SCUTTLEBUTT No. 1174 - October 9, 2002
Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
MAJOR MONEY
The build-up to this year's America's Cup has injected an extra NZ$71 million into the Auckland economy and generated the equivalent of 1320 jobs, says a study done for the Ministry of Tourism. The report by Market Economics estimates the economic benefits of the two-year build-up as being roughly double that of the last defence, after one-off construction costs are excluded. That reflects the greater level of preparation by challenger syndicates this time.
"The strength of the Team New Zealand defence in 2000 meant that challengers had to accept that one-boat campaigns, or single-season build-ups, were unlikely to be successful," the report says. "More substantial challenge campaigns have been developed, with larger budgets than in 2000, more expenditure on securing key personnel as well as yacht design and technology, and wider commitment to two-boat campaigns."
The substantial presence of defender and challenger syndicates in Auckland had meant a "significant impact" on the economy, with 430-500 challenger sailing and shore crew based in the city at peak times, says the report. "In addition, the longer build-up period is believed to have resulted in more of the syndicate crews bringing family and friends to live in Auckland." - John Armstrong, NZ Herald, full story: www.nzherald.co.nz
LOUIS VUITTON CUP SERIES
Sailing on Race Day Eight has been postponed for the day due to lack of wind. All matches scheduled for the day will be rescheduled for tomorrow. Principal Race Office Peter Reggio said "everything looked good for getting some racing in up to two o'clock and then everything just fell apart out there." The wind never quite made it to the minimum requirement of seven knots sustained for five minutes. "The wind filled in from the shore today and made it momentarily up to 7.2 knots, but never enough to get a race off," explained Reggio. As for tomorrows wind conditions he thinks "more of the same, unfortunately."
Three out of eight days so far have been lost completely due to unsuitable wind conditions. Lack of wind has also affected racing on Monday and Tuesday with only a partial programme achieved.
Weather Forecast for Thursday 10th October: High-pressure (1032 mb) overhead Auckland area. Low-pressure (1012 mb) over south western tip of South Island, with associated cold front extending north west into the Tasman Sea and making slow progress towards Auckland. Wind: Light and variable with weak sea breezes. Fine weather and partly cloudy. Temperatures 15-17 C with flat seas. Outlook: Light westerly wind with more cloud. - www.louisvuittoncup.yahoo.com
SCOREBOARD
4-0 One World Challenge*
3-0 Oracle BMW Racing
4-1 Alinghi
3-1 Victory Challenge
2-3 Prada
2-3 Team Dennis Conner
1-3 GBR Challenge
0-4 Le Defi Areva
0-4 Mascalzone Latino
* Note: As a result of a penalty imposed by ACAP, one point will be deducted from OneWorld's score at the end of Round Robin 2.
FLIGHT SEVEN SCHEDULE (AGAIN)
- OneWorld vs. Victory Challenge
- GBR Challenge vs. Prada
- Alinghi vs. Team Dennis Conner
- Le Defi Areva vs. Oracle BMW
- Bye: Mascalzone Latino
VIADUCT BASIN
Pressure from developers to turn syndicate row at the Viaduct Harbour into expensive apartments is certain to grow, says a report on the impact of the America's Cup on real estate markets. And the pressure will be intense, even if Team New Zealand again successfully defend the cup, according to the report by international property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle.
Team New Zealand executive director Tony Thomas said yesterday that publicly owned land should remain syndicate bases until such time as there was no America's Cup in New Zealand. Mr Thomas said Sir Peter Blake wanted the cup based at the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland where people could come and enjoy the event without going out on the water. About 4.2 million people visited the harbour for the first cup defence.
The idea of removing the syndicate bases also got the thumbs down from Auckland City councillor and recreation committee chairman Scott Milne who said the "nation would go nuts" if the bases were sold to build apartments.
The consultants said pressure came on after the 2000 defence to develop apartments on some of the land used by the nine challengers plus Team New Zealand. The report said this was postponed to enable the present defence to take place but "it is questionable whether the bases would be granted a second reprieve." - Bernard Orsman, NZ Herald, full story: www.nzherald.co.nz
FASTEST J/105 SAILS ON THE PLANET, PERIOD!
