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SCUTTLEBUTT 2756 - Friday, January 9, 2009
Scuttlebutt 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.
Today's sponsors are North U, Charleston Race Week, and Charleston to Bermuda.
FASTEST SAILING CRAFT OF ALL TIME?
Any moment now, a British adventurer will step out onto the surface of a vast
frozen lake in the U.S. state of Montana, squeeze himself into a machine that
looks like a Star Wars space fighter and attempt to beat one of the toughest
speed records in the world.
If Richard Jenkins, 32, succeeds, he will not only blast his way into the record
books as the fastest sail-powered man ever to race across the face of the earth,
he will shine a new light on British engineering and crown a nine-year hunt for
the perfect wind. And he will strike a blow for old-style British adventuring,
because his quest has been sustained almost entirely by unsponsored personal
effort, often while camping out in an old $760 van.
All this makes the current record bid that much more exciting. "It will be a
benchmark, a stake in the ground," says Jenkins. "Trying to beat the elements
and set a record is an incredibly hard thing to do. And the reason I've striven
to do it is that it's a huge technical achievement, a massive engineering
challenge and a physical challenge. It will be great to do."
There are two world speed-sailing records at stake, both set by Americans within
the last decade. The record for a purely sail-powered vehicle on land stands at
116mph - almost twice as fast as the quickest sailing-craft on water. The
highest reliable recorded sailing speed on ice, a vastly different technical
challenge, is 84mph. By streaking across the frozen water of 35,000-acre Canyon
Ferry Reservoir in Montana, Jenkins hopes to smash both records by reaching
120mph, possibly even 125mph. This would make Greenbird, named in honour of
Donald Campbell's engine-powered Bluebird, the fastest sailing craft of all
time. -- Telegraph, read on: http://SButt010809a.notlong.com
THE BIGGEST “GAME CHANGE” IN THE NEW RULES
On January 1, 2009, the new edition of The Racing Rules of Sailing go into
effect. Dave Perry, Chairman of the US SAILING Appeals Committee, explains some
of the game changes that the new rules will create:
Rule 18.4 (gybing at a leeward mark) does not apply at a gate mark. This may be
the biggest “game change” in the new rules. When a leeward “gate” is being used
(two leeward marks close to one another that boats pass between and exit in
either direction), rule 18.4 does not apply (see rule 18.4). That means that
when a boat is approaching a gate mark on the inside with right of way over
other boats (and assuming that rule 17 does not apply; i.e., she did not become
overlapped from clear astern which would require her to not sail above her
proper course), she does not need to gybe to sail her proper course around that
mark for as long as she remains the right-of-way boat. She may sail farther from
the mark than needed to sail her proper course, even if she has no intention of
sailing over to the other gate mark. She might do this because she is having
difficulty lowering her spinnaker, or because she wants to push the outside boat
outside of the zone or over to the other mark. Outside keep-clear boats will
need to keep clear of her under rules 10 (port/starboard) or 11
(windward/leeward). The take-away here is, more than ever, outside boats should
not have their bows “locked” outside of boats they are giving room to or keeping
clear of at marks.
=> Curmudgeon’s Comment: Nothing beats a quality rules seminar for getting up to
speed with a new rule book. Dave Perry will be presenting the changes in San
Diego, CA this Friday, with Brad Dellenbaugh (North U) presenting in Tiburon, CA
on Saturday and Long Beach, CA on Sunday.
Here is a list of seven rule changes that Dave has found to change the game:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0108
WILL A CATAMARAN EVENT BE IN THE 2012 OLYMPICS?
By Nick Dewhirst, Chairman, UK Catamaran Racing Assn
Following the meeting of its Executive Board on 10-12th December, the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a number of press statements on
various subjects but none on the issue of allocating Events. Our contact with
the IOC Press Office also confirmed that no statement was made at the press
conference and that unless any special action is taken, there will be no comment
on any negotiations with any of the various sports. Unlike the International
Sailing Federation (ISAF), the IOC agendas are not public documents, so it is
not possible even to confirm if our petition was discussed.
However IOC has confirmed that the final announcement of Events for all sports
in the 2012 Games will be made at its 15-16th June meeting. As the ISAF Mid-Year
meeting takes place in May without knowing the outcome, this means that Council
will have to make contingency plans. As Petersson said, "In case of a subsequent
positive decision by the IOC, we may have to make a decision on both an 11th
event and class in the Mid-Year Meetings in May next year in order to be able to
give our sailors as much time as possible to prepare – the Annual Conference in
November, in my opinion, will be too late. What are the chances for an 11th
medal? It is very difficult to judge but I would say we have given it our best."
