SCUTTLEBUTT No. 769 - March 9, 2001

Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome.

US OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP
LONG BEACH - US Sailing's Appeals Committee has reinstated Keith Ives of Alamitos Bay YC as winner of the 2000 U.S. Offshore Championship for the Lloyd Phoenix Trophy, while citing several errors by the host Long Beach YC's race committee and the race jury in its redress action that dropped him to third place. LBYC had asked US Sailing to review its handling of the matter, which left competitors and organizers confused over the issue of crew weight limits for the Catalina 37s.

Ives finished first in the event last Oct. 6-8 but was protested by the jury. Organizers established a crew limit of 1,400 pounds, then told competitors there would be no weigh-ins but failed to officially post the change, as required. Rivals protested on the morning of the last day of racing, demanding weigh-ins. Ives' crew was over the limit, but the Appeals Committee said the jury waited too long in failing to act until 6:30 that night, following the racing.

In a letter to jury chief Ken Morrison of Hawaii that was copied to Ives and other principals, the Appeals Committee stated: "The protest was not delivered in time." Furthermore, the letter stated, under Rule 60.3 the jury had no right to protest Ives at all because the action was instigated by rival boats.

And, there was more.

The Appeals Committee also noted that weight limits should not have been an issue because "Catalina 37 class rule 3.4 specifically prohibits limiting crew weight 'except by prior approval of the association.' . . . (And) even if the Catalina 37 One-Design Class Association had approved a crew weight limit, Boat #3 [Ives] . . . would not have been entitled to redress. . . .

Under Rule 62.1(a), a boat is entitled to redress only if her finishing position has been made significantly worse 'through no fault of her own.' "

Ives said, "I'm glad it's finally over and that we were vindicated. We sailed hard and we sailed by the rules, as we understood them to be in effect."

Ives' victory, though delayed four months, was his second U.S. Offshore title. He also won in 1996. - Rich Roberts, The Log, http://www.thelognewspaper.com/

BACARDI CUP
MIAMI, Fl. (March 8, 2001) - With one race remaining in the 74th Annual Bacardi Cup Star-Class Regatta, a handful of the world's best sailors find themselves in position to capture the prestigious Trofeo Bacardi.

On Thursday, wind gusts, which averaged eight knots from the east, allowed race officials to hold two races on Miami's Biscayne Bay. And now, after four total races, Brazil's Torben Grael and Marcelo Ferreira cling to a one-point lead over Americans Paul Cayard and Hal Haenel. In a long series, consistency is the name of the game. And Grael and Ferreira, who won Wednesday's race, have been consistent throughout the entire regatta, including Thursday's 17th- and 6th-place finishes. Grael has been racing in the Star class since 1988. He has most of his sailing experience in the Snipe class, including two world championships.

Climbing back into Cup contention is Bermuda's Peter Bromby and Martin Siese, who won Thursday's first race and finished third, in the second race of the day. Though technically in 10th place overall, Bromby is sitting in a great position to win his first Bacardi Cup in 10 tries. Sailors are allowed to discard their worst finish - provided the Regatta goes five races. Bromby and Siese have a fifth-place finish, but did not finish the first race of the series and were saddled with an 81st place finish. - Steve Schwadron

STANDINGS through four races (80 boats): 1. Torben Grael/Marcelo Ferreira (Brazil), 4-1-17-6, 28; 2. Paul Cayard/Hal Haenel (United States), 3-13-3-10, 29; 3. George Szabo/Billy Hollowesko (San Diego/Nassau), 17-10-8-2, 37; 4. Colin Beashel/David Giles (Australia), 2-2-11-25, 40; 5. Vince Brun/Doug Brophy (San Diego), 14-21-6-1, 42; 6. John MacCausland/Phil Trinter (United States), 5-18-2-23, 48; 7. Rod Davis/Mark Dolan (New Zealand), 6-6-31-7, 50; 8. Mark Reynolds/Magnus Liljedahl (San Diego/Coral Gables), 1-17-18-24, 60; 9. Sune Carlsson/Benny Nilsson (Sweden), 37-22-15-8, 82; 10. Peter Bromby/Martin Siese (Bermuda), 81/DNF-5-1-3, 90.

Full results: http://www.starclass.org/

SCHMUNDO
Here in Annapolis, just about everything we apply to the surfaces of a boat is fondly referred to as "schmundo". While West System epoxy concoctions are the ultimate schmundo, any high-quality filler, sealer, cleaner, coating or polish fits the definition. This spring you can order all the maintenance supplies you need from your desk at work, and be ready to go first thing Saturday morning. Think of all the time you'll save, and remember that if it's not from www.pyacht.com, it's not schmundo.

THE RACE
Tony Bullimore and Team Legato are facing their greatest challenge of The Race so far. With the crew down to just six men, including the British skipper, The Nigel Irens designed catamaran must round Cape Horn before it is caught by a vicious low-pressure system sweeping towards it from New Zealand.

St James Yachting, the team's shoreside weather routers, forecasts the low system could catch up with them at The Horn, if they become ensnared and slowed by the high pressure currently chasing them eastwards. If Team Legato can stay ahead of the weather and round the notorious rock in good time, the boat formerly known as Enza should be 1,500 nautical miles (nm) north of the storm as it rolls by harmlessly. But if there are complications coming around the Cape, Team Legato will be in for a tough ride. It will be even rockier than the journey made by Warta Polpharma when it had to go to bare poles. - Adam Chappell, NOW sports website

Full story: http://www.now.com/feature.now?fid=1355779&cid=997704

POSITIONS March 9 @ 0132 GMT: 1. Club Med, 62d 6h 56m, 2. Innovation Explore, 64d 22h 32m, 3.Team Adventure, 4602nm to finish, 4 Warta Polpharma, 5251 to finish, 5. Team Legato, 7923 to finish

QUOTE / UNQUOTE - Team Adventure skipper Cam Lewis
"The pace we were pushing each other down the Atlantic was beyond our wildest imagination, and with hindsight it was obvious that one of us was going to crash and burn. It happened to be us, but it would eventually have happened to Dalton if we had not broken our boat." - SailNet website, http://www.sailnet.com

VENDEE GLOBE
Frenchman Yves Parlier is one of those people who make the world a bit more interesting, just by being in it. His self-made jury rig of a broken mast, effected on a remote island in the south of New Zealand halfway through his Vendee Globe singlehanded circumnavigation, was a remarkable act of engineering. Even more than that, it was an act of spirit. This eighth day of March, 2001 finds him at sea between Madeira and the Canaries, 1,772 miles from the finish where 11 boats are already in. The cupboards are almost bare, which has set him to musing on the ideal menu for his first meal ashore. "I've come up with a dream menu," Parlier says: "Foie gras with a glass of Sauternes, steak and chips with a fine drop of Saint Emilion or Medoc, a green salad, cheese platter, summer fruit, some fondant fancies, and then one bar of Lindt chocolate and one of Cote d'Or with hazelnuts."

The thoughts of a man who's been at sea since November 5, 2000. We wish we could air-drop him the Medoc and green salad, at least. - Sail magazine website, http://www.sailmag.com/html/briefing.html#havana

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON leweck@earthlink.net
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.)

* From: Morten Lorenzen, Denmark molo@post2.tele.dk
(edited to our 250-word limit) The dicussion around "the future of sailing" is beginning to touch a real nerve. How do we retain and attract the young generation? Reality is, that young people today live in what I call "the fitness world", where time is of essence, and where many different sports and leisure activities are perused during the week. They do not belong to one sport, nor do they wish to step into a sport, where they do not feel welcome due to rules, restrictions and membership obligations.

So what's the trick - open up the clubs, give the young people a chance to try it out. In my club we have invested in 6 DS Match Racers (5 man / 6 women yachts) that are easy to operate, and on guided match race tours, young people can get a real splash and feel for our sport. Most stay on as the see they can enjoy sailing without the hazard of owing a boat, securing a berth and all the maintenance that comes along. They can simply sail/race once or twice a week for the same cost as they play tennis (or less). By the way - most tennis players haven't bought a tennis court, they merely "rent" a space on one - same thing with sailing...make it available, feasible and fun.

Because of the success, the investment has been very positive to the club. 230 more young members (33% females !!!), high level of social activities and a very healthy cash-flow.

