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SCUTTLEBUTT 2332 - April 27, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE Valencia, 26 April 2007 - BMW has used the tagline "The Ultimate Driving Machine" for 31 years, and while recent auto news is critical of them replacing it with "A Company of Ideas," it would appear that the BMW Oracle Racing team has an idea of their own, as their two wins today maintained their status as the only undefeated team. Also on a bit of a streak is Desafío Español, which has now won four consecutive matches with their two wins on Thursday, further solidifying their overall position. Racing conditions were excellent with an Easterly wind of 7-12 knots blowing across the race areas. The gusty and shifty conditions kept the races close, with penalties the deciding factor in a number of races. This was certainly the case with the match between Luna Rossa Challenge and Emirates Team New Zealand. The Italians seemingly held all the cards in this one, getting a pre-start penalty on the Kiwis and leading the way. But when they lost the lead on the final run, the door was opened for the New Zealand team to try to get an equalizing penalty. They failed at the task, but the moment made for great spectating to the very end. Results from Thursday (Day 11) Flight 8 1. Desafío Español 2007 beat United Internet Team Germany by 00:52 2. Victory Challenge beat Areva Challenge by 00:05 4. Emirates Team New Zealand won, China Team did not start 5. Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team beat Team Shosholoza by 01:56 6. BMW Oracle Racing beat +39 Challenge by 02:14 Bye - BMW Oracle Racing Flight 9 1. Desafío Español 2007 beat Victory Challenge by 00:35 2. Luna Rossa Challenge beat Emirates Team New Zealand by 00:48 3. Areva Challenge won, China Team did not start 4. Team Shosholoza beat + 39 Challenge by 00:26 5. BMW Oracle Racing beat Mascalzone Latino Capitalia Team by 01:38 Bye - Victory Challenge * For complete details from Thursday’s racing: http://tinyurl.com/28wz5b Provisional Leaders (Bonus Pts - Matches Sailed - Matches Won - Total Pts) 1. BMW Oracle Racing (USA 98) 3-8-8-19 2. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL 92) 4-8-6-16 3. Luna Rossa Challenge (ITA 94) 3-8-6-15 3. Desafío Español 2007 (ESP 97) 3-8-6-15 5. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia (ITA 99) 2-8-6-14 6. Victory Challenge (SWE 96) 2-8-5-12 7. Team Shosholoza (RSA 83) 2-9-4-10 8. Areva Challenge (FRA 93) 1-8-3-7 9. United Internet Team Germany (GER 89) 1-8-1-3 10. +39 Challenge (ITA 85) 2-8-0-2 11. China Team (CHN 95) 1-9-0-1 Note: 2 points are awarded for each match won. * The China Team discovered a problem with their keelbox (keel and hull connection) prior to racing on Thursday and returned to their base to investigate. An email sent by the team later that day was not specific as to the nature of the problem, but it did say that the repair work was estimated to take 72 hours. * The rumors started during Act 13 when Emirates Team New Zealand had helmsman Dean Barker sit and give back-up driver Ben Ainslie some reps. With the loss by the Kiwis early in the Round Robin 1 against Mascalzone Latino - Capitalia Team, and the loss again today in a critical match against the Luna Rosa team, the bloggers are sinking their teeth into this debate, and wondering (loudly) about Barker’s job security. Here is a sample from the Rule 69 Blog: http://www.rule69blog.com/archive/2007/april/261/ * The race schedule, by design, attempts to keep the best matches for last, and they have succeeded at that. Desafío Español 2007 will be twice in the spotlight on Friday, as their position on the leaderboard will be tested as they go against BMW Oracle Racing and Luna Rossa Challenge. However, it is the final match of the day that will fill the stands: Emirates Team New Zealand vs. BMW Oracle Racing. See the complete schedule at http://www.americascup.com/en/americascup/program/calendrier.php * Flights 10 and 11 are on for Friday, which would complete the schedule for Round Robin 1. If these flights are completed, the schedule rolls right into Round Robin 2 on Saturday, where each team will get one more race against each other. It will be at the close RR2 when the top 4 teams advance to the semi-finals. The forecast for Friday is for lots of clouds, lighter but steady breezes from northeast, and the risk of rain. Temperature is expected to be about 16 degrees C (61 degrees F). *MOM* IS THE WORD AT NORTH SAILS Mother's Day is May 13 and North Sails has an awesome selection of ladies gear and accessories that all Moms will love! From our Fleece Vests ($42) and Canvas Seersucker Handbags ($48) to our Ladies Sandals in four spring colors ($33.95), we strive to supply Mom with fashionable and comfortable gear for sailing and everyday wear. Scuttlebutt readers who type the word MOM in the comments box during check-out before May 4 will receive a free gift! http://na.northsails.com/MothersDay.htm WE’VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE “I am sick of the America’s Cup.” Yes, we have heard this before, often when folks find that there is too much attention given to the event in Scuttlebutt. We admit that our interest wavers at times, and it doesn’t help when there is a lot of negative energy surrounding the event, i.e., the winds are bad, the city is a sewer, ACM is a pain, the national teams are full of foreigners, the event is elitist, the boat’s are ridiculous, match racing is boring… yada, yada, yada. However, the breeze is blowing again, the boats are racing, and admit it, any one of us would give our full kit of sailing gear to be turning the handles in an America’s Cup race. What’s saving this event, in our eyes, is the Internet. Live television isn’t yet available in the U.S., and that’s okay. Sailing is a slow game to watch, and following some of the Challenger series’ mismatches won’t heighten your interest. TV also has a bad habit of dumbing down the sport, and their on-air broadcasters are often too proper. But the Internet is changing this, bringing the fun back, and letting us appreciate the game. Reading the on-course updates by Mark Chisnell and James Boyd, and listening to the radio commentary by the team of Dee Smith, Geordie Shaver, Matthew Sheahan, and Peter Rusch is… entertaining. Races like the one between Luna Rosa and Emirates Team New Zealand on Thursday are coming alive online. Give it a chance. And, btw, if ACM legal counsel Ana Gil-Robles is offended by anything in this post, you know where to find us. -- Scuttleblog, http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog Here is a list of the Internet links: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/acup VIDEO OF THE WEEK There are plenty of passengers these days riding the Internet video bandwagon, and one-design classes are among those onboard. The Lightning class is featured in this week’s video, where their 1:24 minute medley of sailing moments includes the quick editing and music that gets the attention of the Scuttlebutt staff. After sailing with class champion Greg Fisher, or alongside the tight fleet racing, you might find yourself reaching for your favorite post-race cold beverage to recover. Also, if you have a video you like, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/07/0423 FRENCH SAILING OLYMPIC WEEK Hyeres, France (April 26, 2007) Strong Easterly winds finally arrived on Thursday, delivering with it the waves that provided exciting races to decide the top ten for Friday’s medal race. In the Yngling class, the three Dutch teams made it to the top ten and qualified for the medal race. After a slow start to the regatta, the British boats helmed by the Athens Gold medallists Sarah Ayton and Shirley Robertson are also in Friday’s race. Three British teams have also secured a place in the 49er class Medal race, while three French teams in the Men 470 are placed among the top 5. The Medal races will be scheduled Friday from 11:00 am to 2:15 pm. Despite the double points in the medal race, Canadians Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle have already won the Tornado class, as has RS:X Men entrant Tom Ashley (NZL). Drama was on the Laser Radial course for American Paige Railey, who broke her top section just prior to the start of the morning race. Able to replace it with the help of her coach, she later learned that the support she received was too close to the start time, forcing her to drop out from the race after her finish. Teammate Anna Tunniclife remained steady with an 8-5 in the Laser Radial, while 470 Men Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes (USA) started their day strong by winning the first race. -- Results: http://sof.ffvoile.net Top 3 results plus top North Americans Tornado (43 entrants): 1. CAN - Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle, 22; 2. GRE - Iordanis Paschalidis/ Konstantino Trigonis, 45; 3. ITA - Francesco Marcolini/ Edoardo Bianchi, 46 Yngling (29 entrants): 1. RUS - Ekaterina Skudina/ Diana Krutskikh/ Natalia Ivanova, 37; 2. GBR - Sarah Ayton/ Pippa Wilson/ Sarah Webb, 46; 3. USA - Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Capozzi, 49 Laser Radial (105 entrants): 1. NOR - Elin Maria Samdal, 39; 2. BEL - Evi Van Acker, 40; 3. NZL - Jo Aleh, 44; 5. USA - Anna Tunnicliffe, 51; 6. USA - Paige Railey, 52 470 Men (113 entrants): 1. FRA - Nicolas Charbonnier/ Olivier Bausset, 35; 2. FRA - Pierre Leboucher/ Vincent Garos, 40; 3. GRE - Mantis Panagiotis/ Theodoros Polichronid, 45; 8. USA - Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes, 84 Laser (188 entrants): 1. AUS - Michael Blackburn, 42; 2. SWE - Johan Wigforss, 50; 3. CRO - Tonci Stipanovic, 62; 9. USA - Brad Funk, 73 Finn (68 entrants): 1. DEN - Jonas Hoegh Christensen, 25; 2. GRE - Emilios Papathanasi, 27; 3. NZL - Dan Slater, 54; 17. USA - Zach Railey 108 470 Women (60 entrants): 1. ITA - Giulia Conti/ Giovanna Micol, 31; 2. GER - Stefanie Rothweiler/ Vivien Kussatz, 37; 3. FRA - Ingrid Petitjean/ Nadege Douroux, 55; 26. USA - Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving, 153 RS:X Men (108 entrants): 1. NZL - Tom Ashley, 15; 2. ISR - Shahar Zubari, 33; 3. FRA - Julien Bontemps, 39; 33. CAN - Zac Plavsic, 129 RS:X Women (71 entrants): 1. GBR - Bryony Shaw, 18; 2. ESP - Blanca Manchon, 24; 3. CHN - Yin Jian, 25; 33. CAN - Dominique Vallee, 139 49er (74 entrants): 1. GBR - Chris Draper/ Simon Hiscocks, 42; 2. GER - Marcus Baur/ Hannes Baumann, 53; 3. AUT - Nico Luca M Delle Karth/ Le Resch Nikolaus, 56; 34. CAN - Rob Dale/ Hunter Lowden, 169 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are a few of the events that are coming up: April 24 -28 - U.S. Multihull Championship - Melbourne, FL, USA April 25-28 - First Coast Offshore Challenge - Jacksonville, FL, USA April 26-28 - Texas Race Week - Galveston, TX, USA April 28 -29 - American Yacht Club Spring Series - Rye, NY, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar A RICH, COLORFUL LEGACY The names are legendary: Desmond Nicholson, Jolyon Byerly, Don Street, Tom Hill, Robin Tatersall, Peter Holmberg, Roy Disney. And let’s not forget the boats: Titan, Kialoa, Infinity, Sayonara, Morning Glory, Pyewacket. The sailors and vessels that have distinguished themselves over the four decades of world-class competition in the storied history of Stanford Antigua Sailing Week are a veritable Who’s Who in the sport of yacht racing. On the eve of the 40th Anniversary of the classic Caribbean festival of sail – this year’s event is right around the corner, with the action slated to begin on April 29 – it’s an appropriate time to look back on one of yachting’s best-known and most highly anticipated events. It was just over 40 years ago that yacht broker Desmond Nicholson and Antiguan hotelier Howard Hulford came up with the idea of a spring regatta that would extend the tourist and sailing seasons for charterers and yachtsmen alike. They joined forces with associates Ed Sheerin and Peter Deeth, and in June of 1968, a small fleet of 17 boats – Lord Jim, Escapade, Royono, Veleda, Eilean, Thamilla, Enzian, Jibaro, Lolaire, and eight others set out from English Harbour to set sail in a three-day event that marked the beginning of Antigua Sailing Week. -- Read on: http://www.caribbeanracing.com/artman/publish/article_867.shtml JK3 BOAT SHOW REPORT It was great to see everyone at the Strictly Sail Pacific in Oakland, CA where we displayed the new Delphia 40 GT, and at the Newport Lido Boat Show, where the Hunt Harrier 25 and CrossCurrent 33 were shown. If you weren’t one of the many to stop by, you should check out the new website with virtual tours on the boats, or give our team a call at 619.224.6200 to arrange a visit and/ or sea trial. Thanks again, and hope to see you soon. -- The team at JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc, http://www.jk3yachts.com SAILING SHORTS * French skipper Roland Jourdain officially confirmed his participation in the non-stop Barcelona World Race, onboard his Open 60 which has been renamed Veolia after signing a new title sponsorship deal with Veolia Environnement, bringing the total number of high quality entries to seven. Jourdain has three circumnavigations to his name - competing twice in the Whitbread Round the World Race (now the Volvo Ocean Race) in 1985 and 1989 and the Vendée Globe in 2000/01. Unfortunately, keel failure forced him out of the 2004/05 Vendée Globe. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com * The IOC Executive Board unanimously welcomed the idea to organize Youth Olympic Games (YOG). This means that the concept of this event will be put forward for consideration by the IOC Session in Guatemala City in July. The Youth Olympic Games are conceived, in conjunction with other initiatives, to address the decline in the relevance of sport amongst the younger generation and to give them an education based on values. -- Full report: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j1fFnA~qD&format=popup * April 26, 2007--West Marine, Inc. (Nasdaq:WMAR) today released unaudited operating results for the first quarter of 2007. Net loss for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007 was $11.2 million, or ($0.52) per share, compared to a restated net loss of $11.9 million, or ($0.56) per share, for the same period a year ago. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/yur5qj * This week's Volvo Sailing Podcast sees Guy Swindells on location in Valencia for all the latest America's Cup action. Among the many guests are BMW Oracle's American Navigater Peter Isler and Emirates Team New Zealand and Mean Machine stalwart Ray Davies. South Africa is also represented, with Shosholoza's Ian Ainslie as is Italy, with the +39 Challenger's Ian Walker. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS Like the headline states, this section of the Scuttlebutt website be the place for companies to post their product news, and for the Scuttlebutt reader to stay in touch with what’s soon to come to the stores. Look for the “New Product Announcements” section in the navigation on the site, or go straight there with this link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/products 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 Alan McReynolds, Rochester, NY: I can't believe I'm writing this, but I am drawn in! I read the Tack by Tack mentioned in S'butt #2330 and I was hooked again. Up to this point I have ignored the circus and said I was "done with the Cup". It is a stupid rich man's race with too much politics. I remember watching the cup racing beamed from Australia. I would set an alarm on my watch so when I fell asleep during the commercials it would wake me and I would not miss the action. I seem to remember bleary-eyed days at work the following day. "Those were the days." Well today I "tuned" into the Tack by Tack and could not stop watching/ listening. It reminded me of listening to games on the radio with my dad when I was a kid. You can go about your business (thank god I work for myself) and still "listen" in. This is great stuff!!! Who needs TV (especially bad coverage, from some reports) when you have a great typist/ announcer? Thanks for setting me straight again. * From Guy Nowell, Editor, Sail World Asia: Bob Fisher tells that he was not allowed to use 'America's Cup' in the main title of his book (An Absorbing Interest) because ACM invoked copyright... Amazing. As the Asia Editor of Sail-World.com I have notified my lawyers to go after anyone using the words 'sail', 'world', or '.com'. * From Brian Trotta: ACM appears to have taken a page out of the NFL's marketing playbook: don't allow anyone to use the name of your event without them handing you a safe full of cash. That's why in late January we hear about preparations for "the big game" not the "Super Bowl." There's no denying that the NFL's heavy-handed enforcement of its trademark has been effective. But the difference between the NFL and ACM is that the NFL has the most popular one-day sporting event in the world and their audience continues to climb every year. ACM has an event that's so far off the radar of the casual sports fan, you can't even call it a third-tier sport in most of the world. I'm all for protecting the AC brand, but perhaps ACM should begin by picking a better location for the races and overhauling it's own pathetic race coverage. * From Doug Christie: Perth, the race that Steelworkers, Taxis Drivers and Sailors still talk about, should alternate with Hawaii as the venue for the Cup. If anyone is serious about holding an event with a wider appeal than the aficionados of our sport, there has to be excitement, which both venues deliver. * From Gareth Evans, UK: Regarding those who are talking up Hawaii, etc. as a better site for the next America's Cup, you have to win the cup first. And after such a long absence from Europe, us Europeans are not going to let it go back to the US without a fight! Good luck... * From John Rumsey: Thanks to Dick Jennings for bringing the first Santa Cruz 70, Pied Piper, to the Great Lakes in the early eighties and setting a Chicago-Mac record that stood for 20 years. * From Bill Sweetser: Regarding Tom Hagoort’s concern in Issue 2330 that there is not a device that can identify nearby boats at sea, such devices are now becoming available. Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers are now available for small boats that need to know where ships are at night or in the fog. Many sell for a few hundred dollars and prices are coming down. An excellent reference site for Tom or anyone who has an interest in collision avoidance at sea is MyBoatsGear.com. It has unbiased information on AIS devices, radar reflectors and a wealth of other products. * From Bruce Brown: If sailors are serious about being seen by vessels, it would be valuable to install AIS onboard your boat. This VHF based system is a ship to ship, ship to shore, and shore to ship network of transmitters and receivers that "ping" each other to query location, speed, and course. Commercial vessels are required to use them. A new class of these devices is due on the market shortly that reduces the cost to the end user. Now that the FCC has approved the standard for Class B AIS systems, many are in process of gaining FCC approval as a product available to sell. Units can be interfaced with onboard plotters to plot vessel positions. Some units have displays that allow stand-alone installation. These systems are interfaced to a GPS to provide information about location, speed, and course. AIS is quickly becoming the best means of being seen anywhere on the ocean. The link to the USCG site on AIS is: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/enav/ais/default.htm CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “You only have to do a very few things right in your life, so long as you don't do too many things wrong.” - Warren Buffett Special thanks to North Sails and JK3 Nautical Enterprises. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
