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SCUTTLEBUTT 1308 - April 15, 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 emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. GUEST EDITORIAL - Mitch Brindley, President, ICSA In recent months there has been much discussion of Rule 42, in particular its application in college sailing. A very informal, and unofficial survey was conducted and distributed. Some of the resulting dialog has suggested that college sailors learn or are taught how to break the rules. Such statements are vast generalizations that are incorrect and entirely out of order. The sport of college sailing is governed by the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association of North America (ICSA), a council of US Sailing. Since it's founding in 1931, ICSA has charted it's own course with regard to the conduct and administration of ICSA regattas, including the development of our own Procedural Rules. Some of our Procedural Rules amend or alter the corresponding Racing Rules of Sailing, which is fully legal. These few differences between the Racing Rules of Sailing and the ICSA Procedural Rules have been developed by college sailing as a whole to enhance and support sailing competition among college students. Consequently, when sailors compete at sanctioned ICSA events under our Procedural Rules, they are not "cheating." One element of the Procedural Rules is the modification of the prohibitions against kinetics. The ICSA philosophy behind this change was to recognize the athletic abilities of our sailors, enhance the dynamic performance of the boats sailed, and to develop a style of competition that was unique to our constituents. This style of competition may not be for all sailors, but again, it is certainly not "cheating" when a sailor competes in a regatta or class of vessel where the rules of competition have been legally altered as permitted by both the international and national authority. There are few sports were the rules and enforcement remain unaltered at all levels from beginner through expert and youth leagues through professionals. There are many issues to address in the debate on kinetics in sailing. ICSA has discussed many of these issues within it's Board of Directors, the ICSA Rules Committee, coaches, and the ICSA membership. ICSA remains open to rules changes and amendments via the ICSA Rules Committee. - Mitch Brindley, mbrindley@collegesailing.org LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD ISAF has issued a number of interpretations of Racing Rule of Sailing (RRS) 42 (Propulsion) that will clarify the rule and make it easier for judges to enforce RRS 42 with consistency around the world. For some time ISAF has been very concerned about the varied interpretations and enforcement of RRS 42. There were a number of submissions to the 2002 ISAF Annual Conference to address various aspects of the rule; the rule itself, class rules, sailing instructions and judges. At the ISAF Annual Conference in Cyprus, the ISAF Council appointed a working party with representation from the Classes, Officials and Racing Rules Committee to identify a way forward. After the ISAF International Judges Conference held in Southampton, England from 21-23 March, the working party recommended that the first step is to level the playing field based on the current rule and the introduction of RRS 42 interpretations was determined. Issued 14 April 2003, these RRS 42 interpretations will come into effect worldwide from 26 April 2003. However, any event may adopt the interpretations prior to that date, provided the judges brief the competitors. The RRS 42 Interpretations and are fully supported and approved by the ISAF Racing Rules Committee. In due course they will be supported by video demonstration clearly identifying permitted and prohibited actions. The ISAF RRS 42 Interpretations Booklet has been sent by email to all delegates at the ISAF International Judges Conference, MNA's, Classes, Judges and Umpires and the booklet is also available on the ISAF website: www.sailing.org/rrs2001/42interpretations.pdf THEY JUST KEEP GOING AND GOING At all the regattas around the world, just look at what the crews are wearing. It is no surprise, the Camet Padded Shorts, Bermuda Shorts, Cargo Shorts and Pants are everywhere, from Opti sailors to the Farr 40's, Maxi's and cruisers. The comfort of the pads, the reinforced Cordura seat and the quick drying breathable Supplex fabrics and the 97.5% UV protection is the solution for hours on the water. Check out the Shorts, Coolmax shirts, Neoprene Hiking pants, Bubble Tops, Rash Guards and Mylar bags on the Camet web site: http://www.camet.com HANDICAP RACING The International Grand Prix Rule Working Party (RWP) has created a questionnaire to obtain feedback from potential owners, designers, boat builders, sail makers, and sailors regarding a Grand Prix rule. The RWP has been constituted under the auspices of three stakeholders: US Sailing, the Offshore Racing Council (ORC), and the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). The RWP recently held its first meeting in which they discussed initial views regarding the perceived needs and desires of the international offshore racing community and the feasibility or requirement for a new international rule to meet those needs. The completed questionnaires will be reviewed at the next RWP meeting, which is scheduled to be held in late May. The questionnaire is available at US Sailing's website until Monday, May 