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SCUTTLEBUTT 2890 - Tuesday, July 21, 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. Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Today's sponsors are Team One Newport, North Sails, and LaserPerformance. SUPER BOWL OF SAILING Which city in the United States has the best sailors? The inaugural Sail City Challenge will try to settle that debate when it is held in February during the Miami International Boat Show. The all-star event will pit twelve invited cities for a five-day series of races that is being promoted as the Super Bowl of American sailing. Among the participants are Annapolis, MD and Newport, RI - the two cities most noted as "America's Sailing Capital" - along with Buffalo, NY; Burlington, VT; Detroit, MI; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Newport Beach, CA; Oklahoma City, OK; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA; and Tampa, FL. The Sail City Challenge will feature competition on identically fitted Cheetah 30 class yachts, with the winning crew to take home the trophy and the right to stage the second annual event. Among the notable sailors already committed to the event are Dawn Riley for Detroit, Ken Read for Newport, Dave Ullman for Newport Beach, Morgan Larson for San Francisco, Scott Allan for Annapolis, David Starck for Buffalo, and Mike Toppa for Miami. => Curmudgeon's Comment: Take a breath. this info was from a 1996 event that fell short of the starting gate when its sponsor backed out. However, maybe the concept of a Challenge Cup between Annapolis and Newport to win outright the title of "America's Sailing Capital" will go the distance. As for including other cities, I personally think it should start small between only Annapolis and Newport, then eventually expand to a multi-challenger format to include other cities, have a nice run and give generations of sailor's great pleasure.. AND THEN SCREW IT ALL UP LIKE THE AMERICA'S CUP. Here is the thread: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7826 N.Y. COURT TO RULE ON RULES Two billionaire leaders of America's Cup teams return to court Tuesday (July 21st) for another round of enhancing their lawyer's pension plans. This time the big question is whether the Swiss defender, Alinghi, can change the rules secretly without informing the American challenger, BMW-Oracle. It got me thinking that if I were American BMW-Oracle boss Larry Ellison, and I really, really wanted beat Swiss billionaire Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi team next February, I'd build a 100-foot trimaran like the one Ellison launched last spring and sail it around in plain sight of the Swiss, God and everyone. Next, I'd wait to see what the Swiss built in response, like maybe the wild 100-foot catamaran Alinghi launched on Lake Geneva last week. Then I'd stun everyone by unveiling a second Yankee boat even better than the first. Of course only a really, really, really rich guy could afford that. So a lot of people wonder why even though he's been sea-trialing the 100-foot trimaran for weeks. Ellison still has 60 people working furiously on a mysterious project at the BMW-Oracle yard in Anacortes, Wash.? -- Detroit Free Press, read on: http://tinyurl.com/mzmh55 * The media was on Lake Geneva to see the first sail on July 20th by the America's Cup defender Alinghi team and their maxi catamaran Alinghi 5. Pretty remarkable to see them flying the hull high on Day 1: Thierry Martinez photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0720/ Carlo Borlenghi photos: http://tinyurl.com/Alinghi-5 Alinghi TV video: http://tinyurl.com/Alinghi-5-video CONGRATS TO PHIL AND WENDY LOTZ & THE CREW OF ARETHUSA For winning the Swan 42 Nationals and qualifying for the NYYC Invitational Cup! The team looked great and was comfortable in their sharp looking uniforms and gear from Team One Newport. Team One Newport has a design and embroidery team in-house. They have a best selection of gear from Musto, Henri-Lloyd, Gill, Slam, Atlantis, Patagonia, Railriders, Puma, Camet and more. Visit http://www.team1newport.com or call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) for the sharpest and coolest crew uniforms on the planet! * Thanks to photographer Daniel Forster, a photo gallery from the event is posted on the Scuttlebutt website. Bow #16 is the winning Arethusa team: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0720a LONGEST ANNUAL FRESHWATER RACES * (July 20, 2009) - The first boat to finish the 101st Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac was the Tartan 4100 TM CB, Dogdayz, with a finish time at 07:50:04. Having started amid the Cruising classes on Friday, July 17th, Dogdayz had an elapsed time of 64:40:04, making this the longest elapsed time for a first to finish boat in some time. But they're not done, as skipper Dan VandenBossche of New Baltimore, MI is continuing on in the SuperMac, which combines the 289 nm to Mackinac with another 201 nm to the Port Huron finish. The first