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SCUTTLEBUTT 3747 - Friday, January 4, 2013Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: North U, Doyle Sailmakers, and International Rolex Regatta. PROCEDURAL ERRORS When Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun failed a drug test during the 2011 Major League Baseball season, the appeal of his 50-game steroid suspension didn't challenge the fact that his urine sample revealed the presence of copious synthetic testosterone in the player's system. No, instead they challenged the urine sample collection procedure. This defense tactic ultimately overturned Braun's suspension, and it was this approach which came to mind when it was reported how Syd Fischer's Elliott 100 Ragamuffin-Loyal was not found at fault of being over early at the start of the 628 nm Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The facts did not dispute the yacht was OCS, but rather that the race committee did not completely follow the recall procedure as described in the Sailing Instructions... 20. - Recalls 20.1 - Individual recalls will be signalled in accordance with RRS 29.1 from the relevant race committee signal vessel on the starting line. A sound signal may be made (amends RRS 29.1). 20.2 - A boat subject to recall will pass on the course side of and around either of its starting limit marks and start. (In accordance with RRS 30.1) 20.3 - A boat subject to recall will be identified by the relevant race committee signal vessel by radio on VHF 72 for the northern start line and VHF 71 for the southern start line. Such radio recall information will be transmitted approximately five minutes after the start signal. 20.4 - There will be no General Recall. Link: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/media/1126866/RSHYR%20SI%20Final.pdf The facts found revealed that the Race Committee fulfilled their obligations under the RRS, and there were repeated attempts by the RC to contact the yacht by VHF beyond the prescribed requirement in the Sailing Instruction, but the RC did not contact the yacht by VHF at "approximately five minutes after the signal" per the prescribed requirement in the Sailing Instruction. This aerial video shows Ragamuffin-Loyal was OCS at the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race with no attempt made to restart per SI 20.2: http://youtu.be/FbnJoxwGl5Y ANOTHER QUAD? As the second event of the 2012-13 ISAF Sailing World Cup, the Rolex Miami OCR (Jan. 26-Feb 2) marks the beginning of the new Olympic quadrennium for the aspiring North American sailor. Here is a list of the athletes that competed at the 2012 Olympics for Canada and the USA, and what their plans are for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Canada Star: Richard Clarke, not continuing Star: Tyler Bjorn, not continuing Laser: David Wright, continuing at present Laser Radial: Danielle Dube, to be confirmed - Radial or 49erFX RS:X Women: Nikola Girke, continuing in Nacra 17 with Luke Ramsay RS:X Men: Zac Plavsic, continuing Finn: Greg Douglas, continuing 49er: Gordon Cook, to be confirmed 49er: Hunter Lowden, to be confirmed 470 Men: Mike Leigh, to be confirmed 470 Men: Luke Ramsay, continuing in Nacra with Nikola Girke United States Star: Mark Mendelblatt, continue in Nacra 17 or Star if reinstated Star: Brian Fatih, not known Laser: Rob Crane, uncertain; possible Laser or Finn Laser Radial: Paige Railey, continuing - likely in Laser Radial RS:X Men: Bob Willis, no plans to continue at this time RS:X Women: Farrah Hall, continuing Finn: Zach Railey, no plans at this time 49er: Erik Storck, no plans at this time 49er: Trevor Moore, continuing as skipper 470 Men: Stu McNay: no plans to continue at this time 470 Men: Graham Biehl: no plans to continue at this time 470 Women: Amanda Clark, not continuing 470 Women: Sarah Lihan, not known Women's Match Racing: Anna Tunnicliffe, continue in 49erFX with Molly Women's Match Racing: Molly Vandemoer, continue in 49erFX with Anna Women's Match Racing: Debbie Capozzi, not known Canadian Sailing Team: http://www.canadiansailingteam.ca/ US Sailing Team: http://sailingteams.ussailing.org/ NEW RULES The Rules have changed. Learn all about the Rules (new and old) and related Tactics at a North U Rules & Tactics Seminar or Webinar. Seminars in 45 locations, and Webinars streaming to your desktop. Top instructors, a unique case-based curriculum, and a New Rules & Tactics Workbook prepared by Dave Perry and Bill Gladstone included with the class. US Sailing member discounts. Full details and registration: 800-347-2457 http://www.northu.com EDITOR'S NOTE: Dave Perry recently hosted an advanced level North U Varsity Match Racing Clinic in San Diego, with participants including US Sailing Team member Andrew Campbell (San Diego), national champion high school team racing coach Steve Hunt (San Diego), US representative to the ISAF Nations Cup Qualifier Dustin Durant (Long Beach, CA) and several active collegiate match racers. "I was pleased to have such a high level of sailor in the clinic," Perry said, "because it allowed for high-level discussions on shore and intensive training on the water." Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=15029 NORTHBOUND...FINALLY (January 3, 2013; Day 55) - Now that Vendee Globe leader Francois Gabart (Macif) is well clear of Cape Horn and heading north in the Atlantic, he reflects on his current position: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * After passing Cape Horn, you chose to go through the Strait of Le Maire, can you explain why? FRANCOIS GABART: After the Cape Horn route optimal routings directed me to the centre of a cluster of icebergs located in the south-east of the island states. Either I was going through this area, or turn, lose some ground, but have the certainty that I would be navigating through safer areas. I opted for the second solution, but as it was night in France, there was no ranking. I didn't know if Armel would make the same choice. It was not easy for me because I was worried for him. Especially if he took the risk of crossing the area of icebergs but finally, he made the same choice as me. * Are you surprised by the speed at which you lead this Vendee Globe? FRANCOIS GABART: No. It is fast, but I'm neither surprised nor impressed. I do not necessarily feel that these speeds are special. We prepared for this purpose, the boats evolve, more sailors are trained to go fast, but I am convinced that in four, and eight years, the race will be even faster. * How do you live the duel with Armel Le Cleac'h month to month? FRANCOIS GABART: It is great. We enjoy the battle and there is no reason it won't continue to Les Sables d'Olonne! If we can see each other in the Bay of Biscay, it will be a quite exceptional finish! Not necessarily easy for us to manage as sailors, as it will be nervewracking, but we both love the contact racing. Full interview: http://tinyurl.com/VG-010313 Tracking: http://tracking2012.vendeeglobe.org/en/ Top 5 of 20 - Rankings as of Thursday, January 3, 2013, 20h00 (FR) 1. Francois Gabart (FRA), Macif: 6557.5 nm Distance to Finish 2. Armel Le Cleac'h (FRA), Banque Populaire: 35.5 nm Distance to Lead 3. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), Virbac Paprec 3: 330.1 nm DTL 4. Alex Thomson (GBR), Hugo Boss: 610.5 nm DTL 5. Jean Le Cam (FRA), SynerCiel: 1894.8 nm DTL Full rankings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html ROUTING: In the above interview, Francois remarks how the routing software helped direct his decisions at Cape Horn. In this report by Mike Golding, currently in sixth position, he explains the technology behind the Vendee Globe routing that is being used: http://tinyurl.com/MG-010313 BACKGROUND: Twenty skippers began the Vendee Globe, a solo, non-stop around the world race in the IMOCA Open 60 class. Starting in Les Sables d'Olonne, France on November 10, the west to east course passes the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn before returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) set the course record of 84 days in the 2008-9 edition. -- http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ QUOTE / UNQUOTE "Cape Horn is a magical and symbolic moment. It is well deserved after the long crossing of the shady regions. You get the feeling that you're returning to the light. It's as though you've put your indicator on to signal a turn towards the finishing line. Even if there is some ice, wind and a swollen sea, you feel something powerful that hits you right inside." - Jean-Pierre Dick, competing in the 2012-13 Vendee Globe Race, upon passing Cape Horn for the fourth time. CITRUS SAILING While the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta on December 27-30 attracted sailors age 8 to 18 from 23 states and 22 countries, it was not the ONLY Orange Bowl regatta over those same four days in Miami, FL. The Open Orange Bowl was held just down the street at Coconut Grove Sailing Club. The 50th annual Open Orange Bowl, with no age restriction, has for the second year been host to a large International 420 and 29er fleet of mostly youth sailors (generally in the teens but with a few in the early 20s), and was also the North American Championship for both classes. The regatta also has a Laser fleet for sailors over 18 years. The International 420 fleet of 18 boats was won by Jack Parkin/ Ben Saxon, while Wade Waddell/ Henry Fernberger were second overall and the top junior team (under 19), and Casey Klingler/ Fiona Walsh were third overall and the top girl team. Californians Quinn and Dane Wilson took the top spot in the 22-boat 29er fleet, while Robert Davies (CAN) dominated the 26-boat Laser fleet. Both the International 420 and 29er used the regatta as a tune up for the U.S. Youth World Championship qualifier which will be held in two weeks (over MLK weekend) in Clearwater, FL. Event website: http://www.cgsc.org/orange-bowl Results: http://www.regattanetwork.com SMALL ENOUGH TO MAKE A BIG COMMITMENT Doyle Sailmakers began in 1982 not because the world needed another sailmaker. Doyle Sailmakers rose from the belief that the task of designing, producing and servicing sails could be done better. 