5. - Marlieke de Lange Eaton, www.ussailing.org/offshore/grand_prix_rule_questionnaire.asp AROUND ALONE The first 24 hours of Around Alone's fifth and final leg has been more of a regatta than a long distance offshore race, as the Class 1 leaderboard has been changing and all 5 boats are racing within 11 miles and in sight of each other. As the fleet squeeze round the 'bulge of Brazil' in moderate upwind conditions on a smooth sea, each skipper is starting to carve out their own routes. Finally, it settled into a familiar pattern with Bobst Group - Armor Lux at the top of the chart, as Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm covers both Tiscali to the west and Solidaires to the east by taking the middle route up the South Atlantic. American skipper Bruce Schwab admits to having his work cut out if he wants to achieve a top 3 finish on this leg, although he has been driving his boat well in these optimum close reaching conditions for his slim Tom Wylie designed boat: "Ocean Planet is an innovative boat and most of our ideas have worked brilliantly, but the bottom line is that we came to the Around Alone unfinished and untested. So it has been a struggle all the way to fix, repair, refine, and learn as we go." In Class 2, current leader Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America is being pursued by Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal, with just 27 miles separating them. After his longest stop-over in the race so far, Kent started Leg 5 the most well prepared he has been, which could make for a closer and more exciting race between these two American Open 50 skippers. Also, the two Open 40's Spirit of yukoh and BTC Velocity are having an excellent duel just three miles apart. Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada is currently making good progress up the coast of Argentina. It has been a frustrating week for Hatfield with his departure stalled from the Beagle Channel by a week due to extreme weather and a badly charted coastline to complicate his navigation. His second attempt was successful, although it took him 2 days to get out of Beagle Channel with prevailing headwinds. "I have rejoined the race, albeit a long way back. The race for me is one to get to Salvador as fast as possible and finish Leg 4 and then sail to Newport before the 17th of May, the day of the prize giving. It's an almost impossible time frame, but I will give it my best. Thank you for all your support." - Mary Ambler STANDINGS: 2200 UTC April 14 CLASS 1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm, 3767 miles from finish; 2.Solidaires, Thierry Dubois, 1.5 miles from leader; 3. Tiscali, Simone Bianchetti, 6 mfl; 4. Ocean Planet, Bruce Schwab, 13.5 mfl. 5. Pindar, Emma Richards, 14.2 mfl; CLASS 2: 1. Tommy Hilfiger, Brad Van Liew, 3791miles from finish; 2. Everest Horizontal, Tim Kent, 27 mfl; 32. Spirit of yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 58 mfl; 4. BTC Velocity, Alan Paris, 61 mfl; 5. Spirit of Canada, Derek Hatfield, still sailing leg 4. - www.aroundalone.com NEWS BRIEFS * Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers, Newport Beach, CA has an immediate opening for Production Manager. Excellent pay and benefits for the right individual. Contact Harry Pattison at (949) 645-6697 or hp@epsails.com.- http//www.epsails.com * Lightning Worlds - Day 2: light shifty, oddly puffy, variable. The good news was that we had only a little powerboat chop to sail through. Two races today. There were moments when you alone of the upwind boats would be headed. Then you tack and get headed again. Or downwind, the guy next to you is pole on the headstay, going fast in the same direction as you are, dead downwind, wallowing in no air. Lay day tomorrow, back at it on Wednesday. - Amy Smith Linton, Standings (60 boats): 1. B. Faude, E. Dieball & J. Drake, USA, 18; 2. G. Fisher, G. Fisher & R. Bernstein, USA, 19; 3. S. Hayden, B. Batzer & J. Rabbitt, USA, 20; 4. T. Gonzalez, J. Lutz & C. Engel, CHI, 34; 5. G. Cuccio, L. Colantuono & B. Taboada. USA, 37. www.lightningworlds.org * Melbourne to Osaka Race: The Elliott 14 metre racer, Maverick crossed the finish line in Osaka Bay at 6:57:15 AEST (5:57:15 JST) Tuesday morning. Her elapsed time for the 4941 mile passage was 29 days 16hs 57m 59s. Brian Petersen and Jon Bankart found last night one of the toughest of the entire race, with the high marine traffic volumes in Osaka Bay. At 8am Peter and Simon Blake aboard Kontrol were 164 miles south east of Muroto Saki and is expected to finish Wenesday morning. Jon Sayer and Joel Berg are now only 100 miles behind Kontrol, sailing Team FGI hard into third place and is looking good for a strong Racer C division win. - Sail-World website, full story: www.sail-world.com/ * It appears that June 21st will be the date of the biggest catamaran race in the world will be held - the SwissLife Round Texel Race. This year about 700 boats are expected. The entries started April 1st and during the first two weeks 300 catamarans have been entered. Participants from all over the world will come to Texel to participate in this unique race about 60 miles round the island Texel. www.roundtexel.com * The Newport Bermuda Race has launched a new web site for their 2004 race. The site offers information, photographs and historical results. The site has links to resources on the Internet providing weather, navigation and Gulf Stream data of interest to racers. Sailors can also sign up for the "Newport Bermuda Newswire," an email service that