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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 927 - October 20, 2001Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
COLORCRAFT GOLD CUP Paul Cayard, Director of Sailing for Oracle, raced as bow man and tactician for Holmberg and between them they dished out a tactical lesson to the young New Zealander and his crew. In the three races, Brady incurred four penalty flags as he fought unsuccessfully to take control of the match. Sunshine alternated with clouds as the boats raced in a brisk north-easterly breeze on windward-leeward courses across Hamilton Harbor. Holmberg, who has been on top of his game all week, turned on a masterful display before a big spectator fleet off the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. The club is organizer of the event, which is the third in this yearÕs eight-event Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour. In the Petit Final to decide third and four place, American skipper Ed Baird defeated SwedenÕs Magnus Holmberg 2-0. The Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour announced new points standings in the eight-event $200,000 contest after the completion of the Colorcraft Gold Cup. Magnus Holmberg who won the first two events this year continues in first place but Peter Holmberg is now only seven points behind in second. Gavin Brady now has 32 points and has moved up from fifth to third. First prize in the annual contest is $60,000.
Colorcraft Gold Cup final standings:
Swedish Match Tour championship leaderboard after Colorcraft Gold Cup:
Event site: http://www.bermudagoldcup.com
VOLVO OCEAN RACE For those two and third placed News Corp, the ETA gains reliability now, while Tyco and ASSA ABLOY will face a final beat into a freshening south easterly breeze on the approach to Cape Town.Ê They are already sailing with the southerly breeze that catches up from behind. SEB and djuice are still lying neck on neck, with the wind well in front of the beam, sailing along at constant nine knots in a 20+ knot breeze. Amer Sports Too trails the Scandinavian duet by 35 miles, losing no ground on them.
Position report: 1600 hrs GMT October 21: Event site: http://www.volvooceanrace.org
APENÊ MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD?
MINI TRANSAT Position update as of October 21 2001 15:26 GMT:
Top Five Places - Prototype Division
Top Five Places - Series Division
English updates at http://www.offshorechallenges.com
PERFORMANCE NATIONALS Top three: Inter 20: Brandon Wallace/James Gumpel, CAÊ29 points, Alex Shafer/Nigel Pitt , FL 38.0, Brian Lambert/Will Rottgering, FLÊÊ 63.0. Top three N6.0 fleet: Rick Bliss/Nora Zellermer, MAÊÊ 22.0 points, Bob Bergstedt/Garrett Norton, NJÊÊÊ 46.0, Michael Yost/Tiffany Gaines, TX 67.0. Top three N 5.5uni Fleet: Rush Bird, FLÊÊ 33.0 points, Eric Kennedy, MIÊÊÊ 53.0, Jim Casto, TXÊÊ 59.0 Complete results and daily reports at http://www.pisailing.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Bob Merrick, In response to Mark Bennetts questions about the Sailor Athlete designation: The Stevens Amateur Sports Act section to which Mark Bennett refers does not exactly include "any sailor 'actively engaged' in competition". The definition must be based on "guidelines approved by the corporation". The corporation being the USOC. Those guidelines were reviewed by the SAAB when creating a definition. The present definition was created to be as inclusive as these guidelines would allow.Ê As an example, when interpreting the guidelines, we took "an Olympic event" to mean sailing, not Olympic class sailing or even fleet racing. Regarding the present definition it should be clarified that a National Championship recognized by US Sailing includes any National Championship in a US Sailing member class or organization. There are 264 one-design member classes listed on the US sailing web site. The National Championships in all of these classes qualify under the current definition, as do many other championships. It should also be noted that individuals who do not meet the definition of Sailor Athlete are not excluded from the governing bodies of the US Sailing Association. In fact 80% of the individuals involved do not have to qualify under this definition. * From David Cook: I was very impressed with Sail Newport and their Sail for Pride Fundraiser in support of the Sep 11 relief efforts. In 1998 I benefited from the great hospitality of Sail Newport during the Disabled World Sonar Championships. Brad and his gang were awesome! To assist in this great cause, I will donate $100 CAN to your fundraiser. I would encourage other sailors who have previously benefited from Sail Newport's great facility and hospitality to make a similar donation. *From Patrick Kershaw: Re: Louise VanVoorhis Gleason's response to sailor representation questions. Now thoroughly confused about this SAAB. Where does the representation rule leave the owner and crew of an Islander30, X-Yacht119, Soverell33, Olson30, Sweden36 or J35 who race every weekend all year (and Wednesday nights during the Summer) on Puget Sound, but do not attend a Nats? Is there a way for them to qualify as sailor athletes? They are extremely active, support their local USSailing member club financially and through participation and volunteerism. Remarkably, I qualify due to years of towing Olson30s a few thousand highway miles round trip to the Nats.