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SCUTTLEBUTT 2878 - Thursday, July 2, 2009Scuttlebutt 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. Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Today's sponsors are PredictWind.com and Ullman Sails. FROM STOCKBROKER TO PRO SAILOR Mark Mendelblatt and Mark Strube are campaigning for the right to represent the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics. Last week they made a huge statement by winning the Star class in Kiel Week, the fifth event of the ISAF Sailing World Cup circuit, and this week they are preparing for the 95-boat Star Europeans. When away from the Star, Strube is often doing bow for Kristen Lane’s Melges 24. Here is an interview with Strube that is posted on Lane’s Team Brick House website: * On sailing with Mark Mendelblatt: “Mark and I met while sailing for the One World America's Cup team. He was still sailing Lasers at the time and went to Athens (Olympics) in ‘04. He wanted to move into the Star class after that and he and I were a good fit (weight wise). I had been sailing the Star for 10 years at the time. It is a partnership in that communication is key. There is a lot of idea sharing both on and off the water. Logistics is also important. If one of us is at another regatta, the other has to make sure the boat gets to where it needs to go and gets set up. We agree on a lot of things but when there is a disagreement you need to discuss it and not get upset or take it personal. This is a team effort and both of us have the same goals, to medal at the next Olympics. * On becoming a professional sailor: “After graduation I became a stockbroker. I also was doing a lot of sailing. One day I went into my boss’s office to ask off for another regatta. He said that I was taking way to much time off to go sailing and that I should make a decision to sail or continue working there. I decided to take a chance and go for the sailing. I don't regret it at all. I have seen much of the world and met lots of very interesting people. Surprises? There really aren't any. I knew what I was getting into.” Complete interview: http://tinyurl.com/BH-7-1-09 SCOUTING THE COMPETITION It was two years ago when the Morning Light movie was filmed to document a team of young sailors in their quest to compete in the 2,225 nautical mile Los Angeles to Hawaii Transpac Race. Several of the TP52 Morning Light crew are among the 48 entrants for this year’s edition, which has already seen the smaller Division 6 and 7 boats already start on June 29th, with two more starts scheduled on July 2nd and July 5th. The only girl on the Morning Light crew was Genny Tulloch, who will be on the Spencer 65 Ragtime for this race, and had a chance to scout their competition week. Here is her report: “The past two days I had the luck and privilege of getting to go sailing on (Reichel Pugh 100) Alfa Romeo-one of the coolest, sweetest, prettiest, and not to mention FASTEST super-maxis in the world of sailing. With winches powered by push buttons, I felt like the smallest grinder in the world as I mainsheet and traveler caddied on board. The first year that Transpac is letting in boats with stored power has allowed Alfa Romeo’s owner Neville Crichton to come back to the Transpac after doing the race 30 years ago! “He’s in America now (after more than ten years away) ready to launch an assault on the Transpac race, in particular the race record of 6 days 19 hours, currently held by Hasso Plattner’s Morning Glory. My friend and teacher Stan Honey is the navigator on board, and says if the weather turns out to be anything like the forecasts, they should jump the old record by an easy 10 hours….” -- Read on: http://getsailing.org/?p=270 * In Division 6, the One-Design 35 Relentless being doublehanded by Tim Fuller and Erik Shampain remain in the lead but the J/120 J World is closing in on them. In Division 7, which includes the boats in the Aloha Class, Charisma, the 57-foot Sparkman & Stephens design, being raced by Alejandro Perez Calzada from Spain is in the lead. Nineteen boats comprising Divisions 3, 4, and 5 will start on July 2nd at 1300. -- Race website: http://www.transpacrace.com EXPERT WIND FORECASTS - FREE 1 MONTH TRIAL! Want a competitive edge in your next regatta? Use a forecast from PredictWind.com! We are the choice of champion sailors around the world...read about it at http://www.predictwind.com/Customer+Feedback.html Using proprietary technology we generate 2 independent forecasts twice daily. For Offshore Sailors we generate 7 day forecasts with truly global coverage. For Inshore Sailors we use an incredible 1km resolution model with local topography to generate a forecast of unparalleled accuracy for your sailing area. High resolution equals better accuracy. Get your FREE 1 month trial at http://www.PredictWind.com WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR Marstrand, Sweden (July 1, 2009; Day 2) - The warm and sunny weather continued here in Marstrand, which brought spectators out in force today to watch the repechage round robin at Match Cup Sweden. As the crowd lounged in swim suits on the rocks overlooking the race area, eight teams competed in the repechage to determine who would make it to the next stage, the Quarter Final round, where eight will be competing for their share of the 1,000,000 SEK ($132,000 US) total prize purse in this fifth stage of the World Match Racing Tour. With six quarter final spots determined in the initial round robin series, the repechage will advance only the top two teams. Racing ended today with four of the seven flight repechage completed. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, Ian Williams (GBR) Bahrain Team Pindar, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, and Peter Wibroe (DEN) Wibroe Racing Team all ended the day with three wins and one loss Alongside the Tour event this week, Match Cup Sweden is also playing host to a women’s match race event. Claire Leroy (FRA) and local favourite Anna Kjellberg (SWE) currently lead the pack of eight entries after winning all three of their matches. Lone North American entrant Sally Barkow (USA) was the only entrant to be winless. -- Complete report: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com/da/98710 Match results: http://www.worldmatchracingtour.com/mcs09results GROWING THE SPORT Thinking back to when the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race fleet came to Boston in April/May, and recalling the crowds that filled the race village during the weekends, the question is if an opportunity was lost during that occasion. The village was filled with sailors, but also filled with curious non-sailors, either wondering about the event, or just wanting to be at what seemed to be THE bar in Boston atop the PUMA clothing store. The opportunity, it would seem, is being seized at Cowes Week, this mega UK event that typically attracts around 1,000 yachts and 8,500 competitors. However, in this instance, it is an event for the attending non-racing crowd that deserves to be recognized. Using the Laser SB3 keelboat, a program has been launched following the racing each day, where members of the public can experience the thrill of the sport. Each SB3 is to be helmed by a qualified skipper, who will teach up to three crew members how to sail, which will be followed by a race against nine other SB3s. All the participant needs is a pair of soft soled shoes; all other essentials including spray tops and buoyancy aids will be provided. -- Scuttleblog, read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/07/sport-growth.html YOU'RE NOT A REAL BOATER UNTIL YOU HAVE... While the U.S. Senate passed a resolution declaring July 1 as National Boating Day, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) takes a humorous look at boating and sailing and wants every American to know they cannot be considered a "real" boater until they have: * Forgotten to install the drain plug before launching the boat: Suddenly realizing you're ankle deep in water, scrambling to contort over the transom to install the plug, or rushing to get the boat back on the trailer faster than a NASCAR pit crew really means "you've arrived" in recreational boating. * Contracted a case of "raccoon eyes": Caused by permanently attached sunglasses and the sun's rays waves reflecting off the water, the "raccoon eyes" look is characterized by a mask-like whiteness around the eyes surrounded by sunburned cheeks, nose and forehead. Cold, rainy weather is the only known cure. * Sent boating-themed holiday cards: Sailing Santas, lighthouses with Christmas wreaths, Rudolph pulling a boat full of toys, boating-themed holiday cards keep the boating bug alive in the darkest winters. Non-boating family and friends will just think you've gone off the deep end. * Purchased a Jimmy Buffet CD: A favorite of sailboaters, usually accompanied by a blender and a shaker of salt attached to a tether so it does not get lost. -- Read on: http://www.boatus.com/news/PR_Full.asp?ID=419 LOOS WINS J/22 WORLDS POWERED BY ULLMAN SAILS Congratulations to Dutchman Gaston Loos and his crew aboard NED 1541 who won the highly competitive 2009 J/22 World Championships on Lake Garda, Italy, June 13-20. The team competed with Ullman Sails upwind inventory, battling a closely matched fleet where the top positions changed daily. Four of the top ten finishers were powered by Ullman Sails, including 2006 World Champion Jeroen Den Boer who claimed 4th overall. When the boats are even, you want sails that are consistently fast with proven results. Ullman Sails – Make an investment in your performance. Contact a local Ullman loft and visit http://www.ullmansails.com SAILING SHORTS * WLIW21 announced the exclusive broadcast premiere of Sailing Channel Theater, a new production from TheSailingChannel.TV, and the only television series of its kind. Premiering Sunday, July 5 at 1 p.m. (ET) on WLIW21, the half-hour series will feature classic and critically acclaimed films that capture the magic and adventure of sailing. Episodes will stream