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SCUTTLEBUTT 3447 - Thursday, October 13, 2011Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Ullman Sails and J World San Diego. FRIENDS AND MENTORS Dawn Nelson, who sails out of Chandlers Landing Yacht Club in Rockwall, Texas, is a Child & Family Therapist and a sailing mom. Here she provides her professional and personal experience regarding one design fleet growth: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever walked into a party and felt like the whole room stopped and stared at you? If you're part of a fleet that is trying to encourage kids to sail with you, being a "strong fleet" won't help at all if everyone is staring at the kids when they come to the big party, aka the regatta. There are two things you should consider: 1) Are you making the kids feel welcome, off the water as well as on the water? It's easy for adults to sail with the kids, teach them during the races, and then at the dock, walk over to the keg and talk 'above' the kids. If they aren't welcome at your table, they won't want to be on the boat for very long. If you answered 'yes', are the kids being included in the sailing discussions at the table? Are adults talking to them, not condescending down to them? 2) Speaking of condescending, when you get an experienced youth sailor in a regatta, cheating is a really good way to get kids to choose a different boat class. That kid at the helm of that keelboat, the one that another boat's skipper is yelling at, trying to intimidate him to get off the starting line, has probably sailed in more regattas because he doesn't have to work all summer. If he wanted to, the kid could quote the RRS sections and numbers, and successfully protest for violating his right-of-way and lack of sportsmanship. But he won't do that; he'll just never sail your boat class again (true story)! At 9, 7, and 4 years old, my sons fell in love with sailing on a J/22; just them and one extremely patient skipper. The boys have since raced in national and international championships in eight different boat classes in eight years. Yes, they love high-tech and speed, and are currently begging for a Nacra F18, but on any given Wednesday night, you'll find a 17 year old working spin on a J/92, the 15 year old on the helm of a J/22, and the 12 year old cranking sheets on a Hunter 35....because it's the relationships that make the difference. The sailing crowd are friends AND mentors. COMMENT: We can talk all day long about how great youth sailing is these days, but if there isn't a bridge to connect youth sailors with the rest of the sport, than youth sailing is no better than youth soccer or youth baseball. With no alternatives, when a young sailor ages out of the youth sailing programs, they age out of the sport. -- Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt HIGH-TECH WILL NOT THE AMERICA'S CUP MAKE There are a lot of questions surrounding the format for the 34th America's Cup. The two big ones are at the root of the changes: 1) will AC34 draw interest to the event and, 2) will AC34 draw interest to sailing. Bill Sandberg, in his October column for WindCheck Magazine, remains unconvinced on both: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- One year ago this month, my column was entitled "America's Cup. R.I.P." I'm happy to report that I stand by my statement one year later. I must admit, I'm not an ardent follower of the America's Cup, as I belong to the Flintstones generation, but I think I keep up enough to be somewhat knowledgeable. What I see is the America's Cup being turned into a video game. The AC Committee was very smart in enlisting the aid of world-class sailor and Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Stan Honey. Among Stan's non-sailing achievements was the creation of the yellow line you see on your TV screen showing where the first down line is in football games. However, technology will not the America's Cup make. This is yet another high-tech way to attract non-sailing young people into sailing. In my opinion, it's not going to work. While these boats may be fast, 40 knots is a turtle's pace compared to the 200 mph speeds of NASCAR. If someone doesn't know port from starboard, they still won't care. What are the most exciting parts of match racing to a sailor? Dial-ups before the start and tacking duels upwind. Those won't happen with catamarans. I contend what might get non-sailors involved in the AC. Going back to nation vs. nation would help - look what it did for the Miracle on Ice of the 1980 hockey Olympics? Not a lot of hockey fans in the U.S., but the storybook tale took the country by storm. But why do that when with the proper checkbook you can have the best designer, builder, sailmaker or sailor that money can buy. A noted yachting writer recently commented to a friend of mine that the America's Cup has a long history of contentious sorts, but it has continued and technological breakthroughs have trickled down and benefitted the general sailing public. There have certainly been disagreements in the past involving huge egos and some cheating going on, but it was played on a far smaller stage. The fighting that went on between Bertarelli and Ellison was played out in court. Sailing gets very little coverage from the mainstream media, but this battle got picked up by everyone. Even the New York Times, which gives more coverage to the Dog Show than it does to sailing, ran item after item. Of course, it only played to the perception of the sport by the average non-sailor: It's a rich guy's sport. Anyone say Cliff Robertson's (may he rest in peace) role in 'Wind'? -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/WindCheck-101211 QUALITY FOUNDED IN ONE DESIGN Ullman Sails is often perceived as a one design sailmaker. In reality, this distinction is the reason why we are the choice sailmaker for both cruising and racing sails. After years of racing and testing sails in one design fleets, our designers use the same development techniques to