SCUTTLEBUTT No. 1140 - August 20, 2002

Scuttlebutt 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.

WITHDRAWAL
Seattle, WA -- The OneWorld Challenge America's Cup team and Team New Zealand met late yesterday and came to resolution on the current outstanding issues between the teams. The meeting resulted in a further filing today before the America's Cup Arbitration Panel (ACAP) by OneWorld that withdraws the Application filed on August 11th 2002, against Team New Zealand. The filing, signed by both parties, will also request that the panel return the three canisters of OneWorld's confidential plans, currently being held by the ACAP Registrar, to OneWorld's Seattle legal counsel. These canisters are required in the proceedings by OneWorld Challenge against Sean St.Leger Reeves in the United States Federal Court, Western District of Washington at Seattle.

OneWorld and Team New Zealand met and OneWorld was satisfied that the actions taken by Team New Zealand to deal with the unsolicited delivery of the OneWorld Challenge plans was entirely appropriate under the circumstances, and that OneWorld has satisfied itself that no further action is required here.

"I first met the men at Team New Zealand when Craig McCaw assisted with their funding during America's Cup XXX. I have always felt that we could be honourable and sportsmanlike with one another. I believe we have settled any potential issues that have been or could possibly come between our teams and my hope now is that the next time we meet, it is on the waters of the Hauraki Gulf." said Gary Wright, CEO of OneWorld. - Bob Ratliffe

More information is available at: www.oneworldchallenge.com

PERSPECTIVE
(Respected Kiwi commentator Peter Montgomery was interviewed by Murray Deaker on New Zealand radio over the weekend. Here are some of Montgomery's thoughts about the next America's Cup.)

There are a lot of people who suggest that because (America's Cup) design going into a corner of the rule it's all going to be very close; it will all come down to the sailors. But in the end there will be one or two or three campaigns with a leg up over the others. We will just have to wait and see who they are. But my hunch is that they are the big names still that we expect to perform like Oracle, OneWorld, Alinghi, probably Prada. I think the Stars and Stripes sinking is a bigger set back and they're trying to give sunny side up· A month ago I would have said I would not be surprised if Stars and Stripes made the final four. Now I think that since their adventures off Long Beach, that may be a more difficult shot.

Certainly, it does seem the consensus is that Oracle has come out with the boat that is probably the narrowest. They certainly have a smaller sail area and therefore you may deduce that Farr has gone to the lightest. But many of the others all look variations on the theme of the NZL-60 concept moving on another three years. But my hunch is that TNZ will come out with something that is not obviously moving on from NZL-60.

I hear that they're seriously considering, if not intending, to tow the boat out into the Gulf with covers which is unprecedented and has never been done before. What is it about? Quite obviously the TNZ people think that they've got something they want to keep away from other prying eyes for as long as they can. - wwww.newstalkzb.co.nz/index.asp (Audio file 1.15 - 1.30 pm)

Cheryl has posted more of this interview on the 2003AC website: isuzu21.webcrossing.com/WebX?50@255.3CaMajceb9k.1@.ef2c7f4

ALWAYS THE BEST
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COMMENTARY
(Following are two brief excerpts of an editorial from today's New Zealand Herald.) Only when racing starts in the America's Cup challenger series will the importance of the one-point penalty imposed on the OneWorld syndicate become apparent. There was, however, a pleasing reassurance about the manner in which the event's arbitration panel levelled the punishment - and the way it was accepted. Predictably, OneWorld described the penalty as "severe". And, even if grudgingly, Team New Zealand, one of the wronged parties, said it was pleased with the dispute body's finding. It all made quite a change from the protracted courtroom wranglings that have marred many previous America's Cup regattas.

