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SCUTTLEBUTT 2831 - Monday, April 27, 2009
Scuttlebutt 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 Long Beach Race Week, Doyle Sails, and BIC Sport.
ERICSSON TEAM SWEEPS INTO BOSTON
(Apr. 26, 2009; Day 16) - Ericsson Racing Team continued its dominance of the
Volvo Ocean Race today when Torben Grael/BRA/Ericsson 4 and Magnus
Olsson/SWE/Ericsson 3 finished first and second on leg six from Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil to Boston, USA. The two Ericsson teams shared the same top two
positions on the previous leg from Qingdao in China to Rio, but in that case,
Ericsson 3 came out on top. Today, Ericsson 4 crossed the finish at 2105 GMT
(1605 local) recording an elapsed time of 15 days, 10 hours 30 minutes and 54
seconds.
Skipper Torben Grael said: “It feels fantastic. I think we had a very good
leg. We were always very close to the other boats. I think it was very
important when we gybed a few days ago. After that, there were not many
options. We just managed to keep the front, which was not easy. Even here at
the end, when it looked like it was OK, the wind was very light with sea
breeze fighting the land breeze. It was a very hard job, but a very good
result for us. It couldn't be better. It's one more step towards our
objective. Normally, regattas in the United States give me luck. This is
another one of them.” -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/cfmn3w
Crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven
In-Port races. Leg Six from Rio de Janiero, Brazil to Boston, MA, USA is 4,900
nm, with current positions as of Apr. 26, 22:15 GMT:
1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, Finished April 26, 21:05:10 GMT
2. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, Finished April 26, 21:17:58 GMT
3. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, Finished April 26, 21:23:02 GMT
4. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 2 nm Distance to Finish
5. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 80 nm DTF
6. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, 81 nm DTF
7. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 115 nm DTF
Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, Did Not Start
Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org
Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com
Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4
PROTECTING THE WHALES
In a first for such an event, organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race, a
37,000-nautical-mile race around the world, have worked with the federal
government to route the fleet around the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary and the group of North Atlantic right whales that began feeding
there this month. Ecologists and race organizers said new rules restricting
access to the sanctuary would better protect the whales and the sailors. The
rules were enacted in January.
The rules, under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection
Act, restrict ship traffic in the 842-square-mile parcel of Massachusetts Bay
and the North Atlantic. The Volvo race fleet fell under the requirements that
require all vessels 65 feet or longer to reduce their speed to 10 knots in the
sanctuary during seasonal management, which opens when right, humpback and fin
whales begin their migrations. -- Excerpt from NY Times, full story:
http://tinyurl.com/d2fzz9
RACE A CATALINA 37 AT ACURA ULLMAN SAILS LONG BEACH RACE WEEK
What do Chuck Clay and Sweden's Johnie Berntsson have in common? Each drove a
Catalina 37 to a significant victory against nine worthy opponents. Berntsson
won the Congressional Cup world match racing classic in March. Clay and his
Alamitos Bay YC crew won the Catalina 37 national championship at Acura Ullman
Sails Long Beach Race Week last summer --- although, like Berntsson, he didn't
even own one. Ordinarily, Clay sails his Cal 20 or Sea Ray 27, so if he can do
it . . . . The special boats are available for charter again June 26-28. Bring
on Berntsson! http://www.lbrw.org
ISAF SAILING WORLD CUP: SEMAINE OLYMPIQUE FRANÇAISE
Hyères, France (Apr. 24, 2009; Day 6) - The spotlight was on the top ten in
each of the nine Olympic classes and one Paralympic class at the Semaine
Olympique Française, as they had advanced to the double-point, non-discardable
Medal Race. For American Anna Tunnicliffe, she had clawed her way up the Laser
Radial standings after Veronika Fenclova (CZE) had started fast with three
bullets. Coming into the Medal race, Tunnicliffe was in second, four points
off the lead with a fifteen point cushion on third. Here is Anna’s Medal race
report:
“After having tricky, light conditions all week long, yesterday (Friday) we
woke to winds of up to 15kt, and waves. It was great to be able to hike again,
and I was very excited for the race. To win, all I needed to do was to finish
with one boat between Veronika Fenclova (CZE) and me. The race started and I
had a good mid-line start with Veronika three boats up on my hip. The trend
was for the left side to be paying a little, so I was happy to start to
leeward of her and lead her that way.
