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SCUTTLEBUTT 2292 – March 2, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). RIDING THE TRAIL This week in Scuttlebutt, the newsletter has included some interesting commentary about kids and sailing. 2-time Finn World Champion Hank Lammens states how “the desire of the athlete is paramount” and that he hopes kids are committing to serious training at a young age “for the right reasons.” 2-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Ken Read preaches, “that sailing is a means to an end,” where it teaches kids about “teamwork, organization, ownership of an expensive toy, and respect,” and not intended to be a 365-day sport. His fear is that the “way most high-end kid’s programs go today, there will be no more sailors left because they will all be burnt out.” Among the forty attendees at a recent Opti clinic in Miami were four of the top ten from the 2006 Worlds, winners from the 2006 North Americans, and the current French and Puerto Rican National Champions. How can that roster not impress you? Train with the best, and the best get better. Not sure what happens to the kids that don’t get better - hopefully they continue having a good time - but there is no doubt about our current landscape: the desire to seek higher ground is everywhere. A generation ago, a college Masters degree really set you apart. Today, not so much. Sailing is just following the same trail as the rest – and maybe not as bad as some sports. The 2002 Winter Olympics were in Salt Lake City, where Utah Olympic Park was built to host, amongst other events, the Nordic jumping. During a ski vacation last week, my family took a tour of the facility, where jumpers continue to train year-round. Any guesses on what the starting age is for a Nordic jumper. Try 4 years old. - Craig Leweck, Scuttleblog, http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2007/trail GREATEST OCEAN RACES EVER (The following report comes from The Daily Sail subscription site, which provides an update on this epic non-stop, around the world, race for singlehanders.) The 2008-9 Vendee Globe is lining up to be one of the greatest ocean races ever. At present we count 17 new generation Open 60s either recently launched, currently under construction or soon to start and despite being designed for solo sailing these boats represent some of the world fastest ocean racing monohulls. As Juan Kouyoumdjian, designer of Mike Sanderson's new Pindar Open 60, puts it - on the computer at least, the only occasion they will be slower than a Volvo 70 is upwind in medium to heavy air. According to the Notice of Race a maximum of 27 boats can take part in the 2008 Vendee Globe - as Denis Horeau, who is most likely to be Race Director of the event, explains this is a limitation on the pontoons in Les Sables d'Olonne (for the start and finish). The area around these and leading out to the Channel must be dredged in order to allow in such a large fleet of boats each drawing 4.5m. Then there are boats with awkward deck spreaders taking up additional pontoon space. Three of the 27 entries will be 'wild cards', and unlike the Mini Transat where they tend to be reserved for foreign entries, Horeau sees these being used for those who have struggled to meet the qualification deadline of 1 July 2008 through some unforeseen technical disaster such as keel trouble - as happen to Roland Jourdain's Sill & Veolia prior to the last race - or dismastings. – The Daily Sail, full story: http://tinyurl.com/24fkq5 STAMM TO ARRIVE SATURDAY (March 1, 2007) Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm was yesterday travelling warily as he closed in on the finishing line of the Velux 5-Oceans Leg 2. Stamm's Cheminees Poujoulat was 370 miles south of Bermuda, around 1,000 miles from the Chesapeake Bay finish. He was expecting to sail conservatively around a weather cell, knowing his gear was very tired. "I'll watch it closely as it is in these moments that the boat is very exposed with the risk of breakage," he said. Stamm, winner of the last race and seemingly unstoppable in this, had been at sea for 45 days on the 13,000-mile long journey and was projected to reach the finish on Saturday. Stamm was 2,900 miles in front of Japan's Koji Shiraishi, a big contrast to the battle between the backmarkers where Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's advantage over Kiwi Graham Dalton was reduced to just eight miles yesterday afternoon. -- Telegraph, http://tinyurl.com/yrhcd2 RACING IN PARADISE I should tell you all that you’ll learn, and how much your racing will improve with six days of coaching