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SCUTTLEBUTT 2605 - May 28, 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. AN UNPRECEDENTED ASSIGNMENT For the first time ever, when the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 starts on October 4th, each boat will be required to have a dedicated on-board crew member responsible for media as part of its team. PUMA Ocean Racing has selected Rick Deppe, professional sailor and cinematographer, for the role. British-born Deppe, 43, has featured in two Whitbread races (in 1993-94 aboard Fortuna and in 1997-98 on Chessie Racing) and has several movie and TV projects to his credit including The Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch and Disney's "Morning Light" - released later this October. Deppe explains his view on this new position: Q: What attracted you to the job? A: Because of my experiences as a sailor and subsequently moving into the world of TV and media, I've always felt that sailing wasn't well-portrayed and it's always been a dream of mine to take the recording of sailing adventures as far as it can be taken. And when Volvo announced that this was how they were going to operate with on-board media crew member, I decided this was pretty special - a bold idea - it was something that I wanted to be part of. Q: Will this be the most extreme media job you have ever done? A: Yes, in terms of the scope. Volvo and PUMA have set very ambitious goals and they have put many systems and equipment in place - a lot of expenditures. It is 37,000 miles of ocean and nine months. That has to be the most extreme thing you can imagine. Going up the mast, being on the bow, going over the side to get shots. That's going to be the challenge really. -- Read on: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/article/2008/may/everest/index.aspx SUPPORT NEEDED TO PASS BILL Over 18 million American recreational boats could soon be required to comply with a new permit system if Congress does not pass the Clean Boating Act of 2008 before September 30th. Due to a 2006 U.S. District Court decision, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is required to design and implement a discharge permit system for every vessel in the country before September 30, 2008. Current federal legislation, Senate Bill #2766 and House Bill #5949 "The Clean Boating Act" would reinstate a 35-year permit exemption for recreational boats. If legislation does not pass in the next 4 months, all of the boats that you own or sail will need a special permit, regardless of size or type. This means boat owners will be required to apply and pay for permits for Sabots, Lasers, Hobies, Mumm 30s, Cal 40s or TP52s, most likely in every state where they want to sail a boat. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and BoatU.S. are spear-heading efforts in Washington D.C. to pass this legislation, but every boater's voice is critical right now to successfully pass this bill. "Time is short, Congress is distracted, and we must get this legislation moved in order to beat the clock," says Margaret Podlich, Vice President of Government Affairs for BoatU.S. and a US SAILING member. -- Read on: http://www.ussailing.org/News/2008/discharge_permit.asp CLASS 40: SHORTHANDED RACING'S NEW KID ON THE BLOCK The breeze on Narragansett Bay (Newport, R.I.) was a pleasant 12 knots, gusting to 15, as we hoisted the huge square top, fully battened mainsail and fell off onto a reach. We rolled out the Solent jib and within seconds the boat was humming along at 8.5 knots. And I mean humming. The twin rudders and the high aspect fin keel, with a huge bulb on the bottom, literally developed a pleasant harmonic that sang the song of true boat speed. If you have ever got a Laser planning you will know what we were experiencing. Out behind us the wake was as smooth as glass. We weren't going through the water; we were skimming on top of it. Heading up the bay and steering hard on the wind, the boat heeled dramatically and held the 8-plus knots of boat speed. Brian Harris, the boat's co-owner, climbed below, deployed the water intake valve to fill the windward ballast tanks and soon the boat was standing nearly upright and the speed had increased to over nine knots. Wow. A few miles up the bay, we fell off the wind to hoist the huge asymmetrical chute and dumped the water ballast. It was like someone had stomped down on the accelerator. The boat took off instantly and the GPS showed the speed climbing to nine and then 10 knots - in 12 knots of breeze - as that pleasant hum raised a few cycles in pitch. -- Mad Mariner, read on: http://www.madmariner.com/vessels/story/BWS_AKILARIA_CLASS_40_052608_VX ONBOARD FIRE-FIGHTING VIDEO IS ON-LINE UK-Halsey's website has posted the latest safety at sea video, which you'll want to view before you leave for Bermuda or any other distance race. This eighth video covers fighting onboard fires and was shot during the hands-on Safety-at-Sea seminar at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy this spring. The eight videos take only minutes to view but will greatly improve your safety afloat. There's no cost to view them or to try UK-Halsey's famous rules quizzes: just log on and learn. UK-Halsey: Fast sails that last are just part of what we do for sailors. 