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SCUTTLEBUTT 2520 – January 28, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. QUALITY CONDITIONS RETURN TO KEY WEST (January 25, 2008) Acura Key West 2008, presented by Nautica, was among the strangest and most challenging in the 21-year history of the regatta. Things didn’t look good on Wednesday night after two of the initial three days of the regatta were cancelled due to bad conditions. Making matters worse was the fact the forecast for Thursday was for a second straight day of light, fickle breeze. However, Mother Nature did an about face and brought a solid 12-knot northerly that enabled organizers with Premiere Racing to get in two races on Thursday. Things got even better on Friday with a northeasterly bringing 16-20 knot winds that allowed for three more races to be held. “This was a classic Key West day. It was breeze on with warm weather and sunshine. You couldn’t have asked for a better final day,” Melges 24 winner Dave Ullman said. “I think the race committee did an amazing job this week. To hold eight races in three days is really quite amazing,” said Thomas Coates, who won the J/105 class for the fourth consecutive year at Acura Key West and also garnering the Midwinter Championship. Winning for the first time was Jim Richardson, who claimed the Farr 40 class title after 11 trips to Key West. The Boston resident and crew of Barking Mad accomplished that feat in dramatic fashion, winning the eighth and final race to capture a tiebreaker with Mascalzone Latino. Barking Mad also earned the prestigious Acura Trophy as Boat of the Week. -- Complete report: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5756#5756 * Scuttlebutt has posted all the daily reports throughout the week from event scribe Bill Wagener along with those from Paul Cayard and the Farr 40, Melges 32, and Melges 24 classes. They all can be found at http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5718#5718 * Acura Key West attracts the top photographers of the sport, many of which have contributed to Scuttlebutt’s annual Key West photo gallery. Special thanks go to Sharon Green, Amory Ross, Ingrid Abery, Rick Tomlinson, Allen Clark, Jan Pehrson, and Billy Black. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/kw Final Results Swan 42 (12 boats) 1. Bandit, Andy Fisher (Newport, RI), 32 2. Tiburon, Mark Watson (Newport, RI), 37 3. Amelia, Alex Jackson (Riverside, CT), 39 Farr 40 (25 boats) 1. Barking Mad, James Richardson (Newport, RI), 29 2. Mascalzne Latino, Vincenzo Onorato (Napoli, ITA), 29 3. Twins, Erik Maris (Paris, FRA), 37 J/105 (34 boats) 1. Masquerade, Thomas Coates (Newport, RI), 13 2. eclipse, Damian Emery (Mt. Sinai, NY), 55 3. Kincsem, J Esdorn/D Hennes (Rye, NY), 57 Melges 32 (27 boats) 1. Star, Jeff Ecklund (Fort Lauderdale, FL), 25 2. New Wave, Carroll/Kullman (Clearwater, FL), 27 3. RED, Joe Woods (Torquay, GBR), 32 Mumm 30 (15 boats) 1. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas (Santa Barbara, CA), 18 2. Turbo, Duck von der Wense (Annapolis, MD), 24 3. TeamBOLD, Nelson Stephenson (Southport, CT), 29 Melges 24 (46 boats) 1. Pegasus 505, David Ullman (Newport Beach, CA), 21 2. Blu Moon, Franco Rossini (Lugano, SUI), 24 3. WTF, Alan Field (Marina Del Rey, CA), 36 J/80 (19 boats) 1. Rumor, John Storck, Jr (Huntington, NY), 8 2. Lifted, Kerry Klingler (Larchmont, NY), 19 3. Painkiller Jane, Magnus Tyreman (Stockholm, SWE), 27 Corsair 28R (9 boats) 1. Flight Simulator, Tom Reese (Youngstown, NY), 11.5 2. Relentless, Peter Katcha (St Petersburg, FL), 12 3. Evolution, Kathryn Garlick (Terra Ceia, CAN), 22 IRC-1 (10 boats) 1. Numbers (JV 66), Daniel Meyers (Newport, RI), 10 2. Flash Glove (JV 52), Colm Barrington (Dun Laoghaire, IRL), 14 3. Samba Pa Ti (TP52), John Kilroy, Jr. (Dover, DE), 16 IRC-2 (10 boats) 1. Murka 2 (Swan 45), Mikhail Mouratov (Douglas, UK), 14 2. Gold Digger (J/44), James Bishop (Jamestown, RI), 20 3. Christphr Dragn (J/122), Andrew Weiss (Greenwich, CT), 22 PHRF-1 (9 boats) 1. Stark Raving Mad (J/125), James Madden (Newport Beach, CA), 11 2. Wairere (Thompson 30), Pete Hunter (Kill Devil Hill, NC), 13 3. Spaceman Spiff (1D35), Abigail Ruhlman (Cleveland, OH), 18 PHRF-2 (9 boats) 1. Emocean (J/120),Will Hanckel (Charleston, SC), 7 2. Primal Scream (C&C 115), Steven Stollman (Key Biscayne, FL), 20 3. Overlap (Bene 40.7), Michael Williamson (London, UK), 26 PHRF-3 (8 boats) 1. Temptress (SR-33), Robert Hibdon (Charleston, SC), 9 2. Bluto (Evelyn 32), Bill Berges (Bokeelia, FL), 14 3. Jack-A-Roe (Olson 30), John Dybas (Chicago, IL), 21 PHRF-4 (10 boats) 1. Bad Girl (J/100), Robert Armstrong (St. Croix, USVI), 8 2. Tangent (Cape Fear 38), Gerry Taylor (Annapolis, MD), 17 3. Leading Edge (J/35), Tom Sutton (Seabrook, TX), 26 PHRF-5 (8 boats) 1. Britsar (T-10), Ken Schram (Bay View YC, MI), 10 2. Cool Breeze (J/29), John Cooper (Cane Hill, MO), 14 3. Seefest (J/29), Ira Perry (Padanaram, MA), 23 PHRF-6 (10 boats) 1. One Up (Wyliecat 30), L Schoenberger (Bridgeport, CT), 10 2. Horizon (S2 7.9), Bob Fleck (Alexandria, VA), 15 3. Lucky Ducky (Wyliecat 30), Hall Palmer (San Francisco, CA), 21 Complete results: http://tinyurl.com/24vvfw Daily videos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/08/0121 RYE, TORONTO, CINCINNATI, AND SANTA MONICA Those are the first four of 18 cities where Dave Perry, David Dellenbaugh, and Brad Dellenbaugh are teaching Rules and Tactics Seminars this winter. Perhaps you could learn a thing or two... From fundamental principles to nuances highlighting the difference between right-of-way and control, understand the rules and the tactics the rules dictate. Turn rules situations into tactical opportunities. Enrollment is limited. Sign up now (risk free) and receive Perry’s Rules Quiz book and Dellebaugh’s Rules DVDs with the course. Learn more at NorthU. Call 800-347-2457 or http://www.northu.com ROLEX MIAMI OCR STARTS MONDAY Miami, Fla. (January 27, 2008) – Though the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are four years away, it's not too early to begin serious training. That's why 2.4mR sailor Mark Bryant (Estevo, Fla.) is at US Sailing’s Rolex Miami OCR in Coconut Grove where 375 sailors from 34 countries have converged to "test against the best." Bryant, a US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member, last year lost the U.S. Olympic Trials for his paralympic class by one point, so he has been training with the French 2004 Paralympic Gold Medalist and two-time World Champion (2005/2007) Damien Seguin to improve his game for the next time around. They will both compete in the Rolex Miami OCR, which starts Monday and continues through Friday with fleet racing in four Olympic classes (Laser, Laser Radial, Star, and Yngling) for able-bodied sailors and three paralympic classes (2.4mR, SKUD-18 and Sonar) for disabled sailors. Medal races in the Olympic classes will take place Saturday, replicating the format of the Olympic Regatta which will take place in September in Qingdao, China. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5764;#5764 OLYMPIC SAILING DOWN UNDER * Melbourne, Australia (January 27, 2008) Two more races sailed Sunday in the Finn Gold Cup, are bringing the regatta favourites close together. Dan Slater (NZL) is starting to really feel the pressure, he is still leading the championship but on equal points with Ben Ainslie (GBR). 2005 World Champion and World #1 sailor, Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) is only 5 points behind the leader after a 6th and a victory in the last race. The top North American is Chris Cook (CAN), presently in 5th overall. Monday’s last fleet race will determine who qualifies among the top 10 for the medal race on Tuesday. -- Event website: http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/event/finngoldcup2008 * Melbourne, Australia (January 27, 2008): With the qualifying series completed for the 470 Mens and Womens World Championship, three days of Gold and Silver flight racing began Sunday, with the medal race for the top ten to follow on January 30th. Currently leading the men is Nicholas Rogers/ Joe Glanfield (GBR), with top North Americans Stu McNay/ Graham Biehl well out of the picture in 29th place. On the women’s side, Marcelien De Koning/ Lobke Berkhout (NED) are on top, with leading North Americans Erin Maxwell/ Isabelle Kinsolving (USA) and Amanda CLARK/ Sarah Mergenthaler (USA) doing well in 3rd and 6th, respectively. A nasty crash involving Nic Asher/ Elliott Willis (GBR) and Matthew Belcher/ Nick Behrans (AUS) sent Willis to the hospital, and left the Aussie crew with a broken mast, shroud, and