build and deliver consistently fast big boat sails. Our sailmakers also follow a "one design" standard, closely monitoring the quality of every sail from construction to finishing. Be confident that every detail is built to the highest standard. Ullman Sails - Invest in your performance. www.ullmansails.com. PAN AM GAMES The XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico are scheduled for October 13-29, with the sailing competition to take place at the Vallarta Yacht Club located in Puerto Vallarta, approximately five hours away from Guadalajara. Racing begins on October 17th with medal racing on the 23rd. The sailing competition will feature nine events, including four Olympic classes - Laser (Men), Laser Radial (Women) and RS:X (Men and Women) - and five non-Olympic, open classes - Hobie 16, J/24, Lightning, Snipe and Sunfish. Canada will send 13 athletes to compete in 7 events. Here is the roster: http://tinyurl.com/CYA-Pan-Am-2011 USA will send 16 athletes to compete in 9 events. Here is the roster: http://tinyurl.com/USSTAG-Pan-Am-2011 With the 2011 Pacific hurricane season not ending until November 30th, Hurricane Jova landed just south of Puerto Vallarta as a Category 2 storm early Wednesday, delivering 100 mph winds and heavy rains to the Mexican port of Manzanillo before dawn. US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics meteorologist Doug Charko provides early insight as to how this will affect the sailing events: "Hurricane Jova has weakened to tropical storm strength Wednesday evening. Despite its close proximity, Puerto Vallarta was protected from the stronger winds due to sheltering of the surrounding mountains. Rain has been the issue in Puerto Vallarta with surface flooding in some areas. The rain and thunderstorms will end overnight and conditions will be much brighter on Thursday as the leftovers of Jova continue to move north. "Even so, the remnants of Jova and ex-hurricane Irwin to the southwest will modify the normal surface gradient pattern for a few days yet, so the wind may not be typical for this time of year although no strong winds are expected. Over the weekend the normal pattern should re-establish with the afternoon SW winds expected for the first day of racing on Monday." HURRICANE KATRINA - SIX YEARS LATER Although the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans, LA has made it back to nearly full strength, allowing it to be able to host the J/22 Worlds this week and several other regional and national regattas in recent years, other marinas in the area are nowhere near their pre-Katrina levels, hampering the sailing community. The Municipal Yacht Harbor was the area's largest marina before Katrina with approximately 650 boat slips. But Warner Tureaud, president of the Municipal Yacht Harbor Management Corporation Board, said the city-owned harbor is working with 135 slips, none with running water or power. "The storm destroyed the greater majority of the slips, and it left a lot of the other ones in a state that aren't safe to use," Tureaud said. He added that the 135 slips that are available are being rented but at a "vastly reduced" rate. However, the board has been working with FEMA to determine the amount of damage the harbor suffered and how much money it should receive for repairs. But the two organizations haven't seen eye to eye, Tureaud said. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/NOLA-101211 WORLDS: New Orleans, LA (October 12, 2011) - Local Benz Faget scored two bullets and a sixth-place tally to lead the 64-boat fleet at the Allstate Sugar Bowl J/22 World Championship on the first day of racing. With crew Randall Richmond and Thomas Sweeney, Fats stands with 8 points. Jim Barnash, helming his Rochester, NY team, has 14 points in second place; Fred Hunger from Cleveland, OH rests in third with 23 points. During the day's races, breeze started at 5-8 knots but decreased throughout the afternoon, with sunny skies and temperatures around 80 degrees. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12754#12754 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Is your event listed on the Scuttlebutt Event Calendar? This free, self-serve tool is the easiest way to communicate to both sailors and sailing media. View all the events at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar INDUSTRY NEWS UPDATES The Industry News category of the Scuttlebutt Forum provides an opportunity for companies to announce new products and services. Here are some of recent postings: * Karma Yacht Sales recognized by Beneteau USA * Margaret Podlich promotion at BoatU.S. * Sebago's new category of high performance footwear: Triwater View updates here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/industry_news SAILING SHORTS * The Vanguard 15 U.S. Nationals were held at Houston Yacht Club in Shoreacres, Texas on October 8-9. Seven races were completed on Saturday, with Sunday opening as stormy and overcast. A strong storm blew through the first race on Sunday, resulting in that race and all others being cancelled for the day. Danny Pletsch from Larchmont Yacht Club dominated the fleet, winning every race. Philip Crain from Houston was second and Katy Cummings from Seabrook, Texas was third. Results: http://tinyurl.com/V15-101211 * Islamorada, FL (October 12, 2011) - After calm winds cancelled the practice races on Tuesday at the 2011 A Class North American Championship, light winds today again foiled the 40 entrants on the first day of competition. Racing will continue through Sunday. -- http://www.usaca.info * Almeria, Spain (October 12, 2011) - The public literally arrived in their thousands on the opening day of the Extreme Sailing Series Act 8, making the most of Spain's national Bank Holiday. The 11 Extreme 40s took to the water for the opening salvo of the stadium racing, where a light sea breeze dominated the day of this penultimate round. The three-time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie and his team on Oman Air are at the top of the leaderboard