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SCUTTLEBUTT 1715 - November 19, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. MERGER Butch Ulmer and Robbie Doyle have announced that Doyle Sailmakers and UK Sailmakers have agreed in principle to merge. The goal is to provide a more comprehensive network of lofts to enhance customer service, improve productivity, and bring new products to the market. The new name of the company will be Doyle-UK. TWO-TIER SPORT Boston, MA - The billionaires were in town the other night. Members of Alinghi made a presentation at Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead, and acknowledged what we all know so well: The America's Cup is a two-tier sport. Tier 1 is the billionaires -- Alinghi, Oracle, and Prada, who faced each other at the last Cup in New Zealand, where Alinghi, then the Swiss entry of Ernesto Bertarelli, beat the other two and went on to thump defending champ New Zealand. "The way it was then," said Brad Butterworth, who spoke to about 120 sailing fans at Boston Yacht Club last Monday, "is whoever won the Louis Vuitton Cup would also win the Cup." Meaning that a Tier 2 team such as New Zealand -- though champion from 2000 -- didn't have a chance to beat the billionaires. "That is a problem with the Cup this time around, you'd have to admit," said Butterworth. "The well-funded teams have been organized for quite a while. Prada, Oracle, and us [Alinghi] have been rolling along since last time and are now sailing at a different level." Because of the structure of the Deed of Gift, with the winner taking over the administration of the next Cup season, said Butterworth, the difficulty of both competing in and running the sport always has raised problems, especially in the modern Cup era with mini-corporations competing at the top level. "The problem with the Cup is that when you win it, you sort of take it with you. The actual administration of it falls down, and it's a huge job for the new team to pick it up and run with it. It's difficult and becomes a bit of a poison chalice in many ways. "It'd be nice if you could come up with a format that everybody's happy with, and the winner would take that format on and maybe make it better or change it slightly. But not a clean sheet of paper . . . Everyone who wins the Cup is always going to do it right and clean it up I think the Cup is maybe a little bit better now," he said. "I think people are starting to realize that for all the controversy always surrounding it -- I mean, the stakes are very high -- in the end, the best sailors and designers always win the Cup. That's the way it should be." - Excerpts from a story by Tony Chamberlain, Boston Globe, full story: http://tinyurl.com/5zy4a CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar HALL OF FAME The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) inducted three individuals into their Hall of Fame this past weekend: - The Lifetime Service Award was presented to Cmdr. Philip Harman of Bucksport, Maine. His unflagging efforts were responsible for the development of the Maine Maritime Academy sailing team during the 40 years (1962-2002) he spent on the academy's waterfront, most of those years as Director. In the 1970s, starting with eight Larks and a collection of random boats, he built the facilities to include twenty 420s and sixteen Lasers, along with Solings and Shields. He was the backbone of MMA's participation in ICSA and NEISA and provided unwavering financial and other support in tough times. He became a master at managing a boat donation program that provided a funding source for the dinghy program and racing platforms for the summer big boat program. - Stuart Nelson (Laconia, N.H.) was recognized for Outstanding Service as a Professional. He is credited with passing on a lifetime of skills - gleaned sailing a Tech on the Charles River - to more than 25,000 students during his 25 years (1965-90) at MIT as a coach and physical education sailing instructor. He was the first women's sailing coach when sailing debuted as MIT's first varsity sport for women only. In 1971, Nelson was instrumental in forming the New England Women's Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEWISA) and promoting a Learner's Regatta at MIT -- a popular event where participants from NEWISA schools could learn the rules as well as tactics. - Western Washington University graduating senior Annie Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) was recognized with the ICSA Student Leadership Award for 2004. She was recognized for helping the team at WWU grow, becoming Team Captain in '02-'03'; as well as her work for the Northwest Intercollegiate Sailing Association. She has been both secretary and president of NWICSA, and will become Graduate Director. She was also instrumental in planning the 2004 ICSA North American Spring Championships in The Gorge. The ICSA Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to acknowledge the competitive achievements of undergraduates, as well as the service contributions of individuals whose efforts helped in the establishment, growth, and development of college sailing. In recognition of their significant service to the organization, these three names will be added to the permanent ICSA Hall of Fame display located in the Robert Crown Sailing Center at the U.S. Naval Academy. - Media Pro Int'l, - www.collegesailing.org ULTIMATE CONTROL The Ockam Tryad comes standard with an RS232 port, and you get a free Driver application to control your system. Calibration, averaging, system options, load polars, log data, change jumbo displays, and adjust lighting with a