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SCUTTLEBUTT 1950 -- October 21, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY HAS SHUT After seven weeks on standby in New York for an attempt on the solo transatlantic record, the window of opportunity has now come to an end. In order to break this record Ellen MacArthur needed a perfect weather system, a strong depression, which she could hook into and ride all the way to the mouth of the English Channel - unfortunately this just hasn't developed and Ellen will have to wait for another opportunity in the future. B&Q has been on standby during a particularly active hurricane season, which has played havoc with the North Atlantic weather. The destabilizing effects of the hurricanes and tropical storms have prevented the normal pattern forming. It has never been an easy record to break - Laurent Bourgnon's seven-day record stood for over ten years before Francis Joyon destroyed it last June. The incredible pace set by Joyon means that an attempt in anything other than perfect conditions would have been futile. The shore team in New York will now install the engine (removed to save weight) and reload supplies to prepare the 75ft trimaran B&Q for the 2800-mile delivery trip back to the UK. B&Q should be ready to depart, weather depending at the beginning of next week (24.10.05). Now that the standby period has ended Ellen will be focusing all of her attention to the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race, which begins in Le Havre on the 5th November, finishing in Brazil approximately 16-18 days later. Ellen will be racing on board the 60 foot monohull Sill et Veolia with French skipper Roland Jourdain. Ellen had already been utilizing some of her standby time to train for the Transat Jacques Vabre and now she will be focusing all her attention on this project. -- www.teamellen.com NEW VENTURE Ellen MacArthur, continuing to evolve as an entrepreneur, will announce next week a wholly new round-the-world race, starting and finishing in Barcelona. Just as MacArthur confirms she has stood-down her attempt on the solo transatlantic record in her 75-foot trimaran B & Q this year, so details of the race starting in November 2007 will be unveiled in Spain next week. The race will be a non-stop event for a crew of two sailing the Open 60 monohulls. In the burgeoning calendar of round-the-world races, this will sit between solo races such as the Vendee Globe and Five-Oceans and the fully-crewed Volvo Ocean Race. This is the second significant venture, alongside the Transat solo transatlantic, launched by Offshore Challenges, the ever-expanding group MacArthur formed with Mark Turner. -- Tim Jeffery, the Telegraph, http://tinyurl.com/7hkh4 CROWDED RACECOURSE Debra Searle MBE, the British adventurer whose campaign to become the first woman in history to sail solo, non-stop, around the world the wrong way, has attracted competition from rival sailor, Dee Caffari, who announced her own campaign to complete the grueling east-west voyage. Searle, 30, from Plymouth, who shot to fame in 2002 after her legendary solo rowing voyage across the Atlantic, announced her sailing campaign last month and is currently undergoing intensive training to prepare for the challenge which, despite several attempts, still remains one of the last 'world firsts' in the sailing world. Whilst Searle is not scheduled to embark on her round-the-world adventure until October 2006, Caffari, 32 from Hertfordshire, is set to leave on November 20th this year. Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, is to sponsor Caffari in 'The Aviva Challenge.' Former schoolteacher Caffari will be sailing the 72 foot yacht which she skippered, with a crew of 18, in last year's Global Challenge race. The yacht has been modified to enable her to sail it single-handedly and her circumnavigation is expected to last between 120 and 170 days, of which approximately 80 days will be spent in the treacherous Southern Ocean. The Challenge Business team providing vital communications and technical support. Searle will set off from the Ushant line on Pindar's V60, the yacht that competed in the 2001/2002 Volvo Ocean Race as NewsCorp. The voyage is expected to last approximately five months. In addition to part-sponsors, Pindar, who have provided the yacht, Debra's voyage is being project managed by Offshore Challenges Adventure Team, part of the company behind Ellen MacArthur, who are overseeing all the technical and race management support. "My aim is to be the first or the fastest women to circumnavigate the globe east to west," Searle said. "Obviously if Dee beats me to the world first I will be hot on her heals to break the record." -- www.debrasearle.com REFLECTIONS ON A WINDLESS DAY Sails were set, the IOD's sloops were rigged and ready, but there was no dance today. The forecasted light winds didn't show and on the first day of racing in the Investors Guaranty presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup had to be cancelled. This delay has given Sally Barkow and Betsy Alison, the two finalists from the Virtual Spectator ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship the chance to break in two new crewmembers - both men. Mark Strube, the mainsheet trimmer from Elizebeth Kratzig's team knocked out during the qualifying stages of the Gold Cup, has jumped onboard with Alison to replace Nancy Haberland who has had to fly home. Jonathan Farrar, whose Father is a former IOD class world champion, has joined Sally Barkow's lightweight crew to bring this team up to the weight limit set for the event, as well as provide extra muscle power for when the winds return. Gold Cup racing should resume Friday and continue through to Sunday afternoon. However, the forecast is not encouraging. Light variable winds are predicted for this morning and little more than 8-12 knots on Saturday. Sunday looks more promising with winds up to 20 knots kicking in for the finals. -- Talbot Wilson, http://www.kingedwardviigoldcup.com IT'S THAT TIME ALREADY We're only half way through October, but now's the time to start thinking about next summer. As you begin making plans for the 2006 sailing season, be sure to visit Ribcraft website to see how a Ribcraft RIB will work for you. Whether you're looking for a durable and stable platform for coaching or setting marks, or an easy-to-tow boat for traveling to regattas to watch the kids sail or to support your own racing, Ribcraft has the perfect boat for your needs. Now taking orders for spring delivery, build your own Ribcraft at http://www.ribcraftusa.com/sailing and see for yourself. OLYMPIC CLASSES The Notice of Race for US Sailing's Rolex Miami OCR is now available online. Now is its 17 year, this event is a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors who are campaigning for the next Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event is ranked by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) as a Grade 1 event and features competition in 13 Olympic and Paralympic classes. Additionally, the Pan American Sailing Federation and ISAF have selected the 2006 Rolex Miami OCR as a country qualifier for the 2007 Pan American Games for the Laser, Laser Radial and Neil Pryde RS:X (Men and Women) classes. US Sailing has teamed up with several U.S. and North American Class Associations to create a new Winter Circuit for Olympic and Paralympic class sailors in the Biscayne Bay area. Thus far, twenty regattas and training camps in various classes complementing the Rolex Miami OCR have been scheduled to date, with more to come. -- www.ussailing.com UNDER CONSTRUCTION -- CHINA TEAM China Team had the toughest of seasons in the ACC Season Championship 2005. In Valencia they finished both Louis Vuitton Acts in 11th place, ahead of Shosholoza on both occasions. In Malmö they were last in both Acts. In Trapani they were last in the match racing but finished in 11th in the final Louis Vuitton Act, the fleet racing, ahead of K-Challenge. So on paper, there's not much to cheer about. But it's important to remember that this is the only part-time team on the America's Cup circuit. Building, sailing and maintaining these boats at the top level is a high-cost, full-time commitment. Pierre Mas knows what he needs to reach the next level. "To be competitive we have to work hard, and to work hard we need a full time, full team," he says. "And for that, we need to complete our budget. Now the 2005 races are over, the goal of the next weeks and months is to be able to finalise our budget, to enable us to work in a different way in 2006. "What I want for next year is to have everybody involved full time in Valencia. If we can do that, we can be more competitive in 2006 and 2007." The other big challenge for Mas is to build an America's Cup boat in a country with no prior experience of constructing such a hi-tech sailing machine. But having returned from China on a tour of various boat yards, Mas is encouraged by what he has seen. "There is more than one possibility for building this boat, in Qingdao or Shanghai, for example," he says. Even now, Mas rules out the chance of racing a new boat in the Louis Vuitton Acts next year. He is focussed on having a boat completed towards the end of next year. "To be ready for the end of 2006, we need to start building by the end of March at the latest," he explains. "And then we have a delivery problem, because it will take at least a month to ship the boat from China to Valencia." -- Americ's Cup website, full story: http://tinyurl.com/c3xfw NEWS BRIEFS * The Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound (JSA of LIS) announced that it has chosen the 14-foot Pixel as its new doublehanded training and racing sailboat. The decision was made after a three-year process that included extensive research, boat testing and feedback from JSA of LIS members. The Pixel is a new one-design by Bruce Kirby, who also designed the Laser, Sonar and Ideal 18. It will be used within the JSA of LIS as a transition boat between Optimists and Lasers or 420s, primarily by sailors who are 11 to 14 years old. -- www.brucekirbymarine.com * Long-time volunteer Sandy Grosvenor (Annapolis, Md.) was presented with US Sailing's C.R.E.W. Award today, an honor she has earned for some time. Grosvenor was presented with the award on Thursday-morning during US Sailing's Board of Directors meeting at the organization's Annual General Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. The C.R.E.W. award recognizes US Sailing volunteers and staff who effectively set clear expectations, show mutual respect, and are committed to collaboration within the organization. -- http://www.ussailing.org/News/2005/crewgrosvenor.htm * T2 Productions has just posted an interesting video interview with Paul Cayard, who will captain the Black Pearl in next month's Volvo Ocean Race. -- www.t2p.tv * Pindar announced the withdrawal of their Transat Jacques Vabre 2005 IMOCA Open 60 entry. 'Pindar Alphagraphics' was to be co-skippered by Liz Wardley and Jeanne Gregoire. The opportunity of racing what is considered to be one of the fastest Open 60 monohulls in existence, was proposed to the two Figaro sailors, both of whom are new to the Open 60 Class. The project was supported and funded by Pindar and by Offshore Challenges Sailing Team. Following a 1000 mile qualifier last week, it was concluded they were just not ready enough to take on the demanding Transat Jacques Vabre race. 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Before there was boating superstores and Internet shopping, there was The Boat Shop in San Diego, which Dave and JoAnne started in 1972. The Boat Shop became the haven for all America's Cup teams to procure equipment when the Cup was in town, and was a leader in specialized hardware for racing sailors of all levels. A lifelong sailor, Mr. Wright was a member of Coronado, Mission Bay and San Diego Yacht Clubs throughout his life in San Diego. Mr. Wright is survived by his son David Wright III, daughters DeAnn Reynolds and Jerelyn Biehl, and 6 grandchildren. All live in San Diego. A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 12:30pm. at St. Peter's by the Sea Lutheran Church, 1371 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, San Diego. Donations can be made to Sharp Hospice Care Fund, PO Box 3739, La Mesa, CA 91944. 