provides periodic updates on race information leading up to the event and race results after the event. www.bermudarace.com/ BUILT TOUGH The latest range from Aquapro, Raider RIB's, are built tough! Available in seven models, these are the ultimate go anywhere boats for all imaginable conditions. Ten years of research and development in hull design and inflatable tube technology have resulted in the conception of this fast, tough workboat. Available with a center console and optional bimini or spacious cabin and high visibility hard top, Aquapro Raider RIB's will take you anywhere in comfort, safety and style. More information at http://www.raiderboat.com GERONIMO As the crew continues to dissect every item on board Geronimo, the project's suppliers are minutely examining potential improvements to the boat's fittings. The report on the diagnostic work carried on the hull and floats has already been received and it seems that all is well with Geronimo's basic structure. The beams are still being inspected and around 50% of the fittings still have to be examined in detail. "We haven't lowered the mast as we'd planned to do, because there's currently a cargo vessel moored in the harbour just where we need to be. But we should be able to get alongside in about 10 days" explains Didier Ragot. "Our hunt for wear and tear continues, and it's a much bigger job than it looks. At the moment, it's the sails that we're focusing most of our attention on. There are two tears that are difficult to explain. We've even gone back to the fabric manufacturer and we're examining every detail of our round-the-world course: how much time we spent on one tack and how much on another, in which conditions, with what settings, etc. The aim is always the same though: to understand" concludes Didier Ragot. Geronimo should have revealed the last of her secrets by the end of this month and will be refitted in May. www.grandsrecords.com GAVIN BRADY (Following are two excerpts from an interview Fiona McIlroy did with Gavin Brady for the nzoom.com website) Gavin Brady has put his miserable America's Cup campaign with Prada behind him and is savouring the opportunity to helm again. After spending the last three years working in the background of the Italian syndicate, the New Zealand sailor is making the most of his time in limbo between America's Cup regattas and loving every minute of it. "I'm enjoying not doing the America's Cup," Brady told nzoom.com. "Every Cup I've been involved in, I've gone into it a better sailor than I've come out of it. There's just so much testing and so many monotonous days. Myself and a lot of the guys I sail with, we're enjoying going sailing together after a three years of not really doing what we wanted to do." Brady was part of Prada for the recently completed Louis Vuitton Cup series, but as the back-up helmsman did not get to sail as much as he would have liked and was not on-board for any of the official races. However, his return to the match racing circuit has been very impressive. He finished second at Long Beach's Congressional Cup last weekend, to Team Dennis Conner's helmsman Ken Read, after coming through the round robin series unbeaten. "We were disappointed with the end result itself but we were very happy with the way we sailed," said Brady. * The 29-year-old competed in the regatta with long-term sidekick Sean Clarkson, fellow Kiwis James Baxter, Jon Gunderson and Brad Webb and Americans' tactician Chris Larson and Theresa DiRocco, and enjoyed sailing with his mates again, rather than just Italians. "Sailing with Prada was probably some of the worst sailing I've ever done in my career," said Brady. "And apart from that it just felt like work, everyday was just a grind and everything was so difficult." Despite their early success, the Congressional Cup will be the only Swedish Match Tour event for Brady's crew this year. "We did that one because it was quite easy, being in LA." However, the rest of the event sees the sailors competing in events all over Europe. "We don't have a big sponsor, it takes a lot of money to do and it's very time consuming at a point in all of our lives when we don't know what the future is or what it's got in store for us in terms of the America's Cup," said Brady. "Next time we go do the match race circuit we'll hopefully be affiliated with an America's Cup team." - Fiona McIlroy, nzoom.com website, full story: http://onesport.nzoom.com/sport_subcategory/0,1274,2-124,00.html BLACK TIE REGATTA Rush Creek YC, TX, MC Scows, Final Results ( (41 boats): 1. Gust, Greg, RCYC/TX, 15 2. Kern, Jack, RCYC/TX, 15; 3. Slocum, Scott, RCYC/TX, 16; 4. Kern, Doug, Austin YC/TX, 17; 5. Conger, Lewis, SYC/LA, 21. - http://www.mcscow.org/fleet05/2003/blacktie/2003_bt_mc.htm 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 Ross Cameron: Clark Chapin forgot that there are other significant Sailing Associations west of the prime meridian. The Canadian Yachting Association issues Prescriptions as well. Canada has been a leader in rules development for a very long time. Lynn Watters and the late Livius Sherwood are key to our sport's rules. * From James Sears, MD: regarding the Curmudgeon's Conundrum about what pediatricians do on Wednesdays. I usually work a little later on Wednesdays so that I can leave early on Thursday for the Beer Can Races! THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage. He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married, and she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked. |
