|
SCUTTLEBUTT 3429 - Monday, September 19, 2011Scuttlebutt 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. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Quantum Sails and Morris Yachts. TILT OF TALENT TO THE EAST The strength of college competition in the U.S. has always been to the east. There have been a few exceptions over the years, but not many. And since the Fowle Trophy was first awarded in 1972 to recognize the team with the best overall performance among the various national championships, 39 of the 40 winners have come from schools between South Carolina and Massachusetts. This trend is in part due to the support provided by eastern schools. Better funding leads to better facilities, which are often located near campus. Large fleets of boats leads to large teams, which makes for great practices. But with this comes a price...winter. So for years there remained some balance, with schools from the west coast and gulf region remaining competitive. But as competition has heightened among junior sailing, the pursuit of superior sailing programs has caused a tilt of talent to the east. There are seven districts that comprise the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA), and the water well is full in a couple regions while a drought is invading the others. Here are comments on the trend that were posted on the ICSA mailing list: * Blake Middleton, Former Head Coach - Stanford University: I've followed (on an inconsistent basis) the regular college rankings lists in the past 15 or so years. I was one of the three coaches (along with Gary Bodie & Ken Legler) who did the rankings for Sailing World for about 7 years back in the late 80s to early 90s. One of the biggest problems (to my eyes) with college sailing in recent years is the continued slide of competitive depth almost completely towards the New England and Mid Atlantic districts. With the exception of a few select South Atlantic and Pacific Coast teams, the rest of the country has been ignored, and the incentive for high school sailors who are serious about being involved at the highest levels has been diverted almost exclusively to the EAST coast only. In my humble opinion, it's way past time for the entire ICSA to work on behalf of the greater good to help spread the wealth. The entire ICSA will grow healthier if we all work to grow together. What can the ICSA do to help the Midwest? The Northwest? The Southeast? I'll step down now off the soap box. * Ken Legler, Head Coach - Tufts University: I hear Blake's frustration which represents the feelings of many, I'm sure. I have a counter argument that Blake will probably not like. Perhaps the geographical polarization of college sailing to the coast and Northeast in particular is a good thing. We have at least as many good teams as we did before the Midwest talent was recruited East, but they are closer together for shorter travel and more racing. While club teams in the Midwest have lost home state talent, many emerging teams in the East have gone from small club teams to powerhouses over the last twenty years. They include Georgetown, Hobart/WS, Roger Williams, and Boston College. Then there are the more recent small Eastern teams which get unbelievable competition near home including UConn, Fordham, Columbia, Providence, Salve Regina, George Washington, etc, etc. Imagine if we were more spread out, say one powerhouse per state including Arizona, Montana, Indiana, Tennessee, Oregon, etc. Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12606 REDEMPTION REGATTA Newport, RI (September 17, 2011) - In a reversal of fortunes from the inaugural event two years ago, the Terry McLaughlin-led team from the Royal Canadian Yacht Club persevered today to win the 2011 New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex, sailed in Swan 42s. The Canadian entry, skippered by Olympic medalist and former America’s Cup skipper, Terry McLaughlin, went into the day - and the final race - with a ten-point lead over the New York Yacht Club entry. But the Canadians took charge from the start, McLaughlin recounted their strategy, “We decided to go after New York, but it was tricky. It was five knots at the start, but it was very, very shifty and puffy, so if we let them sail their own race and we had tried to sail our own race. There is a reasonable chance that they would have put ten boats between us, so we decided that ‘ok listen’ we’ve got to be near them. If we put them back at the start and we’re back at the start than it doesn’t matter and we couldn’t lose." The Royal Canadian Yacht Club team, from Toronto, sailed a nearly flawless series with seven top five finishes - out of eleven races sailed. In races where the Canadians were deep in the fleet, McLaughlin, tactician John Hele and crew inevitably overhauled the boats ahead. McLaughin said, “I think we came back quite well this series. It's important because you can’t get off the line in great shape or get around the first mark in great shape, eleven races in a row.” The 55-year old McLaughlin won a silver medal in the Flying Dutchman class in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was the skipper of Canada I in the 1983 America’s Cup challenger series. In fact, three of his current crew were holdovers from that Cup campaign. These days his business is importing clothing and footwear from Ireland, and his sailing more relegated to only occasional racing. In a new addition to the event, the team leading in points at the end of each day flew a “gold” spinnaker in the following day’s races. The Royal Canadian team quickly took that honor after the first day and never relinquished it for the week. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/NYYC-IC-091711 Final Results - Top 5 of 22 1. Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN), 2-1-4-2-4-2-8-6-6-11-1, 47 pts 2. New York Yacht Club (USA), 4-2-8-10-3-1-4-2-5-17-11, 67 3. Annapolis Yacht Club (USA), 11-10-12-6-1-3-3-16-4-2-4, 72 4. Eastern Yacht Club (USA), 6-5-6-13-23-6-5-11-1-6-7, 89 5. Newport Harbor Yacht Club (USA), 8-3-7-1-17-12-10-3-16-5-23, 105 Full results: http://www.invitationalcup.org/results-and-tracking BACKGROUND: The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex is an amateur fleet racing regatta held in Swan 42 Class yachts. The regatta is hosted by the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in Newport, Rhode Island, in alternate years and was first held in 2009. FALL ONE DESIGN SPECIAL FROM QUANTUM SAILS Now’s the time to save on Quantum’s in-shore one design sails with 15% off on all orders until November 1st. Plus receive free, standard shipping! Save 10% on orders November 2 - December 15. Payment in full is required at time of order. Offer applies only to in-shore one design classes in the U.S. Free standard shipping only on orders placed before November 1, 2011. http://www.QuantumSails.com ENDS WITH A BANG (AND CAPSIZES AND CRASHES) Plymouth, UK (September 15, 2011) - While the conditions for the inaugural event of the America's Cup World Series in Cascais, Portugal were milder than expected, Plymouth provided the drama to be expected when confining the AC45s to a short course in strong winds. As described by regatta director Iain Murray, "Stadium sport is the catchword, but it's more like a cage fight." After Artemis Racing won the seeding series for the Plymouth Match Racing Championship, their automatic advancement to the semi-finals was soon met by Team Korea, Emirates Team New Zealand, and Oracle Racing Coutts. While the Kiwis were stretched to three races before displacing the American defender, Chris Draper’s crew on Team Korea continued their giant-killing ways with a resounding 2-0 victory over Artemis Racing. The finals would go to the ETNZ 2-0, while Artemis Racing beat Oracle Racing 1-0 for third place. It was on Sunday when ORACLE Racing Spithill made amends for a lackluster Match Race Championship with an emphatic victory in today’s winner-takes-all Plymouth Fleet Racing Championship. With winds gusting up to 30 knots, it proved to be as much about survival as performance with collisions and capsizes littering the bay. Sunday report: http://tinyurl.com/ACUP-091711 Sunday video: http://youtu.be/t4DOCxoqdEQ Final results: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-Plymouth-results COVERAGE: If you missed the online coverage from Plymouth, you can find the daily shows and video clips here: http://www.youtube.com/americascup COMING SOON ...NO FREE LUNCH If the Internet has taught us anything, it's the adage that you get what you pay for does not apply. We have become accustomed to getting something for nothing, and criticizing any entity that tries to directly charge us for their services. As the 'new' America's Cup gets its footing, there has been an epic amount of free content online. From highly produced feature shows to live racing, it is all free to view ... and free of advertising. But this might not be forever. The Sail-World website reported that the America's Cup event organisers had blocked the America's Cup World Series coverage in Plymouth for New Zealand fans. This block was a result of a broadcast agreement with local broadcaster, Television New Zealand. TVNZ. And guess what... people are mad about it. But yachting videographer Vince Casalaina warns us that there may be more to come. "What TVNZ requested in their agreement is exactly what most broadcasters have requested since internet coverage was started back in 2000," explains Casalaina on the LinkedIn discussion board. "When I worked for AmericaOne, the only way for viewers to watch the early rounds of the LV series live in the US was to get the Virtual Eye feed - which could not even use their own audio feed of the racing. Virtual Eye had to type in text to describe the action. That blackout was the result of the contract with ESPN which - just like TVNZ's contract - called for no internet coverage even when ESPN chose not to carry the racing. "It's certainly discouraging that the state of convergence between broadcast and internet is still essentially in the same place 11 years later in some countries. One can only hope that there will be better contracts in the