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SCUTTLEBUTT 3427 - Thursday, September 15, 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: Ullman Sails and JK3 Nautical Enterprises. CANADIANS KEEP IT IN SINGLES Newport, RI (September 14, 2011) - Returning to upper Narragansett Bay for the second day of the 2011 New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup presented by Rolex has proven beneficial for at least one of the 22 yacht club teams - Royal Canadian Yacht Club - which again displayed remarkable consistency on the race course. And in a repeat of yesterday's prevailing theme of tight competition, today's three races were won by three different clubs which means that there have been no repeat winners thus far in the six-race series. "We were probably the biggest movers," said Peter McChesney, helm for the Annapolis Yacht Club team who has only sailed in Newport a handful of times previously, including the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup U.S. Qualifying Series in 2010 in which the AYC team finished second to earn the opportunity to race in this event. AYC was 10th overall after yesterday's first day of racing, and moved up to third overall with 43 points after finishes of 6-1-3 today. "We just got off the line better today in every race, and gave our tactician [John Torgerson] the opportunity to make good decisions. If you get a good start it's easier to make those decisions. Our tactician took what we gave him and did a great job of calling tactics, and the crew work was essentially flawless. Everything just went our way." The exciting conditions seen today on Narragansett Bay have also proven why Newport remains such a unique place to sail. "Where else can you sail in 20 knots of breeze and have the seas be this flat?," said Chip Whipple, timmer on the New York Yacht Club team. "It really is an anomaly. When you have as much breeze as this [in the Med] you're sailing in big seas and a lot of swell. And in northern Europe you have the cold water and big seas, breaking waves. Being as protected as we are here it's just an extremely fantastic place to sail and the boats can't sail any faster because they are absolutely optimized for the conditions." The Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) team has retained the overall lead position after adding finishes of 2-4-2 to yesterday's finishes of 2-1-4 for 15 points. When they won the second race on the first day of the contest, they were given the Rolex gold spinnaker to fly in the subsequent race. And, as overall standings leader, RCYC carried the golden chute for all of today's races, and will continue that way when racing resumes tomorrow. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/NYYC-IC-091411 Results after Day Two - Top 5 of 22 1. Royal Canadian Yacht Club (CAN), 2-1-4-2-4-2, 15 pts 2. New York Yacht Club (USA), 4-2-8-10-3-1, 28 3. Annapolis Yacht Club (USA), 11-10-12-6-1-3, 43 4. Newport Harbor Yacht Club (USA), 8-3-7-1-17-12, 48 5. Japan Sailing Federation (JPN), 1-7-9-8-9-14, 48 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. TIES AT THE TOP Fifty-seven of the world's elite match racing sailors began today a five-day battle to be named the Nations Cup champion today on Lake Michigan. The teams, representing 15 nations, are competing in women's (Elliott 6m) and open divisions (Sonar) sailing out of Sail Sheboygan's facility, optimized for match racing. In the open division, Mads Ebler (DEN) and Lucy Macgregor (GBR) were tied at the top of the leaderboard with five points each, but Macgregor sailed one more race than Ebler. In the women's division, three teams were tied with five points each: 2009 Nations Cup winner Claire Leroy (FRA), Julianna Senfft (BRA) and Mandy Mulder (NED). Moderate to strong northwest winds varied from 10 to 17 knots throughout the day, and shifts up to 30 degrees put a premium on course positioning. Race organizers plan to finish the round robin Thursday. Moderate northerly breezes and slightly bigger waves are forecast. Full report: http://tinyurl.com/Nations-Cup-091411 Current results: http://tinyurl.com/2011-Nations-Cup-results BACKGROUND: The Grand Final of the ISAF Nations Cup on September 14-18 is the culmination of a series of eight match racing regattas that started in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on March 24th. -- http://www.sailing.org/nations-cup.php AUSSIE CAT "J'OUVERT" HITS A WINNING STREAK Congratulations to Australian Peter Berry and team on 11.8M catamaran "J'Ouvert" who recently claimed first overall in the OMR Racing Division of the 2011 Multihull Rendezvous. It was their third straight major regatta win this season! Powered by 100% Ullman Sails, Peter and his crew also scored first overall in the multihull division of Airlie Beach Race Week and the Whitsunday Cup/Round Whitsundays Race Series. The Ullman Sails team in Sunshine Coast worked closely with Peter to optimize his boat and customize the sail inventory for OMR racing. Ullman Sails - Invest in your performance. http://www.ullmansails.com. NEW DYNAMIC DUO LEADS FIELD Plymouth, UK (September 14, 2011) - Lighter breezes brought more players to the front of the fleet on day one of the Plymouth Match Racing Championship, with Artemis Racing winning two of today's three fleet races. The standings from the fleet races on Wednesday and Thursday will be used to seed the nine crews entering the match racing championship, scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The fast-learning challenger teams showed they can mix it with the best when the game moves away from the strong wind boathandling of last weekend to the more subtle, tactical game of today's lighter and trickier breezes. And Terry Hutchinson's team on Artemis Racing was the class act of the day, rolling a 1-4-1 to lead the field. "We're getting more confident in our starting and putting our boat in some good spots," said Hutchinson following racing. "All in all it was just a good day. Boat speed is a good thing and it looks like we're going pretty fast." Today marked only the second time