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SCUTTLEBUTT 2535 – February 19, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. CAPSIZE AND TEXTBOOK RESCUE Late Sunday night the trimaran Groupama 3 capsized some 80 miles to the East of the port of Dunedin in New Zealand during its the round the world record attempt for the Jules Verne Trophy. The tragedy occurred when leeward float broke in two, leading to the breakage of the two beams and then the subsequent capsize. Franck Cammas and his crew of nine were sailing 5 to 7 metre waves and 25 to 30 knot winds. No one was injured. After 24 days at sea, Groupama 3 had a day's lead over record holder Bruno Peyron's time for Jules Verne Trophy. “The New Zealand rescue services, alerted by our distress beacon being set off, were on the scene four hours later -- we saw three helicopters, which did a fantastic job airlifting us off,” Cammas said. “Everything was performed in an orderly fashion and at a quick pace since each helicopter was able to take four people. The rescue was pretty tough with six metre waves. The helicopter couldn't take us whilst we were on the boat so we had to jump into the water to track down the diver as the trimaran was drifting at three knots. Our rescuers were very fast as we were all onboard helicopters within an hour. “Groupama 3 is salvageable, even though the port float is highly damaged: we'll need the weather forecast to become milder as there were six to seven metre waves at the time. Conditions will improve and we'll go to the zone with a diver to free as many of the parts as possible, which are loading down the platform, prior to righting the boat and bringing her back to the coast, which is only 80 miles away. It's feasible! We'd really like to come back and vie for the Trophy again next winter if possible,” Cammas concluded. -- Check out the incredible video taken following the capsize: http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en CONGRESSIONAL CUP LINEUP Globetrotting professional racing sailor Gavin Brady will lead the lineup for Long Beach Yacht Club's 44th Congressional Cup on April 29-May 3 in America's only Grade 1 match racing regatta. Brady, a New Zealand native who has lived in Annapolis, Md. since 1988, has won the Congressional Cup three times---most recently in 2006---and is poised to equal Rod Davis and Peter Holmberg with his fourth victory. Another former winner in the lineup is Dave Perry, who won in 1983 and '84 and has successfully resurrected his match racing skills in recent years. This year's field features three of the world's top 10 match racers and six of the top 20, as rated by the International Sailing Federation. Brady isn't in either group because other commitments, including last year's America's Cup with BMW Oracle, allowed him time for only five match racing events over the past two years. Besides his three wins in the Congressional Cup, he has been in the semifinals six times and the finals five times. The 10 six-man crews will sail Catalina 37s owned by the Long Beach Sailing Foundation, rotating boats daily. They'll race a double round-robin of match racing, followed by the fleet race and best-of-three championship sailoffs Saturday, April 15. Other entrants include Eugeniy Neugodnikov, Russia, No. 7; Pierre-Antoine Morvan, France, No. 8; Damien Iehl, France, No. 10; Philippe Presti, France, No. 14; Andrew Arbuzov, Russia, No. 15; Johnie Berntsson, Sweden, No. 19; Simon Minoprio, New Zealand, No. 26; Dave Perry, USA, No. 44; Brady and Scott Dickson, also a New Zealand native but a Long Beach resident who qualified by winning last fall's Ficker Cup. -- http://www.lbyc.org/concup FROSTAD NEW VOLVO OCEAN RACE CEO Norway’s Knut Frostad (40) has been appointed as Chief Executive of the Volvo Ocean Race. Frostad, who has taken part in the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race four times, twice as skipper and manager of his own projects, will take up his position at race headquarters in Whiteley, UK, on March 3. With background in business management and administration, Frostad has also been a board member and industrial advisor to leading companies as well as a sought after business speaker in Europe. “My immediate focus is the present race,” said Frostad. “The 2008-09 race is pretty much laid out. The team in place in race head quarters is experienced and professional which will ensure a seamless transition.” The 2008-09 event will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on 4 October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 37,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org TOTAL FABRICATION Recent reports that Ernesto Bertarelli is to sell Alinghi to two “rich Canadian sailing mates of Brad Butterworth; John Risley and Dan Meyers.” have been forcefully denied by Dan Meyers, in an interview with BYM News. Q: I’m sure you’ve heard about the rumor that you are going to buy Alinghi together with John Risley. Is there any truth in that? Dan Meyers: It’s a lie. Q: Is there any truth in that you are, at least, going to buy into Alinghi? Dan Meyers: No, none what so ever. It’s a total fabrication. They just make this stuff up. -- http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=22805 ANNAPOLIS, ERIE, SANTA BARBARA, LONG BEACH... .. Chicago, New Jersey, Detroit, and Long Island are among the upcoming locations where Dave Perry, David Dellenbaugh, and Brad Dellenbaugh are teaching Rules and Tactics Seminars. From fundamental principles to nuances highlighting the difference between right-of-way and control, understand the rules and the tactics the rules dictate. You can’t play the game if you don’t know the rules. Enrollment is limited. Sign up now (risk free) and receive Perry’s Rules Quiz book and Dellebaugh’s Rules DVDs with the course. Learn more at NorthU. Call 800-347-2457 or http://www.northu.com MOTHS REACH CRITICAL MASS It