|
SCUTTLEBUTT 3163 - Wednesday, August 25, 2010Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Morris Yachts, North Sails, and US SAILING. GREEN GROUPS BACKING CITY'S AMERICA'S CUP BID (August 24, 2010) - San Francisco officials backed off from plans Monday to seek a legislative exemption to state environmental law for facilities to host the next America's Cup after some environmentalists pledged to support the city's bid for sailing's premier race. The moves defuse a potentially embarrassing showdown between green-credentialed Mayor Gavin Newsom and environmental groups worried that the city's efforts would create a road map for wealthy interests to circumvent state environmental law on big projects. It also presents a united front as the city vies with Spain and Italy to host the regatta whose estimated local economic benefits would be more than $1.4 billion. "We're supportive of bringing the cup to San Francisco; it's both good for the state and a good use of that area," said Tina Andolina, legislative director for the Planning and Conservation League, an environmental lobbying group. She promised her group would work with the city for a "smooth and swift" environmental review for the millions of dollars worth of work needed to shore up old, unstable piers. A letter outlining that cooperation was being circulated late Monday. Other environmental organizations are expected to sign. Newsom's office had warned in a memo this month that without state legislation granting an exemption, "it is likely that San Francisco will not be selected" because the city wouldn't be able to provide race organizers with certainty that waterfront facilities for boats, crews and other needs would be ready to host the cup in 2013 or 2014. It can take months under the California Environmental Quality Act to complete full reviews, and San Francisco will present its proposal for hosting the races next month. "We have more support now than we did before we started this," said Kyri McClellan, the mayor's point person on the project. "And that's bankable." -- SF Chronicle, full story: http://tinyurl.com/22ncdzw LASER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Hayling Island, UK (August 23, 2010) - With one week until racing starts for the 2010 Laser World Championships, hosts Hayling Island Sailing Club are primed and ready to play their role in delivering one of the biggest and most prestigious Olympic class World Championships each year. The Laser World Championships have grown substantially since they were last held in the United Kingdom, in Falmouth in 1988 when there were 88 entries from 24 different countries and Glenn Bourke (AUS) won the first of his three back-to-back Laser world titles. Hayling Island sees an entry of 160 men qualified to represent 51 different countries as well as an entry of 137 Juniors who will compete for the inaugural Laser Junior world title. So the waters off the renowned English club will have nearly 300 sailors competing on two different course areas. The Laser Junior World Championships is for sailors between the ages of 17 and 20. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10313 North American entries posted on event website: CANADA: Robert Davis, Christopher Dold, Michael Leigh, Evan Lewis, Lee Parkhill, Luke Ramsay, David Wright MEXICO: Pablo Rabago USA: Rob Crane, Clayton Johnson, Kyle Rogachenko, Frederick Vranizan VIDEO: From American Rob Crane's website on August 24th: "It was a bit windy. The video says more than I can. Racing starts next Monday. So far I feel good, though it has been blowing the doors off every day." Here is the video: http://robcraneracing.com/Blog/Entries/2010/8/24_Worlds_Training..html MORRIS OWNER'S LOVE NORTH U! Morris yachts are known for their incredible beauty, craftsmanship and comfort. Now they come with another exceptional and exclusive feature - a North U coach. When you commission your new Morris, three days of instruction are included. It's your opportunity to hone your skills in everything from docking and anchoring to heavy-weather sailing, navigation, sail trim and racing tactics - and you can include your crew if you like. The program, exclusively designed for Morris Yachts, got underway this summer and new owners and current owners alike are loving the program. For more information and to select your Morris go to http://www.morrisyachts.com/Morris-North-U-and-You ON THE VERGE OF VICTORY (August 24, 2010) - After waiting for the wind to fill in, a tantalising 12 knot breeze called out to the sailors in the morning of day six of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. Conditions looked promising for three races in excellent winds, until start time, when the wind died again frustrating the ever positive Race Committee. Nevertheless, they managed to get racing