Ê Hooray for me!Ê Of the sailors I know, many of whom are passionate about sailing, only one in five seem to qualify.Ê I had been sailing twenty years before I participated in my first Nationals. I believe others may be similar.Ê Am I wrong? To add concern, the descriptor of the SAAB on their website, notes that SAAB was created due to IOC mandate, but that it will represent "all of the active racing community."Ê Because it was IOC, it was under my radar screen. If it will affect "all" racing sailors, it is back on the radar plot and designated Master1 (a little Navy jargon for ya).Ê Why aren't all who will be affected allowed to vote?Ê Wha'ssup with that? Finally, how will this advisory board affect "all" of us?Ê Not much?Ê Don't care much.Ê Steroid testing? I'm concerned. * From Scott Truesdell:"Sponsors who are using the Volvo Ocean Race to develop internal corporate team building and brand awareness will be looking for results." Okay. That's it. My worst nightmares have become reality; the Golgafrinchans are running the show. Which company's boat has the most photogenic skipper?
FINN GOLD CUP: BAINBRIDGE SAILCLOTH: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
QUOTES FROM BOATS - Volvo Ocean Race * From Jon Gunderson, News Corp: Burgers would be great on the dock, or even better finish early in the morning and have a huge breakfast with heaps of sausages and baked beans, having a damn good wash in steaming hot water, sleeping in a nice bed for 10 hours and wearing nice clean dry clothes - all these things would be great but without a doubt the thing I most crave is the sight of Table Mountain and the realization that the leg is over. Arriving on the dock in a week's time will be fantastic (assuming that we ever do get there), and no matter how bad our predicament seems, we only ever have to look at the latest sked, see how far behind the last group of boats is and take comfort in the fact that we will be resting up while they are still racing. * From Grant Dalton, Amer Sports One: If we are lucky enough to end with a good result, (at the beginning of the leg I said a top 4 result would make as very happy) bearing in mind we still have a long way to go, then we too must get angry, not soft. We are the underdogs, arguably we shouldn't be here in this position and it can all come undone so very, very fast. The wise old men onboard are watching for the signs... * From Knut Frostad, djuice dragons: Even though Cape Town is still quite a distance away, plans or rather changing the plans, for the stopover are happening. It will be a very short stop, maybe only 10-12 days for us, before we head south into the fun park with plenty of breeze (I have checked the wind observations, and at least it's still blowing in the Southern Ocean). We know djuice is fast downwind, and can't wait to race the others down there. For us, the stop in Cape Town will obviously be quite hectic. Djuice will obviously need to be hauled out very soon after our arrival. * From Juan Vila, illbruck: Weather conditions seem now to remain good for the boats in front. For now, the rich get richer and also the weather forecasts seem to be more and more optimistic on our time of arrival. In the last 24 hours, we have been racing ahead of a front, not wanting to get caught too early by it. This morning the front caught us but the wind behind it seems to have improved compared to what others competitors have experienced. ItÕs hard work on deck, trying to get every little tenth of a knot of extra speed and the reward is seeing the miles to go to Cape Town go down. As it is now usual on illbruck, before 1000 miles to the finish each crew has to bet on an arrival date and time. Whoever is the closest takes the money.
JR. WOMEN'S INVITATIONAL RACING CLINIC All who attended agreed that a "heavy air" (J)WIRC -North,Ê (the "J" is silent, according to the group of girls that participated in the inaugural event), perhaps in San Francisco Bay,Ê would be a great extension of the event.
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM |
