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SCUTTLEBUTT No. 782 - March 28, 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 and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome. PEGASUS 75- USA 50008 Pegasus is the latest Transpac sled to come from the drawing board of Reichel Pugh. Owner Mr Philippe Kahn, an active and successful yachtsman in a number of classes including Melges 24, Mumm 30 and Farr 40, commissioned the boat with the specific aim of winning the Transpac 2001. Project managed by Marine Project Management Pegasus will be based in Santa Cruz California. The Turbo sled concept allows the boat to compete at the maximum IMS rating limit allowed in the Transpac race then when the Transpac is over the boat gets "turboed". A transom extension is fitted bringing the overall length to 78ft. A heavier bulb fitted, internal ballast removed, and the sail area is increased with a larger main, fore triangle (the boat is built with 2 forestay locations) and much larger spinnakers. Pegasus will then compete in all of the subsequent races in turbo mode. The "sleds" are a very strong and competitive class in California, and Pegasus (sister ship to Chance launched late last year) is a development of the successful Reichel Pugh sleds Zephyrus and Pyewacket. Weight saving has been of paramount concern throughout the construction of this yacht. Pegasus leads the way in this regard, from the state of the art pre preg carbon skins and nomex core construction, carbon componentry throughout, aluminium fastenings and minimal fitout. SP Technologies UK provided structural engineering for Pegasus and composite materials were supplied by SP Systems in Mona Vale, Sydney. The yacht is entirely constructed from pre-preg carbon fiber with a nomex honeycomb core. Many of the custom made components on Pegasus are also made from pre-preg carbon, such as ultralightweight steering pedestals and wheels built by McConaghy's in Sydney. Mainstay Marine and Barrenjoey Marine Electrical provided the complex yet effective and lightweight electronics package fitted to Pegasus. This includes a communication station to port and starboard computer linked to the central navigation pod capable of running weather, navigation and email communications simultaneously. Deck hardware package is supplied by Harken USA and Lewmar UK Marine supplied the winch package, every component is state of the art custom equipment - www.boatingoz.com.au/news01/010327.htm SEATTLE TO KEY WEST THE RACE After crossing the Equator yesterday, Tony Bullimore was a little bogged down in the Doldrums and lost a few miles to Roman Paszke, who is keen to get to grips with the Englishman as quickly as possible. This morning, Tony has got going again and taken back the lost miles from the Pole, to whom he takes his hat off for having got back into the race so quickly after experiencing such a serious breakage. The Poles aboard Warta-Polpharma are happy in a good 17 to 22 knot wind and under warm sunshine: 26¡C! The boat is making good speed and is not suffering so much from the choppy sea, but the route is not the most favourable. So they are being prudent with the boat, with the objective of reaching Marseilles. The crew seems to have accepted that they shouldn't drive the boat as hard as they might wish. - www.therace.org POSITIONS on March 28 @ 0500 GMT: Team Legato, 2866 miles from finish; Warta-Polpharma 3038 miles from finish. LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON leweck@earthlink.net * From: Andrew Hurst, info@seahorse.co.uk * From: Rand Milton rpm@rpmwebpros.com This technology can be used on racing boats where the chip can be secured to the most forward part of a boat and this will aid in eliminating the problems of premature starters as well as become a valuable tool in recording finishing times. This is extremely useful for handicap racing. If this system can work flawlessly in the NYC Marathon, which had 30,000 runners last year, I am sure it can work extremely well in our sport. * From: Lou-Lou Rendall LouLouRendall@compuserve.com Cowes Combined Clubs have also held a 'post mortem' meeting each October where representatives from each class are invited to attend on behalf of the fleets they represent. Skandia Life Cowes Week has arguably the best result service in the world, which is transmitted on screens throughout the town. Cameras on the start line, a recent innovation, have helped with disputes and protests. Skandia Life provides radios to competitors and Cowes Week radio, broadcasts throughout the week. Since 2000 Cowes Week has had its own sailing channel showing the day's racing - and of course most importantly the shoreside and social activities for the 30 plus classes of over 900 boats racing every day, are second to none - no wonder it is called the greatest show on earth! * From: Peter O. Allen, Sr. pquorum@aol.com * From: Chris Ericksen Chris6932@aol.com A perfect example is implementation of the new starting system. Regardless of one's feelings about it, implementing the new starting system in a multiple-class format offers a few challenges: I myself have spoken to members of the race-management communities of three or four different clubs, and all four of them are asking the same questions. Had US Sailing communicated better on the new system--and, more importantly, opened a dialogue on implementation--each of these four clubs (and the hundreds of others who are asking the same questions) would not have had to independently re-invent their own wheels. Again, good luck, President Rosekrans: for the good of the sport and those of us who support it, I hope you succeed in your goal. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER DOWNWIND The most important relationship downwind exists between the spinnaker trimmer and the helmsman because good boat speed is directly related to their communication. When teams are working at peak efficiency, the trimmer is speaking (not continually, but consistently) about pressure on the spinnaker, thereby helping the helmsman steer the proper angle. As the spinnaker trimmer calls out good pressure in the spinnaker, the helmsman is then free to steer a lower angle, thereby increasing VMG toward the mark. As the pressure on the spinnaker lessens, the helmsman should then consider steering a higher angle, keeping the boat up to speed. On bigger boats, there are more people involved in this dialogue: the afterguy trimmer and the sheet grinder must be just as focused as the helmsman and the spinnaker trimmer. When I organize a crew on a big boat, I always try to have the afterguy trimmer be a person who is willing and able to focus on the spinnaker trim. It can be quite distracting for the sheet trimmer (and a real negative for boatspeed) if the afterguy trimmer is looking around at everything but the spinnaker. Focus is important here. Furthermore, the sheet grinder is a great role for an enthusiastic, but perhaps inexperienced, person. Ideally the grinder responds to the trimmer's calls, so an inexperienced person can work out great here. Just encourage him or her to focus on the trimmer's voice only. It presents a wonderful opportunity for training a new trimmer. However, it's important to eventually encourage the grinder to look at the spinnaker with the trimmer. All too often you see a grinder, working away, looking down at the winch rather than at the sail. I always try to encourage people to look at what it is they are doing on the boat, rather than simply having their head down in the boat. Another important role within the crew is to have someone looking upwind for puffs, light spots, shifts, and dirty air. This can be (and will be on a smaller boat) done by your tactician, but sometimes on a big boat it's a good idea to have someone doing this full time, feeding the information to the tactician. This person should be standing up on the boat for a better view, but still being careful not to put his or her weight in an inappropriate place. The important information for the tactician and the helmsman is where the puffs are, and to the extent possible what kind of shifts they represent. You can use a variety of indicators to help you decide what the shift will be-other boats, flags on shore, smoke from a smokestack, whatever is available. In addition to the obvious gains to be made from sailing in increased pressure, the trimmer will benefit from having some idea of what breeze is coming, particularly in really strong winds, in order to keep the boat balanced and in control. - Dean Brenner, SailNet website Full story: AMERICA'S CUP Bob Fisher: What have you actually been doing since you arrived in Auckland? Ben Ainslie: Been up the mast, been grinding, helming, tactics, mainsheet, all over the place. At the moment there are no real decisions on crew positions or anything like that. Obviously, the more experienced sailors know what positions they can expect, where their expertise lies, and for the rest of us it is a case of where we fit in best, so that our ability can be put to the best use, so we will wait and see. Obviously, I hope to slot in to a tactical role, or wind strategy or something of that nature. I guess that is up to me in a way, the way I perform over the next year or so, but it comes down to the team and what is best for the team. They want me to fit in so hopefully it will work out. Fisher: Are you enjoying this? Ainslie: Most of the time. It's certainly a different world to Laser
sailing. Sometimes it's hard, being away from home and family and not doing
that much racing, or as much racing as I am used to, but I have learned
more in the last two months than in 10 years of dinghy racing - it's a huge
learning curve and I'm enjoying that part of it. It's great fun being in a
big team and being involved with a good team and sailing the boat. -
Madforsailing website CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS FOULWEATHERGEAR.COM BAG CLEARANCE SALE AWARDS U.S. Sailing president Dave Rosekrans said, "Dave's speeches to youth
always include sportsmanship. He tells kids that a sailor's reputation is
the most important thing he takes to a racecourse and that, no matter how
intense the competition, the most important thing is to have fun and sail
fairly. With all his successes on the racecourse-and everyone who has raced
against Dave Perry knows he's had many successes, he is the first to sit
with any sailor after a race and answer questions with grace, patience, and
respect." - Sail Magazine website, KINGFISHER GIORGIO ZUCCOLI QUOTE / UNQUOTE - Gavin Brady THE CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATIONS |
