|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1804 - March 28, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections,
contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting
viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal
attacks for elsewhere.
COMMENTARY
If you want to get into theories, you might wonder if the wording that
Coutts "shall not sail" for another team in the 2007 America's Cup in
Valencia leaves him open to work in an off-the-water capacity, providing,
of course, he gets around the 180-day stand-down clause Bertarelli brought
in for his benefit to sideline him for Valencia after he parted company
with Alinghi. Here's another theory. Bertarelli and Co can't be bothered
working their way through various legal battlegrounds with Coutts, and
offered him a boatload of money to lie low until 2008.
Then again, since getting chopped by Alinghi, Coutts has talked nothing but
a fierce desire to get back in the game. So maybe Coutts is just tired of
it all and fancies a break. The America's Cup is all about machinations and
deviousness. Or as a mate of mine, no fan of the event, says, it's nothing
more than "big boys playing bath-tub battleships". - David Leggat, NZ
Herald, full story: www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10117198
MORE COUTTS SPECULATION
As part of the settlement he will not sail for another team in the next
cup. But it is not clear whether that means Coutts could still be involved
in a role other than sailing, and whether the change to the America's Cup
protocol - which Bertarelli and Oracle boss Larry Ellison instigated to
prevent Coutts from joining another team in any capacity - applies. Both
parties agreed to make no further comments.
Speculation was rife before the settlement that Coutts had joined Team Luna
Rossa (formerly Prada). Italian newspaper Il Giornale last week reported
that there was to have been a press conference to announce Coutts' arrival.
But it never took place because his legal situation had not been resolved.
The statement issued by Alinghi implies that Coutts will not be at the next
event, but yachting commentator Peter Lester said nothing was certain.
"Never say never in this game ... just because they have said that there
are bound to be more twists in it," he said. - Julie Ash, NZ Herald, full
story: www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?ObjectID=10117195
SALVAGED
Oxnard, Calif. - After struggling for several days, a salvage crew on
Thursday night refloated a 90-foot San Pedro-based brigantine that went
aground in Ventura County on Monday. Crowds on the beach in Oxnard cheered
as the handmade sailing ship Irving Johnson was pulled off a sandbar about
8:40 p.m., shortly before high tide, a U.S. Coast Guard official said. The
salvage team towed the ship into Channel Island Harbor to moor it at the
Harbor Master's Pier.
The $4 million ship built in San Pedro (commissioned in 2003) went aground
Monday after being abandoned by 20 crew members and passengers, who were
rescued from stormy seas. Since then, several attempts had been made to
free the two-masted wooden vessel, which was tilted and water-logged. Its
hull and 88-foot-high rigging, however, remained intact through the week's
ordeal. It was stuck about 200 feet offshore in about 5 feet of water, said
Capt. Jim Gladson, president of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute in San
Pedro, which operates the vessel.
Salvage efforts were hampered at one point by stormy seas and at another by
a snapped tow line. Recent storms have built up sand and silt in other
local channels. A few miles northward, the Ventura City Council approved an
emergency contract Monday to remove the material deposited by recent heavy
storms. - The Daily Breeze, www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/1404562.html
NEW! JUST RELEASED! UK SAILMAKERS UPDATED RULES QUIZ CD
The protest room is the wrong place to learn the rules, especially when the
most pain-free method is the 2005-2008 edition of the UK Sailmakers Rules
Quiz CD. The CD is packed with new quizzes, sound effects, exciting video,
all the appendices, and the appeals. Analyze the animation, then read the
Facts Found, the Conclusions and Rules That Apply. The animations can be
viewed full-screen, or they can be viewed smaller along with the quiz
answer and any rule questions you have - all on the same screen. Truly the
easiest way to learn the rules. Buy it at http://www.uksailmakers.com
PUNCHING BAGS
Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and David Tua posters line the walls,
punching bags hang from the roof and skipping ropes are scattered across
the floor. Not exactly the kind of setting you would expect to see a bunch
of yachties working out but here Team New Zealand are smashing away at each
other like they are arch enemies. As part of their vigorous fitness
program, the team have one boxing session a week with Ken Reinsfield, who
is the Warriors' wrestling coach and a member of the Shayne Cameron boxing
team. "When they first started it was probably a bit new for them,"
Reinsfield said. "These guys are yachties, they are not used to throwing
punches. But they have come on in leaps and bounds and certainly are not
scared of smacking one another when they get the chance."
