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SCUTTLEBUTT 1927 -- September 20, 2005
Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,
features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.
GULF YACHTING UPDATE
The following are some excerpts from a letter Ron Richards, President, Gulf
Yachting Association Foundation, Inc. sent to Peter Commette concerning
recent letters published in Scuttlebutt.)
An astounding 15 Gulf Coast Yacht Clubs have either been totally destroyed
or received substantial damage to their clubs, fleet and marinas as a
result of Katrina. Other storms in recent months have affected other area
clubs and their members. The members of our yachting community are
naturally in shock and certainly pre-occupied with their personal disasters
at this time.
Concerning the presently non-existent funds that we were to receive at some
future date, we believe that the best use in keeping with the purpose of
the GYA Foundation of supporting the sport of sailing in our area, would be
to direct these funds to the rebuilding of junior sailing programs in the
affected clubs. In the coming months, and years, when we can determine the
magnitude of the donations, we can solicit appeals from the affected clubs
for funding their program rebuilding requirements and then begin
distribution in a fair and equitable manner. We will of course establish an
account to receive such donations that is separate and apart from our
endowment fund and our cash account. No administration charges will be
levied against these funds and every dollar will be distributed to the
aforementioned yacht clubs.
Thank you and all of our other brethren in the yachting community for your
concern. We only pray that you and others will never have to experience the
trauma that we have incurred during the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season. We
will be years in our rebuilding efforts but we will be stronger.
SHOW BOATS
Remember how the display of Team New Zealand's ACC yacht at the Auckland
Airport grabbed your attention even if you were nearly brain-dead after
flying 30 hours from Europe? A couple years back BMW Oracle put their
2000-era trial horse USA-61 out to pasture as a "show boat." It is
currently on display in the Munich Airport. USA-61 has been such a success
that their USA-49 is now being converted into a show boat for use in the
USA market.
Since 2004 ACM has been displaying GBR-44 as a show boat at all the Acts
venues. It has been a popular feature for the general public in the
America's Cup Park, including at Malmö. '92 Cup winner Bill Koch has lent
his successful defender America³ and the '92 challenger Il Moro di Venezia
IV (which Bill also owns) to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for display in
front of the Museum through 13 November.
Now Luna Rossa's website reports that earlier this week the hull of Luna
Rossa ITA 45, the boat that won the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000, arrived in
Rome for an exhibition to the public. It will be prominently featured
during Rome's Notte Bianca (tonight) at Piazza del Popolo, and will remain
there on display through 25 September. -- Excerpt from a story by Tom Ehman
on the website of the Challenger Commission for the 32nd America's Cup.
Full story: http://tinyurl.com/a483t
UNIQUE
(The Finn Gold Cup is a small trophy with a heavyweight history and Ben
Ainslie has enhanced its lustre in becoming its first four-time winner
since it was first competed for in 1956. In a story by Tim Jeffery in the
Telegraph, Ainslie discusses the regatta and other things. Here are a
couple of excerpts.)
In Olympic terms, Ainslie has already equaled the two golds and silver
tally of Britain's hitherto most successful Olympian, Rodney Pattisson. And
now, in terms of the second longest-established Olympic class, Ainslie has
secured more world titles than anyone else.
That was not what Ainslie had planned in January, when he wanted to be
helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand's America's Cup boat. But when ETNZ's
Grant Dalton formalized Ainslie's position as back-up helmsman, not the No
1, the Briton's focus on the Finns intensified. "I was full-on with the
match racing and ETNZ and obviously the way things transpired I had a bit
more time," Ainslie said. "So I just tried to make the most of that time,
and having a crack at the Worlds and Europeans seemed like the best thing
to do."
"The racing was unique, this is the fairest way to put it," Ainslie said of
racing on a Moscow lake. The wind either blew too much, too little or not
at all, often all three in the space of a race. The windshifts were
massive. "I've never sailed anywhere like it for a major championships,"
Ainslie added. "It was hugely frustrating for everyone at times. Luck came
and went both ways. People would have horrendous misfortunes in one race
and then come back from nowhere in the next."
Ainslie likes to put in at least a week's training at a championship venue,
will always take his own boat and will have researched the conditions. "In
Moscow this time, it just wasn't possible," he said. "It's probably the
least practice I've been able to put in before a major championship for a
decade. The older you get, the more your experience helps. The venue was
more about using your nous, as opposed to pure boat speed." -- Tim Jeffery,
the Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/bgl5y
THESE GIRLS GOT GAME!
It takes talent, teamwork, dedication, and desire to win an Olympic class
world championship. That's why we salute the team of Sally Barkow, Carrie
Howe and Debbie Capozzi, winners of the 2005 Yngling Women's World
Championship in Mondese, Austria. Powered by Doyle sails, Team 7 Sailing
has been working with Doyle One Design to develop speed in all wind
conditions. You bring the desire. We'll set you up with world-class speed.
Call us today at 1-800-94-DOYLE; http://www.doylesails.com
THE SWEDISH BOATS
Örn SWE63 was the first Version 4 AC yacht launched for the 2003 regatta.
She slipped into the water's of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf on 10 December
2001. This had followed her naming ceremony in Gothenburg two months
earlier, after which she joined SUI 64 onboard an Antonov aircraft
southbound to New Zealand. Örn and her sistership Örm (SWE 73) were drawn
by German (Mani) Frers, who had previously worked with Prada in their
successful 2000 LVC campaign. ITA 45 was a fair and fast result of this
team, battling an epic LVC final with USA-61 of America One. Prada were
victorious, however suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Team New
Zealand and NZL60.
Örn and Örm spent nearly two years mothballed at the Chalmers University,
Lindholmen, Gothenburg before a last minute decision was made by Jan
Stenbeck's son Hugo to re-alight the challenge for a 2007 campaign. Again
under the leadership of Bert Willborg, Johan Stenman, Mani Frers and Sam
Murch, the team was mobilized to convert both yachts to Version 5, ready
for action at ACT 4 in Valencia. SWE63 was hastily shipped and trucked to
Valencia via Bilbao on the northern Spanish coast. Time constraints meant a
fairly 'raw' Örn took to the water in Valencia, under the command of Magnus
Holmberg. The team still presented a vast majority of Scandinavians
reassembling from the last challenge. The result - very positive and
surprising, seeing Örn clearly faster than her bottom half rivals, and
generally going down to the 'big four' by around 30 second deltas.
Thinking going into the next event was positive, with Örn again being
replaced by SWE 73 Örm which was still believed to be faster. With a home
ground advantage in Malmo, most expected results, however, the outcome was
a little different than expected. Örm couldn't harness the magic 63 had
found in Version 5, and a lack of consistency led to defeats and
disappointments at the hands of lesser rivals in ACT 4. The lottery that
was ACT 7 didn't produce any winning numbers for SWE 73 either, with bottom
half of the fleet performances providing a final placing of 11th from 12.
Overall, the slightly less polished performance of Örm in Malmo has
persuaded the Swedish team to give Örn one last shot in Trapani, where
hopefully in conditions more akin to Valencia, she will re-emanate her
performance from earlier this summer. -- Excerpts from a comprehensive
story posted on the Sail Europe website. To read the full story:
http://www.saileurope.com/da/13438
MULTI-CULTI
So there you have it: a race for a British Cup; named after an American
yacht; with Swiss organizers and a French title sponsor; based in a Spanish
city whose coast has an Arab name and looks more and more like Hong Kong;
with first-ever entries from China, Germany and South Africa, and multiple
entries from Italy; several teams using the same towing tank in Canada;
race committee boats imported from New Zealand (to say nothing of a herd of
sailors); a Polish skipper for the "local" entry; an Australian
gravity-checker; and all involved having fond memories of a recent regatta
in Sweden. Talk about multi-culti. Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas
anymore. -- Another insightful contribution by Tom Ehman -- this one posted
on the BMW Oracle Racing blogsite:
http://bmworacleracing.twoday.net/stories/988411/
EATING UP THE MILES
Saturday's start of the Mini Transat had Britain's Nick Bubb on board
Whittlebury Hall lead the 72 strong fleet out of La Rochelle. But after two
days Bubb is in 20th place and the leader is Corentin Douguet, one of the
race favourites on board E.LeClerc/ Bouygues Telecom. The first leg of this
Mini Transat looks set to be one of the fastest on record as the forecast
indicates the boats will be reaching or running all the way to the finish
of the first leg in Puerto Calero, Lanzarote.
The (21-foot) boats are traveling at eight to nine knots average for over
48 hours. By going to the north, Corentin Douguet and Yves Blevec, Not
Marriage, have made gains in the first 24 hours. Alex Pella, Work-Open TEAM
Sea, and Bernard Gallay, FDI Groupe, who went to the coast early have lost.
Bernard Gallay is this evening in sixth and Alex Pella is tenth. Between
the two, one finds Sebastien Gladu in third, Stanislas Maslard,
Agricultural credit Skipper Challenge, in fourth and Philip Sharp, Gallais,
in fifth. -- Sailweb website, full story: http://www.sailweb.co.uk/
ANOTHER GREAT RECORD
Congratulations once again to Tom & Dotty Hill and the crew of their R/P 75
Titan XII for setting a new course record in the 2005 Vineyard Race and
winning the coveted Vineyard Lightship trophy in the IRC division. Titan
XII utilizes Ockam's superior Tryad processing speed, power, and autocal
capabilities in conjunction with the functionality and control of the
Expedition tactical/navigation software. This combination produces the most
accurate, stable data in all conditions. Known around the world for
performance, accuracy and reliability, Ockam offers instrument solutions
for a distinct competitive advantage. Improve your results, Contact:
mailto:lat@ockam.com
NEWS BRIEFS
* A preliminary assessment of the rig failure on the Pride of Baltimore II
indicates that the forward bobstay iron band failed, causing the bowsprit
to break about halfway along its length, in turn bringing the rigging down.
With no support system, the foremast splintered and collapsed, hitting the
mainmast on the way down. The mainmast then splintered and also came down.
Repairs will take three to four months, and costs associated with
rebuilding the rig and repairing the damage are estimated at $500,000. A
fundraising campaign is underway. -- http://www.pride2.org/ThisWeek.html
* ISAF Women's Match Racing World Champion Sally Barkow (USA) scored her
first match racing win of the year, overcoming a strong home challenge at
the ISAF Grade 1 St. Quay Women Match Racing in France. Barkow defeated
Anne-Claire LeBerre (FRA) in the final, whilst number one in the ISAF World
Match Race Rankings Claire Leroy (FRA) took third place at her home yacht
club ahead of Christine Braind (FRA). --
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?PID=16034
* After two months of waiting on standby for an attempt on the solo
transatlantic record, French skipper Thomas Coville and his 60ft trimaran
Sodebo have had to leave New York abandoning any chance of clinching a
record this season. Unlike MacArthur, Coville must return to Europe to get
his trimaran ready to race in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race
leaving from the French port of Le Havre in early November. For Ellen and
her shore team, the standby mode remains permanently on Red as the weather
systems sweeping across the Atlantic continue to be unsettled. --
http://www.teamellen.com
* Phil Lotz's Indefatigable (USA) won both races on the final day of the
J105 North American Champions at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto,
but it was not enough to defeat Alex Baluta on Groovador (CAN), who won the
regatta and the title by five points. Going into the tenth and final race
of the no discard series, Arthur English (CAN) lead the 35-boat fleet.
However, a 16th place finish -- his only double digit finish of the
championship regatta -- dropped his Starcross down into third place. --
Complete results: http://www.rcyc.ca/Regatta/J105%20NAC%20Results.pdf
* L. Dennis Kozlowski, the former CEO of Tyco International, was sentenced
Monday to eight to 25 years in prison Monday for stealing hundreds of
millions of dollars from the company. He was also ordered to pay $134
million in restitution and fined $70 million. Kozlowski, the son of a
policeman, was convicted of having taken $600 million from the company,
including $2 million for a toga party for his wife in Sardinia, where Jimmy
Buffet was the musical headliner. Kozlowski also owns the J Class yacht
Endeavour. -- 'Lectronic Latitude, full story: http://tinyurl.com/abnjn
* The Ocean BMW Melges 24 European Championship 2005 got underway Monday
with two light airs races that kept the 50 competitors from 10 nations on
their toes and left several of the top favorites feeling decidedly off the
pace. In the overall standings Jamie Lea and Team Barbarians lead with 5
points from Andrea Racchelli in Altea on 6 points. Thomas Rouxel in Cotes
d'Armor Sail de Mere is third, Philip Ligot's Partner & Partners Sailing
Team, helmed by Francois Bernac, is fourth and Stuart Rix, with Quentin
Strauss's Team Gill, lies fifth. Results, Report and photographs -
www.melges24.com
* Spaniard Jordi Calafat, member of the Alinghi America's Cup Syndicate,
has won Match Race Brasil, sailed in Rio de Janeiro's Guanabara Bay.
Calafat defeated Torben Grael in the finals, 2-0 to take the title and
US$10,000 prize money. Grael's share of the purse was US$4,000. Third and
fourth place were claimed by Brazilians André Fonseca and Daniel Glomb. --
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j19Fh0B78
* The Jersey Clipper received the first casualty of the Clipper 05-06 round
the world race. While flaking a headsail on the foredeck after a sail
change on the first night out, Jersey Evening Post Journalist Peter Mourant
suffered a broken ankle. On board medic Saul Lopez, a pediatrician from the
Algarve in normal life, gave first aid and in consultation with the Coast
Guard and the Race Team the decision was made to divert towards Fishguard
in south Wales where they would rendezvous with a lifeboat.
http://www.clipper-ventures.co.uk/plc/news.php?id=98
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. This is neither a chat room
nor a bulletin board - 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,
whining and personal attacks for elsewhere.)
* From Ray Tostado (re the money being spent in Valencia for the America's
Cup): Madness, sheer madness. Why all the funding for the spectators? Or
funds to relocate the poverty neighborhoods out of sight from the new high
speed rail lines. Has the ACC come to this? I feel like returning to desert
motorcycle racing.
* From Enrico Alfredo Ferrari: In response to the question in 'Butt 1926 on
how much the bowman might make on the VO70 ABN Amro, I would say he is
being paid a terminal salary. Is he still on the boat, huddled in the back
section with the afterguard saying "You want me to go where?" Or has he
already been swept off by some of the green nasties? Putting on the tack
for the assym kite on could be a bit risky. Those photos, on your website
(http://tinyurl.com/79exo) were very graphic on how powerful this
generation of race boats is. The shots are especially poignant after
reading the bits on the Black Pearl, 2000 miles in the first 12 days of
sailing for a new boat! Whoa! These guys have to be serious and seriously
good to deal with a foul-up that might (will) occur in pursuit of the race
goals.
Too bad about the Aussie boat losing it's funding and pro crew. I will be
watching the race and that boat with some interest to see how they fair. I
had wrongly assumed there were amateurs aboard all of these with some rock
stars mixed in. Apparently the Aussies will have some openings for
volunteers, which, if successful, could launch themselves in the mix as a
paid sailor.
* From Ted Livingston: In the J/24 Worlds, it's wonderful see the broad
geographical spread of the top boats, That's what international sailing is
(or should be) all about ! And ditto for the Finns and ISAF match-racing.
Three cheers !
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
There is only one success -- to be able to spend your life in your own
way." --Christopher Morley,
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