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SCUTTLEBUTT 1320 - May 1, 2003
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releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always
welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere.
AROUND ALONE
The 28,000 mile, eight month grand prix Around Alone race is going to reach
its zenith for Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm on Bobst Group - Armor Lux when
he crosses the finish line in Newport RI in the next 24 hours. As he makes
it his fifth straight time to arrive first in port, not only will he have
won Leg 5 to make it four leg wins in total, but also secured the coveted
victor's place on the podium for Around Alone 2002-03.
While the weather in Newport is still sunny and warm, the forecast is for
it to turn gnarly later in the week when the bulk of the Class 1 boats and
Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America will be arriving. A stationary front will
place itself inconveniently right off the coast of Rhode Island and will
drench the fleet with a persistent rain. The boats behind Bobst Group -
Armor Lux will start sniffing the Newport shoreline during the day on Friday.
Italian Simone Bianchetti on Tiscali still has a reasonable hold on second
for the leg positioned now between the line and 3rd boat Ocean Planet.
Bruce Schwab on Ocean Planet, Brad van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom
America, the leading Class 2 boat, and Thierry Dubois on Solidaires will
definitely face headwinds. Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal described this 30
knot Northerly as if "someone is setting a huge 30 knot fan on the finish
line and pointing it right at us. I guess that will be the
character-building part of this leg." - Mary Ambler,
http://www.aroundalone.com
STANDINGS: 2200 UTC April 30
CLASS One:
1. Bobst Group-Armor Lux, Bernard Stamm, 77 miles from finish
2. Tiscali, Simone Bianchetti, 397 miles from leader
3. Ocean Planet, Bruce Schwab, 461 mfl
4. Solidaires, Thierry Dubois, 529 mfl
5. Pindar, Emma Richards, 565 mfl
CLASS Two:
1. Tommy Hilfiger, Brad Van Liew, 568 miles from finish
2. Everest Horizontal, Tim Kent, 197 mfl
3. Spirit of yukoh, Kojiro Shiraishi, 468 mfl
4. BTC Velocity, Alan Paris, 771 mfl
- Spirit of Canada, Derek Hatfield, still sailing leg 4.
CERTIFICATION
For a number of years, US Sailing has been developing a new Small Boat
Level 3 Advanced Coaching Program designed to provide a higher level of
certification for professional and advanced coaches primarily in the high
school and college arena. The first 'graduates' of this new program are:
U.S. Olympic Team Head Coach Gary Bodie (Hampton, VA), Cappy Capper (Lake
Minnetonka, MN), Guy Fleming (Honolulu, HI), Tim Herzog (Baltimore, MD),
Rob Hurd (Marion, MA), Scott Ikle (Geneva, NY), Scott Melander (Honolulu,
HI), Richard White (Marietta, GA), Olympic Coach Skip Whyte (Warren, RI),
Roy Williams (Newport, RI) and John Vandemoer (Chicago, IL).
Level 3 applicants have a series of requirements to complete before
achieving certification. The program is a minimum two-year commitment.
Applicants must complete Small Boat Levels 1 & 2 before applying for Level
3. Building on the strengths of the first two levels, a Level 3 applicant
must complete:
- 300 hours of on-the-water coaching.
- Two days of practical experience at either a clinic, regatta, high
school practice, or coaching practice apprenticing with a senior level coach.
- Race management experience, judging, protest committee experience and
competitor experience at regional or national level.
- First Aid and CPR certification
- Membership with US Sailing at the coaching level
- At least two modules in the following areas: college coaching, high
school coaching, competitive youth coaching, international coaching, team
racing coaching, coaching of disabled sailing or offshore coaching.
- Knowledge of two sport science topics involving either approved home
study of sport psychology and sport physiology or attendance at an Advanced
Coaching Symposium where the topic is covered or successful completion of a
college level course.
