|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1993 -- December 22, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.KNOCKING ON THE DOOR The BMW Oracle Racing team entered this 32nd America's Cup as one of the favorites to challenge Alinghi for the Cup in June 2007. The San Francisco team seems to have it all - a very strong and experienced team, from the sailors to the designers (backed up by BMW research and engineering resources) and shore support squad. Furthermore, it's a well-funded operation; while money isn't unlimited, there likely isn't too much that doesn't happen for lack of a budget, and critically, the funding was in place early. So early, in fact, that team owner Larry Ellison's crew essentially just kept rolling after the last Cup. "It will be six to seven months before the America's Cup Class goes racing together again," skipper and CEO Chris Dickson said after Trapani. "A lot will change in that six months. There will be a lot of progress between the teams. We will be building new masts and sails and equipment and we will start building our new boat as well. The sailing team will be competing in a lot of events. The designers will be designing and the builders will be building." "The ideal design is achieved by combining the crew's vision with technical excellence," says design coordinator Ian 'Fresh' Burns. "We're looking for that one small advantage that will make the difference between winning and losing the Cup." The result of all that technical excellence may or may not be on display on the race course in 2006. BMW Oracle Racing, like some of the other top teams, hasn't decided whether to race its new boat, or keep it under wraps and limit its activity to in-house racing and testing next year. With USA 76 providing such a strong benchmark in performance, the team doesn't necessarily need the competition to let it know if its new design is on the right track. And the goal of course is to win in 2007, not 2006, something Dickson knows as well as anyone. "We are knocking on the door. We have closed the gap. We are closer to them now than we were two and a half years ago. Next year, we will be closer again and that sets it up nicely for a Challenger to win the America's Cup in 2007." - America's Cup website, full story: http://tinyurl.com/auxx5 RECUPERATION Olympian Jamie Hunt's sailing career remains up in the air as he battles back from a road crash that almost claimed his life. Hunt, who partnered Andrew Brown in a 470 dinghy in Athens last year, hasn't been given a timetable for full recovery from being knocked off his bicycle in Auckland last month. But after having spent a week unconscious, and two days in an induced coma, he's grateful just to be alive. Hunt was on his bicycle as part of his training when he was hit by a truck on a narrow bridge in Albany. He has no recollection of the incident, which left him with head injuries and three broken bones in his face. While Hunt was able to return home last week to continue his recuperation, he still has blurred vision and gets easily fatigued. His return to yachting would depend on the improvement in his sight, "because that's so important on the boat". - NZ Herald, full story: http://tinyurl.com/bv2c5 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST (Is racing the VO70s resulting in more crew injury? The Daily Sail subscription website talked with the Volvo Ocean Race Medical Coordinator Timo Malinen about his views. Here are a few excerpts.) The biggest change for this race is the level of what Malinen calls 'trauma', ie more serious injuries such as breakages and fractures, a result of the boats sailing at much higher speeds. Following the big first 48 hours on leg one there was physical 'trauma' of some description on almost all of the boats. "I feel that the motion of these boats is very different," explains Malinen. "The centre of gravity is in a different place to what it was. Now you cant the keel out so the boat's movement is jerking and is a much harder movement. In the last race in the 60s you were still able to take a few steps without holding on to anything. Now you hold on to something every step of the way. Our medical team recommended to the people who wrote the rule that they should have compulsory handholds down below which they now have got on all the boats." All the boats are now carrying helmets if not for the whole crew, for a least everyone in a watch. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see people having two strops on their harnesses so they are at all times clipped on. I have discussed with some of the crewmembers now and they say 'I'll clip off the lifeline onto a padeye, so I'll get something to lean back on'. But you take it off - and it is seconds you are talking about - but in that time a wave comes with 5,000 lt. of water and … you're gone." - www.thedailysail.com RACING RULES QUIZ True or False? On a beat to windward, a boat is not permitted to sail below her proper course when there is a leeward boat within two lengths of her. (See answer later in this issue.) 'TIS THE SEASON FROM SAMSON There are lots of uses for Samson products during the holidays: hoisting your tree with a new WarpSpeed halyard; towing the car out of the ditch with low stretch Validator 12; wrapping presents with LashIT!; stringing beautiful Color Match 24 cores on the eves; put candles in ICE, heat resistant covers; or, better yet, give your sailor a coupon for new Samson line at your local rig shop or marine store for his/her boat. See you next month at Key West Race Week. Happy Holidays from your friends at Samson. http://www.samsonrope.com STALWART VETERANS Specially-struck medallions will be presented to sailors and yachts who have reached significant milestones in the history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The State Government will recognize sailors who have competed in 40 or more races, and yachts that have competed in 25 races, following this month's blue water classic. Tourism Minister Paula Wriedt announced that specially struck medallions, mounted on bases of Tasmanian timber, would be presented to Tasmanian John Bennetto, Victorians Lou Abrahams and Bernie Case, and Sydney yachtsmen Richard Hammond and Tony Cable. "Of the five, Abrahams, Cable and Case will be racing when the fleet of 85 boats sets sail from Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day, 26 December," Ms Wriedt said. "Both Hammond and Bennetto have retired from ocean racing, Bennetto after having sailed in a remarkable 44 races - believed to be a world record for any one ocean race." Over the years, the Tasmanian Government has recognized 68 yachtsmen and 10 yachtswomen who reached this (sea) milestone in ocean racing. -- www.rolexsydneyhobart.