800-253-2002. http://www.ukhalsey.com YALE RETAINS LEAD AT WOMEN'S COLLEGE NATIONALS Newport, Rhode Island (May 27, 2008) - With the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast for day two of the 2008 ICSA Women's National Championship, racing was underway by 10:00 a.m. in a moderate southwest breeze that allowed both A- and B-Divisions to complete four races each by the break for lunch. As the morning haze burned off, the 15-20 knot southwesterly gave the competitors plenty to work with on Narragansett Bay as four additional races were completed just as a line of clouds threatened to bring showers to the racecourse. The event has now completed fourteen races in both A and B Division, with four more planned for the final day of racing on Wednesday. For the ladies from Yale University (New Haven, Conn.), their efforts to extend their lead appeared to be unstoppable through the break after the 10th races in both divisions. Up by 27 points over second-placed Brown, the resumption of racing saw the B-Division duo of junior Kate Hagemann (Marion, Mass./Naples, Fla.) and freshman Liz Brim (New York, N.Y.) pick up an OCS and two additional double-digit finishes that dropped them from first to fourth in their division. Junior Jane Macky (Auckland, New Zealand), with sophomore Marla Menninger (Newport Beach, Calif.) and freshman Sarah Lihan (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), kept her grip on second place in A-Division to keep Yale in the overall leader's position with 147 points. Most improved goes to Boston College (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) who started the day seventh overall and moved to second overall by the end of the day's fourth race, only seven points out of first place. Daily report: http://foxholefengshui.com/wordpress/?p=19 Results: http://www.collegesailing.org/nas/spring08/womensresults.asp CHANGING FACE OF OLYMPIC SAILING by Tim Jeffery, Telegraphy Want a snapshot of the relentless march of Olympic sailing into the realms of intricately organised and well-resourced professional sport? Then look at the sheer number of coach boats ranged outside the regatta centre in Medemblick on the western side of the Ijsselmeer. None of them are tired 15-year-old models either. Several of the blue ones are a special development model of the Slovenian VSR brand of RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) developed in conjunction with Britain's own Royal Yachting Association. This is the state we've reached: refining not just the craft themselves but their support boats too. Coachboats mean coaches too, hence the proliferation of backroom staff behind the world's Olympic sailors. Ten years ago they'd have been 15-20 per cent of the coachboats seen today. All around there are signs of change, encapsulated at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, which is one of the three major Olympic classes regatta regularly held in Europe. Seemingly every sailor now comes ashore from racing and gets his or her laptop out. They're downstairs now, sitting on the stairs and floor, online, sending emails and Skype-ing their mates, sponsors, local media and so on. No wonder the broadband in the media centre keeps crashing. Along the road and a few canals away, Skandia Team GBR has taken over its usual block of holiday bungalows. Physio, Meteo and cooking support are all installed. Can't rely on the local food. -- Read on: http://abe5.com/4c5 SAILING SHORTS * In 1978, Fietje Judel and Rolf Vrolijk founded Judel/Vrolijk Yachdesign & Engineering, enjoying tremendous success with their international racing yacht designs, most recently in the TP 52 class. As of June 1st, Judel will be retiring from the firm, with his shares transferring to Rolf and Torsten Conradi, who had become a third partner in 1986. -- http://www.judel-vrolijk.com/ * The first event of the 2008 iShares Cup Sailing Series will have ten Extreme 40s lining up on Lake Lugano, on the Swiss-Italian border, over May 30-June 1. Amongst the competitors will be America's Cup winners Alinghi helmed by Ed Baird, JPMorgan Asset Management helmed by double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Roberston, and British America's Cup Challengers TEAMORIGIN helmed by Rob Greenhalgh. Following this event, the iShares Cup Extreme 40 Sailing Series continues on to France (June 13-15), UK (August 2-4), Germany (August 29-31), and finishes in the Netherlands (September 19-21). -- http://www.isharescup.com * The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) has purchased the Liberty Boat Show from Liberty Event Management LLC. The show is held in Jersey City, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The show, which will take place September 25-28, is in its seventh year. NMMA's New York office will manage the show. NMMA now produces 24 consumer boat shows in the US and Canada. -- IBI Magazine, http://www.ibinews.com/ibinews/newsdesk/20080427134832ibinews.html * Submissions for the 2008 ISAF Annual Conference must be received at the ISAF Secretariat using the Submission template form by 12:00 UTC on 1 August 2008. Being held in Madrid, Spain from 6-16 November, the Annual Conference brings together the ISAF Council and Committees and representatives from ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs), ISAF Class Associations, event organizers, sailors and other key representatives across the sport. One of the main objectives of the Conference is the consideration and judgement of Submissions - essentially proposals to change or introduce a policy - which may be made on any issue affecting the sport. -- Read on: http://www.sailing.org/23417.php * Complimentary weather forecasts for the Sperry Top-Sider Detroit NOOD Regatta and Cal Race Week, both taking place from May 30-June 1, will be available from Sailing Weather Services. To sign up for these daily detailed forecasts, log on to North Sails' weather center: http://na.northsails.com/ew/ew_main.taf * SailLaser is opening its first North American location in Miami, FL at the site of the US Sailing Center. Initially opened in Weymouth England, the Miami Center will replicate many of the same programs, including Summer Sailing Camps, Adult and Children's Sailing Lessons, Community Sailing Programs, Racing Clinics and Programs, Corporate Programs and Special Events. SailLaser is operated by LaserPerformance. -- http://sail-laser.com DISCOVER: STRENGTH IN NUMBERS The new Numbers softshell jackets from Atlantis, available in Men's and Women's styles, deliver outstanding performance along with great looks. Developed for and tested by the Numbers sailing team, this is one piece of gear you'll fall in love with as soon as you put it on. A mid-layer that thinks it's an outer layer, it's soft and stretchy yet it repels water and wind like a hard-shell. Whether you're looking for great Bermuda Race gear or shopping for a Father's Day gift, the Numbers softshell will fit like a glove. Visit http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com to find an Atlantis dealer near you. EIGHT BELLS Peter Milne, one of Britain's most prodigious designers of small boats, including the International Fireball, died at his home in Chichester on Friday 23rd of May. Born in Southport, Lancashire, his parents moved to Chichester when he was a few months old, where he learned not only to sail, but the finer points of what makes a boat sail fast at Dell Quay in Chichester Harbour. Peter inherited many of his innovative skills from his Father, Cecil, an engineer who bought him his first boat - a Snipe. In 1957, he built himself a Finn dinghy and later took a keen interest in the flat-bottomed American scows, soon experimenting with a similar concept designed to be built from a plywood kit. The result was the 4.93m Fireball, a 2-man performance scow later equipped with a trapeze and spinnaker which he completed in 1961. The next year, Milne took the prototype Fireball to Yachts & Yachting magazine and was asked to write a feature about the design. Editor Bill Smart was so impressed with both the boat and the write-up that he asked Milne to join the magazine as Assistant Editor, replacing John Westall, the designer of the 505 dinghy. He worked there for 7 years, taking over as Editor when Smart retired in 1965, as well as continuing with his design work. While Milne produced more than 40 class dinghies, production cruisers and powerboat designs, it is the Fireball that he will be best remembered for. -- Complete report: http://www.covarimail.com/view.lasso?id1=191&id2=118010 LETTERS TO 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, so give it your best shot, don't whine if others disagree, 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 John Folting: Once and a great while, if you are very lucky in life, you meet a man like Fritz Jewett. A very unassuming, nice, great gentleman, who with his lovely wife Lucy graced us here in San Diego with their class and style, and knowledge on running an Americas Cup campaign. I had the distinct pleasure of being a very small part of the 1980, 1983, and 1987 campaigns that Mr. Jewett was deeply involved. His dedication to the sport, and the cup in particular are, makes me proud to have known him. And for his gracious wife Lucy, may I offer my sincere condolences, as I am sure she has lost the great love of her life, and I wish there was something I could do. There are many people here in San Diego who will feel just as I do. Dennis, Malin, and the whole campaign group, even though I do not speak for them, will always remember what a great, kind man he was, of that I am absolutely sure. * From John Ritter: I've been following the threads on US SAILING membership and potential changes, and guess I'm of a different view: I know what I've gotten out of US SAILING, and am quite satisfied. I've taken advantage of their Race Officer and Judge's certification programs, reap the benefit of their liability insurance underwriting for the races I run for my club (yes, even the local beer can ones), and the new policy on accident/injury during travel to sailing events. Add to that managing the training, ensuring a functional Appeals program, coordinating the One Design fleets throughout the country, acting as an advocate to ISAF and keeping Congress off our backs. and I really do think they do a good job despite myriad challenges. I've been quite impressed with the training I've received, and I don't think the dues rate they charge is excessive for what you get. I think it's funny how folks can drop $thousands on big LWL PHRF boats and slip fees, new sails, beer and shirts for the crew, yet get mad about a US SAILING pittance. It's like buying an expensive new boat but not springing for new dock lines or bumpers... * From Gregory Scott Kingston: In reading the varied comments relating to US SAILING: We are all thankful of governing bodies that do their job. Sailors are all thankful that we have races to sail and organizations to run them. What holds people back day after day in regard to paying fees is simple ..... We have been "fee'd" into a resistance to pay any more .... We have a deep rooted resistance and feeling of doubt about ponying up money that we feel will lead to another over blown bureaucracy. "No Taxation Without Representation" is a lesson all organizations should consider ... The current feelings about US Sailing are likely rooted in school boards - professional organizations - charities etc. many of whom, having over played the hand they were originally dealt. And people inside those organizations being seen ( right or wrong) as trying to find ways to justify salaries and office space. While these comments are not directed at US Sailing, they are learned from experience. Donald Baxter's words in #2604 are indicative of a trend and could as easily be applied to many other organizations that rely on and serve a generous public. There is a lesson here for every one looking for money. Run your organization lean - Provide friendly service - Don't make threats - Be totally transparent - and Remember why you originally signed on. NEW ENERGY O'pen BIC has announced launch of the 2008 Energized Sailing Tour, sponsored by North Sails, Ronstan, The Black Dog, and BIC Sport. The Tour offers kids the chance to experience the new age of fun sailing, with stops in Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ontario, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For info: mailto:info@BicSportNA.com or http://www.OpenBIC.com CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION To keep a healthy level of insanity, in the memo field of all your checks write "for sexual favors". Special thanks to UK Halsey Sailmakers, Atlantis WeatherGear, and O'pen BIC. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
