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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 566 - May 10, 2000WORRELL 1000Worrell 1000 race officer Davey Crocket said it best, "some days you're gonna get the bear, and some days the bear's gonna get you." Davey's famous ancestor once uttered those words and they proved prescient today as most of the fleet capsized at least once while sailing a hairy, three-sail, double-trap reach to the finish at Cocoa Beach. The fleet finished another leg in record time today as an 18 knot Southeasterly powered the Inter 20s up the Florida coast with spinnakers flying and spray shooting off the bows. Once again Randy Smyth and Matt Struble surfed onto the beach in first place, again edging the Dutch team of Gerard Loos and Mischa Heemskerk by a scant 14 seconds on the 79 Mile Leg. The Dutch team led for most of the race, but the layline to the finish undid them. Steve Lohmayer and Kenny Pierce finished third, two minutes off the pace, followed by Brian Lambert and Jamie Livingston of Alexander's on the Bay and Brett Dryland and Rod Waterhouse of Rudee's Restaurant. The day began with a protest ruling by Race Chairman Mike Worrell. Worrell handed a 1 second per mile penalty to the Dutch team after reviewing evidence that gear on the Dutch boat was not in line with class rules. The Dutch quickly acknowleged their error, made changes to right the situation, and took the penalty in stride. In fact, it seemed to strengthen their resolve as they rolled over Smyth at the start of the leg. Smyth's flailing start pushed him back to fourth, a position that he held until late in the race. The boats in front of him either flipped or overstood the finish line, forcing them to douse the spinnaker and jib-reach to the finish on a slower point of sail. Smyth played the coastline perfectly. Flipping was the order of the day. At least 4 teams flipped over the finish line. The easiest way to flip was to sail past the layline. Several boats came in with spinnakers flogging, trying to carry the chute through the finish, rather than dousing in the surf. The strategy generally failed. The tight reach became difficult to maintain when the crew had to come off the trapeze to pull the centerboards up for the beach landing. With the boards up the boats slipped sideways, further weakening their chance of laying the finish. Most times the result was a boat sailing upwind over the sand, with a spinnaker up and two sailors holding on to the high flying hull as the mast softly touched down on the sand. Luckily most of these teams managed to capsize through the finish line, so the mistake didn't cost as much as it could have. - Zack Leonard Leonard's full story and results: http://www.worrell1000.com/ SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE First it was Bill Gates, then Craig McCaw, pegged as pirates of the high seas of competitive sailing. But Russell Belden, head of a Seattle-based effort to reclaim the America's Cup from New Zealand, maintains he has no connection to either local billionaire. Belden also denied rumors that Gates and McCaw are part of a secretive American syndicate trying to get members of New Zealand's team to race for the United States. "I'm pretty darn sure I would have heard if Bill Gates were involved," Belden said, responding to a London Observer story that quoted New Zealand's star helmsman Dean Barker as saying he was offered a huge paycheck to jump ship to a Seattle syndicate. "To my knowledge, he's not into boating or sailing." When asked for a comment yesterday, Microsoft spokesman Dan Leach chuckled at the rumors of Gates' involvement. "Microsoft doesn't comment on the personal lives of its employees - or its chairman," Leach said, discounting the reports as another attempt to make news off Gates' name. According to a report in the New Zealand Herald yesterday, Gates made a secret visit to Auckland during the America's Cup in March to watch the New Zealand victory. The newspaper said the Gates-backed syndicate has $71.4 million to "lure the cream of the New Zealand crew." However, in a report in the UK Daily Telegraph, Seattle-based communications billionaire Craig McCaw was named as the secretive figure behind attempts to attract members of Team New Zealand. McCaw is known to be an avid sailor who has helped fund past America's Cup efforts. The Daily Telegraph quoted an unnamed source as saying that McCaw made a $1 million donation in the closing stages of Team New Zealand's 2000 campaign. - Angelo Bruscas, Seattle Post- Intelligencer Full story: http://www.seattlep-i.com/sports/cup09.shtml WINNING ELEMENTS