|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2847 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Today's sponsors are MyBoatsGear.com, Annapolis Performance Sailing, and LaserPerformance. COLD… REALLY, REALLY COLD (May 18, 2009, Day 3) The front runners are as thick as thieves as they charge towards the scoring gate, with the booty set southwards from St Johns, Newfoundland about 64 miles away. The gap between the leading five boats has stood at single figures since the start, and if not for the dense fog in that part of the world, they would be eyeballing each other. Instead, with visibility at a minimum, they are huddled behind radar screens down below, still swerving to avoid fishing tackle, and braced against the chill. Once through the gate, Tuesday morning, the fleet will have to swing hard to the south to avoid the ice exclusion zone that lies directly ahead of them. Air and sea temperatures are in brass monkey territory. “Normally on a leg like this, you would hold out, try to keep some layers in your bag,” Ericsson 3’s watch captain Richard Mason says. “But I think I might have to go full metal jacket on this one. No point being cold. Next stop is the Labrador Current; this is going to be two degrees (Celsius). It will be freezing in here, like a fridge ... a good place to keep beer.” With the fleet all on starboard, the true wind angle has swung forward to 60 degrees, and the wind has lightened to mid teens as the fleet heads due east for the scoring gate. -- Excerpts from event website * The success of a stopover is gauged a few ways, but the number of feet in the village is a big one. The early numbers are in, with 178,500 visitors estimated to have passed through the gate from April 25th to May 16th. As for the numbers on the May 9th In-Port Race, the visitor count was estimated to be 31,000. -- Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0518a/ * It has been three years to the day since Hans Horrevoets passed away and, in his honour, the Volvo Ocean Race organisers have launched an award to be presented to the event’s best rookie. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/qraysc * An autographed Scuttlebutt t-shirt was signed by all the skippers competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2008/9 at the Boston stopover. This is a one-of-a-kind item, and 100% of the proceeds for this item will go to a sailing charity to be named later. Place your bid here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/auction * VOLVO OCEAN RACE: Began Oct. 4, 2008, crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. Teams are now on the 2,550 nm transatlantic Leg 7 from Boston to Galway, Ireland that started May 16th and is expected to finish by May 23rd. Current positions (as of May 18, 22:15 GMT): 1. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 1,989 nm Distance to Finish 2. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 0 nm Distance to Leader 3. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 2 nm DTL 4. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, 5 nm DTL 5. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, 11 nm DTL 6. Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, 27 nm DTL 7. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 36 nm DTL Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, Did Not Start Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 JUST PLAIN LUCKY Something very odd is happening at the Geneva Spring Regatta on Lake Geneva, WI. For the past two years in the E-Scow class, Andy Burdick has won the event with Tom Burton getting second. This past weekend, the wind was too strong on Saturday and too light on Sunday - a no race regatta for 2009. Since the duffel bag trophies were already engraved, the Lake Geneva Yacht Club decided to hand them out to the competitors anyway. They put all the boat numbers in a bowl and had a random drawing for the awards - starting with 10th place. The crowd laughed when Burton got the second place trophy. But when Burdick's name was drawn for the first place trophy - that was too much, and it goes to show that sometimes to win you need to be just plain lucky. -- http://www.e-scow.org/2009files/BurtonBurdickGeneva.html ANCHORS AND ANCHORING TECHNIQUES Choosing an anchor for the 2009 season? Anchors come in a variety of types, Fluke, Claw, CQR, and the Fisherman. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. This week’s newsletter (http://myboatsgear.com/newsletter/200788.asp) looks at each anchor type and their modern equivalents. We also provide some anchor test data and links to reports. This information will help you pick the right anchor and size! RSS feeds are available at http://myboatsgear.com/mbg/index.asp LEARNING FROM OUR LESSONS There is no shortage of champion sailors that hail from Texas, and Scott Young is certainly among them. A standout in college, and a 4-time winning skipper of the U.S. SAILING Men's Championship, last weekend Young wandered far from the safe confines of Lake Travis to compete in the Laser Masters North Americans at Wrightsville Beach, NC. In his quest to win, he came up just short, finishing second on a tiebreaker to Peter Vessella from San Francisco Bay. Here is his analysis on taking his game from the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean: “In retrospect, I got a big boost in having a relatively light air day on Friday which took the downwind speed issue a little out of play. Had the winds been strong every race, I realistically would not have had a chance to win with my (poor) downwind speed so I really can't be too disappointed with the outcome. “While I certainly would have preferred to win, I had a blast and actually exceeded my expectations on how I thought I might do. I honestly thought it would be a stretch for me to win this event in open water conditions. You just can't expect to compete against the best in North American in conditions that you aren't familiar with. In hindsight, I underestimated my upwind speed. I underestimated my tactical ability. And...I underestimated how important it is to go fast downwind in a Laser in waves. “What my experience now tells me is that sailing a Laser on Lake Travis can help you with your fitness and sailing tactics but it just isn't going to provide the conditions to be competitive on an open water venue that the Laser Worlds will be held later this summer (in Nova Scotia, Canada).” -- Read on: http://scottyoungsailing.blogspot.com/2009/05/failed-to-mention.html TRIVIA QUESTION Who has won the Star Worlds, the Volvo Ocean Race, twice been the challenging helmsman in the America’s Cup Match… and is turning 50 on May 19th? (Answer below) ALL IS NOT EQUAL IN THE PURSUIT OF SPEED In the quest for all out speed records, the playing field might not be completely equal due to different systems used for measurement. Here is an excerpt from an interview with International Kiteboarding Association Secretary Markus Schwendtner. On the differences between kitesurfing timing with video and the system for Trimble GPS system for boats like Hydroptere, Schwendtner said, “Kites use video timing, between two fixed points 500m apart and the average speed is calculated afterwards. Hydroptere, Sail Rocket, and Marquis Innovation (sail boats) use an onboard Trimble GPS system, a high accuracy survey GPS system and they sail wherever they want, taking the fastest 500m wherever they sail over any distance traveled. “On whether there is an advantage for the big boats using Trimble, Schwendtner said, “Yes, they can pick the fastest section or 500m part of their voyage. Kites could do the same with enormous technical effort……they would need video cameras every 10meters.” -- Team NASSP, complete interview: http://nassp.net/nassp/?p=190 MORE THAN JUST A ROMP IN THE BAY On Wednesday nights, a small unassuming group of match racing aficionados get together and practice maneuvers on J/22s, in Paradise Cay just beyond the Tiburon Yacht Club (San Francisco). Among these sailors is 25-year old Genny Tulloch, currently the top-ranked member of the U.S. sailing team. For Tulloch, these sessions are more than just a romp in the Bay. She has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics, representing her country in a new sailing event: women's match racing. Tulloch, a Tiburon resident, has been on a roll this past year, accruing an impressive sailing resume. Aside from participating as the only female crew on Morning Light, the Disney-backed TP-52 entry in the 2007 Transpac Race, the story of which became a movie that debuted last fall, Tulloch has quickly claimed a stake on the women's match racing circuit. -- Marin Independent Journal, read on: http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_12397686 * Speaking of the Morning Light, the Wayzata Yacht Club in Excelsior, MN is presenting the Roy Disney sailing movie for one night only, May 20th at the Excelsior Dock movie Theater. The event is a fundraiser with proceeds going to the Wayzata Community Sailing Center. Olympic gold medalist Robbie Haines, who coached the crew of 15 young sailors will appear at the Wayzata Yacht Club for a pre-movie book signing. -- Read on: http://www.wayzata.com/2009/04/wayzata-yacht-club-roy-disney-sailing.html THE LONG AND SHORTS OF IT There once was a man from Nantucket whose sailing shorts had so many holes in them he could...ah, never mind. The summer sailing season is upon us and for most of us that means we need three things. A new pair of gloves, shoes, and some padded shorts! Well, the long and shorts of it is that APS, "The World Leader in Outfitting Performance Sailors", is running an unbeatable team gear special on the most popular sailing shorts ever. Let our team set your team up with some customized Camet 3000 shorts at a killer price. For details click... http://www.apsltd.com/teamgearspecial SAILING FITNESS: HELM/TACTICIAN by Harry Legum, Annapolis Sailing Fitness The focus here (for the Helm/Tactician) will be overall fitness, focusing on core, general strength straining and endurance. The primary focus here apart from physical development is clarity of thought and decision making. By staying involved in a fitness program, this will help you do just that… Two types of workouts that are at the top of my list: 1. Circuit training, which involves a total body workout, changing exercises every 30 seconds to one minute. This type of workout has many advantages such as time management (an average circuit lasts 30 minutes), and it not only works the muscles but gives a great cardiovascular workout. 2. Core Training. One thing that I like to do with all core training is to pre-exhaust the abs and lower back, then get into the routine. I use the Bosu ball to challenge balance and throw in agility training such as the agility ladder and plyometrics. Complete list of tips: http://tinyurl.com/Sailing-Fitness-5-18-09 WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR VALENCIA IN FEBRUARY When the New York courts confirmed the next America’s Cup Match between the defending club, Société Nautique De Genève (SNG), and the Challenger of Record, Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC),would be in February 2010, the next landmark decision would the location of the Match, which SNG must declare by August 2009. Since Valencia, Spain was the site of the last America’s Cup Match, it is a likely candidate for the 2010 Deed of Gift contest between SNG and GGYC. Curious about the sailing conditions at this Mediterranean site in late winter, Scuttlebutt contacted Chris Bedford, who was the team meteorologist for BMW Oracle Racing for the last Cup, and is currently working for the Ericsson Racing Team in the Volvo Ocean Race. Here is Chris’ report: “An America’s Cup held off Valencia during the month of February will take place in conditions much more variable generally lighter than those experienced during the Challenger Series (which began Apr. 16) and the America’s Cup match (held June 24-July 3) in 2007. Additionally, rather than sailing just a few miles from the shore, the Deed of Gift courses are longer and may require sailing some considerable distance away from the shore, bringing some new weather and tactical challenges to the event.” - Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0518b TOP HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS OFF TO TEAM RACE NATIONALS Qualifying is completed amongst the seven Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA) districts, with the top twelve high school teams in the U.S. now scheduled to attend the ISSA High School National Team Race Championship for the Toby Baker Trophy to be held May 22-24 in Redwood City, CA. The teams are: MASSA: Norfolk Collegiate School (Norfolk, VA); Christchurch School (Christchurch, VA) MISSA: New Trier HS (Winnetka, IL) NESSA: Duxbury HS (Duxbury, MA); St. George’s School (Middletown, RI) NWISA: Bainbridge Island HS (Bainbridge Island, WA) PCISA: Newport Harbor HS (Newport Beach, CA); Pt Loma HS (San Diego, CA); Corona del Mar HS (Newport Beach, CA) SAISA: Antilles HS (St Thomas, USVI); HB Plant HS (Tampa, FL) SEISA: St. Stanislaus College (Bay St. Louis, MS) ISSA website: http://www.highschoolsailingusa.org GET READY FOR SUMMER WITH LASERPERFORMANCE Until May 31, 2009, LaserPerformance is offering rebates of up to $275 on four of our most popular sailboats! From the world-renowned Laser and Sunfish to the Pico and new Bug, visit your local LaserPerformance dealer and learn more about this great program or visit laserperformance.com today. -- http://www.laserperformance.com A WIFE’S VIEW: THE HIGH SCHOOL SAILING COACH’S LIFE The first thing he checks online each day is not his email, not the news, but the weather… specifically, the wind. In fact, the chart that NOAA produces that shows, by hour, the wind speed (with direction and gusts), the temperature (with wind chill and dew point), the humidity (with potential for precipitation and sky cover), and thunder and rain predictions is constantly on display or minimized on his computer screen. Once this information covering the next several days has been closely inspected, he can attend to other things. The second order of business is checking his email inbox for communications from other sailors, coaches, his sailing students, or yacht club members that may need a response. He then generates his own email, invariably related to sailing. After that, he reads his favorite sailing blogs and perhaps checks out the news on MSN. -- Apparent Wind blog, read on: http://tinyurl.com/Wifes-View-5-18-09 SAILING SHORTS * Nine ULDB 70s were lined up in front of the California YC this past weekend for California Cup Regatta – a four race series in the Santa Monica Bay held in 7-10 knots of wind. Brack Duker's Santa Cruz 70, Holua, took the bullet in three of those races to successfully defend the trophy they won last year. 2007 Cal Cup winner, James McDowell’s Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion, captured the second place prize after winning a tie-breaker with Per Petersen’s Andrews 70, Alchemy. Full report and results are posted at http://tinyurl.com/pcmqb8 * On San Francisco Bay, 17 IRC boats - four more than last year - in two divisions, joined 23 J/105s and eight J/120s for the four races that constituted St. Francis YC's Stone Cup. With some fresh, IRC-friendly mods, Ashley Wolfe's Farr 52 Mayhem took first in IRC A by a point over Dan Woolery's King 40 Soozal. In IRC B, Gerry Sheridan's Elan 40 Tupelo Honey strung together three bullets and a second and finished five points clear of Gary Massari's Beneteau 40.7 Phantom Mist. In the J/105s, Scooter Simmons' Blackhawk won, as did Barry Lewis and the Chance gang in the J/120s. -- Latitude 38, full story: http://tinyurl.com/Lat-38-5-18-09 * Class40 has become a provisional ISAF class following ISAF’s Mid-Year meeting, allowing it to hold its first World Championship on August 18-21 in Hamble, England. The Class hopes to become an ISAF Recognised Class in November at ISAF’s Annual Conference. The Class now has 86 boats, and 51% of Class40 members so far in 2009 are non-French, up from 46% in 2008. -- http://www.class40.com/index.php?lang=en * For the 2009 Sperry Top-Sider Seattle NOOD, 213 entrants were divided up amongst 28 classes for the weekend event. Amongst all the class winners, Dan Kaseler’s team in the Melges 24 class were selected as the event’s overall winner, earning themselves a trip to the BVI this November to compete in the NOOD Championships, courtesy of Sunsail. -- Results: http://tinyurl.com/SW-5-18-09 * Former world-ranked #1 skipper Marie Björling takes the twelfth and final spot for the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship, to be held on July 27-Aug. 1 in Lysekil, Sweden. The last spot was determined in a Swedish qualifier during the Nordic Women’s Match Racing Tour in Skovshoved, Denmark. The twelve skippers (and their world ranking) are: 1. Claire Leroy (FRA), 2. Linda Rahm (SWE), 3. Lucy MacGregor (GBR), 4. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN), 5. Silke Hahlbrock (GBR ), 8. Sally Barkow (USA), 9. Katie Spithill (AUS), 10. Anna Kjellberg (SWE), 11. Christelle Philippe (FRA), 12. Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN), 15. Nicole Souter (AUS), 101. Marie Björling (SWE). -- http://www.sailing.org/womensmatchworlds.php TRIVIA ANSWER For Paul Cayard, first it was winning the Star Worlds (1988), then it was being the America’s Cup Match challenging helmsman (1992, 1995), and then it was winning the Volvo Ocean Race (1998). And now it is turning 50 years old today. Post your birthday wishes to Paul here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/05/paul-cayards-50th-birthday.html LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Rob Britton: (re, Sponsorship thread) Does anybody else remember "Corinthian" sailing? Damn it was fun, if you fouled out you went home, so the rules were followed. Nobody got paid, so even sailmakers crewed for the all amateur fleet. Winning was great, but nobody forgot that the respect of your competitors was the most important thing. And the sport was growing, because the public envied, admired, and wanted to join with the “high class” sailors; who were certainly not in it for the money. Now I too wear a Mount Gay hat, but I dream of the old days when the entry fee for the Hot Rum Regatta (in San Diego) was…a bottle of Rum. -- Forum: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7488#7488 * From Dan Buckstaff: (re, letter in Scuttlebutt 2846) Christopher, in response to your quote regarding Opti's, I think you should attend some Opti Regattas to refine your observation. Sure, some kids train really hard (is that so bad?), however, the vast majority of Opti participants across the country are beginners/green fleeters, and kids sailing in local events. And these kids are supported by countless volunteers helping others learn the sport. -- Forum: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7502#7502 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with their own money.” - Alexis de Tocqueville (1805 - 1859) Special thanks to MyBoatsGear.com, Annapolis Performance Sailing, and LaserPerformance. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
