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SCUTTLEBUTT 2651 - Friday, August 1, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. LAST CHANCE FOR TORNADO TEAM Canadians Oskar Johansson, a 31-year-old Oaksville sailor, preparing for his second -- and perhaps final Olympic Games, is confident that he and partner Kevin Stittle have done everything they could to challenge for a medal in Beijing. They've scouted the Qingdao venue more than any of the competition they'll face at next month's Games. They've planned on how to cope with the possibility of encountering massive collections of algae on the water during their races. And, between the two of them, they've lost more than 30 pounds specifically for the regatta. This is likely Johansson's last chance at an Olympic medal, knowing that the Tornado class almost certainly will not be contested at the 2012 Games, if ever again. “It's sad (Tornado will be discontinued) because it's probably a result of Canada not voting for it (to stay in the Games),” he continued. “When your country votes against you in the midst of a campaign where you're giving up all these years of your life, it's pretty hard to accept. It has lit the fire within.” -- Sail World, complete story: http://xrl.us/oskarkevin OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN: 8 DAYS TO GO * From Canadian Laser rep Michael Leigh: “As the Games have been approaching, I've been reflecting on my past seasons in Europe and what it is going to be like racing in China. I was quite amused the other day when juxtaposing my expectations during my first trip to Europe in 2003 to my present expectations, as back then I would have been happy to finish in the top ten at a major grade one once in my career, whereas this season, if I have been out of the top 5 it has been a tough event for me. However, heading into China, I know that a top 5 or even 10 is going to be a difficult result to attain, as there are so many good sailors racing there. At the start of the season, I thought that the defining factor at the games will be psychological, and throughout the season, it has only been re-enforced. I think the quest for the Qingdao 'magic potion' has been in vain, and in the end, it will come down to performing the fundamentals consistently well.” -- http://mikeleighsailing.blogspot.com * From U.S. Olympic Team Leader Dean Brenner: “The 2008 US Olympic Sailing Team is getting settled in China, and we are all looking forward to the beginning of the event. Everyone on the team is doing their final preparations, and tapering in their own way. It's fascinating to watch elite athletes in very different events each prepare in their own way. In some classes, the final preparation includes wrapping up equipment projects, along with the final sail testing. In other classes, equipment isn't very technical, so the tapering involves a focus on the body and the mind. And in some events, like RS:X, it's all about the body and the mind.” -- Read on: http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/blog/dean/2008/06/home-stretch_30.html * American Finn representative Zach Railey provides a video report from Qingdao, showing the Olympic village for the athletes along with the layout for the boat yard and the sailing course: http://app.talkfusion.com/talkFusionStudio/view.asp?241263_1746130 THE HEALTH OF OUR OCEANS Russ George is the founder and current President of Planktos Science, a privately held San Francisco-based eco-restoration and ocean eco-technology company, whose mission is the restoration of damaged habitats. Here he offers a lucid and alarming account of the real problem for the survival of the world's oceans as we know them, and, literally blowing in the wind, an approach to a solution: “I have read some of the many news reports on the ocean acidification and reef crisis that are presently extant. I beg to differ with the position that reducing our global carbon footprint will help save our ocean bathing beauties, the reefs. It's not that I don't fully support reducing our carbon footprint, I am rather more concerned about the role of the present deadly dose of anthropogenic CO2 already in the air on its way to our surface ocean waters. Those hundreds of billions of tonnes of anthropogenic CO2, the bulk of which we've prescribed and put en route in the past 75 years, are slowly dissolving into the surface ocean. “By most accounts CO2 in the atmosphere takes on the order of 200 years to equilibrate with the surface ocean. Hence the pH drop we've been recording is just the proverbial tip of the dry-iceberg. As the surface ocean absorbs the rest of this deadly dose, regardless of whether we emit more which we surely are doing, the acidification process already destined to occur is more than sufficient to change ocean ecology in far wider and disastrous fashion than merely scalding the bathing beauties at the shore. -- Sail World, read on: http://xrl.us/odx5i PROFESSIONAL WIND FORECASTS: FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS! Want a competitive edge in your next regatta? Get a forecast from PredictWind.com - the worldwide specialists in high resolution weather modeling. For the first time ever, you can access a forecast using a model that calculates the wind at an incredible 1km resolution for your local area. High resolution equals better accuracy. The web based forecasts are easy to use, and available in maps, graphs and even a text format that is accessible on your mobile phone. It is the system that champion sailors rely upon, and until January 2009 the forecasts are free of charge: http://www.PredictWind.com => Curmudgeon’s Comment: PredictWind.com is a new Scuttlebutt advertiser - look for their weather forecasts to be included as part of our Olympic coverage. FROM THE FORUM: TO HAVE, OR TO ALREADY HAVE HAD In Issue 2650, America’s Cup historian John Rousmaniere provided his learned opinion on the intent by the America's Cup Deed of Gift authors George L. Schuyler and John Cox Stevens when they wrote the now famous and (he believes) unambiguous “having” clause in the requirements for a challenger to hold an annual regatta. It is this interpretation that much of the recent event litigation has hinged on. John’s position was posted in the Forum; here is the position of two others: * From Steve Tsuchiya: I agree with my friend John Rousmaniere. Here’s more evidence: In 1882, George Schuyler, with assistance from a committee of the NYYC, revised the original deed of gift. This revision of the deed introduced the now-famous “having” clause, among other changes. (Schuyler made a final revision in 1887, but kept the “having” clause.) Why was the clause added? According to evidence that I’ll share with you in a moment, the NYYC was dissatisfied for having easily defeated two back-to-back challenges from inland Canadian yacht clubs (one by an obscure club, the other from Royal Canadian Yacht Club) that apparently had little experience in racing large seagoing yachts. To make matters worse, the challenger was making plans to challenge again. Thus, the NYYC decided to revise the deed of gift to preserve the prestige and usefulness of the America’s Cup as a yacht-design contest. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6154 * From Tim Minogue: It’s remarkable that John Rousmanierre should quote a statement regarding the 1844 bylaws of the NYYC as clarifying the intent of the “having” clause of the America’s Cup Deed of gift. Considering that this was 7 years before America sailed around the Isle of Wight, and 13 years before the first Deed of Gift was framed (1857, not 1851 as John states), it’s incredible that Schuyler should be so clairvoyant about the Deed. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6159 SAILING SHORTS * Lysekil, Sweden (July 31, 2008) - Claire Leroy from France has sailed very well, losing only one match in the first round-robin in Lysekil Women’s Match, the world’s largest women match racing event. Among the home sailors Jenny Axhede ended up with 7-4, while defending champion Linda Rahm’s 6-5 score was enough to allow for the sixth and final slot that moves on to the next round-robin. -- Complete report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6160 * At 18h49’14" (GMT), on Thursday 31st July 2008, Franck-Yves Escoffier, on board the Class’50 Open trimaran Crêpes Whaou! crossed the finish line of the seventh Transat Quebec-Saint Malo off the city of Saint-Malo, France doing twenty knots. After 11 days 3 hours 19 minutes and 14 seconds of racing, at an average theoretical speed of 10.68 knots, the skipper from Saint-Malo and his three crewmen, Yves Le Blévec, Bertrand Chambert-Loir and Christophe Aillet were first to finish this 2855 mile (5287 km) transatlantic crossing that began in the Saint Lawrence river. -- Read on: http://www.quebecsaintmalo.com/en/news.asp?id=136 SO BRIGHT THAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR SHADES The good fortunes of Lauderdale Yacht Club sailors over the last couple weeks have swung the spotlight toward this Florida club. Not usually considered one of the top names in sailing, there is not a dock full of grand prix racers, nor an adjacent mooring field full of sleek one-design sloops. The parking lot isn’t full of Stars or Etchells, but the club does seem to developing some pretty darn good sailors. In the past couple weeks, sailors associated with LYC either as members, children of members, or coaches have been the top females at Club 420 nationals, 1st at USODA Optimist Girls National Championship, 1st at USODA Optimist National Championship, Top girl at USODA Optimist National Championship, National Champion in the Melges 32 class, 1st in IRC 1 at the NYYC Annual Regatta, and 4th at Laser North Americans (full rig). Additionally, this summer a LYC youth was the top American at the IOD North Americans, and shortly a frequent LYC coach will start her quest for a medal in the Laser Radial in Qingdao (Anna Tunnicliffe). Not bad for our little group. Aw, screw it, the yachting committee meeting in August will be a blast! There will be so many toasts, we may need designated drivers. -- John Payne EXCITING TIMES AT MELGES The Melges 20 has been introduced and is sailing with fantastic success – see a new video now at melges20.com. A very successful Melges 32 National Championship last week at New York Yacht Club was the buzz on Narragansett Bay. Melges just unveiled a new look website for Melges.com, with an expanded parts section for their one-design racers that is sure to expand over the coming months. Whether you sail a Melges 24 or one of the Melges Scows, you can get detailed information on the new Melges.com site. Look for the Melges 20 up close and live at the boat shows! Race to http://www.Melges.com PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include the US team meeting with the President, Optis in New Jersey, Lasers in California, Scuttlebutt beer in Washington, diabolical winds in Rhode Island, plus oldies but goodies: Sally Barkow in an Optimist and J boat Velsheda’s historic return to the yard where she was built 75 years earlier. 