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SCUTTLEBUTT 2456 – October 18, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday with the support of its sponsors. WHAT THE DEED OF GIFT REALLY MEANS John Rousmaniere, a highly respected America’s Cup historian, provides some of the details behind the America’s Cup Deed of Gift: “The crux of the debate over the America’s Cup concerns one paragraph in the cup’s basic rules, called the deed of gift because the document was handed over to the New York Yacht Club with the cup by the owners of the yacht America. The paragraph breaks down into four sections. The first two lay out the qualifications for a challenging yacht club. The third section defines the type of boat, and the fourth insists that this be a race between yacht clubs representing different countries and boats built in those countries. Throughout you see that the crucial actor is the yacht club, not an individual. This is a hard thing for individualists of the modern era to fully appreciate, but the key element is the yacht club, not the boat’s owner or sailors. “The original deed of gift of 1852, drafted by George L. Schuyler of the New York Yacht Club (and one of the owners of the yacht America), said that the yacht club must be “organized.” This means that the challenge cannot come from an individual but from an organization. A yacht club holds the cup, and a yacht club from another country challenges for the cup. Yacht clubs as we know them today were quite rare back then. Some clubs then were extensions of their commodores’ personalities, others were nothing more than a yacht that the owner rented out to clients. But the New York Yacht Club was something very different. The club was more important than its members, and this was what the donors expected of America’s Cup’s qualifiers. “So ‘organized’ sets a high standard. The challenger has to be an entity with a history, a structure, some continuity from year to year, a scheduled event, and the other elements that are commonly understood to be part of a true organization.” -- John Rousmaniere, read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1016 * Curmudgeon’s Comment: A reminder that the hearing date for the dispute between the Swiss club and the American club is scheduled for Monday, October 22, 2007. IT’S NEVER LIKE THIS When you are buying plane tickets to San Diego, CA to compete in the US Championship of Champions, there is a presumption that of the many obstacles you are soon to face, adverse weather will not be one of them. You will be competing against 18 other teams, all having earned their way to this event by standing at the top step of their class championship podium. You will not be sailing in your expertly prepared boat, but rather adapting to the fleet of supplied boats for the event, which for this year is the Snipe. You may even be teaming up with someone other than your championship crew so as to better meet the weight and experience needed for the Snipe. All these are big obstacles, but at least you will be going to San Diego, and will benefit from the steady sea breeze and warm sun that the fall weather provides. Those thoughts were surely going through the minds of the competitors who had gathered Wednesday morning at Mission Bay Yacht Club, circled around a full-rigged Snipe in the parking lot, and being educated by past national champion and local fleet captain Doug Hart. However, the ominous clouds overhead were a reminder of the previous night’s rain, and the intermittent drizzle that had continued through the morning. The glassed off bay in the background did little to assure the promise of a worthy practice session in the afternoon, which was deemed vital to grasp the characteristics prior to the first race on Thursday. -- Scuttleblog, read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2007/10/its-never-like-this.html OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Ben Barger, the 2008 US Olympic rep in the RS:X Mens class, reflects on his win at the Trials: “Race 11 was the turning point of the regatta. I had a crash with my closest competitor, Mike Gebhardt, right at the start of the race that severely bruised my hip, but I didn't care, I got up and crossed back on the fleet in second place, saying to myself, ‘not this time.’ Each lap of that race, I distanced myself from Gebhardt who was in third, and I was closing in on first place, Bob Willis, when I tried to cross Bob on the final upwind to only have a huge crash that was my fault. The only thing I could say to bob was, ‘Sorry, and I'll do my circle now.’ So I got up for the second time, did my circle, and found holes in my board the size of a shark bite. I limped the board thru the final downwind to the finish, still beating Gebhardt and finally extending my lead. But the board was un-sailable for the next race, and I was forced to seek out another solution. Having no spare board on the water, I had to see if somebody would lend me their board, and Eric Rachefuerer obliged. For the next 20 minutes, we changed all fitting and straps of the board to his, and commenced the next race, to have a solid race and extend my lead once more. Later that night was spent patching up the damaged board. “The following final four races, I kept on grinding and extending my lead, and never looked back. I knew I was going to the Olympics and fulfilling this dream, not as an alternate, but racing this time and going for the Gold Medal in China. A very special time, and grateful it turned out so well. At any point in the regatta, the disasters could have been worse and taken this critical win away. After ten years of dreaming training and competing, I finally won the Olympic Team Trials! This has been an arduous and trying journey, but most importantly, a team effort, so I have to give this precious win to all of my supporters and their prayers! I am so grateful for this dream come true and the very magical moment I've been training so hard to achieve. Once in a lifetime, I'll never forget this time. Lot's of planning to do the next few weeks, as I reflect on this successful season and to create a new map for going after the win at the Olympic Games.” -- http://www.benbarger.com DON’T PUT THE BOAT AWAY YET! There are still some great sailing days ahead of us, and whether it’s a rainy northeaster or a chilly sea breeze, the coastal line of waterproof breathable gear from Atlantis will keep you warm and dry so you can focus on the sport you love. Check out the innovative new Numbers softshell pullover: designed with and for the team from the new IRC 66 Numbers, it’s a mid-layer that thinks it’s an outer layer. Soft and warm but windproof, waterproof and breathable, it’s two jackets in one. Visit us online at http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com and keep on sailing! DEFENDING THE TITLE WON’T BE EASY Portsmouth, R.I. (October 15, 2007) - When racing starts this Friday, October 19 at the U.S. Team Racing Championship hosted by Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club in Oyster Bay, N.Y., there will be 22 teams facing off for US Sailing's Hinman Trophy, one of the deepest fleets since the event was first held in 1981. Racing promises to be extremely close, with reigning world champion New York Yacht Club (NYYC) Silver Panda returning to defend its national championship title. It won't be easy for them: the list of 132 competitors total for this event includes numerous familiar names, from past College Sailors of the Year to current US Sailing Team members. Sailed on Vanguard 15s, the U.S. Team Racing Championship is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Vanguard Sailboats, Nautica, and Dry Creek Vineyard. The United States has dominated the global team racing scene for several years, U.S. teams have won the last three Team Racing World Championships. NYYC Silver Panda - made up of Lisa Keith (Boston, Mass.), Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.), Peter Levesque (Annapolis, Md.), Clay Bischoff (New York, N.Y.), Amanda Callahan (Canton, Mass.), and Liz Hall (Washington, D.C.) - won this year's World Championship just a few weeks ago. "We've got tough competition ahead of us this weekend," said team member Peter Levesque. -- Complete story: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/teamracing_preview.asp * List of accepted teams: http://www.ussailing.org/calendar/registrants.asp?eventid=36137 VIDEO OF THE WEEK This week’s video was taken at the 2007 Audi Melges 24 US National Championship in Detroit, MI, which enjoyed a record-setting attendance with 53 hardened race teams battling for the title on Lake St. Clair, Michigan during September 21-23. The class continues to attract top competitors, with America's Cup tactician Terry Hutchinson joining a distinguished roster of Melges 24 sailors who have entered the 2007 Melges 24 Northeast District Championship (NEDC) hosted by the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD, October 19-21. This event will be part of the build-up that will lead to the site hosting the 2008 North American Championship and the 2009 Worlds. Enjoy this 4:34 minute view from Detroit, and if you have a video that you’d like to share, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/07/1015 SAILING SHORTS * The Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound is sponsoring a demo day on October 27th at Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, CT to provide an opportunity to view and experience some of the sport boat choices currently available. Available will be the RS K6 (19’, 616lbs), Viper 640 (21’1”, 737lbs), and Laser SB3 (20’2”, 1,375lbs). Photos and details at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1017 * The results of a survey US Sailing conducted among 164 yacht clubs provides comparative information that includes organization specifics, programs & facilities, member specifics, and youth programs. The 62-page report can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/3d5rna * The US-IRC East Coast Championship, to be held November 2-4, has reached the 45-boat limit. This will be the largest IRC East Coast Championships to date, with entries including 10 Beneteau 36.7’s, 5 NYYC Swan 42’s, 2 Beneteau 40.7’s, 2 TP 52’s, two new state of the art Reichel-Pugh boats Rima2 and Sjambok, the Farr 60 Hissar, and the new Judel-Vrolijk Numbers making her debut. The complete current list can be found at http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=143 * Groupe Bénéteau chairman Bruno Cathelinais said that he remains "calm" about twin threats posed by the weak US dollar and a weak new boat market in the US, one of the company's most important markets. In an interview with Investir, Cathelinais said that he still expects the company to meet a 10 per cent net margin for fiscal year 2009-2010. Groupe Bénéteau is expected to publish its full-year sales for its last fiscal year sometime this week. -- IBI News, full story: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20070917151204ibinews.html * Tillamook, OR (AP) - The Coast Guard is towing the crew of a disabled 65-foot sailing vessel Hawaiian Chieftain back to Tillamook Bay. The Coast Guard received a radio report that the sailing vessel, with 12 people aboard, was foundering in 14-foot seas and 35 knot winds. Owned by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, the 65-foot Square Topsail Ketch was built of steel by Lahaina Welding in 1988. Chieftain's modern construction is well hidden by her traditional sail plan and above-decks furnishings. -- http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7221874 SILVER JUST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH Ullman Sails congratulates U.S. Tornado sailors John Lovell and Charlie Olgetree for their hard-fought victory at the U.S. Olympic Trials in San Diego, October 3-14, 2007. The team needed to win the last four races in the series in order to win the trials – something they hadn’t been able to do earlier in the regatta. Competing with Ullman Sails, Lovell and Olgetree proved their experience, focus, and determination equal to the challenge. When everything is on the line, top competitors choose the ‘Fastest Sails on the Planet.” For more information, contact an Ullman Sails loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are a few of the events that are coming up: Oct 18-21 - Rolex Osprey Cup - St. Petersburg, FL, USA Oct 19-21 - Ol' Man of the Sea - Fort Worth, TX, USA Oct 20-21 - Manhasset Bay Fall Series - Port Washington, NY, USA Oct 20-27 - Rolex Middle Sea Race - Marsamxett Harbour, Valetta, Malta View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Alan Block: (regarding the Canada’s Cup) Whether Honour had a genuine safety issue to attend to with regards to their rudder, I do not know. What I do know is that skippers Alec Krstajic (CAN) and Bob Hughes (USA) are good friends, and both were happy to have settled the matter, and the Canada's Cup, on the water. As the clock inextricably marches toward GGYC v. SNG in Manhattan, it was refreshing to see such a fierce, yet friendly rivalry on the shores of Lake Ontario. The RCYC were genuinely happy for Team Heartbreaker, and I think they relish the chance to head across the lakes to win it back. I know that Bob and Macatawa Bay YC will make them feel as though they are among friends - just as RCYC did for their US visitors on Toronto Island. * From Andrew Bray, Editor, Yachting World: Jeff Hutchins is being a bit unfair on Rob Humphreys in his letter about the Russian VO70 (Scuttlebutt 2455). Perhaps he is not well known in the USA, but Rob has a long track record of designing race winners in Europe. His first Open 60 design in 2000 was Kingfisher for Ellen MacArthur, which was recognized as being one of the quickest boats on the circuit at the time and came second in the Vendee Globe. He is also one of the most innovative and freethinking designers in the business. Surely boat design should be intuitive? The machine is the slave, not the master. I think the Russians have chosen well but then perhaps I am biased, being the proud owner of a custom built Humphreys wood epoxy, water ballasted, 42-foot fast cruiser. * From Fairlie Brinkley: In response to Bob Steele's suggestion of a replacement for the SORC (in Issue 2455), Clearwater Yacht Club sponsors the Key West Rendezvous which provides 220 miles of open Gulf of Mexico racing from Clearwater to Key West. The 23rd running is scheduled for May 14-20, 2008. Joining the Clearwater fleet in Key West are three more fleets that start in Sarasota, Boca Grande, and Naples. After the fleets converge in Key West and the crews go partying, many of the boats race the 100-mile Key West to Naples racecourse, with a dinner and awards ceremony at Naples Yacht Club. To quote Bob, " A true test of boats & crews & a whole lot of fun." For more details, contact Regatta Chairman, R. Fairlie Brinkley, mailto:fairlie@fairliebrinkley.com * From Elaine Bunting, Features Editor, Yachting World: (regarding letter in Issue 2455) Don’t cave in to the sexists, man! Breasts are beautiful things put on public display in art galleries, tribal ceremonies and beaches throughout the world. It’s sailing that is frivolous and self-gratifying. Don ’t bankers have better things to be doing with our money than spending their working day leering over such baubles? The photo in my blog of a woman’s breasts would not be thought pornographic here (in England). Maybe it’s a cultural thing. They are a national treasure, given pride of place in our most popular newspaper every morning and greatly admired by a discerning audience of seasoned aesthetes. It’s not pictures of women’s breasts we don’t like (what’s not to like?) but derogatory and disrespectful ways of referring to our bodies that is offensive. The photo and comment is still available on my blog should anyone else want to check out this important issue. There are also some pix of boats – if you’ re that way inclined. -- http://www.yachtingworld.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html * From Adrian Morgan: So, Patrick Dietz, and presumably millions of other bankers, lawyers, accountants, journalists(?), you spend your time reading Scuttlebutt at the bank rather than solving the world's credit problems, preparing legal documents, totting up the national debt or wangling freebies (?). Scuttlebutt should be read in the comfort of one's own home, in front of a roaring fire with a glass of Lagavulin cradled in the palm of the hand. Get on with your work. And if you're a public service worker, remember who pays your wages. * From Frank Lawson, Port Ludlow, WA: The ODOM R/C boat looks terrific, but a very slightly smaller sister, the CR 914 is wonderful as well and a good deal less expensive at $475 for the complete set-up including electronics, radio, etc. The hull and deck is a 1-piece moulding and assembly is easy. The class has a strong national organization, publication, etc. Six of us had them in Maine several years ago and although the models are to scale, the starting line butterflies are definitely full size! * From Stephen A Van Dyck: Mr. Bertarelli’s real problem is that he cannot explain why he is making all the decisions. In 1983 the NYYC lost the Cup to Australia, but the world really won it. This gives rise to Dennis saying that “losing was the best thing that ever happened.” The Cup was sprung from the claustrophobia of “one club owns it and writes all the rules.” It can never successfully go back to being a one club, or worse, a one man event. An important part of why the America’s Cup holds the fascination of challengers and the sailing world at large is that it has spawned a huge family of interest over the years. With each successive defense, the broader international interest has served to make the event fairer. And the growing fairness has included the decision making process. Mr. Bertarelli may not be interested in process fairness, but the sailing world absolutely is. If not, why all the noise? As it turns out, it is not just the last winner that has an abiding interest in the competition and how it is waged, it is the challengers, actual and potential, and thousands of past participants and even more thousands of day dreaming future participants. And yes, also just the average sailor in his little boat, not to mention sponsors. The protocol dictated by Mr. Bertarelli may or may not be “fair.” But what he completely missed is that in the Americas Cup, fans of today are insisting upon the fairness of process. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM If you tied buttered toast to the back of a cat and dropped it from a height, what would happen? Special thanks to Atlantis WeatherGear and Ullman Sails. |
