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SCUTTLEBUTT #526 - March 10, 2000
SUPER CHALLENGE
New York Yacht Club Commodore George "Dooie" Isdale and St. Francis Yacht
Club Commodore Bruce Munro the possibility of a bicoastal super challenge
that would pool the resources of the two clubs is being discussed. "I think
we might like to participate in a super challenge," Isdale said. "The
United States of America has to strike with power, not fragmentation."
This reiterates earlier comments by AmericaOne skipper and CEO Paul Cayard
who said that there were too many U.S. syndicates challenging for the Cup,
which diluted the available resources. However, Munro was more circumspect.
"Discussions are in the preliminary stage right now and I really cannot
discuss details at this time," he said. "I will just say that we have been
bitten by the America's Cup bug at the St. Francis Yacht Club and we would
certainly consider another challenge, especially if Paul was again the
captain of our team."
If a super challenge does come together, the representing team is likely to
be AmericaOne. This year's NYYC entry, Young America, failed to advance to
the semifinals following the near sinking of its first boat, USA-53. The
club is in the market for a new challenger representative because it has
severed ties with the Young America foundation, its assets sold recently to
Prada.
"The biggest problem (with a super challenge) is managing the egos," Isdale
said. "It's difficult but possible. We just have to make sure everyone is
paddling the canoe in the same direction." However, there may be a bigger
problem. That's the issue of which club gets to host the venue and defend
the Cup. "That's one of the things we have to work out," he conceded.
There's also the question of whether the new Protocol will even permit such
a challenge. Rules regarding the transfer of technology between two teams
(even of the same nationality) have been tightened in the new Protocol
issued for the 2003 America's Cup. -- Larry Edwards, Quokka Sports
Full story: http://sailing.quokka.com/stories/
BACARDI CUP
MIAMI, FL. (March 9, 2000)-Despite taking a narrow lead Thursday in the
74th Annual BACARDI Cup Star-Class Regatta, Germany's Marc Pickel and
Thomas Auracher know they shouldn't get too overconfident - especially when
being chased by several Olympians. With one race remaining, several teams -
including Britain's Ian Walker and Mark Covell and defending BACARDI Cup
Champions Ross Macdonald and Kai Bjorn -- are in position to win one of the
world's most prestigious sailing events. The final race is scheduled to
begin at 11 a.m. Friday.
Pickel, whose third-place finish on Thursday was good enough to propel him
into the overall lead in the 96-team field, isn't about to start thinking
about how he'll sip rum from the prestigious Trofeo Bacardi. His plans,
though, on the eve of the event's final race could be a premonition. "I'm
going to stay relaxed, have a couple of Bacardis tonight and sail a good
race tomorrow," said the 28-year-old skipper. "We're happy with today's
results and hopefully we can stay consistent and win."
Walker, the British skipper and Olympic qualifier who is just one point
behind Pickel, says the pressure is off because he's guaranteed a high
finish. Pickel finished 33rd in the third race, while Walker and Covell
haven't finished worse than 12th. Based on the low-point scoring system,
teams can discard their worst finish in the six-race event.
"If you can still win it heading into the final day, then you have to be
pretty happy," said Walker, who finished in sixth place in Thursday's race.
"Still, you have to take a risk to win the final race. And that is what
we'll basically try to do - win the race. "
DAY FOUR RESULTS (race five)
1. Vincent Hoesch/Florian Fendt (Germany)
2. Colin Beashel/David Giles (Sydney)
3. Marc Pickel/Thomas Auracher (Germany)
4. Mats Johansson/Leif Moller (Sweden)
5. Ross Macdonald/Kai Bjorn (Canada)
Overall BACARDI Cup Standings (with a throwout)
1. Marc Pickel/Thomas Auracher (Germany), 4-3-36-6-3, 16
2. Ian Walker/Mark Covell (Great Britain), 2-12-1-8-6, 17
3. Ross Macdonald/Kai Bjorn (Canada), 11-15-3-1-5, 20
4. Jose Van Der Ploeg/Rafa Trujillo(Spain), 3-5-8-5-11, 21
5. Colin Beashel/David Giles (Sydney), 18-2-13-7-2, 24
6. Vince Brun/Mike Dorgan (San Diego), 33-1-5-9-13, 28
7. Vincent Hoesch/Florian Fendt (Germany), 15-7-12-10-1, 30
8. Mark Mansfield/Dan Brien (Ireland), 8-6-6-12-24, 32
9. Eric Doyle/Tom Olsen (United States), 14-4-DNF-14-7, 39
10. Peter Bromby/Lee White (Bermuda), 1-22-16-2-21, 40
More information: http://www.bacardi.com/
VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Lawrie Smith's Volvo Ocean 60 has been re-named "Team Lawrie Smith". The
Bruce Farr design was called "Silk Cut" when it set a world 24 hour speed
record for a monohull of 449.1 miles on Leg 2 of the 1997-98 Whitbread
Race, while sailing under the burgee of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club.
The name has been changed because the sponsors of the 97-98 campaign do not
wish to continue for the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race in 2001-2. The new
name was chosen to promote Team Lawrie Smith's entry in next year's Volvo
backed event while new sponsors are secured. It is intended to use the boat
as part of a two-boat campaign for the race.
As the sole British syndicate registered for the Volvo Ocean Race, the team
are monitoring developments closely, several of the crew from the last
Whitbread have been recruited for next time, and sponsorship consultancy
John Taylor International, based in Basingstoke, have been appointed to
raise the budget. Meanwhile the boat is in Hamble, and will be re-launched
in April to take part in several events this summer. It will sail in the
Round the Island Race, Paimpol to Reykavik Race, and the RORC's Round
Britain and Ireland Race. -- Lizzie Green
Event website: http://www.VolvoOceanRace.org
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250
words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per subject,
so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree.
-- From Frank M. Gleberman, Past Commodore, California Yacht Club -- Class
act on the part of New Zealand, inviting Prada to join in the victory
parade in Wellington. Just as classy was Prada accepting the invitation.
It may be a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but certainly a
heartening gesture on the part of all in trying to return the America's Cup
competition to a sporting competition of high standards as well as business
interests. Sure would be rewarding to see more of these types of niceties!
-- From Chuck Gravengood; I am glad to see someone else (Dan Somers SB#525)
shares my surprise when Doug Peterson slammed the TNZ design team and
frankly the whole country of new Zealand when he suggested they weren't
capable of making a boat go fast with the configurations they unveiled.
Where is Doug Now? I think he should answer for his most obvious mistake in
design theory, don't you?
-- From Ron Martyn -- In reply to Dan Somers on Doug Peterson, I think that
the Curmudgeon said it all in his observations in #525 - it's foolish to
open your mouth BEFORE the event.
-- From William Warterfield -- In fact, Churchill wrote a note in the
margin of one of Anthony Eden's drafts: " This is exactly the kind of
English up with which I shall not put. "
TEAK DECK RACING
Enrico Chieffi, newly appointed Head of The ClubSwan Racing Office, is
pleased to announce that the Swan Cup Notice of Race is now available and
has been sent to all Swan Owners. "We have already received some 30
advance applications for the Notice of Race following the announcement of
the dates in January. Based upon previous experience this is an
exceptional response and we expect demand to be as high as ever. A limit
of 75 boats has been set, since this is the optimum number for
accommodation, moorings and start line action! The first Swan Cup of the
new millennium will be a special occasion with the prospect of the Swan 80
and 82RS models making debut appearances."
For those unfamiliar with this fabulous event, now into its 11th edition,
the stunning backdrop of Porto Cervo plays host once again to the 5 days of
intense competition. Over the years, the full range of Swan yachts have
competed for the sought after Swan Cup trophy. In 1998, Hans Eekhof's Swan
60, Innovision 5, won the event with an all star crew which included
Russell Coutts on the helm.
The 2000 event has been the subject of refinement and review, and whilst
the pinnacle of achievement for any Swan owner will remain the lifting of
the Swan Cup, throughout the fleet there will be the opportunity to win a
variety of class and day trophies. -- Susannah Bourne
SWAN CUP 2000, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Monday, 28th August - Saturday, 2nd
September
OTHER 2000 SWAN CHALLENGE TROPHIES:
Caribbean Challenge, Antigua Sailing Week | 30 Apr - 6 May |
Northern European Challenge, comprising: | |
IR 2000 Championship on | 23 - 25 June |
Cork Week | 15 - 21 July |
Cowes Week | 29 July - 5 August |
Baltic Sea Challenge, Flensburger Fordewoche | 9th - 17th September |
Mediterranean Challenge, Voiles de St Tropez | 2 - 8 October |
Atlantic Challenge, Atlantic Rally for Cruisers | 19 November |
Additional information: racing-office@nautors-swan.com
YACHT DESIGN
In the current issue of Grand Prix Sailor, David Predrick has done a very
thoughtful design analysis as why New Zealand's IACC boat was faster than
all of the challengers. My good friends at GPS get a bit testy if I
'borrow' too much of their copy, but let me whet your appetite with this
brief excerpt:
"Team New Zealand's forward thinking begins in their yachts' bow shape. A
noticeably steeper stem profile than the challengers' rises above a knuckle
in the profile just below the waterline. Because the International
America's Cup Class Rule severely penalizes rated length above a "soft"
upper limit, there's a design corner with little variation among the
yachts. New Zealand's bow allows a longer effective sailing length within
the design corner. A flat section under the counter reduces rated length
further in the manner of America's Cup winners Australia II and Stars &
Stripes '87. Additional features of the keel fin, bulb and slightly wider
beam than Prada gave New Zealand greater power and upwind speed potential."