sliding bar. Our software OckamSoft4 delivers full system control, buy it in modules: multiple on-screen displays, multiple strip charts, and a powerful racecourse application with charting. Ockam is just as powerful without PC software with the graphic Matryx display. Take complete control of your system - Contact lat@ockam.com or go to the Ockam website for more information. - http://www.ockam.com SWEDISH MATCH TOUR - NIPPON CUP Hayama, Japan - Seven-time champion Peter Gilmour has taken control of the 15th anniversary Pizza-La Red Lobster Nippon Cup, Stage 4 of the 2004-'05 Swedish Match Tour. Gilmour and his Pizza-La crew (Mike Mottl, Kazuhiko Sofuku and Yasuhiro Yaji) have won eight races without a defeat, and head the leaderboard. With three races still to sail, they seem assured of advancing to the semifinals, but their road isn't easy. The Pizza-La crew still has to race Ed Baird, Gavin Brady and Jes Gram-Hansen, whom they're scheduled to race tomorrow. Due to the structure of the schedule, Baird (4-1), Brady (3-2) and Gram-Hansen (4-1) didn't race today. Dean Barker, skipper of Team New Zealand, and his crew finished their round robin with an 8-3 mark, but they're not assured of advancing to the semifinals. Day 2 of the Nippon Cup produced blustery north winds around 15 knots, with slightly higher gusts and a heavy rain. With the wind from a northerly direction, the windward mark was placed under Osaki headland on Sagami Bay, which made for more shifty conditions. "The toughest thing was the conditions," said Barker. "You had to keep your wits about you. No lead was safe. But the good thing is that no race was over." While the competitors were on and off the water, the umpires were out all day long. And they were put to work. They issued a total of 64 flags today (compared with seven yesterday). - Sean McNeill, www.SwedishMatchTour.com Provisional Standings - After 16 of 22 scheduled flights: 1. Peter Gilmour (AUS) 8-0 2. Dean Barker (NZL) 8-3 3. Philippe Presti (FRA) 5-3 4. Michele Ivaldi (ITA) 5-3 5. Ed Baird (USA) 4-1 6. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) 4-1 7. Gavin Brady (NZL) 3-2 8. Yasutaka Funazawa (JPN) 4-4 9. Geoff Meek (RSA) 4-4 10. Takumi Nakamura (JPN) 1-7 11. Sven-Erik Horsch (GER) 1-10 12. Kazuto Seki (JPN) 1-10 VENDEE GLOBE At the 1900 GMT ranking Tuessday, Vincent Riou (PRB) has closed down to within just 4.6 miles of Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) according to the distance to the goal, the first of the gateways to the southern ocean, a waypoint off South Africa. On the water this translates as a 76 mile lateral difference with PRB to the north east of Bonduelle. The big question is whether the expected wind shift will indeed kick in from the south-east as forecast favoring the latter's course or whether Riou will be able to win this particular game in a virtual sense at least, by favoring heading over speed, down just over a knot on the leader. Whatever the case Sébastien Josse (VMI), Roland Jourdain (Sill et Véolia) and Mike Golding (Ecover) also have the emphasis on heading. Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) is strangely holding onto his northerly option despite losing ground on the frontrunners which may mean that he is suffering further technical problems preventing him from joining the others, or he is waiting to begin a secret attack in the 8 hour "twilight zone" between tonight's last ranking and the next one. - www.vendeeglobe.fr/uk/ Standings at 1900 GMT November 18: 1. Bonduelle, Jean Le Cam 2. PRB, Vincent Riou 4.6 (miles to leader) 3. VMI, Sébastien Josse, 19.2 mtl 4. Sill Véolia, Roland Jourdain, 57.3 mtl 5. Ecover, Mike Golding, 78.5 mtl 6. Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson, 98.1 mtl 7. Virbac-Paprec, Jean-Pierre Dick, 154.4 mtl 8. Temenos, Dominique Wavre, 191.8 mtl 9. Pro-Form. Marc Thiercelin, 212.1 mtl 10. UUDS, Hervé Laurent, 225.6 mtl QUOTE / UNQUOTE "When you sail a bad day in normal yacht racing you go home and have another go the next day...in the Vendee a bad day can last 90 days." - Nick Moloney. Skandia "When you're behind, you always think the guys in front are pushing harder, trying more. Sometimes that's not the case, of course. The problem with this race is you don't really know what's going on with the other boats. And no one's ever going to tell you, at least not until you've got a beer in your hand." - Mike Golding, Ecover "As far as Doldrums crossings go, it was pretty tough on average, it's my 7th or 8th crossing, the squalls were a bit more vicious, but I only had one park up for any significant length of time. These boats are designed to cope in these conditions, and even if you get overpowered quickly you can dump sheets and run off. That just powers the boat through quickly, which is better than being sat becalmed." - Conrad Humphreys, Hellomoto NEWS BRIEFS * The University of California - Berkeley defeated Stanford University 2-1 in the Big Sail this Tuesday on San Francisco Bay. The event, a tradition for the week prior to the Cal-Stanford football game, was hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club at their Cityfront racing area and was sailed in identical J/105 sailboats loaned by alumni of the universities. In the Alumni Fleet, Seadon Wijsen, North Sails San Francisco loft manager, led his Golden Bears to victory - assisted by a crew 'loaded' with two All-Americans and the members of three of the top four J/105 crews in the country. * The Yachting Universe website celebrated their fourth birthday yesterday by publishing their 2500 article on sailing. www.yachtinguniverse.com/ * BMW Oracle Racing has