* From: "Lenore Goldman" seductressfun@hotmail.com
Who says there is no extreme racing and that watching racing isn't exciting. I was out watching the SORC last weekend and saw many of the things that Mr. Bailey mentioned in his letter. In the Farr 40 fleet there were several collisions, at one leeward mark rounding there were 18 protest flags out of a 28-boat fleet. Who needs an x-shaped course...the gate served the same purpose...many boats crossing each other in close quarters. We watched the 1D35's come down wind and we were trying to decide which one would be knocked down next...and there were several knock-downs. We witnessed one big boat wrap their spinnaker pole around the headstay. We also saw one broken rig...at the dock.

If the racing community wants to gain popularity as a spectator sport...they need to promote racing. Get the sponsors to use footage of racing in their ads. For example, it would be great to see some footage of a mark rounding in a beer sponsor's TV advertising. We have the sport, we just need more marketing.

* From: Chip Evaul clevaul@earthlink.net
Long Beach YC is enthusiastically moving into the new starting system. We equally feel it is important to educate competitors in this first year of the new system, to avoid confusion for all sailors, but especially who might only sail in a few races each year.

However, there is one potential "downside" to the new starting system: the shapes used previously were highly visible from all angles and at great distance from the committee boat, even on fixed halyards. Each shape was a distinctive shape and a bright color. The new flags may be more difficult to see when a competitor is on the centerline of the committee boat (either in front or astern), as the flag would be viewed "edge-on". This would be of greatest concern in large multiclass regattas and midweek beercan races, where perhaps 100 boats are milling about and, necessarily, some are at a significant distance from the committee.

* From: Chris Ericksen Chris6932@aol.com
You gotta hand it to the Star Class: the top ten in the Bacardi Cup included Olympic medallists like Mark Reynolds, Magnus Liljedahl, Troben Grael, Marcello Ferreira, Rod Davis, Hal Haenel, Colin Besheal and David Giles, and Paul Cayard to boot! What I don't understand is why more young people aren't racing the most challenging one-design keelboat in the world. When I joined the class as a middle-aged nobody, I met a lot of these guys and found them as helpful and accessible as you can imagine; I play golf, but I'll never play a tournament with Tiger Woods, I can tell you that.

The memory of rounding a leeward mark in second place behind Reynolds and Haenel in a race in San Diego will stay with me forever--and should encourage more of the great young sailors the US produces to try the Star. Where else can you compete against the greatest sailors in the world and then get them to give you pointers on how to get better?

CURMUDGEON'S COMMENT: 24 hours after Mark Reynolds received his Rolex watch at the New York YC, he was standing in the rain on the deck of a Starboat at the California YC showing three dozen new Star sailors how to tune their rigs. That simply does not happen in any other major sport.

* From John Corby, JCboats@aol.com
To prove how remarkably successful IRC is at being everyting to all men, just examine the results from Cowes Week, 8 days racing over a variety of courses and conditions: 1st & 4th overall to purpose built raceboats and 2nd and 3rd to IMX and Beneteau. How much fairer does it get. As far as older boats are concerned IRC successfully allows older designs WHICH WERE GOOD IN THEIR DAY, eg S & S Swan 48, to be competitive if they are prepared and raced to the same standard as the new boats are. Too many people dream that their old boat, which might never have been brilliant even when new, will suddenly become competitive under a new rule.

IRC is clever enough not to allow for bad design! IRC boats are faster, more stable, easier to sail, remain competitive for longer and are much easier to measure than IMS boats. The USA needs to switch on or face the humiliation of being the last country in the World to join IRC.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE
At 03:30 the morning of March 7, (New Zealand time) djuice.com I and djuice.com II departed the Auckland boatyard that has been their home since construction began in August last year. The Laurie Davidson-designed boats were flying aboard a Russian Antonov freight plane to djuice dragons' winter training base in Miami where the Norwegian team will prepare for the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-2002.

The flight took 22 hours with a pit stop for fuel in Tahiti. The plane and its cargo landed safely at 20:00 on March 7 in Ft Lauderdale, Florida after an incident-free trip. As the Antonov 124 freight plane glided onto the runway, the 17 members of the team waiting on the tarmac let out a collective sigh of relief - and a few cheers.

"It has been a nerve wrecking past 24 hours. Having the boats on the water seven months out from the start line is important in the build up to the race," said skipper Knut Frostad. Designer Laurie Davidson was very happy with the final product and exclaimed, "they look just as I hoped they would!"