severely bent boom. -- Event website: http://www.sailmelbourne.com.au/event/470worldchampionships2008 MISSING YACHTING TROPHY RETURNED (January 26, 2008) After a day of media attention, a prized trophy that had been missing from the Milwaukee Yacht Club for two weeks mysteriously reappeared Friday evening, returned to the front door of the club by an anonymous man who then disappeared into the night. The most recent winner, Jorgen Johnsson of Chicago, was out of the country and couldn't attend this year, so the trophy was never formally presented. The 18-inch cup, made of real silver and valued at $49,000, sat on display with the club's other awards on a banquet table as about 200 members and guests enjoyed the event Jan. 11. Engraved with names of amateur sailors from the past 60 years, some of whom went on to win Olympic medals such as Dick Stearns, Buddy Melges and John Kostecki, the McNulty Trophy is presented annually at the Yacht Club's awards dinner in January. Club officials searched the building at 1700 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive for the trophy. They contacted club members. They hoped it might return. When it didn't, they filed a theft report this week with the Milwaukee Police Department. "We’re very grateful to the media for bringing light to the missing trophy and helping to bring it back to the yacht club," Johnston said. "We are ecstatic it's back here where it belongs." -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, complete story: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=711462 THE 2008 REGATTA SEASON IS ON! Now that the de-facto start of regatta season - Key West 2008 - has finished, The Pirates Lair is handing out deals port and starboard. Check out these: => DryShirt and ProWik tech shirt start at $26. (event qtys. only) => 72-144 embroidered hats start at $4.99 => Burgee Tees w/3 colors start at $4.99 (36pcs min.) => Fleece Vests start at $19.99 => Mount Gay Rum discounted gear (online store only) Log on to http://www.pirateslair.com/sailing for a free catalog or mailto:info@pirateslair.com for specific questions. BARCELONA WORLD RACE Open 60 doublehanded round the world race (started Nov 11; 25,000-miles) (Day 78 – January 27, 2008) Paprec-Virbac 2, the leader of the Barcelona World Race has crossed back into the Northern hemisphere and today managed to escape the clutch of a stubborn doldrums. Skippers Jean-Pierre Dick and Damian Foxall are now on the home stretch, with just a little more than 10 percent of the race distance left until the finishing line off Barcelona. “It was quite difficult to get through the doldrums, tacking through the light winds,” Jean-Pierre said on Sunday afternoon, sounding very, very tired. “It was very gusty, lots of wind shifts and rain so we had to stay awake to take care of the situation. It was a stressful, tiring night, but in the morning, we had better winds, and we are heading the way we want to now. -- http://www.barcelonaworldrace.com Positions at 18:00 GMT 1-Paprec-Virbac 2, Jean-Pierre Dick/ Damian Foxall, 2,806 nm DTF 2-Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson/ Andrew Cape, 647 nm DTL 3-Temenos II, Dominique Wavre/ Michéle Paret, 1,616 4-Mutua Madrilena, Javier Sanso Windmann/ Pachi Rivero, 1,655 5-Educación sin Fronteras, Servane Escoffier/ Albert Bargues, 2,986 Retired - PRB, Vincent Riou / Sébastien Josse (broken mast) Retired -Delta Dore, Jérémie Beyou/ Sidney Gavignet (broken mast) Retired - Estrella Damm, Guillermo Altadill/ Jonathan McKee, (rudder damage) Retired - Veolia Environnement, Roland Jourdain/Jean-Luc Nélias (broken mast) FOR THE RECORD * Jules Verne Trophy (crewed circumnavigation around the three capes): (Day 78 – January 27, 2008; 22:45 UTC) The quiet areas of the Canary archipelago are now behind the 103-foot maxi trimaran Groupama 3, and Franck Cammas and his nine crew can finally tap the potential of the giant trimaran: after a last stop at 5:00 this Sunday due to the last weak winds area, they have received African trade winds blowing between 20 and 25 knots of Sector East. The way to Cape Verde promises to be very fast. The archipelago should be reached in the middle of next night, after a little over three and a half days at sea. With 22,594 nm remaining, the current advance is 236nm over Bruno Peyron’s record set in March 2005, when his team sailed the course in 50 days, 16 hours, 20 minutes. -- http://www.cammas-groupama.com/en * Route de l'Or (crewed route from New York to San Francisco): (Day 10 – January 27, 2008; 22:30 UTC) The 110-ft catamaran Gitana 13 skippered by Lionel Lemonchois continues to make great progress, sailing a course at 27 knots along the eastern coast of the South American continent, positioned just south of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gitana 13 has sailed 380 nm in the past 24 hours, and her distance to finish is 8414.5 nm. -- http://www.gitana-team.com/en/gitana10/homepage.asp AMERICA’S CUP: CHALLENGER UPDATES * A new French syndicate has lodged a challenge to compete in the forthcoming 33rd America’s Cup. Marc Pajot is acting as CEO of the “French Spirit” challenge based in the city of Saint-Tropez. However, given the state of uncertainty regarding the immediate future of the next match, the management of the challenge wishes to refrain from giving any further information about the development of the operations until the current litigation between BMW Oracle/GGYC and Alinghi/SNG is settled. -- AFP, complete report: http://tinyurl.com/275tmz * Team Germany, the proposed German challenge for the next America's Cup, will reduce its operation costs and not extend the contract of sport director Joechen Schuemann, according to a report to appear here on Monday. Team Germany's owner Michael Scheeren told Monday's edition of German magazine Focus Schumann's contract is one of several which will not be extended, partly due to the cup's legal dispute in an American court. "A certain number of contracts, including Jochen Schuemann's, expires on March 31 and we will not be extended," said Scheeren. "We cannot continue to finance a large team without knowing more about where the America's Cup will take place in 2011," added Scheeren with the venue for the 33rd America's Cup currently under dispute. -- AFP, complete report: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hhTYnu8rjZsxQL11tw5WTAoNmaNw SWEET SALE for SAILORS Onne van der Wal posters are a perfect gift for your valentine! Over 20 to choose from: boats, regattas, lighthouses, and harbors – there is something for everyone at a great price. February only: 50% off unframed posters, 25% off framed posters. It’s not too early - Shop online at http://www.vanderwal.com SAILING SHORTS * The Caribbean racing season was recently launched with the St Maarten-St Martin Classic Yacht Regatta, which partners with the newly started Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta (February), the long time established Antigua Classics (April), and several other renowned events to provide enough reasons for classic yachts and friends to come to the Caribbean. Scuttlebutt thanks photographer Cory Silken for providing images from the event. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0126 * The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association of North American has appointed a committee to design a new collegiate dinghy. The immediate goal is to come up with a set of characteristics that are desired in such a craft, and the committee is currently soliciting ideas and opinions from a wide range of sailors, coaches, and others. To review submitted comments, and to post comments, go to http://www.collegesailing.org/blog.asp * With the Star Worlds 2008 coming to Miami in April, there was a strong fleet of 68 boats from 24 nations in town for the Biscayne Bay Trophy event. Saturday saw light winds while a shifty, stronger breeze greeted the fleet on Sunday. Germany’s Robert Stanjek and Markus Koy won the event, followed by Luca Moden and Sergio Lambertenghi from Italy with Bermuda’s Peter Bromby and crew Lee White came in third. The top Master (over 50) skipper was US sailor Carl Buchan with son, James crewing. They finished 6th overall. -- Results: http://tinyurl.com/2gtsbt * World ARC yacht Tillymint, an Oyster 82 taking part in World Cruising Club’ s 15-month round the world rally, was involved in the dramatic rescue of a stranded Caribbean fisherman whilst on route to Panama. After the rally’s start on January 23rd from St.Lucia, Tillymint encountered a small open fishing vessel from St.Lucia that had been adrift for 20 days. To help attract attention, the fisherman started a fire, but when it got out of control, they had to jump into the sea. In the darkness and weather conditions at the time, Tillymint was only able to locate one of the four fishermen. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/yupt2s * The 2008 IRC Measurement manual is now available on the RORC website. – http://www.rorcrating.com CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Gregory Scott: (regarding the ISAF letter provided to SNG lawyers as mentioned in Issue 2519) There are times when a statement is made and soon after, it appears very much out of place. Once again, ISAF demonstrates to me how they are out of touch with the world around them. Scuttlebutt has addressed this numerous times and I would have hoped they would learn by past experience. Obviously not. It would appear as though a minimum of two scenarios were in place while crafting the soon to be "famous letter". 1. They are completely devoid of any knowledge of a serious dispute relating to AC sailing and the importance of the word "keel". How that is possible is best described in the "archives" of Butt and the letters trouncing their past actions. 2. They are so absorbed in their self importance that the opportunity to pronounce on what is becoming a "big issue" was so mouthwatering that they just couldn't resist. ISAF were thrown a herring and swallowed it whole, somehow neglecting that it may have a hook attached. It is absolutely mind-boggling how they could have been dragged into this event with such little caution. It is my guess that most readers of Butt have in our careers received such invites, and those with a brain have stepped back and said.... I think I will be very careful with this one... Whether it's #1 or #2, either way they haven't served us well at all. Given an opportunity to act, they dove. Sometimes in shifty winds, it's wiser to sail up the middle rather than shoot a corner. * From Alan Shore: (in responses to John Harwood-Bee's letter on Jerome Pels in Issue 2519) John Harwood-Bee makes interesting points about the latest twist in the America's Cup legal drama regarding ISAF Secretary General Jerome Pels' opinion letter in support of SNG. What troubles me more than Mr. Pels' torturing of both yacht design principles and class rules, is what seems to be an abject lack of respect for the ISAF process. Is Mr. Pels now "the decider" for all things ISAF, and if so, are the rules that once applied to ISAF about not communicating with clubs directly and only communicating with national entities and classes different under this new regime? Why did this communication with SNG from Pels happen at all, and then if ISAF was to communicate directly with SNG, why didn't this opinion come from a committee Chair? It is all just so suspicious. Is Mr. Pels related to Ben Ainsle, who is the nominated skipper for Origin? Origin's club, Royal Thames YC announces submission of their "backup challenge" in the same week as Pels' opinion of support for SNG is announced, the purpose of the Pels letter is clearly to hurt GGYC and have RTYC become the Challenger of Record. Is this a conflict of interest? What exactly is going on here? Will Mr. Pels or ISAF President Peterson explain what Pels did, and why? Or will their lack of explanation tell us all we need to know about the new ISAF? * From Eric A Sorensen: There certainly are different levels of distress in yachting. After reading about Derek Hatfield's end over end topple off of Cape Horn (in Issue 2519), I felt that my little issue of replacing a through-hull switch was pretty much dull and pedestrian. This type of inspiration (reading of Hatfield's cruise) has lifted me out of the funk I was in about doing something that would allow a stream of water to flow in from below which is a natural cause of physics. The end for end tumble is just not natural and totally off the wall in terms of every day sailing (unless you are racing catamarans in too much wind). Thanks for putting in such a stimulating article. My own distress has faded and will be gone once the part is replaced and I won't even have to go swimming to do it. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money? Special thanks to North U, The Pirate’s Lair, and Onne van der Wal Gallery. A complete list of Scuttlebutt’s preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
