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SCUTTLEBUTT 1869 - June 28, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. STACKING THE DECK? (Yachting journalist Rich Roberts looks at the new points system being used to seed the syndicates for the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger trials. Here's an excerpt from his story in the Log.) "Acts"? That's what they're calling the series of organized practice races leading up to 2007. I dunno, maybe it's the Shakespeare thing over there. Anyway, as I grasp it, starting with the current events the 12 teams will accumulate points that ultimately will seed them into the lineup and give the leaders a points leg up for the real Louis Vuitton Cup challenger trials in two years. Never mind that meantime they're all sailing different generations of IAAC boats and the deep-pocket teams may have, oh, a slight advantage. Tom Ehman, the American who is past chairman of the Challenger Commission, was a key figure in devising the system. Why does it make me uncomfortable that Ehman, an old pal, also is head of External Affairs and Rules Compliance for BMW Oracle Racing and serves as a member of the Executive Committee under CEO Chris Dickson? He said, "The concept of earning ranking points due to your results in the Acts is a big breakthrough for the America's Cup. It means the Louis Vuitton Acts are real competitions in their own right, with significant rewards for good performance. At the same time, the bonus points awarded will not give a team an insurmountable lead entering the Louis Vuitton Cup. You will still need to win many races in 2007 if you hope to become the challenger and earn the opportunity of relieving Alinghi of the America's Cup." If I were cynical, I'd say that sounds like stacking the deck for the house---i.e., BMW Oracle, the Challenger of Record. The only rival they need worry about is Emirates Team New Zealand. By the time, say, new teams like South Africa, China, Germany and Sweden get up to speed it won't matter anymore. - (BMW Oracle navigator Peter) Isler said, "I haven't studied the points too much, but it's not a deal breaker if a team all of a sudden gets it in gear in 2007 . . . [and it] adds spice to the mix. The America's Cup always has rewarded the teams that prepare early and prepare well and have the resources to do it. That part hasn't changed. It probably raises the quality of the competition, which has good value from public appeal. And it's a lot more fun for the sailors to be racing two years out as opposed to just testing. Nobody's complaining about that." - Rich Roberts, The Log, full story: http://thelog.com/columnists/columnistsview.asp?c=162113 MAN OVERBOARD I feel it necessary to report an incident that happened on the last day of Block Island Race Week. I was crewing on a Farr 395. We were located about 4-6 miles from Block Island in Block Island Sound (the ocean!). Water temperature was quite cold, maybe 60 degrees. We were sailing downwind with spinnaker in 20 knots of true wind speed on leg 4 of a 6 leg race. Our boatspeed was over 9 knots. While gybing a crew member fell overboard. Another crew member dove in to render assistance. We were able to do a "quick stop" maneuver and get back to our crewmembers within approximately three minutes. Thankfully both were unharmed. I am writing because while our two crewmembers were in the water, another class of sailboats was sailing upwind. One boat sailed past the first swimmer, they did nothing to assist and she was in need of help. A second boat sailed past both of our crew and did nothing until crewmember #2 yelled for flotation, they threw two life jackets in the water, both of which were out of reach, and continued without deviating course. I realize that this issue has been discussed in depth in Scuttlebutt but I felt it necessary to report this recent incident. In my opinion it is an outrageous act to do what these boats did last Friday. They did not know if either crewmember was injured when they sailed on past them. It is my opinion that anyone who does not render assistance in a situation like this should be expelled from sailboat racing for some length of time. I will not name the boats here who failed to act nor speculate on the discussions, or lack of, that took place on the two boats in question during the incident. The bottom line is that when someone goes overboard in conditions like these everyone in the vicinity should do everything they can to render assistance - period. - Britt Hughes BUZZ BOETTCHER'S TRIVIA What boat is the only under 70-foot long, non ULDB (Lead Mine) to finish the Transpac race with an elapsed time of under 10 days? Answer below. WINDQUEST MAXZ86 FOR SALE The first of the MaxZ86 class, this 86-foot, state-of-the-art racer has compiled an outstanding offshore record. Windquest is now for sale, available in July following the 2005 Transpacific