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SCUTTLEBUTT 2266 – January 24, 2007Scuttlebutt 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). ROLEX MIAMI OCR (Jan 23, 2007) Like a bratty sister of yesterday's perfect conditions, light air slipped in this morning to tease the 855 sailors from 49 countries who were anxious to start their second day of racing at US Sailing's 2007 Rolex Miami OCR. The nuisance imposed by the "postponement ashore" for 14 one-design classes was understandable, since for many, this regatta -- in its 18th year and sailed on Biscayne Bay -- plays a critical role in fulfilling Olympic and Paralympic dreams. As the only International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Grade-One regatta in the United States for Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, the Rolex Miami OCR helps determine national and world rankings and, for some countries, the actual teams that will attend the 2008 Games in China. By early afternoon, most classes had been sent out or put on standby to go racing, but the Tornados, with a circle several miles down the bay, were told to stay put. Their cancelled racing left yesterday's standings intact. -- Full report: http://www.regattanews.com/pressrelease.asp?pid=1589 Day 2 Provisional Results (top three with top North American) Finn (49 boats) -- 4 races 1. Dan Slater (NZL), 3-8-3-2, 16; 2. Daniel Birgmark (SWE), 6-2-5-4, 17; 3. Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), 1-6-1-10, 18; 5. Christopher Cook (CAN), 2-4-6-11, 23 49er (47 boats) -- 4 races 1. Tim Wadlow/ Christopher Rast (USA), 5-1-1-3, 10; 2. Ben Rhodes/ Stevie Morrison (GBR), 1-6-3-1, 11; 3. Pietro Sibello/ Gianfranco Sibello (ITA), 8-2-1-2, 13 470 Men's (31 boats) -- 4 races 1. Nick Rogers/ Joe Glanfield (GBR), 2-1-4-11, 18; 2. Gustavo Martinez/ Dimas Wood (ESP), 4-3-13-3, 23; 2. Alvaro Marinho/ Miguel Nunes (POR), 1-7-7-10, 25; 10. Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/ Dave Hughes (USA), 9-2-19-14, 44 470 Women's (18 boats) -- 5 races 1. Marcelien de Koning/ Lobke Berkhout (NED), 1-1-1-[8]-5, 8; 2. Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving (USA), 3-4-[11]-3-2, 12; 3. Ingrid Petitjean/ Nadege Douroux (FRA), 4-2-[8]-6-1, 13 Laser (69 boats) -- 4 races 1. Michael Blackburn (AUS), 3-6-1-3, 13; 2. Tom Slingsby (AUS), 2-1-7-9, 19; 3. Paul Goodison (GBR), 2-1-1-18, 22; 5. Andrew Campbell (USA), 5-12-4-8, 29 Laser Radial (69 boats) -- 3 races 1. Paige Railey (USA), 5-2-6, 13; 2. Gintare Volungeviciute (LTU), 3-3-7, 13; 3. Tania Elias Calles (MEX), 4-5-4, 13 RS:X Men (44 boats) -- 3 races 1. Byron Kokkalanis (GRE), 9-7-3, 19; 2. Ivan Pastor (ESP), 2-8-10, 20; 3. Przeymslaw Miarczynski (POL) 1-5-15, 21; 10. Benjamin Barger (USA), 18-11-9, 38 RS:X Women (28 boats) -- 3 races 1. Bryony Shaw (GBR), 4-5-4, 13; 2. Antonia Frey (GRE), 7-4-6, 17; 3. Marta Hlavaty (POL), 2-1-17, 20; 10. Dominique Vallee (CAN), 13-12-7, 32 SKUD-18 (10 boats) – 5 races 1. David Cook/ Brenda Hopkin (CAN), 2-4-3-1-[5], 10; 2. Karen Mitchell/ JP Creignou (USA), 6-2-1-2-[7], 12; 3. Allan Smith/ Jackie Gay (GBR), 1-1-[11/OCS]-7-4, 13 Sonar (14 boats) -- 5 races 1. Dan Parsons/ Tom Pygall/ Guy Draper (GBR), 3-3-2-[15/OCS]-1, 9; 2. John Robertson/ Hannah Stodel/ Stephen Thomas (GBR), 2-4-1-3-[7], 10; 3. Rick Doerr/ Tim Angle/ Bill Donohue, (USA), 6-1-[9]-2-8, 17 Star (67 boats) -- 3 races 1. Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom (SWE), 3-2-2, 7; 2. Robert Stanjek/ Frithjof Kleen (GER), 2-8-2, 12; 3. Afonso Domingos/ Bernardo Santos (POR), 1-11-1, 13; 8. John Dane/ Austin Sperry (USA), 1-3-21, 25 Tornado (43 boats) -- 2 races (no racing today) 1. Darren Bundock/ Glenn Ashby (AUS), 3-3, 6; 2. Olivier Backes/ Paul Ambroise Sevestre (FRA), 2-5, 7; 3. Andrey Kirilyuk/ Valery Ushkov (RUS), 7-1, 8; 12. Robbie Daniel/ Hunter Stunzi (USA) 17-8, 25 2.4 mR (25 boats) -- 4 races 1. Megan Pascoe (GBR), 3-1-2-7, 13; 2. Helena Lucas (GBR), 5-7-5-2, 19; 3. Stellan Berlin (SWE), 1-5-9-6, 21; 4. Jim Gluek (USA) 2-4-6-13, 25 Yngling (18 boats) -- 4 races 1. Silja