and racing. I could tout the hands-on instruction, the video review, the on-the-water training. But the clincher, the closer, is the fun. Come to Captiva Island, Florida for a Performance Race Week – April 22 to 29, or April 29 to May 6. Have a great time, and as a bonus, go home a better racer. Learn more (and have fun doing it) with North U and Offshore Sailing: 888-454-5216 or http://www.offshore-sailing.com/racing.asp US SAILING RECOGNIZES 2006 COACHES OF THE YEAR US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) recognizes four outstanding sailing coaches for the 2006 Coaches of the Year Awards. The awards are a part of the United States Olympic Committee's (USOC) Coach Recognition Program, which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of coaches who train athletes at all levels of sport. The OSC has nominated sailing coaches to the USOC in four categories: * National Coach: Zachary Leonard Previous winners are Rollin "Skip" Whyte (Wickford, R.I.), Scott Ikle (Geneva, N.Y.), Serge Jorgensen (Sarasota, Fla.), Jay Glaser (Long Beach, Calif.), Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.) and Luther Carpenter (New Orleans, La.). * Volunteer Coach: Ryan Hamm Previous winners Susan Kaseler (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) and T. Park McRitchie (Port Clinton, Ohio). * Developmental Coach: Duffy Markham Previous winners are Tom Coleman (Hixson, Tenn.), Rob Hallawell (Marblehead, Mass./Coronado, Calif.), Brian Doyle (Darien, Conn./Hanover, N.H.), Amy Gross-Kehoe (Bayville, N.Y.), Adam Werblow (St. Mary's, Md.) and Mike Zani (Bristol, R.I.). * "Doc" Counsilman Science Award: Roger "Scott" Ikle This is the first year the OSC will nominate a coach for this award. The USOC will announce their shortlist of nominees at the end of March, and will announce the winners at an event in Washington, D.C. in May. -- The complete report is posted on the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0301/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK Pete Crawford, maker of the A-scow film “The Ultimate Ride,” was filming at the 2007 DN Worlds and North Americans, sailed at Green Bay on Lake Michigan, Menominee, Michigan, USA, the week of Feb. 18-23. His plan is to cut the footage into a 30-minute DVD with music and race commentary, but for now, we have three short samples to enjoy. Also, if you have a video you like, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/07/0226 SAILING SHORTS * Each Friday, the Volvo Sailing Podcast will post a weekly digest of interviews and analysis covering all the major sailing stories, including the Americas Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and TP52 series. In the first edition this week, look for a report from Valencia and a feature on Justin Slattery. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast * The Weather Channel will be launching a brand new adrenaline pumping series, “Epic Conditions,” which will highlight the combinations of weather, geography, and the sports of surfing, snow skiing, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, and sailing in association with Warren Miller Productions. The first episode is Sunday, March 4th at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Extreme Skiing from Steamboat Springs, CO, with the sailing episode scheduled for March 25. -- http://tinyurl.com/ywrem8 * West Marine reports net loss for year 2006 of $7.1 million, or ($0.33) per share. West Marine, Inc. (Nasdaq:WMAR), has released results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending December 30, 2006. As previously disclosed, West Marine will restate previously issued financial statements to reflect corrections in capitalized indirect inventory costs. Adjustments for the first three quarters of 2006 and for fiscal year 2005 are reflected in the financial data presented in this press release. -- BYM News: http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=4424 * St Petersburg, FL (March 1) - By the end of day three at the Thistle Midwinters East, the wind had piped up to over twenty knots, but the big breeze did not sway the consistency of Greg Fisher, with crew JoAnn Fisher and Jeff Eiber of Annapolis, MD, who widened their lead to twelve points over locals Robby Brown and Patrick Wilson. The 69-boat fleet is hosted by St Petersburg YC, where they will conclude their racing Friday, March 2nd. -- Results: http://tinyurl.com/2jdagc * Miami, FL (March 1) Staying consistent on day one of the Etchells Midwinter Championship turned out to be a tall order, with only Scott Piper’ s team able to keep all three finishes in the top ten. They