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/08/0801 * If you have never raced dinghies in San Francisco, you will have after seeing this gallery of images taken from the Laser North Americans: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0731 * The Columbia River Gorge in Cascade Locks, OR was once only known as the home for high flying aerial windsurfing, but now the site attracts a full array of performance racing, and recently was host to the 29er US National Championships: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0730 FREE PRODUCT ADVERTISING The Scuttlebutt editors regularly receive email press releases that are dressed up as news, but most are only trying to promote someone’s products are services. Since each newsletter only has room for a minimal amount of paid advertising, these releases tend to get tossed. However, the Scuttlebutt Forum has a section dedicated to these announcements, providing the ‘buttheads with an arena to view the latest updates from the marine industry. If your job is to pimp the media for free product promotion, we strongly suggest you post your information in the ‘New Product Announcements’ section of the Scuttlebutt Forum. Who knows, if you do a good enough job, maybe it will get included into the newsletter. Post them here: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum 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 Scott Sellers: (re, story in ‘butt 2650) As a participant in the regatta with weather gates referenced by Jeff Zarwell, I have a different opinion on their use. They are a terrible idea for two reasons: 1) They are unsafe and more likely to lead to a collision. Most of the fleet approaches on starboard layline and any boat rounding the starboard gate is playing dodge 'em on port tack first going upwind getting to the starboard gate and then going downwind with a line of upwind starboard tackers coming at them. 2) They are unfair and more likely to have the race determined by race committee error. With two gate marks and two offsets, even the best race committee will be challenged to make them equal length and angle to the wind. The biggest beneficiary of weather gates that I saw was the boatyard that repaired the boats from the collisions coming out of the starboard gate. * From Iain Woolward: I believe that the 720 Alternative Penalty is eroding standards of rule adherence to the detriment of the sport. Here’s why: 1. The relatively minor nature of the penalty seems to infer that the associated infraction is also minor. But it is NOT “minor” to, for example, ruin fellow competitors’ leeward mark roundings by disregarding the relevant rules. It’s very, very annoying. 2. Because the 720 penalty is often no worse than the consequence of doing the right thing, it acts as an INCENTIVE to break rules. For example: barging in on port tack into a stream of starboard tack boats at windward roundings. Often the port-tack boat can either chance its luck with a last second tack or duck as many starboard boats as he/she would lose by doing a 360 ‘penalty’. Also, the 360 turn is what many port tack boats end up doing anyway, should they think better at the last second tack and have left it too late to bear off. Since the ‘penalty’ isn’t any more penal than doing the right thing, why not chance one’s arm by barging in? 3. The protest system appears to be atrophying as a consequence of on-water penalties. Increasingly at the club and regional level, the expectation that there will be no bothersome protests – and therefore no need to plan for hearing them - has replaced the expectation to the contrary. Infringers can increasingly rely on this scenario when assuming they can slide out of even taking a 360 ‘penalty’. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6161 * From Bruce Campbell: (re, letter in ‘butt 2650) As usual, Rich Hazelton has it right. When you forget about fun, you’ve lost the way. Years ago I heard someone in a clubhouse bar sum up another sailor who didn’t seem to get it as “professional sailor, amateur human being”. That seems to work for me. * From Steve Pyatt: I'm intrigued at Richard Hazelton's (Editor, 48 ° North Sailing Magazine) attitude to the rules (as in "...studied the rules less"). Yes, we all want fun but if there is a reduced knowledge of the rules as he suggests, then it is worse for all of us as chaos theory takes over. Most of the unpleasantness I have experienced over the years is through sailors NOT knowing the rules causing chaos in situations by not realising what those who do are doing to avoid problems. Typical ones are those who really don't know that rule 18 is the situation pertaining approaching and AT the 'circle', not inside it; or the outside of two port tack boats not giving room to the other to duck a starboard tack boat (very messy) and boats tacking onto port in front of those still on starboard at starboard-hand rounding windward marks. All of these popular misconceptions leads to much bad feeling and destroys the fun. * From Adrian Morgan, Ullapool, Wester Ross, Scotland: The determination to paint Bertarelli as the bad guy smacks of nationalism. The Swiss? Winning the "Holy Grail" of Yaachtin'? Fact is the US of A yachting establishment sees Ellison as the saviour of its (stolen) Cup, about which, it must be said, more heroic b***t has been written than any other sporting event in history. Ellison, for his part, miffed at being beaten on the water seeks only to win the Cup by other means. Bertarell's vision of the future of the Cup may have been a tad skewed, but when has that ever been otherwise in the event's history? Go Bertarelli (and I really like your ice cream by the way...) * From Scott MacLeod: So what do you think? Alinghi has won a significant ruling but now it is up to them in how they handle their win. They can: 1. Be magnanimous in victory and suggest that everyone get together (BMOR & Team NZ), drop all the bad blood, and let's organize a multi-challenger event in 2011 in Valencia in AC90's. Not only would this be a great PR move but at least it would final show some sense to the process. 2. Or they could mutually consent a new event with CNEV and exclude BMOR and TNZ from that event. 3. If they follow #1 and BMOR still appeals, then BMOR will look like the bad guy and at least Ernesto can say "I told you so." It's in Alinghi's hands to settle this once and for all. Each side has won a battle, the sport is bloodied but it is now up to Alinghi to rise above the personality issues and get a settlement with Larry. Nah! This would be too sensible CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Rectitude (n.): the formal, dignified demeanor assumed by a Proctologist immediately before he examines you. Special thanks to PredictWind and Melges Performance Sailboats. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
