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SCUTTLEBUTT 1382 - July 30, 2003
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welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
BRITISH POWER
Curmudgeon's note- British sailing seems to be doing something right these
days. Here is an interview with Jim Saltonstall, who last week was at his
twenty-fifth ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, twenty-three of which
he spent as a successful GBR Team leader. Here is what he had to say:
Q: Jim, you've been to more Youth Worlds than anyone else, what's your role
at this event?
Jim Saltonstall: I'm the ISAF World Youth Sailing Trust (WYST) Coach. The
WYST fund me basically to look after all the teams that don't have a team
leader or coach, to give them advice on the SI's, help them sort the boats
out, with tuning, help with protests etc. All the things which need to be
done at a Championship like this.
Q: What do you think of the standard of sailing here compared to past events?
JS: Well, when you look at the sharp end of all the classes here, in my
amateur opinion the standard is very good. Some of the youth sailors here,
as in the past will leave this event and in 12 months time go to the
Olympic Games for their country. Look at Ben Ainslie, a Youth World Gold
medal in 1995, and an Olympic silver medal in Atlanta '96.
Q: How do you think the Youth Worlds prepares youngsters for a future in
International Racing?
JS: It's a great system, this is the most prestigious youth event in the
entire world and sailing is the most challenging sport in the world. To
give these "ferrets" the opportunity to come here and have a coach and
learn things that they can then take away from the Championship and use at
future events is phenomenal.
Once they have experienced this, it puts them on the next rung of the
ladder on the way to the top. It's great experience to do a full twelve
race, international regatta with only one discard. And it's tough, bloody
tough. The whole event gives them more character and confidence.
Look back at the early 80's, I saw Russell Coutts get a gold medal, and
Chris Dickson won three gold medals. Sally Cuthbert won four…four Gold
medals! The list of top sailors is endless but they have all been through
the system.
Q: What do you think of the ISAF Athlete Participation Programme?
JS: In theory it's a very good idea as it brings increased numbers into the
youth family, but I have reservations in that you have to be very careful
who to send. If you send someone who is still learning to sail than this
will be a complete culture shock to them and it may have the reverse effect
- to put them off sailing [Ed note: the ISAF Athlete Participation
Programme is selective in its criteria to ensure suitability of sailors on
the programme]. I do support the concept though.
Q: What was it like being part of the British medal haul in Sydney and do
you think any nation will ever repeat it?
JS: Well I sat at the Medal Ceremony on the steps of the Opera house and
had to take some time out. I thought "The last 23 years have all been worth
it". All but a few of the team had come through the system, Iain Percy, Ben
Ainslie, Shirley Robertson, Nick and Jo. I always thought that leading up
to Sydney we had the potential to win six medals, and now, in my opinion as
a freelance coach I think that GBR in Athens are every bit as good as the
team in Sydney, it's mostly the same culprits!
Complete interview at
http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=4993
ULLMAN SAILS WINS SANTANA 20 NATIONALS
Team "Cal Trans," sailing with a full inventory of Ullman Sails, defeated a
28-boat fleet to capture the Nationals. Teams from Canada, Oregon,
Oklahoma, Colorado and California descended on Huntington Lake to compete
for the title. With five 1st place finishes, a 2nd and a 6th,
congratulations go to Team "Cal Trans" (Charlie Ogletree, Mike Pinckney and
John Papadopoulos). Are you and your crew ready for the "Fastest Sails on
the Planet?" If so, call your nearest Ullman Sails loft or visit us at
http://www.ullmansails.com
VOLVO OCEAN RACE
Hamble, UK, July 29, 2003 - Neal and Lisa McDonald have today formally
announced their intention to lead a team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006.
This will be the first time in the history of round the world races that a
husband and wife will co-skipper an entry.
The British-based sailors were both skippers in the last Volvo Ocean Race -
of Assa Abloy and Amer Sports Too respectively. They have decided to
harness their combined experience of competition in the world's top sailing
events to lead their own team with the aim of winning the event.
Neal commented, "For both of us the Volvo Ocean Race is unfinished
business. We have been involved in five campaigns between us but this time
we want to win. We have decided to sail together because we know it works.
There is an intuition between us that goes with years of sailing and living
together. The Volvo Ocean Race really matters to us and I know we can win
it," he concluded.
"We have sailed in the same events, often as competitors. For us it is our
job - we just happen to do the same sort of job at the same level. However,
this event is not just a job, it is part of your life and winning the race
is our life," comments Lisa.
To exploit the explosive combination of their technical and sailing
abilities the pair have recruited a formidable project management team of
professionals and consultants who will work on finding commercial partners
for the campaign and manage the business aspects.
"In some ways the decisions we have taken over the last months in
appointing this group will be among the most important we will make in this
campaign, because they will determine whether we get in the race or not,"
said Lisa.
