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SCUTTLEBUTT 3247 - Friday, December 24, 2010Scuttlebutt 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 COULD THIS BE NEW ENGLAND'S BEST CHRISTMAS EVER? Ken Read is a resident of Newport and is the CEO and Skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing - a sailing team built to participate in the Volvo Ocean Race. He is also the Vice President of North Sails Group LLC. Here he shares his excitement on the possibility of the America's Cup coming to his town: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rhode Island needs the America's Cup, and has the opportunity within its grasp to do so. An amazing last minute organizational effort between many different state and private organizations has made Rhode Island a front runner in the race to be the venue for the 2013 America's Cup. At first glance it would appear that I am the most biased person in the state to write an editorial in support of the America's Cup coming to Rhode Island. I grew up in this area, and have sailed on Narragansett Bay my whole life. I moved to Newport in the infamous summer of 1983 and witnessed firsthand the removal of the America's Cup from our shores. Since then I have had the good fortune to be a part of dozens of world class sailboat racing teams including skippering Dennis Conner's America's Cup bids on two separate occasions. Over the past three years I have served as the CEO and Skipper of PUMA Ocean Racing, the Volvo Ocean Race entry of the sports-lifestyle company PUMA. The Volvo Ocean Race is considered as one of the big three sailing events in the world, along with the Olympics and the America's Cup. I am proud to say that PUMA Ocean Racing is the second largest professional sailboat racing team in the United States, second only in size and success to BMW-Oracle Racing, the holder of the America's Cup. Like all professional teams we had a choice on where we wanted to organize, train and build our program. We chose Rhode Island. Why did we choose Rhode Island? First of all, Rhode Island has a marine trade industry that helped us create a racing program that can successfully compete against the best in the world. Secondly, we can keep the construction, design and engineering of our programs major components literally within driving distance of our waterfront base, located at the Newport Shipyard since 2007. And finally, we are a five-minute sail from some of the best sailing grounds in the world that we use for training, testing and racing. What does this all mean to the State of Rhode Island? Thanks to these three major attributes PUMA Ocean Racing has spent over 20 million dollars in Rhode Island in the past three years. This sum has covered the fundamental components' of a program our size such as design and engineering, boat and mast construction, sails, rigging, housing, and food. Not to mention the influx of cash that our employees and their families spend to live their daily lives. And this is money that represents a few cents on the dollar compared to what the America's Cup would bring to the region. My point takes a twist though, and I sincerely hope that our governmental leaders and citizens understand a second crucial point. The decision to spend money on infrastructure to lure the America's Cup has very little to do with the sport of sailing as a whole, and has everything to do with good business. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11021 "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE" DRIVES ON Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, as some us have learned over the years. BMW, one of the main partners of the current America's Cup defender, decided this week that enough is enough, after winning the 33rd edition of the event. The two have partnered in the event since 2002 and, according to BMW, have shared much, especially at an engineering level, since. The transfer of technology between BMW and Oracle (including structural engineering and high-modulus composite construction) led to the creation of the USA 17 trimaran. The yacht soon became the fastest in the history of the America's Cup and climbed at the top of the standings of the 33rd edition in Valencia, Spain back in February. "On the design and engineering front, BMW engineers set new benchmarks in terms of intelligent lightweight design," said Ralf Hussmann, general manager BMW Sports Marketing and Brand Cooperation. "In winning the 33rd America's Cup, we achieved all of our ambitious goals. We will continue to be involved in the sport on a national level." According to both BMW and Oracle, their separation comes as a result of