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SCUTTLEBUTT 1385 - August 4, 2003Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. 2003 WORLD SAILOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS The presentation of the tenth annual ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards 2003, the pinnacle award of recognition in the sport of sailing, will take place on Wednesday 12 November 2003 in Barcelona, Spain. The ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards are presented annually to recognize the outstanding sailing achievements of male and female sailors, as nominated and voted by the world of sailing. To determine the winners, ISAF invites the world of sailing to submit nominations. A Shortlist Panel, chaired by HM King Constantine - with representatives including past winners, media, ISAF representatives from the key geographic regions and Rolex - determine the shortlist of male and female sailors who in their opinion are considered as the outstanding sailors of the year. It is based on this shortlist that the ISAF Member National Authorities are invited to cast their votes to determine the ISAF Rolex World Sailors of the Year 2003. The criteria to be nominated is simply "outstanding achievement during the period 1 September 2002 through to 31 August 2003". Nominations should be made on the official Nomination Form available online at: http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor/2003nominationform.doc Complete story at http://www.sailing.org/Article_content.asp?ArticleID=5070 THREE-PEAT? No boat owner has won three consecutive Barn Doors in the Transpacific Yacht Race, and it's conditional whether Philippe Kahn will try to be the first. "We'll be back," Kahn said, "as long as we can fit into Transpac Row." That may be a squeeze in 2005. The bar for the monohull with the fastest elapsed time in the 2,225-nautical mile race from Los Angeles to Honolulu will rise to the bigger, faster maxZ86s. Kahn's boat, the "maxi sled" Pegasus 77, was being advertised for sale well before the latest Transpac (asking price: $1.45 million) when it scored its second successive victory. But a maxZ86, with CBTF (canting bulb twin foil) technology, draws 15 feet of water, which is deeper than Transpac Row in the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor at Waikiki Beach. And if it won't fit, Kahn feels there is no point in building one. "We believe any boat that sails Transpac should fit in the harbor," he said. "With their draft, none of the 86s will even fit in most harbors. That's not good for the spirit of the race." Transpac Row, a long, single line of slips where private boats obligingly surrender their choice locations once every two years to make room for Transpac visitors, is a long-standing tradition of the race. Each boat is met with a luau welcome upon arrival, no matter what time of day or night, and a community atmosphere grows as each finisher checks in. Kahn indicated that if the next Transpac doesn't work out for him, he'll devote his sailing energies entirely to his one-design fleet. He has raced Farr 40s, Mumm 30s, Finns and Melges 24s and recently bought two Stars. He plans to compete in the Melges 24 Worlds and the Star North Americans in San Francisco this fall and will sail a Farr 40 in the Big Boat Series on the Bay in September. "We'd love to defend [the Barn Door] again," he said, "but we're not tied to one boat. Most of our program in Pegasus Racing is one-design." - Rich Roberts Complete story at http://www.yachtracing.com/richroberts/073103.htm 3 MORE REASONS: POLARS, STRIPCHARTS, NMEA Ockam's management of polar files is vastly more accurate and complete (2000+ data points versus 200), while adding polars to a system is plug and play simple. Ockam offers easy stripcharts - graphical history of wind and current is available at display level, with stripcharting of every system function enabled in PC software. Ockam's NMEA integration and interaction with external NMEA devices is more complete, yet simpler and more flexible (multiple NMEA taps can be attached anywhere on the data cabling throughout the boat). Three more reasons why Ockam is better! For more, visit http://www.ockam.com/ OPTI WORLDS Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain- Filip Matika from Pula, Croatia, who last year became probably the youngest sailor ever to win the event at the age of 11 years 10 months, repeated his victory in unarguable fashion with a victory in the final race. Bermudan Jesse Kirkland had a 8, 3 on the final day to take silver, the first medal ever won by his country in the 41 year-old event. Sebastian Peri Brusa who suffered a DSQ in the penultimate race took bronze. Tomasz Januszewski (POL) confirmed the improved standard of Polish sailing, shown by their victory in the Europeans, to take fourth ahead of Hannah Mills (GBR) Hannah had had to sail conservatively ever since her second OCS in Race 7 but strung together a set of excellent results to win the girls prize by a large margin. With three sailors in the top 12 this was by far the best British performance for decades. Joaquin Blanco, double European champion and sailing in his own club, was always going to be under pressure and it is a tribute to his resilience that he achieved an excellent 6th. Final Results: 1. CRO, Matika Filip, 44 2. BER, Jesse Kirkland, 65 3. ARG, Sebastian Peri Brusa, 69 pts 4. POL, Tomasz Januszewski, 78 5. GBR, Hannah Mills, 81 6. ESP, Joaquin Blanco, 92 7. JPN, Ryutaro Kawai , 33 8. GRE, Spanomanolis Jason, 90 9. SWE, Nicklas Dackhammar, 63 10. GBR, Richard Mason, 118 Top Mexican: 28. Erik Brokman, 185 Top American: 104. USA, Scott Furnay, 411 Top Canadian: 123. CAN, Evert Mclaughlin, 456 Complete reports and results at http://www.optiworld.org/ioda-news.html Curmudgeon's comment- The above results were listed as provisional, but also said that the final results for major placings would not change. But, I guess that could mean the results of the remaining top North American entrants may perhaps change. SWAN AMERICAN REGATTA Newport, RI- The 2003 Swan American Regatta concluded with Craig Speck's Swan 45 VIM taking overall Swan American title and winner of Class A, having achieved podium position in five out of the seven races completed in this five day regatta. The Swan 45 took two out of the top three places with Doug Douglas' Goombay Smash in second place. The runaway winner of Class B was Martin Jacobson's Swan 44, Crescendo who rose to the challenge of the trying conditions to win both races today and take the class overall. Jacobson and his crew managed to beat a highly competitive fleet of 20 Swans, including eventual second placed Vixen a Swan 44 owned by local sailor John Wayt. For the first time at the Swan American Regatta, Nautor provided a third class for non-spinnaker entries, with the overall class title going to Dire Wolf, a Swan 44 owned by Thomas Little. The next Swan American Regatta will be run in Newport, R.I in the summer of 2005. Complete report and results at http://www.nyyc.org/index.cfm?menu=263 BOOMERANG Goetz 80' custom carbon fiber (1996) by Frers, complete with two containers of spare parts, fifty-five sails, two masts, two booms and a record of prestigious accoumplishments around the world. Boomerang is in covered storage in Newport, RI, attractively priced, looking for a new home. Contact Bill Sanderson via bs@pal.cnyachts.com NEWS BRIEFS * The first races of the Pan Am Games in Santa Domingo are set to start Monday, August 4th. Scuttlebutt received a report the other day from US Team member and Snipe crew Lisa Griffith: "We're living in a cinderblock building...all the US team (all sports) are in one "block"...which are arranged around a courtyard. I think there are nine blocks all together...imagine a rubic's cube setup. We all eat in the same cafeteria, which is quite good. We're eating way too much food and drinking water like crazy because it's really, really hot here. We're sleeping about six people to a room in bunk beds and fortunately we have air conditioning. Carl (Eichenlaub) led the entire US contingent during the opening ceremonies and the sailing team got to go in behind him in rows 2-4....row 1 is for the officials. It was really cool!" * Over nine hundred boats racing in forty-two classes are competing this week in Skandia Cowes Week. Billed as the largest and longest-running annual sailing regatta in the world, it first took place in 1826 and has been held in August every year since then (except during the two world wars). The event lasts for eight days and takes place in the Solent waters off Cowes in the United Kingdon. Complete event info and daily results at http://www.cowesweek2.co.uk * Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said Thursday he is no longer confident of signing American yachtsman John Kostecki to a key role in a 2007 America's Cup campaign. He had been initially hopeful of making Kostecki one of the leading members of New Zealand's sailing team. But Dalton said Thursday he had little hope of topping bids for the American's services from other, big-budget campaigns. "Everyone has options and John has obviously got a few. I'd say it's a 50-50 thing at the moment. Good guys like John are under offer from all over the place and he's probably got a variety of options to consider." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/2003/07/31/nz_kostecki_ap/ * Milwaukee, WI was host to the US J/24 Nationals August 1-3, where severe thunderstorms cancelled racing on the third day of the three-day event. Chris Snow of San Diego, CA showed his mastery of the conditions during the first two days to claim the title. Complete results at http://www.j24class.org/usa/USNat/D1.htm 505 WORLDS Malmö, Sweden- This last day started with no wind but a gentle breeze from South increased up to approx 6 m/s so that all races during this 48th 5o5 World Championships could be completed. Champions Hunger/Jess and runner-up Bergstrom/Barne did not compete today, while Americans Hamlin/Alarie sealed their third positioning overall with a victory in the finale. Final Results: 1. GER, Wolfgang Hunger/ Holger Jess, 12 pts 2. SWE, Krister Bergström/ Johan Barne, 23 3. USA, Howard Hamlin/ Peter Alarie, 30 4. DEN, Jörgen Riber/ Henrik Buhl, 41 5. GER, Christian Kellner/Klaus Stammerjohann,42 6. GBR, Ian Pinnell/ Steve Hunt, 43 7. GER, Claas Lehmann/ Martin Schöler, 55 8. GER, Stefan Koechlin/ Axel Priegan, 55 9. USA, Alexander Meller/ Jesse Falsone, 63 10. USA, Daniel Thompson/ Andrew Zinn, 65 12. USA, Andy Beeckman/ Ben Benjamin, 71 21. USA, Macy Nelson/ Nick Nelson, 151 Complete results: http://mss.m.se/vm505%202003.htm LASER EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Split, Croatia - Light air plagued the final two days of racing, where only six points separated the first four sailors going into the final day. Final Results (120 entrants) 1. SLO, Vasilij Zbogar, 28 2. CRO, Mate Arapov, 30 3. AUS, Michael Blackburn, 34 4. POL Maciej Grabowski, 35 5. GBR, Paul Goodison, 35 pts Top American: 23. USA, Andrew Campbell, 119 Top Canadian: 32. CAN, Andrew Childs, 146 Complete results: http://www.jk-mornar.hr/index.php?option=displaypage&Itemid=89&op=page&SubMenu= SNIPES WORLD WIDE THIS WEEK The Snipe Worlds are being held this week in Borstahusen, Landskrona, Sweden. The US is allowed eight boats based on the number of paid members. Also we had the winner of the Western Hemispheres, who automatically qualifies. And we had the second place boat from the Junior Worlds that also independently qualifies. So the USA has a record ten boats at the Worlds. Also this week Henry Filter and Lisa Griffith are representing the USA in Pan Am Games. Snipe is a World Class boat. Follow the action at http://www.snipeus.org CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * October 14-15: A two-day Judge Training Workshop will be presented at the Adams Mark Hotel in St Louis, MO prior to the US Sailing Annual General Meeting. http://www.ussailing.org/judges/workshops/stlouisjudgeworkshop.pdf 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 Ted Livingston: Thank you, Bud Thompson, for sharing the news of the passing of one of Hawaii's elite sailors, Capt. Robert Leary, USCG Ret. After dropping out of the Academy to sail with Irving Johnson around the world aboard Yankee in '39, WWII put him right back on track with the USCG, as one of their most experienced and trustworthy SAILORS. I understand that, as such, he was sent to Germany, after the war, to bring home the "war prize" square-rigger "Horst Wessel," which now is the USCG bark "Eagle." Also, three cheers for Carl Eichenlaub of your lead article this morning. He was a member of my first junior sailing class, at Mission Bay Yacht Club in 1946. "You've come a long way, baby." * From Vickie Matthews: I'm delighted to hear that Carl will be representing the entire U.S. delegation at the Pan Am Games. It is an honor that I'm sure he humbly accepted. There are many great stories about Carl and he always has a crowd around him that he shares his stories to. My experience with Carl was in the Pan Am Games when our new Lightning arrived without the required anchor. I went to Carl to ask if he had a spare and he said no, scratched his head and said he would come up with something. Sure