online at thesailingchannel.tv and wliw.org/sailing beginning the week of July 5. -- Read on: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7743 * The mid-year update from the National Sailing Hall of Fame is available here: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7744 * (Newport, R.I.) - Nineteen teams representing 14 countries will be participating in the inaugural New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup regatta, September 15-19, sponsored by Rolex and Sperry Top-Sider. Sailed in local NYYC 42s, the event concept is to bring together amateur yacht-club teams to compete against teams from around the world in a fleet racing event. -- http://www.nyyc.org/WorldInvitationalCup/ * Thomas Coville and his 105-foot maxi-trimaran Sodeb'O is on stand-by in New York for an attempt to break his own solo North Atlantic record, with the objective to cover the 2,980 miles route to Lizard Point (South-West tip of England) in less than 5 days 19 hours 29 minutes and 20 seconds. Also in New York with record breaking aspirations is Pascal Bidégorry and his 131-foot maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire V and the 103-foot maxi-trimaran Groupama III skippered by Franck Cammas, but these later two will be seeking the crewed transatlantic crossing record. * VOTE NOW: Hosted by ESPN, the annual ESPY Awards commemorate the past year in sports. Among the 37 categories, 2008 Paralympic sailing gold medalist Maureen McKinnon-Tucker is one of the four nominees in the "Female Athlete with a Disability" category. There's not another sailor in any other category. Finalists are determined by fan voting. There is no easier way to support the sport of sailing than to vote for Maureen. Additional details here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2009/06/2009-espys.html PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include the Red, White, and Blue, plus wipe-outs, launches, lightning storms, marathons, adventures, superheroes, and flashy crew gear. 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/09/0702/ VIDEO OF THE WEEK The Chesapeake Bay Log Canoes average about 30 feet in length and have a crew of 5 to 22 depending on size. Most are over 50 years old and some are over 100 years old. Log canoes were originally seafood harvesting workboats used on the Chesapeake. They get their name from the log construction of the original hulls, a feature still visible from within the cockpit, although they now have a fiberglass outer skin. The canoes are capable of exceeding 12kts and in ideal conditions can step up on a plane. They are very narrow relative to length, requiring the use of 10 to 15 foot wooden planks ("springboards" or just "boards") with crew weight in order to provide leverage against the rotational pressure of the massive sails. Log canoes do not have fixed keels in part because of the very shallow waters where they race. The summer racing season occurs mainly in Saint Michaels, Maryland, with other races held in Oxford and Chestertown, Maryland. Click here for this week’s video: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/09/0702/ * If you have a video you like, please send your suggestion for next week’s Video of the Week to mailto:craig@sailingscuttlebutt.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Please submit your comments to the Scuttlebutt editor (aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’). Published letters must include writer's name and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). 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. -- To submit a Letter: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- To post on the Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Alistair Murray, Melbourne, AUS: I was interested to read your item “Sailing Goes Hollywood”, with Zac Efron snapped sailing by the paparazzi (in ‘Butt 2877). I have always believed we need the public to see more high profile people sailing, to give our sport some great exposure. In October in Sydney we are hosting the World Masters Games and one of the classes participating is the Tasar dinghy. Imagine our delight to have it confirmed that one of the competitors is Prince Frederick of Denmark, who is a real celebrity here as a result more than anything of marrying an Aussie! On our local “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” show last night, the question was “What sport does Prince Frederick participate in?” The answer, on national TV, was “sailing” with “Tasars” at the “World Masters’ Games” as elaboration. Promotion/exposure of three great brands! Bring it on! * From Neil W. Humphrey, Vancouver, BC: (re, electric winches in Scuttlebutt 2877) Dandy as there is now no reason to introduce or mentor youth sailors into big boats as the less young can do everything with these Stored Power Systems (SPS). What a lame excuse for using SPS. * From Tyler Carder: (re, electric winches in Scuttlebutt 2877) Back in the day, I mean WAY back, the challenge of navigating in offshore races was