-- Read on:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6864#6864
CONFUSED?
The New Racing Rules took effect January 1. If you are unclear on the new rules,
you should attend a US Sailing Racing Rules Seminars. These full day seminars,
presented by North U, explain the rules changes and help you use them to your
advantage. You'll have your questions answered, participate in racing scenarios
and receive a free Racing Rules Workbook created by North U. and Dave Perry.
Coming soon to a town near you. For a full seminar schedule, visit
http://www.NorthU.com
BACK TO THE RACE COURSE FOR VOR TEAMS
(Jan. 8, 2009) - The next event for the Volvo Ocean Race teams will be the
Singapore In-Port Race on January 10, 2009 (1300 local time). Weather
permitting, the Race Committee may run up to two in-port races during the day,
with the overall score (either 1 or 2 races) from the day being viewed as a
single race, and will earn half as many points as earned on a race leg. After
that, the fleet will begin Leg 4, the 2,500 nm route from Singapore to Qingdao,
China, on January 18, 2009. Here is the latest update since the fleet finished
Leg 3 from Cochin, India to Singapore:
* Ericsson 3 has been penalised one point after the International Jury ruled
they breached an exclusion zone during leg three from Cochin, India to
Singapore. The Race Committee had filed a protest against Ericsson 3 after
reviewing the position data recorded in race headquarters and on the boat itself
during leg three. The data appeared to show Ericsson 3 had sailed into an area
the Race Committee had declared ‘out of bounds' prior to the start.
* "We are very happy at the outcome," Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael said,
moments after learning the protest against his team by the Rule Management Group
had been dismissed by the International Jury. "I have dedicated my whole life to
sailing so then to find out that I might have been guilty of doing something
illegal to my boat doesn't feel very good, especially when it is in front of
friends and the public." The International Jury made their ruling in response to
a claim that Ericsson 4 was required to inform the Rule Management Group of the
changed bow section under Volvo Open 70 Rule (Version 2) 3.1.
* Guillermo Altadill, the veteran Spanish sailor who was Team Russia's watch
leader for the first leg from Alicante before leaving in Cape Town, has joined
Team Delta Lloyd. The team’s navigator Matt Gregory (USA) is to be replaced
though his successor is yet to be announced while 49er skipper André Fonseca
(BRA) has been recruited as helmsman/trimmer and Peter van Niekerk (NED) leaves
the team to honour his commitments to Alinghi
Current standings after Leg Three
1. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 35 points
2. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 30.5 points
3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 27.5 points
4. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Anders Lewander/SWE, 22.5 points**
5. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 20.5 points
6. Telefonica Black (ESP), F. Echavarri/ESP, 19.5 points
7. Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, 10.5 points
8. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 9 points
Race website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org
Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4
Race replay and tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com
** Point total reflects one point penalty per story above.
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
(Jan. 8, 2009; Day 60) -- At 1920 GMT on Jan. 7th, only a matter of an hour and
20 minutes since passing Cape Horn, Vincent Riou called his team to report that
PRB has been dismasted. Riou and his rescued passenger, Jean Le Cam, are safe
and well. They had around 25 knots of NW’ly wind when they believe that the
temporary lashing which they had made to the chain plate gave way. The lashing
had been made after the end of PRB’s port outrigger was damaged against the Le
Cam’s upturned keel fin during his rescue. PRB was taken under tow by the
Chilean Navy and was due to reach Port Williams at around 0845hrs GMT this
morning.
Based around the distance to finish calculated using the theoretical route,
Roland Jourdain seems to be well placed to challenge Michel Desjoyeaux. 250
miles further west, the skipper of Veolia Environnement is already 20 miles
further north than the current leader. The two are not tackling the small
low-pressure systems off the coast of Argentina in the same way and with a lead
of only a hundred miles the position of Michel Desjoyeaux does look tenable,
racing in 20-25 knots of SW’ly winds. The fight is on and there will be plenty
of opportunities for tactical plays with major upsets possible. Armel Le Cléac'h
(Brit Air) is experiencing much quieter weather and is heading due north at
12-15 knots after rounding the islands off the tip of Patagonia.
Solo, non-stop, around the world race in Open 60s.
Standings as of 18:30 UTC (Top 5 plus of 30 entrants; 12 now competing): **
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA), Foncia, 5895.4nm Distance to finish
2. Roland Jourdain (FRA), Veolia Environnement, 138.9 nm Distance to leader
3. Armel Le Cléac´h (FRA), Brit Air, 784.3 nm DTL
4. Samantha Davies (GBR), Roxy, 1948.3 nm DTL
5. Marc Guillemot (FRA), Safran, 2343.2 nm DTL
9. Dee Caffari (GBR), Aviva, 3172.9 nm DTL
11. Rich Wilson (USA), Great American III, 4992.3 nm DTL
Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en
Complete standings: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ranking.html
Race tracking: http://tracking.vendeeglobe.org/en
** Scuttlebutt has adjusted standings from race website to reflect the
abandonment of Vincent Riou/PRB
STILL A CHANCE FOR THE RECORD
The 105-foot maxi-trimaran Sodeb’O crossed the equator for the second time in
her journey around the world on Wednesday 7th January, at 1933 UT, after 50
days, 5 hours and 39 minutes of racing against the clock to set a new solo
record. Skipper Thomas Coveille crossed this final passage mark with a deficit
of 2 days, 3 hours and 18 minutes on Francis Joyon’s time after having made up
two and half days on the reference time since rounding Cape Horn.
While Coveille has been faster than his adversary since the start, a 19.60 knot
average for Joyon and IDEC compared with 19.97 for Sodeb'O, Coveille has had to
cover 1,450 more miles in order to get round weather obstacles such as the Saint
Helena High (Francis was able to cut through the middle) as well as the immense
ice zone in the Pacific. With a 588 nm deficit remaining, Coveille, must finish
prior to 15th January, 03h27'20'' UTC for the record. -- Kate Jennings, team
website: http://www.sodebo-voile.com/accueil.html
RAYMARINE PRIZES, VINEYARD VINES GIFTS & FREE-FLOWING RUM
With over $10,000 in prizes, what are y’all waiting for? Charleston Race Week is
April 16-19, 2009 and January is the last month to register with a discount.
Bring friends. Bring family. After a hard fought day of great racing, you are
going to want to enjoy the award-winning cuisine, charm, and hospitality of
America’s friendliest city. The beaches are mighty fine too! Book your
registration and your resort room, which is spitting distance to the docks and
evening beach parties. -- http://www.charlestonraceweek.com
If blue water adventure suits you better, race in the Charleston to Bermuda
event just one month later (May 29 - June 6). --
http://www.charlestontobermuda.com
SAILING SHORTS
* Belmont, Australia (Jan. 8, 2009) - Five times A-Class Catamaran World
Champion Australian Glenn Ashby today won the 2009 A-Cat World Championship for
a sixth time, when he streeted the fleet in Race 7 of the nine race series.
Ashby started the series slowly by his standards, with a third in the light
weather first race in the series; he then won six of the next seven races. There
is one more race planned for Friday, but with the two worst results able to be
dropped, the Beijing Tornado class Olympic Silver medallist cannot be beaten in
this series. -- Event website: http://www.a-catworlds2009.org.au/default.html
* Jensen Beach, FL - One hundred thirty-two of the country's top team racers
competed on 22 teams for the US Team Race Association's Mid-winter Championship
January 3-5th. Team Larchmont Yacht Club-Vineyard Vines won the event dropping
only two races over the course of the three day event winning in the finals over
2005 Hinman Trophy winners, Team Trouble. Sailing for Team Larchmont-Vineyard
Vines in the two person Vanguard 15's were John and Molly Baxter, Danny Pletsch
and Dani Neri, and Nick Ewenson and Meredith Nordhem. Complete results at
http://www.usscmc.org and videos/photos at http://www.sailgroove.org
* Auckland, NZ (Jan. 9, 2009) - The organizers of the Louis Vuitton Pacific
Series confirmed today that ten international teams from nine countries will
match race on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour for a special trophy created by Louis
Vuitton. Racing starts on 30th January and will continue for the next two weeks.
Crews will take turns in racing one-on-one in New Zealand’s NZL 92 and NZL 84
and BMW Oracle Racing’s USA 87 and USA 98. -- Read on:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6866#6866
* The World Match Racing Tour has announced its schedule of events for 2009, the
total prize purse for the 2009 Tour season now stands at over $1.5 million, the
largest in the sport. Beginning with the Match Race Germany on May 27-31, 2009,
nine events are planned, with the overall winner of the Tour crowned 2009 ISAF
Match Racing World Champion following the final event on December 1-6, 2009, the
Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. --
http://iw-217.com/v/139/8af00fadefdc595a3e6e51c36850519d
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine)
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
MEET THE AMICI
By Cory Friedman, Scuttlebutt Legal Analyst
In Part 31, I wrote that we have just about reached the end of the line in the
pending America’s Cup litigation. Not quite. Meet the amici – and are they all
over the lot. Few amici add much to determination of an appeal. In every Supreme
Court case involving business, the environment, labor or consumers, the usual
suspects (the US Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club, etc.) file
briefs predicting the end of the world if the wrong side wins. Some may actually
get read. Occasionally, important amici are filed by retired military officers,
judges or other groups with real experience regarding an issue which provides
additional information useful to the court. Few of the amici in this case have
anything useful to say.
While the Court of Appeals’ Mercury Bay decision restricts the inquiry to the
language of the four corners of the Deed, all of the parties, and the amici in
particular, seek to tip the scale with information outside the Deed. The most
important amicus filed is from the New York Yacht Club (NYYC). -- Read on:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON
Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt
editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the
writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for
clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your
bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open
environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com
-- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum
* From Jeff Linton, 2007 US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the Year: First a salute
to all the nominees and the judges who had to pick the top sailors from a really
talented bunch. Then a big congratulations to both Terry and Anna for the 2008
US Sailing Rolex YOYs.
* From Ed Coyne: (re, coaching story in Issue 2755) I sailed in the Etchells
Worlds in Chicago last summer. I saw that at least one of the teams, immediately
prior to the first race of the day, take the skipper onto their chase boat and
drive him up to the weather mark then return him to the boat just before the
start sequence. This seemed like an extremely unfair advantage.
The professional teams already have the advantage of experience, training and
coaching. Adding coaching and assistance on the race course makes it nearly
impossible to compete. I am in favor of restricting coaching from the point of
departure of the dock on the first race until the end of the last race of the
regatta. This is in keeping with the concept of one design racing.
* From Michael H. Koster: (re, coaching story in Issue 2755) On the subject of
coaching, what follows is a cut and paste from tennis' 2008 Code of Conduct for
ITF Pro Circuit Tournament. Let's consider the race course a court and keep all
coach boats off the course, or at least 50 yards behind the base of the course.
I suspect tennis' approach to this issue is too simplified for sailing!
"Coaching is considered to be communication, advice or instruction of any kind,
audible or visible, to a player. In team events where there is a team captain
sitting on-court, the team captain may coach the player(s) during a set break
and when the players change ends at the end of a game, but not when the players
change ends after the first game of each set and not during a tie-break game.
In all other matches, coaching is not allowed."
* From Julian Everitt: Madness has taken over in International yacht racing. The
latest casualty in the Vendee Globe, Jean Le Cam, became yet another victim of
keel failure. This time it was the ballast bulb which became detached from the
keel fin allowing the yacht to capsize and trap Le Cam inside the upturned hull.
Another incredible rescue was performed by a fellow competitor and in the spirit
of the event, the race goes on. But when and if the remaining 13 competitors
finish the race should it carry on? Well yes, it should. The race and indeed
other major ocean racing events, like the Volvo, are fine in themselves
producing extraordinary competitiveness over prolonged periods. An endurance
sport quite unlike any other, but the boats, or more to the point, the rule
makers who decide the design parameters of the yachts, need a wake up call.
Design characteristics are encouraged which are inherently unsafe - hence the
failures and as designers and engineers, with huge sponsorship budgets to play
with, exploit these weak rules, unnecessary risk is created for the sailors.
Common sense has lost out to the pursuit of speed at any cost.
When the fleet of 30 boats set off on the Vendee adventure, the economic world
was booming with what turned out to be reckless spending, fueling excesses in
many things. What remains of the fleet, when it comes ashore at the finish,
returns to a very different world. Is it a sponsorship world that will remain
interested in funding yachts that are becoming increasingly unsuitable for their
primary purpose?
* From Ted Beier, Senior Judge: (re, Volvo Ocean Race story in #2755) Shame on
the jury for allowing Telefonica Blue to withdraw their protest for reasons of
scores. If Blue felt that a foul had been committed at the time she should go
through with the protest regardless of other considerations. That's how the game
is supposed to be played. Using a protest or not following through with a
protest as a strategic tool for score considerations is NOT how the game should
be played.
CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION
A dollar may not go as far as it used to, but what it lacks in distance it makes
up in speed.
Special thanks to North U, Charleston Race Week, and Charleston to Bermuda.
A complete list of preferred suppliers is at
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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