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SCUTTLEBUTT 1908 - August 23, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.POINT -- COUNTERPOINT (Glenn McCarthy has concerns about US Sailing's proposed reorganization and bylaw changes. We've posted his concerns below, as well as the contrasting views of US Sailing's president, Janet Baxter.) * From Glenn McCarthy: US Sailing is attempting to move from a representative model (similar to Congress) to a corporate business model this October. Having read the proposed bylaws, there are glaring opportunities missed to fix perpetual problems. The first is Focus on The Customer, and the second is fixing the Annual Budget woes. The finest set of bylaws I ever read, placed the customer above all else in the first three words. It begins, "We the People...." There is no question why those bylaws have held up for 229 years. The proposed bylaws present the opportunity to focus directly on the customer and make them #1. Right now the members (customers?) aren't identified until the 3rd section of the proposed bylaws. A corporate model would place a much higher priority on the customer. Each year like clockwork, the organization does not meet its approved budget. Let's analyze it. First the expenditure side. The current bylaws require a budget (good), it requires that the signer of checks can not sign checks for an amount greater than what was budgeted (good), and if there is an amount greater, it must go to the ExComm for approval (good). Checks and balances are great. Now the income side. It too is budgeted (good). If income exceeds or fails to meet projections there are no written plans to explain how to handle this (bad). What is the result? Income regularly falls short, and expenditures are always paid up to the budgeted amount. This is exactly how the budget process has served the organization poorly. Let's fix this now. There should be a bylaw that allows the brakes to be applied to spending when the income falls short and pull that committee's reigns in on future income projections. I for one will not vote "for" the proposed bylaws until the customers are made important, and the committees, councils, delegates, and board are designed to service the heck out of them. I recommend a postponement of the bylaws to a future date and recommend that all constituents come to the table this October with plans on making the customer #1. The board was given 11 days in March from the time the new bylaws were published for the first time to approve them to move them to the delegates. Does anyone think this was rushed? Let's hear from you with other items that need fixing. * From Janet Baxter, President, US Sailing: We should not postpone this change. We need to get on with implementation. A smaller board (12 instead of 49 people) can meet monthly and be more effective, reacting much faster. Independent directors can evaluate proposals for the benefit of all sailing, rather than for one constituent group. US Sailing exists to encourage participation and increase excellence in sailing. The structure changes are important, but do not directly impact most of the sailors in this country. I am eager to get to the new model and spend more effort on improving programs and services. There are many challenges to making changes at US Sailing. The various representatives have already invested a great deal of effort. I am very pleased with the agreements and compromises that were reached at our April meetings. We have spent almost two years discussing these ideas. We have been distracted from our normal work for long enough. We know what to do and it's time to do it. It is not perfect, but if we don't start, it will never improve. The current proposal is a workable solution, but there is a lot to be done. We'll continue to focus on membership. The finances will be stretched as far as we can stretch them. For that we need the right people, not lots of people. No more waiting six months between meetings to get a decision! Financial policies don't need to be in the bylaws, but they need to be documented and to provide reasonable controls. US Sailing will continue to be volunteer driven, both for setting policy and for getting the actual work done. We have excellent staff to provide specific expertise in many areas, but I don't expect our staff to run 18 championships, represent us internationally, or write rules. Our volunteers do a pretty good job with most of those things. We need to thank the hundreds of volunteers who do their best for the sport at all levels, even as we help them understand the errors and opportunities for improvement. NEW CAMET PADDED VEST Our new vest is made of a waterproof, breathable fabric with a Coolmax® mesh liner. Features include a chin flap, spandex-bound armholes for a smooth fit, a wind flap behind the front zipper, and a draw cord hem. Additional inches have been added to