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SCUTTLEBUTT 2308 – March 26, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). STATING THEIR CASE When US Sailing approved a list of preferences last month for events to be held in the 2012 Olympics, the glaring omissions were in the segments of windsurfing and multihull sailing. Long story short, they weren’t included. There were strategic reasons for US Sailing’s plan, but for participants in these two categories, they felt abandoned, and they aren’t too happy about it. There are some big-time campaigns going on behind-the-scenes to get these events back onto the US list, but the bottom line is that ISAF must reduce the number of Olympic sailing events from the eleven in the 2008 games, to ten events for 2012, and somebody will get left out. US Sailing President Jim Capron is not shying away from the assault, and in his effort to protect the interests of US Olympic sailing, has submitted to Scuttlebutt his response: “To the members of the windsurfing and multihull communities: Many of you have been writing to me, members of our staff, the Board of Directors, and other volunteers within US Sailing, expressing displeasure and disagreement with US Sailing’s submission to ISAF on the events for the 2012 Olympic Games. I appreciate these opinions, but I would like to take a moment to explain our decision and the reasoning behind it. I would also like to answer some of the questions being posed to me.” -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0322 RECORD HUNTER (March 25, 2007) Sailrocket’s hopes of breaking the world speed sailing record have been delayed during a crash on their first speed trial run in Namibia. It's all been repaired now, and as the conditions have been superb over the past few days, the team expects to go for a record run tomorrow if the weather pattern continues. Here is the report from the spill from driver Paul Larson: “From my point of view I started the run by running away from the beach for about 40-50 meters and then turning into the wind to hook up the apparent wind onto the wing. Once this was done Sailrocket accelerated very quickly in a straight line. The steering didn't feel right. I had made two mistakes. 1/ I was barefoot and although it felt comfortable at rest, when I really had to stand on the controls I didn't have the power that shoes afford 2/ I hadn't adjusted the foot steering controls to compensate for not having shoes. When Sailrocket began to turn into the wind I couldn't steer against it. The rudder had been given more rake so I could have more feel but it proved to be too much. I was being very careful not to oversheet the wing and this lead to Sailrocket turning into the wind. The line of thrust from the sail was angled well behind the keel/foil. I had two options as the beach approached rapidly, sheet on hard to bring the line of thrust forward and perhaps allow me to regain steerage... Or bail out. The trouble with option one was that I was already relatively close to the beach and sheeting on would quickly put us over 40 knots. If I couldn't regain enough steerage then it would all be over in a couple of seconds. I wasn't happy with the steering so chose to bail out instead. I turned into the wind and eased the wingsail out slightly. The rig came down instantly.” -- Read on: http://sailrocket.blogspot.com/2007/03/blog-post.html Team website: http://www.sailrocket.com MAKING ODDS FOR THE CUP With just days to go, the Bookmakers are gearing-up for a record America's Cup. After the Italian SNAI last week, the Australian betting agency Centrebet and Bwin, one of the biggest European sports- books, have Emirates Team NZ favourite challenger for the Louis Vuitton Cup*. These odds could be improved even further considering the fact that the kiwi syndicate seems to be in better shape than ever. The Sunday Star Times newspaper reported that Luna Rossa (ITA) was cleaned up 4-1 by ETNZ during practice off the Spanish coast in the past week. "It was good to get the campaign off to a winning start", confirmed strategist Ray Davies. "Beating Prada shows we're on the pace." -- Cup in Europe, http://www.cupineurope.com/NewsEN/2007/TNZ.htm * Centrebet has released odds of each syndicate winning the Louis Vuitton Cup and the America's Cup: http://tinyurl.com/2p8xu3 HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE RULES? If you would like to feel more confident about racing near other boats, you should get Learn The Racing Rules! This new two-part DVD, written and narrated by David Dellenbaugh, uses live sailing action and computerized animation to explain all the important right-of-way rules in the 2005-2008 rulebook. Part 1 covers the essential rules that apply whenever boats meet. Part 2 explains the often-confusing rules about marks and obstructions. Each is an hour long and includes the text of all rules discussed. Produced by SEA-TV, it makes a great gift! To learn more or to place an order: http://www.SpeedandSmarts.com MADE IN CHINA Frank Pong, a well-known sailor in Asia, former commodore of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, owner-skipper of offshore sailboats and Honorary Chairman of China Team has arrived in Valencia where he has installed himself for the duration of the Cup. An interview with a passionate person, with a sparkling glance, always changing … especially when the subject is about sailing adventures and boats! * You have just arrived in Valencia, what are your impressions? Frank Pong: First of all I was surprised by the weather here. It was pleasant and a very clear sky… but after a day here, I saw there was a price to pay. It is the dust. It is an orange dust, which infiltrates everything. Then I came to the America’s Cup village. It is the first time I have seen the site. It is truly a fantastic area, with beautiful infrastructures; the bases perfect in order to work, each one having its small personal touch. The China Team base seemed spectacular to me, simple but fabricated with beautiful materials. -- Full interview: http://www.china-team.org/china/news-en/art_260306 SPRING YOUTH SAILING CLINICS There is a post on the Forum seeking information on all the Youth Sailing Clinics that are scheduled from April through the Summer. Scuttlebutt recently reported on an Opti clinic in Miami, and then there are the well-known camps run by CISA (CA) and Sail Newport (RI), but is there a site where they are all located? If you're involved in a clinic, please post the details here: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4553#4553 * (March 24, 2007) “My office today was a bit chilly, required full foul weather gear, fuzzy hat and gloves but the view from my "desk" was full of 420's sailed by one of the most upbeat and pleasant group of young sailors I have had the pleasure to work with! For those of you just tuning in: I've been working at "Raising The Sail" 420 Advanced Racing Clinic Hosted by the Barnstable High School and Sailing Boosters Club at the Hyannis Yacht Club (MA). This is their first time running such an event, however; you would never know! This clinic has been amazing and had they never said a word; I would have thought they'd been doing this for years.” -- Jenn Langille, full report: http://sailtrim.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-office-today.html OPEN FOR BUSINESS (March 23, 2007) Today marked the official hand over of Port America’s Cup from the Consorcio Valencia 2007. This was a symbolic act that marks the end of construction works that began in the Port of Valencia in 2004. Port America’s Cup is now ready to host the decisive season of sailing’s greatest competition, with racing beginning on April 3rd. The official ‘ribbon cutting’ ceremony began 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days after the selection of Valencia as host city of the 32nd America’s Cup. Representatives of the three levels of government that constitute Consorcio Valencia 2007, along with the CEO of the organising body of the 32nd America ’s Cup, Michel Bonnefous, toured the Port from a race official’s boat. The Minister of Public Administration, Jordi Sevilla, the Education, Culture and Sports Councillor for the Generalitat Valenciana, Alejandro Font de Mora, and the Mayoress of Valencia, Rita Barberá, toured the venue, beginning from the North Marina, along the canal, through the entrance to the Port and disembarked at the Superyacht Pier at the centre of Port America’s Cup. At the end of the Superyacht Pier, the guests cut a symbolic ribbon, to mark the completion of the work and the official opening of Port America’s Cup. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/2m4trg NEW YEAR. SAME WINNERS. Doyle-powered boats won just about everything they sailed in 2006, including the Beneteau 36.7 class in four NOODs. Now Chuck Bayer and his team on Grizzly have kicked off the 2007 Doyle victory streak by winning the Beneteau 36.7 class at the San Diego NOOD, closing out the regatta with a 2,1,1 performance. When you’re ready to put in a winning performance of your own, call us at 1-800-94-DOYLE or check us out online: http://www.doylesails.com TROUBLE IN ANTIGUA The fate of Lord Jim, a famous 72-foot John Alden designed schooner built in 1936, now seems to rest with those that have an interest in rescuing the past. Now posted on the Forum is an email Scuttlebutt received from Will Keene, President of Edson International, regarding the problems now facing this classic yacht in Antigua: “It is with sad hearts that we have to give you some very bad news: we sank the boat. It was a freak accident caused by us running up onto an unmarked rock off the island of Meros. We were less than two hours into our voyage to Antigua. There were of course circumstances, which caused this collision, like a fishing boat suddenly changing course ahead of us, but all in all it was just plain human error -- especially since we knew the waters and hazards around us. “There was no wind to speak of and the sea was flat calm, outside of a long, lazy swell coming in from the open sea. This swell in turn caused the boat to roll violently on the submerged rock several times before I managed to turn the stern into the swell and thus to get off the rock. We checked the bilges immediately and turned on all our pumps, including the big pump driven by the main engine. Despite that we could see that the water was rising steadily and at a fast rate. It was clear that we were sinking and the boat would go under shortly.” -- Read on, and if you have any suggestions, please post in this Forum thread: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=4555#4555 VIDIOT ALERT The latest version of Virtual Skipper, 32nd America’s Cup – The Game, throws you into the action in Valencia, where you will skipper one of the 11 official challengers to win the Louis Vuitton Cup to earn the right to go against defender Alinghi in the finals. In the game, each boat has its own characteristics and statistics (crew, hull, sail, weight, etc.), which will influence the boat’s performance. To make the game as realistic as possible, the performance and behaviour of each boat takes into account the results achieved by the challengers during the preliminary Louis Vuitton Acts held in 2006. The release date for the game is 20 April. -- http://www.virtualskipper-game.com/en SAILING SHORTS * (March 24, 2007) Larry Lemieux mathematically wrapped up the Trinity Yachts Finn North American Masters Championships on Friday, but still went out on Saturday to win the final race for good measure. 80-degree temperatures and 8-10 knots prevailed, as well as fine cuisine in the French Quarter, southern hospitality and, on a more serious note, educational tours of the destruction and rebuilding of New Orleans. Lemieux sailed a new Jibetech/ Lemieux Finn, the first production Finn to be built in North America in several years, which is exciting news for the growth of the Finn class in North America. -- Full results: http://tinyurl.com/3798ct * (March 23, 2007) Spanish skipper Unai Basurko has crossed the finish line of the Velux 5 Oceans in Norfolk, Virginia to complete the second leg in third place onboard Pakea after 68 days 11 hours, 20 minutes. -- http://ww.velux5oceans.com * St. Thomas, USVI (March 25, 2007) -- A third day of perfect trade winds and pleasant sunshine helped wrap up the International Rolex Regatta, where sailors on 87 boats have been competing in seven classes. The event, in its 34th year and hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club, is the oldest of the Caribbean's popular Spring racing events and counts as the favorite for many, with its unique blend of around-the-buoys and through-the-islands racing mixed with lively local flavor and camaraderie ashore. -- Full reports, photos, results, and daily video at http://www.rolexcupregatta.com * The latest Volvo Sailing Podcast features interviews with the first women to sail solo not stop around the world – the wrong way - Dee Caffari. We also talk to Eric Doyle, the Star champion and former USA sailor of the year, now on the afterguard of BMW Oracle Racing at the Americas Cup. There's also an interview with Ian Budgeon from Pirates of the Caribbean (the boat not the movie) and one of Britain's top Paralympic sailors - Helena Lucas. -- http://tinyurl.com/2meur5 AN ABSORBING INTEREST How true is this statement on the America’s Cup – “Here at stake are grand principles – sportsmanship and tradition – pitted against the greed, commercialism and zealotry that threatens to vulgarise the sport”? Find out by reading Bob Fisher’s two-volume, lavishly illustrated book, An Absorbing Interest. Full details at: http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-302846.html CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Ray Pendleton, Honolulu Star-Bulletin ‘Water Ways’ Columnist: I couldn't let your guest commentary's concern (in Issue 2306) for a decline in yacht club membership pass without comment. Here in Hawaii, the state has allowed all of its publicly maintained docks to disintegrate, which has in turn has made the Waikiki Yacht Club one of only two or three viable marinas on the island of Oahu. The WYC's membership roster has never looked so good, so apparently it helps to be "the only game in town." * From Rick Ermshar, Kaneohe, Hawaii: Nice item about Hawaii's Andrew Lewis in Butt 2307 (March 23), though I hope the author at BangTheCorner.com isn't a navigator. That author wrote, "Andrew Lewis comes from the beautiful island of Hawaii in the South Pacific.” Presumably everyone else knows that Hawaii is in the NORTH Pacific Ocean. * From Matthew Reid: This is the 2nd time (not to split hairs here!) that I've seen Hawaii mentioned in a 'butt article that places it south of the equator. Now that would really place South Point on the Big Island as the 'VERY' most southern point of the US. Actually, our great state lies from about 17.5ishN to 22+N. * From Alfred Poor: (Re Stuart Streuli’s Brittany-induced epiphany in #2307) Was Mr. Streuli around when Dennis Connor shook up the America’s Cup competition? “Edgy” doesn’t begin to describe the contrast between Connor and the traditional New York Yacht Club persona. And I guess that maybe the America’s Cup competition got a bit more national attention as a result. But Connor now seems to be mainstream (and tennis’s bad-boy John McEnroe is now old-man commentator). I guess my point is that “edgy” is a moving target; maybe we need Johnny Depp to sign on with one of the syndicates. * From Chris Welsh: Five Ways to Improve the America's Cup (for real): 1. No electronics in any racing for points. No lasers, no GPS's. Just telltales and compasses. (Better TV, Better sailing) 2. Maybe Swing Keels - but only human powered hydraulics, no electronic controls. 3. A sail count limit as soon as the points start. 4. Every Boat eliminated ends up in a fleet race series while the semis and finals are going on (Better TV). 5. For every hull built, the team has to build a 1/2 scale second hull (hull only, for a commonized mast & sail plan) to contribute to a parallel round robin youth fleet or match racing championship, for ages 16-25. Maybe national youth teams? * From Zvi Ziblat: Hats off to Stuart Streuli (Scuttlebutt 2307) on his sharp irony angle why we should keep sailing to be a participaNT sport, rather than TV watched. Streuli gave me enough reasons to continue my belief in how fortunate I was to be introduced to sailing at the age of 12, and to still enjoy it if I am lucky enough to reach 90. Please, please get rid of the made for TV medal race. * From Woodie Cobb: In response to ISAF dope-free-sport attitude - OK steroids and other physically-enhancing drugs should be banned, but testing for other drugs is pure BS! I take one illegal drug daily (for life). Marijuana helps concentration, spotlight vision. Life would be boring without it, but it does not make you stronger like steroids. I hope ISAF hasn’t outlawed fun. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You know you're a redneck when you come back from the dump with more than you took. Special thanks to Speed & Smarts, Doyle Sails, and Bob Fisher. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