* The fact that OneWorld went to the arbitration panel with its hands up undoubtedly helped its case. It will not save it from skepticism, especially if it continues to perform as strongly as during February's dress-rehearsal regatta. But it is now clear that the cup protocol drawn up for this regatta incorporates a workable disputes system. The presence of design secrets at OneWorld posed difficult questions for the arbitration panel. Despite the penalty, it will probably not end there. The America's Cup is no longer competition "between foreign countries", as also envisaged by the founding document. The crews are a United Nations of sailors. OneWorld's breach is unlikely to be the last. www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=2350190&reportID=4

NEWS BRIEFS
* If organizers succeed, more than 3,000 triangular memorial pennants, each personalized with the name of a person lost on 9/11, will be flown in New York Harbor during "Sail for America" on Saturday, September 14, 2002. "One purpose of Sail for America is to remember the people who were lost," says Michael Fortenbaugh, Chairman of the Organizing Committee. "Sailors from all over the nation are bringing their boats to New York Harbor. This will be the greatest gathering of sailboats in the history of our harbor." After the flags are flown in the harbor during Sail for America, they will be given to the families. www.sailforamerica.com

* For the second year running, an American team won the (Grade 3) Cowes International Youth Match Racing Event. The team from King Harbor YC, skippered by Scott DeCurtis with Brian Angel, Steve Brown, Payson Infelise, snatched victory from pre-event favourite Michael Dunstan, Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. Holding fort for the British teams was Royal Thames' John Greenland who finished a credible third place, and South Caernarvonshire YC's Alex Taylor, current BUSA Match Racing Champion, in fourth.

* Shockwave, the 90-foot Reichel/ Pugh designed and Sydney built maxi owned by Sydney businessman Neville Crichton logged an average speed of 9.52-knots for the Coral Sea race - the fastest long race average ever recorded in the 19-year history of Hamilton Island Race Week. Steered by Michael Coxon, Schockwave clinched her second line honours with the convincing course time of 8 hours 24 minutes 17 seconds and was officially declared the outright winner on handicap. - Ian Grant, Sail World website, www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=7074

* Greenpeace says it plans to protest against the nuclear industry-sponsored French yachting syndicate Defi Areva's participation in the America's Cup regatta. The environmental lobby group plans to protest, saying Areva - one of France's top 10 companies - was using the international racing challenge in New Zealand as a publicity stunt. "It's bad judgement on the part of the French team to ask the nuclear industry for money and then come to New Zealand, which is nuclear-free," Greenpeace anti-nuke campaigner Bunny McDiarmid said. - Agence France-Presse

* Still not resolved is the issue surrounding Prada's hastily withdrawn lawsuit against Oracle. Clearly stated in the Protocol that Prada and Team New Zealand signed prior to this America's Cup, is the rule that no AC team may sue another. The penalty for such a violation is simple and extraordinarily harsh: expulsion from the Louis Vuitton Cup. It will be interesting to see how the Arbitration Panel deals with this death penalty situation, which could mean a loss of well over $90 million dollars by Prada's investors. - Sailing World's Grand Prix Sailor, www.sailingworld.com/sw_article.php?articleID=1216

LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (leweck@earthlink.net)
(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 or a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.)

* From Michael Short: As an avid addict of all things Americas Cup I have been following with interest the legal and political skirmishes surrounding this year's event. As a lawyer and yachtsman I find these developments to be the perfect teaser for the challenger series. I can only hope the sailing is as competitive as the off the water fracas currently filling the e-mail bulletins.

I am chastened by the failure of any Australian team to make it across the Tasman. Admittedly the Aussie syndicates have been less than competitive in the AC class recent years. In fact I can't remember any boat other than One Australia's two boats that represented anything other than stocking filler and embarrassment back home. Nevertheless, Australia has had some involvement in every recent cup challenge, other than the Big Boat fiasco, up until this one.

While on this subject, I still harbour resentment at the 1995 race committee for allowing racing to commence on that fateful day when 20-25kts, a lumpy sea and winch problems all conspired to send the finest of the 1995 AC fleet to the bottom. Had that race not occurred the Cup would at this moment be being held either off Sydney or off the Queensland Gold Coast in warm balmy conditions with consistent fresh breezes.

Be that as it may, the real travesty threatening any Australian AC fan is that no Aussie can catch the Cup racing and its progress through the Louis Vuitton series as no broadcaster will televise it?

* From Mike Foster: While I do not search out and read tabloids, I do follow all the Cup news, good and bad. It sometimes reminds me of the "sausage saying", it's sometimes better not to know how its made. And I wonder why people think that all this hasn't been going on for years in one fashion or another. Now we just get a chance to have it delivered to our desktops on a daily basis. Thanks.

* From Rikk David: I can positively assure you that John Marsh does not speak for all of us. Certainly not for me. Being a long time Cup Watcher, I totally appreciate the entire ritual and thoroughly enjoy your posting of everything that is Cup related ... palatable or not.

* From Bruce Parsons: I tried Jim's Teeters advice to use Sailrater to evaluate the changes I made to a stock Kirby 36 design. The draft was changed from 6' 7" to 8' 1". the center of gravity was obviously much lower, and the overall weight went up approximately 750 lbs. The rudder was extended 6 inches deeper and reshaped but this is not addressed in Sailrater. The foil areas were left the same.

The local PHRF committee awarded me a 19 sec/mi adjustment when I first launched 8 years ago ("Six for the keel, six for the rudder, six for the combined effect and one for good measure") and this has put us just behind the J35's. This has turned out to be approximately fair. However Sailrater made no distinction between the two set ups, and you would have to think that a foot and a half more draft and the extra stability that goes with it would be noticeable. Go figure, I am reasonanly happy with the PHRF number, and am waiting for things to get a little more refined, if you cannot see 18" draft on performance.

* From Bart Beek: You might note that in the first race of the Star World's, the top 30 finishers represented 19 different nations. That's truly an International event!

PUTTING THE 'BUTT ON YOUR WEBSITE
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ONE MORE TIME
New Zealander Graham Dalton leaves from the Solent this afternoon on his second attempt to cross the Atlantic and qualify for the Around Alone single-handed round the world race next month. Dalton's last bid came to a premature end two weeks ago when his Open 60 Hexagon was dismasted 250 miles south-west of the Scilly Isles. The mast broke between the first and second spreaders and Dalton was forced to cut it all away before motoring to Brest.

Dalton took a stoical approach. "Big boys don't cry," he commented. "I'll be there on the starting line." Fortunately, a spare mast was already being built in the US by Southern Spars and this will be ready before Dalton arrives in Newport - hopefully in a couple of weeks. To get him there, he and his team have stepped a spare mast from Ellen MacArthur's Kingfisher, which is a good match for the fixed carbon spar that was lost. - Elaine Bunting/Yachting World website, full story: www.yachting-world.com/yw/home.htm

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OPINION
The crux of the America's Cup problems appears to lie in money. Syndicates are estimated to spend over $200 million on campaigns which means, at $2 billion in total, the stakes are incredibly high. The huge, some might say obscene, amount of money involved in what is essentially a yacht race begs the question: is this sport - The answer may be: yes, it's professional sport. If that's the case, how far does professionalism go until sport becomes merely a money game in which the one with the most cash wins - Waikato Times, posted on the Stuff NZ website, full commentary: www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,2025016a6580,00.html

NAUTICA STAR WORLDS
Consistency is a rare commodity in the 103-boat fleet racing the Nautica Star World Championship regatta at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey. However, Torben Grael and his crew Marcelo Ferreira are among the notable exceptions. After posting a third Sunday in the light-air series opener, this Brazilian team won Monday's race sailed in a steady 8-10 knots of breeze with only subtle wind shifts. Standings after two races:

1 Grael, Torben / Ferreira, Marcelo, BRA, 4pts
2 Rohart, Xavier / Adde, Yannick, FRA, 14
3 Mansfield, Mark / Collins, Killian, IRL, 15
4 Cayard, Paul / Haenel, Hal, USA, 16
5 Szabo, George / Sperry, Austin, USA, 21
6 Percy, Iain / Mitchell, Steven, GBR, 23
7 Brady, Gavin / Keenan, Rodney, NZL, 23
8 Presti, Philippe / Saliou, Jean Philippe, FRA, 26
9 Adler, Alan / Ermel, Ricardo, BRA, 29
10 Sevestre, Paul-Ambroise / Berenguier, Vincent, FRA, 31.

www.starworlds2002.com/SW2002Series.asp

ATHENS PRE-OLYMPIC REGATTA
Standings after six races:

470 WOMEN
1. Bekatorou, Sofia /Tsoulfa, Emilia, GRE 11 points
18. Clark, Amanda /Mergenthaler, Sara, USA , 76
22. McDowell, Katherine/ Kinsolving, Isabelle, USA 84

