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SCUTTLEBUTT 3456 - Wednesday, October 26, 2011Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Gowrie Group, Doyle Sails, and Salt Harbor Studio. RECOGNITION AND INSPIRATION By Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt The inaugural induction ceremony for the U.S. National Sailing Hall of Fame (NSHOF) this past weekend at San Diego Yacht Club (Oct. 22-23) was one of those once in a lifetime moments. It was a treat to attend a special dinner for the inductees, where all the people I looked up to as a youth, whose exploits were among the magazine clippings I had saved, were around me. I was not prepared for the privilege to be seated with Buddy Melges and his wife Gloria for dinner. My wife quickly became fast friends with Gloria - an absolute treat of a person. And at some time during our meal, Gloria became the very first mail subscriber to Scuttlebutt. While I'm sure the internet has reached Wisconsin, apparently it has yet to reach the Melges household. It's not often Ted Turner is seated at the table beside me, and I could not let the opportunity pass without sharing with him my gratitude. I introduced myself, and quickly was certain he had no idea who I or Scuttlebutt was. But I had to tell him how much I miss the manner in which he carried himself during his heyday. He was entertaining and honest with an endearing southern manner. To watch today's elite sailors speak on camera, they seem more prepared for political office than winning boat races. Speaking safely might help job security, but it doesn't make for good television. During the weekend festivities, I felt as if the sport had stopped in time, allowing us to embrace what we have. It was repeated in the speeches how sailing, like in so many sports, could now refer to its leaders as 'future hall of famers'. The institution would now exist to truly honor its high achievers, and provide inspiration to all sailing enthusiasts. Betsy Alison, who has been voted Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year a record five times, and is now the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics Paralympic Coach, provided these comments during her speech as a 2011 NSHOF inductee: "As a young girl on Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, I never ever dreamed of being a hall of famer. I never would have expected the passion that I have for this sport would have taken me to the heights that I have achieved or the places that I have gone. When my two brothers and I were little kids, my dad and mom joined a little local yacht club. My dad then said to the three of us, 'You guys will learn to sail because sailing is a sport that you can do for the rest of your life. It doesn't matter if you are 9 or 90, and whether you choose to race is your own choice. It's your decision but we will support you whatever you choose to do.' "And I really think that to be successful in this sport, you have to be determined, you have to have a passion, and you have to dedicate yourself to making things happen. You have to dream, and you have to reach for the opportunity when they are presented to you, and I feel really fortunate to have had the ability to do both." NSHOF website: http://www.nshof.org Scuttlebutt Facebook photos: http://tinyurl.com/Scuttlebutt-FB-102411 WEARING BOTH HATS It's a short list of people that are as dominant as a competitor as they are competent as a principle race officer. Our list only has one... California's Bruce Golison. After a decade in the PRO position at Key West Race week, and more recently traveling the country to run Melges 32, Melges 24 and Melges 20 events, Golison is as likely to be running races as he is to be winning them in his Etchells or Lido 14. Here is Part 2 of Scuttlebutt's interview with Golison about his experience wearing both hats: * Have you noticed any changes that have occurred over the years within the PRO position? BRUCE GOLISON: The biggest change that I have seen over the past fifteen years is in the attitude of many PRO's relative to the race committee's communication with the competitors. While this is still not an accepted practice across the board by PRO's, it is growing in popularity among the competitors. By the PRO's communicating to the fleet over the VHF radio, most of the guesswork is removed from the competitors' on the water experience. * Is running races as fulfilling as competing in races? BRUCE GOLISON: For me personally, running races is much more stressful than competing in them. As the PRO, all the competitors are looking to me to make the regatta a good event, and to make all the "right calls". I take it very personally, so I consider every decision very carefully. When racing, it's all about you and your crew competing at an acceptable level based on your own goals. How we, as a competitor, do on the race course only affects our boat and team on any given day. Another component the PRO takes on is managing