SCUTTLEBUTT No. 849 - July 3 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.
MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
I have no idea what happened to our mail server yesterday. I've been told that it "crashed" - whatever that means. However, I do know that most 'Butt readers got their copies (that's plural) more than 18 hours after the normal delivery time. Sorry about that.
The good news is that some very talented people busted their tails to rebuild the server from back-up files, and we're back in business again. God bless them!
And the real good news is that Wednesday is a US holiday - Independence Day - and the curmudgeon as well as the technicians get to enjoy a holiday. Your next issue of 'Butt will be on Thursday, July 5. Have a happy Fourth of July.
ELLEN
Ellen MacArthur and Mike Golding, rivals in last winter's Vendee Globe solo round-the-world race, go up against each other again today (Tuesday) in St Malo. The pair, and six other competitors, are taking part in Sir Chay Blyth's new EDS Atlantic Challenge, a six-stage, 7,000-mile event in which the world's most potent monohulls are raced with a full crew to realise more of their potential than is possible with a solitary skipper.
The EDS Challenge is a double Atlantic crossing travelling from St Malo to Cuxhaven, Portsmouth, Baltimore, Boston and back to St Malo. Two of the top Vendee Globe boats, MacArthur's Kingfisher and Roland Jourdain's Sill, have been attracted by the race.
Golding was denied the chance to show what he could do in the Vendee Globe by the cruellest of first-day dismastings, but MacArthur proved exactly what she was capable of. However she now has to share her beloved Kingfisher with others, notably the Australian Whitbread skipper, Nick Moloney. - Tim Jeffery, telegraph, UK
Full story: sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/
MATCH RACING
At the end of day one of the Swedish Match Women's Trophy it was hard to believe that Dorte O. Jensen, Denmark, has been absent from the match-racing scene for almost a year. She claims she hasn't set foot in a DS Match Racer, the yacht used in Marstrand, since last year, and yet she bulldozed over first Klaartje Zuiderbaan, The Netherlands, no 1 on the world ranking, Marie Björling, Sweden, American Betsy Alison and finally Sharon Ferris, New Zealand. Ferris did put up a fight, but nothing could stop Dorte. Malin Källström from the organizing Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club joins Dorte at the top of the leader board with four wins so far. - Joakim Hermansson
Leader board after day one of the Swedish Match Women's Trophy: 1. Dorte O. Jensen, Denmark, 4 wins - 0 losses; 2. Malin Källström, Sweden, 4- 0; 3. Marie Björling, Sweden, 2- 2; 4. Malin Millbourn Sweden 2- 2; 5. Sharon Ferris, New Zealand, 2- 2; 6. Betsy Alison, USA, 1- 3;. Klaartje Zuiderbaan, The Netherlands, 1- 3; 8. Nadine Stegenwalner, Germany, 0- 4. www.swedishmatchcup.com
NEXT WEEK
The curmudgeon will be going back to Rhode Island next week for the New York YC cruise. In preparation for that adventure, I've made an important addition to my sailing wardrobe. In case the weather is other than normal, I've added a pair of Camet sailing pants to the two Camet sailing shorts in my sea bag. Same great features - deep side pockets and fast drying Supplex that's reinforced with a Cordura seat and knee patches. And the same ¹ foam butt pads fit in both the shorts and the longs. Nice! www.camet.com
VOLVO YOUTH SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Over 400 competitors representing 46 countries competed at the 2000 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Sydney, Australia. Organizers are anticipating an even higher turnout for this year's event in France.
Brian Doyle is coaching the US youth world team practicing in France to compete in five classes in Crozon-Morgat, France, from July 2-11, 2001. Competitors, who must be under the age of 19 as of December 31, 2001, will race in the following classes (events): 420 (boys and girls), Hobie 16 (open), Laser (boys), Laser Radial (girls) and Mistral (boys and girls).
Representing the USA are: Frank Tybor (Coronado, Calif.) with crew Jeffrey Boyd (San Diego, Calif.), and Genny Tulloch (Houston, Texas) with crew Becky Merganthaler (Colts Neck, N.J.) in, respectively, the 420 boys and girls events; Anders Straume (N. Reading, Mass.) with crew Hunter Stunzi (Marblehead, Mass.) in the Hobie 16; Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) in the Laser; Lauren Bernsen (Coronado, Calif.) in the Laser Radial; and Jon Azevedo (Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.) in the Mistral boys event.
TRANSPAC
When the sun broke over the western Pacific Monday morning the crews of Pegasus, Chance and Pyewacket looked out on tranquil seas and saw . . . Pegasus, Chance and Pyewacket. The three super sleds were within three miles of one another virtually drifting in winds too light for stretching their legs or even dreaming of setting a record in the 41st Transpacific Yacht Race.
They had sailed only about 90 miles in the 20 hours since Sunday's start, an average of 4.8 knots - about the pace of a champion freestyle swimmer.
Philippe Kahn's 75-foot Pegasus was farthest west, about a mile ahead of Bob McNulty's 74-foot Chance, which was south, with Roy E. Disney's 73-foot Pyewacket to the north another mile back. That's about the way Transpac's nautical mathematicians had it figured. When they calculated the speed ratings they determined that at the Diamond Head finish Chance would be 11 seconds ahead of Pyewacket and 29 seconds ahead of Pegasus. Any bets?
