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SCUTTLEBUTT 3214 - Friday, November 5, 2010Scuttlebutt 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: Team One Newport and Doyle Sails. THE CHANGING ATTITUDE OF RACE MANAGEMENT By Jim Bolland, A Brush with Sail In these modern times, with so many professional sailors competing in so many high profile regattas, only professional race management will ‘cut the mustard’ and satisfy the expectations of high profile corporate naming-right sponsors, professional media teams and race boat teams that are packed with professional sailors! Enter the Principle Race Officer (PRO). The abbreviation could also stand for Professional Race Officer, for these are the people whose position in sailboat racing, has developed specifically to satisfy the high standards that are now expected for racing at the top end of our sport. There are many PRO’s controlling the many high profile regatta’s that are sailed, particularly in the northern hemisphere and increasingly in the southern hemisphere, but none are better known around the sailing world than Peter ‘Luigi’ Reggio. “I’ve basically been on the water all my life,’ Reggio said. ‘I started sailing as a kid (7 or 8) and have been around sailing ever since. I raced as a junior and have sailed on everything from dinghies to maxi boats. My race committee involvement started at my local club and evolved from there. As a sailor, in the beginning of my RC work, I tried to run races, as I would like to have them run if I was competing. I still try to do that!” In my years of sailing in NZ, I have seen a huge change in the attitude to race management in this country. I asked Peter if, when he travels the world and apart from the very top events that he controls, does he consider that race management, even down to local national events, is of a high standard internationally? “I’ve always run races putting the sailors first,” he replied. “After all, they are the customers. The ‘old school’, i.e., the ‘us against them’ mentality that permeated race management is slowly fading away. And that’s a good thing! It’s been a long road and my attitude met with a great deal of resistance in the beginning. “I was, thankfully, not alone in my approach as there were others moving in the same direction as me. I was part of the process, not responsible for the concept (I’m not that smart). However, because of the number of events that I’ve done and the visibility of some of them, I’ve been tagged as someone involved in the changing attitude of race management. “Fortunately, that change had evolved into more and more people running events for the sailors and not for their own personal aggrandizement. My feeling is that sailors, and owners, pay their entry fees to have fun at an event . . . not to get their balls busted! So, I try to be as fair and open minded as possible. Sometimes I get in ‘trouble’ for it but it seems to work.” -- Read on: http://www.abrushwithsail.com GAVIGNET DESCRIBES DRAMA It was on Wednesday of the 3542 mile Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale (France to West Indies) when Oman Air Majan skipper Sidney Gavignet reported that his 32 m trimaran had substantial damage to the leeward front beam and had lost its mast. Gavignet was soon rescued by a bulk carrier and is now en route to Turkey. Here is an interview with Gavignet from the carrier: * Can you explain the conditions you were in and what happened? SIDNEY GAVIGNET: I was going upwind, at 70 true wind angle and I had two reefs, and a J2. I was ready with the J3, the wind was increasing and planned to increase a little bit. But I thought it was still safe handling for the boat. It was daylight, I was well rested, well fed. Everything was fine, I thought nothing was damaged on the boat at that time so far it was a good race on that side. After we jumped over a wave, probably a little harder than others, I heard a crack and I thought it was the daggerboard even if the top of it was higher than deck level which is quite far up. Then I came out and looked around and I saw on the front leeward crossbeam probably 1m away from the float the crossbeam was broken. Then it went very, very quick, in probably 2 to 3 seconds I was easing the traveller and the float came out of the crossbeam I think it was still linked at that time with the aft crossbeam. But because the front was not linked to the float the boat capsized almost, the mast was horizontal and platform vertical. I was pretty disorientated at that time but the damage was done so my first concern was to find my survival suit, liferaft and grab bag, which I found very quickly. I then realized in fact there was no massive panic as I had a feeling very quickly that the boat would stay afloat, and was safe in the boat. Which was my first concern in the beginning. I put the survival suit on and I called Race Director Jean Maurel. I didn't reach him so left a message and then I called Seb Chernier from Oman Sail to explain the situation, I told him I would put the eprib on. Yachting World, full story: http://tinyurl.com/YW-110410 HOLIDAY SAVINGS NOW!! Team One Newport and Henri-Lloyd are teaming up to bring you some great savings for the Holiday season! And they’re all for $99 or less! It’s a MUST SEE at http://www.team1newport.com/products.asp?dept=153 for all the great offerings. Remember to look around the website for more great gift ideas such as Sharon Green’s Ultimate Sailing Calendar, Madstreak DVD, Kaenon Soft Kores, Regatta game, Atlantis Women’s Aegis Bibs (they’re adjustable and REALLY cool!) and there’s lots more from the sailing gear experts! You can always call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) for any gear advice! BIG WIND - BIG DAY North Sound, Virgin Gorda, BVI (November 4, 2010) - Big wind visited the BVI for the final day of fleet racing in the BEYC’s Pro Am Regatta, and the finals of the Harken Scuttlebutt Sailing