a group of race committee volunteers that is much larger than your own boat's crew. This number, sometimes as many as 30 - 40 people over the course of a multiple race day regatta, adds a lot to your management considerations, especially given the fact that the race committee team is spread out over numerous support boats at both ends of the course. Racing sailboats is a lot of fun for me. Running a major regatta is very rewarding and provides a great way to give back to the sport. While the two experiences are different, both are very fulfilling at the end of the day. * Would you suggest this challenge to other top competitors? BRUCE GOLISON: I am enjoying both aspects of our sport. I spent the last two years heavily campaigning my Etchells for the 2010 North American Championship (winning the event) and the 2011 World Championship (placing 9th), both held in San Diego. It was intense. During this same period, I was the PRO for the Melges 32 NA's and Nationals, multiple Melges 20 regattas and the 2011 Etchells NA's. I am really hoping that we can get more of the top guys, and gals, in our sport to come out and help run a regatta or two a year. These top sailors would bring so much knowledge to a regatta's race management team. We all know how talented the top guys are while racing, image having that expertise on a race committee team! It's good for everyone. Complete interview: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/11/1024/ CONSOLIDATE TO SAVE AND ELIMINATE GAPS IN COVERAGE Take advantage of the premium savings available through consolidating your boat, home, umbrella, and auto insurance through Gowrie Group. Consolidation also ensures that you do not have risky gaps in your coverage, or unnecessary overlaps. The insurance experts at Gowrie Group understand the risks boaters face on and off the water, and are committed to getting you the right protection, at the best price. Request a comparison quote now at: 800.262.8911, http://tinyurl.com/gowrieconsolidate (use code: Scuttlebutt) ALL TO PLAY FOR The 2011 ISAF Match Racing World Championship will be decided at the Monsoon Cup which takes place from November 22-27 in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Two-time World Match Racing Tour winner and current leader Ian Williams will be entering the finale with just over six points separating the Brit and arch rivals Francesco Bruni and Torvar Mirsky. After a dominant mid-season catapulted Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar to the top of the Tour standings, a recent run of comparative poor form has crept in - he was beaten 3-0 at the first opportunity in the knockout rounds at both the St Moritz Match Race and the Argo Group Gold Cup. Add the fact that Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat won both those events together with Williams' indifferent form at the Monsoon Cup over the past 3 years and he could be forgiven for feeling the pressure as he bids to claim a third world title. The Brit though is not surprised that it's come down to the last event especially after 2010 saw five teams head to Malaysia each with a legitimate title chance, but believes his experience will only serve to help him: "Looking back over the past years it's always come down to the Monsoon Cup and has often been just three teams vying for the championship title. It's also usually the team that wins the Monsoon Cup that wins the title so while there really is all to play for it's not an unexpected position to be in." -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/WMRT-102511 DESIGN DIFFERENCES In the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race, Bouwe Bekking and his TELEFONICA BLUE team were the hard luck story. Overcoming damage and design issues, their third place finish was a picture of perseverance. Here Bouwe provides his observations on the six Volvo Open 70s of the 2011-12 edition. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The biggest difference is that there actually one boat from the last race, my "old" boat, Telefonica Blue, designed by Farr and now sailing under the Chinese flag named Sanya. Let me start with this boat as I know that one very well. First of all I think it was a smart choice, as this design has proven to be a good overall performer, really fast in light air and superb in the inshore races. Remember this boat won the inshore trophy in the last race and was on the podium on each single in-port race. Maybe the boat will not win the overall race, but besides good results in the inshore races as well can win several legs, meaning a lot of publicity for the sponsors. As well I think the choice was good, as this boat is different than the other three Juan K designs. Team Sanya could have chosen Ericsson 3 or 4, but most likely the newer design will outperform the previous one. In the last race the boat (Telefonica Blue) improved dramatically downwind in big breeze, after new rudders and shifting interior weight aft. Since then