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SCUTTLEBUTT 2229 – November 22, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). REACHING OUT (Below is an update from the Vindicator racing program, which in 2006 attended six Leukemia Cup Regattas to help support the National Leukemia Society.) “Like the changing winds, the J/105 Vindicator Leukemia Cup Regattas racing program - based out of St. Louis, MO - recently received a bad shift. Our law firm sponsor, for business debt and slow case load reasons, informed us they're unable to renew for '07, which leaves us with a $150,000 new J/105 and a seriously dedicated team, but without the means to travel to the many events relying on our donations/sponsorship next year. The sadness of all of this is that there were all indications that the 2007 funding was in place, and thus we had already informed the National Leukemia Society that Vindicator was planning on financing 10-12 events next year...ugh, we're left in a bad predicament. “Vindicator is a great concept, born on the idea of spreading the word through this racing model and campaign. More than a decade after the start of the Leukemia Cup Regatta series, no one had ever launched a program like ours, which succeeded in bringing consistent and on-going local, regional, and national media attention to the events we attended, which in turn brought attention to the needs and causes of the Leukemia Society. Gary Jobson featured us on his national TV show, and was going to do a follow-up on Vindicator at Key West next year. “Scuttlebutt has been wonderful at promoting our cause as well...now in order to keep the mission going, we're looking for help. What do you think? Would you be ok with helping us get the word out through your newsletter or other means, that we're left dangling here and very interested in keeping our mission going and looking for a new national sponsor.” Rick Bernstein Curmudgeon’s Comment: For additional information, the Scuttlebutt website posted a story last month on this team, or you can contact Rick Bernstein direct. Story: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/1023 Rick: mailto:rick@aboveandbeyond.tv SNAP (The following observations were posted on the popular blog ‘Proper Course’, where the mantra of author Tillerman is “Cheat the nursing home. Die on your Laser.”) I think I've worked out what I'm doing wrong. Well, at least one of the things I've been doing wrong. All these years I've been sailing at below my true potential because of one simple thing. It dawned on me when I recalled the other day something I had been told by a sailing coach many years ago. Something about taking snapshots not videos when you are racing. His point was that you need to pay attention to a lot of factors in a race and that you need to keep switching attention among them all, not get focused too long on any one issue. -- Read on: http://propercourse.blogspot.com/2006/11/snap.html DOING IT THE OLD WAY (Here is the latest event of the Morning Light project, a real-life adventure feature film which chronicles the recruitment, training, and performance of the sailors who will become the youngest team to compete in the 2007 Transpac race.) (Nov 21, 2006) Could the Morning Light team find Hawaii without 21st century navigational gadgetry when they sail the Transpacific Yacht Race next July? After this Thanksgiving weekend they'd stand a fair chance of doing it the way the ancient Polynesians did. The 15 young men and women will spend Friday and Saturday sailing the canoe Hokule'a on day sails out of Honolulu learning the old system from the current master, Nainoa Thompson, and one of their own crew members, Mark Towill, 18, of Kaneohe. The original plan was to sail from the island of Maui to Oahu via Molokai, but a prospect of adverse weather prompted a change. Instead, they'll sail the 62-foot double-hulled canoe offshore out of the Marine Education Training Center on Sand Island. Thompson learned the art of natural navigation using the stars by night and the sun, wind and waves by day from Mau Piailug of Satawal, Micronesia and became the first Hawaiian to navigate without any instruments in more than 600 years. Over three decades Hokule'a has sailed 110,000 miles around the Pacific, and in January Thompson will guide yet another expedition back to Mau's home island to present him with a new voyaging canoe, then continue on to Japan before returning to Hawaii next summer. -- Full story: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/1121/ INTRODUCING THE QUIKLOCK The Hall QuikLock is an entirely self-contained halyard lock system. It eliminates the need for a trip line at deck level, reducing both complexity and weight. Another bonus? The lock engages and disengages automatically no more guessing if you’re “on” the lock or “off.” Available for the headsail and mainsail, the QuikLock is designed for simple installation on most mast configurations. The QuikLock from Hall Spars & Rigging received “Special Mention” from the jury of the Design Award METS. See why the jury named it a “close contender to the overall category winner.” http://www.hallspars.com HERALDIC EAGLE (The ‘Zephyr [sail]’ blog strives to provide a “Sailing culture for voyagers, zealots, poets and populists.” Here are some comments posted about current boat trends.) I've always been a big fan of Garry Hoyt's Alerion platform designed by Carl Schumacher - not because I've owned one but rather because I've seen a few under sail and admired them for their simple yet elegant design. The Alerion Express 28 was one of the first - if not the first - of a trend towards bigger daysailors that began in the 1990's. The current issue of SAIL Magazine reviews the new Alerion Express 38 and, while the author generally gives the vessel high marks, I have to wonder.... when is a boat too big to be called a "daysailor?" While the new 38 reportedly sails beautifully, the accommodations are, as they should be, somewhat sparse. Yet we're talking about a craft that measures nearly 40 feet LOA! I suppose it's all in what the market will bear. By the way, "Alerion" literally means Heraldic Eagle and was the name of the 26' sloop Nat Herreshoff designed for his personal use. -- Link: http://zephyrsail.blogspot.com/2006/11/heraldic-eagle.html VIDEO OF THE WEEK The ranks amongst US boardsail racing are mighty thin these days. For the Olympic-minded youth sailor, this track would appear to be attractive: affordable equipment, easy transport, and low numbers of people between you and the Olympic berth. While this week's video is not "exactly" about course racing on a windsurfer, perhaps the extreme footage could entice some of the aging Opti sailors to cross over to the dark side. Also, if you have a video you like, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/1120 RACES IN PROGRESS * Velux 5 Oceans Race - (Nov 21, 2006) Close to 1,000 miles south of the Cape of Good Hope, the first major cape landmark in the Velux 5 Oceans round the world race, leader Bernard Stamm on Cheminees Poujoulat last night entered the Indian Ocean as he passed Longitude 18.29 degrees East. The defending champion from Switzerland has been clocking the fastest speeds within the fleet over the last day, despite reporting a broken halyard yesterday. After clipping the western limit of the race organisation's safety gate, Mike Golding pushed Ecover into a sharp dive south, crossing behind the stern of Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson). The World Champion now hangs off the young British skipper’s starboard quarter, stalking the second placed boat from a mere 34 miles. Further back in the fleet, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston reports on the events onboard. "Worst nightmare, the autopilots have failed again! I am genuinely puzzled. I have used these units for about 30 years and never had a problem before and cannot believe I should suddenly get two bad units. Its got to be a connecting problem and that is not my strength. Then, whilst doing a check through Saga Insurance I found the sails floating in the sail locker! Too much water to pump so opened the hatch and started to bucket it clear. Of course a bit of ocean took advantage of the open hatch and I should have stripped, as my clothes got soaked. I need some rain now as when clothes are soaked in salt water they never dry properly....” -- Velux 5 Oceans race website: http://www.velux5oceans.com * Audi Etchells Worlds - (Nov 21, 2006) At the 70 boat Audi Etchells Worlds, Britain's Ante Razmilovic, sailing with Jezz Fanstone and Stuart Finn, won Race 4 off Fremantle this afternoon, ahead of American Craig Healy and New Zealander Andy Gair. While series leader Jud Smith has extended his overall lead (by placing sixth in the race), behind him the field is tightening. The four times Worlds runner up and three times North American champion Jud Smith, has further tightened his grip on the 2006 Worlds, stretching his lead to nine point over Britain's Andy Beadsworth. Smith is determined to get the monkey off his back. “It's kind of embarrassing, to have come second in the Etchells Worlds four times. But there is a long way to go in this regatta and I've learned not to take anything for granted. Last year we were leading up until the second last day and with one mistake, we put ourselves away. We just want to have a chance going into the last day.” -- Full results at http://www.etchellsworlds2006.org QUOTE / UNQUOTE British yachtsman Tony Bullimore, on why insurance to cover the costs, should he ever need to be rescued, is not necessary “That doesn't happen anywhere in the world. It's not me that makes the rules on that, it is the fact that if you get into trouble you look for assistance to get out of trouble." -- ABC News Online, http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1793967.htm "FASTEST SAILS ON THE PLANET" - PERIOD! The 2007 racing season is fast approaching. Is your sail inventory ready? International Grand Prix to highly competitive One Design to local Club racing, Ullman Sails has the right sail design technology and fabric selection to deliver the "The Fastest Sails on the Planet." Ullman Sails new "FiberPath" sails are arguably the lightest, strongest string load-bearing sails available! "FiberPath" is stronger for its weight, and delivers superior longevity compared to the alternatives. For more information on "FiberPath," or to get a quote on the "Fastest Sails on the Planet," contact your local Ullman Sails loft and/or visit http://www.ullmansails.com SAILING SHORTS * For the 2007 season, Eamon Conneely and his ‘Patches’ team will have a new Reichel/Pugh designed TP52 to improve upon their 3rd place in the 2006 Breitling Medcup. Construction of the new boat has begun at McConaghy’s boatbuilding facility in Dong Guan, China, where the new ‘Yendys’ is currently being finished and where the Chinese America’s Cup boat is under construction. The new boat will be launched in May 2007 prior to the first MedCup event in Castellon in June. Patches will again be sporting a Hall Spars rig and North Sails. * M Ship Co.’s M80 Stiletto was selected as one of the 2006 Best Inventions by Time magazine and one of two inventions in the Armed Forces category. Dubbed “Low Rider” by the magazine’s editors, the 88-foot, M-hull Stiletto was singled out for its ability to travel at high speed -- nearly 60 mph -- with a heavy payload, yet drawing only three feet of water. M Ship Co. is a sister company to the CBTF Co., patent holders of the canting ballast technology. The Stiletto was featured in Scuttlebutt’s video of the week in July 2006. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/0710 LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forums. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From David Fagen: For us non-wealthy and non-owners of even 24 footers that have the talent to win races, we are more than willing to share our talents with owners who would like to experience the thrill of sailing at the top level. Not all of those that you see helming are getting paid. Although, many of them probably deserve to be, most are happy to be a part of a team that has the potential to win. So if an owner calls a guy up with more talent to be their helmsperson and share in the experience…then sure I would go along for a great ride and a chance to put some hardware on the owner’s wall. Might only cost them lunch or it might cost them a couple days wages, but it would be more the equivalent to having a golf pro letting you be their caddy for a tournament. Just imagine what you could learn. * From Cory E. Friedman: Al Johnson is right on the nose (in Issue 2228). Hiring someone to drive your boat for you is like hiring someone to have sex for you. * John Tormey: The degrees for how the sport has escalated in its quest for the ‘pickle dish’ is tearing it apart from the insides. First we buy the boat, but then find we are not the best helmsperson. No problem, as amongst our crew there is someone who can steer better. However, that’s not good enough, and we recruit a better talent to steer. Sadly nowadays, we have to pay that person. The waters have always been murky, particularly in one-design classes where the sailmakers compete. But at least sailmakers weren’t too wealthy. However, to collect the best talent, pay them, and put them on a one-design brings to mind two words… class killer. The next fun thread to start would be to investigate the Star class, which is enduring a horrific trend of crews wanting to get paid. Guess who started that trend? The rich guys who weren’t good enough to get the better crews to sail with them. * From Scott Truesdell: (re: yachts damages in Padanaram, MA) In the mid 1980s I spent an afternoon off Lahaina, Hawaii, in an inflatable, tending to anchored yachts as a hurricane moved through. The anchorage outside the small harbor was being pummeled by 6-8 foot seas (they seemed like 15-foot!), some breaking. Virtually every type of anchor held remarkably well. It was the anchor rodes that failed. One-inch nylon line would chafe through at the bow chock in an hour. Rodes made entirely of chain were ripping up bow fittings and tearing cleats out of the decks. We had a tiny dinghy loaded with 10-foot lengths of line, rags, and leather and were tripling up as many rodes as we could in the surreal conditions, wrapping them in rags and leather, then moving on to the next boat. We would do 4 or 5 boats, and then come in to rest up before going go out again to do a few more. We would examine the first boats we did, and modify our anti-chafing on subsequent boats based on our observations. We must have tended to 30 boats that afternoon. Despite our efforts, several boats blew ashore during the night, all with the shredded remnants of anchor rodes. Boats that had people onboard who got up hourly to check on things faired very well. * From Bill Sandberg: (regarding the Moosehead Awards) This is something that can easily be done on a national basis. It offers the opportunity for RCs to gather and share war stories. We also instituted two awards for excellence (individual and team) several years ago. Do we have a reason for being other than just to share a few laughs? Well in the first five years of the Team Goodness Award, the RC that won the Moosehead Supreme for the biggest mistake won the Goodness Award the following year four times. The message was clear. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~ Frank Sinatra Curmudgeon’s Comment: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., the Scuttlebutt newsletter will not be distributed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24. Special thanks to Hall Spars & Rigging and Ullman Sails. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