When you win, you want everyone to know about it, and nothing tells the story better than sharp looking crew apparel from Pacific Yacht Embroidery. For a winning program, the look of your crew gear is every bit as important as the cut of your sails. Pacific Yacht Embroidery will make that special effort to set your crew out from the crowd. Just get in touch with Frank Whitton to learn how affordable his high quality crew apparel can be, Even if you lose you'll feel better because you look so good. pacyacht@aol.com - 619-226-8033 TEAM PHILIPS (On March 29, 40 feet of the port bow broke off of Pete Goss' 120 foot catamaran. Here are two brief excerpts from a story by Tim Jeffery for the Quokka website about the rebuilding of the boat.) * For Pete Goss' entry in The Race, his 120-foot Adrian Thompson-designed Team Philips, the big bang of March 29 has been replaced by tap, tap, tapping. In the weeks since the March 29 break-up, structural experts have been using the rudimentary method of tapping the hull to determine how the world's biggest catamaran and largest carbon-fiber structure shed 40 feet worth of port bow during sea trials. Back in her builder's shed at Totnes, Devon, amidst the rolling green hills and brick red soil of the Dart Valley, the cobalt blue Team Philips has been prodded, poked and drilled through. It's the type of autopsy normally reserved for airframe failures. Laser shearography was used to check consolidation of the carbon fiber cloths in the laminate. Thermal photography and ultrasonic testing was resorted to as well. Core samples also were taken. Yet all the same, the tried and tested method of tapping the hull to see if a telltale change in note betrayed an area of poor bonding was used. * Goss' team is facing three months of repairs to rebuild the bows. In the publicity that followed the accident, many doubters said that the entire concept was wrong and that the lack of a forward crossbeam was the problem. Tests on the carbon fiber laminate samples taken from the hull now show there was a specific problem during construction to the internal spline that was meant to support the side loads on the bow. Apparently, air escaping from the Nomex honeycomb core prevented the tightly woven unidirectional cloth from bonding properly during the curing process. Instead of being able to withstand 70 tons of side loads and flex up to five feet (1.5 meters) either side of centerline, the port bow folded when Team Philips was sailing in moderate seas, medium winds and just three reefs in her mainsails. The intention is to rebuild Team Philips, still without a forward crossbeam, but rather than relying solely on the splines (some 50 centimeters wide and one centimeter thick) the bows will carry additional ring frame and stringer reinforcement. The problem was undetected during the build itself because there was just enough contact between the Nomex and unidirectional cloth so that no voids were audible when the splines were tapped. The good news, such as it is, is that this combination of materials is used only locally. "The system hasn't been used throughout the boat, so it's not riddled with dry rot," said the incurably cheerful Goss, "and that's a comforting thought." The extra structure going in with the repair is belt and braces: crew, insurer and sponsor would have wanted nothing less. "We will have a complete stand-alone system in the bows and all that the skin has to do is keep the water out," added Goss. The additional weight will sink the boat a little on its lines, "but what we have to do is repair this so that it absolutely bulletproof," adds Goss. The question of whether the radical boat works will have to wait until it sails again and is fully powered up. But both Goss and Thompson are convinced the original concept remains correct. In fact, Goss' faith in his designer seems more unshakable than ever - Tim Jeffery, Quokka Sports Complete story: http://sailing.quokka.com/stories/05/QCMa4sail_s_philips_WFC.html LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net) Letters selected to be printed are routinely edited for clarity, space (250 words max) and to exclude personal attacks or irresponsible statements. This is not a chat room. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if people disagree. -- From Graham Kelly (painfully edited to our 250-word limit) - Since 1851, the America's Cup has been an expensive game. Nonetheless, there has always been a temptation to economize, and nationalism has provided an excuse for certain groups to obtain the services of the most talented sailors while paying a pittance. However, the competitors are yacht clubs, not countries. It's not detrimental to the national interest of a country to lose the America's Cup. There is no element of treason in competing for another country, or in a professional sailor providing his services in exchange for compensation which reflects his (or her) ability and value in the marketplace. Experience has shown that it's easier to buy skill and expertise than to develop it. The advantage of "buying" the NZ team is that you not only get the benefit of their expertise, but you aren't forced to compete against them on the water. That's one advantage not available from hiring American sailors. Of course, the "Ugly Americans" aren't the only game in town. The New Zealand America's Cup team has a tradition of sponsorship. The evident goal has been to make money. I assume they have been successful. I'm certain that between the apple growers, bankers, builders, sheep-shearers, Toyota importers and Lotto administrators, the Kiwis could put together enough resources to "keep the team", but it's cheaper (and smarter) to use public opinion and a (misplaced?) sense of nationalism to accomplish the same result. The sponsors keep their money that way. Maybe that's how they got it in the first place. -- From Scott and Terry Spurlin - I hope one of our American billionaires doesn't attempt to buy the cup with another countries team and assets. An event that many consider bad for our sport would only get worse and could implode upon itself. What are some of the glaring problems with the cup competition? 1.) Soaring costs. 2.) Design variances amongst the boats: How many Italians do you suppose are saying the Kiwi's won because of their boat? 3.) Nationals that defect to other countries. The combination of these things will further detach the event from the people. Consider this: Each country forms a syndicate. Each team is made up of legitimate nationals, maybe follow the same guidelines that are used for the selection of Olympic sailors. The boat design: Make this a competition. The top two designs are selected by the home team. These designs are then further tested, refined and a final design is selected. The designers could be motivated to compete through a prize that comes from each syndicates entry fees. They could collaborate from around the world, leave it wide open for technologies sake. This design becomes that year's America's Cup boat for all teams. There would be no issue in equipment suppliers or country of origin. No one team has a time advantage. The boats are equal; the teams come from the home country. I would watch that competition and be screaming hard for the Americans. After all, we are the ones who taught the Kiwi's to match race several years ago. -- From Ash Das (In response to Mark Michaelsen's comment in Butt 564) - I am not sure if he is intending to be racist or if it is just unfortunate wording on his part - " a person who bares very little resemblance to his fellow ...team mates." I did not realize that the "spirit of the rules" was based on the color of a sailor's skin. I am sure that if we go through the athletes who compete on or for US national teams there are many who were not born in the USA. As for the goal of pitting "one nation's technology and assets against another nation's same qualities or lack there of," I seem to remember an American rule that required foreign Jboats be required to arrive at Sandy Hook "on their own bottoms" - a distinct disadvantage to the English boats. As for the "wishes of those who so most generously donated the TIN CUP" - the cup was originally won from the British, who were probably just as angry and upset at having lost it to the upstart colonists. I guess it just hurts more when the most powerful nation in the world is beaten by a nation with more sheep than people. Technology and human capitol are no longer strictly defined by where one is born or the color of a person's skin. -- From Pete Mohler - Ever wonder how a container ship could lose containers? Check out the photos at this website and be very afraid. For those of you who have got boats in containers in transit or about to be in transit, see this site and then check your insurance. Also see it if you are considering an ocean passage anywhere: http://www.cargolaw.com/2000nightmare_1_oocl_ameri.html -- From James Nichols - Is there a one-design keelboat class that can be raced competitively by a crew of women? It would be a little silly to have a fleet of Solings sailing around Sydney or San Francisco on their ears because they were short 200 or 300 pounds of crew weight. I know at least two very successful sailors who, in