a new bulb, rudders and so-called dagggerboards have been fitted. As well having an advantage of 200 kg heavier bulb compare to all the newer designs, they might be actually in for a surprise. We were the first boat with one big open cockpit, which made stacking the sails so much easier and as well the center of gravity became lower. In this edition this boat will have small theoretical disadvantage, as the crews are not allowed to stack their food and spare anymore behind the water tight bulkhead. Sanya will not be able to get as much weight aft as the newer designs as they have less space downstairs. -- Read on: http://www.bouwebekking.com/#/news/a1364/1/1/0/0/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The six Volvo Open 70s will get their first test on October 29th at the In-Port Race in Alicante, Spain before they take on the 6,500 nm race from to Cape Town, South Africa on November 5th - the first of the nine offshore legs. Skipper, Team, Yacht Design Frank Cammas, Groupama, Juan Kouyoumdjian design Iker Martinez, Team Telefonica, Juan Kouyoumdjian design Ken Read, PUMA Ocean Racing, Juan Kouyoumdjian design Chris Nicholson, CAMPER, Marcelino Botin design Mike Sanderson, Team Sanya, Farr Yacht Design Ian Walker, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Farr Yacht Design Photo of all the teams can be seen here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/gallery/photos.html PERSON IN CHARGE Jos Spijkerman, International Umpire/Judge, takes a look at Case 40 from the ISAF Casebook 2009-2012 with amendments for 2010. This is an official interpretation by the ISAF committees on how the relevant Racing Rules of Sailing - Rule 46 in this case - should be used or interpreted. This case is copied from the Casebook with comments added by Jos. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary of the Facts: In a series, A was entered by the owner, who steered her in race 1. In races 2 and 3 she was steered by another person from whom no entry had been received. The race committee, without a hearing, considered him to be a non-entrant and a non-starter, changed A's results, and awarded her a nonstarter's points in races 2 and 3. The relevant class rule 11(e) read: 'Distribution of duties between helmsman and crew shall be entirely at the discretion of the helmsman, unless otherwise stipulated in the sailing instructions.' The race committee held that class rule 11(e) did not allow permanent substitution by the crew at the helm for an entire race or races, since the only purpose of that would be to improve a boat's chances of winning a series. A appealed. Decision: A's appeal is upheld. The owner of a boat may appoint another person to steer her. It is the boat that is entered in a race and, unless otherwise specifically provided in the class rules, notice of the race or sailing instructions (which was not so in this case), it is a matter for the owner or other person in charge of her to decide who steers her at any time, provided that rule 46 is not broken. A is to be reinstated in the race results. Do you remember what rule 46 states? Read on: http://rrsstudy.blogspot.com/2011/10/pillowcase-of-week-4111-40.html BEST PRICING AVAILABLE NOW! Fall is discount season at your local Doyle loft. So call now to lock in the best pricing of the season. Looking for an even sweeter deal? Check out our Internet Specials. Fall is also the perfect time to bring your sails in for a wash and check over. Contact your local DOYLE loft, 800-94-DOYLE, http://www.doylesails.com DEVELOPMENT CLASS CONSIDERING ONE DESIGN RULES Founded in 1991 and recognised by ISAF since 1998, the IMOCA class and its Open 60 monohull has risen to the top of the distance ocean racing world. The boat is extreme in every sense, and their events have attracted the elite sailors of this genre. The growth of commercialization in their events is due in part to the publicity afforded these events, and the inherent costs of participating in this development class. But everything has its limits, and with the rising cost to compete exceeding the availability of sponsor dollars, the class has hit a wall that it now must decide how to summit. As the 4,730nm Transat Jacques Vabre is about to get underway this weekend with thirteen boats in the IMOCA fleet, including five from the latest generation, the Class has held a General Meeting to examine what lies ahead after the 2012 Vendee Globe - its elite non-stop singlehanded event. The Board has decided to work towards changing the class rules, bearing in mind two particular aspects: they wish to make the boats more reliable and less expensive. It has became increasingly clear that by keeping Open rules, the Class continues to favour the development of boats. But experience shows that that the constraints are huge, with progress costing a lot and with real gains often seen as minute. The Board is now considering the idea of a one-design alternative. This solution would certainly have an effect