Team New Zealand fitness trainer David Slyfield said the boxing sessions,
which also include laborious press ups and sit-ups, aimed to improve the
sailors' aerobic fitness, upper body strength, balance and co-ordination
and improve their ability to make decisions when tired. Tactician Terry
Hutchinson said the boxing sessions are hardest "by far". "The push-ups are
the killers. Without question it is competitive, I have a couple [of
punches] stored away in the memory bank that I will get next time." If the
boxing isn't grueling enough the team, who complete at least four physical
training sessions a week, will split into two next weekend - half will
compete in the 100km Rotorua to Taupo bike ride and the others part of the
Coastal Challenge. "You don't win an America's Cup because you are the
fitness team but you can lose an American's Cup because you are over tired
or not in the shape," Slyfield said.
On shore NZL82, the yacht that was damaged in Marseille during last year's
pre-regattas, has been repaired and is expected to be back sailing in early
April. The boat, now hula free, has been completely modified into the new
version of the deign rule. It will undergo a vigorous testing program
before it is shipped to Europe at the end of April for the next cup
pre-regatta in June. - Julie Ash, NZ Herald, full story:
www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10117164
LANDSAILING
The largest annual landsailing event in the USA wrapped up over the weekend
at a dry lake south of Las Vegas, but while it was still in progress,
Richard Jenkins arrived from the UK and set up his speed record-seeking
Windjet with the intention of being on site "for the duration." Jenkins had
Windjet designed and built to challenge speed records under sail on water,
ice, and land-in different configurations, of course. Jenkins arrived last
Tuesday and finished assembling the boat late in a day when the winds had
often gone light, frustrating sailors in the regatta in progress on Ivanpah
Dry Lake.
Wednesday produced wind in the high 20s, sometimes building into the low
30s. Jenkins was just warming up. He'll need more wind and some official
timing systems set up before he can think about a record. I have no idea
about speeds, but Jenkins looked fast. Low-end speeds are an issue, so a
truck pushed Windjet into its performance range, and then Jenkins
accelerated away. Windjet'scomposite structure is mostly carbon fiber, with
some Kevlar reinforcing to protect the pilot capsule.This is a new wing
arrangement for the craft. Jenkins said that he had been using a three-part
wing that provided better low-end (starting) performance but expects better
high-end performance out of the new two-part wing. The adjustable foils
that cover the wheel axles are unchanged.
Ivanpah Dry Lake is the place were Bob Schumacher set the current
landsailing speed record of 116.7 mph on March 20, 1999 on the asymmetric,
port tack-favored Iron Duck. Designer Bob Dill holds a second-fastest time
in the same machine at 112.3 mph. Winds at the time were 25-30. - Excerpts
from a story byr Kimball Livingston posted on the Sail magazine website,
full story: http://sailmag.com/WindjetLandsailing/
ORYX QUEST 2005 RTW RACE
Since the early days of planning the Oryx Quest 2005, the anticipated
weather in the Indian Ocean has been a constant topic of conversation.
