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SCUTTLEBUTT 2796 - Monday, March 9, 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. Today's sponsors are MyBoatsGear.com and Newport Shipyard. IT’S NEVER LIKE THIS (Mar. 8, 2009; Day 23) - If you have traveled to an out-of-town regatta, or hosted visiting entrants to your local waters, odds are the famed phrase has been uttered, “It’s never like this.” For the Volvo Ocean Race teams, they have been mumbling this phrase for much of this leg. Despite the new race route from Qingdao to Rio, the use of old rules were thought to apply. However, the ice gates are keeping the fleet well north of the typical track from Cape Town to Cape Horn. Throw in a high pressure obstacle, and the rule of always going south has been actively rewritten. While most of the teams say they had considered Ericsson 3 and their northern, left side of the course tactic, only E3 had the cahones to go for it. While that move has had a much bigger payday than the previously radical track through the Fiji islands - executed by PUMA and T-Blue one week ago - nobody figured they would still be going upwind. Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker may have jinxed the fleet on Let 3 when he famously uttered, “Going upwind in a Volvo 70 sucks.” Now he merely notes, “It is so long since we have used our spinnaker I'm a bit worried the boys will have forgotten how to set it.” Well, knock on wood, the winds have backed to the north, with the true wind angle now just behind the beam as the bows aim toward Cape Horn. The anticipated offwind sleigh ride may have finally arrived. A reminder that T-Blue’s descent in the standings is at least partially due to their broken forestay, and their inability to go upwind at full throttle. This new wind direction should help them enormously. Crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. Leg Five from Qingdao, China to Rio de Janiero, Brazil is 12,300 nm, with the finish estimated on March 20th. Current positions (as of Mar. 9, 1:00 am GMT): 1. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, 5,565 nm Distance to Finish 2. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, 151 nm Distance to Leader 3. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, 155 nm DTL 4. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, 245 nm DTL 5. Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, 366 nm DTL Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, Did Not Start Delta Lloyd (IRL), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, DNS Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, DNS Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com BLIND SAILORS TAKE ON THE WORLD (Mar. 6, 2009) - Matthew Chao could not see the sunlight dancing on Boston Harbor yesterday as he worked the tiller on his sailboat, steering the sloop through a gentle but cold breeze. "You learn how to feel the wind," said Chao, a decorated helmsman and racing champion. His 28 years on the water have helped him fine-tune that feel for the wind, a skill that he has developed more acutely than other sailors. Chao is completely blind. The four-member team on the sloop was from The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton. After three years of practice, they set out from behind the Boston Harbor Hotel yesterday for their last sail before heading to New Zealand for the Blind Sailing World Championship regatta next week. The Carroll Center is sending two teams to the regatta, with each crew consisting of two blind sailors and two sighted guides who help with navigation. The sighted guides are not allowed to touch the sails or the tiller. The blind can excel at sailing when they get "in harmony with the wind and the waves and the boat," said Arthur O'Neill, a vice president at the Carroll Center who started the SailBlind program there in 1979. "Sailing is an activity that doesn't really require vision, except for safety to see where you are going," O'Neill said. "The actual making the boat go with the wind is all done by feel. It's the feel of the wind, the direction of the wind, the feel of the wind on the sails." -- Watch video: http://linkbee.com/IM96 * The World Blind Sailing Championship will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand on March 14-21, 2009: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7099 DUTCHMAN MAIN HANDLING SYSTEM Cruisers love to sail, but one of the problems is handing the mainsail, especially shorthanded. How many times have you seen a cruiser with just the Genoa set? That is because it’s easier to furl a Genoa in a hurry with a furler than to drop a main. The Dutchman system allows for easy handling of the mainsail when shorthanded, gathering the sail and keeping it out of harms way (Details: http://www.myboatsgear.com/mbg/product.asp?prodID=1119). RSS feeds are available at http://www.Myboatsgear.com. ALERT MOVE ON RUN OPENS DOOR FOR SZABO/PETERS Miami, FL (Mar. 8, 2009) - The 66-boat strong Star fleet sailed its first race of the 82nd Annual Bacardi Cup Regatta on Sunday in a light easterly breeze that picked up to 9-10 knots as the early afternoon clouds cleared. It looked as if Mark Reynolds and Hal Haenel were going to add a daily first to their stock of Bacardi Cup trophies, but Irishmen Peter O’Leary and Tim Goodbody worked the lower right during the second beat and passed Reynolds/Haenel at the top mark. They were closely followed by a string of top-flight competitors including George Szabo and Rick Peters. Szabo/Peters watched part of the fleet overstand the leeward mark, gybed first and scooped the lead. Peters, who won the Bacardi Cup drink contest last year, commented, “I’m happy with a win, I don’t care what kind of win. We’re going out for surf and turf tonight and we’re taking Team V-3 with us.” The other team that passed a number of boats on the final run was Team V-3’s Jon VanderMolen and Geoff Ewenson in the P Star designed by German Olympian, Marc Pickel. -- Full story and results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1670 Results (top 10 of 66) 1. USA, George Szabo/ Rick Peters 2. USA, Jon Vandermolen/ Goeff Ewenson 3. USA, Mark Mendelblatt/ Bruno Prada 4. IRL, Peter O'Leary/ Tim Goodbody 5. GER, Marc Pickel/ Steve Mitchell 6. USA, Rick Merriman/ Brian Sharp 7. FIN, Mathias Dahlman/ Erkki Heinonen 8. SWE, Mats Johansson/ Leif Moller 9. BER, Peter Bromby/ Magnus Liljedahl 10. USA, John Maccausland/ Kevin Murphy RESOUNDING TRIUMPHS AT 2009 ACURA MIAMI GRAND PRIX (Mar. 8, 25009) - In a real rarity and a true testament to outstanding sailing, winners of all four classes at the Acura Miami Grand Prix went wire-to-wire. Ran (IRC 1), Soozal (IRC 2), Nerone (Farr 40) and Bliksem (Melges 32) all led from start to finish, a remarkable feat, but they hadn’t clinched going into the final day and all sailed every race. Competition was tight in all four classes of this powerhouse fleet of 42 boats from seven countries, but the Farr 40 was deemed to be the most competitive and that earned Nerone the Acura Boat of the Week honor. The Italian entry won six of 10 races, an almost unheard of achievement in the professional-laden Farr 40 class. Skipper Massimo Mezzaroma and crew finished the series in style, getting the gun in both races Sunday to extend its lead on runner-up Goombay Smash (Doug Douglass, Newport, RI). -- Bill Wagner, daily reports: http://www.premiere-racing.com/miami09/pages/AMGP09_news.htm Acura Miami Grand Prix Results - Final after 10 races Farr 40 (12 entries) 1. Nerone, Massimo Mezzaroma, Punta Ala, Italy, 1-1-2-7-1-7-1-4-1-1=26 2. Goombay Smash, Doug Douglas, Newport, R.I., 5-2-7-3-6-3-3-1-7-2=39 3. Joe Fly, Giovanni Maspero, Como, Italy, 2-5-4-4-4-4-2-2-9-8=44 Melges 32 (19 entries) - with discard 1. Bliksem, Pieter Taselaar, St Inigoes, M.D., 1-1-1-2-7-5-1-3-(-8)-3=24 2. Samba Pa Ti, John Kilroy, San Francisco, C.A., 2-6-3-4-3-2-9-1-(-13)-2=32 3. Red, Joe Woods, Torbay, UK, 7-8-2-3-2-9-4-6-(-11)-7=48 IRC 1 (4 entries) 1. RAN, Niklas Zennstrom, Hamble, GBR, 1-1-1-2-3-1-1-1-1-2=14 2. Rio, Charles Dunstone, Cowes, GBR, 2-2-3-1-1-2-2-3-2-1=19 3. Synergy, Sergey Pichugin, Moscow, RUS, 3-3-2-3-2-4-3-2-4-3=29 IRC 2 (7 entries) 1. Soozal, King 40, Daniel Woolery, Pt Richmond, C.A., 2-1-4-1-1-1-1-1-1-1=14 2. Ciao, AC 40, Philippe Paturel, Halifax, CAN, 1-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-3=22 3. Gold Digger, J/44, James Bishop, Jamestown, R.I., 3-2-1-3-3-2-3-5-3-2=27 Complete results: http://www.premiere-racing.com/09_AMGP/results.htm PHOTO GALLERIES * There is a reason why pro photogs Sharon Green, Rick Tomlinson, and Stefano Gattini, along with local contributor John Payne, were out shooting this past weekend at the Acura Miami Grand Prix. Something about warm weather, good winds, and beautiful colors. What’s good for the sailors, is good for the imagery. Enjoy the work from each of these four individuals: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0308 * It is not too often when a pro sailing shooter attends a hard water event, but Oskar Kihlborg was in Sweden for the Ice Optimist and DN Junior World Championship, and has