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SCUTTLEBUTT 1803 - March 25, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest 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, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. 'AMICABLE' RESOLUTION New Zealander Russell Coutts, the most dominant skipper in America's Cup history, will not try for a fourth straight title in the 2007 regatta as part of a settlement with the Alinghi syndicate. Coutts was fired by the Swiss group in July after a falling out with syndicate head Ernesto Bertarelli over management of defense of the Cup in Valencia, Spain. The case between Coutts and Bertarelli -- the first European to win the America's Cup -- had been before the review board of sailing's governing body. But Alinghi released a statement Thursday saying Coutts and Bertarelli "have amicably settled their past disagreements. As part of this settlement, Russell Coutts shall not sail for another team in the 32nd America's Cup." Reached by cell phone, Coutts confirmed the announcement but said he was barred from elaborating. "Both sides agreed not to say anything," he explained. After he was fired, Coutts said Bertarelli, a biotech billionaire who was navigator during Alinghi's five-race sweep of Team New Zealand in March 2003, changed the eligibility rules in a deliberate bid to keep him from racing for another team in 2007. Alinghi said Coutts was fired for his repeated refusal to carry out his duties. Following Alinghi's victory off Auckland, Coutts had contract differences and refused to sail in exhibition regattas against U.S.-based BMW Oracle Racing in San Francisco and Newport, R.I. Coutts apparently didn't like the choice of Valencia, on the Mediterranean, as the venue for 2007 over his preferred option, Cascais, Portugal, a fishing port near Lisbon on the Atlantic coast. He also apparently felt that changes to the America's Cup Class boats weren't exciting enough. Coutts sailed unbeaten through the last three America's Cup regattas -- with Team New Zealand in 1995 and 2000, and Alinghi in 2003. He set a record with 14 straight wins, nine with New Zealand and five with Alinghi. - Bernie Wilson, AP, from the Los Angeles Times, full story: http://tinyurl.com/547rs THE CHINESE CHALLENGE Wang Chaoyong, chairman of China Equity Investment and Xavier de Lesquen, co-founder of Le Defi, a French Sports management company, plan to set up a joint venture that will open the way for China to participate in the America's Cup for the first time in 2007. The leading Chinese venture capital investor also announced that US$32 million will be invested into forming the sailing team, to be called "China Team," to challenge for the world's most prestigious sailing trophy. According to Wang, China Team is joining forces with Le Defi, which has competed in the past two events, and with the experience of the French firm, will become the only Asian team taking part in the 2007 race. Wang said talks with the China Aquatic Sports Administration Centre over possible co-operation are underway and the scouting, selecting and training of Chinese sailors and other crew will begin later in 2005. De Lesquen, who led Le Defi's unsuccessful challenges in the last two races, including a semi-final finish in the qualifiers and fifth place in the final of 2004, said he hoped to join the formal list of challengers with China by the deadline of April 29. "We will go step by step. Right now, we are going to transform a used boat into a standard one to compete in the 2005 stages. Then we will build a new one for the team," he said. The French sailor is also trying to relieve concerns over whether there will be any Chinese crew on the boat. "For the time being we will recruit the main crew from France and little by little, we are going to introduce Chinese sailors." He said there will be about 100 crew in 2007 with 35 critical positions needing to be filled as soon as possible. As a big-money event, which is relatively unknown in China when compared to last year's F1 grand prix in Shanghai, there are worries it will have trouble attracting sponsors and spectators. But Wang said he was in touch with a number of booming Chinese firms that are aiming to increase their profile on the international stage. "It is a chance for Chinese companies to promote their image through the event, which attracts millions of viewers. "More importantly, as long as our team achieves a good result, more people will pay attention to China's sailing sports." - China Daily, full story: www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/24/content_427719.htm SECOND DRAFT CIRCULATED The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) recently unveiled its new project, the three Grand Prix Level Classes. A first draft of the details was circulated at the beginning of January and included a preliminary