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SCUTTLEBUTT #685 - November 8, 2000Guest editor sitting in this week: Please send letters and information this week only to me at scuttlebutt@boats.com. Tom Leweck will be back from Virgin Gorda next week. Thanks - David McCreary, Sailing Editor, boats.com.CURMUDGEON'S REPORT FROM THE BVI While having lunch with Lowell North after a morning of 'Triple Racing' on Freedom 30s, I remarked, "It's pretty hard to complain about the racing conditions here." With a sweeping glance of the surroundings, Lowell replied very positively, "It's pretty hard to complain about anything here". Spot on! The Bitter End YC may not be heaven, but I'm pretty sure you can see it from here. Today's racing took place in balmy 12-15 knot trade winds. Triple racing is very much like a match race, but we use a rabbit start and there is one extra competitor on the course. Kind of like a mini fleet race, but only the winning boat gets a point. You learn quickly to hit corners when you're behind. Last night before dinner, Lowell met Olympic Gold Medalist Ben Ainslie who was quickly recruited as North's tactician. Peter Holmberg sailed aboard Rod Johnstone's boat in a similar capacity, while Peter Isler was helping out Keith Musto. Brad Dellenbaugh introduced the curmudgeon to a great big young fellow from Annapolis named Don Zinn Jr, who did an incredible job with both tactics and main trim on our boat. Zinn is also a delightful guy to sail with and has become our permanent morale officer. All of the boats raced with pick up crews from the resort - most of whom had booked their vacation down here specifically to be a part of this Sailnet.com Pro-Am Regatta. It was obvious they were all having a great time, which is really what this event is about. Rod Johnstone had the hot hand this morning picking up two wins. Lowell and I each won a race while Musto came up empty in the first of our triple round robin series. In the afternoon racing, JJ Isler lead the rock star division with two wins. Russell Coutts and Peter Holmberg each scored a victory while Paul Cayard came up empty. Tomorrow will be a lay day so we can all take a trip over to Anegada Island. There is no reason to overdue this racing stuff when you're in paradise. VENDEE GLOBE All 24 competitors in the Vendee Globe 2000 are at last able to count down the hours to the start of the 4th edition of this non-stop, single-handed, around the world yacht race, after a four day postponement due to the severe weather conditions. The start is now confirmed for Thursday 9th November at 1611hrs (French time). The fleet will be lead out of the Port of Olona by the local fishing boats from 1230hrs, a traditional passage from the channel out past the breakwater, and all competitors will be in the bay by 1500hrs. The starting line for the fleet is now off the main stretch of beach, and the ten minute gun will be given at 1601hrs for a start at 1611hrs. The fleet will race an initial 3 mile leg upwind to the top marker buoy West of the start line, before turning directly towards Cap Finisterre (Spain). Richard Silvani, from Meteo France, announced for tomorrow a WNW 10 - 15 knot wind and clear skies for the start of the Vendee Globe, which will increase to between 10 - 20 knots from the North West over Thursday night. Philippe Jeantot, the race organiser, commented "We expect there to be around 10,000 people watching the start, despite the delay, with 400 spectator boats out on the water." British skipper Josh Hall (Gartmore / EBP) voiced the feelings of all the skippers impatient to set off: "This delay feels very strange for all of us - November 5th has been our target date for so long now, its hard to be treading water. It's been a matter of getting over the mental hurdle of re-focusing on Thursday as the start." For the millions worldwide unable to watch the start in Les Sables d'Olonne, the official race website, http://www.vendeeglobe.com, will be streaming live webcam footage from the start. The news section will be updated every five minutes from one hour before the start with minute by minute action as it happens. The chart showing the start area and route is now up, and the rankings at the top mark will go online on Thursday evening. The first proper set of positions will be online early Friday morning, followed by the live radio chat with the skippers between 10 - 1300hrs (French time). COLD WATER SAILING It is time for small boat sailors to get ready for the cold sailing. Topping your list should be Camet 2001 neoprene hiking pants. The Heavy Cordura padding covers the reinforced battens that have been designed for effective hiking. Available in the suspender style with the adjustable elastic shoulder straps or the high waist style with an adjustable waist belt. Also check out the Kiwi 3/4 length Hiking pants, they protect your knees and keep you warm. Either will help you hike longer and harder ... keeping your little buns warm. http://www.camet.com MUMM 30 WORLDS The first two of nine scheduled races (minimum of four required to make a valid championship) were sailed today at Miami Beach. The top five places after two:
THE SCIENCE OF COMFORT At Gill we know the quality of our garments will be measured over years of use. That's why we strive to exceed industry standards in everything we do! From the unique way we work with and listen to the world's sailors to the meticulous attention we give to every garment. Whether you're on the US Sailing Team at the Sydney Olympics or facing the extremes of the Southern Ocean sailors want to stay warm and dry. Don't' take any short cuts when it comes to comfort and quality. Choose Gill gear! http://www.gillna.com LETTERS TO SCUTTLEBUTT (scuttlebutt@boats.com - just this week, thanks!) Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. -- From Betsy Altman: Further to the RRS 29 discussion on the use of a sound signal for recalls, ISAF Case 64 states "A sound signal is obligatory when making a recall signal." This applies to both the Individual and the General Recalls. Case 31 clarifies this situation even more (if that is possible) "When a correct visual signal is not accompanied by the required sound signal, a boat that is unaware that she started incorrectly is entitled to redress." -- From Dick Lemke: Perhaps it might be time to impose an "Escrow Account" for the estimated costs to be rescued by someone from another country. We all are (usually) covered by race entry fees to have a committee or rescue boat appear at round the buoy type races - what is wrong with having entrants put up funds for their own rescue - or even for the promoter of these "Round The World Races" to purchase insurance needed to cover such rescues? -- From Malcolm McKeag: Rand Milton says that 'some' race committees use a sound signal with Flag X (individual recall) although this is not mentioned in rule 29. In fact, all race committees MUST use it - it may not be mentioned in 29, but it is in Race Signals (at the front of the book) and there is plenty of case law re-instating boats scored OCS because the sound signal did not 'accompany' the flag (which the rule says must be displayed 'promptly'). The two most usual reasons (excuses?) are that the sound signal was late, or failed completely - and this notwithstanding the rubric that visual signals govern. The problem with replacing X with R is its unlooked-for knock-on effects. Outside the US, System 1 is almost universally used (warning - class flag; Preparatory - flag P; start - flags lowered, sometimes with the variation that P comes down one minute before the start). Flag R is often used as the class flag (for classes with names beginning with R, surprisingly enough), so changing to R for Recall will require a new class flag for them. Likewise, I (for Individual Recall) suggested by another correspondent will not do. It is already used for the Round the Ends rule (30.1). The real question to be answered is: Flag X is universally understood, has been used for years, and all race committees have one. It ain't broke - so why are we fixing it? -- From Skip Whyte, on Bob Fisher's commentary on the Olympic Class selections: The Star was originally designed in 1911. There has been a World Championship annually without exception since 1922. Even during World War II when the Olympics shut down the Star was being raced! A winner's a winner, some things do not need to be reinvented. The Star is an open category, men or women. Skip and Mary Etchells won a Star World Championship together. Mr. Fisher, maybe you could help me out and tell me what the percentage is world wide between women and men sailboat racers. Is that percentage reflected in the Olympic games by the participation of men/women sailors? Yacht Racing has been around way longer than 95% of all modern and ancient olympic disciplines. Why is the world wide sailing community not lobbying to bring in one more class/medal? Drop a boat or two in each existing olympic class to add up to 16 or 18 sailors and create the 12th class/medal. That, every existing olympic class will agree on without hesitation. That's what I call a win win situation. -- From Rob Plympton: As an avid sailor and cyclist, I find Mr. Friedman's comments both confusing and amusing. If there is some one out there, willing to risk their life to save someone from their folly, does that not make them a risk also? That analogy reminds me of my mother telling me to eat everything on my dinner plate because kids are starving in Africa. My heart goes out to those kids deeply, but my eating what's on my plate will not help them. Thank God for freedom of choice in sailing and cycling. On with the race. THE CURMUDGEON'S COUNSEL The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat have become really good friends. |
