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SCUTTLEBUTT 2181 - September 15, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with America’s Cup coverage in Scuttlebutt brought to you by UBS (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). ONLY IN AMERICA In a rather bizarre ruling that has marine industry officials worried, Judge Robert G. James of the United States District Court, Western Division of Louisiana, has said that it is criminal trespass for the American boating public to boat, fish, or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters in the US. In the case of Normal Parm v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, James ruled that federal law grants exclusive and private control over the waters of the river, outside the main shipping channel, to riparian landowners. The shallows of the navigable waters are no longer open to the public. That, in effect, makes boating illegal across most of the country. - IBI Magazine, full report: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20060814154923ibinews.html ONLY IN EUROPE Investment in the oil sector has risen by 75 per cent to nearly €45 million (£30.5 million) over the past year, encouraging several companies to investigate the possibility of starting or increasing oil production in Spain. A total of a dozen companies are looking into the possibility of further exploration, with the British Company MedOil´s interested in the waters off the coast of Valencia, and right in the middle of the Americas Cup racecourse. Right-wingers allege that the socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has almost constantly tried to impede the progress of the Valencian region, and that this is further demonstrated by their recent decision to allow the British company to undertake prospecting exercises just 5km (3 miles) off the coast of Valencia. This puts the area where Medoil will be working precisely in the middle of the course of the Americas Cup races next year and equidistant from Albufera Natural Park. - IBI News, full report: http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20060814145456ibinews.html SCUTTLEBUTT GOES BAREBOATING Bareboat chartering at exotic locations, is well, exotic, a bit adventuresome, but more than anything, provides an unmatched ability to discover areas that can only be explored by boat. Scuttlebutt has published a daily log from their Summer 2006 bareboat charter through the French Polynesian islands of Raiatea, Tahaa, and Bora Bora. Feel like getting empowered to organize your own bareboat charter? Put aside your fresh hotel linens, your room service menus, your day spa appointments, and follow along: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/tahiti LASER WORLDS (Jeju Island, Korea) Sailors were again held ashore at the scheduled start of racing on day 2 of the Jeju Laser World Championships. Today it was due to the extreme conditions that existed on the racing area with winds in excess of 25 knots and steep mountainous seas. After a course inspection the race committee postponed racing until late in the afternoon in the hope that the strong winds might moderate. At the 1530 final deadline for a decision the wind was still the same with the seas even steeper as the strong spring tide turned against the wind. All racing was postponed to the next day. With strong winds expected to continue over the next few days and typhoon ShanShan changing track more towards Jeju the race committee have introduced a new course format of double windward/ leewards and are proposing to race one fleet at a time to maximize safety cover in the strong winds. In addition they have re-scheduled racing to start at 0900 in the hope of using the slightly lighter winds in the morning close to the shore. Event website: http://www.laserworld2006.com STOP, SHOP, AND DROOL Shopping online for sailing gear is different than walking the aisles of your local chandlery. While you can’t try on the spray gear or spin the ratchet blocks, the Team One Newport website does provide the vivid images needed and has their site organized so as to minimize your clicks as you “walk the aisles.” Categorized by who you are or what you are looking for, plus special sections for specific needs. If you can’t get to their store in Newport, RI, head to their website and stop, shop, and drool: http://www.team1newport.com I-14 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Long Beach, CA.-- Long Beach's own Howard Hamlin and crew Euan McNicol of Australia are looking more uncatchable than ever after five of seven races in the International 14 Class World Championship. Even the U.S. Navy couldn’ t slow them down Thursday. As Britain's Archie Massey and crew George Nurton sailed away into their own time zone in light wind for the third time in five days, Hamlin and McNicol held off Nurton's sister Katie and crew Nigel Ash for second place. They remained 11 points ahead of the next boat, but now it's Tina and Trevor Baylis of Santa Cruz, who finally unloaded the weight of last Sunday's starting disaster to leap from 17th to second place. After five races, all boats dropped their worst finishes, including the 10 who were saddled with 72 points for non-start violations Sunday. - Full report: http://www.abyc.org/upload/I14worlds06pr8.doc Standings (71 boats; after 5 of 7 races): 1. Howard Hamlin/Euan McNicol, Long Beach, 1-(4)-2-2-2, 7 points. 2. Tina Baylis/Trevor Baylis, Santa Cruz, Calif., (OCS)-5-5-3-5, 18. 3. Michael Lennon/Jon Blackburn, Great Britain, 4-8-3-5-(10), 20. 4. Kris Bundy/Jamie Hanseler, Seattle, 3-(25)-7-6-4, 20. 5. Samuel (Shark) Kahn/Paul Allen, Aptos, Calif., 5-2-1-(14)-14, 22. Complete results: http://www.abyc.org/upload/2006_I_14_Worlds1.htm VIDEO OF THE WEEK This week’s video takes us to New York harbor, where we strap on our trapeze harness and hook-up for a ride on a Nacra 20 as it blasts past the Statue of Liberty. No shortage of hoots and hollers from the crew during this ride. Also, if you have a video you like, please send us your suggestions for next week’s Video of the Week. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/#media IN MEMORIAM (The AC 32 Challenger Commission blog had the following post regarding the passing of Cy Gillette) Sad news just received from Hawaii that Cy Gillette, a long-time and beloved friend of many involved with the (America’s) Cup and our sport, passed away overnight at age 92. Mr Gillette was an active and successful racing sailor until his last days, and was a highly respected judge and umpire for longer than most of us can remember. Cy was among those involved in umpiring from its inception in the late 80's. He umpired at both the 1987 Maxi Worlds in Newport, Rhode Island where umpiring match racing was first used on an experimental basis, and at the 1988 Congressional Cup at Long Beach, California when umpiring was initiated on the match racing circuit. One of the few senior judges at the time who supported umpiring, Cy was a strong advocate for its first-ever use in the America's Cup at San Diego in 1992. Indeed, he chaired the jury and was chief umpire for 1992 defender selection series. For the 1987 and 1995 Cups Cy served as Dennis Conner's senior rules advisor. Following the 1995 Cup Cy was awarded the Nathaniel G Herreshoff trophy, the U.S. Sailing Association's most prestigious award, for his many years of exemplary service to sport. His sailing biography published on that occasion is here. A true gentleman and corinthian, and a major contributor to our sport over his long life, Cy will be dearly missed and long remembered. Our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Camille, son Greg, and other members of the family. - http://www.challengercommission.com/2006/09/cy-gillette_14.html YEAR OF THE RUBY In 1966 the 61-foot triple planked kauri yacht Fidelis crossed the Tasman Sea from New Zealand and showed the world some early Kiwi yachting magic when she took line honours and set a new record in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race that year. These days, in the era of high tech carbon wizardry and canting keels, Fidelis will be amongst the classic entries when she lines up for the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her line honours win. Built in 1964, she’s already been well and truly pipped as the oldest boat in the fleet by Sean Langman’s 1932 built Maluka, but the two are expected to add a magnificent historical touch to the starting line up, and both are likely to stay on in Hobart for the Wooden Boat Festival in February 2007. – Race website, full story: http://rolexsydneyhobart.com//news.asp?key=2746 Photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/fidelis/ SPEED FOR SALE Whether your goal is to win a World Championship, a Club Championship, or simply to improve your sailing experience, now is the time to SAVE on the world's fastest sails. North Sails' seasonal pricing is in effect through the end of November for many cruising and racing sails and for more than 90 one-design class sails. Contact your local North Sails representative today: http://www.northsails.com SAILING SHORTS * Renowned sailor and ESPN commentator, Gary Jobson, will be inducted October 18, 2006 into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame. – Baltimore Sun, http://tinyurl.com/pb4q5 * Laura Sudarsky of New York and Jeff White of Radnor Pennsylvania have each been awarded the "Bermuda Ocean Cruising Yacht Trophy" presented by Sail Magazine for their top performances in successive Marion to Bermuda and Newport Bermuda ocean races. Scoring for the prize was done two ways this year. Sudarsky and Cassiopeia had the lowest combined score considering all Cruiser Division boats racing in both races. - http://www.bermudarace.com * British print and electronic media company, Pindar, will team up to build a new Open 60.with Volvo Ocean Race winner Mike Sanderson and designer Juan Kouyoumdjian, who designed the ABN Amro Volvo 70 which Sanderson skippered to victory in the recent Volvo Ocean Race. The new Pindar Open 60 is due out of the shed during Summer 2007 in time for the Fastnet Race. It is intended to enter into various record attempts before competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre, which is a double-handed race in November from Le Havre, France to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. – Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/pindar0914.htm * Sailing World has announced that Sperry Top-Sider has signed on as title sponsor for the magazine’s sailing series property, the NOOD Regattas, starting in 2007. The National Offshore One Design Regattas, known as the NOODs, are the largest and most popular sailboat racing series in North America. The 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas will sail into nine cities in 2007, including Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston; New York, San Diego, St. Petersburg, Florida, Annapolis, Maryland, and Toronto. St. Petersburg will kick off the ’07 campaign February 16-18. - Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/nood.htm * New York Yacht Club has announced the HSH Nordbank blue race 2007, from Newport, RI, to Hamburg, Germany, will start next year on two dates: the first start is on Saturday June 16 and the second start on June 23 for the largest yachts entered. The transatlantic race is the successor to the 2003 DaimlerChrysler North Atlantic Challenge (DCNAC), where 63 entries, ranging in size from 40 to 152 feet, competed. Twenty yachts have already entered, where racing will be scored under IRC; yachts may also compete in an IMS division. * Harken Yacht Equipment announced that A. Foster & Co Ltd. Auckland, New Zealand has been