underway on time. Fortunately the wind remained constant between 5 to 10 knots and organisers efficiently pulled off three back to back races. The top North American performance among the four competing events - Boys and Girls Byte CII and Boys and Girls Techno 293 - is Ian Barrows of the US Virgin Islands, who has now risen to take the lead in the Boys Byte CII. After finishes today of 8-2-1, Barrows is 12 points clear of second-placed Florian Haufe (GER). Barrows said of his performance, "I had decent starts, good boat speed, and played the shifts in the oscillating wind. Current wasn't really a big factor except in the first race, where staying on the left was better." Barrows goes into the final non-discard medal race tomorrow with a comfortable lead but silver and bronze medal positions remain close between Haufe (GER), Kaarle Tapper (FIN), Just Van Aanholt (AHO), Siese Owen (BER) and Darren Choy (SIN) with an outside chance. -- Event website: http://www.sailing.org/yog/ VOTE ANNA TUNNICLIFFE FOR SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics' Anna Tunnicliffe has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the Women's Sports Foundation's 2010 Sportswoman of the Year Award, based on her outstanding athletic achievements over the past year. Tunnicliffe, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in the Laser Radial and 2012 Olympic hopeful in the new Women's Match Racing event, joins an impressive list of elite athletes from a range of sports, including Lindsey Vonn and Serena Williams. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the Women's Sports Foundation is the leader in promoting sports, health and education for girls and women. Voting is open to the public through August 31. Show your support for Tunnicliffe and the sport of sailing by casting your vote: http://tinyurl.com/Vote-for-Anna WHERE ARE THE HURRICANES? True, it's only mid-August, but we had been warned to expect a particularly active season, and a lot of sailors have been waiting watchfully. Of course we're a long way from the end of the season, and those of us in the Atlantic, Caribbean, or US Gulf or East Coasts should remain cautious. If planning a voyage offshore, be sure to check the National Hurricane Center web site and Atlantic map for any potential activity coming. Indeed, the Hurricane Center still warns: "Significant activity is predicted for the remainder of the season, with an additional 12-17 named storms, of which 7-11 are expected to become hurricanes with 4-6 reaching major hurricane status." Stay watchful! Remember the season now extends until the end of November. And be sure you know how to prepare your boat for a hurricane if necessary. Helpful links can be found here: http://sailing.about.com/b/2010/08/17/where-are-the-hurricanes.htm?nl=1 JESSE SMITH & TEAM TOTEM WIN OPERA HOUSE CUP Sailing aboard his recently restored 1930 Six Meter 'Totem', Jesse Smith won the 2010 Opera House Cup and a Panerai watch last week in Nantucket. Racing with a complete North Sails inventory, Smith credits his success to having the right people and the right sails. 'In the three races I have used the Light #1 'Totem' has come in first. These sails make 'Totem' shine and they make steering the boat a joy." When performance matters, this choice is clear: http://na.northsails.com SAILING SHORTS * San Francisco, CA (August 24, 2010) - A redress hearing yesterday at the Junior Finn World Championship shuffled the scores from what was reported in Scuttlebutt 3162, leaving the top three of Luke Lawrence (USA), Ioannis Mitakis (GRE), and Caleb Paine (USA) within two points of each other as they entered today's final, non-discardable race. Closing the event with a third today was enough for Lawrence to capture the championship, with Mitakis in second but with Paine dropping to fourth, with Oliver Tweddell (AUS) taking third. The open world championship will commence on Monday through Saturday (Aug. 30-Sept. 4). -- Results: http://yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=341 * Kingston, Ontario (August 19, 2010) - A deep 59-boat 29er fleet concluded its North American Championships at CORK Kingston with US sailors taking the top six places. The first two days were called everything from exhilarating to awesome to brutal! Winds hovered just below the blow-off point of 25 knots steady or maximum gusts of 30 kts but the short chop was the real challenge. Moderate winds then followed allowing the RC to get off 10 races in the remaining two days. Max Fraser and David Liebenburg won, while in 6th was top female skipper 14 year old Paris Henken with Connor Kelter. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10411 * Dublin, Ireland (August 24, 2010) - Wind conditions for the second day at the 2010 Etchells World Championship would not cooperate, leaving the field without any racing Tuesday. From the two races yesterday, Ante Razmilovic (GBR) holds a one point lead over John Bertrand (AUS), with the top North Americans as Jud Smith in 6th and Argyle Campbell in 11th, both from the USA. Racing continues through Saturday, August 28th with nine races scheduled. -- Event website: http://www.etchellsworlds2010.org * Marblehead, MA (August 21, 2010) - Bill and Renee Heffernan of Dover, Mass. and crew Julie Savage of Marblehead, Mass. won the largest Rhodes 19 National Championships in Rhodes class history. The 46-boat fleet competed in the waters off Marblehead August 18-20 in fluky conditions that caused the cancellation of Day One and challenging racing on Days Two and Three in which the Corinthian Yacht Club race committee moved marks on nearly every leg of every race to address the constantly shifting winds. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10414 * Newport, RI (August 24, 2010) - For the second day in a row, the six teams seeking to compete in the 2010 International C-Class Catamaran Championship remained onshore today due to sustained 25+ knot winds in the course area. Forecasts are more favorable tomorrow; racing is scheduled daily through the 28th and will likely take place north of the Newport Pell Bridge. -- http://www.nyyc.org/cclass/ * At 09:03:55 GMT today (August 24th) skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) onboard the 100-foot trimaran OMAN AIR MAJAN crossed the finish line off Lizard Point, Cornwall to smash the single handed 1,787 mile Round Britain and Ireland record (subject to ratification by WSSRC). Gavignet broke the existing record set in 2006 by Thomas Coville by a massive 1 day 15 hours 30 minutes and 44 seconds. Gavignet also has beaten the existing fully crewed record time by 1 hour and 7 seconds, set by Steve Fosset onboard Playstation in 2002. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/Record-082410 * A court date of November 1 has been set in the High Court in Auckland (NZL) to determine the fate of three incomplete superyachts sitting on the property of bankrupt Sensation Yachts. Sensation, formerly owned by Ivan Erceg, is in receivership and liquidation. HSBC, one of Sensation's creditors, wants to sell the property to recover millions of dollars the builder owes it. But the bank cannot do that without removing all "chattels", which includes three unfinished superyachts that weigh 100 tonnes each. The yachts are owned by Balenia, a company registered in the Cayman Islands. -- IBI Magazine, read on: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20100724151711ibinews.html * The Alliance for Safe Navigation's survey of 7,570 recreational boaters found an "alarming" majority do not update their navigational tools. The survey measured the use and awareness of available updates to navigational tools like GPS, electronic charts and paper charts. "Unfortunately, these survey results indicate that boaters simply are not aware of how often conditions change and how those changes can affect their safety," said Ron Walz of OceanGrafix, a founding member of the alliance. "The truth is that waters do change - and inaccurate chart information can turn a safe and enjoyable cruise into a dangerous situation." -- IBI Magazine, full story: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20100724143634ibinews.html * The 28th Knickerbocker Cup, hosted by the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club (Port Washington, NY), will take place on August 25-29, 2010, and is a qualifier for the World Match Racing Tour. 12 teams from around the world have been invited to compete in the event. 2009 champion Reuben Corbett (NZL) returns to defend, with Taylor Canfield (ISV), Dave Perry (USA), Sally Barkow (USA), Bill Hardesty (USA), and Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) among the skippers seeking the title. -- Details: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10168 * Newport, RI (August 24, 2010) - The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta was established in 2003 to help sailors with disabilities who hope to represent the U.S.A. at the Paralympic Regatta improve their odds of doing so. Unfortunately, with the 2010 edition planned for this week, a summer nor'easter has disrupted the schedule for the four competing fleets (2.4 Metre, SKUD-18, Sonar and J/22). With an improved forecast for Wednesday, racing is scheduled to get underway tomorrow and conclude Thursday, August 26. -- http://www.clagettregatta.org * Hamilton, Ontario (August 24, 2010) - After two days of racing, the 76 entrants competing for the Optimist Canadian Championship have been tested with winds reaching 18-20 knots both days. With six races completed, Meredith Megarry (CAN) has built a nine point lead over Max Flinn (CAN) in second. Team racing is scheduled for tomorrow, with fleet racing to continue on Thursday and conclude on Friday. -- Daily reports: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10417 SAILING RULES ON ANDROID The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2009-2012 is now available on Android phones through the Android Market. This is also available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.SM through the App Store. Now the rules are in the palm of your hand, no matter where you are for $5.99, http://media.ussailing.org/RulesApp.htm LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, 'The Curmudgeon'). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). One letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Taylor Michie, 14-year old sailing author: Regarding the Laura Dekker article (in Scuttlebutt 3162), I agree with your definitions and your restatement of her mission. In my opinion, the title of "youngest to sail around the world" continues to take on a less literal meaning as the years go on. No longer is it a battle of mentality as a single sailor braves the world's oceans with no communication and just navigation charts and the supplies on his boat. Now, it's a test of execution as navigation, shore communications, and growing technology allow sailors to be the only one on the boat, but they're clearly not the only ones involved in the sailing aspect. I think Laura Dekker's route is also a less prestigious one, as she will use the Suez and Panama Canals to assist her, instead of sailing around the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, two of the most prestigious capes in the world. * From Peter Gooch, The Valencia Life Network: In my opinion, the way Laura is going about her journey is wrong, and in fact it will only become newsworthy if she gets into trouble or gets hijacked by Somalian pirates, which is not what sailing is about at all, is it. * From Charles J. Doane, yachting journalist: I'm afraid I must quarrel with some points raised by Craig Leweck (in Scuttlebutt 3162) regarding Laura Dekker. First, she has not reached out to "announce her activity." As evidenced by her secret departure from Gibraltar, she is instead trying to avoid media exposure. Second, Laura's route is not "unique compared to those that came before her." It is perfectly in keeping with the precedent established by the first two teen circumnavigators, Robin Lee Graham and Tania Aebi, who both also made westabout voyages via the Panama Canal. Finally, I don't THINK the record for youngest around is what really motivates Laura. It seems all she really wants to do is go sailing. If anything, I'd say she's leading this "teen ocean sailor" hoopla back to its roots and away from the bad example set by Abby Sunderland. * From Beth Perry: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 3162) I have to give you my one comment on Laura Dekker. She has one hell of a website for a 14 yr old. Looks like a very well funded campaign. => Curmudgeon's Comment: Her website opens with: "Laura has a great dream. She wants to be the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the world." I do wish her well, but what are the standards to make such a claim? With her planned transit through the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal, I stand by the contention of the World Sailing Speed Record Council that circumnavigations don't include shortcuts. And if she was seeking to maintain a low profile, her full feature website that promotes a long list of sponsors (and a request for more), plus the ill-advised Guinness World Records banner, seems to have opened the door for media exposure. Here is the website: http://www.lauradekker.nl/English/Home.html * From Jim Barton: (re, commentary in Scuttlebutt 3162) What Sam Rogers fails to mention in his blog is that Samba Pa Ti had their coaches doing the same thing during the regatta and the two proceeding practice days. * From Mark Chisnell, yachting journalist: Adrian Morgan (in Scuttlebutt 3162) has a short or selective memory when he suggests that BMW Oracle will deliberately tilt the playing field in their direction by choosing multihulls for the next America's Cup. When Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard proposed their World Sailing League, the weapon of choice was a multihull. It's possible, even probable, that Coutts and co. genuinely believe the best future for the Cup is in multihulls. The fact that it also gives them a head start on any future race track may be more of a problem to them - in selling the idea to the rest of us - than an advantage. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman. Special thanks to Morris Yachts, North Sails, and US SAILING. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