one case sailed a Star for several seasons with limited success and, in the second case, chose never to try because neither has the upper body strength to two-block the main in 20+ knots of wind. -- From Sue Hadlock (re a father saying "I wish I had spent more time at the office") - You probably won't hear a mother say that either! -- From Harry Pattison (re yesterday's curmudgeon's comment) - As a long time sailing dad, we also need to realize that amount the things we will NOT be saying on our deathbed is, "I wish I had spent more time sailing." PROFESSIONAL SAILING SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Pier 39 Wells Fargo Spring Cup 11-Metre Regatta Final Results: 1st UltraNectar, Seadon Wijsen USA ($5,000) 2nd Team HIQ, Arne Sjoberg SWE ($2500) 3rd Salesforce.com, Chris Perkins USA ($1250) 4th Team RedBull, Morgan Larson USA ($500) 5th Team SBAB, Mikael Olesen SWE 6th Sailing Billboards, John Sweeny USA 7th Team Bobby, Tim Duffy USA 8th SeeUThere.com, Carisa Harris USA 9th Wells Fargo, Allistair Murray AUS 10th Team Jamba Juice, Mike Varnes USA 11th Warpspeed, Bob McComb USA 12th Team RUF, Hans Strueli SUI. NEWS FROM THE UK The Royal Lymington Yacht Club has announced that it has decided not to go ahead with a Royal Lymington Cup Regatta in 2000. The regatta has for many years been the only Grade 1 Match Racing event held in Great Britain. The event, which celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 1999 has, despite the support of the RYA (the UK National Governing Body), been unable to secure sponsorship for the 2000 Regatta. Having financially supported the event in 1997 and 1999 from the surpluses accumulated from previous regattas, the Club had decided that this year without external support the event could not go ahead. The Club has delayed a decision as long as possible, in the hope that last minute negotiations might prove fruitful, but regrettably the support promised was insufficient to fund even a Grade 2 event. - ISAF Website, http://www.sailing.org/today/whatsnew.html STARS ON THE CHESAPEAKE Annapolis YC to host 125 teams from 29 nations at the Nautica 2000 Star Class World Championship Regatta. Later this month, more than 100 teams of the world's finest sailors will descend upon Annapolis to contest the Nautica 2000 Star Class World Championship Regatta. The event will be hosted by the Annapolis YC in conjunction with the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association. The fleet includes nine past Star World Champions, and participants hold eight Olympic medals including three of the past four Gold Medals in the Star Class. Twenty-eight nations will be represented at the regatta. The racing portion of the Nautica 2000 Star World Championship will take place May 14-19 with May 20 and 21 held as reserve days. Several special social activities and awards ceremonies are planned, including a public opening ceremony, emceed by Gary Jobson on the Annapolis City Dock on the evening of May 13. With just 17 slots reserved for the Star in September's Sydney Olympics, competition within the class to "qualify" nations is intense. Strong finishes at the 1998 and 1999 Worlds have enabled nine nations to earn the right to sail in Sydney (Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Canada, Spain, Great Britain, and the United States). The next six slots will be awarded to the top six finishing nations at the Annapolis regatta who have not yet qualified. The final two spots will be awarded by an International Sailing Federation committee. Event website: http://www.annapolisyc.com/starworlds2000/ CALENDAR * On May 13-14 at the United States Sailing Center in Long Beach, California, the Nation's top 20 high school sailing teams will race for High School Nationals Championship for the Mallory Trophy. - Michael Segerblom * May 26 is the entry deadline for the Millennium 600 Race from Port Huron (Lake Huron) to Chicago (Lake Michigan). Cosponsored by Bayview Yacht Club and Chicago Yacht Club, it appears that 50 to 60 entries will participate in this 600-mile race - Gene McCarthy, Chair (312-425-2368) MARY PERA Mary Pera, a distinguished member of the ISAF Racing Rules Committee since 1982, went into a coma and died peacefully at noon on Monday May 8th, at a hospice in Colchester, England. Funeral arrangements are being made by her relatives, Chas and Liz Bazely. It is expected that the funeral will be next week. To read a copy of the citation for Pera's Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the RYA: http://www.sailing.org/today/extended/pera.html THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know? |