finisher that started on Saturday is Dick & Doug DeVos' Max Z86 Windquest, which finished at 14:17:40 with an elapsed time of 47:57:40. -- http://www.cycracetomackinac.com/index.cfm * (July 20, 2009) - The Lake Ontario 300, which began Saturday with a sold out fleet of 170 entrants, found the Westerlies were kind enough to propel the fleet to the other end of the lake, but there was a price to pay. First, the event became a drag race. Not much opportunity for tactical decisions. Second, with a 140 mile fetch, the waves would have been building as they went. Certainly a comfort issue. But, as happened to several boats, also a danger to the equipment. Anything from rudder failures to blown sails. With little wind at midnight Monday morning from Oswego to Rochester, patience is a requirement for the 300 fleet. -- http://www.lo300.org/index.php U.S. MATCH RACE TOUR Port Washington, NY - The 27th Annual Knickerbocker Cup, hosted by the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, will take place on August 26-30, 2009. The Knickerbocker Cup is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour, with the winner gaining an automatic entry to compete in the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda, one of the most prestigious match racing events on the Tour. Among the twelve invited teams are Americans Anna Tunnicliffe, Sally Barkow, Dave Perry, and Chris Van Tol along with Taylor Canfield from the USVI. This year the Knickerbocker Cup has joined with two other match racing events to form a series. The Chicago Match Race hosted by Chicago Match Race Center (Chicago, IL) on August 21-23 and the Detroit Cup, a qualifier for the Brazil Cup on the World Match Racing Tour, hosted by the Bayview YC (Detroit, MI) on Sept. 2-6. Skippers participating in all three events include Reuben Corbett (NZ), Juan Ignacio Grimaldi (ARG), Laurie Jury (NZ), Dave Perry (USA), Phil Robertson (NZ), Keith Swinton (AUS) and Chris Van Tol (USA). -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7864#7864 SERIOUSLY BUSY SAILING SEASON By Nelson Stephenson The guys and gals at Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, CT are at it again. Hosting a full calendar of Summer and Fall racing and One Design Fun in 2009, at the National, Regional and Local Levels. A two time winner of the US SAILING One Design Award and a past St. Petersburg Trophy Winner, CPYC members enjoy hosting major events almost as much as sailing. The Club kicked off the summer with a great One Design Championship Regatta for J30's, J105's and Melges 24's in early June and a 42 boat Thistle Tri-District Championship in mid-June. The Vanguard 15 New Englands were the last weekend of June, the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound Laser, Laser Radial, and 420 Race Week in mid July, the Thistle Nationals in early August, the Atlantic Nationals in late August, the Star North Americans in mid-September and the J-30 North Americans in early October. Whew! Add to all that a dynamic Junior Sailing program, active One Design and PHRF Fleets sailing on Wednesdays Night PHRF, Thursdays (V15) , Saturdays (Lightnings, Stars, Flying Scots, Thistles, and Atlantics) and Sundays (PHRF and Atlantics). I guess you could say that this qualifies as a REAL sailing Club. Heck we even permanently closed our tennis courts for a place to put up our Regatta Tent. -- Details: http://tinyurl.com/CPYC-7-20-09 NORTH-POWERED BOATS FINISH 1, 2, 3 AT SWAN 42 NATIONALS Congratulations to Phil Lotz and his team aboard 'Arethusa' for winning the Swan 42 Nationals this past weekend, hosted by the New York Yacht Club in Newport, RI. Andy Fisher's 'Bandit' finished 2nd and Alex Jackson and team aboard 'Amelia' came from behind and scored two bullets on the final day to finish 3rd overall. All three boats raced with 100% North sails. When speed and consistency matter, head North: http://www.northsails.com * Take a look at Daniel Forster's photo gallery on the Scuttlebutt website, where bow numbers 16 is Phil Lotz and his winning team aboard Arethusa: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0720a SAILING SHORTS * Corona del Mar, CA (July 19, 2009; Day 5) - Balboa Yacht Club's ISAF Grade 3 Governor's Cup International Junior Match Racing Championship came down to the finals between round robin winner Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Men's team and the defending champion Newport Harbor Yacht Club. After splitting the first two races, the Kiwis took the third race and the title. The winning team from RNZYS was William Tiller (helm), Harry Thurston (middle), and Shaun Mason (bow). -- Full story: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7867#7867 * A new initiative in 2009 by the U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee was the U18 team for Laser Radial (boys and girls), 29er (open) and I420 (boys or girls), and the U23 team for Laser (men) and Laser Radial (women). For 2010, the U.S. intends to continue with these Olympic class development teams and will be adding