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SCUTTLEBUTT 1506 - January 28, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. THE NEW GRAND PRIX RULE (An editorial by Andrew Hurst, editor of Seahorse magazine.) After the euphoria justified following the announcement of progress by the Rule Working Party, international opinion quickly swung against the RWP's philosophical 'first draft'. While there is not space here to debate why a new VPP-based rule should be any better than the old one (IMS), the point is that another VPP-based (even remotely based) system just will not sell. And that should be the main indeed the only concern from now on. The RWP has made great efforts and the stakeholders have invested heavily in the first serious new initiative in offshore handicap racing for over 20 years. For this they should be applauded (numerous skilled raceboat builders now building modular buildings and shower trays are justification enough for the RWP's efforts). I return, however, to Seahorse's principal request of the RWP, which was in no way meant to be frivolous, that to be successful a new Grand Prix rule must fit on one side of A4. We stand by this claim, and the reaction we have had to the possibility of another VPP-based rule from readers around the world suggests that we are right. If the new rule does not differ drastically from its predecessors, then owners will stick with their one-designs and their cruiser-racers (racing under IRC, Scandicap, PHRF and so on). They will not risk serious money by building a new boat to a rating system that is linked as if by contagion to IMS. It does not matter how good a new VPP-based rule is it will not sell. The RWP absolutely must now adopt the concept of a single-number system and then do what it can to make that system desirable. Hindsight or not, flawed or not, the single-number IOR system gave us the best offshore handicap competition of the modern era. IMS never came close. And as for the valiant but inevitably doomed attempt at IMS-based level rating, ILC remember that? IMS will and should continue for those who want it. But the rest of the racing world will not be drawn off the fence by a rehash (even if it is only perceived) of something they have already rejected. The work so far has definitely not been wasted, but the RWP now needs to take two steps back: a tight box rule good; simple fast boats very good; multiple handicaps with race officers checking the windspeed (again) forget it. A tape measure and a set of scales: it will not require any more than this to measure the sort of offshore raceboat that people will actually buy rather than just talk about. - Andrew Hurst, Seahorse magazine, www.seahorsemagazine.com HOBIE CATS There has been rumors and discussion for some time about the future of "open class" racing within sanctioned Hobie Class regattas. We now have the official word from IHCA (International Hobie Class Association), NAHCA (North American Hobie Class Association) and the Hobie Cat Company. To sum it up, IHCA has notified NAHCA that it is violating IHCA rules by allowing non-Hobie catamarans in sanctioned events. Hobie Cat Company agrees with the IHCA position, and NAHCA has now agreed to eliminate open class racing from it's events after 2004. - TheBeachcats.com, to read letters from each organization: http://tinyurl.com/2a9fx FOR THE RECORD Francis Joyon, currently steaming around the world aboard his 90ft trimaran, IDEC, is looking more and more likely to break the non-stop, single-handed global sailing record. After his 65th day at sea and approximately 2,400 miles to go, Joyon's aim is to break the current record of 93d 3h 57m 32s set by Michel Desjoyeux during the 2000/1 Vendee Globe sailing his Finot-designed Open. - Sue Pelling, Yachting World, http://www.yachting-world.com/ * Things aren't running quite to plan though as he explained during the morning radio session. "I've noticed that there is a hole in my port float. I'm not worried about it but it would be rather good if I could fix it." - YachtingUniverse.com, http://tinyurl.com/yrtqh TRIVIA QUESTION When did yachting become an Olympic event? (Answer below) OCKAM EXPANDING Campbell Field now heads Ockam in Europe. He's a respected sailor (just back from Key West last week), navigator and instrumentation expert, and as Ockam's authorized distributor offers full sales and service: from both the Ockam Europe office in Lymington and through a quickly growing dealer network in Europe's primary sailing centers. Whether cruising or racing, based in Europe or visiting, contact Campbell by email, cmf@ockameurope.com or visit http://www.ockameurope.com MIAMI OCR The first day of the Rolex Miami OCR was cut short for most of the 11 classes competing when a rain squall bearing high, shifty winds rolled down Biscayne Bay at mid-day. With six racecourses utilized in six different areas, some classes were affected more drastically by the surprise conditions than others. "The water was foaming," said US Sailing Team Coach Skip Whyte, who was on the 470 course where several of the boats purposely capsized to avoid wind damage to their rigs and one signal boat reported a waterspout hitting it. "The gusts felt like bowling balls coming at you." Nevertheless, scores tallied - even if it was for one race - were important for all 11 Olympic and Paralympic classes competing here. The Rolex Miami OCR, in its 15th year, has attracted 503 sailors representing over 35 countries. It is one of the largest regattas of its kind in the U.S. and is serving as a qualifying event for some countries in their determination of Olympic and Paralympic representatives for Athens 2004. In other cases, the event is serving as elite-level practice for athletes already chosen for the Olympics. One sailor who falls in the latter category, along with Sweden's Fredrik Loof and France's Xavier Rohart, is Great Britain's Ian Percy, who had an "untroubled start" in the Star class's single race and led Mark Reynolds, USA's gold medallist from 2000, around the course to win. "Those are the easy races, when you're out in front," said Percy. "Being in Miami for this event is a no-brainer," he said, with a nod to the many world champions competing. "Because of the quality competition, you have to be here, and most of the Star sailors from around the world come here in mid-December and stay through the winter." The Finn sailors, on the same course as the 470 and 49er sailors, got to their last downwind leg in the second race before half the fleet capsized. Denmark's Jonas Hoegh Christensen, a defending champion here and his country's leading contender for a Finn Olympic berth, had worked his way to third after handily winning today's first race. The 1996 Finn Gold medalist Mateaus Kusznierewicz follows the Dane in second overall. Topping the Tornados today was Argentina's Santiago Lange after posting finish positions of 1-3. Close on his heels is USA's Lars Guck, only one point behind in total points. This fleet, too, is deep with talent, with Lange having finished top-five at the 2003 Tornado Worlds, along with Great Britain's Olympic representative Leigh McMillan (19th after today) and Germany's Roland Gaebler (third after today). Roman Hagara, who recently won the Tornado North Americans, is in sixth after today, while USA's 2000 Olympians Johnny Lovell and Charlie Ogletree, who finished second at the North Americans, are in seventh. In the 62 boat Laser Class Peer Moberg (NOR) has a five point lead over Bernard Luttmer (CAN), while Mark Mendelblatt is the top USA boat in fifth place. And Sally Barkow (USA) leads the tough 17-boat Yngling class. - Media Pro Int'l, http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/RolexMiamiOCR/index.htm Curmudgeon's Comment: We've just heard from Paul Cayard that in the Star class's second race, that was subsequently abandoned, "… three boats were caught by the black flag and won't be allowed to start race 2 when it goes off at 11:00 tomorrow. They were Ian Percy, Eric Doyle and Bob Schofield. Tomorrow's forecast is 15-20 knots from the west. It will be a lot cooler … 65 for the high. The committee will try to get back on schedule so we will probably have three races tomorrow." NEWS BRIEFS * The first International Symposium on Motorboats and Sailing Yacht Design and Production to be held in Spain, will be hosted by the School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering of Madrid on March 25-26, 2004. The Technical Committee has selected the papers that will be presented during the two day sessions. They show a very interesting review on the state of the art of the naval design of the highest technical level. The papers can be presented both in English or Spanish and a simultaneous translation system will be available for the technical sessions. http://www.etsin.upm.es/Noticias/mdy04/index.html * During Terra Nova Trading Key West 2004 Michael Hoey, sailing on Chippewa, responded to a man in cardiac arrest. Unfortunately the man passed away. Hoey believes that if he had access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) this man's chances of surviving would have increased as much as 90%. So, as of the March 5th Heineken Regatta, Chippewa & Equation will have these units on board. Hoey invites any other yachts interested in obtaining an AED to e-mail him for details. It's a very small investment. - hoey66@aol.com * The instructors for this year's California International Sailing Association's annual Advanced Racing Clinic include Olympic medallists Charlie McKee, JJ Isler and Pease Glaser, along with Kevin Hall, Zack Leonard, Simon Cooke, Mike Anderson, Rob Dean, Nick Adamson, Brian Doyle, Peter Alarie, Andrew Lewis, John Torgerson, Carisa Harris, Adam Deermount and Jon Rogers. The program will consist of morning lectures and evening programs scheduled around on-the-water drills. Tactics, sail trim and the financial and personal demands of an Olympic campaign are included in the curriculum. The deadline for applications is this Sunday, February 1. - www.cisasailing.org. * Jason White has been promoted to Associate Publisher of World Publications' Cruising World, Sailing World and Power Cruising. In his new role with the three magazines, as well as with the company's NOOD Regatta series, White will drive the marine sales effort for print ads, on-line projects and sponsorship opportunities. White served as the Advertising Director for the past two years after starting his career with the magazines in 1995 as a regional sales manager. Before that, he worked for Lewmar Marine and International Marine Industries. * Ranger, a re-creation of the legendary J-Class yacht that won the 1937 America's Cup, will race in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge 2005. The event, hosted by the NYYC with the cooperation of England's Royal Yacht Squadron, is for the world's largest monohull yachts. The minimum size is 70 feet (21.34m) length on deck. There is no maximum size. Eleven yachts have already expressed their intention to enter, including the 140-foot Mari-Cha IV and Sumurun (94-feet). Ranger measures 136 feet overall. - http://www.nyyc.org/ * Commanders' Weather Corporation announced a partnership with Weather Predict, Inc to provide the patented Global Super Ensemble Weather model to the sailing community. The Super Ensemble model was developed by the scientists at Florida State University and Weather Predict, Inc to incorporate the local and regional strengths of various global weather forecast models into 1 global Super Ensemble model. The model output is checked, verified, and improved by Weather Predict, Inc, on a daily basis to perfect the output from the various weather display and routing software packages. www.commandersweather.com / www.weatherpredict.com * Team New Zealand managing director Grant Dalton has said the syndicate would decide by March 31 whether to challenge (for the America's Cup). - NZ Herald, http://tinyurl.com/3h286 WARM AND DRY OFFSHORE, MAJOR STYLE POINTS ON SHORE You know that favorite jacket you always grab when you head down to the boat? It's time to retire the jacket, because Henri Lloyd has introduced the Escape Jacket, which has everything you liked about your old jacket, plus Henri Lloyd's exclusive Laminated fabric technology. The Escape Jacket is 100% waterproof, durable, and one of the most breathable jackets you can buy. With an adjustable hood, the Escape Jacket is built to keep the wet and cold out when you're afloat, and it will keep you looking good when you step ashore, too. Try it on at: http://www.henrilloydonline.com/productmgmt/detailsNEW.asp?nProductID=227 TRIVIA ANSWER Yachting became an Olympic event at the 1896 Games in Greece. 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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Guy P. Brierre: Lee Jerry ('Butt 1505) claims that the crewman in Key West is violating RRS 49.2 by leaning outboard of the lifeline as a "human spinnaker pole". RRS 49.2 says that "...When lifelines are required by the class rules or the sailing instructions ... competitors shall not position any part of their torsos outside them, except briefly to perform a necessary task." Mr. Jerry is incorrect in his assumption that the picture proves his point, because a picture cannot tell you how "briefly" the crew is performing this "necessary task". Bowmen on big boats often go to the end of the spinnaker pole, well outside the lifelines, to perform a necessary task. This crewman is performing a necessary task, the question left unanswered by the picture is how briefly. * From Tim Prophit: Uh, that Key West photo in the Scuttlebutt Gallery shows the "human guy" move....which is a 'brief' condition whilst preparing for the douse. RRS 49.2 clearly allows this. And, it has been legal to fly a chute without a pole for some time now. * From John Hopper: What part of "...except briefly to perform a necessary task." does Lee E. Jerry not understand? The "Human Guy" has always been a routine task "briefly" performed on every floater takedown. No infraction of the rules here, just well choreographed crew work. * From Gareth Evans: (re 'human guy' - Rule 49.2) I think the key thing here is the word "briefly" in the rule ("except briefly to perform a necessary task"). The question is, how long is briefly? ISAF