the lower back of the jacket for greater protection from the elements. It is designed with two large inside pockets with 9-inch zippers and two outside pockets with 7-inch zippers. The vest has the ability to add an optional foam pad insert for protection against lifelines when hiking out. http://www.camet.com SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S REVENGE The teams and the America's Cup Class Measurers received an unpleasant surprise when they started measuring the boats at the beginning of the measurement control period for the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts - many of the boats were too heavy. It's not uncommon for America's Cup boats to be right at the extreme end of the maximum allowable weight. After all, more weight in the keel bulb increases stability and speed. It's one of the easiest ways to make the boat go faster. But the maximum allowable weight is a hard limit; if you're too heavy, you have to take weight out. Ken McAlpine, the Chief Measurer for the 32nd America's Cup explains what happened. "Basically, the force of gravity is slightly stronger here than it is in Valencia," McAlpine said. "We learned this when one of the boats came in heavy. The team couldn't understand it because they insisted they had changed nothing to the boat since Valencia. I wasn't very happy, because I had to tell them to take 50 kilograms out. That's a hard job for the shore crew, and the team was sure they hadn't done anything to the boat that would warrant that." Discussing it amongst his measurement committee, Guy Roland Perrin suggested that maybe there was a gravitational issue at work. The Measurers decided to do two things. They asked some technical people on the teams to search the internet for information that might explain how the force of gravity could differ from the more southern latitude of Valencia, compared to Malmö. McAlpine's team also decided to weigh two other boats first thing in the morning, to see if the problem persisted across different teams. Sure enough both other boats weighed in heavy, by about the same amount. Then, the internet search revealed a complex mathematical formula that suggested the boats should weigh about 50-kilograms too much. That's the number McAlpine was seeing. "Basically, the force of gravity changes with latitude, and the further north you go, the stronger it gets. It's a very subtle change, but when you're dealing with such a heavy object, even a small change makes a difference." The solution -- applying a calibration factor to the scale was the best way to move forward. "All the other equipment we use, we calibrate ourselves. So it wouldn't be unreasonable to do that with the scale. We've decided to apply a calibration factor to the scale, and that brings the boats into line." So what happens when the show moves to Trapani, or back to Valencia? "Had we asked them to take out 50 kilograms here, when we move to Trapani everyone would have to put it back in. What has effectively happened is that in Valencia, the boats have been showing as fractionally underweight as the scale is calibrated in the UK. But then coming this far north, it's like a double whammy. The weight of the boats was maximised for Spain, and it makes them read over the limit in Sweden. But we'll be weighing everyone again in Trapani." -- Official America's Cup website, full story: http://tinyurl.com/cgk7j NEW PARTS After sailing over 18,000 miles in training, work on developing the speed of Spanish entry, movistar, continues with a new bulb for the keel and a new mast. "We have already shown that we have a fast mono-hull, setting the record for distance covered in 24 hours back in April," the team's general manager, Pedro Campos remarked, "but in a race as extreme as the Volvo Ocean Race that is not enough. That is why we are continuing to tune the boat. We know that the other teams will be strong too, and we also know that our boat still has room for improvement." "In the last 2,000 miles, since we left Galicia on the 2nd of August, we have learned a lot about sailing the boat, especially in light winds," said bowman Pepe Ribes. "We have gathered a lot of information and the shore team is now working on the improvements that we want to make." But the main reason that movistar is out of the water is not exactly because of the list of minor adjustments, as boat skipper Bouwe Bekking points out: "We are changing the bulb on the keel and, along this week, we will step a new mast". These two operations are aimed at optimizing movistar's performance. Movistar will be back in the water by the end of the month to add more miles and experience. "There are less than three months to go and we know that we have not reached the limit of development yet," Campos concluded. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.com/pages/news/news179.htm www.movistar.es/vela LEGAL NIGHTMARES This story (below) is from a recent news posting in New Zealand. To say that Kimberly is confined to a wheelchair does not tell half of what she has to deal with. Her accident is one that the sailing community as a whole has had a hard time dealing with. Let's hope for an equitable resolution to her legal battle and a much improved quality of life. -- Chad Lyons "Legal nightmares continue to rattle the New Zealand yachting scene. The problems have arisen over an incident in Greece three years ago when New Zealand Olympic gold medal-winning windsurfer Bruce Kendall collided with American windsurfer Kimberley Birkenfield in an inflatable boat. Birkenfield was training for the Athens Olympics, but is now confined to a wheelchair. Ms Birkenfield initially claimed $15 million dollars in cases against Kendall, Yachting New Zealand and the world governing body ISAF. Yachting New Zealand CEO Des Brennan says the case is stressful for all involved, even with liability limited to $400,000 by the High Court. It is understood Birkenfield is considering dropping the case against ISAF, but continuing to pursue Kendall and Yachting New Zealand." -- NewstalkZB-- http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyID=78619 "THAT'S NOT A SAIL, IT'S A WEAPON!" If your competitors are sailing faster and lower than you off the wind, chances are they're powered by a Doyle Asymmetrical chute. The supermaxi Maximus, with Doyle head sail designer Richard Bouzaid aboard, flew a Doyle asymmetrical to finish first in the recent Fastnet Race. And Doyle customer Ben Goodland (that's his quote in the headline) used a Doyle APR 80 on his Grainger 30 catamaran to win the Multihull division of Cowes Week. Doyle asymmetricals continue to prove themselves, whether powering one or more hulls! Call us today at 1-800-94 DOYLE; http://www.doylesails.com NEWS BRIEFS * The new BMW Oracle Racing photo and video archive is now online. The enhanced service for media, friends and family provides up-to-date photo and video material from the team including categories such as "event", "crew action", "people", "boat", "match racing", "fleet racing", "shore side" and others. com. The video footage can be previewed online in the form of video streams. -- www.bmor-photo.com and www.bmor-video.com * After two races at the 505 Worlds in Rostock Warnemünde, Germany, Dietrich Scheder-Bieschin/ Reiner Görge (GER) hold a slim 3-point lead over Per Larsen/ Hendrik Andresen (DEN). The USA teams of Andy Beeckmann/ Jeff Nelson and Mark Ivey/ Shane Illidge are third and fourth respectively -- each are just nine points behind the leader in this 170-boat championship. -- http://www.worlds505.de/Results-Worlds,1,26.htm * The 5-Oceans solo round the world yacht race has launched a new multi-language website in English, French and Spanish. The race starts in Bilbao, Spain, in October 2006. A preliminary entry list shows a wide range of international competitors including Britain's Alex Thomson, sailing his Open 60 Hugo Boss. Also named are Around Alone's podium winner Derek Hatfield of Canada and Unai Basurko of Spain, representing the host port of Bilbao Bizkaia, both of who are building new Open 60s for the race. A section of the site is devoted to the history of solo circumnavigations. -- http://www.5-oceans.com * The Sail-World website has posted a photo-essay of the new 30-meter maxi, Alfa Romeo, with both on the water and in the air images from Jack Atley. -- http://www.sail-world.com/ GOT PHOTOS The photo galleries on the Scuttlebutt website continue to be very popular, and Scuttlebutt is fortunate to work with such a great group of photographers. If you need to track down some sailing images, there's a good chance the photographer is listed in the Scuttlebutt website's official supplier section: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is neither 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. And please save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.) * From Mark Lammens: I think the headline on Rich Roberts' story -- American Sailor Need Not Apply -- sensationalizes the reality of the ISAF "Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award". It is not that American's do not win this award, it is that incredible sailors win this award. Look at the relative erosion of USA results at the Olympics (LA, Barcelona being the highest standard, Savannah, Athen's recent lows) and you see the smaller number of potential American nominations. And it is important to remember one thing about this award, it is for the World and the Olympics with all the best playing, is the biggest thing in sailing everywhere, which also includes the USA. Perhaps the awards committee needs to look at expanded categories such as offshore, single-handed, International classes, etc. * From Mark Jardine: I was a bit surprised by Rich Roberts piece against the ISAF World Sailor of the Year award since I am such a fan of so many of his pieces. Maybe the winner is indicative of the top in world sailing instead of just US sailing. Also maybe the fact that there has only been one US winner in the last eleven years is a statement of the USA's current position in world sailing? A quick scan down the list really does read like a who's who of current sailing greats and has been awards for complete stand-out performances and in some cases heroism. The list does tend to show more British winners than any other country but Britain has had the best Olympic results lately and who can argue when people like Dame Ellen MacArthur win when she has done so much to promote sailing and the sport's accessibility and affordability. Mark Reynolds & Magnus Liljedahl's win of the award in 2000 was well deserved so please don't devalue their prize and the pinnacle award in our sport with a nationalistic rant, welcome to the rest of the world! Past winners of the ISAF World Sailor of the Year award: 2004 Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Sofia Bekatorou/ Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE) 2003 Russell Coutts (SUI) and Siren Sundby (NOR) 2002 Ben Ainslie (GBR) and Sofia Bekatorou/ Emilia Tsoulfa (GRE) 2001 Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Ellen MacArthur (GBR) 2000 Mark Reynolds/Magnus Liljedahl (USA) and Shirley Robertson (GBR) 1999 Mateusz Kusznierewicz (POL) and Margriet Matthijse (NED) 1998 Ben Ainslie (GBR) and Carolijn Brouwer (NED) 1997 Pete Goss (GBR) and Ruslana Taran/Elena Pakholchik (UKR) 1996 Jochen Schumann (GER) and Lee-Lai Shan (HKG) 1995 Russell Coutts (NZL) and Isabelle Autissier (FRA) 1994 Peter Blake (NZL)/Robin Knox Johnston (GBR) and Theresa Zabell (ESP) * From Ian Parkes, Auckland, NZ: American journos need not whinge. It is SO unfair of Europe to go and organise itself into lots of little countries so that the US could only host one fifth of the qualifying events. That still looks like a pretty good haul for one country to me. Looking on from the other side of the planet, with lower value dollars (but not quality of life) I'd say most Kiwis and Aussie sailors would envy your costs to compete in Europe. * From: Peter Kelly: The view from Europe: Rich Roberts needs to reacquaint himself with a world atlas. This lump of rock we all live on does not spin around Wichita. This is a World ranking list. Paige Railey is a living embodiment of just how well US sailors can do on the ranking lists if they get out and do the business on a world stage. 24 of the 125 listed events on the ISAF ranking list are in the USA. Show me any other country that has damn near 20% of all the regattas. * From Jan Visser: Regarding T. J Schaaffers comments on the Gorge, just at the end of July for 5 days we held the Wind Youth Racing Clinic, Morgan Larson, Brett Davis and Jay Kehoe, Stanford coached and worked these kids daily in some of the most incredible conditions you could ask for. Our most distant participant was Alex Bertrand, accompanied by his dad John, three more came from the Bay Area and it was great. Thanks to Scuttlebutt, John Bertrand found us, Sailing World helped bring other distant folks and a media blitz and speaking engagements by our Beach Manager Mike brought more participants. TJ you are on the right track. * From Doug Mills (edited to our 250-word limit): If you look at most racing fleets at the club level or higher, one sees that an ever larger fraction of the fleet consists of specialized "racing machines", as opposed to the earlier racer-cruiser boats. At the other end of the spectrum, virtually all sailboats purchased are loaded down with gadgets and conveniences, from roller furling mains to microwaves and multiple television sets. These boats prove an embarrassment to the occasional owner who tries to race them. So we see fewer and fewer active racing boats in each harbor -- only large events which draw participation from a wide geographical area prosper. Local club races atrophy. Given these trends, I see little hope for the future of local club racing. The current situation contrasts with what one saw some 25 years ago. The reason we had large fleets then is that the fleets consisted pretty much of ordinary boats that were also useful for weekend cruising. All you had to do is purchase a small number of decent sails, tweek the boat in small inexpensive ways, and you could be competitive with friends as crew. Then you could take the kids out on non-racing weekends, and everyone was happy. Now we have a small number of specialized racing machines with sophisticated crews in each harbor which dominate the racing fleets, and dozens of Winnebagos with more comforts than most of us have at home. One can't sustain a viable local club racing scene with this kind of boat mix. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION 1975: Growing pot -- 2005: Growing pot belly |
