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SCUTTLEBUTT 3758 - Monday, January 21, 2013Scuttlebutt 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: JK3 Nautical Enterprises and Dieball Sailing. WELCOME TO THE CONCH REPUBLIC Remember the good old days... pre 2008? Everything has been harder since then, with Key West Race Week fully caught in the cross hairs. But when your town hosts the #3 favorite bar in the U.S. (The Green Parrot), your winter conditions are better than most summer weather, and jeez... you just got to sail, the event succeeds in surviving. Event organizer Peter Craig provides an update on the 2013 edition, which starts this week: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- We are very happy in that we've been able to adapt over the past four years and have created a business model with a smaller fleet that can work. Despite a smaller fleet and class size, the competitors still come from across the country and around the world and the January racing in Key West is something people are very happy with. That said, we are now very much dependent on continued support from all of our sponsors - industry partners and the City of Key West. It's safe to say that without Quantum filling that critical title sponsor position, we wouldn't be able to continue with the regatta. With the bigger fleets of yesteryear, we could survive a title sponsor hiatus every now and again - that's not the case today. Big picture on the various class stories are tied to boat owner expenses and ongoing difficult economy... smaller boats, less crew, less for travel, housing and food expenses. Another major is shipping boats to Key West. There is absolutely no 'local component' to the Key West fleet as a base. We start with zero in that department. I've been told by those in the know that trailering a boat to Key West is now 3 to 5 times what it was 5 years ago. That was always the biggest expense for many anyway, so when you multiply that number it gets to be untenable for many. Hence the smaller, easily trailered boats (M24, M32, J/70). The shore side venue at the bottom of Caroline Street at Kelly's Caribbean has been a big hit with the competitors these past two years and we're back for a third and hoping that it's our permanent venue going forward. We're taking a big step forward this year with improved real time and near real time coverage of the regatta with a new dashboard that will create a number of great new features for those who can't be with us. Stay tuned to the event website (http://www.premiere-racing.com/QKW2013_event.html) on Monday, January 21st. Here are my thoughts on some of the classes for the 2013 edition... read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=15086 * At Key West on Sunday, a training day for boats competing this week, sailing photographer/videographer Leighton O’Connor took a practice ride on Decision, the Carkeek 40 owned and skippered by the father and son Murray team. According to Stephen Junior, Decision’s up against some stiff competition this week but they hope to stay out in front and get to those weather marks first to stay out of the bad air. Check out O’Connor’s ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMT0dbr_MY8 LOOKING FOR THE HIGH (January 20, 2013; Day 72) - The toughest South Atlantic that any of the skippers stuck in it can remember is beginning to turn the screw on supplies. Being dropped by a fickle wind or battered by a north one is one thing, but sixth-placed Mike Golding Gamesa) has revealed that just having enough to run his auto-pilots in the busy shipping lanes for the finish is increasingly becoming a worry. “We are looking at 5 days added to the route, potentially, by the problems in the South Atlantic,” Golding said. “That puts extra pressure on everything - fuel, food, and this has been a very hard period for the boat as well; going upwind in strong breeze, fully ballasted puts extra pressure on the boat. In second place, Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) has been the fastest in over the last 24 hours, averaging 15.4 knots and making 369.8 miles. He has won back nine miles from Francois Gabart (MACIF) in that time and is 144.7 miles behind - not such a deficit if they were heading downwind, but it is tough to bridge upwind in the north easterlies. The fleet should start feeling the effect of the Azores high tomorrow and Le Cléac’h hopes they pick some downwind as they skirt that high. Meanwhile, such has been Gabart’s speed over the last two days that he’s now predicting a slightly earlier finish on Saturday, January 26, after 77 days. Tracking: http://tracking2012.vendeeglobe.org/en/ Top 5 of 20 - Rankings as of Sunday, January 20, 2013, 20h00 (FR) 1. Francois Gabart (FRA), Macif: 1930.6 nm Distance to Finish 2. Armel Le Cleac'h (FRA), Banque Populaire: 141.8 nm Distance to Lead 3. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA), Virbac Paprec 3: 508.5 nm DTL 4. Alex Thomson (GBR), Hugo Boss: 767.6 nm DTL 5. Jean Le Cam (FRA), SynerCiel: 2333.6 nm DTL Full rankings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html BACKGROUND: Twenty skippers began the 24,000-nm Vendee Globe, a solo, non-stop around the world race in the IMOCA Open 60 class. Starting in Les Sables d'Olonne, France on November 10, the west to east course passes the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn before returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) set the course record of 84 days in the 2008-9 edition. -- http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ * British solo sailor Alex Thomson has set a new national record for sailing from the equator and back to the equator of 68d 14hr 53min. That is nearly three weeks quicker than the old record set by Mike Golding. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/a77ldyo JK3 NAUTICAL ENTERPRISES AT THE SAN DIEGO SUNROAD BOAT Join JK3 in San Diego at the Sunroad Boat Show, January 24-27. JK3 will proudly present NEW models from Sabre, Hanse, and J Boats, plus a pristine 2011 Back Cove 30. Come discover the sleek contemporary interiors of the German-made Hanse 415 and 385. Also the much anticipated NEW trailerable J/70; this new J/Boat hot rod introduces a new dimension of fun, fast sailing. And don’t forget to step aboard the beautiful NEW Sabre 38 and 48 - a classic, elegant showcase of downeast craftsmanship; these yachts are a must see! For more information or tickets, contact lianne@jk3yachts.com or visit http://www.jk3yachts.com ERIK STORCK: FIVE FACTORS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN It all starts again. The Olympic quad. The four-year cycle that leads - for a select few - to the Olympic Games. Symbolic of the beginning for North American sailors will be the six-day ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami (Jan 28-Feb 2) - the second of four events on the 2012-13 ISAF Sailing World Cup season. The season began in Melbourne, Australia (Dec 2-8) and will move next to Palma Spain (Mar 30-Apr 6) and then Hyeres, France (Apr 20-27). At the 2012 Games, Erik Storck and Trevor Moore represented the U.S. in the 49er skiff event, finishing in 15th position. Erik has no plans to train for the 2016 Games, whereas Trevor will continue as a helm for his next campaign. Here Erik comments on five factors for a successful campaign: Funding, Performance, Organization, Team, and Conditioning. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Funding Trevor and I worked nearly full-time for two years out of college to be able to jumpstart our own campaign. By saving up almost all of our income from coaching (I was able to live virtually rent-free on a 35' power boat), we bought the first 49er we owned as a team. That boat qualified us for the national team. From there, it's a lot easier to both retain team funding and to fundraise. We developed our brand; we were a hard working, dedicated, and talented young team. By presenting that brand to our donors and by performing when it counted, we were able to increase our funding year over year. In 2012, after qualifying for the Games, we had just about wrapped up all of our fundraising by February, which allowed us to focus on sailing. While we spent more time fundraising than our international competitors, I do not consider that to have been a significant downfall of our campaign. Performance / Improvement / Technical Abilities I've already mentioned the importance of regatta performance in funding. It is important to see consistent results, but more important is to see consistent improvement. Our first trip to Europe, while successful by some standards, left room for marked improvement. We like to look at our three World Championship results over three years; 39th, 24th, and 9th consecutively. Young campaigners need to see that the Olympic quad is a long road. It can seem daunting to overcome the many setbacks they are sure to face. This is where you have to rely on your technical abilities, which need to always be improving. There was questioning of the team's technical expertise in some of the classes after the Games. Of course, there is always room for improvement in these areas, most notably in today's ultra-professional game. We were constantly improving. We were the best in the world at some of the skill sets and technical abilities. We could have been slightly better rounded, but we worked hard at making ourselves Olympic-caliber 49er sailors. Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/13/0118/ RACE COMMITTEE RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS By Glenn McCarthy, Commodore, LMSRF At one time, race management was very strict. Their communication mantra was “Read the Flags” and that was their entire way of communicating to the fleet. Radio broadcasts from the Race Committee were taboo. Then, some race committees began experimenting with radio broadcasts, calling the countdown to the starts, announcing the starting schedule, explaining what any hold-ups were, where they are moving to and why, and suddenly the racers were more confident about what the race committee was doing. It was a marvelous step forward. Keep it going. Thank you race committees! A little tweaking in the Notices of Race were added to say that the Flags and Sound Signals still ruled, and that the radio announcement could not be redressed, even when something broadcast was misstated. That seemed reasonable and fair. Let’s look at what is being said on these broadcasts and compare it to any NHL, NFL, MLB or any other “announcers,” as we already agree these are not binding broadcasts, so let’s make them fun! First off, kill the words “This is a courtesy broadcast of XYZ Yacht Club.” The rules the Race Committees provide already explain to us that they are courtesy broadcasts and it is unnecessary to remind us each time the mike is keyed (written Sailing Instructions always take precedence over voice communications). Next, add color commentators just like sporting on TV or radio. How about this for a broadcast: “Goooood morning race fans! We have B-E-A-Utiful day out here, the sun is shining, the winds are predicted to be good and shifty. Today looks like good sausage racing, 4 legs or 2 windward-leewards, and we’ll being running bunches of them. Like you, we are keeping an eye out for a thermal to develop, and right now we are scheduled to start on time. First up are the bumper boats commonly called T-10s. Sail cleanly folks. You'll make your day and the protest committee’s day a whole lot brighter.” Does a broadcast like that seem to be more fun? More lighthearted? Did you still understand what the Race Committee has planned for the day? Have you ever flown Southwest Airlines and been humored by the mandatory safety announcements? While the announcements are a serious safety check and they get all the required passenger training in the announcements, they also make them lighthearted and fun. “This is how a seat belt latches, and if you’re too stupid to figure it out, please exit the plane immediately.” Come on Race Committees, turn the microphone over to someone with attitude - great attitude! Make yourselves and the racers realize that we’re all here for fun, camaraderie, more fun and a good time. SOURCE: This commentary comes courtesy of the December newsletter of the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation: http://www.lmsrf.org/lmsrf/images/stories/newsletters/2012_12_Newsletter.pd f HOW THEY COMPARE In this America's Cup era devoid of shielding curtains, and full of social media imagery, all four teams have shown their hand. Before the Protocol for the 34th America's Cup was published, no one had ever designed an AC72. Now four teams have, and they have each tackled the problems differently. Jack Griffin and his Cup Experience website have reviewed how each team has approached the design requirements. Here are his comments: "Aerodynamic and twisty" "Stylish and solid" "Sophisticated and unusual" "Stable and fast" Which teams have earned these comments? Here is the link to find out: http://www.cupexperience.com/ac72-design-5/ SAILING SHORTS * (January 17, 2013) - After working with three different yacht clubs since early last summer, trying to get a commitment for a host for the 2013 US Nationals, the International Laser Class Association - North American Region has no home for this regatta. While the regatta is supposed to go to either district 7 or 9 for 2013, at this point organizers are open to any place in the US. If you know of a club that might be able or interested in hosting, please contact Sherri Campbell, class executive secretary, as soon as possible. -- Details at: http://tinyurl.com/bhqzd5p * (January 20, 2013) - French round-the-world solo sailor Alain Delord has been rescued by the Antarctic cruise ship PV Orion after drifting at sea for three days. Delord set off a distress beacon on Friday after his yacht, Tchouk Tchouk Nougaton was dismasted in bad weather 500 nm off Tasmania's southwest coast. The jagged end of the rig then apparently holed the hull. The 63-year-old abandoned ship and took to the Southern Ocean in his life raft. His distress signal was picked up by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Orion. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/a6yqdfc * (January 20, 2013) - Organizers of the Extreme Sailing Series, OC Sport, announced details of the eight-strong fleet for the 2013 Series at the Dusseldorf Boat Show today. Marinepool, Official Clothing Partner to the Series confirmed a new three-year extension to their contract with the pioneering Stadium Sailing Series, which will see eight world-class teams, including a ‘home nation’ invitational team at each venue, compete in the seventh edition of the Series in 2013. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/ac7jw7s * CORRECTION: The article Virtual Marks (Scuttlebutt 3757) was incorrectly attributed to IJ Ken Morrison. The author is Australian IJ, H.J. Elliott. ROOSTER SAILING HITS THE USA! Rooster Sailing is a popular UK based sailing and leisure gear company and they’ve expanded to the USA! Get ready for the 2013 midwinters season with a full line of sailing gear designed for the most active sailor. From our base layering systems to the Costal Jacket and Hi-Fits for outer protection, to the stylish Crew Jacket, Rooster has you covered head to toe. And our prices will leave you with some extra cash for cocktails after racing! Check us out at: http://www.roostersailing.com/usa - +1-513-445-5100 - SKYPE: roostersailingusa EIGHT BELLS Forespar Founder, Dr. Robert (Bob) Foresman, died at his home in San Juan Capistrano, California, on December 30, 2012. Born in 1925 in Pasadena, Bob was an Orthodontist by profession and served in the Navy's "V-12" program as an officer in the Navy Dental Corps in WWII and Korea. Bob's passion was sailing and the ocean. His desire to optimize his boat led him to establish Forespar Products Corporation in 1965 where he designed and marketed an unprecedented array of unique marine products. His innovation and focus on quality products established Forespar as a recognized leader in the marine industry for the past 45 years. SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar PRO BONO The Scuttlebutt website provides a portal for sailing businesses to announce their personnel, product and service updates...for free! As a bonus, each week the Scuttlebutt newsletter includes some of the recent updates. Are you in the marine industry? Post your updates in the Industry News section of the Forum. GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Paul Erb: After studying the Sailrocket diagram in Scuttlebutt 3757, I think there is an error in the force vectors shown for the "below water" foil. The resultant of the "side" and "lift" force vectors is parallel to the major part of the foil surface. I don't think this is possible, since a foil works fundamentally through a pressure difference, which results in a net force normal to the surface -- as you see on the "wing sail" above. In fact, I believe, the "below water" foil is acting both downward and upwind, to hold Sailrocket down onto the surface and resist leeway and overturning moment. This would fit with aligning the water and air foil centers of pressure and eliminating heeling moment. What do you think? It's a pity that they didn't show similar vectors on the "plan" view. I think the moment balance (keeping her tracking down the course without excessive corrective rudder) is an interesting thing to sketch in on that view. The key to this moment balance may be how far aft the main foil is from the sail... and also the "large" skeg they added to (presumably) keep her aligned... CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION When the going gets tough, the smart get sneaky. SPONSORS THIS WEEK JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Dieball Sailing - North U - North Sails Sail To Prevail - Southern Spars - APS - UK Sailmakers - Ullman Sails New England Ropes - Storm Trysail Block Island Race Week Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