hold the current lead, but not far behind is Hank Lammens in second. -- Read Lynn Fitzpatrick ’s daily reports on the Forum: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4382 * The seventy-boat fleet at the 2007 J/24 World Championship at Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico began measurement on Thursday, with a practice race planned for Sunday, and the first race of the Worlds slated for Monday. -- http://www.j24mex.com/worlds2007.asp * Miami, FL - With hopes of participating in next week’s Star class Bacardi Cup, Ian Percy - America’s Cup helmsman for the +39 Challenge - was in town for barely a day. He was able to go for a practice sail ... before he was recalled to Valencia. No Bacardi for him. - Lynn Fitzpatrick EIGHT BELLS It's my sad duty to inform you of the loss of one our own, Sue Corl, 62, on 25th Feb after a lengthy illness. Sue was a valued member of the Corinthian Yacht Club Race Committee, Marblehead, but more than that she was the secretary of the National Women's Sailing Association (NWSA) and co-chair of the Women's Sailing Conference and national co-coordinator of the AdventureSail Program, a program to introduce sailing to young women at risk. She was one of those rare individuals who always gave more than she took and she will be missed. -- Ted Agne CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Here are some of the events listed for this weekend: - Chesapeake Sailing Yacht Symposium, Annapolis, MD, USA - Hobie Midwinters West - San Felipe, Baja, Mexico - JY 15 Midwinter Championship - Clearwater Beach, FL, USA - Audi Sydney Harbour Regatta - Sydney, NSW, Australia - Jeremy McIntyre Team Racing Intersectional - Redwood City, CA, USA Find all the events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar J/65 VIDEO TOUR JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc. invites you to take a personal tour of the J/65 “Brand New Day” from the comfort of your own chair! Take a video tour and see for yourself the flagship for J Boats, "Brand New Day", the 65-foot custom luxury racer/ cruiser that is currently for sale in San Diego, CA. Don't miss your chance to step aboard a truly a one-of-a-kind sailing yacht. Call Jeff Brown at 619.224.6200 for more information on this and other listings, and visit ”Brand New Day” by clicking on http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4278655160426428016&q=J65&hl=en LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Paul Henderson: The situation that has evolved over the defense of the Canada's Cup, which the Royal Canadian Yacht Club has held for a decade, needs explanation. Any sailor who has been to the RCYC knows what an institution it is for the support of Sailing in Canada and on the Great Lakes. There are more people living in Southern California X 2 than in the whole of Canada. This puts a major pressure on the few large clubs Canada has to produce and fund sailors who desire to sail in the Olympics. Canada sent 7 teams to Athens and 5 were members of the RCYC. For Qingdoa , the RCYC has 6 active teams trying to qualify. The next 12 months are the most intense for these sailors as they try to qualify. Any single club who has even one team knows the cost of such a campaign. The RCYC is a sailing club - not a marina facility - and has always supported its young members who desire to carry Canada's Flag proudly internationally. On top of the cost, the Olympic quest has taken away most of our young talent. The Canada's Cup costs the RCYC over $100,000 just to host the event, to say nothing of funding the Defender. Under these circumstances, it was sensible that the RCYC decided to delay the defence for a year. Since the event will be held in the readily available one-designs, the Farr 40, this is not an onerous decision. * From Russell Painton: Well, it certainly did not take long for the IRC to migrate from a "rating" rule, to a rule that does nothing more than reflect the personal attitudes of the IRC policy handicapping group. I am referring to the latest edict from the Group whereby, rather than simply attempt to evaluate the effect of these new sails on the speed of boats that use them, they have declared that they do not like the use of them and are, admittedly, going to implement an adjustment that is a "deterrent effect' to "discourage the use" of the sails. Seems I remember not too long ago, when the adoption of the IRC was being promoted, it was sold to the unsuspecting sailors as a true "rating " rule, as compared to the "inferior " other rules then in use, that were labeled as other than just that. Do the IRC sailors kind of feel like they have been had?? Kinda makes PHRF look golden. Oh, well. On to the next "rating" rule of the week! * From June Kendrick: With regard to the comments (in Issue 2291) of Peter O. Allen, Sr about a Lightning kids class - there already is one - it is called a Blue Jay. It is the perfect kids boat - not too big for them, good for a crew of 2-4 (2-3 if racing, can take 4 when knocking about). Teaches spinnaker handling with a chute that is not too big, etc. * From John Barbano: On Peter Allen's Comments in 2291: "Appalled?" Wow, well, I do respect your right to your comments and opinion; I hope you will allow me the same. :-) As a parent of one former and one current Optimist sailor who both have been coached by two of those outstanding coaches that were at the Miami YC clinic, I can only thank them for giving their time and effort to kids around the world that flock to them. Why? Besides being some of the best Optimist coaches in the world, they make it so much fun for these kids, who adore these coaches, and the kids are showing because of this. Their balanced techniques to running clinics and coaching is truly a sight to see. So don't be appalled, I simply say thank you to these young men for giving their time to our sport and the help they give our kids. As far as "We need to quickly move kids to two, three or four-handed boats... "... well, I see no other class that offers these young kids the balance of teamwork (being part of a yacht club Optimist team, or the USODA National Optimist Team), Optimist Team Racing and the potential to travel the states and even the world at some of the best regattas you would ever attend. It is no mistake that it is one of the world’s largest class. And the good news is they have a natural progression to Laser Radials, or two handed boats - 420's and 29ers - and if they want to get into a larger boat -- as you suggest a Lightning. If you have ever been to a 420 event (and I have been to plenty of large Lightning and 420 regattas), you know then that the 420 regattas are a "happening" for these teenagers -- fun is the operative word, and some darn good competition to boot. Let them be kids! * From Robert Wilkes, Secretary, International Optimist Dinghy Association: With reference to Peter Allen's remarks in Scuttlebutt 2291, may I again draw your readers' attention to the properly researched data at www.optiworld.org/dropoutreport.pdf He links his disapproval of the Optimist to a clinic for top-level sailors. Whatever about dropout at lower levels which happens in all sports, the facts show that over 90% of Optimist sailors who progress as far as the USA national training squad continue to sail. The progression to the Lightning may not be as slow as he thinks. Tommy Sumner, 9th in the Optimist Worlds of 2000, won the Lightning Youth Worlds just two years later – not bad for someone trained in a sandbox! * From Kim Klaka, Western Australia: (regarding the info on the spinnoa in #2291) Hmmm... I remember sailing a quarter-tonner with a Spinoa (slight spelling difference) made by Andersen Aerosails of England back in 1973. It was in essence a minimum girth IOR spinnaker. I expect there are even earlier examples, but it just goes to show that there is nothing new, just new marketing. Incidentally, Anderson was a small but innovative firm who also made a radial-cut mainsail, the panels radiating only from the clew. Quite radical for its time, and fairly effective. * From Michael D. Ewing: (regarding the Curmudgeon's Observation in Scuttlebutt 2291) Bigoted. Xenophobic. Boorish. Juvenile. And definitely not remotely funny. I'm embarrassed for you. * From Jim Gretzky: You must be crazy. Open up your laptop and display that screen and you run a high risk of being arrested. I can only assume that the arrest will be the best part of the experience that you will have. In case you have not heard, even joking about a bomb is a federal offense and is taken very seriously. It is likely that they will not treat this lightly. If you are lucky, perhaps the worst of it will be getting placed on the no fly lists, the worst, I shudder to think about. This is not a knee jerk reaction but a hard look of the reality of today. Given how so many of your readers depend on commercial travel, better safe than sorry for life! * From Thomas Priest: Re: The laptop 'gag'.... I understand the intent.... but in this day and age...you'll get yourself killed! (Translation: NOT FUNNY). CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM Is extraordinary just more ordinary than usual? Special thanks to North U and JK3 Nautical Enterprises. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