Club’s Championship. Sailing the IC24s for the Pro Am, Russell Coutts obviously enjoyed the 20+ knot gusts that rolled through the North Sound as he marched unwaveringly to a 12-point victory over the field of professional sailors who raced with guests of the resort as their crews. There was a tie for second place between Ken Read and Peter Holmberg, which Read won on the second tiebreaker. UK sailor Stu Bithell finished fourth. However, Bithell had to leave early to go to Australia, so Paul Cayard will take his place in the match races on Friday, drawing the red hot Coutts as his opponent. The big wind caused the regatta organizers to shift Harken Scuttlebutt Sailing Club’s Championship Regatta from the IC 24s into Hobie Wave catamarans (to protect the IC 24s) as the guests at the Bitter End raced for Harken prizes, and for free nights at the resort at next year’s Pro Am Regatta. Gordon Le Grande of Atlanta, GA was clearly the class of the field as he and crew Marian Evatt won all six races and scored a 15 point lead over Mary Jordan who raced with James Beauchamp. Jim Rand and Paul Harrison won a tie breaker to finish third. Also competing in the SSC finals was Russell Coutts’ 9 year old son Michael, but he was not scored because his pro sailor dad was along as tactician. They lead at every mark in the first five races, but dropped to third in the regatta finale when Michael's tactician took him to the wrong corner on the first beat. -- http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=10730 HE’S STILL TENACIOUS By Dave Reed, Sailing World Until recently, I knew of Ted Turner only what can be found in his memoir, Call Me Ted: media tycoon and pioneer, charitable do-gooder, land conserver, and one seriously feisty and skilled sailor. I got a full dose of this last trait when I sailed on board American Eagle at the 12-Meter North Americans in September. Ted built his reputation as one of the best ocean-racing skippers of the early 1970s with American Eagle, but he hadn’t sailed the red-hulled Luders design in 35 years, nor had he done any racing of late. After less than 30 minutes behind the wheel on our practice day, he proclaimed the speedo was off by a fraction or two, prompting the boat’s owner, Herb Marshall, to fetch the electronics manual and fix the problem. His longtime friend and tactician, Gary Jobson, started the regatta’s first four races but surrendered the wheel to Ted thereafter. It took a few laps before Ted hit his stride, but when he did so, the boat felt alive. From behind his sunglasses, I could sense he was in tune with the telltales, the yarns on the shrouds, and the speedo. He didn’t need to be told whether he was too high or too low. He knew exactly how to coax the ol’ girl around the racecourse. On the last day of the regatta, he was more talkative and feisty. Maybe he felt more confident after a few races, or maybe it had something to do with our desire to beat a faster Columbia - a feat the American Eagle regulars had failed to do all summer long on the 12-Meter circuit. On this two-race day, Gary relinquished the starts to Ted, who nailed the first one, crossing the line with speed, and with Columbia and Easterner in his hip pocket. Our lead quickly grew, at which point Ted looked over his shoulder and declared, “Hot damn! Look at that! Hee-hee.” During the second start, Ted deftly stuffed Easterner in the final 30 seconds and forced Columbia, to weather of Easterner, over the line. At 10 seconds, he put the bow down and was on pace when the gun fired. The lead was ours to protect, and, as we later neared the port layline, Ted grew anxious. “I want to tack, Gary,” he said. “We’ve gone too far, damn it.” “No, Ted. We’re fine,” Gary responded, all cool and collected. “Not yet. Give it a few more boatlengths.” Ted wouldn’t have it, and promptly barked, “Tacking!” Read on: http://www.sailingworld.com/racing/he-s-still-tenacious SAILING SHORTS * US SAILING will be accepting Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year nominations. Nominators will automatically enter a sweepstakes to win two tickets to the Awards Ceremony at the New York Yacht Club's Model Room with travel and accommodations provided by Rolex and US SAILING. The Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards recognizes one male sailor and one female sailor for their individual outstanding on-the-water achievements within the calendar year. Nominations will be accepted for these awards through November 30, 2010. Details here: http://about.ussailing.org/Awards/Rolex.htm * (November 4, 2010; Day 19) - As Velux 5 Oceans race leader Brad Van Liew (USA) altered course from the Brazilian toward the Cape Town finish line, his nearest competitor cut the corner to match moves. This tactic by second place Zbigniew Gutkowski (POL) has narrowed the margin to 119 nm, with Van Liew now 2647 nm from the finish. -- Race website: http://www.velux5oceans.com * (November 4, 2010; Day 5) - In the IMOCA Open 60 class of the 3542 mile Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale (France to West Indies), it is a buoyant Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), the Farr designed former BT and Armel Le Cléac'h on Brit Air, a Finot Conq design, both of three years vintage which currently top a fleet which contains no fewer than three new designs launched already this year. In the clash of the giants that is the Ultime class, Franck Cammas and Groupama 3 lead their fleet by over 300 nm. -- Event website: http://www.routedurhum-labanquepostale.com/en/s01_home/s01p01_home.php * A Detroit, Michigan resident has been convicted and sentenced in federal court for making a false distress call to the U.S. Coast Guard, announced United States Attorney Barbara McQuade and Captain Stephen Torpey, Chief of Incident Management for the Ninth Coast Guard District. Andre D. Cheatom, 19 years old, was sentenced to 18 months incarceration, supervised release for three years, a special assessment of $100.00, and ordered to pay $14,302 in restitution for knowingly and willfully causing the Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help was needed, in violation of Title 14, U.S. Code, section 88(c). -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/CG-110410a * The Coast Guard is searching for the owner of a life jacket discovered floating inside of a search area off the coast of Block Island, R.I., Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010. Coast Guard personnel believe the life jacket, found by a fisherman in the area, may be linked to the sighting of multiple flares in the area. The Coast Guard launched a search for a possible person in distress after receiving reports from three separate witnesses of multiple flare sightings between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/CG-110410b PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT Take care of your sails during winter lay-up. Extend the life and performance of your sails by bringing your sails to your local Doyle loft to be inspected and washed. Doyle offers the most experienced sail maintenance and repair services available. Let Doyle help protect your investment! Fall is also discount season at your local Doyle loft. Call now to lock in the best pricing of the year. Contact your local Doyle loft - 800-94-DOYLE - http://www.doylesails.com PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include Russell Coutts multihull training, November computer background, Goetz unfinished business, costume contest, keelboat team racing, refreshment break, torture, and French support. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/1105/ BONUS 1: The Hillman Capital Management J/24 East Coast Championship enjoyed three days of picture perfect fall conditions on Chesapeake Bay, with entries coming from Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Canada, and throughout the eastern U.S. Capturing the title was current World Champion Tim Healy. Capturing the photos was Tim Wilkes: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/1104a/ BONUS 2: Intangible as the normal scope of daily living, color bursts into our lives in a continual stream. Colors send signals to the brain without us even thinking about it. Some are soothing, some are not. Some help us focus, some are distracting. Photographer John Payne decided to edit some of his images with colors typically not found on the water. Can you say psychedelic: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/1104/ SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: If you have images to share for the Photos of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com VIDEO OF THE WEEK Next year on October 29th, the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race begins with the In-Port race in Alicante, Spain. The race course is confirmed, and the most committed of entries are now building their boats and training their crew. During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, the teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world's most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, Lorient, and concluding in Galway, Ireland, during early July 2012. With a media crew member on each boat, there will be an unprecedented amount of video and images coming from the boats. A whole host of programming will be produced and distributed, with live video conferences, daily and weekly news updates to be broadcast around the world. Here is some footage from the 2008-9 race, and interviews with a couple of the teams competing in the 2011-12 edition: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/10/1105/ BONUS 1: The Australian Sailing Team has released a new video, highlighting the major results from a very successful 2010 in which the team won two World Championships, won a Silver and Bronze medal at two others and a number of medals across the seven rounds of the ISAF Sailing World Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlUgEVZCk8Y BONUS 2: British Olympian's Nick Dempsey, Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark swapped sails for wheels when they took part in a Volvo Pride driving day at Rockingham Speedway. The day involved, off roading, use of the wet grip facility and a lot of laughing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOvtpXuT1Fc BONUS 3: Making the sport of sailing visually attractive has become one of the primary concerns of both classes and event organisers worldwide. This doesn't just mean publishing great photos and spectacular footage, but also the way in which they are presented. A new video released this week by the International Finn Association hopes to demonstrate what is possible and is offered to showcase how appealing sailing can be, as much as it showcases the Finn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGscya_LorE SEND US YOUR VIDEOS: If you have clips to share for the Video of the Week, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor: mailto:editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com FAMOUS LAST WORDS As published in the Nov/Dec 2010 issue of Sailing World magazine:“I have never sailed on such a seaworthy boat,” said Sidney Gavignet, a veteran of four Volvo Ocean Races, who is competing on one of the Irens/Cabaret trimarans, Majan Oman Air. “We had 70 knots in the Indian Ocean from Cape Town to Perth. It is almost too comfortable for racing.” Gavignet was rescued Wednesday from his 32 m trimaran during the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale (France to West Indies) when the boat incurred substantial damage to the leeward front beam and lost its mast when sailing upwind in 20 knots and moderate sea. -- http://www.sailingworld.com CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue. Special thanks to Team One Newport and Doyle Sails. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
