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SCUTTLEBUTT 2448 – October 8, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday with the support of its sponsors. "ONE ON ONE” WITH ERNESTO BERTARELLI At the invitation of the Alinghi group, Scuttlebutt’s Cory E. Friedman met last week with Ernesto Bertarelli and his entourage in the Model Room of the New York Yacht Club. What transpired in that meeting, and the manner in which Friedman reflects upon it in this report, may have as much to do with how the legal dispute is resolved between Bertarelli’s group and Larry Ellison/ GGYC/ BMW Oracle Racing, as will the court proceedings yet to transpire. Here is Friedman’s report: Imagine yourself with a problem. You are 42 years old and Forbes says you are the 76th richest person in the world with $8.8 billion from the sale of the business your dad passed on to you. You are an accomplished sailor and have run a team that has won the America’s Cup twice. The last time was extremely successful, although a little close for comfort. Your vision is to make the next Cup competition even better, with new bigger, faster boats – while, of course, winning again. You expected that you would be basking in glory -- the toast of the sailing world. It hasn’t worked out that way. Sure, you did what you had to do, doesn’t everyone? Some people down under were sore when you hired the core of their team after a spat, including the Cup’s greatest helmsman, but you wound up sidelining him for the last Cup competition anyhow. Now they say you cut a few corners when you signed up a paper Spanish yacht club that had never run a race as the challenger of record, which then cut you a pretty sweet deal that allows you to call all the shots. Maybe you didn’t dot all the i’s or cross all the t’s. Everyone knows you can’t make the best omelet ever without breaking a few eggs. -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1007a * Curmudgeon’s Comment: Cory Friedman’s reports in Scuttlebutt on the legal proceedings between these two teams have been both unbiased, entertaining, and full of insight and predictions based on his extensive experience in this arena. He obviously got the attention of the Swiss team. Both sides have submitted recent filings, so expect to see more of Friedman’s commentary this week. All of his court reporting can be found here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/cf ANOTHER NEW LEGAL TERM Reale Yacht Club Canottieri Savoia (“RYCCS”) and Mascalzone Latino have submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Court Case between Golden Gate Yacht Club and Sociétè Nautique de Genévè and to bring their views to the attention of the Court. While such a filing is unusual in this type of proceedings, the nature of it is to act as a friend to the court, and in essence to say, “Heh, I have something that I think you would like to know.” “It is unfortunate that the America’s Cup is in court once again, -Alessandra Pandarese general counsel of Mascalzone Latino and former Chair of the Challenger Commission- but no one, especially the defender, can be surprised that this has happened: the Protocol, promulgated by SNG with Club Náutico Español has essentially eliminated the role of the Challenger. In so doing, the Protocol contravenes the core terms of the Deed of Gift that created the America’s Cup, which provides that the Cup shall be “a perpetual Challenge Cup.” Mascalzone submit that the group of provisions relating to SNG, through America’s Cup Management controlling unilateral power to disqualify a challenging team; ACM power to appoint all race officials, ACM power to establish unilaterally the rules for all the phases of the event, and the class rules, have altered the nature of the America’s Cup from the “Challenge Cup”, to a type of competition totally governed by the Defender, in contravention of the basic principles of the Deed. Mascalzone Latino submit that the Court should exercise its jurisdiction, enforce the terms of the Deed, and protect this historic sporting event from the Defender’s usurpations. – A summary of their filing is available here: http://www.mascalzonelatino.it/home/dettaglio_news.jsp?ID=891 * Rumorville: The Valencia Sailing website has had several recent postings claiming that Alinghi and BMW Oracle have allegedly reached an agreement concerning the 