proposal for three "box rule" classes. Following market research, three bands were identified at 26', 33' and 42'. More than 40 design offices and technicians had been contacted for comment and more than 60% of them had replied. Discussions regarding cooperation with the RORC are taking place. A second draft has now been circulated. This includes consideration for meeting land transportation requirements for convenient travel to events and emphasis on cost control, especially for the smaller classes. The ORC Project Coordinator, Paolo Massarini, believes that the final rule for the three classes will be confirmed before the end of May so that the project can be ready to go on the market. - www.orc.org/ PIRATE SHIP (The Daily Sail subscription website has posted a long story about Disney's 'Pirates of the Caribbean' entry in the Volvo Ocean Race. Here are two brief excerpts.) Sadly despite reports in the press that give this impression Vicky Lewis from Buena Vista International, the promoters and distributors of the long awaited Pirates of the Caribbean sequel tells us that there is only a small possibility that we will be seeing the film's stars around the boat. "People got a bit excited saying they'd be crewing the ship, but that's probably a bit unrealistic as we want to win the race and get professional sailors on there. But what is most likely is at the New York stopover, they'll do some publicity around the boat and if we can get them on board then we'll try and do that. We'll just wait and see everyone's availability. Perhaps in Portsmouth it is quite near the film's release, so if we can get Keira Knightley there we will, but nothing is confirmed yet." Allegedly Johnny Depp who plays the slightly camp but cowardly swaggering swashbuckler - a character that Depp in interviews has said is based on Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards - is a keen sailor and one suspects that if anyone is going to get involved with some in-port racing it will be him. "He is not trained to crew I shouldn't think, but I'm sure he enjoys it," says Lewis. "It will depend upon schedules. I'm sure he has got lots of films lined up." * Although an avid sailor with his own maxZ86 Pyewacket, Roy Disney, as some may have presumed, has not been involved with the deal as he is no longer formally part of the Disney empire. - The Daily Sail, www.thedailysail.com SPRING IS COMING New sails, rigging, a refinished bottom - ready for 2005 events? What about your instruments? Measure your performance gain with Ockam's powerful Tryad processor. 8 times per second data sampling and display rates, control the system with an impressive list of new commands, on-board Compact Flash card for software updates and system backup, driven by an embedded PC with Pentium II level processing. Impress the competition with the Matryx graphical Display with strip charting and hit shifts like never before. Smaller, lighter, faster & more powerful. Words not usually used for instrument systems...contact Lat Spinney, lat@ockam.com for more information. CONSPIRACY THEORIES Fresh Seventeen was all set for smooth sailing. New ideas, the full commitment from the German sailing community and the backing of public television made the bid seem no longer a question of if but when. In a heartbeat, though, the sailors' hopes of entering the America's Cup have been thrown overboard. Overlapping interests have suddenly gotten in the way of Fresh Seventeen's ambitions to become the first German crew to take part in the world's most prestigious sailing race. The country's sailing community is worried, and conspiracy theories are already being floated. With about five weeks left until the registration deadline for the America's Cup 2007 in Valencia, Spain, Fresh Seventeen is feeling the strain. And not just because the team still has to secure its first major sponsor on the way to raising €45 million ($58.6 million). The real problem arose when Roland Gäbler, one of Germany's most high-profile sailors, announced that he would lead a second German bid called GermanyOne. "No comment" is the only response coming from the Fresh Seventeen quarter in Munich these days. - Faz.net, full story: http://tinyurl.com/4l5y8 YET ANOTHER RECORD ATTEMPT Simon Chalk the Devon based challenger is stepping up to the plate to have a go at breaking Ellen Macarthur's mind boggling record that she set this February. The project is a community based project and is named "Spirit of Teignmouth" the way it is being run is very reminiscent of the Team Phillips project, with a combination of local community involvement and high-tech multimedia. Whilst all the light was Ellen in the build up to, during and end of her record breaking voyage a team have been working on constructing the 21 metre composite trimaran. The yacht, which is currently under construction at its purpose