Case 36 states that the crew member was leaning over the guard rail in an illegal position for "several minutes". Clearly this is unacceptable. Case 83 states that it is acceptable to lean outboard "only to perform a task that could not reasonably be carried out from within the lifelines". It goes on to say "that the torso must be moved inboard as soon as the task is completed". In my experience in many years of racing as mastman a 38' yacht, I have performed the act under discussion ("human pole") a number of times. The act of removing the spinaker pole only takes a few seconds, and the guy is then pulled inboard by myself to perform a windward spinaker drop. It could be argued that I need to reach outboard to get the guy to perform the drop correctly. If however, the crew member is holding out the sail for an extended period, this is clearly an illegal act. I am unaware of any boats being disqualified for carrying out this action, or any ISAF cases directly relating to it. * From Jim Champ: In 'Butt 1505 Howard Hamlin discussed whether the 18-foot skiff or the 49er was the hardest dingy in the world to sail, but he probably should have expanded his thoughts to include a Twelve footer or a modern International Moth? The people I know who've sailed all of them mostly seem to consider that the faster reactions required by the small boats make them more challenging than the problems of controlling the inertia of the large ones. But they're certainly different challenges. And this is assuming that "difficult to sail" means "difficulty in getting the boat round the track without swimming". * From Craig Coulsen: In relation to the comments made by Eric Camiel and Giancarlo Basile in respect to a competitors obligation in a man overboard situation it seems few sail boat racers understand their obligations. As competitors in an ISAF race the obligation cannot be clearer. RRS 1.1 states a boat or competitor shall give all possible help to a person or vessel in danger. A person in the water in the middle of a racing fleet (particularly a large one design or keel boat fleet) is a person in danger especially if the wind and sea is up or the water cold. The obligation to assist is not to give practicable or reasonable assistance but all assistance. Failure to give all assistance is a breach of a fundamental rule and a gross breach of a rule and therefore the proper subject of a RRS 69 report and action by a national authority. Further remembering that in the eyes of the local law we are masters of a vessel before we are skippers of a racing yacht, local laws are also likely to have application. In my local jurisdiction, a man overboard is defined as a "marine incident" which can carry a fine for the master of the vessel while the failure to report a man overboard incident is also punishable by a fine or imprisonment. National authorities have to confront this issue and be seen to promote safety in the sport before local marine authorities start exercising their own powers more robustly. * From Andrew Troup, Christchurch, New Zealand: Ray Tostado warns that, "What was once National Pride has now become personal vanity and wealth." Surely, from its inception, the America's Cup was at least as much about wealth as it remains today, and personal vanity became a major factor - certainly for the challengers - almost immediately? Maybe some qualified person could comment on the importance of personal vanity and wealth versus national pride, in the case of the 100 Guineas Cup. It is not clear whether Ray subscribes to the (nowadays) common practice of rewriting history, predating the America's Cup to precede the winning performance of the 'yacht' (not nation) whose name it took. It is my understanding that the perpetual challenge, which we know as the America's Cup contest, was conceived six years after Cowes. As to the "two boat showdown" question Ray raises, surely this has been the norm throughout the history of the AC? The first two America's Cup contests followed the precedent of the 100 Guinea Cup, pitting the challenger against a whole fleet of defenders. One of these ran into and damaged Cambria, the first challenger for the America's Cup proper, in the only race. The Cup has since been and remains a "two boat showdown". It was never a proper "fleet race", because of the huge discrepancy of forces in favour of the defender. Whether it should remain a two-boat showdown, and the selection mechanism for those two boats, is another question, but wealth has always been an indispensable precondition. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS We've just heard that Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W.R. Grace Company will merge, and become ... Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace. |
