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SCUTTLEBUTT 2622 - Friday, June 20, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. NO ONE REMEMBERS SECOND PLACE Two countries in opposing hemispheres are now vying to be the first to break the current world speed sailing record, and crack the holy grail of 50 knots, regarded as the equivalent to the aeronautical sound barrier. “No one remembers the second man to walk on the moon,” says Sean Langman, the creator and pilot of the radical purpose-built Australian 9m sail boat/sail plane called Wot Rocket who is acutely aware of the “race against the French to the 50”, and the possibility they could snatch his boyhood dream clean away. Wot Rocket’s 500m world speed sailing record attempt was forced to shift gears following the launch of the French flying trimaran l’Hydroptere on 22 May. “I want to go official now because the French have. Everything’s been stamped urgent,” admits Langman. He is currently awaiting advice from the World Sailing Speed Record Council on whether a Trimble GPS receiver can officially record Wot Rocket’s speed. This would negate the need to have an official timekeeper on the course each time Wot Rocket heads out to attempt to beat French sail boarder Antoine Albeau’s fastest time over 500m of 49.09 knots (90.9 kph), and break through the magic 50 knot milestone. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/0619 * According to their website, last Saturday l’Hydroptere was clocked at 46.8 knots: http://www.hydroptere.com/_en GAME TIME FOR BERMUDA BOUND ENTRANTS With the scheduled start of the 46th Newport Bermuda Race on Friday afternoon, customs officers from Bermuda worked till late to pre-clear thousands of sailors heading for Bermuda who have traditionally had to queue in the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club to get clearance before being allowed to go ashore for an overdue shower. Final entries have dwindled from 218 to 198 entries. One boat sank on delivery, another was t-boned on its mooring, one had an electrical fire and other crews have dropped out for business or personal reasons. Yet this is still the second largest fleet in the 102 year history of the race. Weather forecasters are predicting winds of about 10 knots from the south-southwest for the start. The bigger, faster boats may experience some light airs in the middle of their race and end hard on the wind. The breeze is then expected to fill on Monday and Tuesday, putting the smaller boats on a reach to give them a fast passage. The way the Gulf Stream is running, there are no significant reasons this year to sail away from the rhumb line (the direct route from Newport to Bermuda) in search of a southward push toward Bermuda. Race website: http://www.bermudarace.com Boat tracking: http://xrl.us/tracking Start commentary and video: http://xrl.us/t2ptv FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONFIDENCE FOR U.S. TEAM by Derby Anderson, US Olympic Team Media Relations The members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams for Sailing have spent years developing strong individual training methods, but in the last months before the 2008 Qingdao Games, what can they do differently to ensure their best performances? Depending on which sailor you ask, the answers vary. For Zach Railey’s upcoming training camp, he plans to drop ten pounds and sail his Finn so hard that he says, “Each day I plan to be totally exhausted.” Debbie Capozzi explains that she and her Yngling team don’t plan to change much as they treat all training the same. Graham Biehl says, “I have noticed many of the other 470 teams beginning to go a little crazy. Individual teams are doing things which may hurt them in the long run, and keeping it simple is best. Above all I like to keep everything fun.” Austin Sperry, the Star boat crew from Gulfport, MS, brings up a crucial point about his attitude toward the training camps at the Yin Hai Yacht Club (shown at right). “Last year when we were sailing in the test event my head wasn’t really into it. I was focused on the big picture: our Olympic Trials for Sailing.” He continues, “This year I will be a lot more comfortable, more focused and get down to business. My expectations for this camp are high. They should be.” No matter how the sailors approach their training, the main goal here is to peak at the right time to win Olympic medals in August. A term many sailors don’t even have to consider, “peaking” is a nearly essential philosophy for a quadrennium campaign. -- Read on: http://xrl.us/di9b9 => Curmudgeon’s Comment: The updates we receive from Austin Sperry are proof that the Chinese sensors have not caught up with him…yet. Here is an excerpt from a recent email: “Re-fueling our tenders is a process too. First, we have to pre-pay for the gas; we have to guesstimate how many liters we might need then pay for it. We wait about 30 minutes for a pallet jack to arrive near the boat where there are about ten five gallon fuel tanks. This is how we manually fuel our coach boats. Entertaining nonetheless. You know it's gonna be a great day when you actually get more fuel in the gas tank than you do all inside the tender and in turn all over the sails that are coming out for the day.” -- Complete report: http://www.austinsperry.com/blog/5816 PORTO CERVO PRIZES 3D chart prizes…unique across the world! Latitude Kinsale is proud to be associated with the Boat International Superyacht Regatta. A selection of 3D charts showing Porto Cervo, Bonifacio Strait, and the Maddelena Islands will be presented as prizes at the upcoming Superyacht regatta July 22-26 with over 30 entries. Whether as prizes or gifts, a 3D chart is unequalled. Each piece is hand-made in Kinsale/Ireland to commission, any nautical chart, anywhere in the world! Checkout the sample galleries on our website and let us know what area you would like. http://www.latitudekinsale.com CHINA GAMES WILL BE A TEST OF PATIENCE Gary Jobson/Sailing World magazine predict that the key ingredient for success at the 2008 Olympics will be patience. Here are a couple comments: One important factor that will be evident from the first gun is the extremely tough competition in all 11 classes. Every sailor will have his or her hands full in their quest for a medal. In Athens (2004 Olympics), 21 countries won at least one of the 33 medals awarded. And, in fact, several perennially strong sailing nations—including New Zealand, Australia, Russia, The Netherlands, and Germany—went home from Athens empty handed. You can be sure these teams will be hungry to collect in China. Another interesting fact from Athens was that 76 individual boats won at least one of the 126 races held. In most classes, averaging a eighth was good enough for a medal, so with the capricious winds and currents expected to test every sailor's attitude throughout the Games, maintaining a low average will be key. Patience will be paramount. -- Complete story: http://xrl.us/di9jr LOOKING BEYOND THE CANTING KEEL CONCEPT The Dynamic Stability System (DSS) is the brainchild of Hugh Welbourn and Gordon Kay. It is the result of over 5 years of research and development and delivers revolutionary innovation to the world of sailing. The DSS increases the stability of the yacht (and therefore the speed) without the risks associated with canting keels. Instead of having a canting keel weighing down the windward side of the boat, the DSS uses a retractable foil to generate stability and progressive dynamic lift on the boat's leeward side. The Dynamic Stability System can be used on both racing and cruising yachts in a range of sizes. * What inspired this unique concept? WELBOURN: I had been thinking about how to make boats lighter and faster. In effect I was looking at the canting keels and the benefits and downsides of those systems that led me to reverse my thinking and make the obvious connection. However, there were many potential downsides, so the idea sat on the back burner for a couple of years, but never really went away. Some other work I was doing in the GBR America' Cup campaign made me rethink some aspects of the idea. Then after the BOLS Super Maxi program, we began the R & D process in earnest. -- Read on: http://www.harken.com/Interviews/DynamicStability.php INSURING A WELL FED AND HEALTHY CREW Sorting out the meal component when traveling to regattas is as much a part of preparing for the event as is tuning the rig and training the crew. This is a task that someone has to take care of, and it escalates quickly as the size of boat increases, or the unfamiliarity of the event site (read: foreign country). Simply finding restaurants that can handle the crew can be a monumental event, and then adding in the cost, eating out for a week long regatta like Block Island, Key West or a world championship can make participating in the event prohibitive. At the J/24 Worlds last week, one of the American teams sought support for their food needs, and enlisted Private Chef Barbara Gold to join them for the event. Said Gold, “It might sound extravagant, but it is actually one of the smartest things a boat owner could institute in his/her program and they will probably see better results overall.” While the crew was focused on the event, Gold stayed shoreside to shop, prep, and serve the meals. For those teams already renting crew houses or large suites for events, the availability of the kitchen provides the facilities needed for the private chef to insure that the crew is eating healthy (read: avoid food poisoning) and the owner is avoiding large restaurant bills while keeping the team together at the central housing/eating location. Additionally, with the advent of professional sailing, knowing the hired help is well-fed and early to bed (and not doing cocktail R&D) could be reason enough to include the chef as part of the team component. (Barbara Gold can be contacted at 732-690-4614, gourmetbarbara@aol.com) CUYLER MORRIS AND FIREFLY OFF TO THE GREAT LAKES! Cuyler, Cindy, Sam, Sophie, and Thomas Morris will set sail aboard Morris 45 Firefly from Maine next week for the Great Lakes. Their route will take them through Newport, down Long Island Sound, then up the Hudson to the Erie Canal, to Buffalo, then up the Detroit River to Port Huron. Once in Bayview, MI, sailing will get serious and the family will head back to Maine and the racing crew will come onboard to race in the Bayview Mackinac Race and the 100th Anniversary of the Chicago Mackinac Race! Check out Cuyler’s blog at: http://www.morrisyachts.com/blogs/Cuyler SAILING SHORTS * South Kingstown, RI - For the first time since the 1960s, the Point Judith Sailing Club will not be teaching children how to sail this summer. The sailing club was formed to train Point Judith Yacht Club members’ children to sail and race. But as the yacht club membership aged, the sailing group became a separate nonprofit so as to offer lessons to local children as well. Last year, more than 90 children – largely local residents – learned how to sail through the program. It is believed that the program was terminated to facilitate the yacht club’s expansion plans. -- Complete story: http://xrl.us/di9xb * The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Small Craft (Sailing) Technical Panel has announced the launch of SNAME Journal of Sailboat Technology, which is intended to be an online peer-reviewed journal whose objective is to provide a medium for the publication of research achievements and engineering practices in this field. It is intended to cover not only fundamental studies on analytical and numerical models, theoretical developments, tank and wind tunnel experiments, but also results and analysis of full scale experiments. -- http://www.journal.sailboat-technology.com * Hampton Yacht Club and the Storm Trysail Club (Annapolis) will be reviving the annual Down the Bay Race on May 22, 2009, the Friday before Memorial Day. The race, which began in 1935 but went into hiatus after 1999, is non-stop, through the night (and maybe parts of the following day) from Annapolis, MD to Hampton, VA. -- http://www.hamptonyc.com EIGHT BELLS George Vance Fisher, age 81, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away June 19th at the Kobacker Hospice House after a courageous battle with cancer. George was a past Commodore and member of Buckeye Lake Yacht Club, member of Hoover Yacht Club, past President and life member of the International Lightning Class and past Vice President of the Interlake Sailing Class. A champion sailboat racer, George had won 19 North American Championships in the Interlake and Lightning Classes since 1977. Not only a champion competitor, he was an enthusiastic ambassador for the sport, imparting his knowledge in coaching both children and adults at many levels. George was awarded the US Sailing Sportsmanship award in 2002 and thereafter chaired the Sportsmanship Committee and was a past Chairman of the One Design Class Council for US Sailing. He is survived by his wife of 55 years Martha, sons Greg (Jo Ann) Fisher, Annapolis, Md., and Matt (Lisa) Fisher, Columbus, Oh., daughter Gayle (Tom) Mulvey, Granville, Oh., and grandchildren, Martha, Kurt, Bessie, and Addyson Fisher, Amanda and Stuart Fisher, Kara, Gwen, and Ian Mulvey. Calling hours will be 2-4 pm and 6-8pm Sunday June 22nd at Schoedinger Funeral Home 1740 Zollinger Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43221, (614) 457 5481. A funeral mass will be held Monday June 23rd at 10am at the St. Brendan Church 4475 Dublin Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026, (614) 876-1272, followed by a celebration of George’s life at 1:00pm June 23rd at Leatherlips Yacht Club, 9230 Shawnee Trail, Powell, Ohio, 43065. In lieu of Flowers, George requested donations be made to the Kobacker House c/o OhioHealth Foundation 180 E. Broad St. Columbus, Ohio, 43215 or St. Brendan Church. -- Complete obituary: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/gf PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include the speed record seeking Wot Rocket, the “Volvo 70 on steroids” Speedrocket, Olympic surprises in Qingdao, a Volvo Ocean Race team’s air-freighted mast, Superyacht Cup action from Palma, and a slide show comparison between Dan Meyers' Judel-Vrolijk 66 Numbers and Team Puma's Botin & Carkeek designed Volvo 70 il mostro. If you have images you would like to share, send them to the Scuttlebutt editor. Here are this week’s photos: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0620 * Eric Proust and Romain Motteau, Team Kalix, have completed an outstanding six day Formula 18 catamaran race through the Stockholm, Åland and Finnish archipelago. Twenty teams competed in the twelve leg event, reaching 47 island checkpoints and sailing nearly 600 nautical miles. Photographers Thierry Martinez and Oskar Kihlborg share the majestic sights from the race track: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/raid * If you were sailing in the Around the Island Race of the Annual Regatta last weekend in Newport, RI, or like photos of racy looking boats, or just like the Lyle Lovett song “If I Had a Boat”, here is a video slide show from the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSbdocwjj_c&feature=email LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (letters shall be no longer than 250 words). You only get one letter per subject, and save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. As an alternative, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Tom Priest: (re, recent letters concerning US SAILING Pres. Jim Capron) I don't believe anyone is doubting Mr. Capron's commitment to US SAILING...I'm certainly not! But forced membership was 'misguided' at best....Simply joining an organization you disagree with WITHOUT 'whining' (as you would call it) is what I call being a sheep...or maybe even a lemming! I suspect US SAILING showing its ability to listen and ultimately change it's mind will spur more memberships and renewals than you can possibly imagine. Relatively cheap fees or not...I will not put my money into any organization that doesn't at least listen to its members....I've been out of US SAILING for several years...I am now re-joining. Let me be clear: It was never about the AMOUNT of money...it was what they did with it that forced the issue. Given no other option, people vote with their checkbooks. I do have one favor to ask....now that I am re-joining can you please save the obviously cash-strapped organization some hard-earned money and stop sending MULTIPLE renewal notices to members that are already current? That was another reason I left in the first place! * From Chris Ericksen: As a long-time member of US SAILING (and USYRU before that), I cannot but share some of the sentiments of Bill Sandberg printed in 'Butt 2621. Not only US SAILING President Jim Capron but all the members of the Board of US SAILING should be thanked for their "hard work and dedication," as should all the volunteers who make our sport work. And I believe that US SAILING deserves the support of--and membership dues from--every racing sailor in the United States, regardless of what they do aboard a boat. But I am puzzled by his decrying the withdrawal of the proposed proscription requiring membership in US SAILING "because of all the reaction of their constituents." Reacting to their constituents is exactly what we in America expect our elected leaders to do; they should be praised for doing so, not criticized. * From David Searle: Good on US SAILING for withdrawing the mandatory membership requirement. You don't herd cats by telling them where to go. You herd cats by providing them a compelling reason to go where you want them to go. If US SAILING focuses on providing value to their members (like the efforts of Dave Perry), and maybe does a better job of telling us the value US SAILING already brings us, they will end up with far more members than a mandatory requirement could ever bring! Now, if I could only get my membership card... => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Regarding David’s missing membership card, I forwarded his email to US SAILING Membership Manager Kate Daley, who I understand to have promptly replied to David and handled his needs. If anyone else needs help with their membership issues, we suggest you reach out to Kate at mailto:katedaley@ussailing.org CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION "It's all part of progress I guess. That's why I live in the past." - Dan Jenkins Special thanks to Latitude Kinsale and Morris Yachts. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