built complex in Devon, will be created using local tradesmen and the vast reservoir of skills and experience available in the South West. It will be assembled in Teignmouth hopefully later this year. Along with the construction process and the actual execution of the voyage aims to create an educational package that will run in tandem with all aspects of the project. The skipper and project leader Simon Chalk is no newbie to setting records at sea but not in sailing, Simon was the first to row across the Indian Ocean and he has also rowed across the Atlantic. He also took part the 1996 Global Challenge onboard Save the Children. Whilst construction of the trimaran continues, Simon has purchased a mini trimaran which he is using to practice multihull sailing technique, he will also be using it to attempt some smaller records like round Britain! - Yachting Universe, full story plus drawings of the trimaran and comparisons to Ellen's B&Q are posted online: http://tinyurl.com/5shmv A VERY STRONG TEAM Brasil 1 may be the first Brazilian team to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race but that does not mean the crew is short of experience. Torben Grael (BRA) is but one of the sailors in a line up that features stacks of Olympic and ocean race experience. Skipper Grael, is the current Star Olympic champion and has won five medals in six Olympic Games, a record in sailing and Brazilian Olympic history. His bowman Marcelo Ferreir (BRA), has three medals, two of them gold. Guillermo Altadill (ESP) is also an Olympic Champion, as coach for the Spanish team that finished first overall in the Tornado class in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Kiko Pellicano (BRA) is another medallist, with a bronze in the Tornado class in Atlanta, sailing with Grael's brother, Lars Grael (BRA). Not even the younger members of the Brasil 1 crew are strangers to the Olympics. André Fonseca (BRA), 26, and Joca Signorini (BRA), 27, both sailed in Athens last year. Fonseca was sixth overall in the 49er class and Signorini finished tenth in the Finn. 'You see, even the boys have Olympic experience', Cahalan said with a laugh. 'But we have another thing to offer: experience. Something they don't have'. The only woman in the Volvo Ocean Race so far, Australian Adrienne Cahalan is one the most respected sailors in the world. She has been nominated for ISAF World Sailor of the Year four times and was the first woman to break the around the world speed record, onboard Cheyenne in 2004. Justin Clougher is the only round the world champion in the team (he was first overall with EF Language in 1997-1998) and Stuart Wilson was second overall in the last Volvo Ocean Race, onboard Assa Abloy. - www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j19Fhyp`w CABO SAN LUCAS RACE Newport Harbor YC, Final Results (44 boats) - Class A: 1. Scout Spirit, R/P 78, Bill Turpin, 13 Overall 2. Peligroso, Dencho 70, Mike Campbell & Dale Williams, 23 OA 3. Magnitude 80, Andrews 80, Doug Baker, 38 OA Class B: 1. Mongoose, SC 70, Dennis Conner, 5 OA 2. Locomotion, Andrews 45, Melinda & Winslow Lincoln, 8 OA 3. Flash, TP 52, Mark Jones, 10 OA Class C: 1. Reinrag2, J/125, Tom Garnier, 6 OA 2. Bolt, N/M 55, Craig Reynolds, 7 OA 3. Adrenalin, SC 50-3, David Clark, M. Munson, 11 OA Class D: 1. Tabasco, 1D35, John Wylie, 2 OA 2. Kahoots. Andrews 43, Kerry Deaver / Williamson, 4 OA 3. Enzo, Hobie 33M, Bill Erklines, 14 OA Class E: 1. Peregrine, Hobie 33, Simon Garland, 1st Overall 2. Between the Sheet, Jeaneau 52, Ross Pearlman, 3 OA 3. Star Chaser, Nordic 40, Bill Craig, 9 OA Event website: www.nhyc.org TROFEO PRINCESA SOFIA Palma, Mallorca - The Bay of Palma has seen another day of excellent racing with the Embat wind, 8 to 15 knots. A total of 45 races have been sailed. Friday, is the last day of competition. American Paige Railey had some ups and downs on Thursday with an OCS-2-1. After 11 races and with only one race left, she leads Charlotte Dobson (GBR) by 16 points. Tania Elias Calles from Mexico is currently in seventh place in the 36-boat Laser Radial fleet. In the 45-boat 470 Men's fleet, Americans Mikee Anderson-Mitterling and Dave Hughes had finishes of 21-12 to remain in 14th place. - www.trofeoprincesasofia.org ORYX QUEST 2005 RTW RACE Tropical cyclone Hennie is moving south very slowly packing sustained winds of 45 knots with gusts in excess of 60 knots. For now the storm is moving as forecast, but in the next few hours its track will change to head more to the southeast where potentially it could cause some trouble for Brian Thompson and his crew on Doha 2006. Doha is now 4085 miles from the finish and 2749 miles ahead of Daedalus. - www.oryxquest.com/ NEW CARBON FIBER TILLER EXTENSION Check out the new "Big Stick" super carbon fiber tiller extension from Forespar in the new 2005 Layline catalog that just hit the