Pedrick's complete story will be online today by noon EST:
http://www.sailingworld.com
RECOGNITION
Magnolia, MA (February 8, 2000) - On February 28, 2000, Christopher
Patterson (class of '99) and Patrick Rynne (class of '01) were awarded US
SAILING'S Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal. The two received the medal for
saving the life of a third student, Christopher Pine.
Last April, during an Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) team race
off Manchester Harbor in Massachusetts, two teens got to test much more
than their racing skills. Both witnessed a 25-30 knot puff of wind cause a
competing 420 to pitch-pole, throwing its skipper, Christopher Pine,
forward into the rigging where his foot became tightly entangled in lines.
Pine's crew was thrown clear of the boat which then started to "turtle,"
pulling Pine under water. Further trouble ensued when, because of a
damaged forward flotation tank, the boat began sinking.
Realizing that, if the boat did turtle, Pine would certainly drown,
Christopher Patterson, the skipper of Saint Sebastian's 420, dove into the
frigid 40-degree water and wrestled with the capsized hull in a valiant
attempt to keep the boat on its side. The high winds made this a nearly
impossible feat.
When noticing Patterson standing on the boat's capsized rail and
recognizing the seriousness of the situation, another St. Sebastian
skipper, Patrick Rynne, jumped into the water in an attempt to disentangle
Pine from the sinking boat. Stripping off his life-vest and opening and
flooding his dry suit with water, Rynne managed to overcome buoyancy and
dive down to Pine. The capsized boat, however, was rapidly sinking,
dragging Pine under with each wave. Rynne took about eight more dives -
each at increasing depth - in order to free Pine from the lines-
accomplishing the feat just before the boat sank. Although high school
sailing rules mandate that all sailors wear PFD's, Rynne's quick and
accurate assessment that he could not save Pine without shedding his own
safety gear truly saved the day.
While Patterson and Rynne struggled to free Pine, the Committee boat picked
up Pine's crew and the Patterson and Rynne crews took the helms of their
420s. Everyone returned to shore safely. Patterson is now a student at
Hobart College, and the 420s sailed in this race have all been replaced
with new ones. . -- Penny Piva
Website: http://www.ussailing.org
WEEKEND TELEVISION
The final presentation of America's Cup 2000 airs on ESPN2 at 1:30 PM ET
(10:30 AM PT), Sunday, March 12. There is no home video planned so this is
a good chance to record all the highlights in a one-hour program.
The program will start with the first race of the America's Cup and then
weave all the best highlights of the challenger trials and finish with the
America's Cup. When you look at this event all at once it makes you wonder
what it will take to get this trophy away from the Kiwis. -- Jobson
Sailing, http://www.jobsonsailing.com/
THE RACE
ENGLAND - After waiting for 5 days for a favourable weather window, Pete
Goss1s revolutionary 120-foot catamaran was finally launched on March 4th.
40,000 spectators were present for the launching in the River Dart, at
Totnes, Devon (GB). "This boat has been built to win The Race", declared
Pete Goss during a press conference.
Already, Pete Goss's team are busy preparing the boat for the naming
ceremony by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will take place on March
14th, starting at 15.00, opposite the famous Tower Bridge in London. --
Stephanie Schroeder
The Race website: http://www.therace.org/english/
LIFE AFTER THE CUP
Ed Baird concurs with Riley regarding Cayard's comment about multiple U.S.
syndicates chasing the Cup. "I don't think it's a valid criticism that we
had too many efforts. If you look at the places around the world where
strong challenges come from, they have energetic, involved people behind
them. That's what we sailors have to do is to get that energy behind us. I
think there are plenty of resources out there to put more than a few
challenges together in our country. You're asking a lot if you want to
limit the number of challengers from a certain country. You're really
restricting certain regions from participating that way.
Is there another America's Cup bid in the future for Baird? Most likely, he
says. In the interim, he hopes his next trip down under will be for a
different kind of match racing - the Olympic Soling Class. Baird and his
crew Tom Burnham and Dean Brenner are training full time for the U.S.
Olympic Soling trials, which begin next month. -- Dan Dickison, Sailnet
website
Full story: http://www.sailnet.com/articles/
COLLEGIATE SAILING
The Inter-Collegiate Yacht Racing Association has moved and overhauled
their website:
http://www.collegesailing.org
PERSONAL NOTE
They're gone! After strenuous daily workouts at the World Gym in Marina del
Rey and total depravation from sweets and alcohol, those four unwanted
pounds that I brought back with me from Puerto Vallarta have vanished. I'm
back at my best fighting weight -- ready to race around Catalina Island
tomorrow on Sandy Martin's 62-foot Merrythought.
THE CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATIONS
"The illiterate person in the year 2000 will not be the individual who does
not read or write but the one who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn." -
Alvin Toffler (Future Shock)
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