Lehtinen/ Maria Klemetz/Livia Varesmaa, (FIN), 2-2-2-1, 7; 2. Sally Barkow/ Carrie Howe/ Debbie Cappozi (USA) 3-1-4-6, 14; 3. Sarah Ayton/ Sarah Webb/ Pippa Wilson, (GBR), 1-3-6-5, 15 -- Complete results: http://www.rolexmiamiocr.org/results/index.htm -- Nightly video reports from Gary Jobson: http://www.jobsonsailing.com ANNIVERSARIES Scuttlebutt turns 10 years in 2007, but we are far from alone this year in the anniversary category. After getting a few press releases on the subject from various industry giants, we began a list that grew beyond what would seem to reflect a typical year. We have moved the list to the Scuttlebutt Forum, which will provide a chance for additions from anyone who was slighted. As is, here is what we have: Gosling Brothers - 150 US Sailing - 110 ISAF - 100 Yachting Magazine - 100 B&G Instruments - 50 North Sails - 50 Harken Yacht Equipment - 40 New England Ropes - 40 Vanguard Sailboats - 40 Elliott/Pattison Sails - 35 J/Boats - 30 Doyle Sails - 25 Sharon Green/Ultimate Sailing - 25 Stagg Yachts/Farr International - 25 Onne van der Wal Photography - 20 Annapolis Performance Sailing - 15 and... Scuttlebutt - 10 The list also includes milestone years for events, one-design classes, and even a few birthdays. Take a look, and please add on to the list where it is needed. -- http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/07/anniversaries STATUS REPORT: TP52 CLASS IN EUROPE Since the last regatta in Ibiza last September and the end of the 2006 Breitling Medcup season, there hasn't been any remarkable news on the TP52 class, despite its importance on the professional sailing scene, at least in Europe. This class of fast and exciting boats had a meteoric rise in popularity and in its second year was able to attract a great number of top professional sailors, with two boats crewed by a total of 13 members from Emirates Team New Zealand. The end of an admittedly remarkable season saw many ebullient insiders predicting 30 entries for 2007 and jammed starting lines. Nevertheless, since then we haven't seen any major announcements or spectacular incorporations (the exception being the enry of CAM) and on the contrary some boat owners decided to drop out of the circuit. What is the current situation of the TP52 Med fleet? What are its prospects? The Valencia Sailing website has reprinted an article written by Pedro Perelló, manager of the Siemens Sailing Team, where Perelló provides his outlook on the 2007 season: http://tinyurl.com/23kbft MORRIS M42 AND 46RS DEBUT AT STRICTLY SAIL MIAMI Morris Yachts is sending two boats to this year’s Strictly Sail Miami (February 15-19, Miamarina at Bayside) both boats are first timers to the show. The Morris M42, Cruising World Magazine’s Boat of the Year award winner, is the bigger sister of the wildly successful M36 daysailer. The Morris 46RS Moon Reach from the Ocean Series was launched this summer. While not a new model, it has never been shown at the Miami Show. Look for these boats in Slip A14 and 15. For more information: 207-244-5509 or mailto:sales1@morrisyachts.com or http://www.morrisyachts.com ASSESSING THE SITUATION (Issue 2245 included a segment titled Monday Morning Tactician, where Andrew Campbell described a weather mark situation, and provided his conclusion for how he felt the rules governed it. One of our more famous ‘buttheads, Charles "Butch" Ulmer of UK-Halsey International, whose website has numerous rules quizzes, provides his assessment of the situation. Here is a link to Andrew’s original post: http://tinyurl.com/2642mc) It is important to look at the diagram on his website because the lead boat in the diagram (Andrew) was to leeward of the trailing boat (Mike), not directly in front as described. 1. Once Andrew reached the two-length zone, RRS 18.2(c) says Mike must keep clear of Andrew and he is not entitled to room between Andrew and the mark. However, Mike does not commit a foul by sailing into room that Andrew leaves open (the diagram indicates that Andrew was about 1 boat length to leeward of the mark). Nothing is said by Andrew indicating that he had to maneuver to give Mike room or that Mike failed to keep clear. 