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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 891 - August 30, 2001Scuttlebutt 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, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. AMERICA'S CUP Although its only mentioned in passing at the America's Cup Jubilee site, it looks as if Prada will not be able to get their one month break between the LVC finals and the beginning of the America's Cup. Bruno Trouble, representing the Louis Vuitton Cup said final dates were still to be agreed but it was likely that the Louis Vuitton Cup series for challengers would start in Auckland in mid-October. The semi-finals would start right after Christmas.
In addition, the newly re-launched Oracle Racing website also lists a schedule of proposed LVC dates:
America's Cup
RESERVE DAYS: Source: Hauraki News: http://www.chez.com/hauraki/LatestNews/LatestNews.htm
MAKO ETCHELLS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Stuart Childerley (GBR), the series leader after two races, had a remarkable race, moving up the ladder from 21st at the first mark to second at the next. He was fourth at the next two marks roundings, but slid down a snake or two on the final beat to wind up 20th. He still leads overall after three races, by three points from Barry Dunning, who was 18th in this race. After two indifferent days, Dennis Conner was almost in his old mode of walking on water. Eighth at the first mark, he dropped to 16th on the run, when the right hand side paid and he had gone left, but recovered to third on the next beat behind Wickens and Kneulman. That position he held, despite pressure from Childerley on the run and then carved back half of Wickens lead as he overtook Kneulman. There are still three races to be held with one discard if all six are raced. The event is organized by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. - Bob Fisher
Standings after three races:
SIMILARITY
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON * From Graham Kelly: Volvo Ocean Race enthusiasts will recall that during the recent RTW Race, Paul Cayard's EF team took down the kite for twelve hours in order to "regroup", after a particularly disasterous sequence of events on the Southern Ocean. Keith Kilpatrick's description of the crew sleeping accomodation on the Nautor Challenge boat may explain why this was necessary. I believe that it is well established that inadequate rest gives rise to a number of physiological and psychological problems, including lethargy, poor physical coordination, and bad judgment. I wonder at the wisdom of setting off on a race of this magnitude without making provisions for the crew to get adequate rest. On the other hand, Grant Dalton is a seasoned veteran of this kind of racing. Nonetheless, it occurs to me that when the crew gets tired enough, they will learn to sleep in almost any circumstance that presents itself. IMO, it would be better if that were off watch. I would guess that other things being equal (and they never are), the crew that sleeps better will defeat a crew that is sleep deprived. * From Jay Bush: The best way to stop people from breaking rules concerning kinetics or judges from having to "turn their heads" because everbody does it is to make kinetics legal. It is legal in windsurfing which is governed by the same set of rules, written by the same people that govern conventional sailboats. Anyone who sailed in college knows the importance of mastering kinetics to be in the top of the fleet. Many of the popular performance dinghy fleets (Laser,V15) all use kinetics. Even keelboat sailors roll tack their boats, look at J22's and J24's. The point is using kinetics is still propelling the boat using only wind, water and sails so why is it illegal. From: "Ralph Taylor: Being against cheating, we need to define terms. "Cheating" should be reserved for blatant, flagrant, or repeated rules violations. Only a few sailors' actions fall into this definition of "cheating." The cheaters seem characterized by a disregard for the rules and for other competitors' safety. They make racing less fun and more dangerous for everyone. I've been pondering for some time what can or should be done about them. For my own racing, I make sure I'm well away. Ken Glassman makes good suggestions, but there are problems with each. (1) Competitors don't protest because of little gain and many obstacles. Victims may not know if they've suffered intentional cheating. Protest committees don't like to deal with gross misconduct allegations. The chance of making a case for serious cheating is small. In a recent protest committee I sat on, the chairman refused to whether the misconduct was "gross," citing "too much paperwork." A later conversation indicated that such conduct was usual for the protestee. (2) On what basis can an organizing authority refuse to accept entries? A recent US Sailing action against a yacht club for refusing to accept an entry gives other OA's pause. It seems that a strong documentary record would be required. I want to see cheating reduced and cheaters reformed, but we need to think how to go about it. * From David Buckley: I have never understood the reasoning behind making kinetics illegal. Kinetics are a advanced skill and art form that the enlightened sailor harness for superior performance in all wind speeds. The boats that respond best kinetics are light and require athletes to sail them. Therefore an argument against them for equal competition between people of different physical abilities does not hold up. It has been proven to me time and again that