the goal, winning the Cup, being achieved. -- http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-leaves-the-americas-cup-28787.html => Curmudgeon's Comment: Long team names are a hassle when reading stories, so BMW Oracle Racing team was often shortened to BOR. With BMW no longer involved, should the defender now be called the OR Team? EIGHT BELLS My Dad, Whit Davis, passed away on the 22nd of December in San Diego, CA. Simply put, emphysema finally got the better of him. In his 85 years, he saw lots of action: Submarine Commander; Coronado Yacht Club Commodore; veteran of ocean races on both coasts; measurer for one-design and offshore boats; umpire; husband of 60 years to Libby, father to three, and grandfather to five. You cannot write these things without tears running down your cheeks, but there is some comfort in knowing that Whit (Dad) had an excellent run. He did not suffer fools but could see both sides of an argument - "tough but fair". He was sharp to the end, joking that the Life Flag Membership he received from CYC last month will go down in history as the shortest life flag membership ever. He will be sorely missed by the yachting community, but even more so by his family. - Rod Davis, http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=11022 TO BE KING OF THE RIGHT COAST The 2011 Gulf Stream Series (GSS) has been setup with selected events in the Caribbean, Florida, Annapolis, Newport, Block Island, Marblehead and Halifax. The 6th Annual US-IRC Gulf Stream Series, comprised of events organized by many of the finest racing clubs in the world, is sailed exclusively under IRC and all yachts holding a valid IRC Certificate are eligible to compete for the GSS Series trophy. Events and minimum requirements are: Group 1 - Buoy Regattas (3 Required) * Key West Race Week (IRC Mid-Winter Championship) * Miami Grand Prix * International Rolex Regatta * Charleston Race Week * American Y.C. Spring Series * STC Block Island Race Week (IRC East Coast Championship) * New York Y.C. Annual Regatta * US-IRC Long Island Sound Championship * American Y.C. Fall Series * STC IRC Mid-Atlantic Championship (hosted by Annapolis Y.C.) Group 2 - Medium Distance Races (1 Required) * STC Fort Lauderdale to Key West * STC Block Island Race * Around Long Island Regatta * Ida Lewis Distance Race * Stamford Vineyard Race Group 3 - Long Distance Races (1 Required) * Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race * RORC Caribbean 600 * Annapolis to Newport Race * Marblehead to Halifax Rare Details: http://www.us-irc.org/2011_gulf_stream_series.cfm WHAT WAS YOUR CHRISTMAS WISH? This week Scuttlebutt readers have been telling the Curmudgeon what they wanted for Christmas. Among the many submissions were many, many Christmas wishes about the America's Cup. More of them wanted the venue to be in San Francisco rather than Newport, and nearly all of them wanted it to be in monohulls rather than multihulls. There were a few wishes to eliminate America's Cup from Scuttlebutt, and a few more hoping Larry Ellison will do the "right thing", with William Mead specifically hoping for "a return to grace and sportsmanship in the America's Cup." And then there was Ted Sensenbrenner, whose wish was for "a truly American entry and effort in the next AC with an American skipper, American crew, American designer, American builder and American sponsors." While The Curmudgeon might not be able to personally fill all the wishes, who knows what may happen if we publish them... so here it goes: "All I want for Christmas is some nice Southern Ocean reaching weather. Not too strong, but 25 knots would be perfect. I have been a very good boy and worked very hard to earn a nice Christmas surprise from Santa. I have also sent this very short Christmas list via satellite email to the North Pole and it bounced back. I am still hopefully it was received up there in elf land." - Brad Van Liew on Le Pingouin, competing in the VELUX 5 OCEANS "My holiday wish is that my spouse would go cruising with me for a couple of weeks or more!" - Eric Sorensen "My wish is that 'PEACE on earth' become a reality and not just something nice we say at Christmas." - Gary Bruner "What I would really like is 6 old serviceable 420s (to go with the four I have access to) or 10 like size boats to start a high school sailing team. I have three local high schools, that would give me three per school and a backup. We have a wonderful river and no one wants to use it. Our small YC has 50 kids every year in sailing camp. Hard to compete with the regular sports for assets." - Greg Duncan "For Christmas I would like to take Paris for a little cruise down to Baja, double handed." - Walt "A screaming reach." - Bob Pickett "Santa, I have everything I need already. Please give any items for me in your sleigh to someone not as fortunate." - Bryan Canterbury "My wish is for a drysuit so I can get my winter fix on the salt water and for all sailors to ask for iPads and read our nautical ebooks!" - Molly Mulhern, McGraw-Hill "The peace of mind that wintering on the hard brings, knowing with certainty that my boat will not break loose from its mooring (but I'd like that all spring, summer, and fall too!)" - David Shulman "My Christmas wish is to spend more time on my boat. Yes, it's a totally pathetic wish, because I know that I'm in control of this and that I make the choices that lead me to spend less time on the boat than I'd like. So what I'm really wishing for is the strength and foresight to arrange my life so that I can spend more time out on the water this year. I think I've put pieces in motion to make it different this year. Yes, I've thought that before, but I really have made some changes and more time sailing is one of the goals. Check back in 12 months and we'll see how well I did." - Alfred Poor "Peace, Health & favourable winds." - Gunther Weber "For Christmas I would like to learn to sail rather than spend my time reading about so much of it. At 63 I've finally decided it's time to get out from the rat-race and do some of the things I've always wanted to do. They are sailing, sailing and sailing. Since 1992 when I arrived in New Zealand and got caught up watching the AC races, I've wanted to learn how to contribute to sailing a big brute like that. So Santa - sailing lessons please." - D. Stringer "A new jib for my Hobie 20." - G. Payne "Whirled peas, and a carbon fiber mast for my 1965 Hinckley." - Thaddeus Gillespie "For Christmas I would like Newport Harbor regattas (in Newport Beach, CA) to get rid of the stigma of a 'No Wind' event area." - Smitty "For Christmas I would like a 1960's era Newport Kite Dinghy. The 11' 7" Kite is a lively planing dingy, with a self-bailing cockpit, easy righting and speed for 2 people or as a single-handler and planes easily with one person in moderate breeze. A boom vang, out- and downhauls for sail control were standard. It is not a board boat like a Laser or Sunfish." - Bob Little "Funding for a 49er Olympic campaign." - Graeme Willcox "For Christmas I would like to wake up sailing downwind at 10 knots heading somewhere warm." - Robert Eger "My wish is to have the courage to enter the Newport Bermuda Race." - Scott Kraft "I want a TP52 set up for inshore and offshore racing. Since Paul Cayard did such a fine job setting up his SC 50. I would like him to be my boat captain." - Jim Porter "A buyer for my sailboat since I have bought the next boat already! (see J/42 in Scuttlebutt Classifieds)." - Robert Thuss "For Christmas I would like a J/95. It would be perfect for Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin (average depth 7 feet)." - Michael Elmergreen "I have been a good little crew this year and have helped all my skippers collect many pickle dishes. All I want for Christmas is a slightly used sailboat that has just recently gone on the market. Could you send me 'il mostro,' the Puma Volvo 70, so I can try to win a new door for my barn." - Trey Hill "My wish is for 50 year old knees to replace my 70 year old knees so that I can continue to sail high performance boats for another 20 years." - Theodor Beier "For Christmas I would like my own designated parking spot or perhaps valet parking at APS. With a number of older race boats to maintain, my car always seems to be heading to APS which basically has only three very-tight parking spots. And besides, who are these folks buying multi $1000's of the latest techno sailing gear and making me park a half a mile away when I need a cotter pin? Perhaps Kyle (the owner) should initiate a frequent-shopper parking program, and of course the program should be based on frequency of visits rather than dollars spent." - John Yeigh "Please bring me a grand banks 43 and money to run it for a year." - T. Swanson "The Park City Sailing Association wishes for another successful year for our Junior Sailing Program and maybe Santa can also bring us a sponsor or two." - Ken Block "For Christmas I would like my very own sailor complete with compassion, integrity, sex-appeal and the following accessories - a sailboat, cash-on-hand, and an excellent GPS System for cruising and racing." - Colleen J. "For Christmas I would like my Pearson 33 windows to stop leaking. New hatches would be nice too!" - Russell Talisman "My wish is to have my 1965 Columbia 29 completely restored by somebody else (actually, she's almost there)." - Doug Soden "For Christmas this year I don't want any free stuff for myself... I want everyone to benefit. I want new Lasers to sell for $2000, a TackTick Micro should be $9, etc." - Justin Meddock "As a cancer survivor in remission, I ask for another year of good health to sail my Sunfish, Laser, and Island Packet." - George Sechrist "I wish every layline I call next year to be spot on perfect with no overstanding or short tacks at the mark." - Brent Boyd "Lots of ice & snow each and every winter." - William Tuthill THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the town, Not a creature was stirring, not even Jeff Brown; The wet Atlantis gear was hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that The Curmudgeon soon would be there. The junior sailors were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of Harken blocks danced in their heads; And mamma and me tangled in New England Rope, Had just settled down for a long evening grope. When out on the docks there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed, and mamma less so. To see what sailed in on the nor easterly blow, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should arose, But a Melges 32, and eight hiking pros. Up on a plane, the boat so well led, I instantly knew it was the Scuttlebutt ed. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, Ullman! now, Dana! now, Doyle and Johnstone! On, Reynolds! on Carroll! on, Craig and Gladstone! I style you in Kaenons! You are wearing Camet! Now get it together as the kite must be set" With Interlux paint, the hull was so clean, A coating of McLube providing the sheen, So out to the pier end the coursers they flew, With the boat full of swag, and The Curmudgeon too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard from a far, The stumbling and bumbling of this internet rock star. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, In the door came The 'Mudge with a bound. His kit was complete, nothing to sort, Pimped out with the best from Team One Newport; No shortage of gifts he had flung on his back, The elves at APS had filled up his pack. His eyes -- a bit red! his dimples quite scary! His cheeks, they were sagging; his nose -- a big cherry! His loud little mouth, drawn up like a bow, And his unshaven face was as white as the snow; A Mount Gay and Tonic he held tight in his hand, Already wearing his Key West Race Week wrist band; Emptying his drink, he focused his stare, On the shirts he had screened from The Pirates Lair. The Flexofold prop had been straining his back. Out came the Laser from his oversized sack; With a wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Out came the O'Pen BIC that the Optis so dread; He spoke not a word, sorting it all, The rigging and carbon from Southern and Hall, Stacks of gift cards came from West Marine, Another great calendar from shooter Sharon Green; His cocktail now gone, the gifts now dispersed, Down the dock he went, at the crew now he cursed. But to the 'Buttheads he screamed as he planned out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night." Scuttleblog: http://sailingscuttlebutt.blogspot.com/2010/12/night-before-christmas.html PLENTY TO BE THANKFUL ABOUT I am pleased to say that Scuttlebutt continues to be a thrill to provide to the sport. The job of editing and publishing the newsletter is an all day event, but it is made much easier by the tremendous support from the sailing community. And when I screw up, I can count on that feedback too. But none of this would be possible without advertising support, and I find the group of Scuttlebutt sponsors to represent the very best of the marine industry. The past couple months have been a busy time at Scuttlebutt World Headquarters, as the marketing decisions of the marine industry have been focusing on their 2011 budgets. And I am extremely pleased to say that advertising sales at Scuttlebutt are higher than ever. It's been unbelievable really, with nearly all the ad inventory for 2011 already pre-sold. The time between Christmas and New Years is a holiday at Scuttlebutt, so there will be no newsletters published next week. I am sure that won't stop the venue negotiations for the America's Cup, the youth extravaganza in Miami, or the ocean racing classic in Sydney. But it will give me a chance to rest, time to enjoy my family, and a needed excuse to get away from the computer. Thanks again for your support, and see ya in 2011. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt editor/publisher CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. - Oren Arnold, author |
