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SCUTTLEBUTT #511 - February 22, 2000
AMERICA'S CUP: A TERRIBLE DAY FOR PRADA
Luna Rossa Suffers Problems as Team New Zealand Goes Up 2-0
Conditions were very shifty approaching race time, after a short
squall crossed over the Hauraki Gulf. Race Director Harold
Bennett postponed the start for 40 minutes to allow the wind to
settle, and racing started at 13:55 in 14-16 knots of Southerly
wind. The wind was stable in direction, but varied from 10-17
knots throughout the race.
The first beat was a disaster for Luna Rossa. After trailing at
the starting line by over two boatlengths, de Angelis gained a
little bit of separation as both boats sailed out to the left and
was actually gaining, closing the advantage to just 10 metres.
Luna Rossa was showing good speed and height, pointing well
relative to Team New Zealand. But suddenly, the Italian boat
slowed as calamity struck in the form of debris around the keel.
Crew member Massimiliano Sirena, a bowman, suffered a head wound
when he was hit in the head by the carbon fibre weed stick that
the crews use to clear weeds from the keel. As he was working to
clear the keel, the stick whipped back and opened a six
centimetre cut on his head. Sirena was attended to by other crew
members who used towels and bandages to stem the bleeding before
he was eventually taken off the boat for stitches.
Although Team New Zealand sailed a very strong race, it was a
frustrating day for Americas Cup fans. Coutts displayed mastery
of the pre-start but Luna Rossa was coming on strong before a
series of problems knocked it well back of the black boat.
Observers will now have to wait until Race Three, scheduled for
Thursday, to see whether the Italians can give the Kiwis a good,
close race. -- America's Cup 2000 Louis Vuitton Media Centre
IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!
"Don't make major changes to the format of the America's Cup!" That's
the
message that French America's Cup veteran Bruno Trouble has for the
next
Challenger and Defender of the 149-year-old Cup.
Troubl=E9, founder and chairman of the Paris-based marketing and
promotion
company Jour J - English translation D-Day - has spearheaded Louis
Vuitton
Malletier's major support of the America's Cup for the last 17 years.
He
created the Louis Vuitton Cup competition for challengers in Newport,
RI, in
1983.
"The America's Cup is unique and should not be extensively changed," he
cautions in a White Paper addressed to the Royal New Zealand Yacht
Squadron
and the Yacht Club Punta Ala. "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." --
From
Keith Taylor, full story at http://louisvuittoncup.com
GUEST EDITORIAL: Bill Koch, Skipper of A3 and winner of the America's
Cup
HE WHO HAS THE CUP RULES THE WAVES
As an America's Cup veteran, I realized that winning the "Auld Mug"
required
just as much skill negotiating the back rooms of yacht clubs as it did
the
wind shifts on the race course. So I couldn't help but smile when I
heard
Peter Blake tell ESPN back in 1995 that if New Zealand won the
America's
Cup, he intended to clean up the rules. Good for him, I thought. It was
about time the windows were opened and the light shined on how the
rules of
the game are decided.
"We're going to make sure the rules are fair for both sides," Blake
told the
sports network. "If there is a disadvantage and it is slightly on the
defense side of things, so be it. We're going to make it fair."
But have Blake and company made the America's Cup fairer? It depends on
whose defining fair: the challengers or Blake. When asked if Blake had
made
the playing field level, Dennis Conner, skipper of Stars and Stripes
quipped: "Well, maybe he spends a lot of time in the Alps and he thinks
the
Alps are level."
To be fair, the real problem is not Blake or Alan Sefton, but a
nettlesome
little document called "The Protocol," the legal document governing the
America's Cup. Unlike most legal parchment, which sets things down in
black
and white, "The Protocol" always changes. We can thank the New York
Yacht
Club for that. They are the group who allowed the winner of the Cup,
through
proxy, to determine the rules
But like all legal documents, it's the fine print that counts. The
five-member arbitration panel is a good example. Team New Zealand
selects
two members who "have a significant interest in the dispute." Two other
members are selected by the New York Yacht Club, the challenger of
record
for this America's Cup. The fifth arbitrator is picked together. TNZ
has two
votes. But Prada has no choice in the selection. The advantage goes to
New
Zealand.
Another subtle change requires Prada to declare and unveil the yacht it
will
use in the Cup on January 15, before the end of the Louis Vuitton
challenger
series. Once unveiled, Prada can no make no alterations. Team New
Zealand,
on the other hand, unveiled two of its boats, but selected NZL 60 a
week
before the race. They gained 30 days to test which boat would be most
competitive with Prada.
Ironically, Blake complained when this happened to him in San Diego,
arguing
that Stars and Stripes had been given an unfair advantage. "Conner has
been
allowed to unveil one but now use another, which is hardly what
everyone
understood to be the rule when they enter the event and accepted the
Protocol and mutual contentions," he said.
-- Complete article and accompanying piece on the history of America's
Cup
rule bending at http://sailingsource.com
JURY TO RULE ON TNZ's COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
The International Jury will hold a hearing at 18:00 hours on
Tuesday to rule on whether a communications system on board Team
New Zealand is in full compliance with Americas Cup Match
Condition 19.1.
Team New Zealand has rigged up an earpiece communication system
on NZL-60 that allows crew on the front of the boat to hear
instructions and communications from the afterguard. The system
is designed to counteract noise from helicopters hovering above
the race course.
Match Condition 19.1 says that boats cannot have a communication
system that will transmit or receive signals from off the boat.
Team New Zealand says its system is a closed circuit that doesnt
contravene the rule.
The International Jury has inspected the system and issued an
interim decision that states that the equipment complies with the
rules. Team New Zealand has requested a formal interpretation
from the Jury, which has precipitated the scheduled meeting
tonight.
The International Jury has stated that regardless of the outcome
of the hearing tonight, the results from Race One on Sunday, and
Race Two today, will stand. -- America's Cup 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup
Media
Centre
LIPTON CHALLENGE CUP, SAN DIEGO
Pursuant to the Deed of Gift of the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge Cup,
San
Diego Yacht Club will host the 85th running of the Lipton Cup Regatta
May 20
and May 21. The event will be sailed in the Schock 35 Class on the
waters of
South San Diego Bay. For further information,including an invitation,
NOR,
and entry form, please contact Jeff Johnson at
sailingrus@compuserve.com or
Cliff Thompson at cliff-t@worldnet.att.net
TESTING - 1, 2, 3 ...
Testing means different things to different manufacturers of foul
weather
gear. And you can be assured there aren't many of them testing their
products in the Southern Ocean. But that's exactly what Douglas Gill
did.
Working with the crew of Chessie Racing in the last Whitbread Race,
they
pushed their products to the limits, and then listened to the sailors
about
modifications. As a result of this interaction, Gill has increased the
comfort and protection for everyone who sails. For the full story:
http://www.douglasgill.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (scuttlebutt@boats.com -- note temporary
address
for guest editor)
Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space
(250
words max) or to exclude personal attacks. But only one letter per
subject,
so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree.
-- From Ron Baerwitz
Bob Biegler's comments (Scuttlebutt 509), I'm in agreement with this
experienced yachtsman concerning the lack of gentlemanly attitude in
Yachting. I was a fortunate member of the US Sailing Team (1985-88)
aiming
at the 1988 Olympics. Unlike the 1984 FD Team that won Gold through
great
team cohesiveness, each US Team member was more selfishly concerned
about
getting the Olympic berth than a US Gold Medal. Every team trained
separately, no team shared ideas, and most teams didn't get along even
on a
cordial basis. This theme ran throughout most of the US Team in many
classes. You did not see this attitude with the European Teams. As a
result, our medal count was very low that year.
The idea of one USA, AC campaign is unrealistic. There are too many
great
sailors and too much money in this country. However, each YC's AC
campaign
could pool resources, share ideas and let the sailors push the US to
the top
of our sport. The goal is not for the NYYC or SDYC or SFYC to own the
cup.
The goal is for the America's Cup to be in America!
-- From Jim Sears
Despite all the criticism of the AC and how it is currently run, I have
been
glued to my television set for 2 1/2 hours each day watching the most
exciting racing action I can remember. For those who just aren't
satisfied,
they might want to try this fun and challenging game we played while
watching
the LV cup: You have to drink a "shot" each time Cayard yells, "TRIM
CARTER"!
SPRING TIME SAILING
For sailing in those sunny southern climes and Midwinter championships,
clothing needs are minimal. About the only thing you need to take are
sandals, some underwear and, of course, Camet sailing shorts. These
days you
don't go sailing without these shorts. Not only is the Supplex fast
drying,
these comfortable and practical shorts definitely have a good look. See
for
yourself: http://www.camet.com/
RUSSIAN SUBMARINE FOR SALE
Other than needing 300 feet of continuous dock space, which will be a
stretch for even the poshest club, this is a perfect yacht to impress
your
blue blazered buddies. Laying claim to the title of 'World's Largest
Diesel
Submarine' the "Juliet", currently lying in Florida, is for sale. A few
minor points mentioned on the website:
The Submarine is for sale for exhibition and entertainment purposes
only,
and is a subject of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations
(ITAR) (22
Code of Federal Regulations Part 120-130) and also is subject to the
limitations agreed upon by the Russian Ministry of Defense. (Read:
missiles
not included, engines disabled)
PS: She draws 23 feet. See http://www.subexpo.com
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS
Sooner or later, everyone stops smoking.
Note: Nelson Weiderman has created a "Curmudgeon Server" at
http://noeticharbor.com/curmudgeon/. It randomly pulls Curmudgeonly wit
from
a database loaded with past 'Butt Observations, Counsels, etc. Check it
out!
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