SCUTTLEBUTT No. 634 - August 28, 2000
FOR THE RECORD
1000 GMT Monday (28 August) morning 105' maxi cat PlayStation and her crew
were approximately 111 hours and 2250 miles into their NY-UK TransAtlantic
voyage, aiming at the 10 year old record (held by Serge Madec on Jet
Services 5 1990 6 days 13 hours 3 mins 32 secs).
With 700 miles to go and 46 hours left to reach the finish line at Lizard
Point, Cornwall, UK, PlayStation skipper Steve Fossett and his 11 man crew
were still slightly ahead of record pace, but appeared to be experiencing
unsuitable weather conditions.
In a report to Mission Control at 1100 GMT, Steve Fossett described the
current difficulties: "Now that we have lost our beautiful TransAtlantic
weather pattern, we've had to come up with another plan that provides hope
of finishing in time. Meteorologist Bob Rice considered the possibilities
and we've decide to aim straight at the Low and follow it until it decays
in the Bay of Biscay then beat up to the English Channel entrance in very
light east winds. Light air at the finish has been the bane of many
TransAtlantic record attempts."
"Conditions are tough: Gale force winds and rough seas as we stay tucked in
behind the Low. We are reefed to the maximum with no headsail."
"We had one minor injury last night: Damian Foxall sprained an ankle when
he was hit by a wave while crossing the nets between the hulls. We wear
harnesses and stay clipped in when crossing so a wave won't pop us over the
stern, but the impact of the wave is still enormous. We are consulting by
satellite email with Dr Dan Carlin, our team doctor from World Clinic, for
the proper treatment."- http://www.fossettchallenge.com/
ETCHELLS WORLDS
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - While Vince Brun and Gary Weisman held the fort against
a large fleet of strong rivals from eight countries, including their own,
two other members of San Diego's elite Etchells fleet had been missing in
action. Then on Sunday out of the pack flew Peter Isler and Dennis Conner,
finishing first and third, with Brun in between, in the third of six races
in the SailNet.com International Etchells Class World Championship. While
Brun and Weisman remained first and second overall, Conner, a two-time
world champion, moved into a tie for sixth place with Bruce Nelson, just
ahead of another local, Brian Camet, who bounced back from Saturday's
34th-place hiccup with a fifth-place finish.
With Nelson seventh and Weisman eighth Sunday, San Diego sailors claimed
six of the first eight places. If that means they have righted their
30-foot ships, they rate as contenders, especially when they discard their
worst results after Race 5 on Tuesday.
Seattle darkhorse Roy Gunsolus, with Fritz Lanzinger and Scott Smith as
crew, had a tenuous grip on third overall with a string of 8-5-16 finishes.
Isler, runner-up to Conner in his only other Etchells Worlds at San
Francisco in 1991, attributed his win to "good luck" after forgettable 31st
and 29th performances the first two days. "Being able to play the wind
shifts was the key," he said, giving credit to middleman Steve Grillon for
picking out the subtleties of the westerly zephyrs off Coronado. - Rich
Roberts
The Top 10 (after 3 of 6 races): 1. Vince Brun/Bill Bennett/Rick Merriman,
San Diego (5-1-2), 8 points. 2. Gary Weisman/Jeff Pape/Andrew Whittome, San
Diego (4-3-8), 15. 3. Roy Gunsolus/Fritz Lanzinger/Scott Smith, Seattle
(8-5-16), 29. 4. Jud Smith/Henry Frazer/Don Later, Marblehead, Mass.
(1-26-4), 31. 5. Robbie Doyle/Tyler Doyle/Ben Richardson, Marblehead, Mass.
(10-9-15), 34. 6. Dennis Conner/Noel Drennan/David Barnes, San Diego
(18-16-3), 37. 7. Bruce Nelson/Jon Rogers/Mike Dorgan, San Diego (3-27-7),
37. 8. Brian Camet/Alex Camet/Daniel Camet, San Diego (2-34-5), 41. 9. Dirk
Kneulman/Phil Sustronk/Dwayne Smithers, Canada (11-24-6), 41. 10. Kers
Clausen/Kjeld Hestehave/Ian Storer, San Diego (16-12-20), 48.
Complete results, summaries and photos are posted nightly at
http://www.SailNet.com
EVERYWHERE
They are absolutely everywhere. They're in Norway, Japan, Spain, the UK and
Canada. There are two each in Australia and Mexico. Italy has three and
there are 10 in the USA. That's 22 in all, and every one of these Ullman
sail lofts will give a quote on a new sail to show you just how affordable
improved performance can be for your boats:
http://www.ullmansails.com/
ROLEX THOMPSON CUP
Oyster Bay, N.Y. (August 27, 2000) - Hannah Swett (Jamestown, R.I./New
York, N.Y.) won two straight matches today, defeating Great Britain's
Cordelia Eglin/Team Musto in a best-of-three round to win the finals at the
Rolex Thompson Cup, a grade one women's match racing event sailed in Sonars.