gross or harsh movements that the rule makers and sailors object to are not fast. Fast kinetics require finesse, skill and concentration which should be rewarded not punished. One of the problems with our current rules about kinetics is that they apply to all boats from lasers to maxis. While the thought of rolling a laser for a entire light air beat does not scare me,(especially compared to a heavy air beat in a laser) rolling a maxi would be silly. Perhaps the class rules should handle kinetics (perhaps some do already) just as they do hiking and sail sizes. I believe you will find that a large number of high performance dingy sailors are in favor of making kinetics legal. * From Andy Rose (re Dan Dickison's A-Cup Jubilee commentary): Is it really necessary for every event to "serve the rank and file sailor" or solve the "myriad problems that face sailing"? Based on my experience, events like this inspire people. Had I not been a big reader when I first learned to sail at 10, I wouldn't have known much about the America's Cup because it didn't get anywhere near as much publicity as it does today. But I read all the history and although it was so elite back then that Californians seldom got to participate, I nevertheless dreamed of it. I worked pretty hard to become a pretty good tactician and surprise, I actually got to sail in the America's Cup. The lessons I learned in that effort have helped me throughout my life. And I'm still sailing. I guarantee there are a lot of other kids out there who will read about the Jubilee, see those fabulous pictures and hear those famous names and realize how much---dare I say it---fun was being had and start dreaming those dreams. Isn't that enough "meaning"? But even if I am wrong, there were hundreds of sailors in Cowes who Mr. Dickison terms "Joe Winchgrinders" and "Bobby Bowmen." I think each one of them would tell you that they wouldn't have missed it for the world. Me neither! * From Jeremy Gordon Walker: Since so many others have already responded in most eloquent terms to Dan Dickison's Jubilee piece in 'Butt 889, there's no need for me to add to their comments, except to say that probably the biggest hidden effect of the Jubilee will surely prove to be its inspiration for all young and aspiring sailors who witnessed, but didn't take part. Remember when we were kids (oh, those many years past), and while manfully striving in our little dinghy, were passed at huge speed by some racing behemoth, perhaps a 30-footer, and thought "Wow, that's wonderful! I can and will do that someday." Same deal in Cowes last week, times 100,000. That's the real legacy Dan was looking for. * From: Thomas Priest (re: Dan Dickison's report about the festivities @ Cowes): What's wrong with a bunch of folks getting together for the sake of fun? Where is it written that all gatherings have to have a "greater purpose"? Just plain ol' fun sounds good enough to me. * From Chris Bouzaid (edited to our 250-word limit): What a wonderful regatta the RYS and the NYYC ran in Cowes last week. These will be great memories for as long as the old memory still works however one cannot leave this scene without paying tribute to the amazing job done by the RYS race committee on the 12 meter course and presumably all the other courses. In 50 years of yacht racing I have never raced in a regatta where the RC were so helpful and able to keep us all informed of everything going on in our race. With over 30, 12 meters on the same start I knew it would be tough to get close to the committee boat to read all the signals. This was not an issue. Right from the first announcement it was clear that the RC were there to be as helpful as possible for the competitors. Every move they made was announced clearly and timely. Announcements such as "Standby for the warning signal for the 12 meter classic class, 10, 5 4 3 2 1 now" was so well done that being in a position to have to see the RC boat was not an issue. While under postponement one day the RC apologized for the lack of wind and asked if any of the competitors needed anything. "Can you find out the final score of the All Blacks vs the Springboks game?" Was the reply, "Stand by one." And within a few minutes we all had the answer. * From Keri "Carolin Kay" Shining: Having just returned from the America's Cup Jubilee, I think the organizers deserve kudos for making this more accessible that any America's Cup event I've attended. The opportunity to dust off your tuxedo was certainly there, but here is what I experienced:
-- Two free America's Cup-style villages right on "The Parade" and downtown Cowes; In comparison to other yachting events that are locked away in one yacht club or where racing takes place miles offshore, all of Cowes seemed like one big yacht club, and I've never felt more welcomed by any sailing venue or its citizens. I say the rest of yachting could learn a few things from this event for ideas on how to make yachting a better spectator sport.
EDS ATLANTIC CHALLENGE
Total points for the EDS Atlantic Challenge:
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
SOG STAINLESS STEEL POWERLOCK MULTI TOOL
CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS * September 15-21: International One Design World Championship Corinthian and Eastern YCs, Marblehead MA. http://www.iodworlds.com * September 21-28: 505 World Championships, Cascais, Portugal. More than 95 teams from around the globe will compete. http://www.int505.org * September 26-29: Farr 40 North American Championship, Chicago YC, Chicago. http://farr40.org/
STAR NAs
THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM |
