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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 860 - July 19 2001Scuttlebutt 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.
CREW OVERBOARD, RESCUED At the time of the incident AlphaGraphics was sailing under autopilot. Pajkowska went on deck to make a routine check and it was in a split second when she was unclipped that the wave hit the boat, capsizing it. Skipper Helena Darvelid: "I knew that we would not be able to throw lines into the wind and so we had to get above Asia and fall down towards her, but this was also quite dangerous because we still had the engine running and the boat was slamming hard on the waves. We were all yelling, ‘it’s all right we are going to get you, keep swimming.’ Eventually we got a line to her and she held on for dear life. It took four of us to drag Asia back onto the boat and she was so exhausted she just lay there while we were just so happy and relieved to have her back on board and our crew of five intact." Darvelid contacted medical authorities in Falmouth, England and alerted the UK coastguard in case an airlift was needed. Pajkowska had swallowed a lot of sea water and there was concern about secondary drowning, a potential reaction to the amount of water taken in. Twelve hours after the incident Asia Pajkowska is fine with no adverse reaction. "She is bruised, battered and shaken up," Darvelid said, "but I am feeling very lucky that we are all well and safe." Leg 3 of the EDS Atlantic Challenge started from Portsmouth, England on July 14 and ends in Baltimore on the east coast of the United States. The first boats are expected in Baltimore on July 31. At 10:45 GMT, on a distance to finish (DTF) reading, the positions were as follows:
1st Sill Plein Fruit (Gael Le Cleac’h - FR) DTF - 2529 miles
YNGLING WORLDS Three races were to be sailed today to catch up on Tuesday's lost race, but only two more were completed. The forecast for tomorrow is for morning fog to burn off, followed by winds of 10 to 20 from the southeast later in the afternoon. The Yngling was selected as the Women's Keelboat for the 2004 Olympics at the ISAF World Conference last November. Left undone is the question of a weight limit. The class currently does not have one; it's widely believed that the ISAF will impose one for Olympic qualifying events, but balancing the needs of some countries' lighter sailors with the existing class sailors and rules will be no small feat. The top five places after three races:
M Christensen, Denmark, 28.70 points Complete results at www.sailing.tm/yngling/
SIMILARITY
LASER NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Top ten places in the Standard Rig:
Top ten in the Radial Rig (all from the USA) Complete results at www.stfyc.com/race-office/2001/lasernascores.htm
SAILWORLD NOOD AT MARBLEHEAD RACE WEEK "Sailors often refer to the season as 'before Race Week' and 'after Race Week'," said Ken Adam, chairman of the regatta's on-the-water activity. "It's an event that sailors plan for and look forward to--and a highlight of the season." The four-day NOOD at Marblehead Race Week, the adult portion of the regatta that follows on the heels of the Pleon Yacht Club Junior Race Week, wraps up the week of racing from Marblehead Harbor. Racing at the NOOD begins Thursday, July 26 and concludes Sunday, July 29; Boston, Corinthian, and Eastern yacht clubs will host some 190 boats competing in 14 one-design classes. The IOD (International One Design) class will see one of its best Race Week turnouts in recent years--and last year's class winner Bruce Dyson (Marblehead) will have a few more players to contend with as he defends his 2000 win. The surge in IOD participation is due in part to the fleet's upcoming World Championships, to be held in Marblehead in mid-September. Race Week will be part of a qualifying series to determine which two local boats will represent the Marblehead fleet at the 2001 Worlds. In keeping with tradition, the fleet at Marblehead Race Week will again be a time capsule of one-design development, from classes that span in age from the 1932-launched Town Class, to the Viper 640, a high-performance racer launched in the 1990s. In addition to the above-mentioned fleets, the following classes are expected on the starting line: 210, Corinthian, Day Sailer, Frers 33, J/105, J/24, J/80, and Laser 28. Several classes will use Race Week to run class championships, including: Etchells (Northeast Regionals); Sonar (New England Championships); J/80 (Northeast Championships); Frers 33 (Northeast Championships); Town Class (New England Championships); and Laser 28 (Gold Cup). Complete info on all the NOOD regattas at www.sailingworld.com
WINNING WEATHER
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON HEY! No letters for two days! Please send! Whaddya all doing, sailing?!?!?
ANOTHER MAXI-TRI ABOUT TO LAUNCH This new 34 m trimaran needed 12 months to build between July 2000 and July 2001 by the 50 employees of Multiplast, or more than 100,000 man hours when you include the equipment suppliers. Today, the trimaran is completely assembled. The final tasks before leaving the building hall at the end of July are the fitting of the deck gear, putting the finishing touches to the accommodations, finalizing the bonding of the forward structures, finishing the mast and painting. This final job is a sizeable one, because it represents more than 1000 square meters to cover for each coat of lacquer. No decision has been made yet about an attempt on the Transatlantic record, but de Kersauson is expected to make an attempt soon on his own Jules Verne Record (non-stop, around the world) of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 8 seconds, set in May 1997. It was reported today that Steve Fossett isn't all that interested in picking up the gauntlet tossed down by Cam Lewis, stating that racing Team Adventure is of no interest to him. "When we do attempt it, it will be an unequivocal attempt to do exactly that. It will not be a race." Interview with Steve Fossett is at www.madforsailing.com
ROLEX INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S KEELBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP To date, over 50 women have registered their intent to compete in the event, scheduled for September 22-28, 2001. For a Notice of Race and Entry Form, visit www.ussailing.org/riwkc.
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS |
