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SCUTTLEBUTT 2842 - Tuesday, May 12, 2009Scuttlebutt 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. Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Today's sponsors are Camet, North Sails, and LaserPerformance THE MOST DIFFICULT MANEUVER - Brad Nichol If you were curious about what the most difficult maneuver is in a Volvo Ocean 70, it is a tight tack into the weather mark with the upwind code-zero up followed by a quick set of the spinnaker. Five big grinds in a row. A code-zero is a sail designed for sailing up wind that is set off the top of the mast and the end of the bow sprit. When fully trimmed in, it reaches all the way to the back of the boat, nearly 80 feet! Telefonica calls their code-zero “the anaconda” because it is so big. In order to tack, you have to furl the sail to get it around the headstay and then unfurl it on the new tack. Each time it takes six guys grinding to get it done. Follow that by a spinnaker hoist, another furl, and a big spinnaker trim and you really get a work out. Saturday’s In-Port race in Boston was an amazing experience. Fan Pier was packed with people for the ceremonial dock out where the King of Sweden and the Prince of Saudi Arabia walked the dock and shook the hand of each crew member. Each boat left one by one with their theme song blasting and the announcer going through the list of crew members. Puma, the hometown team, left to the Drop Kick Murphy’s “Back to Boston” and Telefonica Black rocked out to “Black” by Pearl Jam. Unfortunately, it was a very light wind day and we slowly cruised around under postponement for an hour. Even though it was very early in the season, Boston came out in full force with hundreds of spectator boats. The first race got started in 5-6 knots of wind, but with the “anaconda” we were able to do almost 10 knots upwind. Amazing boats. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/opp6gw * The Scuttlebutt website now has video samples from the Inmarsat Media Prize for Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, which includes winning footage by Gustav Morin (Ericsson 3) along with top nominees Guy Salter (Ericsson 4) and Rick Deppe (PUMA). Morin and Deppe are hot contenders for the 10 000 euro achievement prize that leading satellite service provider, Inmarsat, will also award in St. Petersburg. View here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/News/08/Inmarsat/leg6.asp ENHANCING AND MARKETING THE PRODUCT For 2009 there has been a major investment in the Audi MedCup Regatta Village in order to make the sport and the Circuit as accessible as possible to visitors to each of the five host cities this season -- Alicante, Marseille, Cagliari, Portimao and Cartagena. Opening on Tuesday, the entrance to the Regatta Village now includes the Circuit’s new 3000 sq meter visitor exhibition area -- the official information and welcome point. A small exhibition area simplifies and explains how the TP52 Series and GP42 Series boats work, from the basic dynamics of how they sail right through to some of the more advanced technologies such as modern rig and sail materials. A short guide to the participating boats and crews as well as what the Audi MedCup Circuit is, puts it all in context. Armed with that information and understanding, it is time to visit the cinema area where there an inspiring, adrenalin pumping eight minutes film brings to life some of the most spectacular and exciting action from the Audi MedCup Circuit. Within the main stage area, for the first time there is now the chance to follow racing live on giant screens fed with the real time simulation from Virtual Eye, supported by live Audio and Text Commentary for the first time. Of course there is still the opportunity to get close to the boats and crews as they line up on the dockside ‘pit-lane’. -- http://www.medcup.org STRUCTURAL FAILURE The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has launched a major new safety initiative in response to the growing number of structural failures, publishing details of the new ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Structural Plan Review. The Structural Plan Review aims to combat an increase in the number of structural failures in offshore yachts and the safety concerns inherent with such failures. The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) have been amended to strengthen the regulation surrounding hull construction and the aim of the Structural Plan Review is to implement compliance with these new requirements as quickly as possible. Jason Smithwick, Head of the ISAF Technical and Offshore Department, explains: "ISAF has sent out a clear message that safety at sea is paramount and structural problems which can result in keel and hull failures must be addressed. The Structural Plan Review provides a clear framework for designers, builders and owners to ensure they comply with the recent updates to the Offshore Special Regulations.” ISAF has created a guide to the new scheme which includes procedural documents for owners, designers, builders and ISAF recognized notified bodies. -- Read on: http://www.sailing.org/28184.php * Full details of the OSR Plan Review and all the accompanying documentation are available to download at www.sailing.org/specialregs/planreview. THE BEST ON THE MARKET TODAY! Camet Performance sailing shorts design and materials are much more sophisticated and take advantage of a proprietary technology that allows the material to literally assist in your own body's thermoregulation process! DWR Supplex fabric provides excellent skin protection with a UV rating of 40, blocking 97.5% of UV rays. The only shorts on the market with gusseted crotch for full range of motion and loose fit. Chosen by crews time after time for major racing programs and rated "best and most popular" by APS Staff. Learn more at: http://www.camet.com/?Click=1163 HERE WE GO AGAIN As hard as it is to believe, the America's Cup is headed back to the New York Supreme Court on Thursday. Although the New York Court of Appeals -- the highest court in all things America's Cup – has ruled in favor of the American BMW Oracle challengers in their prolonged legal battle with the Alinghi defense syndicate, the Swiss are not giving up. This round of legal appeals focuses on the court-set date for the 2010 event and the defense contention that BMW Oracle did not properly identify its challenger. The chances of either claim flying are remote according to America's Cup observers. In fact, there is an equally remote chance that the Swiss could be held in contempt of court for not following the Court of Appeals ruling in a timely fashion. Although under the Deed of Gift, no America's Cup sailed in the Northern Hemisphere can start before May 1, the court's ruling upholding BMW Oracle's claim set the date of the match at 10 months after the final ruling -- which would be next February. Alinghi is seeking to have the Deed of Gift's date recognized. Meanwhile, San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club, the official challenger representing BMW Oracle, rejected a request from the defenders to have a second meeting with the Swiss defenders. The Swiss wanted to hold the meeting tomorrow in Geneva, just three days before the court hearing in New York. Unless the court reverses itself, the next America's Cup will be sailed in February. And it will be a one-on-one match between 90-foot trimarans representing Alinghi and BMW Oracle. Oracle's 90x90 trimaran, which trained off San Diego for 3½ months last winter, will be named “USA.” -- Bill Center, Union-Tribune, full story: http://tinyurl.com/pwamof => Curmudgeon’s Comment: the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), sent out a press release late Monday indicating that they had received an “official Notice of Challenge” from the Circolo di Vela Gargnano (CVG) with a certificate for a 90x90foot vessel as per the Golden Gate / BMW Oracle challenge for the 33rd America's Cup. Okay - but Alinghi/SNG cannot accept a second challenge without the agreement of the Challenger of Record: BMW Oracle Racing/GGYC. What do you suppose is the likelihood of that happening? QUOTE / UNQUOTE “Creating a Challenger Series scenario nine months from the event - or spinning for time and delay in the conduct of the 33rd Match does not help the future of what is left of the America's Cup in the medium to long term. These latest moves do suit the short-term interests of a couple of the players. If SNG were genuinely serious about wanting a multi-challenger event, then they would have accepted the offer by Golden Gate YC to race in 33AC yachts - which were the boat of choice of 19 teams, plus now GGYC.” -- Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com, full commentary: http://tinyurl.com/oqt539 IT’S OFFICIAL Sailors have a higher sex drive than other mortals, according to a new study by boffins in raunchy Amsterdam. The Onzin Institute's four-year study, Environmental Effects on the Virility Index, astounded even the program's Director, Dr. Hijgen Krachtig, who said, "As a scientist, one should always be surprised when common knowledge turns out to be true," reports Yachtpals.com The study is part of a larger project which is attempting to measure human sexual drive, ability and potency on a standardized scale, called the Virility Index. The study itself took a group of 2,000 Dutch couples and measured the subject's reaction to several stimuli using a number of sensors, including heat-sensing video cameras, a blood-enzyme monitor, multiple skin and scalp sensors, and something called a "self-calibrating turgidity anchor". The second part of the study measured the couples during actual lovemaking, and then the results of both experiments were collected and cross-referenced with the subject's personal data to provide the results for both individuals, and couples. People who took part in outdoor leisure activities had far higher scores on the index than those who did not, and those who listed "boating/sailing" among their top three activities scored, on average, nearly double that of any other group. The same thing with occupation: Those whose job was listed as "maritime" scored much higher than those who worked on land. – Yachting Monthly, full story: http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20090407154702ymnews.html BARLEYCORN DOMINATES 2009 AYC SERIES Brendan Brownyard and crew aboard his Swan 42 ‘Barleycorn’ dominated their class at the American YC Spring Series scoring six bullets during the two-weekend series. “We are at the point of organization where we arrive at the boat and are able to focus on what needs to be done to make the boat go fast,” said Brownyard who sails with a complete North Sails inventory. “We’ve also made the commitment to keep our sail inventory up to date and not finish a regatta wishing we had added a new light jib…” http://na.northsails.com WHAT ERICSSON 4 IS DOING DIFFERENTLY? Not unlike any other major sporting event, the Volvo Ocean Race teams post their crew line-up prior to each race event. Thus far in the race, every team has made changes but one… Ericsson 4. Scuttlebutt spoke with E4 skipper Torben Grael on the coincidence of this lack of change and their abundance of success: Scuttlebutt: What was the crew rotation plan at the beginning of the race and has that changed any? Torben Grael: “The plan on Ericsson 4 was to not have any rotation, and I think when things go well, normally you do not have the rotation. I think the rotation is something you do normally do to work around some circumstances. In Brasil 1 (during 2005/6 Volvo Ocean Race) we had a planned rotation to bring Knut Frostad for the Southern Ocean legs, the reason there was that we were quite an inexperienced crew and nobody had sailed those legs before so we thought it was a good idea to have someone with more experience on those legs. So that was the reason. Apart from that, the only other rotation was the navigator and that was for other reasons. I think the fact here that we haven’t had any rotations is that nobody has gotten hurt and that the crew is getting along well together. And I think that is a very good sign.” -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0509 SERIOUS CAMPAIGNING Valencia Sailing spoke to Terry Hutchinson, the 2008 Med & World TP52 champion when Quantum Racing arrived in Alicante for the Audi MedCup Regatta after two weeks training in Valencia. Although confident about his boat and the team, the American sailor foresees a tough battle this year and takes nothing for granted. Valencia Sailing: Let's first start with the boat. Have you made any modifications this winter? Terry Hutchinson: We have carried out some changes inside the boat as well some minor structural changes, mostly to make her stronger. The hull and appendage package is the same. Valencia Sailing: The participating fleet is smaller this year. Will that translate into fewer competitors? Terry Hutchinson: No, not at all. The competition will certainly be at least similar to last year. We also saw that boats like Pisco Sour and AUDI Q8 have modified their hull shapes in order to come closer to where we are so potentially, any speed advantage we had upwind last year will shrink as boats have come much closer. As a result none of the races will come easy and I refuse to think it's going to be anything but an absolute battle again. Valencia Sailing: You are the only American team actively participating in the Med TP52 circuit. Is this a result of the tough global financial situation or are there other factors? Terry Hutchinson: BMW Oracle showed up for one regatta last year but I doubt you could consider them an American team. We were the only American team this year and last year and the short answer to your question is that the TP52 class is much more appealing and much more professionally oriented in Europe than it is in the US. That level of sailing doesn't necessarily exist within the TP52 class in the US. For us the easier thing to do was come over here with a sponsor and race the boat. The TP52 class will be a little bit smaller this year because of the tough financial situation worldwide but without a doubt it will be as competitive. When you look at the American entries in this class in the last 4 years there was never a big American presence to begin with. I don't think the finances are the issue, it has more to do with the logistical problems that come with doing a circuit in Europe. -- Full interview: http://tinyurl.com/rbt7z4 LOOKING FOR EVERY CONCEIVABLE ADVANTAGE San Francisco has a very competitive sailing scene. Sailors look for every conceivable advantage ... carbon fiber this, titanium that, kevlar for the other thing. But it's an ancient, and organic, technology that is the king of all speed advantages. The mustache. Bay Area sailors all know that there are some famous mustaches sailing on the Bay: Paul Cayard, Wayne Sharp, Drew Harper, and Kame Richards. All have sported the look for years and it is no coincidence that all of them win races. What makes these mustachio'd sailors faster than the rest of us? Wayne Sharp, noted tactician, points out that it keeps "the lip warmer", a very important consideration in the cold winds of San Francisco. But there has to be more than that. Drew Harper, owner of a brand new Viper 640, didn't want to let out the secret but finally relented that, "the 'stash' helps me find the lifts and dodge the headers. I can't live without it!" Of course that makes sense, the follicles are more sensitive to the wind! Paul Cayard takes it a step further (perhaps explaining why he wins Olympic medals and around the world races), "my mustache is a 'fairing strip' between my nose (rather large) and my upper lip (average). This reduces windage when sailing upwind and therefore improves my boat speed on the all important first windward leg of each race." Basically, the mustache streamlines him and keeps a smooth windflow. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/pyjrwo GET READY FOR SUMMER WITH LASERPERFORMANCE Until May 31, 2009, LaserPerformance is offering rebates of up to $275 on four of our most popular sailboats! From the world-renowned Laser and Sunfish to the Pico and new Bug, visit your local LaserPerformance dealer and learn more about this great program or visit laserperformance.com today. -- http://www.laserperformance.com SAILING SHORTS * The Pacific Coast high school teams took the top three spots at the Mallory Championship for the fleet doublehanded held in St Petersburg, FL over the weekend. Newport Harbor High School won the overall Championship as well as winning low point A and B divisions. San Diego's Cathedral Catholic finished second and Corona del Mar High School rounded out the top 3 of 20 high school teams representing all the areas of the country. Full results can be found at: http://www.stpete.usf.edu/sailingteam/issa-results.htm * Bayview Yacht Club and Chicago Yacht Club have announced that for the first time in many years the winner of the Clark Deroy Trophy will be determined under same rating system. The winner of the trophy will be the combination of highest rank sailboat in all divisions in the Chicago Race to Mackinac and the best in Division I (Cove Island ORR) for the Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac Race. The winning yacht of this trophy is considered the overall champion of both races. -- http://www.byc.com/ * College Round up: Boston College (11-3) Yale (10-4) and Harvard (10-4) all qualified for the Team Racing Nationals this past weekend at the New England Team Racing Championship for the Fowle Trophy. The University of Washington who will represent the NWICSA at Team Racing Nationals in San Francisco, while the University of Wisconsin has qualified for the Women’s Nationals. * Corpus Christi, TX -- After 20 races in winds averaging 30 knots, Sean Farley (MEX) won the International Kiteboarding North American Course Racing Championships by 25 points over Damen Leroy with Jesse Richman in third place. In the women’s fleet, Sandy Parker (USA) scored a three point win over both Melissa Gil (PUE) who finished second and Kristin Boese (GER), who lost the tie breaker to take third place. -- http://tinyurl.com/pc8d6x * On Thursday, May 14, the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) of Newport will officially open the newly restored 1831 Aquidneck Mill building, an historic landmark whose restoration provides expansion space for the school as well as lease space for twelve companies that have relocated businesses, jobs, and new economic activity to the Lower Thames Street neighborhood. The ceremony begins at the IYRS campus (449 Thames Street) at 11 am. Ceremonies will be followed by an open house that runs until 2 pm so members of the public can tour the building—one of only two surviving mills in Newport. -- http://www.iyrs.org *The breeze was a little soft Monday morning when 24 -boat Tybee 500 fleet of Formula18 and Inter-20 catamarans started Leg One off the beaches Islamorada in the Florida Keys on their way to Hollywood Beach. There was a fair pile-up at the committee boat end of the line since the start is squared to the racecourse and not the wind. Some friendly discussion resulted in Team Chums taking a quick penalty turn right out of the gate and Magic Marine ate an OCS. -- The event blog is posted at: http://www.tybee500.com/home CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You know you’re a redneck when your grandmother has "ammo" on her Christmas list. Special thanks to Camet, North Sails, and LaserPerformance. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