after four races. -- Full story: http://tinyurl.com/ESS-101211 * (October 12, 2011) - The rankings released by ISAF today show that Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) has retained her place as World #1 in the Women's Match Race Rankings whilst Francesco Bruni (ITA) has moved to the top of the Open Match Race Rankings for the first time. -- Full report: http://www.sailing.org/news/37231.php * This weekend three fleets of ocean racing sailboats power up for the third annual Campbell Cup, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club (CA). The event is named for the late Michael (Mike) J. Campbell, a longtime member of Long Beach Yacht Club and the keenly competitive co-owner of the Kernan 70, Peligroso. Campbell died of cancer in 2008, but his boat sails on, now raced successfully by Mexican businessman Lorenzo Berho. Seven boats are entered in the West Coast 70 class, which will be joined by eight Farr 40s and four i52s, a spinoff of the TP52 class. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12752 * United States Yacht Shows, organiser of the annual sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, has reported that the 42nd version of the sailboat exhibition drew over 50,000 visitors, slightly ahead of 2010's show. Final tallies are yet to be completed. This year's United States Sailboat Show had 200 boats, three dozen catamarans, and nearly 20 premiering boats in water, including a display of antique and classic boats. The show featured daily seminars, and interactive workshop and demos. -- IBI Plus, read on: http://tinyurl.com/IBI-101211 VISIT J WORLD SAN DIEGO THIS WINTER Whether you just need a refresher, want to start or further your racing career, or just want to up your sailing skills, visit J World San Diego this winter. Our expert instructors will have you at the top of your game and ready for your next offshore adventure or trip around the buoys. Contact us today and use the offer code 'scuttlebutt' to get 25% off our winter specials, including December 26-30. http://www.jworldsandiego.com, info@jworldsandiego.com, 619-224-4774. GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Mark Reynolds: I find it hard to fathom that I won't see Hugo Schreiner (Eight Bells, Scuttlebutt 3446) anymore or crack up from his quick wit. He could crack a joke about any subject that would come up. The first time I sailed with him, as we left the dock and he was putting away the paddle, I reached forward to help pull the jib in and he made it very clear that was his area. With the paddle in his hand he said if I touched it again he would use the paddle to make me look like a beaver. Hugo was a super crew, physically fit like no other at that time, and focused on doing the best he could at all times. He would straight leg hike off the starting line, all 6'7". One time in the final race of the Bacardi Cup, we had to beat John Kostecki and started just to leeward of him. Hugo went into a straight leg hike and the strap broke. He had kept one hand on the jib sheet and was able to get back into the boat but we had lost John. Hugo was pumped up and hiked without a strap on that beat and we came back and got John. When Hugo did something he did it all the way. When he got his first BMW bike, Hal Haenel had a bike, Vince got one and I got one too. The difference was Hugo got fully into it, riding everywhere. I asked him one day on the phone if he had ridden his bike to work and he replied "you leave your dick at home?" He also got a Ducati that he would take to the track and even laid it down one day and broke some ribs. Of course he was wearing a helmet! Hugo didn't waste any time; he bought a house about a year ago and had a housewarming party the first night he had it. He had already gutted most of the interior earlier that day. I will really miss Hugo. -- Forum, http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=12745 * From Ian Morrison: Regarding the story about helmets in Scuttlebutt 3445, anyone who is concerned about the appearance of wearing head protection while sailing should consider a bump cap insert for a baseball cap. Go to Amazon and type "bump cap insert" into the search line. Options exist for all wallets. My wife has been wearing one for years (no-one has noticed!) * From Seymour Dodds: On the topic of helmets for sailing safety, how many is it that get bonked by the boom? The U.S. Coast Guard (Dept of Homeland Security) publishes annual accident statistics, but unfortunately they don't have a boom bonking stat: http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.aspx Based on 40 years of boating accident reports, they say to wear lifejackets and - the big one - don't drink alcohol. Not a one boom bonking death in last year's 23 sail-related deaths. That's cruising, racing and big ocean deliveries. Wanker, pros and wannabees. Still helmet hustlers could argue yacht racing accidents are under-reported. Only the insurance companies know for sure, but the Machiavelli in me has a sneaky solution. Usually the S.I.s say "all boats must obey State and Federal laws." I know of a compound fracture finger at this year's Big Boat Series which clearly needed something beyond first aid, which also means an accident report was required within 48 hours. If it was not filed you could protest and get the boat tossed. Boy I'd love to see the US Sailing Appeal on that one! Helmet manufacturers should support their claims with data - not anecdotes. And with the "Wear Helmets" pennant up just below the "wear lifejackets" flag, those who need advertising revenue could move on to another issue to drum up reader response. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION The most beautiful fashion accessory is a smile. SPONSORS THIS WEEK IYRS - Harken - North Sails - Gowrie Group - Salt Harbor Studio Doyle Sails - Team One Newport - LaserPerformance - Ullman Sails JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Summit Yachts - New England Ropes Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