Unloading in Ft Lauderdale took 8 hours before they were trucked to the yard where they will have the rigs stepped and keels and rudders fitted before sailing south to Miami. Frostad hopes to have the first boat in the water on March 19. - Emma Sutcliffe

Event website: www.VolvoOceanRace.org

MATCH RACING
Chris Dickson of America's Cup challenger Oracle Racing and Rod Davis of America's Cup challenger Prada are hoping to have history on their sides as they compete at next week's Steinlager Line 7 Cup, the fourth event on the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Dickson is a three-time winner of the regatta, sailing to victory in 1982, 1985 and, most recently, 1989. Davis will be aiming to join Dickson in the three timers club with a victory this year having previously won the event in 1983 and 1987. The record for wins at the Steinlager Line 7 Cup is held by former Team New Zealand skipper Russell Coutts who has five victories to his credit. Coutts' impressive feat was achieved over a seven-year period from 1992 to 1998.

Challenging Dickson and Davis at this year's event will be ten of the world's leading match racers, led by Team New Zealand's Dean Barker, currently ranked first in the world by ISAF. Other entrants include Bertrand Pace and Cameron Appleton of Team New Zealand, Gavin Brady and Nico Celan of Prada, Andy Green for the GBR Challenge and Swedish Match Tour Championship points leader Magnus Holmberg for the Swedish Victory Challenge. Shawn McBride, Yachts & Yachting website, http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/

EASIER SAIL HANDLING
If you want easier sail handling and better performance look no further than a SAILMAN full batten system. Designed for yachts from 24ft to 80ft, the range includes track systems, in-mast systems and even slides specifically for composite spars. SAILMAN systems are well engineered, easy to install, simple to maintain and great to use so if you are thinking about full battens, talk to your Sailmaker about SAILMAN by Bainbridge International. More information: www.sailcloth.com

STILL GROWING
There is definitely a growing interest in sailing Mumm 30's and participating in Tour Voile. Nearly 60 teams have pre-registered for Tour Voile 2001. Which is an increase as there were 42 in 1999 and 52 in 2000. Two third of the pre-registered entries should line up in Le Havre on the 29th of June for the prologue. The 1988 participation record could be broken.

After cancelling their participation at the last minute last year because of their team partly falling apart, the America's Cup holders have decided to come back. They eager to win after having been so close to do so in 1999 when Luc Dewulf's "Kateie" sailed to victory in the protest room. "The Tour is a special event for us, nice for team building as we sail in slightly different roles and we meet different people", says Tom Schnackenberg. Besides Tom, the team will be composed of the best sailors of Team New Zealand: Dean Barker, Hamish Pepper, (both 2000 World Match-Racing Champions 2000), Frenchman Bertrand Pacˇ, Mike Quilter (recent winner of The Race aboard Club Med) , Cameron Appleton

There might be one or two America's Cup Challengers to face the Kiwis. As well as some strong European teams who shall be a threat. For the first time Italy, the country of the Mumm 30 European and World Champions, will participate in Tour VoileOther European teams should also be a threat. There will also be a number of high level amateur teams. And, as traditionally in Tour Voile, there are some special projects promoting extra-sporting values. The student category is also growing.

The even growth of the three categories enhances Tour Voile's unique character. That is a big cosmopolitan gathering of all type of sailors. Ocean racers as well as match-racers and Olympic sailors. Top professional and amateurs. French and foreigners. Two key words for one event: performance and passion! - Isabelle Musy, tourvoile@aol.com

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE
US Sailing's Executive Committee will have a special meeting on Thursday, March 22 just before the association's Spring Meeting to develop Priority Goals for the Association. These Priority Goals will then be recommended to the Board of Directors and, once approved, will guide US Sailing in setting its budget and determining projects.

They have set up a web page for you to tell them what you think their priorities should be for the next few years. Your suggestions should address specific things US Sailing should be doing toward encouraging participation and promoting excellence in sailing and racing.

To participate in this survey: http://www.ussailing.org/surveys/priorities.asp

QUOTE / UNQUOTE
"You have made my life complete - you will never walk alone. My arms will be your shelter - my heart will be your home." - Spoken by one of the curmudgeon's favorite yachting journalists, Suzanne McFadden (NZ Herald), at her wedding yesterday to Eugene Bingham. The wedding took place on one of NZ's most beautiful beaches on the Tawharanui reserve opposite Kawau Island. Best wishes, Suz.

THE CURMUDGEON'S QUOTATIONS
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.