33rd America's Cup, and then another story where no such agreement is even remotely in place. A Spanish journalist prompted the website to post a story claiming that the teams have agreed that Desafío Español will remain as the Challenger of Record, the 90-foot boat will be used, and the event has been postponed till 2010. Another report from BMW Oracle Racing says it is all rubbish, and that Alinghi has in fact refused at least 10 independent mediators proposed by Oracle to find a compromise solution. -- http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com SECRETS FROM A SAILMAKER Only a select group of people are privy to the following information, but as Scuttlebutt readers, we know you are all avid and diehard sailors who will appreciate this knowledge. From now through October 11, anyone who writes the word "scuttlebutt" in the comments box during check-out receives free surface shipping within the US on all North Gear orders. Shhh...keep this one just between us... https://www.northsailsgear.com/store * You will not only find a new look at the North Sails online gear store, but also among some of their offerings. Online and on display at the US Boat Show this past weekend was their new Camouflage Tees, showing how ‘big blue’ is definitely getting in touch with their rebel side. US OLYMPIC TRIALS The US system of determining their Olympic and Paralympic sailing candidates is not done subjectively, nor is done by achievement over a period of time. No, the body of work by each entrant is set aside, and all the marbles are brought on the table for a 16 race series (24 for the 49ers) that began Saturday, October 6th, and will continue for nine days. Surprises came quickly on Day 1, where thick fog halted racing after one contest on the Laser/Laser Radial course, and a protest hearing later that night tossed one of the races from the 2.4mR and Sonar classes. Top Star team Andy Horton/Brad Nichol stumbled out of the blocks with an 18-7-7, 49er sailors Morgan Larson/Pete Spaulding opened with an OCS, and RS:X boardsailor Ben Barger collected quick points with a first race RAF. As for Day 2 racing on Sunday, the Laser Radial dual between Tunnicliffe and Railey is now developing, while the anticipated Laser dual between Funk and Campbell finds the later already 13 points behind. Top 49er contenders Morgan Larson/Pete Spaulding might already be on the brink of elimination having garnered their second OCS (49er fleet has two drop races assuming that they get at least seventeen races completed; all other classes only have one throwout), but have also filed a protest against leaders Wadlow/Rast over a non-contact incident from the first race of the day. Top ranked Finn sailor Zack Railey slightly stubbed his toe with a 12th, dropping him 4 points back in second. Racing continues Monday and Tuesday before the reserve day on Wednesday. Olympic Trials West - preliminary results Star (19 entrants; after five races) 1. Mark Mendelblatt/Magnus Liljedahl, 3-3-1-8-1, 16 2. George Szabo/Andrew Scott, 2-1-11-7-3, 24 3. Mark Reynolds/Hal Haenel, 12-2-2-6-2, 24 49er (13 entrants; after six races) 1. Tim Wadlow/Chris Rast, 1-2-1-1-3-1, 9* 2. Dalton Bergan/Zack Maxam, 2-4-3-4-1-2, 16 3. Erik Storck/John Storck III, 8-3-6- 6-2-7, 32 * Protest pending Tornado (6 entrants; after four races) 1. Robbie Daniel/Hunter Stunzi, 1-2-2-1, 6 2. John Lovell/Charlie Ogletree, 2-1-1-2, 6 3. Colin Merrick/John Sampson, 4-3-5-3, 15 Finn (42 entrants; after four races) 1. Darrell Peck, 4-4-1-3, 12 2. Zachary Railey, 1-2-12-1, 16 3. Geoffrey Ewenson, 2-3-10-4, 19 470 Men (8 entrants, after four races)* 1. Stuart McNay/Graham Biehl, 2-2-2-2, 8 2. Mikee Anderson-Mitterling/David Hughes, 5-1-7-3, 16 3. Charles Modica/Hans Jensen, 3-5-3-9, 20 * 470 Men and Women race and get scored together 470 Women (5 entrants; after four races)* 1. Amanda Clark/Sarah Mergenthaler, 4-3-1-6, 14 2. Molly Carapiet/Molly O'Bryan, 7-8-4-7, 26 3. Erin Maxwell/Isabelle Kinsolving, 9-7-5-5, 26 * 470 Men and Women race and get scored together RS:X Men (7 entrants; after four races) 1. Michael Gebhardt, 2-3-1-2, 8 2. Robert Willis, 1-2-5-3, 11 3. Benjamin Barger, 8/RAF-1-2-1, 12 RS:X Women (6 entrants; after four races) 1. Lisa Kremer, 1-2-2-4, 9 2. Farrah Hall, 4-1-4-1, 10 3. Nancy Rios, 2-4-1-3, 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Olympic Trials East - preliminary results Laser (33 entrants; after four races) 1. Brad Funk, 3-2-2-9, 16 2. Clay Johnson, 1-1-4-15, 21 3. Trevor Moore, 2-9-7- 3, 21 Laser Radial (22 entrants; after four races) 1. Anna Tunnicliffe, 1-1-1-3, 6 2. Paige Railey, 2-2-2-1, 7 3. Sarah Lihan, 3-3-3-4, 13 Paralympic Trials - preliminary results 2.4mR (4 entrants; after four races) 1. Mark Bryant, 2-1-2, 5 2. Mark LeBlanc, 4-2-1, 7 3. Charles Rosenfield, 1-4-4, 9 SKUD 18 (5 entrants; after four races) 1. Nick Scandone/ Maureen Mckinnon-Tucker, 3-1-1-1, 6 2. Karen Mitchell/ JP Creignou, 1-4-2*-2, 9 3. Scott Whitman/ Julia Dorsett, 2-2-3*-3, 10 * Protest pending between entrants Sonar (6 entrants) 1. Rick Doerr/Tim Angle/Bill Donohue, 1-1-1-1*, 4 2. Paul Callahan/Roger Cleworth/Tom Brown, 4-2-3-2, 11 3. David Schroeder/Keith Burhans/John Pucillio, 3-4-2-4, 13 * Protest pending => Sunday Racing Reports: ~~ Olympic Trials West: http://tinyurl.com/yq2ys7 ~~ Olympic Trials East/Paralympic Trials: http://tinyurl.com/32ar6h => Complete Report Index: http://tinyurl.com/3cwatb => Complete Results: http://tinyurl.com/38sxec => Photos: http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/OlympicTrials/photo_gallery.html * For those readers that have become accustomed to Scuttlebutt’s typical distribution time of 6pm PT, we are anticipating delays during the course of the US Olympic trials so as to provide the most current information from each day. QUOTE / UNQUOTE “Again and again I came back to the fact that litigation is never a sure thing and business people, who hate uncertainty, usually reach a settlement. For the record, EB is not buying it. He says that Ellison would rather blow up the Cup than lose again, and that compromise would be giving in to blackmail. By not giving in, he is safeguarding the Deed, so that future defenders will not be blackmailed. To say that he is not an Ellison fan is an understatement.” -- Cory E. Friedman, on his conversation with Ernesto Bertarelli. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1007a BEST BOATING GEAR AT THE ANNAPOLIS SAILBOAT SHOW Last year, Lewmar’s “one touch” winch handle topped all the best gear lists, so what will this year? MyBoatsGear.com is in Annapolis for the US Boat Show to find out. Look for our report on what is the most interesting new gear at the show this year. From safety to electronics to deck gear, along with 18 other categories, we bring you the best gear along with how-to solutions as part of our newsletter campaign. MyBoatsGear.com: the boating equipment, news & review site. Bookmark http://www.MyBoatsGear.com and visit regularly for the latest on boating equipment. * Scuttlebutt publisher Craig Leweck caught up with Mike Hobson of MyBoatsGear.com at the US Boat Show, where Hobson was busy checking on all the products that were on display. While this show is often noted for attracting cold fronts, it was hot and humid this go around, and Hobson’s report could be as much about the marine products as about the innovative cooling fans to help keep down the temperature in the show tents. Look for Scuttlebutt to carry Hobson’s report later this week. MOBY M30 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Porto Cervo, Italy (October 7, 2007) -- On the fourth and final day of the Moby M30 Worlds, organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, the Race Committee once again managed to fit in three windward leeward races to complete the nine race series. Matrix ArcaTxActive (ITA), owned by Luigi Melegari and Gianmarco Rinaldi and with Tommaso Chieffi on tactics is the new M30 World Champion. Jim Richardson’s Barking Mad (USA) with Terry Hutchinson calling tactics came second and Vincent Portugal’s New Caledonia (FRA), with Francois Brenac on tactics came in third. Jim Richardson, President of the Farr 40 Class, was philosophical about his second place: “It’s interesting that I won the Farr 40 pre worlds in Newport in 2006 and then I came third to Vincenzo Onorato, then I won the pre-worlds in Copenhagen this year and came in third to Vincenzo, I won the pre-worlds here and I said to Vincenzo ‘Please do not do this to me again!’ and he promised he wouldn’t, but I forgot to speak to the other Italians! Luigi and Tommaso and the rest of the Matrix crew had a fantastic event and deserved to win. I look forward to seeing all of these wonderful competitors in Newport next year.” -- Complete report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1007 Final Results (top five of thirty-nine entrants) 1. Matrix ArcaTxActive, Gianmarco Rinaldi (ITA) 15-12-2-6-1-2-4-7-1, 50 2. Barking Mad, James B. Richardson (USA) 5-6-21-4-5-5-1-5-6, 58 3. New Caledonia, Vincent Portugal (FRA) 7-2-13-1-3-8-12-6-8, 60 4. Optimumm, Guy Stening (AUS) 21-8-1-12-4-6-2-12-4, 70 5. Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato (ITA) 23-25-5-5-2-11-7-4-15, 97 Complete results: http://www.mobym30worlds.com/results07/m_30_w.htm * Curmudgeon’s Comments: The most obvious omission during the course of this event was the word Mumm, as in Mumm 30. The relationship the class has had with the champagne maker has ended, and while the class is not prepared to make any official statements on their future name, you can expect that the title of M30 is temporary. Scuttlebutt has spoken to all parties involved, we know what the class intends to be rebranded as, but we will not be making any announcements until the class is ready… because that is how we roll. CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar BRINGING NEW SAILORS INTO BIG BOAT SAILING Larchmont, NY (Oct. 7) -- Thirty-one boat-owners shared their boats and love of the sport with 235 collegiate sailors this past weekend at the Storm Trysail Club’s Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club. Five races were sailed by the fleet that was divided into three one-design and one level rated division: J/44s, J/109s, J/105s and a PHRF Level 72 division. This regatta has become the highlight of the season for college sailors as well as boat owners. Jim Marran, the owner’s rep on the Express 37 Soulmates said, “Our regular crew wins a lot of regattas, but it felt better at the end of this one (even though Soulmates finished fifth). The crew from U. Mass got better and better with each race. Our pit person had never sailed before and she had the sails going up and down perfectly by the end of the regatta.” Race committee PRO Charles “Butch” Ulmer very wisely kept the fleet out racing until late in the afternoon on Saturday to finish four races even though the forecast called for a windy Sunday. The forecast proved to be what most weather forecasts are – worthless. The fleet drifted around Sunday morning in postponement and then sailed a great first beat in 10-12 knots of breeze, but that wind didn’t last and only two J/44s finished before the time limit expired. The other classes had their courses shortened and all but one boat made the time limit. A second race was attempt, but the breeze kept coming and going while shifting radically. With a view of the fleet, Ulmer said, “This is the way it should be; this is the way to bring new sailors into big boat sailing. These kids will sail for the rest of their lives.” And that is why Storm Trysail runs this event. Division winners were: Navy in the J/44 class, Webb Institute in the J/109s, Brown in the Level 72s and Coast Guard smoked the nine-boat J/105 class by 10 points. -- http://tinyurl.com/ytwhku FOUL WEATHER GEAR SPECIALS... NOW... Now’s the time to purchase Henri-Lloyd end of year closeout specials at Team One Newport before they are sold out! Look for the Breeze jacket at 25% off and the awesome Octane products at 25% off plus others! Visit http://www.team1newport.com and click on the SPECIALS page. Or call 800-VIP-GEAR (800-847-4327) SAILING SHORTS * (October 6, 2007) Eighty-eight entrants began the second leg of the Transat 6,50 Charente Maritime Bahia (Mini Tranast) on Saturday, returning to the 4,200-mile race that began from Fort-Boyard, France on September 18th. The re-start in Madera, Portugal will send the fleet on the longer of the two legs, taking them 3,100 miles to the finish line in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. Top American entrant Clay Burkhalter (USA) begins this leg in 21st position, a little over 17 hours in elapsed time behind leader Isabelle Joschke (FRA) in the custom division. The fleet is expected to complete the final leg by October 25th. -- http://www.transat650.org/en * The latest Volvo Sailing podcast chats with Ian Williams, the current leader of the World Match Racing Championship, along with the Volvo Ocean Race race director Andy Hindley, who provides an update on this crewed around the world race that will start in one year. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast * Hamilton, Bermuda -- Twenty-one teams will meet Oct. 9-14, 2007 in Hamilton Harbor for the King Edward VII Gold Cup, Stage 13 of the fifteen event World Match Racing Tour. Hosted by the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the event is sailed in the 33-foot IOD, and will include the reigning event champion and runner-up, the America’s Cup-winning helmsman, the world’s top three and six of the top 10-ranked match-racers and the No. 4-ranked women’s match-racer, all vying for a total prize purse of $100,000. The tour concludes Nov 28-Dec 2 with the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu, Malaysia. -- http://www.bermudagoldcup.com * Only weeks after announcing that Velux is going ahead with its sponsorship of a second 5 Oceans solo round the world race, organizers Clipper Ventures have hit a major snag: the race has been categorically rejected by the Open 60 class in favor of the rival Barcelona World Race, run by Ellen MacArthur's and Mark Turner's OC Group. IMOCA, the Open 60 skippers' association, has highlighted what it calls 'previous problems…with the last two editions of the Velux 5 Oceans' and says 'an internal survey showed the race was mostly not part of the skippers' priorities'. -- Elaine Bunting, Yachting World, full report: http://www.yachtingworld.com/yw/blog/20070904100100blog_elaine_bunting.html 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 Chris Welsh: Bertarelli just doesn't get it. Since when was the goal for the America's Cup to be (more) profitable? * From Laurie Fullerton: I agree with Michelle Slade's comments in Issue 2447 that ACM has a strange view of public relations, topped off by news of Ernesto Bertarelli's gesture in bringing the actual America's Cup to the New York Yacht Club for an impromptu display before his court date with BMW/Oracle over the protocol for the 33rd America's Cup. Lugging the auld Mug to NYC before going into court is kind of like bringing old Christmas gifts given to the ex-wife to a custody hearing. It does make it perfectly clear to me that the current defender is completely detached from all sense of protocol - which is defined in the dictionary as a code of correct conduct. * From Rick Rahm: Do we really care about the Americas Cup? I watched the racing and it was OK, TV coverage was good and the commentators did a decent job. I don't like not having a national identity involved in the design, building and crewing of the boats. The boats and the format are boring. Progress is not always a good thing. Curmudgeon’s Comment: We know that the America’s Cup is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it has no equal regarding event interest and recognition, and as a media, Scuttlebutt is obligated to cover the story. To that end, we will attempt - whenever possible - to maintain a positive perspective and to keep it entertaining. * From Paul Nardone, Jr: (beginning with the lead story in Issue 2443) I am displeased that some racers think that the Race Committee "wastes time and don’t have their act together" or "are having cocktails." May this of been one of the racers that will later condemn the RC for starting a race when a wind shift was imminent. The committee was probably trying to get a better handle on the wind direction, oscillations, and speed to give the racers a more competitive race, and square racecourse. Do you think the RC enjoys setting marks then ten minutes later having to haul them up and reset them? May this might of been one of the racers that didn't read the NOR or Sailing Instructions to find out that the RC can not start a race after 1630 hrs? I always ask the racers or the Organizing Authority as to the style of race course, length of course, and number of races that they would like. I have been on RC for almost ten years, volunteering my time (to my wife's dismay) to organize and run races for others and I guarantee you that working on race committee is just as hard as sailing in the races. The Race Committee always try to do it's best to provide a safe and fun race, not to mention we do not want to receive a "Moosehead" award for a major mistake. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. Special thanks to North Sails, MyBoatsGear.com, and Henri Lloyd. |