Commenting on the announcement Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race
said, "Neal and Lisa exemplify the very best in ocean racers. They are
highly talented sailors, proven leaders of commercially successful teams
and warm charismatic human beings. Having the Volvo Ocean Race as their
first choice further reinforces its stature as the world's leading ocean
race. All these factors create an incredibly attractive package for sponsors."
The Volvo Ocean Race will start in November 2005 from the Mediterranean.
Complete report at http://www.volvooceanrace.org
CANADA'S CUP
Harbor Springs, MI - Bob Hughes and his Heartbreaker Sailing Team organized
a two-day match racing session last week on Little Traverse Bay in Harbor
Springs, MI. The team is preparing for the upcoming Canada's Cup in September.
On Thursday and Friday Team Heartbreaker practiced against the chartered
Farr 40 Bandit with James Spithill driving and a crew brought in by Hughes.
Hughes brought in Spithill and Jes Graham-Hansen, the number five and two
ranked match-racers in the world, to help the team prepare for the upcoming
event. Graham-Hansen called tactics on Heartbreaker both days while
Spithill drove Bandit.
The team will be practicing again this week at Macatawa Bay Yacht Club.
Spithill will be back to drive the practice boat while John Kostecki will
be calling tactics on Heartbreaker. -
http://www.bowmansunion.com/portal/news/anmviewer.asp?a=855&z=1
NO WEED SPEED
In stock now at Ockam - the CS4500 Ultrasonic Boatspeed sensor. Another
amazing product from Airmar, our supplier of the Depth/Temp NMEA
Smartducer. Flush mounted with a hard, smooth surface, no moving parts,
removable sensor in a nylon or bronze thruhull. No more boatspeed problems
caused by seaweed or other junk catching in the paddlewheel. No more
damaged paddlewheels from lifting slings or lobster pots. On the water
testing proved excellent accuracy and responsiveness. Fully compatible with
both the Tryad T2 multiplex interface and older style Model 015 Boatspeed
Interface. For more information contact your Ockam dealer or Tom Davis
(tom@ockam.com).
OPTI WORLDS
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain - Tuesday was for team racing, where the
format used is direct elimination with repechage, which is based on the
simple principle that any team, which loses two matches, is eliminated.
Rounds one and two went mostly according to seeding, with the exceptions
that three times winners Peru defeated Bermuda while France, which has
never shown any enthusiasm for this branch of the sport, went down to New
Zealand and Brasil.
Following rounds led to semi-finals in which Peru defeated Japan and
Argentina beat Great Britain. Teams relegated to the repechage (the left
hand side of the table) battled it out to leave a petit finale between
Croatia and Japan which was won by the former.
The final was, as it has been for four of the previous six years, between
the two South American specialists and was won for the fourth year in
succession by Argentina.
Wednesday is a rest day before the individual championship resumes on
Thursday. Complete team race and worlds results at
http://www.optiworld.org/ioda-news.html
505 WORLDS
Malmö, Sweden- No races scheduled on Tuesday. Racing resumes on Wednesday.
Results after 5 of 9 races:
1. GER, Wolfgang Hunger/ Holger Jess, 6
2. GBR Ian Pinnell/ Steve Hunt, 23
3. SWE, Krister Bergström/ Johan Barne, 30
4. DEN, Jörgen Riber/ Henrik Buhl, 37
5. USA, Howard Hamlin/ Peter Alarie, 37
7. USA, Daniel Thompson/ Andrew Zinn, 45
11. USA, Andy Beeckman/ Ben Benjamin, 64
12. USA, Alexander Meller/ Jesse Falsone, 68
18. USA, Macy Nelson/ Nick Nelson, 101
Complete results: http://mss.m.se/vm505%202003.htm
VICTORY…AGAIN
Pegasus 77, winner of Transpac 2003 (and 2001), is for sale. Launched in
2001, she has proven again to be the ultimate Turbo Sled. Designed by
Reichel-Pugh, she remains the very best in every aspect and is immediately
available for purchase. Additional details and photographs at
http://www.pegasus.com/pegasus77
LIGHTNING ATLANTIC COAST CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2003 Lightning ACC's were held July 26 -27 at the Malletts Bay Boat
Club in Colchester, VT. Fifty-two boats sailed in the nearly perfect 8-16
knot winds. Allen Terhune, Katie Terhune and Jody Kohut of Toms River YC
won the event with an impressive performance in a very competitive fleet.