30 years later Doyle remains at the forefront of cutting edge technology and superior customer service. This rings true whether you sail a 25' or a 300' boat. Call your local loft to find out how Doyle's commitment can impact you in 2013. 800-94-DOYLE. http://www.doylesails.com FAVOURITE YACHTING BAR CONTEST The crew at Wight Vodka is proud to announce that the Sint Maarten Yacht Club has been voted the world's favourite yachting bar! Together with Scuttlebutt Europe, and now in its fourth year, Wight Vodka again ran one of the most important contests the world over, again asking the yachting fraternity to vote for their favourite bar. The sheer volume of online voting far exceeded last year's competition, demonstrating the passion we all have for a great watering hole. This year's contest was again extremely tight between the winning bar and the runners up, which included the Navi Bar in Glucksburg, Germany; The King & Queen in Hamble, GB; the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club; the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club; the Bitter End Yacht Club in the BVI; the Pierview in Cowes on the Isle of Wight; the Candy Store in Newport, Rhode Island; Gladstone's in Long Beach, California; and the Sailor's Inn in Gocek, Turkey. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/SE-010313 EDITOR'S NOTE: Props to Scuttlebutt advertiser Gladstone's Long Beach as a contest runner-up. Their signature drink is the Queen Mary - its namesake resides within view - and is loaded with vegetable infused vodka and their special Bloody Mary mixer, complemented with a shrimp, salami and cheese skewer (for those of you inclined to drink your dinner): http://www.gladstoneslongbeach.com/menu-drinks SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar SAILING SHORTS * When Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast over a month ago, over 100 sailing organizations sustained damaging effects to their property. To aid in the recovery, US Sailing has established an online resource center to provide useful information to the organizations that have experienced significant damage to their facilities, equipment, and boats. The rebuilding resource website can be visited at http://home.ussailing.org/HurricaneResource.htm * The fifth edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 kicks off on February 18th 2013, with 30 confirmed entries at the end of 2012 - twice as many entries as the previous year. Antigua Yacht Club hosts the 600 mile race which navigates 11 Caribbean islands. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/RORC-010313 * In the culmination of an inaugural campaign to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to their local sailing community, Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky and US Sailing announce the winner of the 2012 Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award. Donald Backe of Annapolis, Maryland, one of six "unsung hero" finalists considered for the top honor, received the most votes in an online public vote. Backe will be honored at an award ceremony in January during US Sailing's 2013 National Sailing Programs Symposium in Clearwater, Florida. -- Read on: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2012/OP_Maritime_Heroes_010313.htm * Georgetown University of Washington D.C. and Point Loma High School of San Diego will lead 30 collegiate teams from every corner of the U.S. and 60 high school teams from throughout California into the 28th annual Rose Bowl Regatta at Long Beach, CA on January 5-6. Sailed in Club Flying Juniors, the event is hosted by the USC Sailing Team and organized by the US Sailing Center of Long Beach. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=15028 PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Irish plane, daycare, foxy fifteen, kid cadet, 75 years, backflip, spying, tough gig but someone has to sail there, and bucket seats. Here are this week's photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/13/0104/ SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK We don't know how these people got themselves into such a mess, but this week's video clearly shows people and boats in the wrong place at the wrong time. One sailboat is destroyed by a wave, a rescue powerboat is destroyed by another wave, and without the heroics of a rescue helicopter and the Coast Guard, the people involved might have been destroyed too. A news helicopter provides the footage while dramatic music and voiceover tell the tale. Click here for this week's video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/13/0104/ Bonus Videos: * A video on the life of 2011 U.S. National Sail Hall of Fame inductee Hobie Alter begins during his teen years making surfboards and extends to present day: http://www.hobieclass.com/?Page=9547 * This week on America's Cup Discovered we take you on a journey through time and technology. We get an all time exclusive when we got invited to spend a day on the water with Ted Turner, as he reforms his 1977 victorious 'Courageous' crew to commemorate this win 35 years ago. We then take a leap into the future to see how some of the technology has evolved in our sport since those Newport, Rhode Island days. The award winning LiveLine team bring impressive graphics to our screens and make watching sailing an enjoyable and understandable experience. Do the competitors like sailing by lights and being umpired by a computer? Tune in on Saturday January 5 approx 0800 PST 1100 EST: http://www.youtube.com/americascup SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com THE CARIBBEAN'S FRIENDLY REGATTA If the winter weather isn't enough to get you headed south for the 40th International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas USVI on March 22-24, 2013 - nothing will. There are still a few days left to take advantage of the early registration discount and free case of Heineken, so log-on the http://www.rolexcupregatta.com to get registered. Cowpet Bay - home to St Thomas Yacht Club - remains the best place in the Caribbean to finish a race. Your condo, boat, food, music and sandy beach are all right there. As the Caribbean's friendly regatta - everything is right at your fingertips! No Hassles! Contact Bill Canfield at IRRegatta@gmail.com for all your questions. GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Bruce Kirby: Lynn Watters (Eight Bells, Scuttlebutt 3745) jumped into the yacht racing scene as a young man immediately after World War II by forming the St. Lawrence Valley Yacht Racing Association with his friend Art Thompson. The association brought together clubs from Montreal, and along the St. Lawrence to Kingston, Ont. and up the Ottawa River to the Hudson Y.C. and Britannia Boating Club in Canada's capital. The first SLV regatta was held at Pointe Claire Yacht Club west of Montreal and was a resounding success, bringing back to the sport many war veterans, and introducing regatta sailing to the younger set. But Lynn wasn't just a regatta organizer. With two younger friends he led a Lightning Class campaign for years, scoring high throughout North America, but never quite winning the continental or World championships. Lynn directed operations from the middle, with Edward Botterell at the helm (later to become a prominent sailmaker) and Sicotte Hamilton on the foredeck. Lynn was the middle man, tactician, sail trimmer for two Olympic Dragon campaigns, in 1960 in Naples and 1964 in Tokyo. But his most important time on the world stage was as chairman of the IYRU Rules Committee, and we are all still sailing under the influence of Lynn Watters when we hit the starting line. * From Michael Silverman: I'm still struggling to understand why the Sydney-Hobart race committee didn't at least allow Wild Thing to sail the course, and sort out the paperwork issues afterwards (Scuttlebutt 3746). Now Wild Thing has no recourse, no appeals. I get that there was a question around certifications from the original designer, and therefore safety may be an issue, but Wild Thing says they got another designer to approve the design and wasn't notified until the day of the race that it was unacceptable. If it truly was a safety issue, then the committee was probably right to not let them race. But at least give the competitors every opportunity to fix a mistake and get on the starting line. To me, it just does not seem that this committee did that. In the bigger context, shouldn't committees as a whole be more communicative and inclusive than exclusive at a time when we're struggling to maintain participation in the sport? * From Bill Sandberg: On Long Island Sound we have awards to recognize the work of the CYC of Australia race committee and the international jury for the Sydney-Hobart. They are called Mooseheads, and they are handed out by the International Society for Perpetuation of Cruelty to Racing Yachtsmen. Need I say more? CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey SPONSORS THIS WEEK Point Loma Outfitting - North Sails - KO Sailing Ullman Sails - Block Island Race Week - North U Doyle Sailmakers - International Rolex Regatta Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