on costs, reliability and, of course, competitiveness. The goal that is being put forward is to cut costs by 30% a year without any loss in performance and competitiveness. The Open rules enabled some amazing and fantastic changes to occur, but today to win, it is not enough to be a talented skipper, as you also need an exceptional technical team bringing together specialists and engineers every day. The first decisions are due to be taken in January 2012 with the aim of ensuring the best possible future for the Class. -- Full report: http://www.imoca.org/en/index.php/news/view/limoca-construit-son-avenir1 ARE YOU IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY? The Marine Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides companies with guaranteed online exposure of their personnel, product and service updates. Plus each week the Scuttlebutt newsletter selects a sampling of updates to feature in the Thursday edition. Are you in the marine industry? Post your updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news FREE CLASSIFIED ADS The Scuttlebutt Classified Ads provide a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. Here are recent ads: * America's Cup World Series @ SD - Charter/hire available - Protector 28 * Velocitek Speed Puck(s) for sale * Used Opti and Sunfish fleet wanted to buy View/post ads here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/classified_ads SAILING SHORTS * La Trinite-sur-Mer, France (October 25, 2011) - After the first two days of competition at the Student Yachting World Cup were cancelled due to excessive winds, sailable conditions today permitted two windward-leeward races, one inshore race and one night race. After four races, Euromed Arthur Loyd (FRA) leads the field, with Maine Maritime Academy (Castine, Maine) and Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia) in fourth and fifth, respectively. Fifteen university teams representing 14 countries are racing in the 9.54 m Grand Surprise through October 28th. Event website: http://www.sywoc.org/ * The third biennial New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, hosted by the NYYC in Newport, Rhode Island, will be held September 7-14, 2013. The Invitational Cup is a regatta for yacht clubs from around the world and their Corinthian sailors, with racing in NYYC Swan 42s. Clubs from the United States will have the opportunity to earn invitations to the 2013 Invitational Cup by competing in the U.S. Qualifying Series to be held on September 4-8, 2012 in Newport where the top three clubs will earn an invitation. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/IC-102511 * Lone Wolf Documentary Group and SeaAcher Productions, two television documentary production companies, have teamed up to produce a television reality series about the adventure and drama of offshore sailing and cruising. -- Soundings, read on: http://tinyurl.com/Soundings-102011 NAUTICAL HOLIDAY CARDS Create your own Holiday or Christmas card this Season at Salt Harbor Studio! Choose your design and then select your favorite verse for inside. Personalize your cards by adding your own special message and/or name. Request our catalog with the finest nautical Holiday cards available anywhere. Mention "Scuttlebutt" and receive free ground shipping. http://www.SaltHarborStudio.com GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Chris Oliver, CT: As a senior at the University of Michigan, my size of 6'4" 210lbs is not too compatible with the boat used in collegiate racing. But I have found that serving on the RC has made me a better competitor, learning more about the rules and the other side of the situations that normally result in the RC getting boo'd out of the bar. So I've been making lemonade in college - traveling with my team to assist the event host with race management. I am working to expand my horizons as an umpire-in-training. Even if you can't sail in an event, if you're available and want a new take on racing, get out with the RC. We're always looking for more help! * From Steve Gregory: That was a pretty significant clarification that Dan Nowlan provided in Scuttlebutt 3455, regarding the capsized boat in the Chi-Mac Race. What Dan doesn't mention is whether Chicago Yacht Clubhas minimum limits for the measurements taken in the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) stability test. By not mentioning it, I infer that there were no limits, and I also will guess that the US SAILING Independent Panel investigating the accident will say that there should be limits. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "Coffee should be black as hell, strong as death, and sweet as love." - Turkish Proverb SPONSORS THIS WEEK JK3 Nautical Enterprises - The Pirates Lair - North U - North Sails J Boats - Melges Performance Sailboats - Doyle Sails - Salt Harbor Studio Team One Newport - Ullman Sails - Premiere Racing - Gowrie Group - Samson Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
