|
SCUTTLEBUTT 1618 - July 6, 2004
Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt 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.
RIFT AT ALINGHI SEEMS IRREPARABLE
Being asked back to the helm of the defending Swiss America's Cup champion
Alinghi will not heal the schism between skipper Russell Coutts and team
owner Ernesto Bertarelli. The pair are locked in negotiations as they seek
to go their separate ways. Coutts said he was surprised when, at the recent
UBS Trophy regatta in Newport, Rhode Island, Bertarelli said that he
expected Coutts to steer SUI 64 during the 2007 Cup defense.
"We've been in mediation for several months," Coutts said. "I've got
fundamental concerns and differences of opinion on the management direction
of Alinghi. I advised him at the beginning of May that I would not be
available to sail." In fact Coutts has not raced SUI 64 since February last
year, when the Swiss became the first European winners of the Cup and
Coutts recorded his third victory. If it was only about sailing the boat we
would not have had the differences we have had," said Coutts. He refused to
spell out why he and the Swiss bio-tech billionaire were at odds.
Bertarelli refers to Coutts as "helmsman" now, even though this is a very
narrow definition of his role. Put simply, Coutts was the heartbeat of
Alinghi, the force that made the team vital and strong.
Coutts is now bridling for a quick divorce. "The best thing for the team,
ourselves and Ernesto is to get this cleared up as soon as possible." The
likelihood is that Coutts will sit out the 2007 Cup. However, he believes
the team, in the hands of Jochen Schumman, Brad Butterworth and new
helmsman Peter Holmberg, will still be a force. - Tim Jeffery, The Daily
Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/2hw2q
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER KIWIS?
"I committed myself to the team leaders to honour my contract until it
expires (in 2007)", Brad Butterworth said. "I don't believe that (Warwick
Fleury, Simon Daubney, Dean Phipps and Murray Jones) will quit." - Cup in
Europe website:
http://www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/2007-Alinghi-EN7.htm
END OF AN ERA
Santa Cruz Yachts is leaving "Chicken Coop" in Soquel and moving to a much
larger and more efficient facility in La Selva Beach, which is also in
Santa Cruz County. The Chicken Coop, where virtually all the Santa Cruz
sailboats have been produced, has succumbed to development. The open space
that once surrounded it is now dotted with large, expensive homes, the
residents of which don't want a composite production facility in their
midst. Work will begin at the new facility in August on a new Santa Cruz 53
C - the cruising version of the SC 52. - www.santacruzyachts.com/
OCKAMSOFT WITHOUT THE OCKAM?
OS4 features a NMEA translator module allowing direct connection of a GPS
or other NMEA output instrument system. For the first time, you don't have
to have an onboard Ockam system to put (some of) the power of OckamSoft in
your hands. Plot courses on Maptech BSB charts, turn your computer's screen
into a custom instrument display, analyze data on multiple function
stripcharts. Fully functioning modules will run in timeout mode, with easy
screen-prompted full registration when you're ready for the power of
OckamSoft. OS4 everybody. OS4 can be downloaded at http://www.ockam.com
TALL SHIPS
Around 5,000 young men and women between the ages of 15 and 25 from all
over the world are preparing to set sail in The Tall Ships' Race, starting
in Antwerp on 21 July 2004. To date 88 ships have registered for the races,
including 26 Class A ships, a number of which are entering for the first
time. The first of this summer's races is from Antwerp in Belgium to
Aalborg in Denmark. From there the fleet cruise in company to Stavanger in
Norway where the second race starts to Cuxhaven in Germany. The winds and
waters of the North Sea are always challenging and the fleet taking part in
the first leg will be racing through some of the world's busiest shipping
lanes, so great skill and concentration will be required by captains and
crews alike. - Yachting World, full story:
www.yachting-world.com/auto/newsdesk/20040605142045ywnews.html
MATCH RACING
It was a fantastic finish to the ISAF Grade 1, Trofeo Roberto Trombini in
Ravenna, Italy. Ideal conditions with a thermal wind of between 10-12 knots
made for fascinating final races. The winner of the tenth running of this
classic match-racing event and the first Australian to win was James
Spithill, sailing for Luna Rossa. He defeated Roy Heiner (NED) in a four
race final by three races to one. In the petit-final, Ian Williams (GBR)
defeated Lars Nordbjerg (DEN) in a three race match that was fraught with
aggression and the appearance of a number of protest flags, as well as a
bit of bumper boat action. He eventually took the battle 2-1 to finish
third in the event.
Overall Results:
1. James Spithill (AUS)
2. Roy Heiner (NED)
3. Ian Williams (GBR)
4. Lars Nordbjerg (DEN)
5. Michael Dunstan (AUS)
6. Flavio Favini (ITA)
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE)
8. Matteo Simoncelli (ITA)
9. Paul Campbell James (GBR)
10. Sebastien Col (FRA)
11. Eguenyi Neugodnikov (RUS)
12. Peter Wibroe (DEN)
Event Website: www.matchracetrombini.com
IBM VIC -MAUI RACE
Renegade , an Andrews 70 Turbosled skippered by Dan Sinclair, navigated by
Ron Ogilvy, and sailing out the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, crossed the
line Sunday morning at 04:39:26 HST. Flash, an Andrews-designed Transpac 52
skippered by Dwight Jefferson, navigated by Greg Harms, and sailing out of
the same club, should finish Sunday afternoon around 14:30. And Cassiopeia,
a Davidson 72 skippered by Gary Schoenrock, navigated by Charlie Guildner,
and sailing for Anacortes Yacht Club, is expected in around 22:50 Sunday
night. Although Renegade has taken line honors, Flash looks like being
First in Division 1 and is currently also first in fleet.
The winds have varied Sunday, and it's clear that the boats have not been
sailing in consistent tradewinds in the approach to Hawaii. The isobars are
well-spaced, and wind is supposed to remain lighter over the next few days.
Boats which have often been trucking (and surfing) in 15-20 knots may find
themselves in something more like 10 knots more often. - Peter Bennett,
http://www.vicmaui.org/2004/index.php
MAC RACE WEATHER WORKSHOPS!
Bill Biewenga, Commanders' Weather and OPC meteorologists ramp up to help
you study the trends and options to Mackinaw Island. The WxLIVE! online
interactive weather seminar is convenient to your schedule. Mac Race
workshops available July 8 & 9 (Port Huron-Mac) and July 15 & 16 (Chi-Mac).
Online event: http://www.weather4sailors.com/seminars.htm
WEST MARINE PACIFIC CUP
Kaneohe, HI -- On day #8 of the West Marine Pacific Cup, Martin Brauns'
Winnetou and James Gregory's Morpheus lead the entire fleet and the hot
boat downwind specialists in Division E. Covering 238 and 234 miles in 24
hours, the Santa Cruz 52 and Schumacher 50 appear to be straddling the
rhumbline (most direct route to Kaneohe Bay) in hopes of reaching the
finish line within a few hours of one another, possibly by next Saturday.
While the balance of the fleet, ranging from 27 to 80 feet, is competing in
several divisions, reflecting their size, amount of sail and general
configuration, Bob Miller's 140 foot, Mari Cha IV has thundered past
everyone in a race of her own to break the 1998, Pyewacket record of 6
days, 14 hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds. Her last day's run was 420.1
miles and with 979 miles to go, this could be a record breaking event.
Magnitude 80, skippered by Doug Baker has a mathematical chance to join
Mari Cha IV in attacking Roy Disney's, Pyewacket record. Both are north of
the rhumbline, positioned to take advantage of normal winds. - Ann
McDougall, http://www.pacificcup.org/
NEWS BRIEFS
* The World Sailing Speed Record Council announced the ratification of a
world record for Ellen MacArthur and the yacht Castorama B&Q for,
"Transatlantic West to East, singlehanded female." Elapsed Time: 7 days 3
hours 49 minutes 57 seconds; average speed: 17.09 knots. The former record
was held by Florence Arthaud in a time of 9 days 22 hours 5 minutes. - John
Reed, Secretary to the WSSR Council. - www.sailspeedrecords.com/
* The 2004 Portsmouth Tables are now available on-line and include
centerboard boats, multihulls, keelboats and offshore classes. The North
American Portsmouth Yardstick is a widely used method of rating boats of
different classes sailing the same courses. It is a time-on-time
handicapping system and is derived from actual records of classes of boats
with thoroughly documented ratings. Organizations using the Portsmouth
system are invited to send their race results by November 1 each year to US
SAILING, Attention Donna Leary. Results may also be emailed or faxed to the
addresses on the website. www.ussailing.org/portsmouth/
* On the final day of the U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship at
the Tred Avon YC in Oxford, MD, the wind finally cooperated for some good
racing. Despite being over early at the start of the final race, Roberta
Steele (Houston Yacht Club) and Meredith Nordhem (Chicago Yacht Club) won
this year's Championships. Final results: 1. Roberta Steele/ Meredith
Nordhem, 15; 2. Andrea Savage/ Alison Trost, 25; 3. Rebecca Dellenbaugh/
Keisha Pearson, 34. - www.ussailing.org/idalewis/2004/dailyupdate/index.asp
* The Spanish port of Valencia has gone all out to work on making the next
America's Cup a success worldwide and the French flag already flies high in
its marina. Le Defi's FRA 69, in her new 'passion red' colour is causing
quite a sensation among the 145 or so boats taking part in the year's
Trofeo de SM La Reina. Le Defi has clear objectives: a short week of
sailing the America's Cup boat which has been in storage for one and a half
years, to give the team practice time for this autumn's first three acts.
Yachting World,
www.yachting-world.com/auto/newsdesk/20040604192645ywnews.html
* Tom Fraser and the crew of his Ensign - Mike Dodge, Chris Grow and Matt
Morman - were recently presented with US Sailing's Arthur B. Hanson Rescue
Medal for saving the lives of three passengers of a 14-foot aluminum
fishing boat that capsized on Lake St. Clair, MI. The bodies of two
additional passengers from the fishing boat were recovered several days
later by authorities. www.ussailing.org/safety/Rescues
KIALOA CREW
Jim Kilroy is about to write a book about sailing …with a little business,
politics, world experience and motivation thrown in. "Over my 35 years of
racing we have been very fortunate with major victories, elapsed time
records, and developing many friends around the World, as well as trying to
be a good Ambassador for our Country. Of course, the key ingredient was the
outstanding crew, all amateurs, who paid their way to join the boats," he
said. Kilroy is now looking to reestablish contact with everyone who sailed
with him on Kialoa I, II, III, IV, or V. Kilroy can be reached at 310 827
8814 or 310 827 6006, fax 310 827 1001 or by e-mail at Jbkmdr@aol.com.
THE KEY TO FUN SAILING
The key to enhance your sailing enjoyment is the right gear; check out the
Camet web site for new ideas. The Camet Sailing pants are as comfortable
and practical as the shorts, and have the reinforced Cordura® seat pad for
the foam pads. The Camet line of neoprene hiking pants have new reinforced
pads and battens; combine these with the Bubble Top which creates and
maintains a comfortable microclimate close to your skin surface. CoolMax®
Shirts, Rashguards, Belts, Bags, Boardshorts etc. All these make all the
difference for your sailing comfort. http://www.camet.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)
(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 Nelson Chaffin: This is great news ... new blood ... less stuffy ...
younger ... "less-rich" people can play ... faster ... NASCAR of the
sailing world? ... more beer, less bubbly ... more timex, less rolex ...
merely complex, not complicated ... more sailors, less executives? ...
sounds better somehow!
* From Roger Jolly: So why is the Americas Cup "under threat" from this new
event? Is it because it is "aimed at attracting the world's best sailors"?
The Olympic regatta has had a lock on attracting the worlds best sailors
for decades.
* From Mark Reynolds: James Johnson should read the draft Olympic SI's a
little closer before getting all fired up. The RC will "point flag X at
her, make a sound signal and hail her national letters". Hard to not know
you were over after all that! It's much fairer to the proper starters to
get OCS boats off the course and out of their way. In the 2000 Olympics
boats weren't notified at all. In the last Star race the competitors didn't
know that BRA was OCS. We knew that the X flag stayed up (after we
returned) but it could have been just about anyone. We worried about BRA
the whole race needing 4 or 5 points on them but just needing to beat GBR.
We watched both boats but if we had lost GBR in the process of getting the
points on BRA we would have lost the Gold medal covering a boat that was
not really in the race! At the finish we did have our points on BRA but
were still worried that maybe boats between us might have been OCS moving
BRA up. We didn't know for sure that we had won the Gold until our coach
came up (after all boats had finished) and told us that BRA was OCS. It
would have been a lot better if BRA had been pulled out of the race by at
least the first mark as they plan on doing this time.
* From Georgakis Slavonus (Regarding James Johnson and Olympic Sailing
Instruction 12.5 in Butt 1617): I am a Greek sailor and some of my friends
are on the Athens Race committee. The arguments between our Greek Race
officers and the ISAF people on our boats are a joke. They see OCS quite
different. This is a Greek Olympics and the locals are in charge. If the
International Federation people would "butt" out and leave the Greeks to
run the start line and the course, all would be fair. As it is the many
line sighters cant make up their minds in four minutes. They all listen to
their tape recorders, compare notes, agree or disagree, discuss between
ends and already the competitors are past the first mark. Let our people
call the line and announce the over-earlies immediately. Then the
unfortunate competitors can undo their error.
* From Kym Klein: Sailing Instruction 12.5 clearly represents a denial of
natural justice for sailors. Immediate disqualification without a hearing
and a score of DNE places the competitor in the same company as the cheats
who are penalised un Rule 2. Boats are OCS for many valid reasons none of
which include cheating. Failure to return can be for many valid reasons
none of which include cheating. To brand them as cheats and deny them the
opportunity to defend their case is blatantly unfair. By the way, a
half-competent rules person would immediately note that 12.5 is invalid -
does not meet the requirements of 86.1(b). Further, a denial of natural
justice such as this negates Rule 3(c) - expect the first victim to drag
the Olympic results through the nearest court.
* From Mark Eustis: I have not one shred of a clue what a Q-factor is, how
it works, or what it does...other than to confuse the flippin' bejeebers
outta me. Statistical adjustments to compensate for reality always do. With
regard to the described inequity that forces us Americanos to journey
multiple times across the pond to meet ISAF regatta quotas and they to sail
here but once: since it is, after all, the International Sailing
Federation, does it not therefore also follow that in order to be an
international ranking system contestants should compete against
international opponents, in a variety of international venues? Just because
we're three countries all the way over here and they're a whole raft of
them all huddled up in one convenient continent over there isn't the ISAF's
fault.
* From Ralph Taylor (Regarding Jervis Tilly's question about the rules at a
leeward gate when overlapped boats each want to go to the mark on the other
side of the boat they're overlapped with):
The rules allow the leeward boat (L) to force this confrontation. For the
important part of the rules here, read the preamble to "C", within which
rule 18 appears -- the other rules apply unless 18 turns them off or
modifies them. Because windward (W) must keep clear; L gets to force the
mark rounded. But, because the rules allow it doesn't make it smart. L will
round on the outside & come off the mark pinned & blanketed. She will lose
ground on the rounding and for some time after. Having forced the battle, L
loses it 9 times out of 10.
If L wanted the right side of the course going upwind, her best action
could be to round the right-hand mark & tack to port as soon as possible.
Similarly for W; if she wanted the upwind left side of the course, she can
round the "wrong" mark & tack, putting her on starboard for the next
confrontation. On opposite jibes, the boat on starboard gets to choose the
mark to round. (Still not so smart to round outside & S has to give P room
to jibe.) BTW hails aren't required, but it would be advantageous to each
boat to let the other know its intentions in time to avoid a potentially
dangerous incident.
* From Mark Weinheimer: In "Butt #1610, Mr. Messer laments the fact that
PHRF isn't administered like a golf handicap rule. I would like to point
out to him that administering a skipper rated rule would be a nightmare.
While it is true that computers could process all the information, someone
must do the input, someone must separate poor performance due to lack of
knowledge or skill from lack of equipment. I would also point out that
"proper prep" means a relatively smooth bottom and a boat that isn't loaded
with all the extra stuff you took on the week-long cruise two years ago.
Your sails don't need to be new, but if they are from a decade or two back,
don't expect to be near the front.
One of the biggest hurdles I have come across in my tenure is convincing
people that there is a race on the course for everybody. There are surely
more boats out there in the same condition. Only one boat can win -
everybody can race. I get the feeling Mr. Messer wants "participation
points". The equivalent in golf would be extra strokes 'cause I only have 3
clubs and the other guy has 14. Michael Koster hit it on the head - get
with your local committee and organize a class for "no prep boats". We have
"Pure Cruising" classes here with great success for major regattas - all
sorts of adjustments and lots of boats show up.
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." -
John A. Shedd
|
| |