Meanwhile, Bill Allan's LawnDart, a Fast 40 from Nanaimo, B.C., dropped out because of trouble with its generating system and returned to Long Beach, leaving 32 boats in the race. - Rich Roberts
CLASS LEADERS: DIVISION I: Pegasus (R/P 75), Philippe Kahn, DIVISION II: 1. Grand Illusion (Santa Cruz 70), James McDowell, DIVISION III: Cantata (Andrews 53), Brent Vaughan, DIVISION IV: Bull (Sydney 40 OD-T), Seth Radow, ALOHA DIVISION A: Willow Wind (Cal 40), Wendy Siegal, ALOHA DIVISION B: Stardust (Wylie 46), Peter and Patricia Anderson.
Website: www.transpacificyc.org
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
leweck@earthlink.net
(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 W.L. Palmer III: Morgan Larson's questions about the legality of stacking sails and other gear on the starboard rail. Having watched the turbo sleds sail by Catalina yesterday, of the three boats, only Kahn's boat had gear stacked on the rail. The Code 0 was bricked and lashed to the rail right behind helmsman. The crew was sitting on the rest of the sails on the windward side. I guess Morgan had his question answered.
* From Ian A. McCurdy: I have been intrigued by discussions on the ISAF Advertising Code, Appendix 1. I have even read it. I have one question. Who benefits from this advertising? If it is the organizing authority, then it appears acceptable to me, but it appears not to benefit an organizing authority (Appendix 1, Paragraph 20.8 Entry Fees).
Therefore, the benefit must be for the boat, owner, and crew that displays the advertising. If a boat is paid to race, then the crew must be professional sailors. Maybe, I am being a little hard on the crew, but the owner is accepting money in advertise a product during a race. Therefore, he is a Group US3 Competitor (RR P1.3 (a)). Is this what was intended when the ISAF and US Sailing wrote the Advertising Code? OK, two questions.
In and around 1871, many yacht clubs were formed so that members could compete against fellow owners, and not against a paid skipper and crew. It appears that we have returned to the time of paid skippers and crews.
I spend enough time trying to find crew. Now, a third, must I spend my time finding an advertiser and having my sails altered in order to compete? Sailing is no longer a pastime driven by the desire to compete, but by the almighty dollar.
* From Chris Welsh: Only thirty some boats left on Transpac. Why so few? Part of it is scheduling, which is why I could not go, and part is speed & comfort. Make it exciting without expensive, and more boats will turn out.
The rules should favor boats that go so fast they leave you giggling and/or terrified, with a modest amount of comfort. The Santa Cruz 50 was a great example, and a great class. Boats in the style of the Schock 40 are today's version - very fast off the wind, and modestly priced. Why hang on to the no stacking, no moveable ballast concept? Recognize reality, and go with it. Bill Lee had it right - Fast is Fun. Promote moveable ballast and forget the carbon fiber wine racks and toothbrush holders. A 55 degree swing keel cuts 60% or more of the ballast weight out of a boat. We're talking leaving 5,000 pounds behind. I believe the Transpac limit is or was 18 degrees, meaning you need more lead than one swinging 55 degrees. Why?
The cost control solution might be "Claims" style racing. Give the 50 foot class a $400,000 or $500,000 Claim value (absurd you say? the 40's are under $200k plus sails) - after the race, any other competitor can buy any competitor's boat in their class for that price.
Legislating comfort may not be as easy...
* From Cam Lewes: If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called a teethbrush, not a toothbrush.
* From Peter Mohler (Re: Mr. Fred Schroth's suggestion to move the US's premier Olympic class regatta to Rhode Island, where it would be closer to the USSA headquarters and making life easier for the Nor. East sailors.) I submit that it may be time to split USSA into two, three, or perhaps four distinct organizations. It may be time to have say, a West coast (WC-NAYRU), East coast (EC-NAYRU), perhaps a Gulf coast (GC-USYRU) and if they want, a Central (C-USYRU).
Note: I say Yacht Racing Union, as we are a Sailboat Racing Organization, not a sailing (quote-unquote) organization. ISAF and USSA publish the racing rules of sailing, not the rules of sailing.
How can a mostly volunteer organization based in Rhode Island be 100% up on the needs of sailors in San Diego? And I include Canada in the equation for the same reason, how can Toronto be 100% up to date on the needs of Vancouver? Seattle and Vancouver sail in the same air and water, what do Rhode Island and Toronto know about their needs?
Honestly, towing a boat from Los Angeles to Rhode Island is a 60-hour, non stop - each way, proposition. You could, assuming the freeways are all open, drive from London, England to Tehran, Iran in the same amount of time. In addition you would cross through the authority area of at least eleven Sailing Member National Authorities (MNA's), many more with just a small detour.
MAKING MARK ROUNDINGS WORK FOR YOU
(The corners on a racecourse offer the chance for making big gains. On the SailNet website, Dan Dickison explains how to make mark roundings work for you. Here's a brief excerpt.)
Whether you're rounding an upwind mark, a leeward mark, or a jibe mark, the main objective is to maintain your speed and momentum. This starts with carving a smooth, gradual turn around the mark rather than an abrupt, tight turn. Remember, the more you move the rudder off centerline, and the faster you do it, the more the boat will slow down. So, for weather-mark roundings where you plan to execute a bearaway set-or even if you aren't racing with a spinnaker-try to position your boat slightly above the layline so that you can pass close to the far side of the mark as you turn downwind gradually and ease the sails. Even if the crew has a problem getting the spinnaker up, at least you've maintained your boat speed and are still making progress down the track.
The same principle of maintaining your boat speed should apply around the jibe mark and the leeward mark as well, though it's inevitable that you'll gradually slow down as you come up to a close-hauled course after the leeward mark. Remember to set up your approach so that you can round in a gradual turn without making abrupt course changes. The other important aspect about getting the most out of a mark rounding is to remember that rounding wide early in the turn and tight late in the turn will put you closer to the next mark of the course. Having boats around you, of course, will affect these maneuvers, so if there's any doubt about who has the right of way, or there is the possibility of a collision, err on the conservative side and maintain your speed by rounding wide. Fouling someone is always slow; it's better to lose a boat than to have to do turns to exonerate yourself from a penalty. - Dan Dickison, SailNet website
Full story: www.sailnet.com
NAVIGATION
(No one has more records for transpacific races than navigator Stan Honey. Peter Isler interviewed Honey about the 'fast track' from California to Hawaii for Grand Prix Sailor. Here's an excerpt from Honey's comments.)
"For the first half or two-thirds of the race you have to intentionally sail a course that does not have the fastest closing rate in order to achieve what at the end of the day is the fastest overall route. And it's just a much tougher problem for the navigator to work in that environment where you're investing in order to have the fastest course overall. Nevertheless, you're sailing a course that's allowing your competitors to get closer to the finish in the short term." - Stan Honey, Grand Prix Sailor
Full interview: www.sailingworld.com/gps/
NO CHICKEN TENDERS
With all the hot racing action going on, you still can not help noticing the awesome new tenders beings used by many of the worlds top racers. From the rugged conditions of the Kenwood Cup to the short stormy chop in Newport, RI and even the biggest ebb tide in SF Bay, one boat stands above the rest in performance, stability and comfort, THE PROTECTOR! Built in New Zealand, Protectors are now being imported to the states and Europe by ProtectorUSA. For more information to call toll free 1.877.664.BOAT or log on www.protectorusa.com - Get onboard!
OPTI NAs
CORK, Kingston, Ontario - Standings after nine races: 1. ARG, R CALVERT JOHATHAN, 37; 2. USA, R HALL MITCH, 42; 3. ARG, R ALSOGARAY MARTIN, ,48; 4. MEX, R BROCKMAN RICARDO, ,51; 5. ARG R NORMAN FEDERICO, 53; 6. USA, R FASULO C. H., 53. - www.cork.org
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS
* July 9-13: Swan American Regatta, New York YC, Newport, RI. Swan owners and sailors from twelve states as well as the U.K. and The Netherlands. www.swanregattas.com
* August 18-19: J-24 International Team Racing Regatta, Royal Vancouver YC www.royalvan.com
* August 30-Sept 2: Soling North American Championships, Milwaukee Yacht Club, Milwaukee Wisconsin. home.wi.rr.com/soling/
INDUSTRY NEWS
* Seitech Products is the official sponsor of the New England Laser Masters Championships to be held in Harpswell, Maine, July 21-22.
* Twenty percent of the $10 retail price Dry Creek Vineyard's newly launched Regatta - a new white blend that will be sold in the winery's tasting room - will be donated to US Sailing for their educational and training programs. The Regatta bears a contemporary label with three modern boats sailing downwind, spinnakers flying. www.winetasting.com/drycreekvineyard/index.asp?navID=9B064D85-5458-11
SNIPE JR. WORLDS
Mentor Harbor Yachting Club, Mentor, Ohio - After day one was blown out, day two brought NE breezes from 6-12 knots in choppy seas left over from the cold front the day before. Leaders after two races: 1. Argentina, Benavidez/Pierson, 9.75; 2. Argentina, Botello/Zarza, 13; 3. USA, Lake/Biehl, 13.75; 4. USA, Hochart/VanOs, 14; 5. Brazil, Mascarenhas/Tinoco, 14.75. - www.snipe.org
CANADIAN CANADA'S CUP TRIALS
After two days of racing this event has turned out to be everything that was expected - except too much wind in Toronto in the month of July! The first day of this event, in 12-18 knots, truly showed these teams how demanding these boats (Farr 40s) were to Match Race. After Two Days of Racing: Defiant, ,(Terry McLaughlin, with Andy Horton) 7 wins; Cavallino, (Hank Lammens and Zarko Draganic, with Ross MacDonald) 4 wins; Honour, (Alek Krstajic, with Tony Rey )2 wins. www.rcyc.ca
THE CURMUDGEON'S DEFINITIONS
SARCHASM: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
|