|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2787 - Tuesday, February 24, 2009Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors, providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.Today's sponsors are North U and Hall Spars & Rigging. THE OTHER LEGAL DEBACLE Eyes glass over when references of sailing and law are in the same story. Thank you, America’s Cup. Since October 2007, U.S. Olympic sailing became another legal exercise following the selection trials for the RS:X women’s boardsailing event. You say, who cares, the Olympics are over. Agreed, but sometimes when the train leaves the station, she goes all the way, as demonstrated by the recent decision of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). There is no swift way to describe the original incident, but here is an attempt: At the RS:X Trials, there was a redress hearing for an incident during the final race that involved Nancy Rios. The preliminary results showed that Farrah Hall had won, but once the redress hearing was resolved, Nancy Rios had the lowest point total. Following the Protest Committee’s redress decision, Hall could submit a redress protest if she felt their decision was improper. She did not, but then the next day, well after the time limit, she tried, but her request for a time extension was denied. Hall’s team of advisors and lawyers proceeded to pursue every option to help her get to the Olympics, but ultimately it was determined that all the protest procedures in place were sufficiently followed, and the decisions made by the Protest Committee were confirmed. The only caveat now is how the USOC does not approve of the procedures as stated in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), and wants US SAILING to revise them to be consistent with other amateur athlete laws. Are the procedures problematic? Not according to US President Jim Capron. “We believe that the rules for protests and redress hearings are compliant, and think the USOC hearing panel applied a standard that is inapplicable to field of play decisions.” US SAILING has until July 1, 2009 to demonstrate how it intends to fix the rules, and until September 1, 2009 to implement satisfactory corrections. -- Scuttleblog, http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/02/another-legal-debacle.html => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Scuttlebutt 2786 included a statement by US SAILING regarding the USOC decision. The link above includes the statement by Farrah Hall’s team along with the USOC decision. ON THE ENDLESS FOLLY OF SAILORS Cory E. Friedman, who has provided his legal analysis on the America’s Cup proceedings, took a look at the latest incident between the United States Olympic Committee and US Sailing, and didn’t much like what he saw: “It looks like the one thing sailors like a lot more than sailing is litigating. So, even if the America’s Cup litigation winds down, it seems there will always be opportunities for legal commentary on the legal follies of sailors. As many ‘Buttheads know, US Sailing just got a major thumping from the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) in Farrah Hall v. US Sailing Association. Buttheads can read the gory details themselves (click thru link below). US Sailing is putting out press releases about how this decision changes the game and is proof that the sky is falling. Do not believe it. The effect on sailors will be minimal, if not benign. Besides, if that is what the Stevens Act, 36 U.S.C. §§ 22051 et seq., requires in the United States, it is the law. Get over it. “So, other than tossing the better part of $145,000.00 of dues money in the drink (per Board of Directors minutes), this dispute looks like little more than a very expensive dock measuring contest about who was right about something that is over and done with. What does the decision not affect? For starters, it has no effect on the 2008 Olympic boardsailing trials or the 2008 Olympic event. Nancy Rios still won the trials and did not exactly medal in the Olympic event. It has no effect on the substantive decisions of protest committees. They will continue to call them as they see them. Indeed, the only changes are prospective and procedural. ‘Buttheads (especially kids) who are not completely up on rules are less likely to get screwed by sea lawyers. Sounds pretty bad, huh.” -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0223b/ SCUTTLEBUTT READERS SAVE Sign up before March 1st for any upcoming U.S. SAILING Racing Rules Seminar and list “Scuttlebutt Discount” in the comments to receive $20 off (in addition to the $40 discount already provided to US Sailing members). Presented by North U, the seminars include a Racing Rules Workbook created by Dave Perry. Check the schedule and sign up (Risk Free - full refund if you cancel later) by visiting NorthU.com or by calling North U at 800-347-2457 or 203-245-0727. http://www.northu.com IF THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE WERE LIKE THE ACADEMY AWARDS… (Feb. 23, 2009; Day 10) - If we were handing out Oscars for performances in the last 72 hours, then the crew of Green Dragon would be the Slumdog Millionaires of the fleet. The Dragon’s red-carpet entrance to the Intertropical Convergence Zone certainly turned heads. The decision to gamble on an easterly approach to the Doldrums was worthy of a scene from Ocean’s 13; it was Ian Walker’s men who emerged from the cashier’s queue with the biggest payout, having gained 140 miles Distance To Leader (DTL) on Ericsson 4 since 13:00 GMT on Saturday. The new race route is full of surprises, as Telefonica Blue skipper Bouwe Bekking reports: “A volcanic ‘eruption’ was observed to be very close to a position we crossed a couple of days ago. Good it didn't happen when we were there, as not sure how we would have reacted..........and rather don't want to know the consequences. So what other ‘dangers’ are out here? Radioactivity is one of them, a big thanks to the countries who have been playing here with atomic bombs about 30-40 years ago. Some of the atolls are still highly radioactive, and the Pacific pilot recommends a wide berth around these atolls.” Crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. Leg Five from Qingdao, China to Rio de Janiero, Brazil is 12,300 nm, with the finish estimated on March 20th. Current positions (as of Feb. 24, 1:00 am GMT): 1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 9,165 nm Distance to Finish 2. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 34 nm Distance to Leader 3. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, 40 nm DTL 4. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 129 nm DTL 5. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 130 nm DTL Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, Did Not Start Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, DNS Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, DNS Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com STRUGGLING TO GET THERE FROM HERE (Feb. 23, 2009; Day 106) - Steve White is fighting the angles as he beats upwind, slamming into a nasty swell, trying to make best time to Les Sables d’Olonne to secure eighth place as the next finisher in the Vendée Globe. His is a vicious cycle at the moment. Toe in the Water, a relatively older, wide boat with a fixed keel and sailplan more optimized for downwind sailing needs more breeze in order to sail to narrower angles to windward. But more wind means bigger seas and more crashing and bashing around. “I am slamming away like I don’t know what, here. It is just so frustrating. This boat must be just about the worst there is in the fleet for going upwind. In this wind I tack through anywhere around 100 to 105 degrees and below 15 knots that rises to 120 degrees and that really dictates where I am going. If I can get up the to the north of the latitude of Les Sables and the NE’lies hold it could be OK, but down in the south of the Bay it is a bit light and swirly, ” said White this afternoon, 100 miles to the NW of Cape Finisterre, whilst still heading SE. Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html Race tracking: http://tracking.vendeeglobe.org/en BUSY YEAR FOR CHARLESTON, SC The moniker states, “Charleston: Where History Lives.” In 2009, there is going to be a lot of sailing going on too. Here are several events that will earn the spotlight: * While regattas around the world suffer significant drops in participation, the organizers of Charleston Race Week are proud to announce that the April 16-19, 2009 running of this southern classic has already set an attendance record of 157 registered teams. With just under 8 weeks until this marquis event, organizers expect up to 175 racing teams to compete on four circles. The smaller boats will compete on two courses inside Charleston's picturesque harbor, while the larger yachts will race just outside the breakwaters in the Atlantic Ocean. -- Full details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0220c/crw * The Portimão Global Ocean Race, which began last October in Portugal for six singlehanded and doublehanded teams aboard 40-foot boats, will be finishing its fourth leg from Brazil to Charleston around May 15, and will be in town before they begin their final leg to the finish in Portimão, Portugal on May 31. -- http://www.portimaoglobaloceanrace.com * The Charleston to Bermuda Race was founded in 1997, and has been run since then every two years. The seventh running of this classic bluewater voyage will depart from Charleston, South Carolina on May 29, 2009. The race bon voyage party will be a combined effort with the PGOR, which leaves only 2 days later. -- http://www.charlestontobermuda.com/ * The Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge will involve some 30-50 ships from Europe, the USA, Canada and Latin America. The full race will go from Vigo in Spain (30 April – 3 May) to Tenerife (14-17 May), across the Atlantic to Bermuda (12-15 June) to Charleston in the USA (25-29 June) to Boston in the USA (8-13 July) to Halifax in Canada (16-20 July) and then back across the Atlantic to Belfast (13-16 August). -- http://www.tallshipsraces.com/atlanticchallenge * This year’s Charleston Harbor Fest is shaping up to be the most ambitious and memorable maritime event in the city’s history. The event will open June 26, with access to docks and tours of tall ships from around the globe, and will close June 29th when a breath-taking Parade of Sail exits the Charleston harbor. -- Full details: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0220c/chf/ SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION Sleuthing for the lowest hardware prices on the web? You won't need Sherlock Holmes to uncover a 7% savings on Lewmar hardware during the month of March. From March 1 to March 31, Hall Spars & Rigging has Lewmar winches, blocks, rope clutches - even the award-winning OneTouch winch handle - at 7% below our already great prices. The OneTouch handle can be removed with one hand, so you spend more time sailing and less time fiddling. Put together these clues, grab Dr. Watson, and visit Hall before March 31 to save an additional 7% on Lewmar. -- http://www.hallspars.com SAILING SHORTS * Justin Chambers and his team beat out 27 other entrants to win the Catalina 22 Midwinter Regatta, held February 21st and 22nd on the Indian River Lagoon by Cocoa, Florida. Chambers won 5 out of the 6 races to sweep the fleet. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7083#7083 * The DVD release date for the Disney movie Morning Light will be on June 23rd. However, the movie continues to be shown in theatres, with Australian openings in Sydney and Melbourne on March 12 and in Perth sometime later. -- Australian website: http://www.morninglightmovie.com.au * Miami Beach, FL - Top tier programs and class champions are preparing for battle in the ocean waters off South Beach. The Acura Miami Grand Prix scratch sheet has an impressive 44 boat turnout, loaded with international talent. IRC, Farr 40 and Melges 32 classes are all well represented. IRC boats will race in two classes: IRC 1 with the big boat TP52s and IRC 2 where the smallest boat is the Sydney 36 Spiderglide. Melges 32s are 21 boats strong and the Farr 40s have 12 high-octane programs on the line. -- Read on: http://www.premiere-racing.com/miami09/pages/AMGP09_news.htm * Cardiac Science and US SAILING have announced a partnership that aims to improve the overall