the 470 (men and/or women) and 49er (men) to the U23 team. Both teams receive elite-level coaching as well as educational, administrative and logistical support throughout the year, and are assisted in competing at major national and international regattas. -- http://sailingteams.ussailing.orG * The 2009 CJ Buckley Team Race will also be designated the Club 420 National Team Race Championship, which will be held at Goddard Park in East Greenwich, RI on Aug 3-5. CJ Buckley lost a valiant fight with cancer in 2002, at the age of 17. A member of the Tabor Academy and Greenwich Bay Sailing Teams, CJ was a fierce competitor who especially enjoyed team racing. The CJ Buckley Team Race began in his honor in 2003, and has grown into a premier youth team racing event. -- http://www.cjbuckleyregatta.net * Riva del Garda, Italy (July 19, 2009; Day 6) - Sailing on Lake Garda, Italy, Nathan Outteridge with Iain Jensen as crew has retained his 49er World title amid the 89 boat fleet by sailing a consistent series and strong medal race. Great Britains John Pink, 2001 29er World Champion with Rick Peacock as crew, secured 2nd overall breaking the points tie with Pietro and Gianfranco Sibello of Italy who finished third. The top North American finisher was fifth place Billy Gooderham/ Ian Hogan (CAN) in the Silver fleet. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7869#7869 * Riva del Garda, Italy (July 20, 2009; Day 1) - The names should be familiar after the finish of the 49er Worlds but only with a change of the skipper's first name - Hayley. As the younger sister of Nathan Outteridge, Hayley borrowed her brother's World champion crew and are currently leading the qualifying round of the 183-boat 29er World championship on Lake Garda. Top North American Judge Ryan/Matt Nobel (USA) are currently in seventh place after a 2-1-9. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7870#7870 * (July 20, 2009) - Day one of the Hobie 16 North American Championships, in Kingston ONT, had three races in marginal single wire conditions and chop. The day was won by multiple time North American Champion Enrique Figueroa sailing with the young Victor Aponte, from Puerto Rico. Close behind are the Guatemalan team of Jason Hess and Hugo Guzman looking for their first championship win. Rounding out the top three are Geoff Becker and Krista Hankins from the US sailing in their first Hobie 16 North Americans. Becker is a former Lightning class North American Champion. -- Details: http://www.hcana.hobieclass.com/?Page=8320 * Clay and Teresa Prescott, husband and wife owners of ABC Yachts of Sausalito, California, were arrested last week and charged with defrauding brokerage clients of about US$250,000. Marin County prosecutors arraigned the couple on eight counts of embezzlement, three counts of writing bad checks and two counts of embezzling from an elder or dependent adult. The prosecution issued a press release saying the funds were stolen from five yacht owners who had engaged ABC to sell their boats. -- IBI Magazine, read on: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20090620001507ibinews.html * (July 20, 2009) - Today, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) submitted nearly 40 pages of comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposing a petition submitted by Growth Energy, a pro-ethanol lobby, requesting a waiver to allow the sale of ethanol gasoline blends of up to 15 percent (E15). NMMA has long contended that higher ethanol blends could lead to serious performance, durability, and emissions problems in recreational marine engines and boats and that more testing is necessary before any increase in the ethanol blend level can be permitted. -- Read on: http://www.nmma.org/news/news.asp?id=17690&sid=3 FREE SHIPPING FROM LASERPERFORMANCE From now through this Friday, LaserPerformance is offering free shipping on all orders of $50 or more bought on-line at http://shop.laserperformance.com Some restrictions apply so go online to check out the fine print: http://www.laserperformance.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Please submit your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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 James A. Gretzky: I had the pleasure to spend a day on the water with Walter in early summer, 1984. It was quite a treat to someone who spent his youth watching him on the evening news. The occasion was the maiden voyage of COURAGEOUS II with her new wing keel. Walter was the guest of the principal backer of the program, Dr. Leonard Greene. I was along to observe the spar package as we had made some "Fremantle' modifications to strengthen the rig. We were watching her sail trials from the tender. In those days, a tender was a good size Bertram with large fender rolls on the sides and a massive towing bit in the cockpit. After a couple of hours of sailing, a small private plane started circling the twelve. Walter cried out that it was a spy for Alan Bond and then jumped behind the towing bit in a crouched position and pretended to be an anti-craft gunner intent on shooting the offending spy plane down. It was a refreshing break from a long day and a look at a wonderful and playful sense of humor. We heard many sailing stories from our shipmate that day! Walter.thanks for being you! * From Michael H. Koster, Newport, RI: In Scuttlebutt 2889, Angus Phillips just tarnished a great idea by introducing the prospects of professional participation! No disrespect intended to my professional friends, but the pros already have high end events, including the America's Cup - and we know how well that event is going. I say keep the Sailing Capitol Regatta 100% amateur. What better way to generate amateur participation at two great sailing venues. * From Bob Billingham: Does anyone else think this secret deal between ISAF and Alinghi is out of line? I am the first one to agree that confidential business negotiations need to be conducted on commercial rights issues, etc. However, when does the "etc" cross the line and become the wholesale selling out of the racing rules? ISAF is hopefully aware that the DOG match has another competitor involved (only one). Wouldn't ethics require some sort of invitation to the discussion? Can one really rock up to ISAF with 150,000 Euros and get the rules changed? Heck, that's a lot cheaper than building a new boat. Maybe I don't understand it properly, I hope not because if it is what it appears - it stinks. * From Neil W. Humphrey, Vancouver, BC: I'm totally shocked at this statement of Mr. Pels (in Scuttlebutt 2889) - "Do you think FIFA (world governing organization for football/soccer) publishes the agreement with the Organisers of the Football World Cup on the arrangements of media rights, the rent for the stadium, the salary for the umpires etc?" Most important error of Mr. Pels statement and where the sailing community is disgusted with ISAF deals with changing the rules of the America's Cup. Mr. Pels is incorrect in his statement about FIFA. FIFA doesn't change their rules for the World Cup and the whole football (soccer) world knows that!!! Why does Pels not know this??? Is this a reflection of the calibre of professionalism we have at the top of ISAF staff??? I challenge Mr. Pels to call Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA to verify that the FIFA doesn't change their rules for the World Cup. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7872#7872 * From Brian Hancock: It's a bit of a pity that the amazing accomplishment by Zac Sunderland should be caught up in the gobbly-gook of the WSSRC (World Sailing Speed Record Council). His achievement is nothing short of remarkable. Think about it. He's 17 (years old) and already done a lap of the planet in a small boat. That, in my humble opinion, should be shouted from the rooftops. * From Chris Ericksen: As a native Southern Californian, I learned to sail in the Naples Sabot, our version of an eight-foot cat-rigged pram. Now, I'm not a partisan in the excessively tiresome and endlessly ongoing Naples Sabot/Optimist Dinghy wars, but I do have a request for former International Optimist Dinghy Association Secretary Robert Wilkes: please, sir, restrain yourself. Reporting on how many former Opti sailors did well in the recently completed ISAF World Youth Championship Regatta ('Butt 2889) adds no light to this conversation, only unnecessary heat. I would say the same to my neighbors and friends in the Naples Sabot camp: enough, already. Can't we all just get along? * From Paddy Boyd, Boyd Boats Ltd, Dublin, Ireland: One of the great things about the ISAF Youth Worlds is the intermingling of Nations and the new and often lifelong friendships that are made amongst the competitors. The ISAF Youth Worlds sub-committee recognized that at these regattas there is usually a stand-out competitor or team that epitomizes the spirit of all that we love about sailing and the opportunity that an international event creates for developing friendships among nations. They re-dedicated the Bengt Julin Trophy to acknowledge this spirit and it is now awarded at the ISAF Youth Worlds. Here is an extract from the Youth Worlds Website news: "Following the speeches, and before the medal ceremonies began, the presentation of the ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy was made by Fiona Kidd and Bill O'Hara, chairman of the International Jury. The Bengt Julin Trophy is awarded to 'a competitor or a National Team that has in the competitors' opinion done most to foster international understanding and has displayed the attributes that should be encouraged in international competition'. It is voted for by the competitors at the championship. "In 2009, the ISAF Bengt Julin Trophy was presented to Eroni Leilua of Samoa, who competed in the Boy's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial event." CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you? Special thanks to Team One Newport, North Sails, and LaserPerformance. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