Final Standings:
1. Allan Terhune/Katie Terhune/Jody Kohut (Toms River YC, NJ) 15
2. David Peck/Nina Peck/Scott Ikle (Niantic Bay YC, CT) 21
3. Bill Fastiggi/Suzy Coburn/Noah Pasackow (Malletts Bay BC, VT) 23
4. Peter Hall/Alicia Lenis/Kelly Dumas (Royal St.Lawrence YC,
Montreal) 30
5. Bill Healy/Nick Mercier/Theresa Colantuono (Niantic Bay YC, CT) 40
For complete results and photos: http://www.lightningclass.org
NEWS BRIEFS
* Typhoon International's Racer Pro lifejacket claims to provide the
solution to the occasional problem of automatic lifejackets accidentally
inflating in extreme conditions. By including the the unique Halkey-Roberts
Pro 1F Lifejacket Inflator into their range of lifejackets, they've made
the water work harder to get to the inflator mechanism. The result is an
inflator mechanism that has to be properly immersed in water before it goes
off. If you do end up in the water though, the Racer Pro will inflate
within five seconds as required by EU guidelines.
http://www.typhoon-int.co.uk/news/news_detail.cfm?PR_ID=102
* The best of the best among disabled sailors from the United States and
Canada will shed wheelchairs and other aids as they race for the
championship title in the U.S. Independence Cup and North American
Challenge Cup (IC/NACC) hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club. Competitors will
tack, jibe and trim their sails aboard specially equipped boats during the
three-day event Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3. The event combines
two of sailing's most respected regattas for the disabled community and is
the season's championship racing event for disabled sailors in North
America. - Holly Jespersen, Public Communications
* Mangia Onda, a division of M SHIP CO, and Siewert Design were recently
honored with the Bronze Award in the 2003 Industrial Design Excellence
Awards (IDEA) competition for their collaboration designing the Wahoo
Sailing Dinghy. The innovative sailboat design won the award based on
judging criteria including design innovation, benefit to the user and
business, ecological responsibility and aesthetic appeal. The
wave-suppressing feature of the patented M-hull design offers unmatched
stability and efficiency, and the kick-up rudder and the lack of a
centerboard make beaching a breeze. - http://www.gottawahoo.com
* Edson International, manufacturer of marine steering systems, pumps and
related hardware, has redesigned of the company's steering wheel logo to
reflect the changes in the company and its products that have taken place
in recent years. Celebrating its 144th year, Edson is one of the oldest
continually operating companies in Massachusetts and the US.
http://www.edsonmarine.com/media/0307_New_Edson_Logo.html
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS
* August 9-15: 9th Annual DownEast Race Week - a week of cruising and
racing around scenic islands in the spectacular water of the downeast coast
of Maine. The NOR and other information is available at
http://www.downeastraceweek.com
* August 16-21: 2003 Geary 18 International Regatta, Alamitos Bay Yacht
Club, http://www.abyc.org
BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL
A ten-foot Avon in Los Angeles? A condo for Key West Race Week? The
eighty-foot maxi Brindabella in Australia? A Marketing Manager position for
a boatbuilding and repair facility in Port TownsEnd, WA? A Hydro-Hoist in
Lake Carlyle, IL? A position as Sailing Director at the San Francisco YC?
The classified ad listings on the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club's Bulletin Board
now host a variety of categories. View them all at
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/classifieds.html
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Bill Crane, Noroton Yacht Club: Imagine my surprise to see a letter
in Scuttlebutt with my name attached - since I was not the author. Perhaps
the Bill Crane who chooses not to race too often should come back out and
see what's happening on the water. The Corinthian Spirit is alive and well
in yachting. I know, I have witnessed it at almost every event I have
attended - Just last week in a hotly contested Monday night team race at
Pequot Yacht Club, both teams stopped racing when a competitor fell
overboard. The competitors all circled the man in the water until he was
able to get himself back in his boat.
Fortunately, for our sakes, the majority of sailors and committee members
who actively participate in our sport do fully understand the Corinthian
Spirit whether it applies to yacht racing, cycling or life in general. Let
us all work to keep it that way.
* From Zvi Ziblat: (re ISAF President's Yngling observations) It is okay to
share the president's enthusiasm but it is as just easy to have a different
view. The Yngling was a class of boats used for families who had fun
playing around with mom+dad+son/daughter competing, when all of a sudden
ISAF decided that the women should run only 60 meters as compared to the
mens 100 and gave them the Yngling to do that. So why be surprised when the
Venus sisters are better than the 300th ranked men? Linge, the designer
told us all he designed a boat for his fourteen year old son to have fun.
* From Ray Tostado: It is very common to find ocean-racing vessels being
motored back to their homeport after completion of an event. It can last
for days and more frequently at least overnight. Crews are tired, comfort
is still miles away and sleeping in a warm cabin is the perfect invitation
to monoxide inhalation. Do not close off proper ventilation during the off
watch snoozes. It only takes a pinhole leak in any exhaust system to
eventually create a death dealing silent intoxication. I have suffered
monoxide poisoning and that was while standing by a wide-open double garage
door while tuning a stand alone 300 amp generator. I can only verify that
it is not the same obnoxious smell of exhaust gases we are all familiar
with. This stuff is odorless, painless, and generally goes unnoticed until
unconsciousness, then death, occur. All that perhaps saved me was an
attempted trip to the kitchen for another beer. When I hit the fresh air I
nearly collapsed. It was a terrifying experience.
Install standard home smoke detectors with monoxide spectrum sensitivity,
yes, in your boat.
CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATION
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans for the future. - Woody
Allen
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