effectiveness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) response for sailors at all US SAILING member yacht clubs. This new alliance will increase the awareness and availability of Powerheart automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to US SAILING members and affiliated programs at a significant discount. -- Read on: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2009/Cardiac_Science.asp * The parent company of Boater's World filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning. According to Reuters, Ritz Camera Centers said the recession hurt its camera business as well as prolonged the downturn in its Boater's World business. Ritz launched Boater's World in 1987, and has grown the division to 137 retail stores. Among US marine accessories retailers, it is second in size only to West Marine. -- IBI Magazine, read on: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20090123162318ibinews.html * The company once known as Goetz Custom Sailboats may soon be dead and buried, but company founder Eric Goetz is hoping a new entity bearing his name takes its place in two weeks. In a Rhode Island Superior Court room on Friday, March 6, the company founded in a shed near the Herreshoff Marine Museum 33 years ago, the company that grew to build some of the fastest sailboats in the world, will be auctioned to the highest bidder. -- Read on: http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/126314.html * Newport, RI - A fleet of legendary Six Metre yachts from around the world will gather at Sail Newport for the 2009 International Six Metre Class World Cup from September 8 through September 13, 2009. Modern and classic boats from the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Germany, the U.K., Finland, France, Sweden, Switzerland and New Zealand are anticipated to compete. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7089 * CORRECTION: In Scuttlebutt 2786, the story titled ‘Totally Stu” listed Stu Robertson as a former Green Beret, which was in error. Stu was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Peter Epstein: (re, USOC decision in SBUTT 2786) Obviously the athlete and her lawyers have far too much time and money available. Sailing is a "Corinthian" sport. It has rules that are changed so that the sport can adapt to changing boats, athletes, and techniques. Sailing competition takes place on the water not the bloody boardroom. To have one athlete, through a group of lawyers, push a single agenda that potentially will disrupt sailing competition in the US (not to mention International competitors that come to compete in the US) versus the remainder of the world, is yet another example of American myopia and "bully" mentality. As far as I am concerned ISAF Rules trump American Rules, Canadian Rules, Swedish Rules, etc. * From Todd R. Berman: How ironic that the Olympic and Amateur Sports statute that the present racing rules may violate is named for a convicted felon. When does the greater good of the sport come first? At a time when we should all be focused on ways to build participation in our great sport, this litigation (funded by one disgruntled sailor) will distract everyone from the important work that needs to be done. The rules are not perfect and they never will be. But to have the governing body spend time, energy and money on this now strikes me as a tragic waste of resources. Farrah Hall needs to really examine what benefit will come (or has come) of this litigation, much like what we are seeing with the America's Cup, the actions of selfish people can drag the sport in the wrong direction. When will people put the sport first? * From Ray Tostado: The irony of the topic regarding the "pro", is that the status of being regarded as a pro, as expert, is more internal than demonstrated on the playing field by sail makers, sales persons, riggers, et al.. Some such confer upon themselves a sense of superiority when coming aboard to fit a new sail on it's first race out; in the aura of "sail maker aboard". In one instance on my Choate 41 two-tonner, Juarez, back in '78, the guest sail maker was tactically advising me which end of the start line was preferred. I had to remind him that my banker, Sandy Greenberg, had reassured me that so long as it was my checks that were paying off the loan I could start at any end of the line I chose to. So I asked him pointedly, "How's the sail look?" * In Forum from SailingMom: (re, towing YC trailers in SBUTT 2786) Glad you brought this up. Our family tows to almost every regatta. We always re-tie all boats just in case, a big hassle when you have the nine or twelve pack. I towed a nine-pack to a recent regatta and the trailer electrical fried some of my car's electrical. I just started researching the same. I would love to know which clubs were included in your research. In the meantime I am investing in my own tow bar for lighting and checking our own and club insurance. -- http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7075#7075 * From Ryan Hamm, Charleston, SC: (re, towing YC trailers in SBUTT 2786) First off, I am an Independent Insurance Agent for 2 clubs and have consulted at least 2 others. And I hate to see someone scare people from helping out juniors. I am an independent agent. Most of the Yacht Club coverage I write is written through Chubb on the US Sailing sponsored YC program. I find it easier to go there as they have better knowledge of the exposure so you have a better chance for the appropriate coverage in case of a loss. All that being said I must say that I also carry Juniors on a regular basis because I am a high school sailing coach. I also travel to regattas with trailers of boats owned by clubs. I am a volunteer in both of these situations as I am not a paid coach. So, my personal insurance and umbrella will cover me in the case of anything that happens because of the road including a trailer that I am towing if I am held liable for it. Also the club is covered on its policy because they carry non-owned and hired auto liability. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7081#7081 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken. Special thanks to North U and Hall Spars & Rigging. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