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NEWS BRIEFS
* US Sailing awarded their Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal to Mitchell Richardson and Keith Bennett for rescuing a fellow sailor during Catalina 22 Midwinters at Kennedy Point YC, Titusville, FL. With water and air temperature about 70 degrees, a gust of 37-knot wind rolled down the course and the 2-3 foot seas caused carnage to much of the fleet, including capsizing Lil Flash and dumping skipper J. Christopher Woolsey overboard. Richardson and Bennett rescued Woolsey who had been in the water for ten minutes. - www.ussailing.org/safety/Rescues/
* Team New Zealand had an extremely exciting day, working on their newly arrived baby. The second new generation yacht for the boys in black, NZL82, made its way from Cookson's boatyard on the North Shore to the Halsey Street base on Tuesday night. Unlike its predecessor there will be no spectacular launch to celebrate its arrival. Instead the crew will work quietly to get the yacht prepared, as it will likely be the race yacht for February's America's Cup races. - nzoom website, full story: americascup.nzoom.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Ken Legler: I applaud Paul Henderson's efforts to balance the professional and non-professional sides of our sport. Regarding race management I fully agree general recalls are not good. Not informing OCS boats timely also hurts. The best solution I know is to add line boats in large fleets.
The 1989 and 1993 rulebooks included an appendix to guide race officers. "For fleets of 40 or more, a two-part starting line should be considered ..." Any good motorboat operator (such as a sailing instructor) can be trained to help manage a starting line in about 30 minutes. All you need is one in the port line boat and two sitting back to back in the mid line boat. The black flag is not acceptable and not necessary with this method.
If I had the privilege of starting 150 dinghies, I would use five line boats, all with ample ground tackle, radios, X flags and loud hailers. I would use the one minute, round-the-ends rule with the stipulation that OCS boats could round the starboard end or any other line boat as if it were a port end starting mark.
There were many other excellent suggestions in that old appendix. Too bad it was deleted to make room for nine pages of anti-doping regulations.
* From Greg Mitchell (Re: Prez Henderson's comments "Having one starting line with 120 dinghies and over 100 keelboats in Olympic Classes is not acceptable."): I've sailed in such a dinghy fleet, 1999 Melbourne Worlds for the Int 14 Skiff. The RC did a great job by stationing a 3rd spotter boat right in the middle of the start line - under power and out of the way right at the start. I think we need to get creative before we start instituting hard and fast rules that reflect current ways of running regattas."
* From Nelson Stephenson: Let's be direct. ISAF's Agenda is to become a "Control" not a "Service" organization. Recent public comments from ISAF disrespect Class Organizations, Race Organizers, Judges, Volunteers and Sailors who contribute countless hours to management of Classes and to organize and conduct Local, Regional, National and International Events. The concept that "There is now too much at stake for the various sailors and Member National Authorities (MNAs) to allow the major events not to be directed by the Federation (ISAF)" is directly disrespectful. International Classes have elected Management, established Class Rules (amended by a 75% vote) and a long history of promoting Sailing at both the Elite and Amateur levels.
During the past 5 years Sailing has benefited from many unique ideas that were developed and self-imposed by the Classes, not ISAF, including Owner/Driver rules, strict measurement and One Design compliance checks, reduced weight limits, annual Sail Restrictions and Competitor Eligibility systems to protect amateur involvement and reduce annual campaign costs. Before the inevitable firestorm response rains down on me as a dissenter, I am personally respectful of the contributions of ISAF. But, I am also one of many active Sailors alarmed over the recent lack of respect shown by ISAF in their quest for control. ISAF repeatedly uses twin clubs of threatening loss of Olympic status or rights to hold a sanctioned World Championship if Classes don't adopt ISAF mandates and "give up their autonomy". Threats are a hollow replacement for Leadership and developing a true consensus.
* From Ken Brooke: Just a quick comment to those knocking the wind limitations for the LV Cup. Vince Cooke has got it right--BUT?. These are a smart move by the Challengers. As race officer for the '87 cup and a member of the organising committee we thought we were being smart scheduling the LV Cup during the early summer strong winds, then holding the challenge in what we expected to be much lighter air. We fell in.
During the challenge all four matches were in over 20 knots steady and with virtually no significant shifts, which was right up Denis's alley. The following two years at the same time winds were in the vicinity of 10-15 knots and more variable which we are sure would have helped Kookaburra to make a better match of it. S and S's best win was by only 1min 59 secs. Will the challenger's guess be a good one or will it blow for the match. Only HE Knows.
* From Russ Lenarz (In regard to Mr. Wheelers comments in Butt # 1173 about the Americas Cup): The AC provides the highest level of exposure for our sport which is healthy in that few other aspects of sailing have the ability to attract this much attention. The Americas Cup has been and still is about Big Boats and Big Bucks and yes, its a designers race. Tactics are not part of the ACC design rule equation. The tactical side of the Americas Cup are a direct result of the conditions for that given day and the ability of the crew to factor in the performances of their boat and that of the other team which is proportional to the performance of their boat as well.
Skiff Classes like the 29er are exciting to sail and are very appealing to younger sailors, but few if any junior sailing programs in the US give them the opportunity to sail in these types of boats. The AC may seem like a dinosaur to some but designs like the Sabot, FJ, etc. are no different.
* From Gareth Evans: I feel that we, the sailing community, should thank Greenpeace for agreeing to keep their protests in Auckland peaceful. After their actions in supposedly ramming the French boat, it is nice to see that they are allowing the racing to carry on without interference. For the record, I am not a supporter of their organization, but feel that we should give them credit when it is due.
* From Greg Weeger (in response to Ian Williams letter regarding The Star Worlds winner Ian Percy's nomination for the world sailor of the year): Percy is a very accomplished sailor as recently he took gold in 2000 sailing Finns. I believe these are two very great accomplishments in such a short time and he has my vote for the award. Tom Skahill (my uncle) crewed with Lowell North when they won the Star worlds in 1960. The next year Tom bought a Star and Lowell rigged it and outfitted it with a new set of sails as a token for Toms efforts in the worlds. That next year (not to Lowell's surprise) Tom beat North in the Blue Star.
Percy and Mitchell both worked long and hard last year and I do believe that Ian's crew Steve Mitchell as well as all Star crews and skippers know their significance, and capabilities for a winning team. I would also wager that Steve would be first to vote for Percy as World Sailor of the Year.
* From Scott Ridgeway: Is there a problem with the Around Alone website? All the boats finished days ago, but the event website still haven't updated the Leg Rankings or the Position pages? And although the start of Leg Two is coming up this Sunday, there hasn't been anything new posted in the News Section for several days?
ANNAPOLIS HERE WE COME!
Again this year, the full line of Samson products will be on display at the Annapolis Boat Show this weekend. Stop by to see the latest from the leader in high-performance rigging lines. Our engineers work with the latest fiber manufacturers to ensure the best performing racing lines for you. Come see why the winners race with Samson! Visit: www.samsonrope.com/home/recmarine/index.cfm
MAINTENANCE
With less than a week until the re-start of the Around Alone Race, the 13 boats are all being prepared for the 6880 mn leg from England to South Africa. On Brad Van Liew's Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America, all of the faring plates on the bottom have been sucked off by the high speed of racing. Van View will replace the keel gap seals, daggerboard seals and sail drive seal. The boat is out of the water now for these repairs. www.tommy.com/freedomamerica/journal.jhtml?id=141
Kojiro Shiraishi has a lot of tough decisions to make in the next few days. His keel attachment point, which underwent extensive repair in Newport, is again coming adrift. The boat went over to another town today for a haulout, and the designer is flying in from France this evening to see what needs to be done in order for Koji to continue. Repairs may take him beyond the start on Sunday, which will be a bitter disappointment for a man who sailed solo from Japan to Newport just to be able to compete.