Unlike most 'conventional' around-the-world races, the Oryx Quest 2005
transits the length of the Indian Ocean and not the Atlantic, and it's the
Indian that has dished up the most surprises, and the most tactical
challenges. On the way south it was debris from the tsunami that caused
concern and may have been the deciding factor in Geronimo's withdrawal
after they struck a solid object while sailing at speed. Now, as the boats
head north, there are different concerns, most of them tropical in nature
as its cyclone season in the Southern Hemisphere and these dangerous storms
bring their own unease. At 0016 GMT Monday Brian Thompson's Doha 2006 was
2964 nm from the finish with Tony Bullimore's Daedalus 2758 miles further
back. - www.oryxquest.com/
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
So we seem to have made it around the edge of the cyclone now without any
damage. Just to the west of us by 150 miles is the northerly flow from the
outer edges of the storm and this edge we have been skirting for 2500 miles
now. We have been hard upwind for 1300 miles and it's not what any of us
would have picked to do this week, but it was the best choice for us. We
could have taken the shorter route close to the centre of the cyclone but
the risks were too great of the storm turning towards us as we headed
north. - Brian Thompson, Doha 2006, www.maxicatdoha.com
OUTFIT NOW FOR SPRING SAILING
Prep for Spring and Summer now. Samson continues to have the best selection
of products that perform and last! The Sailor's Choice: WarpSpeed with the
CM24 Color Match Core - low stretch Dyneema core and polyester cover
tracers are the same color; AmSteel: the best value in low stretch, Dyneema
single braid; APEX: new single braid of Dyneema and MFP - low elongation,
fast running through the blocks and easy to grip; XLS Extra and XLS Extra T
- The value low elongation double braid and the choice for Club Racers.
http://www.samsonrope.com
SELECTING THE TEAM
Team ABN AMRO has selected its final eight sailors who will form the core
crew for the ABN AMRO second boat in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005/06. These
eight young professional sailors are:
Phil Harmer - Australia; Luke Malloy - Australia; Lucas Brun - Brazil;
Andre Mirsky - Brazil; Gerd-Jan Poortman - the Netherlands; Simeon Tienpont
- the Netherlands; Andrew Lewis - United States; George Peet - United States.
These eight sailors have been chosen from an initial group of 80 candidates
who competed in crew selections all around the world. These sailors were
selected from four regional crew selections: one Dutch, Brazilian, American
and international. Five sailors out of each of these four selections came
to Portugal to compete, beginning on 15 March. After a week of sailing
tests, 12 were chosen to compete in a final week of selection. TEAM ABN
AMRO originally received over 1,800 resumes from young sailors under 30 who
wanted to be a part of the team and receive the chance to compete in the
Volvo Ocean Race. - www.abnamro.com/team
GLOBAL CHALLENGE RTW RACE
There is the feeling across the fleet today that they're finally getting
somewhere and the end seems nigh! "With nine knots under spinnaker and no
need for gloves, finally it feels like we are leaving the Southern Ocean,"
explained skipper David Melville, "All on BP Explorer are now focused on
boat speed as we attempt to take miles out of Spirit of Sark, now only 13
miles ahead." The leader, Imagine It Done is an additional further up the
course. For the lead yachts, there are some 1,500 + miles to go - so a
massive chunk of the 6,000 + miles have been raced and the thoughts of hot
showers, hot food and hot anything (including beer) can very slowly start
creeping into their thoughts! - www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/
NEWS BRIEFS
* Seventeen year old Paige Railey from Clearwater, Florida dominated the
Laser Radial class at the 487-boat Trofeo Princesa Sofia in Palma,
Mallorca. With a total of only 33 points after 13 races, Railey scored a 32
point victory over Charlotte Dobson (GBR) who finished second in the
36-boat class. Tania Elias Calles from Mexico took fifth place in Radial
class. In the 45-boat Men's 470 class, Mikee Anderson-Mitterling & Dave
Hughes from California finished in 14th place. - Complete results:
www.trofeoprincesasofia.org
* The 2005 International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas, USVI. The 32-year-old
event, which started on Friday, hosted 79 boats and served up superb
tropical weather conditions, culminating with Sunday's warm 12-15 knot
breezes under skies that matched the sapphire blue of the water below. At
day's end, on the beach at St. Thomas Yacht Club, winners in nine classes
received Rolex Submariner watches as prizes, a tradition that, along with
stiff competition and festive parties ashore. Entries ranged from J/24s to
Tom Hill's victorious R/P 75 Titan 12 … and even included beach cats.- Full
results: www.rolexcupregatta.com
* They 2005 Portsmouth Tables for centerboard boats, multihulls, keelboats
and offshore classes have been posted on the US Sailing website. The North
American Portsmouth Yardstick is a widely used method of rating boats of
different classes sailing the same courses. It is a time on time
handicapping system and is derived from actual records of classes of boats
with thoroughly documented ratings. Portsmouth Numbers are defined as the
length of time boats would take to sail a common but unspecified distance.