470 MEN
1. Molund, Johan/ Andersson, Martin, SWE, 23
17. Hunt, Steven/ Miller, Michael, USA, 79
22. Anderson-Mitterling, Michael/ Biehl, Graham, USA, 95

49er
1. Sundby, Christoffer/ Bovim, Frode, NOR, 22
4. Mack, Andrew/ Lowry, Adam, USA, 33
21. Faen, David/ Gulari, Bora, USA, 92

FINN
1. Ainslie, Ben, GBR, 5
12. Hart, Mo, USA 45
18. Ewenson, Geoff USA, 57

MISTRAL MEN
1. Kaklamanakis, Nikolaos, GRE, 9
23. Stittle, Kevin, CAN, 97
33. Wells, Peter, USA, 140

MISTRAL WOMEN
1. Sensini, Alessandra, ITA, 10
33. Hall, Farrah, USA, 160
34. Vallee, Dominique, CAN, 161

TORNADO
1. Hagara, Roman, Steineracher, Hans-Peter, AUT, 12
18. Daniel, Robert/ Jacobsen, Eric, USA, 63
22. Schreyer, Stan/ Durdin, Forbes, USA, 72

YNGLING
1. Swett, Hannah/ Touchette, Joan/ Purdy, Melissa, USA, 13
3. Cronin, Carol/ Eptein, Linda/ Filter, Elizabeth, USA, 26

EUROPE
1. Brain, Solenne FRA, 6
8. Bernsen, Lauren, USA, 30
9. Haddad, Tanya, USA, 35

LASER
1. Goodison, Paul, GBR, 16
16. Cambell, Andrew, USA, 66
18. Davis, Brett, USA, 75

Full scores: www.athens.olympic.org/page/default.asp?la=2&id=6390

A-SCOW CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lake Winnebago - Oshkosh, Wisconsin. John Porter and his team aboard "Full Throttle" won this year's A-Scow Inland Lakes Championships. Twenty one 38' A-Scows (oldest active one-design class in the world) were on the line in mixed wind conditions which forced some canceled and abandoned races. Only three races were completed and the Full Throttle team managed two bullets and a second to take the Championship over a heavily favored and practiced Buddy Melges aboard his brand new yacht "Eagle". One of the completed races which, Full Throttle won, saw gusts over 22 knots and downwind speeds comfortably over 30 knots.

Sailing with John Porter on Full Throttle was tactician Harry Melges, Brian Porter, Hans Melges, Jeff Ecklund, - heavy-air crew included John's son Vincent Porter and Brian's son Bri Porter.

Final results:
1. John Porter- Full Throttle, 4 points
2. Buddy Melges - Eagle, 6
3. Tom Burton - Adieu, 18
4. Rick Buckley - Buck 'n A, 18
5. Todd Haines - Izzie, 22
www.geocities.com/oshkoshyc/

ROLEX COMMODORES' CUP
COWES, Isle of Wight, England -- The France Red team won the Rolex Commodores' Cup in Cowes in convincing fashion with 62.5 points clear of the Netherlands. The three-boat team posted the best score in the final short inshore race on Sunday to consolidate their position in the nine-race regatta with a mixture of inshore and offshore racing. Thirty-three boats representing 11 national teams entered the event.

The top scoring boat in the 2002 Rolex Commodores' Cup in Cowes was the Mills Design 50 Mandrake. Built in 1999 of cedar strip and foam/epoxy for owner Peter Morton to utilise the deck and structure of the IOR 50 of the same name, has proved quick in light and medium conditions, especially offwind where she was capable of taking time out of the larger and higher rated carbon-built Farr 52's.

Final score:
1. France Red, 171.75 points
2. Netherlands, 234.25
3. England Red, 269
4. Wales, 283.25
5. Commonwealth, 284.5
rorc.org

CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS
* August 31-September 1: Sailing World NOOD Regatta, St. Francis YC, San Francisco. A fleet of some 120 boats is expected in nine one design classes. - www.sailingworld.com/sw_nood_article.php?articleID=1180

THE CURMUDGEON'S CONUNDRUM
Do you think that when they asked George Washington for ID, he just whipped out a quarter?