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SCUTTLEBUTT #526 - March 10, 2000SUPER CHALLENGENew 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:
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) |