A Level 3 coach is expected to commit to continuing education by presenting
at or attending the annual Advanced Coaching Symposium, attending other
workshops giving by US Sailing or the USOC Training Center, writing
articles for the Advanced Coaching website or offering specialized clinics
and instruction. - Marlieke de Lange Eaton,
http://www.ussailing.org/training/coaching/index.htm
NEW KONTROLS
The performance glove! Kontrol gloves: Zeptepä, Sailing Angles' new
aggressive basketball-textured, non-skid palm helps you maintain maximum
line control with minimum grip. The Zeptep™ grip works even better when
wet. Our Zeptepä palm wrap offers both padding and protection on the heel
of your palm for intense line tweaking, completely unique, completely
Sailing Angles! A good-looking glove too, with off-white and royal blue
panels combined with a black palm. Gear up today for that next race. Sizes
from XXS to XXXL. Designed in cut-off finger style ($32.50) of full
three-finger style ($35.00). Available at Annapolis Performance Sailing &
http://www.sailingangles.com
TRANSPAC
Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker and longtime Stars & Stripes navigator
Peter Isler will be new members of the Pyewacket crew when the
record-holding Reichel/Pugh 77 sails its last race for Roy E. Disney in the
42nd Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii in July. Disney has sold the boat to
an undisclosed Asian buyer to make room for a maxZ86---his fourth
Pyewacket---currently under construction in New Zealand.
Isler will be sitting in for Pyewacket's regular navigator, Stan Honey, who
will be sailing his own Cal 40 in a special revival of the class, is a tall
order. Honey has won eight of the 17 races he has navigated from the West
Coast to Hawaii. Isler said, "It's gigantic shoes to fill. They're more
like snowshoes or Shaquille O'Neal's sneakers."
Barker's reputation has not suffered despite his team's dismal 0-5 showing
against Switzerland's Alinghi in the America's Cup match. "He's a fine
sailor [who] got saddled with a boat that was too thin," Roy Pat Disney
said. "Because Philippe spends so bloody much money [hiring world-class
crews], we felt we needed a bunch of good drivers. That's one of the edges
on a long race."
Two years ago Kahn won with what crew member Zan Drejes called "the best
crew money can buy." Drejes is a Pyewacket alumnus who won Transpac's top
crew award in successive years on the two boats. Kahn said, "I think that
it's a match race with Pyewacket favored because they are Pyewacket. We'll
just try to keep up with them and see if we can get lucky."
Twenty-five of the 60 Transpac entries, including Pyewacket, tuned up by
racing in the 461-boat fleet from Newport Beach to Ensenada last weekend. -
Rich Roberts, http://www.transpacificyc.org
ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK
Falmouth Harbour, April 30, 2003 - Day three of Antigua Sailing Week saw
lighter winds 18 knots dropping to 14 as division A completed their last
downwind leg but another beautiful day of Caribbean sailing as the fleet
headed back to the south coast of Antigua and Nelson¹s Dockyard and
Falmouth Harbour.
As the fleet headed south it was met by shifty and gusty conditions as the
offshore wind funneled down valleys and round hills with 30-degree
oscillations. The only thing to be done was be prepared for the radical
shifts and adapt where possible. Many a boat carrying a spinnaker lost
control but no knockdown broaches were witnessed. Kites went up, kites came
down and numerous boats including Equation and Favonious didn't attempt to
fly their kites and may have paid the price.
Clay Deutsch's Swan 68 Chippewa and one of the kite flyers - had a great
day winning the big boat class and put itself at the top of this class
after three days of racing and two points ahead of second-placer Sotto
Voce, the fovourite to win coming in to this regatta. Favonious placed
second and Equation was last giving them a tie for third place. - Alastair
Abrehart, http://www.caribbeanracing.com
NEWS BRIEFS
* US Sailing has teamed up with Gowrie, Barden & Brett and the Chubb Group
of Insurance Companies to offer new comprehensive and cost effective
insurance coverage for its member yacht clubs and sailing organizations.
Following a year-long review of its corporate and member insurance
programs, US Sailing's Board of Directors approved a reorganization of
these programs. Information on these insurance programs endorsed by US
Sailing can be found at:
http://www.ussailing.org/membership/insurance/index.htm
* North Sails will provide complimentary weather forecasts for all sailors
racing in the three-day Annapolis Sailing World NOOD Regatta starting
Friday, May 2, 2003 on the Chesapeake Bay. North is partnering with
Commanders Weather to publish a forecast each morning, which will be
available at the Sailing World NOOD headquarters located at the Annapolis
Yacht Club Junior Sailing Center (at the Annex) and online. - Veronica
Brown, http://www.northsails.com
* Rain and low-pressure weather systems lingered over Oakland during the
opening days of Pacific SAIL EXPO® (PSE), which coupled with a tough
economic climate undoubtedly contributed to the fact that the show gate was
down by 10%, compared to last year's gate. 46% of the show goers spent two
or more days at PSE; nearly one-third (28%) went the distance and traveled
to the show from outside northern California; 60% indicated that PSE is the
only show they attend each year; and when asked if they'd return again next
year, the answer was a near unanimous (92%) yes. PSE drew 330 exhibitors.
http://www.sailamerica.com/SAILEXPO-Pacific.cfm
WATCH OUT FOR ERIN AND JEN!
