The Daily Sail, full story: www.thedailysail.com/ POLAR-EYED When concentrating on the tell-tales, you have to rely heavily on your peripheral vision to see what's coming. Unfortunately, if you're wearing polarized shades, this view is often obstructed. Until recently, it wasn't possible to make a wrap-type lens, for unobstructed views, and be polarized without distortion. Now, from Dirty Dog, comes the answer, the new polarized Scooter. With zero distortion in a 10 base curve lens that extends to the temple, the view is much better. Keep your polarized eyes on the tales longer with the Scooter. Available at Annapolis Performance Sailing, check them out at http://www.apsltd.com/depts/dept3647.asp QUOTE / UNQUOTE "If a weather window opens up in the next few days, we shall get going. The boat and her crew are ready, in spite of the six short weeks we've had to prepare. We would have liked to set out at the same time as the others, but they didn't wait." - Bruno Peyron, skipper of Orange II TRIVIA QUESTION What is the ocean pressure at its deepest point? (Answer below) NEWS BRIEFS * St. Petersburg, FL, USA - Sonar World Championship final results (25 boats - five races with no discard): 1 USA384, Steven Shepstone, 21; 2. USA701, Peter Galloway, 23; 3. USA571, John Ross-Duggan, 28; 4. USA644, Ed Sherman, 29; 5 GBR702, John Robertson, 38. Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/2aef3 * Constellation Energy Group has announced that it is committing $500,000 as title sponsor of the April 2006 Baltimore-Annapolis stopover of the Volvo Ocean race. Preliminary estimates indicate that the race could generate more than $50 million directly and indirectly from the 450,000 visitors who are expected to be drawn to Baltimore's Inner Harbour and Annapolis City Dock. A Fortune 500 company based in Baltimore, Constellation is a leading supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and one of the nation's largest wholesale power sellers. www.volvooceanrace.org * AC Management has appointed David Gallego as the Director of Institutional Relations for AC Management in Spain. Gallego will be responsible for the relationships with local institutions, company establishment in Valencia and implementation of the communications strategy. Having worked in sports marketing and management for the past 10 years Spanish- born David Gallego brings with him specific talents and experiences (UEFA Champions' League, Olympic Games). Most recently, Gallego was the Managing Director of the sport of Beach Soccer which has, in less than five years, consolidated to having its own European League. www.americascup.com * Jean-Luc Van Den Heede's 84-foot aluminum cutter Adrien is sailing in just 10 knots of breeze - dead down wind. The boat is now just 5,302 miles from the finish, having covered 218 miles in the last 24 hours. VDH is now 26 days and 7 hours ahead of Monnet's 'westabout' circumnavigation record - http://www.vdh.fr/gb/ * Viggo Jacobsen, president of the Optimist Class for its first eighteen years from 1965 to 1982, celebrates on 13 February his 90th birthday in his home of Aarhus, Denmark. When founded IODA had just just seven members countries on two continents: by the time Viggo retired in 1982 its had 44 on all six continents and 30 nations at its Worlds. In that period he had overseen such daring innovations as the introduction of toe-straps, metal spars and, critical for the Class, competitive fibreglass hulls. A summary of Optimist Class history is at: www.optiworld.org/ioda-faq.html * Samson Rope has received the 2004 Sail magazine Freeman K. Pittman Editors' Award for the best new running rigging product of the year. Samson ICE, a heat resistant cover for performance sailboat running rigging, was recognized for incorporating the characteristics of product excellence and technical innovation that were valued by Freeman Pittman, former editor of Sail Magazine. ICE's unique blend of Vectran and Zylon helps to prevent heat buildup and also provides additional wear protection to high performance 12-strand ropes. *The Cruising Club of America has awarded its 2003 Blue Water Medal to Canadian, Tony Gooch for his 177 day, 24,340-mile non-stop, single-handed circumnavigation in his 42-foot aluminum, pilothouse sloop, Taonui. Departing from his home port of Victoria, British Columbia on September 28, 2002, the first time a circumnavigation has been attempted from the west coast of North America, Tonyand Taonui averaged 137 miles per day arriving back home on March 25, 2003. The attempt was conducted under the auspices of the World Speed Sailing Records Council, which keeps track of offshore sailing records. - www.cruisingclub.org/ * Sydney, Australia - Final results of the Hardy Cup, ISAF Grade 3 International Match Racing: 1. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, NZL; 2. Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 1, AUS; 3. King Harbor Yacht Club, Redondo Beach, CA USA; 4. Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron 2, AUS; 5. Mission Beach Yacht Club, San Diego, CA, USA. - http://www.rsys.com.au/ PHOTO GALLERY The LaSource Grenada Sailing Festival attracts a variety of boats and sailors from all over the world for this four-day regatta. The colors of this Caribbean event are best profiled by the Work boat action captured here in this Scuttlebutt Photo Gallery (photos by Onne van der Wal): http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/grenadasf WHEN IT'S TIME TO CHILL, HERE'S WHAT TO DO You say you don't want to be bogged down by complications or commitments - we hear you, baby. Henri Lloyd's new addition to the Breeze line, the Breeze Smock, is your go-to garment: super-lightweight and 100% waterproof, with a comfortable mesh lining and waterproof-taped seams, it puts the nil to wind chill. Henri Lloyd's Breeze fabric is light and flexible, which means that the Breeze Smock stuffs easily into your duffel. With drawcords at the waist for ultimate trim, the Breeze Smock comes in two stylin' colors (Marine and Red) and sizes from XS to XXL. See it at: http://www.henrilloydonline.com/productmgmt/detailsNEW.asp?nProductID=228 TRIVIA ANSWER At the deepest point in the ocean, the pressure is more than 8 tons per square inch or the equivalent of one person trying to hold 50 jumbo jets. LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Jim Brady (Regarding Steve Erickson): I have been fortunate to have sailed with Steve in boats ranging from the Star to Stars & Stripes. He is really and truly one of the most talented sailors I have sailed with. Regarding his abilities in the Star, we raced the Miami Olympic Class regatta in 1993 (or 1994), my first outing skippering a Star. We borrowed a friends old star boat, called Vince Brun to see if he could "loan" us a set of sails and practiced for a few days. Against the likes of Kostecki, Reynolds and others, Steve, and I do mean Steve, made us not only go fast but help pick the way through the fleet and managed to win us the regatta. Stunning in such a deep and talented fleet. Steve is really the glue which melds together some of the most winning teams in our sports more recent history. * From Dennis Hawkins: I agree with much of what Marc Fountain has to say regarding the current rules lacking a clear burden of proof or onus in the right of way rules. At the risk of being called an "Old Timer" I think one rule change has contributed greatly to the increased amount of collisions, aggressiveness and violation of the right of way rules. That rule is the 720 degree penalty turn or alternate penalty. Prior to this rule change your only alternatives for breaking a right of way rule was to retire from the race or risk a protest hearing. With the advent of the 720 degree penalty turn racers became much more aggressive and willingly put themselves and others into situations they probably would not have knowing they could do their "turns" and just keep racing. As a result their is sometimes an attitude of "lets stick it in their" or "lets try to cross them" and see what happens. Doing "turns" in a modern maneuverable sailboat is not that costly as opposed to watching the rest of the race from the yacht club bar. As far as resurrecting the Corinthian Spirit I'm not sure that is possible in this day of instant gratification. Everything is expected to be easy and not having to take responsibility for ones actions is accepted. I suppose that is why the rules were changed in the first place. f * From David Bishop: Bruce Thompson's suggestion for a 1 strike prelude to the black flag is a little draconian. Not all OCS's are caused by over-aggressive starters, many are the result of mandated response to a leward boat taking up the windward pack. Even if you have a safe distance to the line and and what looks like a clean starting position, a less skilled skipper down the line can let someone in who forces everyone up and over. It's good staring strategy to knock your opponent's back into the fleet, but with the black flag they would be not just disadvantaged, they would be disqualified. The I flag imposes a much less severe penalty and tends to elliminate the mid-line positions that make it hard for committees to see OCS boats. (Some committees start our fleet with it by default) Some boats may get away with an occasional OCS start, but you can't fool all the committees all the time, and even one trip back to the line can impact a regatta. *From Jim Mahaffy: All these various ways to avoid general recalls by doing it and using black flags and such kind of leaves me a little mystified. For several years, along with other races, I was race a officer for the Newport to Ensenada race which has never had a general recall. Yes, it has some vary aggressive fleets. Part of the reason is that legend has if you are the Chairman that calls one you get keelhauled on the way in. The main reason is that as PRO on the different boats I instructed the line callers that if you saw one coming identify the boats that aren't over and get the rest. With starters of between 20 to 25 per line this worked every time I saw one coming. I have also used this with fleets that have reparation for aggressive starts and it has worked every time for me. Get ten of twenty starters and you would be surprised how well behaved they are the next time. To me it beats a general recall or black flag every time and it keeps the racing going.. * From Tom Erskine: Nice job Vanguard ... it won't be long now before the navel-gazing whiners who accuse you of promoting cheating are picketing your shop demanding equal rights for "boats of color". What a silly dustup over a total non-issue. When it's time to pull the trigger in the middle of a 75 boat starting line, the last thing I need in the back of my head is a little voice saying "you know, maybe Magenta was a bad choice for topside color". * From Andy Colloton: Congratulations to Chip Johns! With one ad and a well-written and timed letter, he has created a discussion that seems to have grown its own legs. Any marketer's goal is to create a buzz about their product. Chip has undoubtedly done that - the likes of which I haven't seen since the Calvin Klein ads of the 80's, albeit in a smaller market. White hull or not, Vanguard has achieved their goal and kept us all talking about their product long after a simple ad was placed. As a member of the industry, it is great to see people's passions get involved-it only means good things for all of us. * From John Stovall: Enough of the white boat thread ... let it die. I live in south Florida. we just finished the Etchells mid-winters - - 70 boats on the line - All white. Just around the corner is the Star Bacardi Cup - - another 70-100 boats on the line - all white. Maybe I'm just old, but really, who wants a peach & teal colored boat. * From Donald Rave: I believe that it was Commodore Vanderbilt who once said that the only proper colors for a yacht are white and black . . . dryly adding that one would have to be crazy to have a black boat. Curmudgeon's Comment: This thread has been going on way tooooo long. A couple of things to think about: - "A long dispute means both parties are wrong." - Voltaire - "Behind every argument is someone's ignorance." - Louis D. Brandeis This thread is now officially dead! CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Never argue with idiots, they will only drag you down to their level and beat you with experience. |