“In total, the whole race took about 25 minutes and in the breeze and waves,
it was a lot of work. I rounded the top mark in 3rd with Veronika in 7th, but
I knew that I couldn't relax yet. I maintained 3rd on the downwind leg, but
then lost a boat on the second upwind and she had gained a boat. There was a
large gap between the 5th and 6th placed boats, but in those conditions,
anything could happen. I rounded right behind two boats at the top mark
though, and started the leg very fast. I passed one boat immediately and
battled with the second place boat for the rest of the downwind leg. I
finished the race in 3rd to Veronika's 6th place, which was enough for me to
take the overall win.”
It was a disappointing day for the rest of the North American contingent who
had a chance to medal. Paul Tingley (CAN) dropped from second to fifth in the
2.4mR, Andrew MacDonald/ Brian Faith (USA) dropped from second to fourth in
the Star, and Stu McNay/ Graham Biehl (USA) dropped from fifth to ninth in the
Men’s 470. Overall, 18 countries earned at least one medal, with Great Britain
leading the charge at five, followed by France (4) and Netherlands (3). This
was the fourth of seven International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World
Cup events, with the Delta Lloyd Regatta as the next event in Medemblik (NED)
on May 27-31.
Event website: http://sof.ffvoile.net
Event video: http://www.sailing.org/worldcuptv.php
Anna Tunnicliffe’s website: http://www.annatunnicliffe.com
SCREENING FOR SKIN CANCERS
by Lynn Fitzpatrick, World Regattas
Registration is usually a hectic time at major regattas. Between arriving,
reunions, finding a place for the boat, rigging, splashing, registering and
practicing, only 20-30% of the sailors have availed themselves of the free
skin cancer screenings that Dr. Steve Horwitz has provided. The screenings are
conducted in private and sailors only need to strip down to their underwear or
bathing suits for the screening. Dr. Horwitz can finish a screening in less
time than it takes to put an uncooperative ring ding through a clevis pin so
why do so few people take advantage of the screenings?
“Many people are afraid to discover that they have a skin cancer. Most skin
cancers are not in the melanoma family, they are called basal cell or squamous
cell skin cancers. if they are diagnosed with Melanoma they fear they will
die,” was one of the explanations that Dr. Horwitz gave. “The truth is, if
Melanoma is caught very early, it is often 100% curable. The danger of
Melanoma is a function of how thick it has become and how long it has been on
one’s skin.” -- Read on:
http://www.worldregattas.com/ViewInfo.php?ContentID=219
=> Curmudgeon’s Comment: This article is the third of a three part series. And
while I have your attention, let me remind you of the sunscreen information
recently posted on Scuttlebutt:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7198
LARGEST NOOD IN 2009
Annapolis, MD (Apr. 26, 2009) - As three days of competitive sailing comes to
end on the Chesapeake Bay, Brian Keane of Weston, Mass., today was named the
overall winner of the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (NOOD)
Regatta in Annapolis. Overall there were 267 boats competing in 18 classes
(one fewer boat than 2008).
Keane and his boat Savasana were one of 30 competitors in the J/105 boat
class, considered by race officials as the most competitive fleet of the
regatta. As the overall winner, Keane and his crew will be invited to
participate in the NOOD Regatta Championships in the British Virgin Islands in
November to compete aboard Sunsail 39s against the overall winners from each
stop in the NOOD regatta series.
Annapolis served as the third stop in the nine-event nationwide series, was
the largest NOOD so far in 2009, and has been part of the NOODs since 1999. --
Results: http://www.sailingworld.com/nood_regatta.jsp?location=599
DOW JONES DISCOUNT
Order a sail by May 1, 2009 and take advantage of Doyle's Dow Jones Discount.
Place a 50% deposit with your order by May 1st. If 4 weeks from the date you
place your order the Dow closes lower, your balance due will be discounted by
the same percentage decline of the Dow. If the stock market goes down, your
sail will cost you less. If the stock market goes up, the cost of your sail
remains the same. Order your sail now! For more details or to take advantage
of this offer, visit http://www.doylesails.com/dow
FAST PACE FOR ENSENADA RACE
(Apr. 25, 2009) - Doug Baker's Magnitude 80 broke the race record for
monohulls late Friday night when it finished the 125.5 mile 62nd Newport to
Ensenada International Yacht Race at 10:37:50 p.m. in 10 hours 37 minutes 50
seconds---7 minutes 3 seconds faster than the record set by Roy E. Disney's
Pyewacket III in 2003. Overall elapsed time winner was H.L. Enloe's big
trimaran, LoeReal, finishing at 8:45:03 p.m. (elapsed time of 8:45:03) to log
the race's second fastest time ever for a multihull, next to the late Steve
Fossett's record of 6:46:40 on the Stars & Stripes catamaran in 1998.
The race wasn't wild and windy but the breeze was a steady 9 to 12 knots the
whole night through and positioned nicely from southwest, clocking to west, to
sweep the fleet of 272 starters directly toward the finish: rhumb line
sailing. Following the noon Friday start, 56 boats had finished before sunrise
Saturday, with final finishers in by 4 p.m. Saturday. The overall winner on
corrected handicap time was Cleve Hardaker's Sojourn, a Catalina 30 from San
Diego in PHRF-K class. -- Excerpts from race website: http://www.nosa.org
SAILING SHORTS
* Hamilton, Bermuda (Apr. 24, 2009) - Somers Kempe (Bermuda) made a clean
sweep of all three top prizes in the IOD class today with another sterling
performance on a sparkling Bermuda day. In the International Etchells Class
eleven-race series, local Bermuda skipper Tim Patton with crewmates Peter
Martin and Paul Fisher won without sailing the final race. The J/24 group
completed their thirteen-race series, with Trevor Boyce with crew Carlton
Adams, Samantha Mallory,Gary Taylor, Jorge Chiapparro and (r) Anna Kinsten
winning for the second year in a row. -- Daily stories:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7346
* With the completion a 3-month winter refit after a circumnavigation of the
globe, the maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O will be tackling a brand new record campaign
across the Atlantic in 2009. Skipper Thomas Coville will attempt to beat two
single-handed transatlantic records on his 32 metre maxi-trimaran: the
Discovery Route (attempt between May and June) and the North Atlantic (attempt
between the end of June and mid August). -- Full details:
http://tinyurl.com/c5na3m
* (Apr. 26, 2009) - After the Portimão Global Ocean Race began on Saturday,
the 4,800 mile Leg 4 from Ilhabela, Brazil, to Charleston South Carolina,
light winds and strong currents have provided a tortuous reintroduction to
offshore sailing for the four boats in the fleet. The 1520 GMT position poll
on Sunday shows Felipe Cubillos and José Muñoz are holding the lead on Desafio
Cabo de Hornos, 8.3 miles ahead of Boris Herrmann and Felix Oehme on Beluga
Racer in second place. -- Race website: http://www.portimaoglobaloceanrace.com
* Cagliari, Italy (Apr. 26, 2009) - The wind carried on playing tricks with
the Cagliari Cup organisers today. Despite a good forecast and some promising
moments, Peter “Luigi” Reggio had no other option but to send all the teams
back to port at 2:30 PM with no races. Winner of the fleet regatta, Larry
Ellison’s BMW ORACLE Racing also grabs the Cagliari RC 44 Cup – the combined
fleet & match race ranking - ahead of Chris Bake’s Team Aqua and Igor Lah’s
Ceeref. -- Full report:
http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=2023
* VIDEO UPDATE: Last week’s Video Of The Week was hosted by Hulu.com, which
apparently is limited to U.S. viewing only. If you are out of the states, we
found a YouTube version that is now on the Scuttlebutt website. For anyone who
missed seeing this one, it may be one of our finest:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/09/0424
* FORUM UPDATE: A recent problem with sign-ups on the Scuttlebutt Forum has
been resolved. -- http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
AMERICA'S CUP LIKELY TO RETURN TO NY SUPREME COURT
The America's Cup seems to be destined to return to Court as a result of the
action of Defender, Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG) rejecting the offer of a
Multi Challenger event sailed in yachts to the AC33 rule, made by the
Challenger of Record, Golden Gate Yacht Club. At a meeting in Geneva, last
Thursday, SNG/Alinghi did not accept the Multi Challenger proposal, instead
they opted for a Match in 90ft or 115ft LWL multihulls, the maximum sized
yacht allowed in the Deed of Gift.
SNG/Alinghi also announced that they would Defend in May 2010, and apparent
contravention of a New York Supreme Court order requiring a match to be sailed
on 8 February 2010. The response from Golden Gate YC and their team BMW Oracle
Racing was to request that the statement regarding a Defence date be put in
writing.
Once that is done it seems that the matter will be referred back to the New
York Supreme Court for further decision and action. The confirmation of dates
by the Court could be done either by a letter to the Court, or at a full
Hearing with a new Judge, as Justice Cahn has returned to private practice. --
Sail World, read on: http://tinyurl.com/dhe2p4
MIAMI YACHT CLUB BOOSTS THEIR PROGRAM WITH 20 O’PEN BICS
“We need our kids to get the sailing passion and be planning today to be
ready for 29ers and 49ers tomorrow!”- Leandro Spina, U.S. World Youth Team
Coach and MYC advisor. Check out this new O’pen BIC action video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMqtkjALQVg - To get on our June West Coast
Demo Tour contact mailto:info@BICSportNA.com
EIGHT BELLS
Katharine Kinsey Baxter, known by sailors from Chicago to Florida as Kay,
passed away quietly at home in Fort Lauderdale. In her youth, Kay sailed
dinghies in Belmont Harbor and around Great Lakes with her father and uncle
aboard their Bangalores. Together husband Mark and Kay Baxter campaigned a Cal
30, Cal 36, and Swan 38 while raising four kids totally hooked on sailing. Two
sons became sailmakers and a daughter became president of US SAILING.
During the 70’s and 80’s, Kay’s home was host to numerous gatherings where
discussions on sailing ranged from Handicap rules and Safety at Sea to Racing
Rules, Race Management, and Judging. More than one well known yachtsman has
spent the night on her couch after one of these “discussions” ended in the wee
hours.
Kay’s real legacy is the near 60 years spent starting and finishing yacht
races. As a teenager just after WWII, she assisted the Mackinac Race
Committee, standing watch at the Coast Guard station and monitoring the radio
(while occasionally sneaking a few beers with her teenage friends). She
continued as a member of Race Committees for regattas ranging from One Design
World championships for Lightnings, Stars, and Etchells to IOR Ton regattas,
SORC, IACC Worlds, and hundreds of Chicago YC weekend club races.
Through her 70’s, she still loved the regatta scene, particularly manning the
Farr 40 weigh-in desk in Miami where she got a kick out of asking the top rock
stars of sailing to strip down. Last summer, she turned 80, celebrating with
friends and family on the front porch of the Windemere Hotel after working the
finish of the 100th Chicago Mac race with her youngest daughter. Afterwards,
she hurried back to Chicago to help with one of her favorite regattas, the
North American Challenge Cup for disabled sailors. Kay’s love of the sport and
respect for her fellow race committee members led her to donate a special
trophy to the CYC for members that have served over 25 years on the race
committee.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for those who wish to honor Kay’s memory
do so by volunteering for their local race committee or making a donation to
their favorite sailing organization. There will be a gathering (party) to
remember Kay at her beloved Belmont Harbor later this spring. Then this
summer, she’ll start her first race to Mackinac and join her parents and
beloved husband at Can #5. -- Mark H. Baxter
Post comments here:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7372
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 Bob Billingham: What a bummer, the two captains of industry - Larry
Ellison and Ernesto Bertarelli - couldn't work something out to keep 80% of
the America’s Cup teams viable and their sailors and shore teams employed. It
just seems selfish and ignorant of the big picture health of the event,
doesn't it?
Who at Alinghi condones Brad Butterworth's no-sh@t Sherlock quotes and sound
bites? How can they possibly think his comments enhance the syndicate's
reputation? "It is time to just get out there and have the regatta and get on
with it," and “In these financial times, it's just a waste if we don't use
them”. What sensitive and compassionate comments to make as all the ex-AC
crews are signing up for unemployment checks!! I think Brad is great sailor
and has one of the best poker faces in the AC game but for god's sake, but
keep the microphone away from him. -- Scuttlebutt Forum, read on:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7368#7368
* From Mike Titgemeyer: Am I the only ones that loves the SNG follow-up press
release? Basically saying, GGYC/BOR, we think a Multi Challenger event is a
great idea, let’s get more big cats built and invite others to the challenger
series in 90 x 90 DoG Multi-hulls. Brilliant move… best one I have seen by
SNG/ EB. Total port tack of LE/GGYC/BOR, anyone think GGYC/BOR expected that
one?
* From Rob Peters: (re, VOR whale exclusion zone in Scuttlebutt 2830) In 2006
on his way to New York for a trans-Atlantic race to qualify him for the 5
Oceans Race, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Open 60 hit a whale off Nova Scotia and
damaged his steering system. He put into Halifax's Royal Nova Scotia Yacht
Squadron for repairs. I had the honour to be the Chairman of that year's
edition of Route Halifax Saint-Pierre, an international ocean race between
Halifax and the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon (about 30 miles
south of Newfoundland). At the skippers meeting I enjoyed Sir Robin's company
at the BBQ and asked him to say a few words to the competitors. He said it
would cost me "another beer" and agreed. When I called upon him he stood up
and said:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, when I return to Britain I shall establish a new
Foundation, and I trust you will all contribute generously. The purpose of the
foundation will be to call upon all maritime nations to enact legislation
requiring all whales to be fitted out with running lights and radar
reflectors." With that, he returned to his seat and his ale.
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
You can't prove your merit on quiet waters. - Donald Trump
Special thanks to Long Beach Race Week, Doyle Sails, and BIC Sport.
Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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