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, and personal attacks for elsewhere.) * From Laurie Fullerton: In response to Percy Winslow's popular vote for Sally Barkow as Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and the suggestion that Rolex supply watches to her two deserving teammates Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe; as a side note Ms. Barkow -who won the Rolex Women's International Keelboat Championships in 2003 and 2005 - in a gesture of team building and appreciation gave one watch to Capozzi and one to Howe. Ms. Barkow is without a Rolex watch but her performance this week in Bermuda shows she fully deserves the honor. * From Tucker Thompson: In response to Percy Winslow's comments about Rolex giving Sally Barkow's deserving crew, Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe, new watches I can tell you that Rolex fortunately will not have to worry about that. During Annapolis Yacht Club's awards presentation for the Rolex International Womens Keelboat Championship Sally presented her crew each with their own Rolexes from her previous wins. With that Sally proved that she is not only a top sailor, she is also a gracious role model as a skipper. Now three of the best women's sailors in the world are all proudly Rolex owners! * From Robert Lynn (edited to our 250-word limit): Seems a lot of people just don't get kite power. A kite is a sail, and as such can do basically everything a sail can, plus a few more things: 1. You can go upwind! Kite L/D can be pretty close to that of a sail, so upwind is currently only a little off that of a yacht. With further development they may well beat even high performance rigs. Without the heeling moment you can take a lot more pull on a boat that can be lighter with less aero and hydro drag to produce even higher speeds. 2. You can go faster than the wind with a kite! Maximum speed of any sailing craft is roughly equal to total sail (or kite) lift divided by total sail + boat drag times true wind speed. Kites can get up into stronger wind and so can potentially go faster than sailing craft. I've seen five times wind speed on ice with a kite and would anticipate three times wind speed being possible on water with an efficient boat design in light winds. 3. Kites can beat everything on a downwind course! Kites have a massive advantage due to the ability to 'work' the kite back and forth independently of the boat and develop higher apparent wind. Land based kite-drawn buggys go downwind faster than the wind in the hands of an expert. Development is needed but there's likely to come a day when kites will offer dominant performance in offshore racing. * From Lou Castle: In Scuttlebutt 1949, Scott Abrams asked, "How hard does it need to blow for a 22 knot ship, to benefit from the use of a kite? Obviously over 22 knots and from the correct direction." The 'correct direction' covers quite a wide range. Just about anywhere aft of the beam and a kite will help out. Kites fly very high where winds are stronger than at the surface. No one is saying that kite flying will be mandatory on every trip. Mr. Abrams also seemed needlessly concerned about, "How do you explain to the steamship companies, that you saved them "20-30% on fuel consumption" when a ship has travel an extra 500 miles and is a day late, because it was looking for ideal wind conditions!" No one is advocating that. And his final concerns about retrieval, are also easily answered. Modern kits have a "retrieving line" that's attached to the center of the sail. Simply blow all the other lines and haul in the retrieving line. This is the same thing that's done if the kite happens to go into the water. * From Paul Kamen, Naval Architect: Scott Abrams writes: "How hard does it need to blow for a 22 knot ship, to benefit from the use of a kite? Obviously over 22 knots and from the correct direction." Allow me to contribute to what will surely be a massive pile of email correcting this misconception: All you need to get help from the wind is a crosswind component strong enough to produce an apparent wind angle slightly greater than the "drag angle" (arctan (drag/lift)) of the sail or kite system. (Remember those Popular Science articles from 30 years ago about wind assisted cars?) * From Lee Jerry (In response to Frank Sticovich -- edited to our 250-word limit): The purpose of an AC campaign is to win the Cup. There are many elements in the program that need to be developed to make this happen, including design and construction of the boat (hull, rig and sails), but also training of sailors to race that boat. Training involves not only the mechanics of tactics, trimming, driving and mark rounding, but also the ability to function as a team. The sponsors gave money to support the purpose of the campaign - to win - in exchange for exposure of their name/ product/ service. I fail to see how they would frown upon their logo gracing the TP52 and two 40 footers, which can only give them more exposure than expected if only from the IACC boats. Model testing is done, at various scales, to learn things at a fraction of the cost of what it takes at full scale. It isn't hard to imagine how racing these other boats can be beneficial to the team, both on the crew side and quite possibly the design team too (especially for rig and sails). If Dalts sees value in spending some of his finite pile of dough on three non-IACC boats for the team to learn these aspects and other things I didn't think of or have room to mention, who are we to say otherwise? * From: Jay Sharkey: Cheers to one of our best American sailors and Olympic hopeful, Geoff Ewenson, for pointing out that sailing is still a sport. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS "My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -- Jack Nicholson |
