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SCUTTLEBUTT 1992 -- December 21, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.DAWN RILEY Dawn Riley is about as all-American as they come. With a can-do attitude that got her a berth as the first woman in the world to sail on an America's Cup team, in 1992, she has been at the top of the international sailing elite ever since. Now she's general manager of the French team for the 2007 America's Cup contest. And she's looking past that -- she might even consider a run for Congress from her hometown of Harrison Township, even though her sailing adventures have kept her living around the globe for the last several years. "I don't know if I want to do another cup" after the 2007 race, Riley said in a series of e-mails from the America's Cup complex in Spain. "I doubt I would be the best person for the physical job I do at my 'advancing age.' Seriously, I would be approximately 47 trying to hold off 20-year-olds!" Riley is nowhere near retirement, however. She continues to give motivational speeches across the country, talking to women and men about achieving personal goals. And she and Amy Baltzell, who was part of the 1995 America{+3} team -- called America Cubed -- and is a former Olympic rower, are looking for a publisher for a book they've written together. "The book's working title is: 'On Course: Success Strategies for Life,' " Riley said. "Basically, we are using our collective experiences with a combination of anecdotal stories and analysis to help with life and business problems." Riley's first book, "Taking the Helm: One of America's Top Sailors Tells Her Story," was published in 1995.A do-it yourselfer for her own homes, Riley is working as a consultant for residential and mixed-use developments, including a project in San Francisco to revitalize an urban waterfront. And there's that tantalizing run for Congress. - Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki, Detroit Free Press, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/8vohd PLAY BY PLAY COVERAGE For the first time in the 61 years, Nokia and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia have arranged for uninterrupted three hour radio coverage to be broadcast over the web for keen sailing fans around the world to tune in and further enhance the spectacular start of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day. Somehow having gained access to the highly restricted and classified Royal Australian Naval Degaussing Range on Steele Point directly above the start line, the crew from the cult "Sailors Radio Show' which broadcasts around Australia to sailors each weekend, will broadcast from 11:30am to 2:30pm on Boxing Day (Eastern Summer Time - Australia). While promising to tone down some aspects of the shows usual bawdy sailing humour, the sailors radio show crew have promised not to pretend they are the BBC world service and look forward to sharing the skill, the adrenalin and the madness that is an integral pat of this iconic race. Visitors to Sail-world.com will hear a detailed narrative on the entire fleet, commentary to assist spectators understand what they are seeing on the water and live crosses from some of the smallest and biggest boats in the race to share the pre-race chaos and tension. Sail-World will provide the live streaming audio output for the international audience, with test files on line in the next few days. Sailors watching the Boxing Day test cricket or tucked up in bed in the northern hemisphere at race start time, will be able to download and listen to the full broadcast later in the day. Sail-World will break the broadcast into segments for sailors who want to hear particular parts of the broadcast. The full boat notes, still being updated by the skippers, can be downloaded now from www.sail-world.com MAJOR MONEY Federal and state financial regulators announced yesterday that they are levying $80 million in fines against ABN Amro Bank NV, a giant Dutch lender, for violating money-laundering laws and sanctions restricting dealings with Iran and Libya. The fines rank among the largest penalties ever imposed on a bank, according to Molly Millerwise, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Treasury, although some of the other major fines have involved different types of violations. The severity of the fines is emblematic of the emphasis that the federal government has placed since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on investigating financial institutions' transactions with countries and firms suspected of having links to terrorists. Documents released by the regulators did not allege that the money involved was used to bankroll terrorism. But they revealed that ABN Amro's branch in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, falsified various payments processed at branches in the United States to hide the involvement of Bank Melli Iran, an Iranian government bank, and the Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade, which is partially owned by the Libyan government. - Excerpt from a story by Paul Blustein in the Washington Post, complete story: http://tinyurl.com/e4pqo 6 OUT OF 7 VOLVO OCEAN RACE BOATS CHOOSE MUSTO It's Gore-Tex, extremely waterproof, breathable and durable. It provides maneuverability for high activity, high performance sailing. That's why 6 out of the 7 Volvo Ocean Race boats have chosen Musto. Musto's HPX foul weather gear will protect the teams from the elements whilst in the Southern Ocean, where towering seas, temperatures below zero, and 60-knot winds are the norm - not forgetting the icebergs, which are an ever-present danger. You don't need to race a Volvo Open 70 to experience Musto. Give it a try next time - for product information and a store finder, check out: http://www.musto.com/usa COMMENTARY Greg Stewart is a successful naval architect. His job it is to suggest ways to upgrade his clients' boats to stay as competitive as possible, despite the never ending advance of technology. Before condemning IRC, or any other rule for "type forming" or ongoing development in the face of improving design and technology: ask oneself how close a 1975 IOR one tonner resembles a 1992 IOR 50? The Tripp 40 was virtually unbeatable in IMS when it debuted in the early 90's. How well would a 1992 IMS Tripp 40 do in an Italian IMS fleet next summer? Reality is that there is no measurement system that does not type form and that can resist the continuing developments in yacht design and technology. Americap is based on the same methodology as IMS, and, if Americap boats are ever built, they too will succumb to the same type forming and development issues. The rules aren't at fault: it is a consequence of the competitiveness of owners and crews, and the cleverness of designers and builders. PHRF is the only system that can rate anything so it can eventually win. In theory a 30 year old Out Island 41 could come out of charter and win Big Boat under PHRF. The ability to give every boat regardless of age, design type, or sail inventory a rating that might let it win once in a while, is the reason PHRF is the largest rating system in the world: "good on 'em". For thousands of sailors who are looking for a measurement system that removes the subjectivity of crew skill and local committees and is international in scope, IRC seems to be doing a good job. Sailors looking for the ultimate rule, one that will precisely control progress in design, construction, and equipment technology, or even a well healed, competitive owner: are bound for disappointment. I suggest that one carefully read all of Greg's comments to get the correct context of his message. - Barry Carroll, US - IRC AWARDS DOWN UNDER For the second year in succession, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's major Ocean Racer of the Year Award has gone to Sydney yachtsman Matt Allen - skipper of the Farr 52 and Farr 40 named Ichi Ban. The Ocean Racing Veteran of the Year is Alex Whitworth, who returned to Sydney this morning to complete an epic voyage to Britain and back in his little yacht Berrimilla. Other finalists for the Ocean Racer Award, which traditionally goes to yacht owners and/or skippers, were Michael Spies, owner/skipper of the Beneteau 44.7, then called First National Real Estate, Steven David, owner/skipper of the Reichel/Pugh 60 Wild Joe and Anthony Paterson, owner/skipper of the Mumm 30 Tow Truck. Lake Macquarie yachtsman Brett Filby is the Ocean Racing Crewperson of the Year, while Ocean Racing Rookie of the Year is Geelong yachtsman Tony Fowler. - For additional information about the winners: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE "Last year I was quoted as saying our boat was strong and proven so I won't be making that mistake again, but if we can manage to hold our boat together we should be a force to be reckoned with for both (Sydney to Hobart) Line Honours and Handicap categories." - Skandia Wild Thing skipper Grant Wharington. NEWS BRIEFS * Great sailors wanted. The Orange Coast College sailing program is looking for additional crewmembers to sail the MaxZ86 Pyewacket in 2006. The boat will compete in races around SoCal in 2006, including Ensenada, Long Point Series, and Santa Barbara - King Harbor. Successful applicants will have recent racing experience aboard big boats in top events. The Pyewacket crew of amateur sailors will be led by a team of pros, including skipper Keith Kilpatrick. Send a sailing resume to Pyewacket@occsailing.com * Neville Crichton, owner and skipper of 'Alfa Romeo' and the front runner for line honours in the 2005 Rolex Sydney to Hobart race, has secured a substantial sponsorship package to take 'Alfa Romeo' to Europe in 2006 to contest the leading blue water classic events through the coming northern summer. If timing permits, 'Alfa Romeo' will then return to Australia to contest the 2006 Rolex Sydney to Hobart. As with the previous yacht, the 2006 season will also see 'Alfa Romeo' and her crew participate in a wide range of media and high profile social events throughout the northern summer. -- www.alfaromeo.com.au/maxiyacht * Paul Deighton, Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs' European businesses, has been announced as new Chief Executive Officer for the London Olympic Games Organizing Committee (LOCOG). Deighton's selection follows an extensive three month international search for one of the most sought after positions in world sport. -- http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j8fFh0A/C * Four days of racing on Sydney Harbour has seen 220 competitors race from 13 nations and all Australian states in the 2005 ISAF Grade 1 Sydney International Regatta (SIRs). Olympic, Youth and invited classes have raced in a variety of conditions that has seen some the top places in some classes remain consistent and some classes have had dramatic changes in the podium places. - Event website: http://www.nsw.yachting.org.au/ * After 56-days on stand by, the Trench in the south of France used by speed sailors has now gone into winter hibernation having been all but unused during this autumn 2005 session - a sure sign that not every period delivers just what the doctor orders. In fact, there has not been a single day during the autumnal months when the wind blew more than 35-knots in the Les Saintes Maries region, although several forecasts had looked very promising only to change at the last minute. - The Daily Sail Subscription website, full story: www.thedailysail.com * Shortly after arrival in Fremantle in tenth place in the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race, Glasgow Clipper's Graeme Johnston announced that he would be stepping down as Skipper for personal reasons with immediate effect. A replacement Skipper will be announced shortly and will be flying out to Fremantle to take over the role, leading the crew to Singapore and onwards for the rest of the race back to Liverpool. Johnston will be returning to Scotland. -- http://www.clipper-ventures.co.uk/2006/ EIGHT BELLS Lee Van Gemert died this afternoon, at home. Except for his family and his first job, on tankers in the Atlantic during WWII after graduating from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, sailing made his life. At 15 he built a sailboat in his family garage and went on to be a champion sailor in the Hustler and Indian classes. Working for Bethlehem Steel at the Fore River Shipyard the President of the company would send a car to get Lee out of the pattern shop to sail his boat. After getting the Indian Class to buy Hood sails Ted Hood approached him at the Massachusetts Bay Racing Association dinner to say that he would like to talk to Lee if he ever needed a job. Shortly after that the shipyard began to close down and Lee went to work for Hood, through the years of SORC and America's Cup dominance. He was the consummate sailor, skilled engineer, and always the gentleman. There was no better sailor nor no finer man. -- Thad Danielson FREE HOLIDAY SHIPPING There is still plenty of time to give the one gift all sailors love to receive and the shipping is free: a Sailing Pro Shop Online Gift Certificate! This customized gift certificate can either be e-mailed to you, or sent directly to those on your gift list. No more guessing on size or color or what they want - just a simple and fast way to give your special someone a gift that is guaranteed to meet their needs. For a preview go to http://www.sailingproshop.com/giftcert.htm or call toll free at 800-354-7245 (in the US) or 562-594-8749 (international). 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. 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, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Russell Painton: Congratulations to Stu Streuli on his bravery for having the gall to even suggest that the old classes, that have had a hammerlock on the Olympics for years, (boring) be replaced. His thoughts on this particular subject and the other ideas mentioned in his article are dead on! We sailors must move from the defensive, to offensive, on this topic. This is what is solely needed now. Before it is too late., If we don't, sailing in the Olympics will soon be a fond memory. Hang in there, Stu. "Don't let the bastards get you down", as the saying goes. Your voice needs to be heard, regardless of what the "establishment" thinks! * From Cory E. Friedman: Stuart Streuli is right ('Butt 1991). If sailing is in trouble as an Olympic sport, tinkering with the scoring format is not going to solve the problem. Sailors have to come to grips with the fact that the intellectual challenge that makes sailing so much fun is, as in most sports (with a few possible exceptions like baseball), pretty much lost on spectators, even with the best commentary. Spectators want to see something happen -- the faster the better. Sailors also have to come to grips with fact that pure suffering (i.e., straight leg hiking on an uncomfortable narrow deck) does not come across as athleticism to most spectators. 49er sailors probably don't suffer anywhere nearly as much as Star crews or Finn sailors, but their ballet is more entertaining. The average person thinks that trapezing is harder to do than hiking and can never be convinced that hiking is harder. Sailors also have to come to grips with Olympic sailing not being the pinnacle of sailing, but, rather, the pinnacle of a subset of sailing -- fast athletic sailing. The America's Cup, Star Worlds and other events will always be the pinnacles of other branches of sailing. The Olympics can't do it all. BTW, can anyone explain why iceboats are not in the Winter Olympics? I have never seen iceboats on TV, there has to be spectator potential there. The only problem I can see is the vagabonds go where the fresh ice is venue issue, but that has to be solvable. * From Mike Martin: I think that Stuart Streuli is on the right track. The Olympic classes need to be modernized and "Lead Free". I agree with some of Stu's choices and have suggestions for some of the others. 1. Men's Singlehanded Dinghy: Laser -- For all the reasons mentioned 2. Women's Singlehanded Dinghy: Radial -- Ditto above 3. Coed Double-handed Dinghy 2 person dinghy or skiff. I agree, this is a great idea. Please not a 470 however. Perhaps this would be a good place for the 49er. 4. Open Skiff 18 Foot Skiff. =-- Of all the televised sailing that I have seen 18s are by far the most exciting to watch. For all of the people that say sailing needs to be more exciting for TV this is the obvious solution. 5. Open Catamaran Tornado -- Probably the most exciting cat for the spectator. If you want to lower cost and reduce people you could use an A cat. 6. Developing Class Kiteboarding. -- If sailing wants to stay modern this is a must. There could be separate Men's and Women's classes with some free style and course racing. 7. Keel boat: Star -- Although I agree with you about this being an antiquated class, It has been proven in the past that It is impossible to eliminate the Star form the Olympics. So why fight it, just throw the stoggy ISAF types a bone and give them their Star. You can even match race in it if you want. * From Bud Thompson: Kudos to Peter Huston for his "Never to Old to Rock and Roll" commentary. Nicely said! * From Bob Dunn: Hoorah for Peter Huston's comments. We in Annapolis have a local sailor who proves the point. Perhaps some have heard of him. Dr. Stewart Walker. He is a roll model for those of us that don't want to throw in the towel. With more than six decades under my belt knowing I can still play keeps me heading to the gym. * From Alan Shore: I'd like to ask who the heck is Peter Huston? But I won't. I never see his name in any race results. He clearly knows the sport of sailing. Speaking of Rock 'n Roll - he seems occasionally to be like the psychedelic cynic Jim Morrison, biting and direct with his observations. Then, on days like today, he's a romantic global troubadour like Bono, one moment challenging us to think harder about our choices and priorities, the next inspiring us to appreciate all that we enjoy. Peter Huston, whoever you are, where ever you are, keeping doing what you do. * From Fietje Judel: In Greg Stewart's piece about optimizing for IRC, he forgot to mention that you also should replace all steel fittings with Titanium ones. Will be a good deal for those who want to spend the money. * From David Meagher, Chairman, Cork Week RC: Please, please stop moaning about IRC. We at Cork Week hold one of the biggest IRC Events in the World every two years, it offers fantastic close racing. A well prepared and sailed boat will always win under system and it is no different with IRC. Get off the fence, stop moaning and try it. * From David Chivers, International Melges 24 Class Technical Advisor (In response to Harrison Hine inquiry about Melges 24 hiking rules): If you check the class rules, you will see that there is no reference to Lifelines - we do not have them. The class uses Hiking lines and has done so from the very beginning. All classes have a choice in the way they sail their boats and the Melges 24 class chose this method over "Toe/ hiking straps" as used in the Star/ Soling. It is just another example of the variety which makes our sport so interesting. * From John Rumsey: The lines on the rails of the Melges 24 are not life lines at all, they are hiking straps rigged through stantions to keep them up. The rule is that the lines may not touch the deck when pressed down with a certain pressure. They are held taught with shock cord till the crew leans on them. It is a very uncomfortable way to hike. CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM Q: An honest politician, a kind lawyer, and Santa Claus were walking down the street and saw a $20 bill. Which one picked it up? A: Santa. The other two don't exist. Special thanks to Musto Sailing Gear and Sailing Pro Shop. |