2. Befuddled or not, Andrew cannot tack to round the mark without regard to Mike. Once he passes head to wind, 18.2(c) no longer applies and he is subject to RRS 13. After he reaches a close-hauled course, he is subject to RRS 15. Since Andrew was approximately 1 boat length ahead of Mike when he entered the zone, it is doubtful that he could tack and satisfy his obligations under RRS 13 and then 15. 3. The diagram seems to offer three options to Andrew: (A) Pinch up in front of Mike as they both approach the mark thereby eliminating any room for Mike to sail into. This reduces the threat from Mike but doesn't help with the starboard tack boats. (B) Hail Mike for room to tack at an obstruction (Green-a starboard tack boat). This looks like a risky maneuver, particularly in the two-length zone but it's a way to tack without fouling Mike. My guess is that if he tried this, he'd foul Green. (C) Cross Green and tack on Blue's leeward bow. The diagram indicates Andrew could do this while Mike could not. Since Blue is above the starboard layline, there appears to be little risk of infringing RRS 18.3. As things went, I don't think Andrew's "protest" of Mike would be successful. -- Charles "Butch" Ulmer QUOTE / UNQUOTE As overheard from Acura Key West Race Week PRO Bruce Golison following one of the starts on his course, "You are all OCS except Windquest." * A reminder that the Scuttlebutt website is seeking party pictures from this year’s event for a special commemorative gallery. View the current images, and use the link at the top to submit your photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/07/kwp/ AMERICA’S CUP TELEVISION SCHEDULE While this may prove to be a preliminary schedule, it is now posted in the show section of the Event Calendar on the Scuttlebutt website, and provides a glimpse at what Versus (formerly OLN) subscribers in North America can anticipate for the television coverage of the America’s Cup. Show Schedule (subject to change; Eastern Time zone) Live coverage daily from 8-10 a.m; replays from 12-2 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Saturday, June 23 - Race 1 Sunday, June 24 - Race 2 Monday, June 25 - Rest Day Tuesday, June 26 - Race 3 Wednesday, June 27 - Race 4 Thursday, June 28 - Rest Day Friday, June 29 - Race 5 Saturday, June 30 - Race 6 (if needed) Sunday, July 1 - Race 7 (if needed) Monday, July 2 - Rest Day Tuesday, July 3 - Race 8 (if needed) Wednesday, July 4 - Race 9 (if needed) Thursday, July 5 - Reserve Day Friday, July 6 - Reserve Day Saturday, July 7 - Reserve Day * Scuttlebutt website link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar/shows SAILING SHORTS * (Jan 23, 2007) American teams faired well on day one of the Pre-World/Australian Championship, which is providing some insight into the contenders for the Worlds that begin January 27th. Wind conditions of 10-15 knots were ideal for the 76 entries, with the first race won easily by Howie Hamlin and Fritz Lanzinger (USA), while the second heat was won by Doug Hagan and Michael Duffield (USA/AUS), with another American pair, Mike Martin and Jeff Nelson in second. Racing continues through the 25th. -- http://www.505worlds2007.com/ * Teenage sailors looking to raise their games have until Feb. 1 to sign up for the California International Sailing Association's 30th annual Advanced Racing Clinic, held April 12-15 at Alamitos Bay YC in Long Beach, CA. World-class competitors will tutor participants from across North America in Lasers, Laser Radials, Club 420s, International 420s, Club FJs and 29ers. Last year’s clinic hosted 130 boys and girls ages 13 to 18, where the four typical 12-hour days mixed on-shore lectures with on-the-water drills focused on tactics, sail trim and boat handling. Participants will be selected based by résumé. Details available at http://www.cisasailing.org/2007/advancedracingclinic.htm * (San Isidro, Argentina) No racing was held at the 29er Worlds on Tuesday due