SCUTTLEBUTT #202 -- October 19, 1998

I guess racing sailing boats must be a lot like riding a bike -- once you learn how to do it you simply don't forget. Dick Deaver has been away from the race course for Lord knows how many years while he circumnavigated the planet on his Farr 55, and then taking off in his monster motor home for similar cruising land-based adventures--most recently up to Alaska. But it appears that during that period he lost none of his racing skills --or at least it did to the other "seasoned skippers" at the St Francis YC's International Masters Invitational Regatta -- affectionately known as the OFR.

The event felt as much like a reunion as a regatta as 15 champions over the age of 55 got together for five races on San Francisco Bay. The borrowed J/105s were perfectly suited for the event.

The normal Westerly winds never could get established during the first race of the regatta and positions changed continually as a light Northerly breeze shifted dramatically. However, during the second and third day it was pure San Francisco Bay racing under bright skies and up to 18 knots of breeze.

Beating up to the finish line of the final race, Deaver was leading the parade, but New Zealand's Roy Dickson was just behind. If they finished that way, the two would have tied for first place with Dickson winning the tie-breaker by virtue of his two previous race wins. Sooo, Deaver and his tactician Carl Schumacher went to work. They camped all over Dickson -- flapping the mainsail violently to insure Dickson never saw anything like clean air. And when the fast-charging John Jennings moved past Dickson, Deaver shifted back into high gear and won the race and the regatta.

Significantly, there were no protests in this regatta and everyone got their damage deposit back.

1. Dick Deaver 19
2. Roy Dickson 20
3. Don Trask 22
4. Bruce Monro 27
5. John Jennings 36
6. Lowell North 38
7. Tom Leweck 39
8. Dave Wyman 42
9. Malin Burnham 45
10. Pelle Petterson 46
11. John Rumsey 46
12. John Scarborough 50
13. Rod Johnstone 51
14. Takamura/Oniki 51
15. Charles Dole 68

The winner of the Scuttlebutt contest to pick the top five places in this regatta will be annonced tomorrow.

BERMUDA GOLD CUP

Murray Jones of New Zealand and Italian Francesco de Angelis went undefeated in the first day of racing as the 50th running of the Bermuda Gold Cup began under sunny skies and 7-10 knots of wind. Jones beat Britain's Andy Beadsworth, Bermudian Glenn Astwood, American Glen Foster, and Paul Cayard of the USA. In the morning's contest, de Angelis defeated Canadian Peter Hall, Bermudian Paula Lewin, and James Spithill of Australia. In all, sixteen teams are competing for the eight spots which will advance to the championship rounds beginning next Wednesday. At that time the eight qualifiers will match up with eight seeded skippers.

Monday's racing will determine who advances, and at this stage there are no guarantees. While Jones and de Angelis look well positioned, there are a number of teams in both groups that are close behind. Cayard, the winner of this year's Whitbread Round the World Race, is just behind Jones in Group 2 with three wins. Standing on two victories are Astwood, Beadsworth, and Britain's Andy Green.

In Group 1, Spithill, Bermuda's Peter Bromby, and New Zealand's Dean Barker finished the day with two victories. The Group 1 teams will finish their round robin with four races tomorrow. -- Paul Larsen

Standings at the end of day one racing are as follows:

GROUP 1
Francesco de Angelis(ITA) 3-0
Paula Lewin (BER) 1-2
James Spithill (AUS) 2-1
Ian Williams (GBR) 1-2
Peter Bromby (BER) 2-1
Peter Hall (CAN) 1-2
Dean Barker (NZL) 2-1
Bill Buckles (USA) 0-3

GROUP 2
Murray Jones (NZL) 4-0
Andy Beadsworth (GBR) 2-2
Paul Cayard (USA) 3-1
David Whelan(USA) 1-3
Andy Green (GBR) 2-2
Morten Hedlund (SWE) 1-3
Glenn Astwood (BER) 2-2
Glen Foster (USA) 1-3

