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SCUTTLEBUTT 1313 - April 22, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, 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. AROUND ALONE Bernard Stamm has well under 2000 miles to go to the finish of the Around Alone, and at the speeds he has been sailing and the speed he is capable of sailing, he could be in Newport as soon as next Monday or Tuesday, well ahead of his own optimistic ETA of May 1. Bobst Group Armor lux is consistently knocking off days runs of over 300 miles and at last poll was averaging a shade under 15 knots. It's a pity that some of the top French sailors like Roland Jourdain, Michael Desjoyeaux and even the amazing British sailor Ellen MacArthur were not racing this race. It would be interesting to see how they would have fared against the Mighty Stamm. One thing is for certain, Bernard's performance has consistently been up there with the Volvo 60's who raced the same waters last year with a full crew of some of the top professional sailors on board. The other incredible performance is one being turned in by Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. Brad had hoped to field his own Class 1 entry in the race but time ran out to build a new boat and to fund the campaign at a level high enough to meet Brad's standards. Instead he has been sailing a spectacular race in Class 2 and right now is ahead of two top Class 1 boats and nipping at the transom of another. It would have been interesting to see how Brad would have fared with his new boat racing against the likes of Bernard and Thierry. I guess these questions are now relegated to realm of speculation, but I like to speculate. My guess is that the three aforementioned Open 60 skippers would have had a hard time beating Bernard, but their campaigns were all better funded and they might just have applied pressure when Bobst Group Armor lux faltered with boat damage. And as for Brad, I say he too would have been up there with Bernard, perhaps ahead if his new design had proven to be as fast as predicted. So much for speculation. Out of the "real" racecourse the fleet is rocketing towards the Caribbean Sea and will soon passing the latitude of some of those well known cruising spots like Antigua and Barbados. At the back of the pack, also sailing a great leg, is Alan Paris much recovered from his encounter with two whales last week. His usual upbeat daily log described life on board BTC Velocity. "Today, apart from no wind, has been a lovely day," he wrote. "It started with an hour long rain shower, perfect for a cockpit shower which after 7 days was desperately needed. I still have to move slowly - the stabbing pain has been replaced with an ache." - Brian Hancock, http://www.aroundalone.com/ Curmudgeon's Comment: If (when?)Van Liew wins this leg, he will join Yves Dupasquier as one of two people to sweep the race. As the Class 2 race winner, Van Liew will also join the late Mike Plant as one of two Americans to ever win the Around Alone, or any solo round-the-world yacht race. STANDINGS: 2200 UTC April 21 CLASS 1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm, 1866 miles from finish; 2. Tiscali, Simone Bianchetti, 118 miles from leader; 3. Ocean Planet, Bruce Schwab, 400 mfl. 4. Solidaires, Thierry Dubois, 497 mfl; 5. Pindar, Emma Richards, 526 mfl; CLASS 2: 1. Tommy Hilfiger, Brad Van Liew, 2316 miles from finish; 2. Everest Horizontal, Tim Kent, 155 mfl; 3. Spirit of yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 479 mfl; 4. BTC Velocity, Alan Paris, 655 mfl. - Spirit of Canada, Derek Hatfield, still sailing leg 4. BEST BOAT STORAGE SINCE THE SAWHORSE Is there so much stuff on your garage floor that there's no room for the car? Go vertical! The Harken Hoister is a pre-rigged lifting system that lets you store dinghies, canoes, bikes, and more - safely at ceiling level. So easy to use you won't believe it! For more information visit: http://www.harken.com/scuttlebutt/ad-cleanup.php OLYMICS The Olympic Sailing Committee of US Sailing has announced the athletes who will represent the USA at the combined world championships to be held later this year. To date over 75 countries have indicated they will participate in the 2003 ISAF World Sailing Championships, scheduled for September 11-25, 2003, in Cadiz, Spain. There will be a set number of berths available per country per class in the nine Olympic classes, with all member national authorities (MNA) of ISAF automatically receiving two entries for each event. In addition, each MNA will receive up to four additional entries per event based on the number