huge, a helluva lot tougher than it is today- if you didn't know celestial navigation, you didn't navigate. How many contemporary racing navigators still know that arcane art? Or at the very least, one had to know how to operate a RDF (remember them?) Then came LORAN A, then LORAN C, then SATNAVs and GPS... and nowdays, any half-wit landlubber bozo can turn on a chart plotter and GPS and autopilot and essentially have the machinery take him where he want to go. (That is, until he loses electrical power...) So now we have electric winches on racing boats. To a mossy old shellback like me, electric winches on a racing boat sure sound like... cheating. Sure, on maxi-boats like Speedboat or something, where the loads are so unimaginably mindboggling, electric (or otherwise powered) winches may be absolutely necessary. But on a King 40?!? Give me a break! As you say, the electric winches "brilliantly allow the crew to trim the sails while minimizing effort and maximizing proper crew weight placement..." Well, duh! Some dude never has to leave the weather rail; he pushes a button to trim the sails. But... but... but... on a 40 foot boat, it just ain't kosher! Don't care what the IRC, ISAF, US SAILING or any of 'em say. When racing, at least on a boat like a King 40, using electric winches (or electrically-controlled hydraulic winches, or keel rams, or rigging controls, or ANYTHING) ought to be wrong. C'mon guys, get your asses off the rail, grab a freakin' winch handle, and start grinding! * From Scott Perry: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 2877) With all respect, Tony Parker is still competitive because he committed himself to be, regardless of his physical age. We should celebrate the fact that we compete in a sport that makes it possible for “experienced” sailors, who keep themselves fit, to use their experience and wits to beat the younger guys. Our sport requires planning, training, analysis, and yes, physical skills. Our sport’s diversity makes it appealing to competitors, spectators, and supporters. * From Michael H. Koster: Reference Francis Carter's Marion-Bermuda letter in ‘Butt 2877 - I suspect the primary reason for the decline in this year’s Marion-Bermuda Race participants is the recession. The 2007 and 2005 M-B races saw 72 and 69 boats respectively. Those who do not have the deep pockets are either trying to keep their jobs and/or their business afloat. Their crew face the same predicaments. Many cannot make the time commitment that these offshore races require or for that matter, weeklong regattas. Offshore racing gets more expensive every year. Entry fees, insurance, provisioning, boat preparation, Safety at Sea seminars, air fares and accommodations all add up. The challenge is to keep these races affordable without sacrificing safety. I disagree with Mr. Carter's stating that the Marion Bermuda Race was the original Corinthian race for cruising yachts (I assume to Bermuda). As John Rousmaniere chronicles in "A Berth to Bermuda", the 1906 Bermuda Race organized by Tom Day required boats to be cruisers and the crew all amateurs. It did not take long for the format to change as professionals and larger yachts were permitted to race in 1907. The original Marion Bermuda Race organizers essentially resurrected Tom Day's concept of a corinthian Bermuda Race. Hopefully, both the Newport and Marion races will attract participants in the future as each race caters to a different crowd (5 Marions, 1 Newport). * From Jon Alvord: (re, letter about Marion-Bermuda Race in Scuttlebutt 2877) This simply isn't completely true. At least the Marion-Bermuda is allowing Mulithulls, which the Newport race will not. And then there are size issues. How a Mini transat can meet the ORC Regs and be competitive is amazing, with a 31-foot Tri, I would have to carry 30-40 gallons of fuel, and then water (not really feasible). * From By Baldridge: Congratulation to the sailors at the Youth Champs and the Laser North Americans. Does anyone else wonder why these two regattas overlapped so that a sailor could not compete in both? There may be only 52 weeks in the year but these two events for Laser and Laser Radial are arguably the premier events for those classes for the year. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Apparently the Laser Class had scheduled their dates for the North Americans before the Youth Champ dates were confirmed. FOURTH OF JULY In the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Since July 4th is on a Saturday, Scuttlebutt World Headquarters will be closed on Friday to prepare for the celebration (list: find cooler, get ice, chill adult beverages, etc.). There will be no newsletter on Friday - look for the next issue of Scuttlebutt to return on Monday, July 6th. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Three United States Presidents have died on July 4: Thomas Jefferson (1826), John Adams (1826), and James Monroe (1831). Special thanks to PredictWind.com and Ullman Sails. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