Event website: http://sailing.org/goldcup/

EVERYWHERE

If it seemed like all of the competitors at the OFR (Masters Invitational Regatta) were wearing shirts from Pacific Embroidery last week, it's because they were. Tee shirts, polo shirts and sweaters. Officials at StFYC realized that these 'seasoned racers' understand the value of quality, so they asked Frank Whitton at Pacific Embroidery to produce the regatta apparel. Frank made a lot of people happy last week and he can do it for you too. Give him a call -- Frank delivers. Pacyacht@aol.com / 619-226-8033

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON

>> From Chris Welsh -- Many sources talking about boats for the Race have missed Steve Fossett's new boat under construction at Cookson in New Zealand. Everyone is closed mouth about the design, however a few guesses can be made (which I will happily verify if anyone wants to send me to New Zealand). The concept was to build in slight secrecy in order to not tip the hand of competitors as to just how big they were willing to go.

The design started with an analysis of speed per dollar. The outcome was that a tri of a given length is faster than a cat, but a longer cat (same dollars as the tri) would be faster yet. As much emphasis as possible on off the shelf components, again for the dollars/speed equation.

I would guess it is 120' +/-, and I believe it is ready to splash soon. It was designed by Melvin & Morelli, Newport. I put my money on Steve for the Race - he is well financed and experienced. They also will have many months to campaign the boat prior to the race, and to optimize in the process.

I have seen polars of an (ahem) unnamed cat in this size range with incredible speed potential - sustained 30+ in the broad reach ranges and high numbers everywhere, in all different velocities.

Just as an aside, Fossett was just publicized as joining Branson's round the world balloon team. This cooperation may be one of the most Corinthian actions taken recently between two competitors for a Holy Grail they both have been pursuing.

>> From Peter Huston -- The very nature of measurement handicap suggests that it is always going to be a big dollar game. History has proven this with both the IOR and IMS, and shown over time that money equals boat speed. The only way to equalize money is through equipment/crew limitations. The reality is that a measurement system which does not incorporate the age of sails into the equation is always going to be flawed - a new sail is simply faster than one with even a months use.

The fatal flaw of any measurement system is to assume that this rule can be applied equitably to boats of dissimilar size, construction technique, sail inventory, and crew ability. Competitive parameters are as much a factor in the success of a measurement rule as is the measurement criteria itself. And no, I didn't purposely leave out the owners in my statement, just rather believe that the marine industry should determine for itself what it is that they think they can sell to owners. I believe that all of the names that I mentioned have enough experience to know what it is that owners will buy. The issue I presented was more in the direction that the industry knows the marketplace better than the "governments".

J/22 NAs

Weather was perfect Chesapeake Bay conditions: 1st day NW 15-25 and sunny, 2nd day: 10-15 sunny, 3rd day: 10-3 (not the downward trend) and sunny. The Tred Avon Race Committee got off 3 great races each of the first three days of the regatta. In doing so, they did the unusual thing of finishing the regatta a day early. With the wind dying on the last beat of the last race and the forecast of "Light winds" for the next two days. They look pretty darn smart.

Top Five Final Places:
1. Terry Flynn, 14 points
2. Chris Larsen, 20
3. Andy Schoettle, 38
4. Will Crump, 48
5. Brent Barbehenn, 59

Full results at: http://www.clark.net/pub/sandyg/1998/j22nas.htm

CALVIN PAIGE REGATTA

Star boats at St. Francis YC 1. Mark Reynolds/Phil Trinter 8
2. Howie Schiebler/Rick Peters 14
3. Bill Buchan/Bill Bennett 22
4. Eric Doyle/Brian Terhaar 23
5. Doug Smith/Nicolas Molan 25

FARR 40 CIRCUIT

The wind finally made an appearance on Long Island Sound for the final day of racing for the Farr 40 Championship Circuit event. Two windward-leeward courses were completed in 10-20 knots of southwesterly wind. -- Renee Mehl

