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SCUTTLEBUTT 2231 – November 28, 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 support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). ASK THE PRESIDENT (Last week in Issue 2228, there was a request for Scuttlebutt readers to pose their questions about the discussions and decisions from the 2006 ISAF Annual Conference directly to ISAF President Göran Petersson. In the first part of the ‘Ask the President’ feature, Petersson’s focus is on Olympic Sailing.) * Selecting Olympic Events - From John Greenwood, Great Britain: “The Conference agreed to reduce the events in the Olympic Competition from 11 to ten. Eight of the existing events are split equally in terms of male/female participation (single handed dinghies, double handed dinghies, boards and keelboats). What do you think are the main drivers behind Olympic event selection?” * Team Racing - Lars Tomasgaard, Norway: “Has team racing been proposed as a new Olympic sailing event?” * World Cup - Scott Fox, USA: “I like the idea of a World Cup circuit. Skiing has successfully done this for years. However, one major hurdle for sailors to compete (and for the circuit to grow beyond the current fleet at these events) is the cost, availability and logistics of shipping "equipment" between events. Does ISAF have any plans for engaging a shipping company to make this happen, either at a heavily discounted rate or even for free in return for advertising and/or sponsorship by the shipping company?” * Qingdao - Ben Remocker, Canada: “Why was the 2008 Olympic venue selected to be Qingdao, a location now notorious for having more tide than wind, while there are 3,000 km of coastline in China? Has ISAF prepared a response when spectators comment that sailing is not a sport after observing us race in drifter conditions rewarding the most anorexic among us?” Here is the link for ISAF President Göran Petersson responses: http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j8vFh?~BB&format=popup COMMITMENT QUESTIONS (The following observations were posted on the popular blog ‘Proper Course’, where the mantra of author Tillerman is “Cheat the nursing home. Die on your Laser.”) How do I know if my commitment to training for the Laser Masters Worlds next year is strong enough for me to achieve my goal of finishing in the top half of my age-group fleet? I started asking myself this because I was struck by the difference between training to run a marathon next year and training for a sailing event. In both sports I have a clear goal but I am much more confident in my running program than in my sailing preparation. My running program comes from a book by Jeff Galloway. The marathon program is a pretty simple formula. Do these runs for 26 weeks and you are prepared to finish a marathon in such and such a time. There are even tables that tell you how to predict your marathon time based on your time to run 5k or a mile. How much harder it is to plan a training program for a sailing event. Of course one problem is that the nature of my targets in the two sports are very different. In running I am really only competing against myself: can I run a faster time than my previous marathon? But in sailboat racing we are always testing ourselves against other competitors and they are an unknown factor. Who will turn up for the regatta? How hard will they have trained? Will they have improved since the last time we raced together and, if so, by how much? -- Full posting: http://propercourse.blogspot.com/2006/11/commitment-questions.html SUPER MAXI – THE FINAL FRONTIER Ocean Marine, the British sailing team owned by Mike Slade, has announced the build of a new maxi yacht with the aim of becoming the fastest charter yacht on the planet. The boat, to be called “Leopard3” will be the newest super maxi on the water and, once completed, will compete in some of the world’s most prestigious races. To be launched in June 2007, “Leopard3” will be aimed at establishing its reputation on the maxi race circuit with a 2007 programme to include the Fastnet Race, the Sardinia Maxi series and the Sydney-Hobart, before moving on into 2008 and the Caribbean for the Heineken series in St Marten, Antigua race week and finally the Newport-Bermuda race. “Leopard3” follows in the footsteps of super maxi yachts “Ocean Leopard” (1988-1999) and “Leopard of London” (2000-2006) and like it’s predecessors it is aiming at top-level race sponsorship, day charters in the Solent and term charters in the Caribbean. The new boat is some 24 feet wide, 100 feet long, has an 18 foot 6 inch canting keel, a 15 foot fixed bowsprit and a 154 foot high mast. Weighing in at a targeted 36.5 tonnes and incorporating high performance racing features, “Leopard3” will have three double cabins for guests and be luxuriously fitted throughout in an ultra light, airy and modern idiom, as designed and styled by Ken Frievokh of ‘Ken Frievokh Design’ in Fareham, UK. The interior will be removable for racing. The yacht is currently under construction at John McConaghy’s Yard in Sydney and will be shipped back to the UK in April 2007 and following her launch at the beginning of June, she will begin her day charter role in the Solent, whilst preparing to endorse her racing pedigree. LARGEST MARINE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART BOOK EVER PUBLISHED Kos‘ 20x20’ is one of the most extraordinary books ever published, in content and sheer enormity, a limited edition individually signed and numbered by Kos. Designed as an interactive art piece, with images expanding to over 3 feet wide (1 metre) when open, standing 2.5 feet (630mm) tall. The wall mount allows the book to be viewed 24/7 where no space is too small to enjoy this production. Just a few remaining, excellent Christmas present for those special people. Price £1,000 - $1,900 including the wall mount excluding post and packing. Email: mailto:kos@kosphotos.com or http://www.kospictures.com - Kos publishing 20x20. GREEN POWER A solar-powered Swiss catamaran was undergoing preparations last week for what is billed as a record-breaking project to cross the Atlantic from Spain to New York without using a drop of fuel along the way, although bad weather delayed the start. Transatlantic 21, the association behind the "Sun21" project, said the solar panel-covered vessel will travel the 12,900 kilometers (8,015 miles) at six knots (nine to 12 kilometers per hour) and is due to arrive in New York in May. Organizers had intended to leave the southern Spanish port city of Seville on Tuesday but skipper Martin Vosseler told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that poor conditions meant it would remain berthed at the local yacht club until Sunday (Nov. 26) pending an improvement in the weather. The project is part of a mission to promote clean energy and will see the crew of the sleek, white Sun21 vessel -- 14 meters long and six meters wide -- rely exclusively on solar propulsion. The vessel, which can carry up to six people, is fitted out with electric motors and batteries which, when fully charged, can power the boat for 20 hours -- allowing it to sail at roughly the average speed of a yacht. -- Turkish Daily News, full story: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=59792 -- Project website: http://www.transatlantic21.ch/home VELUX 5 OCEANS Day 37 report - Bernard Stamm, the defending champion on Cheminees Poujoulat, is in an upbeat mood despite reporting damage sustained in a ‘crash’. The Swiss skipper, who leads the Velux 5 Oceans by a comfortable 960 miles, reported that he has again broken the same halyard as earlier in the leg from Spain to Fremantle. He has also broken three battens in the mainsail. Furthermore, one of the mainsail battens is also caught in the leeward backstay, meaning Stamm is currently not able to lower his mainsail beyond one reef. Now 2,300 miles from the finish in Western Australia in cold temperatures and harsh conditions, Stamm will be looking to make the necessary repairs as he will certainly not wish to be caught by strong winds with no flexibility to his mainsail setting. However, the damage hasn’t stopped Cheminees Poujoulat from recording the highest speeds within the fleet. Stamm will soon round the Kerguelen Islands, a mandatory waypoint en route to Australia. Following Alex Thomson’s decision to abandon Hugo Boss, Stamm now remains on track to be the only skipper to complete three around the world races in three years, an incredible feat. Meanwhile Mike Golding, who was at the centre of last week’s drama, continues to make best speed towards South Africa onboard Ecover with the mainsail now set. Golding must be reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions that saw the British skipper turn back and successfully rescue fellow Brit Alex Thomson deep in the Southern Ocean, only to have his mast break in two places hours after the act of heroism. The FICO World Champion is now surely weighing up all the options left to him in the Velux 5 Oceans. Ecover does have a spare mast in Southampton, but the team must decide on the merits of continuing based on costs and his overall position in the race. -- Velux 5 Oceans race website: http://www.velux5oceans.com SAILING SHORTS * November 30th is your last chance to submit your photos and videos to the Annual Canadian Yachting Asoociation photo/video contest. In recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the CYA, the contest is being opened up to allow all pictures, regardless of when they were taken. Prizes will be awarded for the top three photos and videos. -- Full details: http://tinyurl.com/ykbb5o * SAIL Magazine has published the results of their Best Boats program, where their mission was to seek out and acknowledge true innovation and forward thinking. Here are their findings: http://sailmag.com/boatreviews/BestBoats2007.pdf * The Lauderdale Marine Center in Ft Lauderdale (FL) will expand by 18 acres into the former Broward Marine facilities. That will allow the marina to accommodate more megayachts, according to a story in the Ft Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. The Ft Lauderdale city commission last week approved the marina's plan to expand into a grassy tract just east of its present site along the south fork of the New River. "It's wonderful news in this day and age when so many of the working marinas are under pressure to develop as condos," said Ft Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle. -- IBI Magazine, full report: http://tinyurl.com/ya5qyt * America’s Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing reports that the team’s second new boat is under construction in Seattle, WA, and will be coming out of a different mold than USA 87, their first new boat that was used in Acts 10-12 during the 2006 season. FSE ROBLINE RACING SHEET Racing Sheet is the new rope that you have to feel to believe. Made of Dyneema SK75 and impregnated polyamide, this sheet is low stretch, abrasion resistant and very easy to grip, even when wet. As the exclusive North American distributor for FSE Robline, Ronstan has 30' sample sheets (9 mm diameter) available to the first 20 people who email us with why you deserve the free trial! Please indicate where you sail and on what type of boat. Some restrictions apply, US residents only, complete details upon request. Contact Ronstan at mailto:office@ronstan.us Curmudgeon’s Comment: We’ve learned that these samples are worth about $100 each, making them quite a nice value for the 20 Scuttlebutt readers who are quick to reply to Ronstan. 