SCUTTLEBUTT #330 - May 25, 1999
FINN PAN-AM GAMES TRIALS
Ninnescah Sailing Association, Wichita Kansas USA - Final results: 1.
Silvestri, Russ (13) 2. Herrman, Mark (15) 3. Peck, (15) 4. Deyett, Mike
(18) 5. Kern, Andrew (27) 6. Griffiths, Scott (32)
Event website: http://members.tripod.com/~NinnescahYachtClub/
US WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
MIT -- Conditions light and variable out of the north, south, east, and
west. Get the picture. It was a bit shifty. Top notch fleet from around the
country including high caliber collegiate sailors such as Navy, Harvard,
and MIT. Also, top women sailors from Houston, Texas, Minnesota and
Washington State have traveled here for the event. Windward leeward courses
with excellent race committee who were able to get ten races off with only
one general recall that we know about. Two lines, one for the laser radials
and a second for the FJ's.
Day One Results - Double-handed: 1. Minton / Phillips (29) 2. Beck /
Rosales (36) 3. Zaniboni / Gray (40) 4. Provan / Manning (40) 5.Gilbert /
Melanson (43) 1. Laura Stearns (14) 2. Judy Woellner (20) 3. Julia Lillis (31)
Complete results:
http://ussailing.pshift.com/championships/Womens/1999results.htm
CASCADIA CUP
Victoria, Canada -- Nestling between the Olympic mountains and three hours
from Whistler the Compaq sponsored Cascadia Cup just finished. After a
frantic round robin with John Cutler and his America True crew of Tucker
Thompson, John Sweeney and Kelvin Harrop were tied for first with Andy
Green and his crew of Jim Turner, John Ziskind and Tom Burnham. The teams
had to cope with a 3metre logs on the race course, weeds and kelp of up to
2 meters wide adding to the difficult conditions. The finals started off in
5-6 knots of heavily shifting breeze before a 25 knot howler came in from
the mountains. The next few races saw some great sailing, a real treat for
the 200 or so spectators that came out to watch from Clover point on
Canada's Victoria Day celebrations. Andy Green took first place from John
Cutler who had to fight off a spirited challenge from Eric Koppernaes who
took team America True to a deciding race in the 2nd/3rd play off. After a
nervous moment with the kelp stopping John Cutler in his tracks they
cleared the debris and went on to take second with Eric Kopperneas 3rd,
Jeff Eckard 4th and Nigel Cockran in 5th. - Andy Green
VIPER 640
The Viper 640 Class Association has scheduled its National Championship to
be held in Newport, Rhode Island over July 16-18. This regatta will be
held on the "outside" course in Newport harbor beyond the bridge. The
Viper 640 Nationals will be held in conjunction with the Etchells East
Coast Championships, both of which will be part of the Newport Regatta
which begins on the 17th of July.
This second event is part of a three race series to decide the GMC
Yukon/Sailing World Viper 640 NOOD Overall Championship. For 1999, this
series includes the Annapolis NOOD, the National Championship, and the
Marblehead NOOD. The NOOD in St. Petersburg Florida is expected to be
added to the series in 2000. Finishing positions for the Nationals will
count 1.5 times towards points to decide the Overall Championship. - Daniel
Phelps (DLPhelps@leggmason.com)
I DID IT
The curmudgeon is always telling you to call Ullman Sails and order a full
inventory of sails. That is such good advice that I took it myself. At my
age, I need all the speed I can get. While I may not win the Cal 20
Nationals with my new sails, I really want to beat Barney Flam for the
Masters' Trophy. So why not go for it? It's really affordable -- less than
two Social Security checks:
http://www.ullmansails.com/
AMERICA'S CUP
Teams from Pinckney, MI, topped both the middle school and high school
divisions Saturday, May 22 at the Young America Cup National Championship
at St. Michael's School in Newport, RI. The teams demonstrated the best
overall skill in a variety of categories including the design, construction
and performance of their 16-inch racing boats. The 31 teams from nine
states qualified at six regional events around the country this spring to
earn a berth in the nationals of this educational competition. The Young
America Cup is one facet of the National Education Program of Young
America, the New York Yacht Club's Challenge for America's Cup 2000.
The Young America Cup is a comprehensive educational competition designed
to enhance the scientific literacy of students by involving them in a
hands-on, inter-disciplinary challenge that parallels the rigors of
mounting a successful quest for the legendary America's Cup. Along with the
scientific elements of the boat design and construction competition, each
team selects a nation to represent and conducts comprehensive research
about that challenging nation.