provided the ‘buttheads with a rare look into this exciting segment of the sport: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/09/0307 ACTION, REPAIR & COMFORT Looking for the best address in Newport? Or need repair, paint or carpentry work? Looking for harborage that's spotlessly clean, convenient, and offers fabulous amenities (think: Dockside Cafe, Ship's Store and Custom Yacht Outfitters -- Authorized Harken Service Agents)? No question best people watching in Newport: http://www.NewportShipyard.com BIG WINDS ARE MAIN THEME FOR HEINEKEN REGATTA St. Maarten, N.A. (Mar. 8, 2009) - St. Maarten, N.A. (March 8, 2009) – In what will go down as one of the windiest, wildest events in the storied history of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, a long and worthy list of new champions were crowned today as racing concluded in the 29th edition of the annual Caribbean competition. The final tally revealed a host of new winners—including Ronald O’Hanley’s Cookson 50, Privateer, and Wendy Schmidt’s Swan 80, Team Selene—as well as several past St. Maarten Heineken Regatta victors like Sergio Sagramoso on the Beneteau 44.7, Lazy Dog, and James Dobbs on the J/122, Lost Horizons. The 2009 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta will largely be remembered as the year a solid northeasterly breeze kicked in on the first day of the three-day event, and continued in unrelenting style for the duration of the racing. Due to the severity of the winds—which peaked out at nearly 40-knots on Day 1 of the regatta—and the massive, confused seaway that soon accompanied them, race officials decided to forgo the usual Saturday and Sunday racing schedule that in past years took the fleet in and out of the exposed French-side port of Marigot. -- Daily reports: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=6531 SAILING SHORTS * (Mar. 8, 2009; Day 119) - In ninth place, Rich Wilson (USA) continues to make excellent speed directly towards the Vendee Globe finish in Les Sables d’Olonne where he is now expected to be the next finisher late Monday or early Tuesday. At 1430hrs GMT he had less than 400 miles to go and has been making consistent VMG’s around 9.5 to ten knots. Winds seem to remain favourable to for Rich at 15-22 knots from just north of west for Sunday night and perhaps less, backing to south of west on Monday. -- Event website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en * Björn Hansen is one of Sweden’s top match racing sailors. He has now taken the initiative to launch a new international match racing series, Baltic Match Tour, the first of it’s kind in the Baltic Region. Baltic Match Tour has a new and unique concept that consists of three ISAF grade 2 regattas sailed “back-to-back” during nine days in three different countries. The Tour aims to attract the international match racing elite with focus on Scandinavian sailors. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7143 * Last week, a million-gallon sewage spill forced the cancellation of two at Richmond Yacht Club in San Francisco Bay. Apparently black water has mucked things up for RYC members this past weekend too, as the Contra Costa County Health Dept. was recommending there be absolutely no human contact due to the high bacterial content in the water. -- Latitude 38, full report: http://linkbee.com/IM97 * The International J/24 Class Association has entered into an agreement with Michael Kay Associates of Sherborne, UK to aid the Association in its search for an international company to become the Class’ Global Corporate Sponsor. Michael Kay Associates is known for its ability to bring together strategic corporate partnerships using themed platforms especially within the sailing and golf arenas. -- Full story: http://www.j24class.org/News/tabid/59/nnpg374/1/Default.aspx * New Zealand will reinstate titles in its honors system because they are a visible way of recognizing outstanding citizens, Prime Minister John Key said. Titles for the first two levels in the New Zealand honors system were scrapped in 2000 by the Labour Party-led government. Key’s National Party won the 2008 general election and said in the campaign it would review the use of titles. Eighty five New Zealanders who have been awarded one of the top two honors since 2000 will have the choice of whether to accept a title. Among those eligible include America’s Cup yachtsman Russell Coutts. -- Full story: http://linkbee.com/IM99 POST YOUR REDRESS COMMENTS TO ENTER RAFFLE Monday, March 9th is the final day to add comments to the Redress Forum