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar INNOVATION There will be a new twist at 2006 BVI Spring Regatta (March 31 - April 2), presented and hosted by Nanny Cay. There will be a "Tent Village." This low cost housing has been introduced to encourage dinghy sailors from overseas to attend the event and the proceeds will go to KATS, the non-profit charitable organization dedicated to teaching children skills needed to safely enjoy the joys of boating. The event will add a fourth race course to the already busy Sir Francis Drake Channel. The one design course, which last year hosted IC24s, windsurfers, Lasers and beach cats, will split in 2006, with the windsurfers and beach cats branching out on their own to ensure that the only dirty air they get will be their own. -- http://www.bvispringregatta.org NEWS BRIEFS * Three major J Boat dealers on the West Coast -- Sail California San Francisco, Sail Northwest and Sail California Newport Beach - have formed a partnership to provide total manufacturer support at the local level for Pearson's True North line of power boats and their Carl Schumacher-designed Alerion line of sailboats. This new method of distribution will give West Coast owners the benefit of a fully supported network with manufacturer to owner pricing. "As J Boat dealers we've worked closely with Pearson Composites for many years, and we've long admired their other quality products," said Sail California's Pat Nolan. * India and Bahrain have joined the line-up of countries that will contest the new match racing event being launched as part of next month's Dubai Junior Regatta. The Dubai Match Race is adding an extra dimension to the world's largest junior sailing event, which is sponsored by Emirates Airline and takes place from January 22-29. The Dubai Match Race will be contested by 12 to 16 teams sailing the newly-designed V1/Lutra-30 Sport Boat. This high performance racing boat has been built in Dubai especially for the event and for next April's ISAF Nations Cup qualifier in the emirate. * Scuttlebutt website update: The polls close Thursday afternoon for the 2005 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Award survey, so vote early to insure that you are counted. Also, entries are getting submitted to the Melges 24 Worlds Forums Contest, so be sure to post your story if you were there. You will find the links for the Polls and the Forum Contest at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com * Marlow Ropes, the UK rope manufacturer that went into receivership last month after failing to recover from rising debt, has announced that it will continue trading after the UK's English Braids purchased the company for an undisclosed sum. Marlow, which makes ropes and cordage products for use in yachting, industrial and defense applications, will trade independently from its new owner at its Hailsham site in East Sussex. English Braids, which is based in Malvern, Worcestershire, makes braids and ropes for the yachting sector. - IBI News, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/bw657 * Sail America, the U.S. national trade association for sailing, is encouraging more travelers and outdoor enthusiasts to go sailing by hosting a Discover Sailing Pavilion exhibit at the Adventures in Travel Expo at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City from Jan 13-15, 2006. The 2,200-square-foot Discover Sailing Pavilion will invite adventure travelers to learn how sailing can easily become part of their lifestyle and vacation plans. More than 500 organizations and 15,000 consumers of adventure/eco travel lifestyle activities, destinations and services are expected to attend the Adventures in Travel Expo. ANSWER TO RACING RULES QUIZ False. There is no restriction on sailing below your proper course when you are racing on a beat to windward (see rule 17.2). Of course, a windward boat must be sure to keep clear of any leeward boats. - See how well you really know the new 2005-2008 racing rules; there are 99 more questions like this; check out the Racing Rules IQ Test. -- www.SpeedandSmarts.com ULLMAN SAILS WIN 2005 CORUM MELGES 24 WORLDS Ullman Sails delivered the speed advantage to capture 3 of the top 5 places and win 7 of 11 races in the competitive 98-boat 2005 Corum Melges 24 World Championship. Congratulations to: 1st place, James Spithill "Team Luna Rossa"; 3rd place, Dave Ullman "Pegasus 505"; and 4th place, Neil Sullivan/ Morgan Reeser " Mfatic." All three teams flew full inventories from Ullman Sails. When boat speed is the most important ingredient, one choice is clear: Ullman Sails are simply the "Fastest Sails on the Planet." Contact your local Ullman Sails loft or visit on line at http://www.ullmansails.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. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Luiz Kahl: Greg Stewart's note on Improving IRC Competitiveness has been misunderstood. It appears that most people think that all of the changes Greg outline are a must in order to be competitive under IRC. The point is, Greg simply outlined changes that could be made in order to improve your boat's rating in view of IRC. There are always changes and improvements that can be made in a boat for better performance in ANY rating system used. That is no different than it was in IOR, ORC, IMS, PHRF, Americrap and now in IRC. As competitive sailors we all are, we are always looking for ways to improve our performance. Greg only outlined some options that are more aggressive in format. Remember that re-measuring your sails does not in anyway imply buying new sails. Simply recommends that you re-measure your sails for accuracy, for any shrinkage and get an updated rating that reflects any changes. Skip Ely's comment that "We should be rating the boats for what they are, not supporting a rating system that costs an owner close to the replacement cost of his boat to be competitive" is inaccurate as every rule used so far has measured the boats for what they are - in different ways. It's up to the owner to decide how competitive he wants to be, what changes he want to make and how much he want to spend to be MORE competitive within a given rule, whether it'is IOR, ORC, IMS, PHRF, Americrap/ORR or IRC. * From Dick Hampikian: Skip Ely wrote about his experience with his IRC rating and made a request to improve Americap II. As President of the new Offshore Racing Association, I am happy to report that our team has been working to do exactly as requested. ORA's mission is to improve offshore handicapping and is directly supported by Chicago Yacht Club, Cruising Club of America and Transpacific Yacht Club. In cooperation with U.S. Sailing and with the hard work of many volunteers, Americap II has been substantially improved and renamed the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) for the 2006 season. You can view the new rulebook at www.offshorerace.org. As Mr. Ely has discovered, simplistic rules that use just a few measurements cannot fairly rate a broad diversity of boats and are therefore subject to expensive optimization for those who would like to be competitive. It is ORA's belief that offshore handicapping should be for all boats as the owners wish to race them. This is accomplished by using a VPP formulation that is sensitive to wind and course plus full measurement of all speed related factors. It is important that ratings are calculated without resorting to subjective adjustment schemes. Ours is a new rule administered by a hard working group of volunteer sailors. New rating rules are needed every couple of decades to keep up with design progress so we hope our work is timely. We also hope that competitors will give ORR a try and help to improve it with advice and observations. * From Robbie Daniel (edited to our 250-word limit): Yes Olympic sailing is political, I wish there was a way around that. But to make all classes sell themselves to ISAF to be an Olympic class only makes the process even more political, that would be just like the way the different Cities around the world compete to host the Olympics, talk about political. Next, For the Media guys I have talked to the words" 3 man keel boat" and "exciting", don't belong in the same sentence. I am by no means a traditionalist, and I do agree the boats in the Olympics have to be exciting to watch and sail. Has anyone thought to ask the media what they would like. And I don't mean the sailing journalist. I mean talk to your local sportscastors and newspaper guys. In my 10 years of Olympic campaigning on a Tornado I have done countless interviews with these guys, mainly because when they come to a sailing event, they almost always come to the Tornados and 49ers first. They like these boats because they are the fastest most exciting boats to watch get around a racecourse. If we want make Olympic sailing grow in the media, we should start with these boats and boats like them and find a format that works. We have to give up the idea of sailing in perfect conditions all the time and sail where we can get people and the media close to the action, and there must be action. * From Donald Macaulay (Ex Sail magazine publisher): The loss of Lee Van Gemert is a mighty one, a sad one. Jim Mullen and I were lucky enough two months ago to sail with him - his last sail - aboard my boat off Marblehead. As breeze freshened from the nor'east Lee went to tweaking and trimming as, well, only he could. "Ah, that's how the main is supposed to look!," I said to myself. Coming home we rolled in the jib and I commented that it was he that had invented the grooved headstay and the swivel making that idea work. Yes, Lee was an great sailor and inventor. He also built models and he read books. He raced, he cruised. He could fix anything. He could tell a yarn and would listen to one. He was Ted Hood's right arm. He was a gentleman who filled the order book in the knife wielding game of selling sails. He was a fast friend. * From Rich du Moulin: I was sorry to read that Lee Van Gemert has passed away. I recall sailing in the 1960's when Hood Sails dominated big boats, when the dynamic duo Ted Hood and Lee Van Gemert would jump aboard from a powerboat to check our sails. Ted wandered around, looking up at the sails, and muttering in a language only Lee could understand. Lee would take notes, they would then take the sail, and the next day it came back with a perfect recut. Years later Lee came aboard our boat alone, checked our sails, and also did a perfect recut. Lee was a class act and a very good sailor. * From Brian Hancock: I would like to echo what Thad Danielson wrote about Lee Van Gemert. I worked with Lee at Hood Sails for a number of years and was his neighbor for many more. He sold more than a $1M worth of sails each year back in the days when the average sail cost $3,000, and he did it on the strength of one character trait - integrity. I never met a more honest, sincere and kind person who demonstrated by his own example how we could all be better people - and better sailors. He has sailed his last passage but his legacy dances in his wake for the rest of us to emulate. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Schizophrenic Christmas Carole: Do You Hear What I Hear? Special thanks to Samson Rope and Ullman Sails. |