Race. This is an opportunity to own one of the most impressive, high-tech racing yachts in the world today, at a fraction of the cost of new construction. This yacht is fully equipped, has a complete sail inventory, and has been meticulously maintained by the DeVos family. She is ready to race in any major offshore event worldwide. Offered by Bertrand Racing, information is available at http://www.teambrace.com CROWD PLEASER The Valencia's fleet races proved to be a crowd pleaser, drawing thousands of people to the shoreline and hundreds of spectator boats. Event organizers already are beginning to consider how fleet racing might figure into future America's Cup trials. Some sailors had worried that putting so many fragile, high-performance boats in close quarters would result in collisions, but other than minor scrapes, there was no significant damage. - http://tinyurl.com/ca2m6 2005 Louis Vuitton ACC Season Championship Standings: 1. Alinghi - 23 points 2. Emirates Team New Zealand - 21 2. Luna Rossa Challenge - 21 4. MW Oracle Racing - 19 5. Victory Challenge - 15 6. Mascalzone Latino-Capitalia Team - 13 7. K-Challenge - 12 7. Desafío Español 2007 - 12 9. +39 Challenge - 8 10. United Internet Team Germany - 6 11 China Team - 4 12. Team Shosholoza - 2 Event website:www.americascup.com QUOTE / UNQUOTE - Grant Dalton We are still at the top of the challenger tree and I am happy about that. If the America's Cup was tomorrow, then we would be racing Alinghi, who would beat us. "I think Alinghi is still doing a better job and we have to bridge that gap. I think what we are seeing is that they have moved on from [Russell] Coutts and with the likes of Murray [Jones], Simon [Daubney], Warwick [Fleury], Brad [Butterworth] and with Peter Holmberg at the helm ... it now looks like a pretty seamless change." "Nothing surprised us. The keels, bulbs and configurations that we were running last year tend to be more of the norm now. We were sort of the exception last year with long bulbs and stuff now they have all come that way. Sail-wise I think our programme is up there, rig-wise we are pretty close. The thing is these events bring the cream to the top and everyone ends up about the same. Certain areas of the campaign are on the pace and certain areas, I think, are not right and that is what this is about. Last year I felt we were very coarse and learning how to be a team. This year, as I look out on 55 guys having dinner, we are a team." - Grant Dalton, Emirates Team New Zealand managing director, from a story by Julie Ash in the NZ Herald, full story: www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10332985 ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION The only non ULDB under 70 feet with a sub 10-day elapsed time for the Transpac Race is "Phantom" - the C & C 66 owned by Tony Delfino and Charlie Phifer in 1977. "Their elapsed time was just under 9 days 21 hours." - Buzz Boettcher CAMET ARUBA SHORTS The new design of Camet shorts are a plain front style made out of fast drying Supplex® nylon, with a reinforced Cordura® seat patch for an optional foam pad. Features include a roomy right-side cargo pocket with Velcro® closure flap and an internal phone pocket, plus two deep side pockets. Velcro® waist adjustment straps combine with a gusset design for full range of motion. Fabric has a UV rating of 40, blocks 97.5 % of UV rays, and provides excellent skin protection. Check out the Camet shorts in the different styles and colors and the Coolmax shirts at http://www.camet.com NEWS BRIEFS * The Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts exceeded the expectations of AC Management in many ways. Acts 4 & 5 attracted nearly 200 000 visitors to the America's Cup Park, and 10 000 VIP guests enjoyed the show. The America's Cup website had nearly 15 000 unique visitors each day during Acts 4 & 5, with just under 500 000 visitors, and over 2.8-million page views. * Paralympic Sailing Competition, IFDS will undertake equipment evaluation to identify the boat to be selected as the two person craft and the Australian UD18 will be offered for evaluation. The UD18 is the result of collaboration between B & B Technology and Innovation -Julian Bethwaite/ Bethwaite Design in Australia and Argentinean naval architect, Martin Billoch, along with Access Dinghy's Chris Mitchell. By combining 20 years of Bethwaite experience, research and technology and Mitchell's unique understanding and ideology of sailing for people with disabilities, the result is the innovative 'lead assisted skiff' (LAS), the UD18. - Sail-World website, http://tinyurl.com/7vvn8 * Another fast night sail for Oliver de Kersauson's trimaran Geronimo, racing 6486 miles around Australia. Since she left Sydney last Wednesday, the 34 metre (111 feet) round the world racer has sailed almost 2,200 miles and if she continues at her pace of the last six days she could be back in Sydney on July 9th. 24 hours ago the Franco-Australian crew sailed into the Torres Strait. This morning Geronimo is blasting across the top of Australia tracking due west at 22.7 knots, in a 22 knot southeaster. - Rob Kothe, full story: www.sail-world.com/geronimo * The 127 boats at Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week got some gear-busting breeze of 20+ knots for their two Friday races, but the wind faded into the 5-10 range for the five weekend races hosted by Long Beach and Alamitos Bay Yacht Clubs. Scott Birnberg's J/105 Indigo with Doug McLean calling tactics was named Boat of the Week for the most dominating performance. Alec Oberschmidt's R/P 50 Staghound led by Artie Means and helmsman Mark Gaudio was PHRF Boat of the Week. Title sponsor Dave Ullman had a good time too - winning the Melges 24 class. - http://www.lbrw.org/results.html. Photo gallery: www.underthesunphotos.com/ * Very light air reduced the number of races for the 197 boats at the Lands' End Toronto NOOD. Without winning a race, Robert Baker's Planet B squeezed out a one point victory over John C. McLeod's Hot Water in the 17-boat J/105 class - the largest class in the event. The overall regatta win, and the Sunsail-sponsored trip to the NOOD Regatta Championship of Champions in Antigua next January was awarded to the Beneteau 36.7 Zingara, skippered by Richard Reid, of Toronto. www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=37485&typeID=403&catID=621 * The Etchells North American Championship at the Chicago Yacht Club last week drew 44-boats. Jud Smith won two of the six races to defeat Dennis Conner by four points, with Gary Jobson in third place. Smith was the only skipper with all single digit finishes - using a 7th as his discard. - http://etchellschicago.com/naresults.html * The Great Lakes Laser Championships were held this past weekend at the Buffalo Canoe Club. 48 full rig Lasers and 35 Radials sailed on Saturday in ideal conditions, but no races were held on Sunday as the wind machine shut down. The story of the regatta had to be young Alex Betrand's first win in a major regatta, taking the title for the Radial division, as well as winning the award for top junior in that division. Alex hails from Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, MD. Ryan Mahaffey out of Royal Canadian YC won the full rig division. - http://greatlakeslazer.blogspot.com * The biggest ever Optimist North American Championship opens today on the beautiful island of Tobago, the first time the event has been hosted in the Caribbean. 184 sailors from 19 countries will participate. - Event website: http://www.optinam2005.com/ THE IDEAL BOAT FOR JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAMS Safe, durable, stable, reliable, and economical. No wonder, Ribcraft is the preferred choice for yacht clubs, sailing coaches, and race professionals. Find out more about how the Ribcraft line of RIBs is ideally suited for the wear and tear of junior sailing programs and race committees like yours at http://www.ribcraftusa.com IN MEMORIAM The sailing world lost an excellent sailor and true sportsman last week with the passing of Richard (Dick) Johnson. Dick's contributions to Caribbean sailing and his quest to grow the respect for small countries the world over in the International Sailing community was a life work. Dick serverd as an International Judge and worked on many committes in ISAF for over 30 years. The US Virgin Islands benefited greatly from the works of Dick enabling them to host the Maxi Yachts on three occasions and even convincing the IYRU to hold their mid year meeting on our tiny island of St. Thomas. Dick was still racing his J-36 Blue Bayou and cruising his trawler, Yonder at the time of his death. Sailors from Antiqua to Beaufort, NC will long remember Dick for his blustory voice, gentle manner and sailing prowess. The Virgin Islands Sailing Association and St. Thomas Yacht Club express our deep sympathies to Dick's wife Louise and his step son's, Peter and John Holmberg. - Bill Canfield LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From John Harwood-Bee: So poor Jordi Lamarca has been forced to grovel and apologize for justifiable comments made in private despite the fact that the umpires themselves apologized for the nonsense. At least he has had the good sense not to retract them. As for stating that "umpiring errors made are simply part of the game"! What rubbish. These people are not football referees or tennis umpires given to arbitrary decisions of a dubious nature. They are supposedly highly qualified umpires making judgments in a multi million dollar sailing circus. If we start accepting that umpiring errors are a part of this or any other game, we are accepting a second rate service. That can only debase the credibility of the sport and is an insult to the spectator. Unfortunately, many sports hide behind the all encompassing "bringing the game into disrepute" rule as a way of preventing legitimate criticism from within. God forbid we ever see that nonsense in sailing. Speak up Jordi.. there are many who will support you. * From Tom Andrewes: After reading the Act 5 thread I had to check the date to make sure it wasn't April 1st. Water in the bilge? I come in from a race and have half the (expletive) ocean in my bilge. These guys spend millions of dollars to be ounces lighter than the other boat. Victory won, Nuff said. * From Bob Merrick: Congratulations to David Hughes and Mike Anderson-Mitterling on their win at Kiel. As an addendum to Skips Whyte'scomments, Paul Foerster and I may have been the only Americans to previously win this regatta in the 470 class but there are additional American winners in other Olympic classes.Tom Olsen and Ed Adams, Star 1987 Magnus Liljedahl and Mark Reynolds, Star 2000 Charlie Ogletree and John Lovell, Tornado 2003. The regatta organizers have a list of past winner since 1987 on their website: http://www.kieler-woche.de/eng/segelsport/boat_classes_new/boat_classes.htm * From Bill Artuzzi: So, the lead piece in S/B #1867 by Olympic Sailing Committee Chair Dean Brenner about his committee's massive fund-raising efforts was headlined "Quest Editorial", an apt title indeed. Curmudgeon's Comment: If so, it's our only recent typo that turned out OK. * From Chris Ericksen (Re Leonard Kirby's observation in 'Butt 1868 that maybe "US Sailing's (Arthur B.) Hanson Rescue Medal is no longer the big deal it once was.): At the risk of seeming uncaring and callous, I fear this may be the case. I understand fully US Sailing's intention in creating the medal - to award sailors who effect rescues at sea - but we seem to read of such acts (and awarding of the medal) dozens of times a year. The publicity is great and the efforts of the rescuers are commendable, but it seems to me that it would be more remarkable if a sailor didn't rescue someone in peril than that they do. But awarding the medal to the crew of a boat that stopped to pick up their own overboard crewman? Come on, US Sailing, beware reducing this important bit of recognition to irrelevance by over-awarding it. * From Glenn McCarthy: In the past, before Lifeslings, before the invention of the Quick-Stop, before the methodical studying and testing of crew over board recovery, almost every recovery of crew was an edge of the seat, gasp of breath read. Fortunately with the studies that have occurred, for those who have read, practiced and prepared, some rescues now seem routine. Is that not a good thing? Haven't we moved forward in safety at sea? But there is still an audience 'out there' who have not practiced, studied, or read up on latest techniques to minimize the time that a victim is in the water. We still need to exemplify what works and what doesn't in an overboard and a recovery. In this particular Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal Leonard Kirby refers to, did he note that the victim was unconscious, without a PFD, in 45-degree water? The edge between success and tragedy can be thin. Fortunately this one ended in success. A study I performed that was published in Sailing World in 1998, taught me that every person is susceptible to going overboard. Experienced, inexperienced, cockpit, driver, mast, bow, sewer, everyone. How the crew (whether his/her own, or from another boat) reacts and responds to the sudden loss of a crew overboard is something we all can learn from. No two Arthur B. Hanson Rescue Medal stories are alike. We can always use a reminder that rescues do happen and we all must stay forever vigilant. *From Adrian Reynolds (re Leonard Kirby's letter): Why do I have the feeling there are probably more snowballs in hell than unsuccessful nominations for US Sailing's Hanson Rescue Medal? * From Richard Clark: Now look guys and gals, I love scuttlebutt, I have contributed my fair share of tongue in cheek nonsense and profundity over the past couple of years or so. Now I have sold my Venice Beach house, nice one, and am traveling the American West, where I find it hard to find a drop of moving salt water as in beach and wind and wave. However, here I am in Moab and I love, repeat, love the fact that I can read about the Americas Cup as I sit outside my Airstream sipping a Utah 3% beer watching the sun play red with the surrounding mesas. For those who are bored already there are those of us, tiny, insignificant kiwis, who cannot wait to get the mega yachts and all the trimmings back to Auckland, which is where I will be, wearing my (NZ Made) red socks and screaming as stupidly as anyone else on the face of the planet who loves good sailing. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS "There are two kinds of people with drinking problems - those who drink too much, and those who drink too little." - Winston Churchill |