thread and be entered in a raffle to win an autographed copy of Dave Perry’s book, “Understanding the Racing Rules of Sailing”. Raffle to be held on Tuesday, March 10th. Forum link: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7126 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar 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 Earl Boebert: To someone who just finished a guide for rank beginners to radio sailing, the phrase "There are just 4 Right of Way rules, 4 limiting rules and mark rounding rules" (that was published in Scuttlebutt 2795) elicits something between a sardonic chuckle and a snort of derision. “And mark rounding rules,” indeed. Welcome to Part 2, Section C: three rules, ten sub-rules, and nineteen clauses. Look at any rules blog and you’ll find common situations at marks that take a half dozen or so interactions between rules mavens to sort out. And this is supposed to be fun? Writing in 1939, Harold Vanderbilt said of the rules of his time: “Another major defect in the rules lies in their drafting. They show unmistakable signs of many amendments made in conference. They resemble an edifice which has been partly torn down and to which many additions have been made over a period of years. They no longer form a homogeneous whole.” (“On the Wind’s Highway”, pg 223.) Ring a bell? But then, what did those old guys know -- why, they even wrote a rule that said “A yacht shall attempt to win a race only by fair sailing and superior speed and skill.” How quaint. (Rule 31, 1959, the first year IYRU accepted the “Vanderbilt Rules”) I don’t know what the people who are privileged to actually ride in their boats think, but to this toy boat newbie it sure looks like we could use another Harold Vanderbilt. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Since Earl was commenting on the North U advertisement, I contacted Bill Gladstone at North U for his response: “The rules are already simple: There are only 4 right of way rules (all on page 5 in US Sailing Racing Rules), 4 limiting rules (see page 6) and Mark-Room and Obstruction Rules. The language of the rules is more baffling than the rules themselves. While it is possible to contrive situations where the rules are hard to apply, in actual practice, in most situations each boat's rights and obligations are pretty easy to discern. “One set of rules governs everything from prams in ponds to maxis crossing the planet. They work remarkably well, though admittedly some of the language in Part 2, Section C At Marks and Obstructions is tough to parse. If you want to go to the Olympics then you better study the rules in every nuance... but if you want go racing on Wednesday night, read US Sailing's new 15-page Handy Guide to the Racing Rules ($6), and go racing.” * From Steve Crane: Just wanted to let Scuttlebutt know that US SAILING is not making any friends again. I ordered the Handy Guide to the Racing Rules. As a non-member I paid the higher price of $7.95, but the real kick in the butt was when I received it for a UPS charge of another $7.95. This little 5 3/4" X 4 1/8" book which has 8 sheets of paper and weights 1 oz. and came with my invoice and a promo card on rules seminars making a total weight of 1.3 oz. This should have been $5.95 to anyone to promote US SAILING and mailed free. Maybe $6.95. but not a $15.08 total. This is way I have never sent my big bucks in for the membership which does not give you much. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: I mailed two guides last week, and each one cost me an envelope, a 42 cent stamp, and the time it took to write the address. I did it for free. * From J A Booker, St Petersburg, FL: (re, letter thread about kids and racing rules) I am a psychotherapist who works with kids and families. Not to beat this subject into the ground, but I know twelve year old Opti sailors (especially the team racers) who have a far better understanding of the rules than most of the adults I race against every week. I’d bet if there was a kid in the seminar who was glazing over that it’s just as likely it was the presentation as the content. Kid’s brains work differently. Anyone who is interested in teaching the new rules to kids would do well to engage a top quality teacher or sailing coach to review the curriculum and help with the presentation. Kids get it, just not the same way adults do. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Television is the opiate of the masses. Special thanks to MyBoatsGear.com and Newport Shipyard. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