Final results:
1. G Andreadis Atalanti 23
2. J Richardson Barking Mad 25
3. J Thomson Solution 30
4. S/H Garland Wired 32
5. W Ziegler GEM 37

Final results will be posted at: http://www.yranet.com/USA/YRSLIS/MBYC

AMERICA'S CUP

Sparks were expected to fly on Tuesday when the ISAF met the Royal New Zealand YS and the New York YC -- the two clubs representing the defender and challenger organizations, America's Cup 2000 and America's Cup Challenger Association, for America's Cup 2000 -- at its headquarters in Southampton. The officials had gathered to resolve the issue of Category C ad- vertising fees, the most liberal of the ISAF's three advertising categories, as well as other points of contention that arose fol- lowing a round of Internet warfare in September.

The Southampton meetings, however, were mundane. According to Henderson, "Both sides kept their heads and acted in the best in- terest of sailing." Henderson explained that there was divergence between the parties regarding the involvement of the federation, and what fee should be paid for the Category C advertising license. The final fee is less than $1 million, but Henderson says it's "substantially a large proportion of what we asked." Before (the fee) can be finalized, the two groups must report to their constituents prior to a final announcement.-- Bob Fisher, Grand Prix Sailor

For the full story: http://www.sailingworld.com

MORE AMERICA'S CUP

One year to the start of the Challenger Selection Series for America's Cup 2000, the NYYC/Young America Challenge sailed its two International America's Cup Class test yachts on the Hauraki Gulf for the first time. The NYYC/Young America Challenge is the first Challenger to test and train with two America's Cup boats in New Zealand. This testing session is scheduled to run until December.

The NYYC/Young America two-boat testing team, including shore crew and support staff, in New Zealand includes: Stu Argo, Ed Baird, Chris Bedford, Stu Bettany, Ken Brodin, Tom Burnham, Steve Calder, Bob Campbell, Jim Cannon, Mark Christensen, Steve Connett, Jane Eagleson, Jeff Ecklund, Scott Ferguson, Dave Frank, Jamie Gale, Ross Halcrow, Bill Handey, Sandra Hawkes, Dave Hulse, Greg Jillings, Hartwell Jordan, Andreas Josenhans, Chris Kam, Keats Keeley, Ryan McCrillis, Pascal Pellat-Finet, Dave Perry, Sue Reischman, Tony Rey, Dave Salerno, Dean Salthouse, Richard Searle, Eric Sotille, Grant "Fuzz" Spanhake, John Sparkman, Mike Spiller, Laurie Smith, Peter Stalkus, Joan Touchette, Amy Vandiver, John Vitali, Stewart Wiley, and Kimo Worthington. -- Jane Eagleson

For more information on the NYYC/Young America Challenge http://www.youngamerica.org

AROUND ALONE

Cracking along at boatspeeds well into the double digits, the "gang of four" skippers who comprise the leading pack in Class I were making short work of the remaining miles between themselves and the finish line off Cape Town, South Africa. In the previous twenty-four hours leading up to today's 0940 GMT position update, class leader Thiercelin had reeled off a fleet-best 254 miles on the Distance to Finish column.

CLASS I (Distance to finish)
1. Thiercelin 2824
2. Autissier 2867
3. Hall 2929
4. Golding 2935
5. Soldini 3194

CLASS II
1. Van Liew 3342
2. Mouligne 3356
3. Garside 3463
4. Davie 3680
5. Stricker 3737

Event website: http://www.aroundalone.com

J-Fest

59 J/Boats raced in 12-15 knots out of Bahia Corinthian YC in Newport Beach. The class winners were:

J/120 (12 boats) Dave Janes (BCYC), J-Bird
J/24 (19) Steve Zimmerman (SBYC)
J/35 (7) Chuck Burns (LBYC)
J/105 (6) Jed Olenick (NHYC)
6 J/30 (6) Paul DeFretis (VenYC)
J/PHRF (9) John Messinger (KHYC), J/33

THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM

Q: What's the difference between a jet-ski and a vacuum cleaner?
A: Only the location of the dirt bag.