future - and that Europe and the US will not have the same blackout conditions applied when broadcasters sign on for "full coverage" contracts when they will not provide full coverage. "I've argued for many years that if broadcasters don't bring something more to the viewers than they can get on the internet, then they are not doing their job. With the world feed being so good this Cup cycle - that's a harder job, but broadcasters are creative people and should IMHO rise to the challenge rather than diminish the experience for the fan base. "The Sail-World article talks about viewers needing to get up in the wee hours to watch the racing on TVNZ. The reality is that the racing will likely be TIVO'd for time shifted viewing - which is not all that bad. It's considerably better than the VHS recordings that got made in prior campaigns - like Perth." LinkedIn: http://tinyurl.com/LinkedIn-091711 Sail-World: http://tinyurl.com/SW-091711 BACK ON TOP Barcelona, Spain (September 17, 2011) - When the 2011 edition of the Audi MedCup Circuit season began in May, there were six new designs and several proven winners vying for the five event title. Returning for a fourth time was Quantum Racing, which won in 2008 with a new boat and program but was bridesmaid to the newer Emirates Team New Zealand in 2009 and 2010. With the TP52 design rule stabilized, Quantum Racing returned for the 2011 season with a new Botin Partners design, a development of ETNZ, and a new face at the helm. With previous skipper Terry Hutchinson (USA) committed to the America's Cup, the team passed the baton to ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Ed Baird (USA). Although Quantum Racing had led the 2011 Circuit since the first event in Cascais, Portugal when the five month season began, they arrived in Barcelona, Spain for the final event with only a 3.5 point margin. The hard pressing Spanish led Bribon team, which were the only team to win this season with an older design (2009 Rolf Vrolijk; ex Matador), kept it close this week but the Q confirmed their season win with a race to spare. After the victory in Cascais, Quantum Racing finished second in Marseille, fifth in Cagliari, third in Cartagena and second this week to RAN in Barcelona. Quantum Racing’s project manager Ed Reynolds, also co-architect of their 2008 title win, smiled on the dockside today: “Of all the MedCups this is the one I am most thrilled about. When they had to step up, they did. We feel like we have been defending the whole season, like we had a target on our backs since we won in Cascais at the beginning of the season. We were defending before we were ready to. I just hate to lose, and so I have such a sense of relief but it is so great to be part of a team like this. In competitive sport when everything is on the line to be a part of something which stands up and takes control that was the best part of the whole year.” With RAN winning in Barcelona, trophy regattas have been shared evenly through the Audi MedCup 52 Series fleet. Quantum Racing (2011 Botín Partners design) won in Cascais in May, Container (2011 Rolf Vrolijk) in June in Marseille, Audi ALL4ONE (2011 Rolf Vrolijk) in July in Cagliari, Italy. Last month Bribon (2009 Rolf Vrolijk) won in Cartagena, Spain and RAN (2011 Rolf Vrolijk) triumph in Barcelona. Audi MedCup Circuit: http://www.medcup.org/home/ CRUISING WORLD PRAISES MORRIS YACHTS' NEW L44 The new US Coast Guard Academy's training vessels built by Morris Yachts in Bass Harbor, ME "blend real advances in naval architecture and boatbuilding over the last few decades with practical features proven by centuries of seafaring" says Cruising World magazine. The new Leadership 44s replace the legacy 45-year-old Luder yawls previously used for Academy training. The Academy considered 11 yards for the project and chose Morris Yachts because of its ability to deliver quality vessels that meet specific requirements for both layout and design functionality. See the Leadership 44 at the Annapolis Boat Show Oct 6-10. http://www.morrisyachts.com/Coast-Guard-Project WORLDS OLDEST ACCORDING TO WHOM? An earthquake, two tsunamis, giant icebergs, towering waves and five typhoons: these may sound like typical challenges for anyone sailing around the world on their own. But Japanese sailor Minoru Saito also had to contend with back pain, a hernia, a knee operation and organising delivery of his heart tablets - perhaps unsurprisingly, bearing in mind that he is 77-years-old. Mr Saito on Friday broke a series of records - and defied all pensioner stereotypes - as he sailed into Yokohama port to a hero's welcome after an epic 1,080-day journey sailing single-handed around the world. Not only did he his arrival confirm his status as the oldest person to sail around the world, he is also the oldest to do so the "wrong way" - from west to east - as well as the only person to have circumnavigated the globe alone eight times. -- Telegraph, read on: http://tinyurl.com/TG-091711 COMMENT: The problem with age-related records is that there is no one is tracking them. The two agencies that were in the business of tracking sailing records - World Sailing Speed Record Council and Guinness Book of World Records - stopped monitoring records based on a person's age. SAILING SHORTS * Larchmont, NY (September 18, 2011) - The Star class hosted its Centennial Regatta to celebrate its 100th year of existence. Larchmont Yacht Club hosted 89 boats from seven countries spread over four continents, with competitors ranging from relatively new owners to Olympic Gold Medalists. The first two days was level competition for the “Classic” and “Woodie” Stars, with boats over 56 years old racing hard. The last three days saw the “Moderns” turning out with 78 boats on the starting line.-- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12610#12610 * Sheboygan, WI (September 19, 2011) - Open division Laurie Jury (NZL) and women’s division Claire Leroy (FRA) won the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in racing marked by strong winds and big waves on Lake Michigan. Claire Leroy (FRA) went 3-0 against Rita Goncalves (POR) in the women’s division, sailed in Elliott 6m’s. This is the third straight Nations Cup win for Leroy, a first in event history. Jury (NZL) had a 2-1 lead against top-seeded Mads Ebler (DEN), pinning penalties on Ebler to take the title. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12611#12611 * The BMW J/24 Europeans Championships concluded Thursday at Howth Yacht Club (near Dublin, Ireland) after completing the full 10-race programme despite the fleet held ashore on Monday when winds in excess of 30 knots and gusts over 50 knots abandoned racing. Top of the table was ‘Reloaded’ (Mike Ingham), sailing under U.S. colours, with 34 points, three ahead of the leading European entry ‘Il Riccio’ (Ian Southworth/Chris McLaughlin) which takes the European Championship trophy. Forty-two teams from nine countries participated. -- Full story: http://www.j24class.org/news/ingham-wins-2011-european-championship-2/ * Trapani, Sicily (September 18, 2011) - Leigh McMillan’s team on The Wave, Muscat made it two in a row, winning Act 6 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Trapani on the back of their Act 5 win in Cowes, UK. It was an incredibly close finish to Act 6 - after 34 races in total, The Wave, Muscat finished just 9 points ahead of the French team Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, and with Ben Ainslie helming on Oman Air for his first Extreme Sailing Series regatta in third. Max Sirena's Luna Rossa moves to the top of the overall 2011 leaderboard with three events remaining. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/ESS-091811 SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From David Barrow: Concerning the dialogue about race courses, it is interesting to see the high level of emotion shown over the humble reach - no reach issue. One guest commentator leaves racing while another, who is a teacher, seems very against reaching. There does not seem to be any allowance for "horses for courses" If sailing a planing dinghy long reaches require many skills. Good and vigorous trim of sails and crew produces results; lighter crews get the chance to make ground in heavy weather races. Do I go high or low on the leg? To demonstrate a full set of sailing skills it could be argued that you need to be able to beat, run, and reach, which is probably why they were the original Olympic course In heavier non-planing boats, W/L legs provide more cerebral activity and the good guys often make up more places downwind than upwind. Incidentally, did I not notice a bit of reaching in the America's Cup World Series races? I believe they can even start and finish on a reach on that other taboo in the sailing world, a catamaran. * From Lee Griffith: Ken Legler is really on the mark with his letter (in Scuttlebutt 3428) about the lost art of reaching. The Snipe class still regularly moves to the Olympic course at all levels of competition when the wind gets up close to 20 knots. In these conditions, the reaches are every bit as tactical as the beat or run. In fact, there are usually more passing lanes on the reach than the others. To all of those who have ever uttered the comment "reaches are not tactical, just parades", come sail a Snipe in 20 knots on a properly set reach (definitely 60-60-60, if not 65-50-65). Afterwards, see if you ever look at the reach the same. NOTE: The Snipe class also has a double triangle course for big breeze. These are hardly parades, as the difference in speed among the fleet is greater than any other point of sail. After bashing upwind, the reward was two planning reaches and the challenge of the graveyard wing mark. Good fun! - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt (and 2-time Snipe U.S. National Champ) CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Don't feel bad. A lot of people have no talent. SPONSORS THIS WEEK Quantum Sails - Morris Yachts - North Sails - Harken LaserPerformance - The Pirates Lair - BIC Sport - Lewmar Hall Spars & Rigging - Ullman Sails - Interlux - APS Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
