|
SCUTTLEBUTT #511 - February 22, 2000AMERICA'S CUP: A TERRIBLE DAY FOR PRADALuna 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! |