The competition, hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and presented
by Conde Nast Publications and Self Magazine, began Thursday, August 24 on
Long Island Sound (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) and concluded today in 5-6 knots of
winds.
Bermuda's Paula Lewin, who advanced to the petit final round after winning
a sail-off against New Zealand's Sharon Ferris and Cory Sertl (Rochester,
N.Y.) earlier today, defeated Germany's Nadine Stegenwalner to take third
in the regatta.
Swett, who sailed with crew Melissa Purdy (Tiburon, Calif.), Meg Gaillard
(Pelham, N.Y.) and Dawn Riley (San Francisco, Calif.), advanced to the
finals with a perfect win-loss record and goes home undefeated with a
perfect 7-0 win-loss record. Eglin's final score was 5-2, which included
today's two losses.
While the event's 11 other skippers were invited based on their
international rankings, Swett qualified to enter the Rolex Thompson Cup by
winning the Rolex Alpena Invitational earlier this year.
Thursday's racing had to be cancelled and Saturday's races were delayed
until dinnertime due to lack of wind.
Other skippers competing were Dru Slattery (Marblehead, Mass.), Sandy
Grosvenor (Annapolis, Md.), Liz Baylis (San Rafael, Calif.), Lotte Pedersen
(Copenhagen, DEN), Christine Briand/Team Primagaz (La Rochelle, FRA) and
Sabrina Gurioli (Forli, ITA).
Full results: http://www.ThompsonCup.org
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
Letters selected to be printed are edited for clarity, space (250 words
max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a
chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot
and don't whine if others disagree.
-- From Mark Bennett (Re: PLAYING HARDBALL) - Wait! It sounds like
Albatross Yacht Club followed the EXACT procedures in the Racing Rules of
Sailing for denying an entry - rule 76.1 says an organizing club or race
committee can deny an entry so long as it does so before the start of the
first race and gives the reason for doing so. The rule doesn't state that
only certain reasons are valid - ANY reason is enough so long as it is
spelled out. To me, actively approaching the sponsors of the club's races
and attempting to get those sponsors to withdraw their sponsorship from the
club's races, as appeared to be the case here, would certainly qualify as a
"good" reason to me to say to a sailor "Please sail somewhere else."
Albatross should appeal, all the way to the US SAILING Appeals Comm. if
necessary. Kicking a yacht club out of US SAILING seems pretty heavy
handed to me. And, threatening to decertify any US SAILING certified race
officer or judge or umpire who helps to run a race that the club puts on
smacks of Stalinist era tactics.
-- From Chris Welsh (Re: Albatross Yacht Club excommunication) - Survivor
hits the yacht club circuit. They should have played for immunity. I have
to laugh at how seriously everyone takes themselves - Albatross YC for not
letting the guy play in their sandbox, and US Sailing for their draconian
penalties, including a requirement for 100% turnover of Albatross's
leadership. And and and and you can't buy insurance from us anymore and and
and...
All this over a Twilight Beer Can Race? And in order to sail in National
Championship events I am forced to fund this circus?
-- From Mik Beatie, StFYC - Let's see now ... The Albatross Yacht Club got
kicked out of everything for not letting a jerk sail. Perfect! How do I
join the Albatross Yacht Club?
-- From Mike Campbell - With reference to letters regarding box limits
being set by TPYC and coming from the viewpoint of one who has financed the
building and racing of yachts in 7 of the Trans Pac races I am all for them.
I think the TPYC should have a rule and set it for at least 3 races so that
someone who is willing to spend the $500 thousand or so it will take to
build one of the 52ft yachts can count on having a number of like boats to
race against over several years.
I happen to know that the interest level is very high in building this type
of boat. I have had personal conversations with 4 different owners and I
know of 2 firm commitments at this time. While I cannot speak for the
other owners I can tell you that my interest would evaporate immediately if
TPYC changes their direction and does not approve a box rule.
COLORCRAFT GOLD CUP
America's Cup winner Russell Coutts and Cup veteran Dennis Conner head up a
list of world class skippers contending for the Colorcraft Gold Cup to be
raced in Bermuda in October this year.
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) today announced the eight seeded
skippers who will match race, on Hamilton Harbor. Still to be announced are
16 unseeded international skippers. The club has already received 30
requests for invitations, several from prominent America's Cup sailors.
The eight seeded skippers are: Ed Baird (United States), Dean Barker (New
Zealand), Dennis Conner (United States), Russell Coutts (New Zealand),
Peter Gilmour (Japan), Andy Green (United Kingdom), Magnus Holmberg
(Sweden), and Peter Holmberg (US Virgin Islands).
Now in its 52nd year, the Colorcraft Gold Cup is raced in 33-foot
International One Design sloops on short windward-leeward courses inside
Hamilton Harbor, within view of spectators ashore. The event gets under way
on October 22, with qualifying rounds for the 16 unseeded teams. The finals
will be sailed October 29, followed by the official Colorcraft Gold Cup
prizegiving.
Adding an extra element of suspense, the event is the finale of the Swedish
Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour. A French team headed by Bertrand Pace is
leading the series, while Team New Zealand represented by Dean Barker is in
second place. If Pace or his delegated skipper doesn't make the unseeded
list and fail to sail in Bermuda, Barker must still finish second or better
collect the first prize of $50,000 for the tour.
Altogether, the club is inviting 24 skippers, comprising the eight seeded
and 16 unseeded entries. The latter group will include the top two Bermudan
skippers from the Goslings' Black Seal Cup for the National Match Race
Championship, and the winner of the York Cup match race event sailed in
Toronto, Canada. The eight best unseeded skippers will go forward to race
against the eight seeded skippers in Round One of the Colorcraft Gold Cup.
- Keith Taylor
Event website: http://www.bermudagoldcup.com
TRADEMARK
A lot of racers put a lot of thought into the colors of their spinnaker,
and after a while that chute becomes their trademark. There is no reason
that trademark should not be faithfully reproduced in the embroidery on the
crew shirts. It can be, and it will be if you let Frank Whitton at Pacific
Yacht Embroidery take care of the details for you. Give him a call to learn
just how affordable quality crew attire can be. Frank delivers:
Pacyacht@aol.com / 619-226-8033
SWAN BIGGIE
Every second year in late August on the Costa Smeralda, the world's most
versatile racer-cruisers gather for their flagship event. With 99 entries
for the Swan Cup 2000 assembling in Porto Cervo, the largest ever gathering
of Swans is about to begin. 26 nations are represented with the largest
number coming from the United Kingdom (19), Italy (18), Germany (15), and
France (14).
This year's record entry will be welcomed in a 1600 square metre regatta
village where much of the pre and post race entertainment will be
organised. This race village will also enable the fleet's skippers, owners,
crews and guests to meet the class' suppliers and the event's sponsors.
Also located in the village is the race Media Centre and Television
production offices.
Due to an unprecedented response from Swan owners, the regatta organisers
have expanded their hosting facilities across Capo Ferro, drawing in the
Yacht Club Poltu Quatu as an additional hosting and berthing area. The
social centre and race headquarters remain at Porto Cervo, with the Yacht
Club Costa Smeralda continuing in its role as one of the few elite
locations for international regattas worldwide.
Since the change in ownership three years ago, Nautor's Swan has been
reinvigorated with an infusion of enthusiasm and energy into the company.
This has translated into excitement out on the water as well, as the
registration numbers at the 2000 Swan Cup demonstrate. Event manager Enrico
Chieffi calls the surge in interest fantastic.
"It's a nice problem to have," he smiled. "Having to open up a second port
to accommodate all the boats and crews proves that we are on the right
track. This is the showcase event for Nautor's Swan, so it's nice to see
Swan owners from around the world as excited as we are about the direction
of the company."
Event website http://www.swancup.com
1D35 GREAT LAKES CHAMPIONSHIP
Holland, Michigan - Nick and Tina Worth's 'Widowmaker' today won the second
annual 1D35 Great Lakes Championships on a resounding double-bullet
performance concluding a hard-fought three-day, seven-race series hosted by
the Macatawa Bay YC. Twenty-two entries from all corners of the US were on
hand for this fourth event in the six-regatta Season Championship Series. -
Dobbs Davis
Final Results: 1. Widowmaker, 26 pts 2. Extreme, 38, 3. Roxanne, 45, 4.
Zsa Zsa, 49 5. Smiling Bulldog, 53, 6. Windquest, 56.
Complete results: http://www.1D35.com.
SCHOCK 35 NATIONALS
Alamitos Bay YC - Final results: 1. MISCHIEF, HARDY /PINCKNEY (15 Points)
2. WINGS, DENNIS & SHARON CASE (22) 3. OUTLIER, DICK SCHMIDT (36) 4
WHISTLER, P. JOHNSTONE/C. WAINER (37) 4. CHAYAH, OSCAR KRINSKY (39) 5.
WATER MOCCASIN, JUDY GORSKI /BRAD WHEELER (49)
DAVE LEACH
Dave Leach, former editor of SOLO, the North American Finn Newsletter
passed away on Monday, July 31, 2000 at age 75 of lung cancer. Finnsters
remember him as a unique, astute and intelligent man with a love of life
that infected all those around him. He loved the Finn and its sailors. He
knit the North American Finn class together with his writing in SOLO for
nearly four decades; many who had gone on to sail less demanding boats kept
their USAFA membership just so they could continue to receive and read
SOLO. He ran many superb Finn regattas including the Nationals, North
Americans, Midwest Championships and spring and fall Finn get-to-gethers
from the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club RC boat "Abigale".
SIDEBAR: "What a great Finn sailor gone!! I must confess Mary always gave
me Solo for Christmas every year so she could read it. I believe Solo was
why Martha likes Finn sailors. Dave Leach was the oldest 18 year old in
the World. We were all better for being exposed to his humour." - Paul
Henderson
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
The problem with common sense is that it's not very common.
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