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 Richard Clark, New Zealand: I love sailing, I love those who do as opposed to those that prop the bars at yacht clubs, and I love people like Donna Lange who have insane dreams and go sail classic designs around the world. But I ask myself, why am I becoming turned off by boring, screaming yachts barely surviving around the planet in so many races, like the present Velux 5 Oceans, that I continue to hope will inspire me to follow their progress… but don't! Where are the Maxis, where is the Whitbread, yachts that held together with sailors who did it for the sheer joy. Doesn't anyone else lust after a race around for Maxis, no one design rules, just good looking boats I can drool over and crews that I can relate to. Young, old, male, female, black, white. Who cares, just damn fine sailors with damn fine skippers on damn fine boats. I am honestly starting to yawn at the newsletter. I truly don't give a damn anymore if sailing grows or dies, regattas with coaches in pursuit boats – really! The Olympic classes are becoming dull. I can't wait for the Americas Cup with egos and big bucks and big boats. Good old fashioned Pirates with a capital "P". Enough of all this dreadfully dull trivia. Even RKJ doesn't do it for me any more. One bloody good race for a simple trophy and no money, around the world, unlimited. Bugger me, now that is sailing. * From Steve Morrell, Editor, Southwinds Magazine: Jim DeSilva's comments on windsurfing (in Issue 2230) brought to mind my experience. I was a serious windsurfer in the 80s, after looking for a sport that was fun and good exercise at the same time. Few realize how much fun it is, because you have to get to the high-wind level to really experience the thrill. After learning how to waterstart and plane, which back then meant high-wind windsurfing only, I found this to be the most fun sport I have ever tried—by far. I practiced it for years, once going in 35-knot winds gusting to 40—one of the most exciting and fun windsurfing days ever. Few realize that when the winds are that high, the sail gets real small and it’s easier, faster and more exciting. I moved away from the water for about ten years, though, and quit, and have been trying to pick it back up again. Now I am spending more time sailing in the bay and the gulf in Florida on mid-size monohulls, which is a lot of fun but nothing like the high-wind windsurfing. Equipment is far better today, and it’s easier to learn, and you can plane in really light winds, but if you want to promote the sport, promote its fun, as I see few monohull (small monohull racing and multihulls might) sailors who have any clue at all how much fun it really is. It’s different, because you are playing IN the water. Of course, you have to get wet. * From Paul Mitchell: Windsurfing in the US, particularly as it applies to the Olympic program, seems to be in a hopeless situation. US Olympic chief Dean Brenner wants each class to create the critical mass needed for aspiring athletes to train amongst, but as near as I can tell, the US does not have too many windsurfing fleets (if any at all). And until the US sailors get better, the US isn’t going to fund them. What do you call this…oh yea, a “catch 22.” I guess you could argue that the fleets are weak for several other classes, but at least those classes have similar non-Olympic fleets that can feed them. Getting yacht club programs to help promote windsurfing is critical, but until there are national youth events (of which US Sailing has none), there is no reason for clubs to direct their funds that way. It is through the success of the 49er that the 29er is gaining traction among the junior ranks. Windsurfing has many of the same elements for kids as do the skiffs, but unless there is a path for them to aspire to, they won’t bite. * From Jack Attridge, Marblehead, MA: Congratulations to Jud Smith on his victory in the Etchells Worlds. Coming off the National's win this year in at least 2 classes, he certainly deserves to leave the bridesmaid moniker behind him in the Etchell's Worlds! Marblehead is very lucky to have such an accomplished sailor from the smallest of the one-designs to AC competition. The best part is that you can find Jud most afternoons training the young sailors of the Marblehead High School Sailing Team at the mouth of the harbor or working with members of a fleet to make everyone better sailors. * From Whitney Rugg: David (Fagan) is right on with his assessment of having a talented helmsman aboard whether they are paid or not (re letter in Issue 2229). The owners of the boats are playing within the class rules and if they are more comfortable trimming the main, doing the bow, or sitting on the leeward rail what does it matter? They are paying the bills. A lot of the owners who have stepped down from some of the more "arms race" style classes are still learning and are inherently competitive. If they would like to bring along a world-class sailor to coach them and show them some tricks of the trade, whom does it harm? I am so sick of people crying about what the other guy has. This is a dynamic sport. If you do not like the people you are playing with, go find another group to play with. Each class has its idiosyncrasies and it is not hard to discern what level of competition one will face in each. This argument is so old. * From Rodger Martin: I just LOVED this: "Hiring someone to drive your boat for you is like hiring someone to have sex for you" (a letter in Issue 2229). I don't think I can equal it, but: "Hiring someone to design a winning boat (sail, spar, etc.) is like hiring someone to have . . . " well, I can't improve on the original! I know what he means, but there are different levels of competition. CURMUDGEON’S CONUNDRUM Since bread is square, then why is sandwich meat round? Special thanks to Kos Picture Source and FSE Robline/Ronstan. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