enough, he came by the boat a little later with an acceptable grappling hook welded out of some threaded rod, complete with an eye and line attached (this wouldn't meet class rules today). We sold the boat minus the anchor - it was a treasure. Another time in St. Pete the power had been cut off to the island due to the Storm of the Century. Carl hooked his motor home generator up to the hoists so that people had power to get their boats out of the water. A very creative and innovative thinker that Carl is! * From Clark Chapin: To the well deserved list of Carl's accomplishments, I feel compelled to add that upon returning to San Diego after the 2000 Olympics (broken hip and all), he traveled to New Orleans to receive the Herreshoff Award in person before returning to Sydney for the Paralympic Games.As an attendee of the 2000 US SAILING Annual General Meeting, I was really impressed. * Jack Spangler: Noting the story about Carl Eichenlaub reminds this old-timer of the slogan ditty of 40-50 years ago when Carl was building Star boats: "Any slob can win in an Eichenlaub." Thanks for the reminder. * From Jean Pierre Martens, The Netherlands: I think it would be a good idea to have the jury on the water being able to give penalties to infringements other then Rule 42. I'm sailing in the Star class and I'm surprised how many fouls are made knowingly without doing the turns and not being protested by fellow competitors. This happens in the big events like Spa, Kiel, etc. and by very experienced sailors! I think a jury on the water will make people think more about what they are doing and maybe stimulate sailors to protest more. The rules are there for good reasons! And luckily the game isn't stopped like in NBA or NHL (bad comparison) so it won't affect "all the viewers." I think it is about fair sailing (not mentioning Lance Armstrong and Jan Ulrich again!). However, I think you would need a lot of jury members on the water to see all the fouls that are being made. * From Mark Miller: In regards to protests and on the water faults, of late I have heard and experienced too many cases where what may seem obvious turns out when presented to a arbitrator or protest committee to not be presented in its true and proper form (ie: not telling the truth or changing the facts so as to get caught or be held libel for damage). Unfortunately that even though sailing is suppose to be a sport where you are on your honor to do the right thing, egos or some other influence changes the way we do our business. Race organizers, committees, judges and the like can not be there for all to see what occurs. My point is that if you see something, be a witness to support the truth. * From Pete Lawson: With all due respect to John Doerr and his substantial contribution to the sport, I had always thought that the judge's job was to resolve disputes, not create them. * From Robert A. Constable (edited to our 250 word limit): I wasn't at the un-named World Championship to witness the "atrocious" compliance with the Part 2 rules that John Doerr refers to, and he didn't give information about the typical age of the competitors. My experience, admittedly limited, is that the younger sailors have neither the experience nor the mindset to grasp the subtleties of all of the rules. Robbie Doyle suggests that for many of these kids, failing to protest may be exercising good judgment. Much of the griping I hear about adult club-level racing is about those few competitors who take it too seriously. God forbid that our kids take it so seriously that the fun is gone and they abandon the sport. Teach them that the sport's code of honor is what makes sailboat racing so special; that aggressive tactics bear risks; that doing the turns is usually cheaper than the red flag; and most of all, celebrate with them when they mess up, do the 720, press on and catch boats. But leave some room for them to exercise their judgment. John Doerr's suggestions on umpiring the Part 2 rules may make sense for a high-level world championships. I certainly believe you honor the sport by respecting the rules, but, if in the rank-and-file events, some kids decide to let one go, rather than get heavy on their peers, I would suggest there's a lesson in it for rest of us -- that preserving the fun may be every bit as meaningful as preserving the integrity. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Never miss a good chance to shut up. |
