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SCUTTLEBUTT 2239 – December 8, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). MAJOR MONEY Valencia, Spain -- Several sectors of Valencian Industry have estimated that the staging of the Americas Cup races in Valencia is having a much greater effect on the local economy than was first thought. Juan Carlos Gelabert, the head of the Valencian Hotel Industry stated that one out of every four Euros spent by tourists in Valencia is due to the Cup. This is also borne out by Luis Marti of the Valencian Hotel union who added that the Cup had forced several major hotel chains to speed up their implantation of five-star establishments in the City to accommodate the top end of the tourism market that the Americas Cup visitors would need. Mr. Marti also encouraged the Valencian authorities to try and ensure that similar projects of equal importance are staged in the City in order that the new range of five-star establishments do not see their investments ‘going downhill’. Eloy Dura of the Valencian Construction Industry Association stated that the TV transmission of the Americas Cup races ‘is the best advertisement in the world for Valencia. He also added that the technology brought to Valencia by the Americas Cup is proving to be highly beneficial not only to the City but to the autonomy as a whole. He also stated that the technology associated with the event is proving very beneficial to the City as well as the Autonomy. This has also been borne out by Jose Salinas, the head of the Valencian Convention Bureau, who stated that foreign tourists who come to Valencia generally spend on average about 2,445 Euros, whilst the average spending for a Spanish visitor is 1,700 Euros. – Valencia Life Network, http://www.valencialife.net/Clubs/subscribe.htm WHAT’S NEXT (Since completing her solo round the world record life has changed for Dee Caffari. The Daily Sail website spoke with her about what’s next, and we’ve printed a few excerpts from that story here.) 33 year old English woman Dee Caffari entered sailing's history books back in May this year when she succeeded in becoming the first female to sail singlehanded non-stop around the world westabout as part of her Aviva Challenge. While today she may not be as famous as Ellen MacArthur, Dee certainly managed, deservedly, to grab all the headlines in the national press at the time in an Ellen-esque sort of way and this is paving the way for her future plans. So what will she do next sailing-wise? At present Dee is being non-specific but an announcement is expected to be made in the New Year and one imagines it will be a Vendee Globe campaign, if not for 2008, then for 2012. She says she is definitely more interested in doing races than records now and seems to be taking a realistic stance in what she has to do to get there (remember Dee used to work for Mike Golding Yacht Racing and has already lived and breathed Open 60s). "I want to take my sailing to a more competitive level, so I need to look at all elements a lot more now, not just surviving crashing into waves. I think to step up a gear I need to learn how to push hard and push at a speed that I can maintain for long periods of time just to be competitive. Ultimately I’d love to do the Vendee, but getting to the start line is the most difficult part." – http://www.thedailysail.com US SAILOR OF THE WEEK Simply put, Peter Craig is the man behind the success of the popular Acura Key West, also known as Key West Race Week. Now one of the nation's top sailing events bringing together nearly 300 boats every January in sunny Florida, Peter has been running the show at Key West for over a decade through his company Premiere Racing, Inc., which also runs the successful Acura Miami Grand Prix. With a reputation of superb quality racing and great on-shore activities, Acura Key West is a haven for sailors racing keelboats, from PHRF and IRC to one design. But if you grew up in Marblehead, MA, when Peter did, you probably don't know him from the race course. While he did grow up on the waters of Buzzards Bay, he primarily cruised with his parents and five siblings on the family's wooden schooner. It wasn't until Peter was a Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, when he developed a taste for racing through the school's offshore sailing program. Over the years, he has traveled the world competing in events. Besides running his own business and having three kids under the age of 10, he managed to compete in several major international regattas this year on well-known boats. "Staying involved as a competitor is one of the keys to running a successful major event," he says. See you in Key West! -- http://www.ussailing.org/ “ALL I WANT FOR...” In the middle of buying what you know are mostly useless holiday gifts, why not give yourself (and your crew) something you really need: more competitive (UK-Halsey) sails for 2007 - a gift that keeps on giving (prize silverware is always appreciated). A faster loadpath laminate main or genoa, a more effective asymmetric or leave’m-in-the-dust spinnaker? Then, tell your crew with distinctive note-filled duffels or go-fast clothing from our online store. Hohoho, this could be a very merry season indeed, filled with visions that all of you will stand together on the podium next summer. 800.253.2002, http://www.ukhalsey.com PARTY TIME Japanese skipper Kojiro Shiraishi onboard Spirit of Yukoh has finished Leg Two of the Velux 5 Oceans race. After 46 days at sea, Kojiro Shiraishi has taken second place - arriving in Fremantle three days after Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm. “I lost more weight than I expected, but unlike Bernard I have enough food onboard still to do another leg,” he said. “I am desperate to for a beer and a shower. There are only minor problems, but I have to talk to the bank about budget!” The news from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston aboard Saga Insurance was not nearly as upbeat. “I see little chance of making Fremantle for Christmas, the mainsail is corrugated with not a single whole batten, there is only one auto pilot working and that is unreliable, so inevitably I am being a bit cautious as I don't want to increase the repair list before the next leg, so we are not sailing as fast as I would like and certainly not as fast as this tough little boat could go. So I have started practicing for my own carol concert,” he reported. -- http://www.velux5oceans.com/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK It’s winter in the northern hemisphere, and the ‘buttheads are figuring out ways to survive. For many that means iceboating, where a good day of sailing can make up for the thousands of miles that are driven to seek smooth ice and good winds. In this week’s video, it was a good day for both sailing and driving, with this retro footage from the 1930's showing an iceboat race a Chevrolet on a frozen lake in Michigan. Add in the riveting 'play-by-play' narration, and this 1:22 minute video is just plain fun and funny. If you have a video you’d like to share, please send us your suggestion for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/1204 AUSTRALIANS BUNDOCK AND ASHBY TAKE LEAD San Isidro, Argentina -- It took some time for the breeze to come in today at the Tornado World Championships. Race five was delayed in 45 minutes and started in very light conditions - SE 6-8 knots. Race six saw the breeze pick up to 12 knots. Standings after six races (48 boats - one discard): 1. Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashby (AUS) 14 pts 2. Roman Hagara & Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) 15 pts 3. Santiago Lange & Carlos Espinola (ARG) 33 pts 4. Johannes Polgar & Florian Spalteholz (GER) 34 pts 5. Iordanis Paschaladis & Constantinos Trigonis (GRE) 43 pts 18. Oskar Johansson & Kevin Stittle (CAN) 79 pts 19. Robbie Daniel & Gary Chu 13 (USA)) 81 pts 26. John Lovell & Charlie Ogletree (USA) 97 pts Full results and pictures at http://tornado2006.cnsi.org.ar/ RECOMMENDED READING At Scuttlebutt World Headquarters, we became very familiar with the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race. The drama came daily, and filled every issue of Scuttlebutt during the seven month event. So when we received a book on the event to review, we were less than excited, as we had ‘been there - done that.’ Wrong! Reading “Life at the Extreme” by Rob Mundle is like being immersed in an orchestra, with crescendo after crescendo jerking the reader’s emotions like every wave over the bow. Despite knowing what lays beyond the next page, Mundle’s master storytelling skills weaves the events of the race with backstage access, presenting leg after leg in hi-def. Add in the abundant photos and the history of each of the previous eight races, and “Life at the Extreme” becomes a worthy follow-up to other Mundle books that covered the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart race and the 2001/2002 Volvo Ocean Race, along with biographies on Alan Bond and Sir James Hardy. -- For additional info and purchase: http://tinyurl.com/wmbpu A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA FOR YOUR SKIPPER OR CREW The Ockam U text explains in clear, easy-to-follow language the often misunderstood concepts such as Polars/ Targets, VMC course calculations for long distance racing, and modifying target speeds in oscillating breeze (aka “Wally”), plus much more. Whether you sail with a sophisticated, fully-integrated instrument system, or rely solely on a compass and the seat-of-your-pants, Ockam U provides the handy information to help you get around the course faster. A great gift and it’s a bargain at $25 plus shipping. Holiday Special: Buy 3, get 1 free. To order, download and fax in the Ockam U order form at http://www.ockam.com SAILING SHORTS * Eleven days, five hours of non-stop concentration; good tactics and almost constant ENE trade winds have paid off for Italian maxi yacht Capricorno, as they crossed the ARC finish line in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia to set a new ARC record of 11days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds. Owner, Italian businessman Rinaldo Del Bono, said that much of the credit goes to American skipper, 36 year old Matthew Babcock, whose brave decision to stay north early on, paid off as their better gybe angle gave them superior speed to that of Italian rivals Fantasticaaa, during the last few days. – Full story: http://tinyurl.com/wdgsv * The International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Robert McNeil of Coronet Restoration Partners (CRP) that will result in the restoration of the historic schooner Coronet. The school acquired the 110-year old vessel in 1995 and has housed and stewarded the boat for the past eleven years. Restoration efforts were suspended in September 2005, but will resume again with the ownership of the vessel transferred to CRP in exchange for CRP restoring the vessel at IYRS using IYRS graduates and regularly making Coronet available for public benefit. * The inaugural Global Ocean Challenge, a solo-double round-the-world race in 40 and 50ft boats, is now accepting entries, and Scottish chef John Mackay is the first solo entrant from the UK to sign up. Run by British sailors Josh Hall and Brian Hancock, it's a race with a heart, aiming to make poverty history. Scottish sailor John Mackay plans to take his message of eradicating poverty around the world aboard a new Owen Clarke GOC 50, with tartan hull, deck and cockpit to commemorate his heritage. – http://www.globaloceanchallenge.com * German carmaker, Audi, has announced the launch of a major new sailing championship in Australia. The Audi IRC Australian Championship is endorsed by Yachting Australia and supported by the host clubs of Skandia Geelong Week (RGYC), the Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta (MHYC), the Audi Sydney to Gold Coast Race (CYCA) and the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week (HIYC). The results of the IRC Division races at each one of these four regattas will ultimately establish the Audi IRC Australian Champion. The major prize will be a Q7 – the latest performance SUV from Audi. The NOR can be found at: http://www.audisailing.com.au/notices * Ovington Boats has announced that they have become the licensed UK builder of the Byte. David Hall, in an interview with Maggie Futcher, President of the UK Class Association, had this to say: “The new CII rig has completely transformed the boat and it now fits exceptionally well into our current range of boats giving us the single-hander we have been missing” Rigs and parts will be available in the New Year and boats should be on line late spring. * The furious fifties, Cape Horn; all names which conjure up the South Ocean. Maud Fontenoy was just 35 miles to the East of this legendary rock Thursday morning. Thursday evening the second big cape that marks out her circumnavigation against the winds and currents should be rounded and the gateway to the Pacific Ocean will open out ahead of L’Oréal Paris. -- http://www.maudfontenoy.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Donal McClement: Wally Cross’ comments (Butt 2233) about alleged misuse of the ISAF Crew Classification scheme disappoint me. Just like in normal Racing the Rules are there for observance by all but the Sport is Self Policing. If he is suggesting that people are cheating then he has a duty to do something about it. The ISAF Code can only work on the basis of information supplied by the applicant and additional information gleaned by the members of the Classification Commission through questioning the applicant or from other sources. If the applicant is not truthful when he makes his application it is very difficult to prove this and the person may well get an incorrect Classification. However the Code does point out that the provision of incorrect information could lead to Rule 69 action and the applicant does sign to the effect that he has been truthful. If any sailor or competitor has any information that might suggest a person has been Classified incorrectly he must take the necessary action and lodge a Protest. If all of us do not police our Rules then of course it is possible that some of us get away with it. The Code has been working very successfully throughout the World and it is disappointing to hear moans and groans without follow up action. The remedies are in our own hands so let’s act and not bitch. * From Janet Baxter: Southern California is lucky to be getting one more great contributor to the sport of sailing. George Wood has been a coach and a volunteer for sailing with great success in many areas. Congratulations, George and I wish you great success with the Scouts in California, too. * From Ken Boyle: The editorial about scoring and some of the responses to it suggest that a system of scoring that is more like other sports might make the sport of sailing "more accessible and understandable." That is a nice thought, but it does not take into account that sailing is simply not like other sports. In most sailing contests there are way more than two teams, the clock can not be stopped, players can not be substituted, the action can not be suspended and the playing field and conditions are constantly changing. It seems entirely appropriate, perhaps even necessary, that the sport of sailing incorporate a more complex and flexible scoring system than those used in other sports. * From J. Joseph Bainton (Reply To Scoring): If in race three of a World's Championship a competitor had average points of 37; was winning the race by a large margin when an upwind port tack boat hooked the starboard tack leader's backstay pulling down the mast: and the leader then sought redress: Would average points be fair? I certainly would not be happy with them. I for one do not think our system needs the proposed revisions. If a foul takes a star player out of a football or basketball game due to injury caused by the rules violation thus materially changing the likely outcome of the game, the redress given is in those sports (ten yards or the possibility of two points) is not proportionate to the consequence of the rules violation. For once we sailors seem to have an advantage. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATIONS A classic is a book people praise but never read. Special thanks to UK-Halsey Sails and Ockam Instruments. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