was one of those moments that occur where the significance is hard to gauge. You know, “one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” The International Moth class - those foiling crafts popular among high performance tech-heads in Australia and Europe - has landed in the US, and had six boats racing last weekend at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, CA. The group was a mix of youth, techies, Olympic campaigners and professional sailors. A broad mix… and in their eyes, a perfect mix. Because it is a development class, the Moth fleet had long been the domain of only those willing to suffer through the trials of learning the right combination of this or that, toiling away in their basements, building their carbon machines. However, now there is a production boat available, so those willing to take on the reality of foiling need only place their order and wait a few months until the Fed-Ex truck delivers the box… literally. The idea is for the boats to be very transportable, so all the components are designed to break down to the size of oversize airline baggage. Away regattas have never been easier. The timing for the class couldn’t be better. Countries have finalized their Olympic teams, so countless campaigners are on the sidelines looking for a new fix. With the America’s Cup on hiatus, some folks simply have extra time on their hands. As for the US, the national class was formalized a week ago. Total stateside boats are now kissing twenty, and with the majority presently on the west coast, the plan is for the first Nationals to be held in August… at where else… the Gorge. With the big winds that the site is known for, the US Moth class is expecting a big launch for their inaugural year … literally. -- Scuttleblog, see photos at http://tinyurl.com/29rpm6 YNGLING WORLDS Miami, FL (February 15, 2008) – Even though defending champions Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, and Pippa Wilson (GBR) won the 2008 Yngling Worlds with a day to spare on Thursday, the final medal race on Friday still had a lot on the line to determine the remaining top ten positions. However, at the end of the day, little would change, with Krystal Weir/ Karyn Gojnich/ Angela Farrell (AUS) remaining in second, and Ulrike Schuemann/ Julia Bleck/ Ute Hoepfner (GER) still in third. The American team of Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Capozzi (USA) finished four points back in fourth, with this event confirming their position as the country’s 2008 Olympic Yngling representative. The Worlds was also the final opportunity for a country to qualify for the Olympic Games, with the final four slots going to France, Norway, Greece, and Italy. The top Canadian team of Jen Provan, Martha Henderson and Katie Abbott finished 23rd overall and ultimately sixth in the country qualification challenge, thus outside the qualification parameters for the Olympic Games. -- http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/ynglingworlds/index.asp CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) Swiss skipper Dominique Wavre and French yachtswoman Michele Paret crossed the finish line in their IMOCA Open 60 "Temenos II" to become the third boat in the Barcelona World Race. They finished at 18.09 GMT on Sunday after 98 days 7 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds at sea. Next came Spanish skippers Javier "Bubi" Sansó and Pachi Rivero at 00:18:40 GMT February 19 to take fourth place. Only Educación sin Fronteras, sailed by Servane Escoffier and Albert Bargues, remains at sea - some 1300 miles from the finish. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.org ULTIMATE DO-IT-ALL DESIGN Tagged as the ultimate do-it-all design, Camet Agility shorts are ideal for any seasonal outings with an aerobic component. Our shorts offer high-grade utility and all-season ability. Their draw is a signature stretch-woven textile, which sheds weather, stretches mechanically, and breathes freely whether racing, cruising or traveling. Two elements work together to inhibit material wetness - a tight material weave and DWR that sheds surface moisture away. Learn more about Agility at http://www.camet.com/?Click=713 SAILING SHORTS * Nearly to 1,000 sailors in 200 boats raced in the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta held on Tampa Bay. Local sailor Robbie Brown and co-skipper Chuck Allen, of Wickford, R.I., strung together a score-line full of ones to take first place in the 26-boat J/24 fleet by 18 points and the regatta's overall prize, a Sunsail charter boat and entry into the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Caribbean Rendezvous in the British Virgin Islands in November. In the huge 49-boat Melges 24 Fleet, Terry Hutchinson scored a three point win over Brian Porter. -- http://www.sailingworld.com/nood_regatta.jsp * ISAF Vice-President Nucci Novi Ceppellini (65) passed away on Friday February 15 in Genoa, Italy after a brave fight against cancer. -- http://www.sailing.org/ * In a satellite phone call to the organizers of the Antarctica Cup yacht race, Fedor Knoyukov said he was experiencing "very harsh conditions with winds 50-55 knots, gusts up to 65 knots, and monstrous seas. “Some of the waves are half the height of my 110ft mast. It is difficult to breath on deck when standing against the wind." His main sail was lashed down to the boom and he had only a third of his stay sail set, but was he was traveling at 10 knots and surfing 15 knots on the waves. http://antarcticacup.com/ * Interlux will be awarding $60,000 in grants at the Miami International Boat Show in February 2009. Eight grants from $5,000 to $25,000 will be awarded to organizations to create sustainable waterfront environmental improvements in their communities. Applications are now being accepted and organizations have from April 1, 2008 to November 5, 2008 to apply. Judging will take