streets! These great new lightweight carbon fiber extensions come in sizes from 24" - 72", each with an inexpensive and easily replaced universal for quick repairs if necessary at regattas. Extensions can also be customized to fit any boat with just a hacksaw! Great new look and great prices. Call Layline at: 800-542-5463 or go to: www.layline.com for all Forespar carbon fiber products including spinnaker poles and "Ultra" end fittings. Or email: mailto:sales@forespar.com NEWS BRIEFS * This July's Transpac will be Roy Disney's final race with his Reichel/Pugh-designed maxZ 86, Pyewacket. The boat is on the market and Disney will be spending more time cruising. * US Sailing has determined the top Finn sailors in the country for the 2005 US Sailing Team. Last weekend, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club held its Olympic Classes Regatta, which was the last qualifying regatta for Finn sailors for the US Sailing Team. The new members of the 2005 US Sailing Team in the Finn class are: Kevin Hall, Zach Railey, Bryan Boyd, Darrell Peck, and Andrew Casey.. The 2005 US Sailing Team will be complete in mid-April upon completion of the Star Western Hemisphere Championship. Current standings for all the classes of the US Sailing Team: www.ussailing.org/olympics/2005/standings.htm * The One-Design Racing Clinic Association (ORCA) has lined up an impressive list of speakers and coaches for their Elite Youth Racing Clinic on May 27-30th (Memorial Day weekend) at the Seattle YC & Corinthian YC of Seattle. Already scheduled are Carl Buchan, Brian Ledbetter, Brett Davis, Anna Tunnicliffe, Brad Funk, Mark Mendelblatt, Dean Brenner, Robbie Dean, Rich Feeny, Mark Laura, Adam Deermount and Ron Rosenberg. Lasers, Laser Radials, 420s and Optis will be used in the clinic. - www.ORCA-racing.org * Olivier de Kersauson's 34 metre trimaran Geronimo retired with major crossbeam damage from the Oryx Quest. She sailed to Sydney and the 22 metre wide giant was berthed at Sydney Foxtel Studio wharf near Darling Harbour. Geronimo needs further repairs to her forward crossbeam which, despite repairs made in Perth, is showing new signs of damage. Geronimo arrived off Newcastle Harbour at 4.30pm was towed up to the ADI Newcastle facility, where under the direction of Boatspeed, her mast will be removed and repairs identified. Work is expected to take between 30-45 days. - Excerpts from a story by Al Constable on the Sail-World website, full story: www.sail-world.com/ LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (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 Michelle Slade (edited to our 250 word limit): I just attended the Corinthian YC (Tiburon, Calif), first evening of its 2005 speaker series with Gary Jobson. I know this has been said before but it simply can never be said enough - Gary is truly a gift to the sport we all love. It's been both a heart rending and heart warming experience to watch him over the past few years battle through his illness. To see him healthy and happy today, his humor-incensed enthusiasm for the sport a complete inspiration is awesome. I wonder how often we stop and appreciate how much he's brought to this sport in this country. His presentation was fantastic, in particular his "Ultimate Sailing" footage, which should become compulsory viewing for all kids regardless - how could they not get a grip on the thrill sailing offers after watching that? In fact, I am going to order myself a copy for those moments when I feel that, 'I need to get the hell out of Dodge.' Obviously very dear to Gary was his overview of the America's Cup. It's a great event, very addictive, notwithstanding all the related drama. However, as Gary noted, there is something terribly amiss in that two of the most highly respected A-Cup skippers - Coutts and Cayard - will not participate in 2007 for all the reasons previously made public. The competition simply won't be as good as it could be, which is unfortunate - it will be just, different. * From David Redfern (Re Formula 1 at Sea): It works the other way round too. Geoff Willis was hydrodynamics designer and computer modelling programmer on the Peter de Savary America's Cup Challenge in San Diego. He is now Technical Director for British American (BAR) Racing in Formula 1. * From Tom Fischbeck: A 40 year old Cal 25 the victorious overall winner in the 2004' Ensenada International Yacht race. A 20 year old Hobie 33 winning the overall prize in the 2005 Cabo San Lucas Yacht Race. "Classic Plastic" yachts, racing with low dollar campaigns, beating world class yachtsman, winning prestigious regattas. And doing it with out their VISA cards: Priceless! * From Scott Ridgeway: Hmm - It appears that Russell Coutts went shopping for his golden handcuffs ... and now he has a pair he likes. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well. - H.T. Leslie |