selected Windchill ProjectLink™ software from PTC hosted by NetIDEAS to help their America's Cup team meet the product development challenges common to engineering for competitive racing teams. By automating project management activities, Windchill ProjectLink helps customers better manage their programs, project schedules, information and processes. - http://tinyurl.com/5wtv5 FOR THE RECORD Wednesday morning at 11:42 Francis Joyon had 1,328 miles to go on his attempt on the Route of Discovery record between Cadiz, Spain and the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. To break the record held by Steve Fossett and the crew of PlayStation, Joyon must finish no later than 11:05:58 this Sunday (21 November), meaning he must average 442.6 miles per day down the rhumb line or an average speed of 18.44 knots over the next three days. This pace is entirely feasible in a 90ft trimaran but will be made harder by Joyon having run out of wind Wednesday imorning. The data polled from IDEC this morning show her to be making just 6.45 knots (effectively standstill on a 90ft tri) on a course of 220deg in 4-5 knots of wind as he passes through a frontal zone. - The Daily Sail, full story: http://www.thedailysail.com SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOUR ULTIMATE SAILOR How about a custom print from the Ultimate Sailing Favorites Gallery, which spotlights the fabulous sailing images of Sharon Green. Choose your favorite image from the Ultimate Sailing website and you will have it in time for holiday gift giving. Visit http://www.ultimatesailing.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (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 nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Magnus Wheatley: Well said Tim Minogue in Scuttlebutt 1714 regarding the America's Cup. He's hit the nail on the head and that letter should be permanently posted on the Scuttlebutt website whenever the contentious subject of the AC comes up. Curmudgeon's comment: Minogue's observations are 'permanently posted' on the Scuttlebutt website … along with all previous issues in the archives section: www.sailingscuttlebutt.com * From Bob Klein (re Wells Piles' question - "At what point do we freeze technologic advancement in sailing?"): I don't think that the Flying Scot (a long existing and successful one-design) has changed in its life. * From Enrico Ferrari: Wells Piles has certainly hit a thread that could be explored. The Ultimate Test of a Boat. His definition was the test of time and popularity. That would be a good poll for your readers. He questioned the technology and what is 'needed'. I totally support the technology that makes my life more fun and less hectic. The rusted steel screws are not fun. I have even come to the perspective that wood on the exterior is less fun than no wood unless I am on someone else's boat. Wheels vs. tillers is a small question mark on technology that is usually answered with use. Tillers for racing and wheels for cruising unless someone can develop a tiller lock that is as easy to use as a wheel lock. The list of technology development is as endless as your pocket book. The new sail will deliver an improvement in fleet finishes but how often can one's resources support that. The fleet of Etchells that uses only used sails sounds like a good fleet for resource sniffers. The used sail market is great resource if the internet is used to find them. My dinghies are all turbo'd with used mylar fully battened, major roached, totally class illegal sails but they are fun! * From Gregory Scott Kingston (re IMS): For a number of years I raced on a well turned out boat on Lake Ontario. We regularly encountered six to eight other boats in our fleet that were as well sailed, as well equipped and came to the same events ready to win. We had mast heads, fracs, and a variety of hull shapes. Each had it's moments. When the race committee laid down a true course and measured the wind speed, the difference between the boats was very small. A win was well earned and respected by all crews and owners alike. However, frequently, we would have a beat that was skewed. If the race committee were not taking wind readings, the implied wind would shoot up and the fracs would suffer. We couldn't out sail a false wind speed factored into the day of racing. I think IMS was great, unfortunately at times it outperformed the race committee. * From Thomas M. Smith: I have been a lifelong fan of the America's Cup and must admit that the most exciting era for me was that of the Twelve Meters. I was intrigued by the design developments that occurred between each challenge, but most of all, enjoyed the close-quarters racing between two crews. Boat speed was important, but tactical execution on the course could overcome almost any other performance handicap. The constant and significant design changes over the years since the retirement of the Twelves has made it difficult to remain an involved fan. Imagine if the Superbowl were played on a different sized field every year - sometimes 100 yards, sometimes 150 yards. One year a TD is worth 6 points, another year 8 points. Keeping fans engaged over the years requires a more predictable and familiar design rule. If not the Twelves, the AC should strive for a similar design rule to keep the fans and sailing community involved. At the end of the day, isn't it about the fans and the support they provide to the sport and its sponsors? CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION You know you're getting 'mature' when you hear snap, crackle, pop at the breakfast table - even when you're not eating cereal. |