Talk about tough. The 470 team of Erin Maxwell and Jen Morgan are making a
big name for themselves: both are four-time college All Americans, 2002 470
US National Champions, top American women in 2002 470 Worlds, second at
Pre-Olympic trial, and currently the top American this week at Hyères
Olympic Week in France. Follow their path to Olympic Gold (and to lend your
support) by visiting your support: http://www.maxwellmorgan470.com Not
only do they use Samson sheets and halyards, they love our HPS Twine - duck
tape on a string. You'll find the complete Samson product catalog at
http://www.samsonrope.com/home/recmarine/catalogs/index.cfm
LITTLE AMERICA'S CUP
The 2001, 2002, & 2003 Alter Cup champion, Matt Struble, and his crew in
the 2003 event, W.F. Oliver, will compete for one of the 10 U.S. defender
spots for the International Catamaran Challenge Trophy (ICCT) this
September in Newport, RI. And from Italy, two-time A-Class World Champion
Egidio Babbi with crew Daniele Saragoni have posted a bid to secure the
opportunity to challenge for the trophy.
Struble and Oliver, no strangers to winning, are the current European
Champions in F-18HTs - the class to be used in the 2003 ICCT. Struble also
is a three-time performance catamaran champion in the Inter 20 and 5.5 Uni
and a past winner of the Worrell 1000. Oliver, meanwhile, is the current
F-18HT North American Champion. Babbi and Saragoni have put together a
training program at the Circolo Vela Cesenatico in Italy where the sailing
conditions are similar to Newport's.
The Italian manufacturer of the F-18HT and supplier to the 2003 ICCT,
Bimare, is offering ICCT teams the free use of F-18HTs for the upcoming
European Championships scheduled for the end of June in Rimini, Italy.
Up to 10 defenders (U.S.) and 10 challengers (non-U.S.) will be selected
from the entries. The dates are September 28th-October 3, 2003 at the Sail
Newport Sailing Center in Newport, R.I. - Media Pro Int'l,
http://www.icct2003.org or http://www.littleamericascup2003.org
A GATHERING OF THE EAGLES
The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) has announced six of the eight seeded
skippers who will compete for the Investors Guaranty presentation of the
King Edward VII Gold Cup. The regatta, the second event on the Swedish
Match Tour 2003/4, will be held October 18-26. Topping the list of skippers
is America's Cup winning helmsman Russell Coutts/Alinghi Team, who has won
the King Edward VII Cup a record six times (2000, '98, '96, '93, '92, '90).
Two-time champions Peter Gilmour (AUS; '97, '95), Chris Dickson (NZL; '89,
'87), 2001 champion Peter Holmberg (USVI), and Dennis Conner (USA) will
join Jesper Radich/ TeamRadich (DEN), the reigning champion who is
currently second on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003 rankings, to challenge
for one of match racing's largest prize purses.
Celebrating its 55th year of drawing the world's top sailing talent and
giving up-and-comers a shot at racing against the world's best, the event
will offer a record $100,000 prize purse on behalf of its title sponsor
Investors Guaranty. Competition for the coveted King Edward VII Gold Cup
will take place on Hamilton Harbour in identically matched and supplied
International One Design yachts. The remaining two seeded skippers will be
announced in the coming weeks.
Amateur and professional skippers are invited to apply for one of the 16
unseeded skippers' berths in Investors Guaranty's presentation of the 2003
King Edward VII Gold Cup. The winner and runner-up of the Bacardi Cup
(Bermuda's national match racing championship) will be awarded two of the
berths. A three-day, round robin qualifier round is planned for October
18-20 aboard International One Design class sloops, with the top six
skippers advancing to Round One.
The Bermuda International Women's Match Racing Championship will serve as a
unique lead-up to Investors Guaranty's presentation of the King Edward VII
Gold Cup, with the winner and runner-up receiving an invitation to compete
in Round One. The winner of the Bermuda International Women's Match Racing
Championship will be presented with the 4th Squadron Cruiser Bowl and a
share of $15,000 in prize money. Paula Lewin, the winner of the 2001
inaugural event, who is currently training for the 2004 Olympic Games, will
return to her home waters from October 18-21 for the event. - Media Pro
Int'l. - http://www.kingedwardviigoldcup.com
CHARLESTON RACE WEEK
The eighth annual Charleston Race Week concluded last weekend after four
days of mixed-up weather on Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. Conditions
ranged from perfect 10-12 kts and clear skies to tornado warnings, strong
gusts, and the kind of midday dark that fools streetlights. A total of five
races were eventually held, with all races abandoned on Friday. Winner of
the trip for two to the Paris Boat Show courtesy of Beneteau USA was New
Jersey's Gerrit Schulze of the J/105 Max Power.
Class winners: Melges 24: Beelzabubba, John Lucas (SC); J/105: Dead on
Arrival, Lewis Gunn (SC); J/24: Stirred not Shaken, Kenneth Gray (MI); PHRF
A: Crosswave (J/120), Roger Elliot (PA); PHRF B: L'Outrage (Beneteau 1st
10), Bruce Gardner (MD); PHRF C: Adrenalin Rush (Beneteau 1st 8), Dick
McGillvray(SC); PHRF D: Gazaway (Ericson 30), Lamar Walter (GA); PHRF E:
Projection (Catalina 25), Martin Wong (SC). -
http://www.charlestonraceweek.com
CORSAIR NATIONALS
The 2003 Corsair Nationals at Fort Walton Beach, Florida concluded last
weekend. A week of activities concluded with three days of racing on
Choctowatchee Bay in winds of 5 to 20 knots and comfortable daytime
temperatures in the 70's. Over 50 Corsair/Farrier trimarans in 6 classes
completed 6 races to decide U.S. National Champions. Class winners: F-24:
Peter Clay (Cataumet, MA); Corsair 24: Robert Remmers (Buda, TX); Formula
F-27; Jim Lyden (Dearborn, MI); Corsair 28R: Bob Harkrider (Augusta, GA);
F-31: G. Howell (Raleigh, NC); Open Class: Randy Smyth (Ft. Walton Bch.,
FL); 1st Overall PHRF: Randy Smyth.- http://www.smythteam.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com)
(Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be
edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room or a
bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best
shot and don't whine if others disagree.)
* From Rich Jeffries: As the Secretary General of the Pan American
Sailing Federation and its representative to the ISAF I could not help but
respond to the "scoop" that only Olympic classes will sail in this summer's
Pan Am Games. Unfortunately the organizing committee in Santo Domingo did
make that decision. However the Pan American Sailing Federation, ISAF, the
MNA's in the Pan American region and their National Olympic Committees have
all been contacted and are rallying to see what can be done.
It is too early to say that this is a final decision. The President of the
Pan American Sailing Federation, Teresa Lara of Venezuela, along with ISAF
President Paul Henderson are working hard to reverse this. As recently as
last night letters were sent to the organizers outlining why certain
classes are in the Pan Am Games and their relevance and similarity to the
Olympic classes. Let's not give up yet and to the qualified sailors who are
effected by this: we are working hard for you.
* From Patrick Broderick: I agree with Jesse Falsone that the best way to
get into racing is ownership -- for anyone. I've volunteered for year
teaching adults to sail, and have always emphasized boat ownership as the
best way to get out on the water, whether a trailer dinghy or larger boat.
Currently I'm sailing a 35-year old Santana 22 (about the same number of
years I've been sailing) and I'm having more fun than I've ever had. I
think smaller, older, one design boats are a good way to go.
Right now in the San Francisco area you can purchase a good, but old,
Santana 22 and trailer for under $5,000, keep it on the trailer for about
$100 a month (no annual bottom job!), participate in one design sailing (15
boats on the line for YRA races), or sail the beer cans (the Sausalito YC
evening series has a Santana 22 division this spring). There are plenty of
other older, smaller classes out there in which the same can be done. Which
class depends on your geographic area: check out local sailing/yacht
club/class associations; read local sailing rags; talk with folks who sail
the boats. Nothing beats sailing your own boat to speed up the learning/fun
curve out on the water. It shouldn't matter whether you're male, female,
young, old, whatever! Just do it!
THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Money can buy a house but not a home.
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