to thunderstorms and unpredictable winds. Wednesday is a designated layday with no sailing, so the qualifying series is now complete and the competitors will be split into gold and silver fleets to begin the finals on Thursday. Sailors carry their qualifying position as their first race of their final series; the US teams of Judge Ryan/ Hans Henken and Max Fraser/ Alex Bernal qualified for the gold fleet. -- http://29er2007.cnsi.org.ar/index2.htm * The three day Thistle Midwinters West in San Diego enjoyed clear skies and light to moderate winds, and the host Mission Bay YC provided the twenty-nine boat fleet with two days on the ocean course and the final day on the inside bay venue. Neither wind strength or course location seemed to matter to Mike Ingham and his team of Kyle Finnefrock and Sarah Paisley from Buffalo, NY, who rattled off eight firsts and a third to take the title. -- Complete results: http://www.mbyc.org/regatta/2007/ThistleMWW/Thistle.htm * Nancy Richardson of San Pedro, Calif., a lifelong supporter of boating safety through education and training, has received US Sailing's Timothea Larr Award for her lifelong commitment to quality sailing education. The award is the US Sailing Training Committee's highest honor, presented annually to an individual whose vision and guidance has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of sailor education and training in the United States. Richardson was presented with the award by Rich Jepsen, US Sailing Training Committee chair, last Saturday at US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium in New Orleans, La. -- Full report: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/larraward.htm AWESOME TIME AT ACURA KEY WEST RACE WEEK Boy, was the Melges 32 ‘Let's Roll’ on fire at Acura Key West Race Week! Not only did they sail fast but also the Italians looked marvelous in their crew uniforms produced by Team One Newport. You can look great at your next event by contacting Team One Newport at 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) and ask for Peggy or Maura! Team One Newport has the latest technical clothing that allows your team to stay dry and comfortable so they can focus on winning! Visit the website for gear from Slam, Musto, Henri-Lloyd, Gill, Patagonia, Ronstan, Harken, Camet, Railriders and more... http://www.team1newport.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 Richard Endean: As a Past Chairman of ISAF’s Match racing Committee, I am intrigued and interested to see the renewed debate over classes and the adoption of a Match Race event in the Olympic Sailing programme. This was a heavy subject at many ISAF meetings in the 1990’s. Without going into the value of the Olympics to sailing or the benefits of television etc. there were a number of other benefits that Henry Menin did not mention in his recent comment (in Issue 2265). At an Olympic Games, it is feasible for the entire match race fleet of 11 boats to be sponsored and supplied to the event. The main criteria is equal boats, so there is no cost to the competitors preparing and transporting boats. One of the concerns the IOC has had with sailing is the cost of equipment and the limitations this places on competitors to be able to fund Olympic Campaigns. Any nation in the ISAF sailing community is capable of putting together two equal boats and finding their best match racer so, again, limited equipment cost. As long as the number of crew at the Olympics is established, teams can qualify nationally and then internationally via a Nations Cup style process to find the ten best match racers to compete at the Olympics. The blueprint has been established before, a low cost event open to the widest possible catchment, and not class dependant, all they need to take to the Games is their match racing skills. * From Jordan J. Dobrikin: In support of G. Hoyt's "realities" with a few more thrown in): Even in/at the best of venues, Sailing is not a spectator friendly sport. Live, at the scene; or with conventional TV coverage: also there is still a need/place, for "all in the boat", tactical, racing, in keel boats, for seniors, & mixed crews; able, disabled, male, female, various "body types". However the preponderance of the racing should be in the sporty/athletic modes he describes. Say a 75/25 or 80/20 split. I suggest innovative, non real time, TV coverage, with "pool Camera Teams", in trailing Judge Type boats, Blimp/Light Helicopter(s), and larger boats with a camera tower. All coordinated by a knowledgeable director/producer, to move about, and home in on, the interesting/exciting action(s) that are going on around the Race Course(s). Then all the footage shot rushed in to shore, to awaiting TV Producers, from the various Nations/Networks to meld into, previously recorded, Team & Human Interest footage, for a new, innovative, near real time coverage, that will stand more than half a chance in getting "air time". Such coverage would also be quite suitable for the "Largest Event(s)/Regatta(s)" throughout North America, Left, Middle, Right Coast, wherever it may be, * From Mike Esposito (re: media and bean counters in Issue 2265): I wrote the Making Waves column as a regular monthly feature in the Chicago Tribune from February 2000 until August 2006, and as an occasional feature (which mostly means I get winters off) since. In nearly seven years, I only have had one conversation involving content -- a reminder from the section editor that I was to cover non-racing issues too. I have never felt any pressure from any "bean counter" to influence my coverage. I suspect a closer reality on the coverage of multihulls is that they are oranges among apples -- as different from traditional sailboats, monohulls if you prefer, as cigarette boats or sailboards. Remember, the wheelchair marathoners finish faster than their running counterparts, but you don't see them getting as much coverage either. Since so many are infatuated with NASCAR comparisons, it would be like going to Chicagoland Speedway and in addition to the guys making left turns on the tri-oval, having an aside for results from the dragstrip in the infield. (Before you write: yes, I've written about multihulls; I've also written about Coast Guard cutters, the Queen Mary II, dinghies, iceboats, how couples can survive cruising together, services that pump out the head and pretty much everything in between.) * From Chris Pollak: I let the first puffery by Premier Racing slide but the repeat reference to Key West being the southernmost point in the United States raised my own curmudgeonly hackles. Key West is somewhere around 24.5399 degrees N...the southernmost point on Hawaii is around 18.91169 degrees N. Perhaps Premier Racing is geographically challenged and would like to place this description in the archive along with their claim of running the largest regatta in North America? If you choose to publish this admonition, I'm going to have to come up with some other sort of subterfuge to win bar bets! How 'bout making a properly punctuated sentence out of: its its? * From Peter Hall, Falmouth, ME: One of the perpetual discussions about the Americas Cup is where is an appropriate location to hold it. Obviously the country of the winning team, weather variables, financial incentives and return on investment all play a role. However I would ask the folks who win to factor in the economic windfall to such disadvantaged areas such as Central America or Africa. Consider the huge boost to the economy of such a country such as Guatemala. The infusion of money, publicity and infrastructure left behind would do much to spread the wealth and improve the image of this "rich man's sport." I have little doubt the logistical obstacles could be overcome by the goal-oriented personalities involved in the Americas Cup. Bottom line is sail boat racing is a luxury and spreading the wealth would a very positive and selfless outcome. CURMUDGEON’S COUNSEL When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. Special thanks to Morris Yachts and Team One Newport. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