acquired by Harken as the company's newest sales and service office in the Pacific region. Now operating as Harken New Zealand Ltd., this move represents a shift in distribution from an independent distributor, to a Harken-owned operation. Fosters has been a Harken distributor since 1978. Harken, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative sailboat hardware and accessories. Headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, Harken manufactures in the USA and Italy, with offices throughout the US, Europe, and Australasia. - http://www.harken.com * (Narragansett, RI) On the penultimate day of the Hobie 16 North Americans, two light air races were completed to bring the series up to twelve races. It was mostly a one way track Thursday due to consistently greater winds on the left side, putting a premium on good starts and light air speed. First and second appear to be locked up by Enrique Figueroa/Carla Malatrasi (PUR) and Juan Maegli/Enrique Arathoon (GUA) respectively, but the point are close for the remaining top five positions. - Event website: http://tinyurl.com/o7m6c * James Spithill will attempt to win his second consecutive King Edward VII Gold Cup when the Bermuda Gold Cup, Stage 4 of the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour, takes place on Hamilton Harbour, Oct. 10-15. Spithill, the recent recipient of the Australian Yachting 2006 Male Sailor of the Year award, headlines a field of 16 crews that will compete in the $50,000 regatta sailed in 33-foot IOD sloops.The oldest one-design match-racing event in the world, the Bermuda Gold Cup rejoins the World Tour after a one year absence. http://www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com 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 space (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 please save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, you can post your comments on the Scuttlebutt Forums, wherein we may include your submission in the newsletter. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Guy Brierre, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans: I had to laugh when I read Art Ahrens' comments that "we don't need fancy yacht clubs (in Issue 2180). Just a hoist, a fenced-in paved parking lot, and a house trailer on an unused part of a park". Pretty much sounds like the majority of the clubs on the gulf coast right now. We'll be back but for now I agree with Art, we're doing just fine. * From Richard Gladwell, NZ Editor, Sail-World.com: Sad to hear about Cy Gillette – he was a lovely guy – I did an umpires seminar in Long Beach with him in ’91, and worked with him a couple of times in the Steinlager Cup as it then was before that in NZL. He was always very easy to get on with, and had time for everyone involved in sailing no matter how big or small. One of those people who always stick in your mind, and who you know will always be the same no matter how old they are. * From Fin Beven (re decline in racing): Am I the only one who misses the "old" starting system and thinks that the current system may be unnecessarily confusing to the casual sailor/racer (and me)? A typical (10 minute count-down) start involved just 3 distinctively different cones and 3 blasts on a horn. If the cone was up, there was more than one minute remaining before the next segment. If the cone was down, there was less than one minute. The class set to start was signaled by a simple display on the committee boat using the class logo. It all seemed so simple. * From Art Ahrens: (edited down to our 250 word limit) Regarding commentary on the decline of sailing activity, here in Florida one only needs to look at the infrastructure. Sailing is thriving where the infrastructure is there to support it. Elsewhere, the marinas, anchorages, and available land to support sailing centers are being swallowed up by developers building huge condos. When those facilities are available, the fleets will thrive. In West Palm Beach in the late 90's, we were fortunate to have a J-24 sailor become the yard manager for a large marina. He had the guts to convince his management that the J-24 could be fork lifted into the water. The fleet quickly grew from 3 to 10+ boats, flourished for a few years until the yard was sold, he was dismissed, and they could no longer dry sail. In 6 months the fleet was dead. If you look at areas of the country where racing is thriving, you’ll find the needed and enthusiastic infrastructure to support the sport as in Newport, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, Annapolis, etc. It really isn't much; we don't need fancy yacht clubs. Just a hoist, a fenced-in paved parking lot, and a house trailer on an unused part of a park, city block, anything that happens to be next to deep water. How can this happen? Sailors need to get their community leaders and board of directors on their side, showing them that sailing facilities are good for the community. They bring in dollars by hosting competitions. They are sponsoring a clean sport. * From Woodie Cobb, Channel Islands California, USA - Regarding getting more people sailing/racing, Wet Wednesdays are way cool in Channel Islands Harbor. Anacapa Yacht Club (AYC) runs the Wet Wednesday Racing program through most of daylight savings time. Want a ride - show up at Channel Islands Landing by 5:00 pm and grab a ride. This has gone on for many years. After the race, there is a party at AYC with bar and self-barbacue (It is way fun and that is how I got started racing many years ago). It continues today - come out and play, I dare you!!! CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION If you disassemble and reassemble something enough times, eventually you'll have two of them. Special thanks to Team One Newport and North Sails. America’s Cup coverage in Scuttlebutt is brought to you by UBS. |