of sailors the MNA has in the top-100 of the ISAF World Sailing Rankings as of May 2003. In each of the following events, the first two athletes will compete in Cadiz. If the USA is awarded additional entries, they will be awarded to the next sailor(s) in order. The 2003 US Sailing Team rankings were used to determine which athletes receive the first four entries available to the USA. Europe: Meg Gaillard (Pelham, N.Y./Jamestown, R.I.); Krysia Pohl (Alameda, Calif.); Christin Feldman (Grosse Pointe, Mich.); Lauren Maxam (Coronado, Calif.); Tanya Haddad (Portland, Ore.); and Kathleen Tocke (Newport, R.I.). Finn: Mo Hart (Santa Cruz, Calif./S. Portland, Maine); Geoff Ewenson (Annapolis, Md./Newport, R.I.); Greg Skidmore (Riverside, Conn.); Darrell Peck (Gresham, Ore.); Bryan Boyd (Edgewater, Md.); and Henry Sprague (Long Beach, Calif.). 470 Men (skipper and crew): Steven Hunt (Poquoson, Va.) and Michael Miller (Fairport, N.Y.); Paul Foerster (Rockwall, Texas) and Kevin Burnham (Miami, Fla.); Mark Ivey (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Howard Cromwell (New Orleans, La.); Thomas Hall (Scarborough, Maine) and Dave Hughes (S. Portland, Maine); Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Newport Beach, Calif.) with crew to be announced (tba); and Stuart McNay (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) with crew tba. 470 Women (skipper and crew): Katie McDowell (Barrington, R.I.) and Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.); Erin Maxwell (Stonington, Conn.) and Jen Morgan (Shoreline, Wash.); Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Sarah Mergenthaler (Colt's Neck, N.J.); Allison Jolly (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Lynne Shore (Newport, R.I.); Courtenay Dey (The Dalles, Ore.) and Linda Wennerstrom (Miami, Fla.); and Molly O'Bryan (San Diego, Calif./Kaneohe, Hawaii) and Annelise Moore (Monterey, Calif./Kaneohe, Hawaii). 49er (skipper and crew): Tim Wadlow (San Diego, Calif ) and Pete Spaulding (Coral Gables, Fla.); Andy Mack (Seattle, Wash.) and Adam Lowry (San Francisco, Calif.); Dalton Bergan (Seattle, Wash.) and Zach Maxam (Coronado, Calif.); David Fagen (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Bora Gulari (Detroit, Mich.); Morgan Larson (Capitola, Calif.) with crew tba; and Mike Karas (Kirkland, Wash.) and Anthony Boscolo (Seattle, Wash.). Laser: Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.); Andrew Lewis (Honolulu, Hawaii); Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.); Brad Funk (Largo, Fla.); Mark Mendelblatt (St. Petersburg, Fla.); and Kurt Taulbee (Buffalo, N.Y.). Mistral Men: Peter Wells (La Canada, Calif.); Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.); Kevin Jewett (Deephaven, Minn.); Phillip Muller (Ft. Pierce, Fla.); Steve Bodner (Toledo, Ohio/San Francisco, Calif.); and Dan Kerckhoff (Naples, Fla.).. Mistral Women: Lanee Butler (Aliso Viejo, Calif.); Beth Winkler (Cocoa Beach, Fla.); Taylor Duch (Savannah, Ga.); Laura Chambers Lewandowski (Indialantic, Fla.); Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.); and Ericka Kofkin (Melbourne, Fla.). Star (skipper and crew): Terry Hutchinson and Andrew Scott (both Annapolis, Md.); Andy Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Eric Oetgen (Savannah, Ga.); Howie Shiebler (San Francisco, Calif.) and Rick Peters (Venice Beach, Calif.); Rick Merriman and Bill Bennett (both San Diego, Calif.); John Kostecki (Fairfax, Calif.) and Austin Sperry (Miami, Fla.); and Tony Rey and Doug Brophy (both Newport, R.I.). In addition, the following skippers, as Star World Champions, have qualified a slot for their team. They are listed with the crew who will sail with them in Cadiz: Paul Cayard (Kentfield, Calif.) and Phil Trinter (Lorain, Ohio); Vince Brun and Brian Terhaar (both San Diego, Calif.), Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) and Magnus Liljedahl (Miami, Fla.); and Eric Doyle (San Diego, Calif.) with crew tba. Tornado (skipper and crew): Robbie Daniel (Clearwater, Fla.) and Eric Jacobsen (Annapolis, Md.); John Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Charlie Ogletree (Houston, Texas); Lars Guck (Bristol, R.I.) and Jonathan Farrar (Miami, Fla.); Stan Schreyer (Newport, R.I.) and Forbes Durdin (Houston, Texas); Doug Camp (Boerne, Texas), and Kenny Pierce (Miami, Fla.); and Greg and Caroline Scace (both Gaithersburg, Md.). Yngling (skipper and two crew): Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), Suzy Leech (Avon, Conn./Annapolis, Md.) and Lee Icyda (Stuart, Fla.); Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wisc.), Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.); Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.), Liz Filter (Stevensville, Md.) and Bridget Hallawell (Coronado, Calif.); Hannah Swett (Jamestown, R.I.), Joan Touchette (Newport, R.I.) and Melissa Purdy (Tiburon, Calif.); Jody Swanson (Buffalo, N.Y.), Cory Sertl (Rochester, N.Y.) and Elizabeth Kratzig (Corpus Christi, Texas); and Ellie Field (Little Compton, R.I.) with crew tba. - Jan Harley For more information: http://www.ussailing.org/Olympics/ ENSENADA RACE Next Friday's Tommy Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race - the 56th annual 125-nautical mile 'Enchilada Derby' from Newport Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico - already has are 451 race entries, promising to surpass last year's 452 entries, making it the largest international yacht race in the world. Last year, Roy Disney's course record for a monohull was shattered by five other racers, three of which return this year to battle with Disney, who was not entered in last year's race. Dennis Conner has entered this year on a Cal 40. - http://nosa.org/ ONE DESIGN Britain's Jamie Lea, helming Black Seal for Richard Thompson, won a record third consecutive Melges 24 title today at the 2003 SNIM Regatta in Marseille. The Melges fleet has become a major feature of this annual Easter event attracting 76 boats from 10 nations. Overall Jamie Lea (Black Seal GBR - 33) took the regatta by an impressive 31 points from Francoise Labourdais (Minnie The Moocher FRA - 64). Third was Luca Valerio (Alina ITA - 68) with Sebastien Col (Parter & Partner FRA - 69) fourth, Kenneth Thelen (Suunto FIN - 73) fifth and Flavio Favini (Blue Moon SUI - 74) sixth. - Fiona Brown, complete results: www.lanautique.com THEY ALWAYS COME BACK FOR MORE The lads at the top of the fleets got to where they are by insuring nothing was left to chance, and champs like John, Paul, Mark and Tom recently summed up the feelings of a lot of top sailors, the "Camet products are awesome." The equipment available for today's dinghy sailor makes the game more fun that it was year's back. The Camet Neoprene Hiking pants are great for effective hiking and extended comfort. The breakthrough technology of the Camet Bubble top senses how hard you are working to insure that the trapped vapors (like sweat) disappear quickly. http://www.camet.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) (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 Paul Henderson, ISAF President: ISAF has directed for years, that to promote Sailing, it must be inclusive and that the men welcome the inclusion of women athletes at the highest possible level. In 1984 in Los Angeles there were no women's events. In 1996 Savannah Olympic Sailing was the worst dual gender sport in the Olympic Games with only 19% women. ISAF has now expanded to 4 women's classes and the women are guaranteed over 35% of the 400 entries in Athens. ISAF has been dedicated to ensuring the inclusion of the women in all aspects of the sport and being able to sail with the men at the same regattas which the men appear to welcome not feeling imposed upon by their presence as equal athletes all of which is healthy for the promotion of sailing. For many years ISAF was accused of being a closed and clandestine organization. With the advent of Information Technology, which ISAF jumped into in 1994, ISAF has become open and transparent which allows those with a different viewpoint to even disagree with the beloved ISAF President. P.S. Nelson, President Mumm 30 Class: "The Masters Golf" problem was due to the exclusion of women and Ben Wright's comment which caused his demise was due to his negative, direct, attack on the sexual preference of the women golfers neither of which associations are relevant to ISAF. * From Enrico Alfredo Ferrari: Maybe it is a Northwest thing about being polite. Being courteous to other drivers, allowing people to pass on the sidewalk, saying thank you when we buy a $3.00 cup of coffee. But Richard Hazelton, editor of 48 North Sailing rag made a very valid point on enjoying the sail win or lose. After winning my share of hardware on various boats, from a 8' El Toros to a custom Perry 65 and from being rookie to captain ( I enjoy being wine steward, or tactician the most) and everything else in between for the past 30 years, I say enjoy the ride. That is the most important thing. I recalled being white-knuckled on the rail and asked to reef the main on my first race. Did I want to leave my secure spot and go and flog the sail of which I knew nothing? No chance! I did it and now think back on how much I didn't know. One should always optimize your experience! * From Ian Duff: Stugeron (not Sturgeon, that's a fish!) is a trade name for cinnarizine. Interestingly, there is an entire web site devoted to seasickness with abstracts of formal medical research on seasickness, its treatment and potential cures. Worth a browse. http://seasickness.co.uk * From Richard Kelton: Stugeron is also available over the counter in Mexico. Note that recommended dose of cinnarizine (the active ingredient) for motion sickness is 25 mg and that some tablets contain as much as 75 mg and may need splitting. For detailed medical information see: http://home.intekom.com/pharm/janssen/stugeron.html * From Andrew Bray, Editor, Yachting World (Ref the correspondence over Stugeron -please note correct spelling): The first time this anti-seasickness drug received publicity in the UK was in the 1980s when two sailing physicians, Drs Steve Tristram and Bill Heald, carried out some trials with remarkable results. The drug, which is used for treatment of Meuniere's disease, an affliction of the inner ear, works by stabilising a lack of balance experienced by sufferers, a common experience for seasickness victims. The results were well received by lifelong seasick sailors at last finding something that worked but, unlike other travel sickness cures, without making them feel drowsy. However, there was a downside as some people found that it made them very sleepy and even more ill than before. Stugeron is now accepted as one of the mainstream treatments for seasickness provided dosage begins at least 24 hours before going to sea and provided those who react badly to the drug take much reduced doses. At least it's more civilised that the traditional cure of swallowing one end of a bacon rind and ... I'll leave the rest to your imagination. * From David Redfern, Bristol, England: When buying Sturgeon online, always remember. Caviar Emptor! Curmudgeon's Comment: These will be the final comments in Scuttlebutt about seasick remedies for a while. The swinging door on this thread has just been nailed shut. * From Paco Sola, International Lightning Class Association President: I was a competitor at the Lightning World Championships. Mr. Ettie's comments on the OCS situation did not reflect what occurred. Simply put, the Race Committee made a mistake and the Jury (certified ISAF judges), in due process, corrected the mistake by reinstating the individual after reviewing all the facts. Personally, this is the type of fairness that I look for as a competitor. I have known Tito Gonzalez for more than twenty years. and I believe he is today, the best Lightning sailor there is, and to me his third World Championship is enough to prove it. Officially, the ILCA takes pride in the fact that the event drew 60 competitors (most from outside the US) from 11 countries, making it one of the most attended in the history of the class and one of the toughest to win too: the event was decided on the last race and by a one-point margin! * From Frank Atkinson (In response to Mr. Ettie's comment in "Butt 1312"): I was somewhat dismayed by Mr. Ettie's comment that the Lightning World Championships were "tainted" by an action of the Race Committee in scoring. He made this statement without supportive facts and description of the alleged event. I too was a spectator and spoke with individuals involved, both competitors and race support personnel. The yacht scored OCS felt that they were not in a position on the line to warrant such score, and under the "Racing Rules of Sailing", questioned that award. Upon review of the verbal recording of the starting line personnel, it was determined that there was indeed some confusion as to what the correct sail or bow numbers were. Based on that review, the yacht in question was reinstated to their finish position. That was the fair thing to do. If Mr. Ettie is an advocate of fair sailing, as he mentions in the last paragraph, then he just witnessed it in action! To say that the Lightning World Championships were tainted due to some questionable dealing, is not fair and inaccurate. From were I was sitting, this was a well run regatta by all individuals and the Clubs involved. Hats off to the Judges, R.C., Clubs, and event personnel for a "World Class" event. * From Andrew Besheer: Perhaps Gordon Ettie post should be considered for a Curmudgeon's Oxymoron's for using the phrase "my Swan 40" twice in a letter complaining about cost in the sport of sailing! THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Studies have shown that 'excuses' are the most crippling failure disease. |
