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SCUTTLEBUTT 3018 - Friday, January 29, 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. Scuttlebutt on Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Scuttlebutt on Facebook: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/facebook Today’s sponsors: New England Ropes and NorthU. COMPETITION HEATS UP FOR FINAL STRETCH Miami, FL (January 28, 2010) - Today was a critical day for sailors competing in US SAILING’s 2010 Rolex Miami OCR, the second of seven stops of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Sailing World Cup 2009-2010. Highlighted by both lead changes and consolidations, it raised the heat for Friday’s final stretch: where medal winners in three Paralympic sailors will be named and top-ten sailors in ten Olympic classes will be determined for entry into Saturday’s medal races. After eight races, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics’ Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) finished the day with an 18-point lead overall in the Laser Radial class, followed by Spain’s Alicia Cebrian. While it seemed like it was going to be the steadiest day of the week, it ended up being another day of difficult racing for the 57-boat fleet. Railey said she fought through both races, from start to finish, and made quick changes due to continually shifting wind. “We had crazy wind from all different sides,” said Railey, the 2006 US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year. “I saw some big comebacks and huge losses. You could go from last to top-five in one shift.” The UK’s Nick Thompson, who yesterday trailed leader Bruno Fontes by seven points in the Laser class, today soared past the Brazilian to take a 26-point lead. Such was Thompson’s fortune on the merit of posting two victories in as many races today while Fontes suffered a 20-44, setting him back to second place and tied on points with France’s Jean-Baptiste Bernaz. Top North American is Kyle Rogachenko in fifth. For the Women's Match Racing event, the top eight teams from the field of 24 have advanced from the first Round Robin Series for the best of five Quarterfinal series. Current standings are Lucy Macgregor (GBR) leads Lotte Meldgaard (DEN) 2-0; Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) leads LucindaWhitty (AUS) 2-0; Nicky Souter (AUS) and Samantha Osborne (NZL) tied 1-1; and Claire Leroy (FRA) leads Sally Barkow (USA) 2-0. Complete report: http://tinyurl.com/yauvstw Results: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/Results.htm Thursday photos: http://tinyurl.com/ye4a5wv T2P.tv videos: http://www.t2p.tv/guide/ocr10.php Sailgroove videos: http://www.sailgroove.org Offshore Rules videos: http://tinyurl.com/yd5stwl Twitter page: http://twitter.com/RolexMiamiOCR Facebook fan page: http://tinyurl.com/OCR10-FB ALINGHI WILL FORFEIT CUP IF THEIR SAILS ARE DISALLOWED Defending America's Cup champion Alinghi of Switzerland said Thursday it will forfeit the oldest trophy in international sports if American challenger BMW Oracle Racing succeeds in getting a New York court to disqualify the sails on its giant catamaran.The statement from Fred Meyer, vice commodore of Alinghi's backing yacht club, Societe Nautique de Geneve, is perhaps the most bizarre twist yet in a long, bitter legal fight between two of the world's richest men, Swiss biotech mogul Ernesto Bertarelli and American software tycoon Larry Ellison. Their powerhouse sailing teams are scheduled to begin a rare best-of-three showdown Feb. 8 in massive multihulls in Valencia, Spain, for the silver trophy the Swiss have held since 2003. They've been in court for more than two years, and could be right up until within days of what could be the most exciting racing in the 159-year history of the America's Cup. "We have been clear: If BMW Oracle succeeds in disqualifying the Defender's sails then there will be no Match," Meyer said. "Russell Coutts will have won the America's Cup for Larry Ellison without sailing." BMW Oracle Racing has gone to the New York State Supreme Court again, arguing that the sails on the 90-foot Alinghi 5 breach America's Cup rules because they were not made in the team's home country. The Swiss said in court papers filed last week that the sails were constructed in Switzerland using blanks built at North Sails' plant in Minden, Nev. BMW Oracle Racing said it's not trying to disqualify Alinghi's boat, but wants the issue clarified before racing begins. The Americans have offered to delay the racing to give the Swiss time to build new sails for their 90-foot catamaran. It's not clear if the court will hold a hearing before Feb. 8. BMW Oracle Racing spokesman Tom Ehman said the syndicate hopes there's a hearing early next week. -- San Francisco Examiner, read on: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sports/82949662.html#ixzz0dxP6YCcT => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Alinghi has repeatedly said how GGYC has been unable to win the America’s Cup on the water, and thus the American team has sought the support from the New York Supreme Court to gain advantage. However, since the court has repeatedly agreed with GGYC in all their previous claims, who is the team at fault? The issue of SNG’s sails is the latest alleged violation, with GGYC believing that in a Deed of Gift match, each team’s sails must be constructed within their respective countries, and it is GGYC’s claim that SNG did not follow this rule. SNG statement: http://tinyurl.com/y9nu6fd GGYC statement: http://tinyurl.com/yd2tysn VIEWING THE EVENT: While the possibility of viewing the America’s Cup in North America on television is still being determined, it is confirmed that ESPN 360 has acquired the internet rights for the free live online coverage. ESPN360.com is a broadband network for live sports programming, broadcasting thousands of live games and events online each year. -- http://espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/ VALENCIA WEATHER: Taking advantage of the first weather window since last weekend, both Alinghi 5 and USA (the new name for BMW Oracle Racing team’s trimaran) returned to the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday to resume their training. The day was short for USA as they dealt with a minor breakdown, while Pierre Orphanidis of Valencia Sailing found the conditions to be too variable for racing if scheduled. HOT NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2010 New England Ropes, in partnership with DSM Dyneema, last week introduced their latest innovation in fiber technology at Key West Race Week - DSM Dyneema SK90. Offering superior performance in stretch resistance as compared to traditional SK75 fibers, DSM Dyneema SK90 looks to be the perfect companion product to New England Ropes 2009 performance standout, Poly-Tec. -- http://www.neropes.com Kevin Coughlin of New England Ropes met with Scuttlebutt on video during Key West Race Week, showing us the tools available to select the right line, and detailing the new Dyneema SK90 product: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XvAe9oomWI SKIN FRICTION DISPUTE By Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt When Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) declared that the 33rd America’s Cup would dismiss Racing Rules 49-54, the door was wide open for new technology. The big ticket items permitted were movable ballast systems, engine powered winches, and skin friction devices. The first two items were fairly understandable, but the later was going to require some science. However, when SNG released the Sailing Instructions, it was as if Rule 53 (skin friction) had been cast out as bait to see if the challenger would bite. And now that the Swiss team has the fish on the hook, SNG vice-commodore, Fred Meyer, is ready to reel them in. “BMW Oracle are attempting to circumvent the ‘Trash Disposal and Environmental Protection’ rule in the Sailing Instructions to continue to freely pollute the waters of Valencia by discharging a cocktail of chemicals under their hulls to make their boat go faster,” said Meyer. “SNG insists that both competitors respect Spanish waters as they do their home waters.” BMW Oracle Racing admits to be employing a variety of environmentally-safe friction-reduction technologies. “Our hulls are more slippery and, therefore, move more efficiently through the water than ever before,” said design team member Manolo Ruiz de Elvira (ESP). “We are not going to say exactly what systems and technologies we are using on our trimaran, but I can assure you they make an already fast boat even faster,” Ruiz de Elvira said. “Our design team has found the ultimate solution - fast and green.” Add this issue to the International Jury’s to-do list. BUDDY MELGES: “MY FIRST PRO SAILOR” by Robert Hughes Over the years the Heartbreaker program has been fortunate to have some of the World’s best and well known sailors grace her decks, but I will never forget the first! Back in 1989 was the second year with our J/35 Heartbreaker and Melges Sails (before they were Sobstad and North) decided they wanted to get into the bigger boat market. I had read Buddy’s books and as I got more into sailing he was becoming the ultimate sailor I looked up to the most. As an inexperienced owner at the time who was impressed with well established sail makers, this sounded like a risky move….but in a rare smart move I went for it and purchased a Dacron main, Kevlar jib and chute from Melges Sails and Eric Hood. This was the also the beginning of the NOOD regattas and they started out as a big deal. We were doing our first J/35 class regatta at the Chicago NOOD and on the last day of the event Buddy showed up and agreed to sail with us! Simply amazing…from the moment he got on the boat and shared many funny jokes about his recent Cup campaign down under (the jokes are still funny today) to everything he taught me about steering a boat that day as he trimmed the main next to me. It seemed like magic at the time when he would call out to the crew “puff header hitting in 10!” and sure enough the blast would hit the boat like clockwork. In my 23 years of big boat sailing this day remains one of the best. Of course we won the race (because of Buddy) and all of us got a lifetime memory from one of the classiest and most talented sailors ever….and to see how his kids have continued to impact the sport with fantastic modern classes… few people have made racing sailboats so much fun as Buddy, my first Pro sailor! It was great to see him in Key West this year where of course he still had some steering hints for me. Thanks Buddy! => Curmudgeon’s Comment: After we mentioned that Buddy’s 80th birthday was on January 26th, it has been fun this week to share some of the stories that have been submitted. They are all now posted in the Forum to view, and if you have a story, it can be posted there too. Enjoy: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=8997#8997 STORY BEHIND THE STORY By Adam Burns, Melges 32 STAR The Annual Key West Regatta is a marathon and not a sprint. This goes for the hours of preparation of the boats and crew logistics even before the teams hit the water. The one hurdle a few classes have is weigh in. If you do not weigh in well the team goes running instead of practicing on the water. Everyone was true to their assigned weight so we were able to go out sailing. Once again I had the opportunity to sail on the Melges 32 "Star" for this event. After sailing four regattas with "Star" I have noticed how the Melges 32 fleet works together as a whole before real racing starts. On Saturday before the regatta we went out to work on our boat handling. We were also advised before we left the dock that one of the teams had a coach boat and would be setting race marks in the water. Over 85% of the Melges 32's participated, which made it productive for everyone. We would do three practice starts followed by a race. This gives the teams a gauge as to what they need to focus on the next day. The other fleet I noticed who also does this is the Farr 40 fleet. On Sunday our goal was to go out for only 2 hours so we had some time to relax and unwind, and of course watch the NFL playoff games. Some teams decided to stay out the whole day on Sunday, but our team leader thought it would be better to refine a few things from Saturday and call it a day. In addition, it would be a long week, sailing two races a day for a total of 10 races. We did not see being out all day sailing on Sunday as being productive to the team as a whole. This year we were the fourth start, on the circle with the big boats. Last year we were the first start with J/105's and Melges 24's. When I mean big I mean big. One of the most impressive boats on our course was a Wally 82 that was gorgeous. Everything on this boat was either hydraulic or power. Photo of this yacht can be viewed at http://www2.worldpub.net/images/sw/119-kwd4a.jpg There were no grinders. We found out later in the week that even the chute take down was on a special system. -- RCR Yachts Racer's News, read on (Pg 5): http://psndealer.com/dealersite/images/rcryachts/racersnews012710.pdf * STAR finished 6th overall. Results: http://tinyurl.com/y987z4f * TROPHY PRESENTATION: The Scuttlebutt event micro-site for Key West 2010 holds all the info, from weather forecasts to final results, with daily reports, videos, and photos to fill in the gaps. Just added is video footage from the final trophy presentation on January 22nd. View it all here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/10/kw * SEAHORSE DISCOUNT: As a special offer to Scuttlebutt readers and participants at Key West Race Week, SEAHORSE Magazine is offering a substantial discount rate for 1, 2, 3 and 5-year subscriptions. New subscribers can save up to 40% off the cover price and 30% off the standard rates for monthly airmail delivery of the world's premier publication on international performance sailing. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/yfg8dct BICYCLES BOBSLEDS SAILBOATS No matter what you race, you’ve got to be fast to win. If it’s sailboats you race, then the NorthU Trim course will make you fast, fast. In one day you learn to control and balance power for better upwind performance, trim your spinnaker (A or S) to run faster and deeper, and how to set, jibe, and douse like a pro; plus you’ll take home the NorthU TRIM Seminar-on-CD for review and home study. Coming soon to a town near you. Visit http://www.northu.com or call 800-347-2457 for full info and schedule. SAILING HALL OF FAME STILL FACING STORMY SEAS While the sun shone brightly on Annapolis (MD) Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Josh Cohen held a closed meeting with stakeholders in an attempt to resolve a simmering dispute surrounding the proposed National Sailing Hall of Fame. In insisting that a reporter leave the room, Cohen - who during his swearing-in speech on Dec. 7 promised greater transparency in Annapolis government - said he was trying to get the parties to "sit down out of the spotlight" and speak openly about their concerns. "My purpose for calling the meeting is to turn the heat down some, and the rhetoric, and to have a candid discussion," Cohen said. It's not clear that Cohen achieved his purpose. After the 90-minute meeting at city offices on Gorman Street - attended by the mayor, at least two aldermen, about a dozen representatives from city agencies and organizations such as Historic Annapolis Foundation, plus a smattering of private citizens - Cohen called the session "a very productive meeting," "a civil gripe session" and "a spirited discussion." Alderman Ross Arnett, D-Ward 8 - who, like Cohen, supports building the 20,000-square-foot, privately owned structure at City Dock - was angry after the meeting. "I don't think we moved the ball forward at all," said Arnett, who represents the Eastport area. "I would characterize it as much ado about nothing. Everybody presented pretty much what they have presented before," during the five-year battle to build the museum, he said. -- The Capital, read on: http://tinyurl.com/ycczfu9 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this weekend: Jan 29-Feb 2 - Grenada Sailing Festival - St.George's, Grenada, W.I. Jan 31-Feb 4 - Warren Jones International Youth Regatta - Perth, W.A. Feb 3-7 - National Sailing Programs Symposium - Houston, TX, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Brad Van Liew’s Open 60 raceboat for the Velux 5 Oceans Race, the various ways to sell a 75-foot Tripp Maxi Dolphin, wave eats man, a computer monitor desktop for February from Cory Silken, skiff stud Howie Hamlin taking his heli on a surf shoot, and a transatlantic partnership. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0128/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK Convenience is the mother of invention, and we can thank her for the television remote control. But what a beer dispenser? Changing channels while still on the couch is cool, but why must we lose our seat when in need of a fresh brewski. It's winter, we are sailing less and sitting around more, the Super Bowl is next week, the Winter Olympics are after that, and yes, we are consuming a few adult beverages. This week's video is not new, and has nothing to do with sailing, but it is a classic, and since we have yet to see the 'Beer Shooter' in retail stores, perhaps this idea needs another push. Watch the inventor show us how you can sit back, push the remote, have a beer come from the fridge, drop into the launcher, and get flung to us from across the room. Beautiful! Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/0128/ * If you have a video you like, please send your suggestion for next week’s Video of the Week to mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com * The Scuttlebutt website is hosting 49 video shorts from T2P.tv, all of them entertaining highs and lows from the sport. The two latest segments are titled ‘Flip’ and ‘It’s a jungle out there’. Enjoy: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/09/t2p/ * 1980 Canadian Olympic Sailor Rob Woodbury is one of the latest sailors who has had the honour of being an Olympic Torch bearer. Rob participated in the Torch Relay as it made its way through Summerland on Monday January 25th. Video of Rob's experience can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVarMCxqSGI LETTERS AND FORUM Please email your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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 Adrian Morgan: (re, Valencia as the America’s Cup venue) A 100-mile round trip to the race course; strong winds; grey skies, delays to the racing, no spectator boats (or at least only the bravest) now maybe the wisdom of RAK becomes clearer. When a squall takes down that wing mast or Alinghi starts to flies both hulls (?) they'll all wish they were in the Gulf after all. * From Jock Macrae: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 3017) I hope that the US Coast guard fired and sunk the containers that were sighted by them. The sooner they had arrived at the scene the better their chances. It is nice to know that they did not find any on the surface. It would be a shame for a recreational boater to find otherwise. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Instead of calling in sick, call in well. Tell them how great you feel not having to go to work today. Special thanks to New England Ropes and NorthU. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