On Tim Kent's Everest Horizontal, a team from Brookes and Gatehouse' home office has spent two days re-wiring what turned out to be a shoddy installation job on the autopilot system. Everything is totally up and running. Local volunteer help have ripped out the windows and are re-sealing and rebedding all of them. The broken spinnaker is in the hospital. The prognosis is poor, unfortunately, and it may be making the trip to Cape Town in the container for repair there. Kent's arsenal of sails is getting slim - the two-year- old main for a trip to the sailmaker for patching up.
TEAM RACING
Yale Corinthian Yacht Club prevailed over Noroton Yacht Club by a score of 3 races to 2 in the finals after a tight series to successfully defended their 2001 win at the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters team racing Trophy sailed at New York Yacht Club Harbour Court. Members of the winning team - skippers: Dave Perry, Sam Altreuter and Tom Kinney; Crew: Susan Daly, Martha Altreuter, Betsy Perry, Scotty Bradford, Moose McClintock, Alison Kinney, Sherry Fallon, John Power, Bruce Chafee. Full results: www.nyyc.org
ADAMS CUP
San Francisco YC - Standings after eight races (J/24):
1. Sally Barkow, Area K, 15
2. Vicki Sodaro, Area G, 22.8
3. Molly O'Bryan, Area H, 26
4. Natalie Colman-Fuller, Area A, 37
5. Susan Taylor, Area J, 43
www.sfyc.org/Regattas2002/Results&SI/ADAMS02CSV.HTM
STAR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Genoa, Italy, Standing after three races:
1. Mark Reynolds, USA, 15
2. Fred Loof, SWE, 21
3. Nik Holm, DEN, 22
4. Xavier Rohart, FRA, 29
5. Marc Pickel, GER, 31
www.yci.it/regate/frameregate.html
J22 WORLDS
Corpus Christi YC, Corpus Christi, Texas - The first day of racing was held in 12-17 knots of southeasterly seabreeze. The fleet of sixty has proven to be aggressive. All three races today were started under black flags. Scott Young of Austin Texas took race one, and Ian Ainslie of South Africa got the next two bullets. Standings after day one:
1. Ian Ainslie, South Africa, 6
2. Faust /Bonner /Cordelle, Austin, TX, 13
3. Bill Draheim, Rockwall, TX, 21
4. Terry Flynn, Shore Acres, TX, 23
5. Scott Nixon, Annapolis, MD, 25
www.ccyc.com
SUNFISH WORLDS
Houston Yacht Club, Galveston Bay, TX. - Preliminary Results after 4 races:
1. Eduardo Cordero, Venezuela, 23 points
2. Malcolm Smith, Bermuda, 26
3. John W. Kolius, USA, 36
Lay day Wednesday. - www.sailtexas.com/Sunfish%20Worlds.html
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENT
* October 12-20: Bermuda Gold Cup, Royal Bermuda YC. This match-racing contest is a ladder-like series that pares down 24 seeded and unseeded teams, down to the finalist who will win the lion's share of $65,000 in prize money. Sailed in International One Design sloops on short windward-leeward courses that can take teams within meters of large crowds that traditionally gather shore-side for this event. - www.bermudagoldcup.com
* October 9: Bitter End Yacht Club's Annapolis Boat Show Party, 6 - 8 PM. There will be lots of free Dry Creek Vineyards wine and you'll get the latest updates on the Pro-Am Regatta. The party is aboard the M/V Oystercatcher (a converted 75-foot Chesapeake Bay Skipjack). She will be parked just across the Spa Creek Bridge from the show (about a 5 minute walk) at Petrini's Dock - you can't miss her. The boat will remain dockside throughout the party, so folks can come and go at their leisure. At 7:15 PM there will be a drawing from Scuttlebutt subscribers mailing list to determine who will get three free nights at the BEYC
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
If you're playing a poker game and you look around the table and can't tell who the sucker is, it's probably you.
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