The formula is easy to use: CT (Corrected Time) = ET (Elapsed Time) X 100 /
HC (Handicap). www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/
* Jose Diego Reyes of Mexico, 13th at last year's Worlds, dominated the
mostly light-wind Opti South American championship. Behind him the top
three Peruvians battled it out for the South American medals with silver
going to the latest star of the Zimmermann clan. Maria Cucalon (Ecuador)
took the girls' prize in 5th place and was followed by the two
Argentinian-trained Malaysian visitors in 6th and 7th. Earlier the Team
Racing Championship had seen Peru take gold and bronze with Ecuador in 2nd
place. 172 sailors from 14 countries participated at the C.N. San Isidro in
Buenos Aires. - www.cnsi.com.ar/nautica/espanol/resultados.05/optis_sudam05.htm
FIRST PRODUCTION MINI 6.5 BUILT IN AMERICA
The First North American built Mini 6.5 has been completed and shipped to
Europe for the 2005 Season. For the Official NA launch keep an eye on
http://www.mini650.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Doran Cushing; With all the discussions on Scuttlebutt and elsewhere
in the sailing media about the lack of growth in youth sailing, it's
interesting to see the lineup of talented sailors who will be speakers and
coaches at the One-Design Racing Clinic Association's Elite Youth Racing
Clinic in Seattle. Did anyone think to invite a multihull sailor...maybe
Olympians from the Tornado Class or national champions from one-design
beach cat classes...to spice up the sailing? Lasers, Laser Radials, 420s
and Optis are fine little boats but hardly as exciting as the high
performance cats. The X-Games sports didn't attract the youth of America
with Schwinn beach cruiser bicycles and old-fashioned metal-wheeled roller
skates.
* From Michael Rosenauer: I was absolutely amazed at Michael Blackburn's
accomplishment. I note that common sense was not among the enumerated items
he took with him.
* From Bill Gibbs: Tom Fishbeck makes a good point and I enjoyed his
letter. But in the interests of accuracy (and ego) I feel compelled to
point out that it was another low budget program, an 18 year old catamaran
Afterburner, that was the overall handicap winner in the 2004
Newport-Ensenada race.
* From Eric Steinberg: Peregrine, Hobie 33, Simon Garland, 1st Overall in
the Cabo Race- A huge congratulations goes out to Simon and crew for their
Cabo win. It is proof that a small budget doesn't mean you can't do it
right. As a former boat partner with Simon, I am sure his attention to
detail played a large part in the success on the water.
* From Pete Smith (re Russell Coutts): Top competitors paid to not sail?
Just another example of why this is an irrelevant event in sailing. It's
time to pull the media feeding tube and let this event rest in peace. There
are so many regattas out there that reflect what sailing is truly about.
It's time to turn the spotlight and leave this comedy of errors in the dark.
* From Bennet Greenwald: I know I am not supposed to whine, but I thought
Scott Ridgeway's observation about Mr. Coutts (golden handcuffs) was a tad
nasty and unfair. Nasty because if Mr. Ridgeway had Mr. Coutts' talent and
has put his time in, in his chosen field then he too will probably strike
for money. Mr. Ridgeway is probably not in such a position and thus his
comment can only be seen as nasty.
Unfair, because it is hard to imagine a more gentlemanly professional
sportsman than Russell. He has proven to be a gentleman in the face of lots
of nastiness and envious twaddle over the years while relentlessly pursuing
excellence in his chosen profession. He does not whine and he does not
fail. When comes such another?
* From Jay Handfield: I really hope that the next Americas Cup in 2011 will
see the return of the sports two best AC helmsman, Coutts and Cayard. Like
every other sport the public loves to watch the best and with out these two
guys I think the next cup won't be as exciting. Just think back to 2000
when Cayard went against Prada, now that was racing.
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Anyone who says the dirty word 'exercise' should immediately wash his/her
mouth out with chocolate.
|
| |