place from November 12, 2008 to January 4, 2009, with grant awards being made in Miami in February 2009. To join the Waterfront Challenge: http://www.wfchallenge.com * Fresh after a full lay-day of recovery from the Florida Masters Championship regatta 42 Laser Masters descended upon the US Sailing Center in Jensen Beach, FL for the Master’s Midweek Madness Regatta. After five race Ari Barshi from the Laser Training Center scored a six-point victory over Mike Matan with John MacCausland taking third place. David Frasier was the top placing Grand Master, finishing fifth overall while David Hartman in eight place was the top Great Grand Master. http://tinyurl.com/2drdqa * The Carbon Challenge sailing syndicate has issued a press release stating that pending ‘financial support’ they will attempt to enter the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race as a means “to highlight the global warming emergency.” According to the release, the syndicate will be led by Campaign Director, Tom Weaver and compete in the recycled VO70, Pirates of the Caribbean. -- http://www.carbonchallenge.net/ * The Alinghi website has reported that Alinghi president Ernesto Bertarelli is to be awarded the “Audi Sailor of the Year Special Award.” The prize giving ceremony will take place in Rome, Italy, on February 26. -- http://tinyurl.com/2svs3v * Jim Bishop took first place in the IRC division of the Miami Nassau ocean race 2008 in his J/44 Gold Digger. The 2008 race started off Miami in light airs, on the south side of an approaching cold front. As the front passed, high pressure brought increasing winds that swept the fleet home on a fast reach. First across the line was the German Frers 80 yacht Hexe, skippered by Robert Plambeck, which completed the course in 25 hours 36 minutes and 5 seconds. Winning the PHRF division was Charles Evans on the beautiful Cherubini 48 schooner, Munequita. -- http://www.miaminassauraceweek.com STAY CURRENT. IRC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN GREAT LAKES Did you know that he 3rd Annual Rolex US-IRC Championship is scheduled for July 25-27 at the Little Traverse Yacht Club in Harbor Springs MI? Get all the US-IRC news at http://www.us-irc.org or stay current by subscribing to the US-IRC e-news at http://www.us-irc.org/join.cfm LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Arthur I. "Art" Karpf, New Rochelle, NY: (from story in Issue 2534) The Earthrace Ecoboat is an admirable project, but why did they have to use teakwood for the cockpit sole. Considering the world's diminishing teak supplies, perhaps moulded non-skid or Treadmaster would have served as well or better, and certainly have set a better example. * From Karen Cooper: I just have one thing to say in response to Mike Perry's painfully enlightening letter on the woes of offshore racing (Issue 2534): I might not know much about boat butt, but caipirinhas are far from 'nasty,' and when made properly (with cachaça, not rum - wiki it!), the Brazilians may even go as far as to say that they are one of God's gifts to mankind. I'm sure if you have enough of them you can forget about any kind of crippling spreading scourge ::shudder:: * From Chris Ericksen: I loved Alfred Poor's letter in 'Butt 2354. He is right: there is nothing new about "men who are spoiled" and "fail to understand the importance of sportsmanship" contesting the ownership of the America's Cup. The history of the challenges is filled with the stories such men, perhaps most notably but not exclusively the oft-maligned Lord Dunraven. One man who might be described as a "business brat" was Thomas W. Lawson of Boston who was involved in an acrimonious spat over the 1901 defense: he rather pointedly refused to join New York Yacht Club so as to defend the Cup on behalf of the club that held it. On the other hand, suggesting that challengers were required to sail their boats to the location of the regatta probably should not be not be listed as an example of poor sportsmanship by the New York Yacht Club. Remember that "America" had to do just that to win the Cup in the first place. Besides, NYYC was actually pretty lenient on this point in the old days: the Canadian challenger "Atalanta" was permitted to be towed through the Erie Canal in 1881, for example, and "Shamrock III" was towed at least part way across the Atlantic by a tug for the 1903 challenge. I'm not a naval architect, either, but the fact that challengers of that era had to be passage-worthy was probably, as Mister Poor suggests, a "small factor." * From Dave Price: Any report on the results of the Feb.13 Newport Beach, CA City Council meeting discussion on the 5 mph speed limit for sailboats in the harbor? With no reported injuries, fatalities, major reported collisions there seems to be a knee jerk reaction to what has been going on and enjoyed for 70 odd years in our bay. The Chamber even features yacht racing in their PR - encouraging tourists from around the world to come enjoy scenic and up close diversified watercraft participating in what they do best. I must concede that the 50-mile per hour speed boat races of earlier years had to give way to the more tranquil ambiance of today's symbiotic relationship of sailing vessels, power cruisers and the mass of dinner cruisers that share our waters. Local residents, yachts-persons and business folks would like to know what has prompted so much concern from the governing authorities. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: An update regarding the situation in Newport Beach, CA and the proposal to impose a 5mph limit for sailboat racing in the harbor can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/28g43q CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.” - Ronald Reagan Special thanks to Camet International, North U, and US-IRC. A complete list of Scuttlebutt’s preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