The final field of students competing May 22 at the Young America Cup
represented the best of the teams that competed at the regional level for
this national test of science, technology and communications skills in this
multi-disciplinary contest. The students design, build and race their own
model sailboats and present in-depth written and oral reports on their
research. The top teams from the regional championships competed in two
divisions: Grades 5-8 and Grades 9-12.
The final scores were based on boat performance, aesthetic displays, and
scores from oral and written reports on their research.
As part of its commitment to support innovative education programs,
telecommunications company Bell Atlantic provided a $25,000 grant to
support the Young America National Education Program. The Young America
National Education Program also offers a comprehensive Teacher's Guide of
hands-on activities that is currently in use in classrooms around the
country. The education program is based on the premise that the challenge
and excitement of developing an America's Cup yacht can be used to inspire
students to value science and math subjects. The program, developed with
teachers and leading education publishers, underscores our belief that a
"hands-on," "minds-on" approach, linked to a high-profile technological
competition, is an ideal way to improve the scientific literacy of students
and teach them about decision making and the importance of taking
intellectual risk. - Jane Eagleson, Young America
For the full story and listing of all of the winners:
http://www.youngamerica.org
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Letters selected to be printed here are routinely edited for clarity, space
(250 words max) or to exclude personal attacks.
-- From Dawn Riley -- United Airlines is sponsoring the British sailors
because they want exposure in Europe and the UK, places where they do
business. They are a GLOBAL company and I would bet that the dollars came
out of the UK budget. Sponsorship is not a charity, it is a business
decision. The more sailors whine about sponsors in sailing that don't
directly benefit them, the less everyone will have. If you want sponsors,
make your program professional and creative. Do not act like a 2 year old
and complain, 'it's not fair, I wanted that piece of cake."
-- From Peter Huston -- If the costs of transportation to intercontinental
regattas are something that the entire Europe Dinghy Class needs to
address, perhaps they would be well served to make a collective sponsorship
deal with an airline. Call Richard Branson. I think he might enjoy the
opportunity to have his "Virgin" label plastered all over a bunch of
floating billboards sailed by the bright fresh faces who race Europes.
-- From Ken Redler -- In Butt #327's TIP O' THE WEEK, there was a comment
about proper course. Nothing is "clear" about the definition of proper
course. The definition assumes that every sailor knows the fastest way
around the course. In reality, each sailor has his own idea of how to sail
the course the quickest, with the correct sailor being the winner. Thus,
there will always be a discrepancy between two boats over proper course.
It then becomes left to a protest jury to determine the proper course.
Most often those who sit on a protest jury have no idea whether the boat
should be sailing high or low for the given conditions. The jury could
determine that it is up to the leeward boat to decide the course. But that
allows the leeward boat to be less than honest about what course really
would have been sailed if the other boat wasn't there. Consequently, the
jury usually ends up deciding that the proper course is the most direct
course to the next mark.
So why not define the proper course as it would be interpreted by a protest
committee. Officially state that the proper course is the most direct
course to the next mark without tacking or jybing. I understand that in
certain situations this definition gives a windward boat the right to force
a leeward boat to bear off. But at least it is "clear" to both boats as to
what course they should be sailing when they become overlapped.
-- From Ken Brooke -- The McKee's Scuttlebutt report on the 49ers was great
-- the best race descriptive writing I've read in a while. The only
disappointment was to note that one race was marred by the setting of a
badly biased start line. Would seem that a last minute postponement would
have been advisable. There is more criticism of race management over poor
start lines than all the other things we PRO's do wrong put together!!!!
COFFS HARBOUR TO FIJI RACE
After more than 70 years of racing, including more than half-a-million
ocean miles, 83-year-old Alby Burgin has never retired from a race. But the
inaugural Coffs Harbour to Fiji race is tonight testing that record to the
limit.
An emergency watch is being kept over Burgin and his three-man crew as they
battle a worsening hull leak and 30 knot headwinds beyond 100 nautical
miles from the finishing line in Suva. On top of that Burgin is trying to
cope with his own problems - he's "not feeling too flash" after being
slammed onto the deck of his 50ft aluminium sloop Alstar during a gale four
days ago.
While Burgin fought his way into the closing stages of the 1800nm passage
from Australia Hugh Treharne and his crew from Bright Morning Star were
sitting in the sun under coconut palms at Royal Suva Yacht Club relaxing
after a nine-plus day race for line honours. They sailed the yacht through
the narrow coral reef passage just as first light broke today to claim line
honours. They are also unbeatable for the handicap trophy.
"The Sydney to Hobart race was a lot worse, but the bad weather there was
over in about 24 hours," said a tired Treharne. "This was a tough race - we
were hard on the wind on starboard tack with a no. 4 jib and two reefs in
the main for eight days. The punishment just didn't stop." Treharne paid
great tribute to his crew, including brother Ian plus three male and three
female "ocean racing rookies". He said that even when the weather was at
its worst and a lot of other yachts were seeking shelter his crew was only
concerned about how rare the roast beef in the oven should be and what
sauce to make.
Tonight a large motor yacht was on standby at Musket Cove Resort, in the
western region of the Fiji group of islands, to go to Alstar's assistance
should the situation on board worsen. Burgin alerted race headquarters at
Royal Suva Yacht Club early today that the leak that had been contained two
days earlier had opened up again and become larger. A weld in the hull had
split. They were fighting to stay ahead of the water flow with the pumps
the yacht carried.
Communications stations in Australia and Fiji are tonight staging a
listening watch over Alstar. Burgin arranged to report into race
headquarters every two hours.
The third placed yacht in the racing division, Drina (Michael Thurston)
resumed racing early today after being hove-to south of New Caledonia for
more than a day. With the tropical low-pressure system that generated the
bad weather now slipping south and weakening many of the yachts that sought
shelter in Noumea and on Australia's east coast were rejoining the race.
Antipodes of Sydney (Geoff Hill) was destined to be the first cruising
division yacht to finish. True Blew (Scott Jackson) was back on the course
and Tanilba (Stan Wallace) and Too Impetuous (Neville Watson) are expected
to leave Noumea within 48 hours. Moonpenny (Anthony Doncaster) and La
Violante (Fred Looijschelder) are reported to have left Brisbane today. --
Rob Mundle
Web Page: http://www.sailing-online.com.au/fiji/
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?
Upwind and down, your eyes are the most immediate source of critical data.
Exercising a rhythm when gathering data will keep all the pertinent
information flowing as needed. As you sail upwind check these areas one by
one in succession, when you get done start all over again. The actual
order is up to you, but discipline yourself to check in on all the areas.
Your eyes should be constantly on the move.
UPWIND
1) Luff of jib, check the telltales and keep them flowing. If you're fast
maybe burn a little by pinching just a touch, if your feeling sluggish (the
boat that is) then foot just a bit.
2) The Horizon; cross checking the angle of heel with the feel of the boat
will keep you going fast. Every boat's taste for heel is different, learn
what is fast for yours and maintain it with body weight, steering and sail
trim.
3) Water; look out for puffs, lulls, flat water and choppy water. Keeping
tabs on this information will allow you to make good tactical decisions and
will assist you in making slight adjustments to course as you work your way
through the waves.
4) Look Up; the leech of the main, make sure it is trimmed to perfection,
this is the throttle, work it.
5) Look In; the boom and traveller setting. This should just be a quick
check to make certain all is well.
6) Scan; quick check for other boats, right of way boats are one thing,
clear air is another.
7) Leech of Jib; if your boat is set-up so you can see it easily from
where you are steering, check it out. A telltale 75% of the way up with a
window in the main is very handy for checking if the jib has flow.
DOWNWIND
1) Luff of Spinnaker; same as the jib, keep it flowing
2) Horizon; check that angle of heel
3) Water; keep looking for puffs, lulls and waves; this time, however, a
quick look over your shoulder will help in assessing the best possibility
for the next puff.
4) Look Up; check the mainsail, sheet tension and vang tension to make
certain you are keeping that top batten parallel to the boom, adjust that
vang to do so.
5) Scan; look for other boats and make certain your air is clear. -- The
Coach at Sailweb.net.
IT'S OK
Low-performance sailors are allowed to wear high-performance sailing gear.
If fact two the top three boats at the recent Gardiner Bowl in Cal 20s wore
Camet racing shorts. Cal 20s are 'slugs' with an un-ergonomic cockpit
railing to punish your butt during a weekend regatta. The optional rubber
padding in my Camet sailing shorts made the weekend bearable for the
curmudgeon and my crew Daniel, who has more natural padding than I do.
Hell, we might have won the regatta except Doug McLean wore also Camet
shorts. See for yourself: http://www.camet.com/
AROUND ALONE
No one understands the power of positive communication better than Neal
Petersen, so it was no major surprise that when the 31-year-old native of
South Africa crossed the windy Around Alone finish line today at 12:51 p.m.
local time (1651 GMT), he was chattering away on a cellular phone.
Petersen's 40-foot No Barriers completed the trip from South America after
a passage of 44d, 01h, 51m, 24s, a time good enough for fifth place on Leg
4. Petersen's elapsed time for the circumnavigation was 195d, 17h, 29m,
11s. - Herb McCormick
For the full story: http://www.aroundalone.com
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
Originality is the art of concealing your sources.
|