that Hutchinson and tactician Iain Percy had raced together, but it proved to be a winning combination. "It is absolutely full on out there," admitted Percy. "The racing is tight and there is plenty of tacking and gybing. There is never a second to relax. I have a bit of a chance to contribute upwind, but not as much on the downwind legs." Surprisingly, both ORACLE Racing teams struggled on the day and sit in fifth and six place on the leaderboard. While China Team and Green Comm Racing find themselves as the bottom of the standings, they achieved moral victories to be on the course after both teams suffered significant wing and hull damage. Full story: http://tinyurl.com/ACUP-091411 Video highlights: http://youtu.be/EvzRrXdtcmI Current results: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-Plymouth-results ACWS-Plymouth website: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-Plymouth Schedule: http://tinyurl.com/ACWS-Plymouth-rev-schedule LIVESTREAM: The seeding races for the Plymouth Match Racing Championship continue on Thursday, with three fleet races scheduled. Racing begins at 14:10 local time (09:10 EDT). Viewing online at www.youtube.com/americascup SAN DIEGO: Entries are being accepted for a free drawing to award 4 VIP Experience tickets to the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) San Diego (Nov. 12-20). These 4 VIP tickets grant the winner and 3 friends to an unrivalled hospitality experience. Entry deadline is October 15th. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/ACUP-082811 TOUR: It was announced Wednesday that Naples, Italy will be hosting two stops on the America's Cup World Series. The AC World Series format includes a mix of speed trials, match racing, and fleet racing, and provide an opportunity to heighten the awareness of the America's Cup prior to the 2013 match. The following 2011/12 schedule has thus far been announced for the AC45: August 6-14; Cascais, Portugal September 10-18; Plymouth, UK November 12-20; San Diego, USA January/February; to be confirmed April (tba); Naples, Italy May 12-20; Venice, Italy June 23-July 1; Newport, USA YOU HAVE TO BE THERE Perhaps you don't consider yourself a car racing fan, but until you see a race in person, you'll never know. The speed is... mesmerizing. Maybe the multihull format of the 34th America's Cup is the same way. Here is a description of the racing in Plymouth by Yachting World editor Matthew Sheahan: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Standing on the upper deck of the committee boat during Sunday's outstanding race was an eye opener. Aside from the spectacular view from the upper deck 15ft above the water, the breezy scene was unlike anything I've witnessed before. At first there was nothing particularly different to any other busy pre-start area as competitors sniffed the stiff breeze, practiced their beats and runs, hoists, gybes and drops. There were timed runs into the line and plenty of spins up into the breeze to pause and check the conditions. Yet the pace at which all this and more was happening was mildly disorientating. When an AC45 makes a practice timed run into the committee boat end of the line in 20-27 knots of breeze, it does so at 20 knots plus. As each of them whistled past the committee boat's transom with what looked like inches to spare, you could hear the high pitched whistle of the foils as they passed and almost feel the vacuum in their wake as if you were standing on a railway platform as an express train barrels through. At one point Loic Peyron on the French Energy Team came through flying a hull so high that our eyes seemed to meet at the same level as the windward hull appeared to pass up and over our aft quarter. Helicopters screeched around the pre-start area at what felt like just a few feet above us, while jet skis and RIBs scorched around like snowboarders on a black run as the sea was whipped up into a foaming frenzy. Our entire world seemed to be running on fast forward with a battlefield soundtrack to match as the stiff breeze flogged the various signal flags, including a giant chequered start flag so violently that it sounded like a group of Harley Davidson motorbikes were buzzing the committee boat. Above the background din, various radio calls were being made between mark boats and competitors, the VHF radios turned up to what felt like full volume. How course marshal Harold Bennett could hear anything above the noise, let alone respond, was beyond me. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/YW-091411 BOTTOM PAINT FOR DUMMIES It's easy enough to choose the most effective paint from our semi-annual bottom paint reports, but that paint might not always be the best for your circumstances or location. For this reason, Practical Sailor always recommends a variety of paints, each suited for a specific preference or situation that a sailor might face. Unless you're prepared for more prep work than a light sanding, the first step in selecting a bottom paint is finding one that's compatible with what's on your hull now. All of the manufacturers in our test will provide guidance on this, either over the phone or on the company website. If you're voyaging internationally, Interlux (under the brand International Paints) offers the widest distribution, simplifying finding a match. Generally, you can repaint a hard paint with either a hard or soft paint, while a soft ablative paint will need more sanding or a "tie-coat" primer when being coated with a hard paint. Bare fiberglass or metal will require a primer, and aluminum components like saildrives need a special copper-free paint that won't induce potentially disastrous galvanic corrosion. Before plunking down nearly $100 or more a gallon, consider where your priorities lie.... read on: http://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/-10591-1.html J/FEST AND THE LIDO YACHT EXPO SEPT 22-25 J/Fest is at the San Diego Yacht Club September 23th - 25th. J/Fest is Southern California's only regatta exclusively for J/Boats. Don't miss out on the biggest J/Boat event of the year. There will be exciting one design racing, great prizes, and fun parties. Register online today! http://sdyc.org/raceinfo/races11/jfest/registration/index.htm. The same weekend is the Lido Yacht Expo in Newport Beach. Stop by the show to see the latest from Sabre and Back Cove, along with an elegant Mochi Craft Dolphin 44. For will call tickets, contact John Zagorski john@jk3yachts.com. We look forward to seeing you either on the water or on the docks! SAILING SHORTS * Barcelona, Spain (September 14, 2011) - Showing an impressive level of consistency in light seabreeze conditions, Niklas Zennstrom's RAN crew and the Spanish flagged team on Bribon today both proved able to exactly repeat Tuesday's excellent opening day results and so step further clear of the pack at the Conde de Godo City of Barcelona Trophy Regatta, the TP 52Audi MedCup Circuit's title deciding finale. A seventh in the second race of the day hurt circuit leaders Quantum Racing's chances at this regatta, but the American flagged team still remain on track for the season's title with a 12 points margin. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/MedCup-091411 * Trapani, Sicily (September 14, 2011) - Britain's multi-Olympic medalist Ben Ainslie had a great start to the Extreme Sailing Series winning two races on the opening day of Act 6. Driving Oman Air at his first ever Extreme 40 event, Ainslie also earned two penalties for being over the line in races 2 and 4. At the end of the first day, it was the experienced Swiss team of Alinghi skippered by Tanguy Cariou who leads after the five 'open water' races staged in somewhat light and shifty conditions. 'Open water' racing is on for Thursday before Act 6 switches to 'stadium' racing on Friday. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/ESS-091411 * For the 2011-2012 College sailing season, much remains to be seen regarding strength of many teams as last year's graduating class held many of the top spots around the country. A form guide put together by Martha Pitt, with contributions from Ken Legler, Bill Healy, Brendan Healy, Ward Cromwell, and John Vandemoer, analyzes the top contenders in each of the seven districts that comprise the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/S1D-091411 * US SAILING has recognized nine community sailing centers that provide exemplary training and educational programs consistent with the curriculum standards of the US SAILING Training Department. These sailing organizations routinely offer sailors with the highest level of education, through US SAILING reviewed and approved curriculums, a proven track record, quality equipment and facilities, and strong safety protocols. Here is the list of US SAILING Sanctioned Sailing Centers: http://media.ussailing.org/Latest_News/2011/Sanctioning_Program_rls.htm * Franck Cammas (FRA), who will skipper Groupama in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race, has been presented with the Grand Prix de l'Academie des Sports, one of France's most prestigious sporting trophies. Cammas, who boasts seven world records and numerous world championship wins, is only the fifth sailor to be presented with the award: Whitbread Round the World Race skipper Eric Tabarly, 1983 America's Cup winner John Bertrand, solo sailor Isabelle Autissier and Alinghi bankroller Ernesto Bertarelli. Other sports stars to have received the award in its 55-year history include Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Lance Armstrong, Usain Bolt and Micheal Schumacher. -- http://tinyurl.com/VOR-091411 * CORRECTION: In Scuttlebutt 3426, it was reported that Bill Lynn has skippering the Eastport Yacht Club entry in the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. He is, in fact, skippering the Eastern Yacht Club entry. CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. These are some of the events listed on the calendar for this weekend: Sep 16-18 - J/30 North American Championship - Annapolis, MD, USA Sep 16-23 - International Albacore Championship - Toronto, Ont, Canada Sep 19-24 - F18 North Americans - Hyannis, MA, USA Sep 20-24 - Melges 32 World Championship - Palma Mallorca, Spain Sep 22-25 - Sonar North American Championships - Wayzata, MN, USA View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES The Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides an opportunity for companies to announce new products and services. Here are some of recent postings: * 500 more copies available: 'An Absorbing interest' by Bob Fisher * VX One design begins production in October * New e33 squared edition day View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news 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 Gary Shaver: You have to be of a certain age to appreciate what it meant to have a full course chart of options, rather than today's version that has only windward-leewards. Reaching required thinking. Determining wind angles and sail selection, along with spinnaker handling at gybe and leeward markes, challenged the crew. The switch to W/L races is nothing more than the simplification of the sport, which is effectively shrinking participation due to boredom. * From John Irvine: Regarding the post on W/L courses (in Scuttlebutt 3426), I for one would be ecstatic if our local RC would return to the around-the buoys format. Sausage courses are all the same! Same spinnaker set, repeat three times. No navigation skills required. SURVEY: Scuttlebutt has twice polled its readers on this topic, and both times over 70% of the respondents said they desire an increase in how often a race course included reach legs. Given the current propensity for W/L courses, an increase wouldn't be hard. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/#polls CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Today's subliminal message is: ( ) SPONSORS THIS WEEK Summit Yachts - IYRS - North Sails - Gowrie Group Team One Newport - Doyle Sails - J Boats - Ullman Sails JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Southern Spars - West Marine Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
