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SCUTTLEBUTT 2866 - Tuesday, June 16, 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 North Sails, Atlantis WeatherGear, and OceanRacing.com. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WORLD SAILING LEAGUE? It was in February 2007 when sailing legends Russell Coutts and Paul Cayard announced plans to create a new annual global sports series - The World Sailing League (WSL). A dozen teams would compete in identical, state-of-the-art 70ft catamarans, with events held at premier sailing locations around the world, vying for the series prize of $2 million. The boats would be built by the end of 2009, with the first full season to be in 2010. That was then… this is now. Scuttlebutt contacted Paul Cayard to get an update: SBUTT: What has become of the WSL? PAUL CAYARD: “Unfortunately the Promoter, Lagos Sports of Portugal, had a number of setbacks and was unable to fulfill his underwriting commitment to get the project started. So the project has died, for now at least.” SBUTT: What had been the greatest challenge for the WSL? PAUL CAYARD: “The problem with getting a new circuit started has always been getting the critical mass together and committed to making it happen. You can create the critical mass with one large funding source or with several “team owners” all committing nearly simultaneously to build and campaign boats. Once you have the critical mass, let’s say 6-8 boats, then others can join the circuit on their own time. But if you don’t have security that there will be this critical mass, it is hard to get anyone to commit to participating.” SBUTT: What did you and Russell see in the sport that motivated the WSL concept? PAUL CAYARD: “We saw an opportunity to provide a better commercial event in the sport of sailing than what currently existed. The attributes we were aiming to improve on were continuity of the event, costs, and excitement. Obviously our event would have independent management. We have studied what works and doesn’t work in sailing and other sports. We planned to deliver spectacular sailing to the public through proximity, new formats, short races, continuity, and repeatability of events (Formula 1 circuit), in very fast but high tech boats, at reasonable cost (NASCAR)." -- Read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/09/0615/ DAVE ASKEW & TEAM ‘FLYING JENNY VI’ WIN CLASS @ A2N ‘Flying Jenny VI’ won their class at the Annapolis-Newport Race with a great crew and a set of year-old sails. Racing with a North 3DL 860 (Carbon/Aramid) mainsail and headsails, a Code Zero Gennaker and a North V-Series asymmetric spinnaker, Dave Askew and his crew were able to stay ahead of their competition. "I'm very happy with my sails. The shapes are good, durability is good and I get great service and good value at North Sails," said Askew. "Because the J/122 has non-overlapping sails, I think it extends the life of the headsails because they're not constantly hitting the mast and rigging. I've never had to alter a new North sail and overall I'm very happy with the whole North package." When performance matters, the choice is clear. http://www.northsails.com PUMA WINS THE BATTLE - ERICSSON 4 WINS THE WAR (June 15, 2009; Day 2) - A third place finish in leg nine has been enough for Ericsson 4 to provisionally win the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. The team now has a 13-point lead over PUMA, with just 12 points available in the rest of the race. “We made a few errors on the leg, but we got what we wanted so we're pretty happy,” said Ericsson 4 skipper Torben Grael. “We were very close in Marstrand, but now it's done. It's finished. We can really enjoy it.” It was a good night for PUMA as well. After a fearsome catfight with the crew of Stockholm-based Ericsson 3, whose crew wanted a win here in front of their home crowd more than anything, PUMA stole victory on the finish line tonight in Sandhamn (an island in the Stockholm archipelago just east of the capital city), and claimed full points for Volvo Ocean Race leg nine. Today’s win was PUMA’s first leg victory in this 10-leg race, although they have had a good showing during the in-port racing. Fighting PUMA for second place overall is Telefónica Blue/Bouwe Bekking, who had the terrible misfortune of being grounded on a rock outside Marstrand shortly after the start. The crew expects to complete this leg and be in Stockholm in time to contest the in-port race on Sunday and thereby pile the pressure back on PUMA. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/kky7cm * Live reports from final 15 miles: http://tinyurl.com/n5d62y * VOLVO OCEAN RACE: Began in Alicante, Spain on Oct. 4, 2008, crewed around the world race in VO 70’s, with ten distance legs and seven In-Port races. Finish is in St Petersburg, Russia on June 27th. Leg 9 from Marstrand, Sweden to Stockholm, Sweden (525 nm) had started on Sunday, June 14th, with the next event to be the Stockholm In-Port Race on June 21st before the final leg (400 nm) from Stockholm to St Petersburg begins on June 25th. -- http://www.volvooceanrace.org/schedule Leg 9 Results: 1. PUMA (USA), Ken Read/USA, Finished June 15, 20:43:10 GMT 2. Ericsson 3 (SWE), Magnus Olsson/SWE, Finished June 15, 20:44:40 GMT 3. Ericsson 4 (SWE), Torben Grael/BRA, Finished June 15, 20:58:55 GMT 4. Telefonica Black (ESP), Fernando Echavarri/ESP, Finished June 15, 21:39:09 GMT 5. Green Dragon (IRL/CHN), Ian Walker/GBR, Finished June 15, 21:58:48 GMT 6. Delta Lloyd (NED), Roberto Bermudez/ESP, Finished June 15, 22:54:45 GMT Telefónica Blue (ESP), Bouwe Bekking/NED, Suspended Racing Team Russia (RUS), Andreas Hanakamp/AUT, Did Not Start Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org Race tracking: http://volvooceanrace.geovoile.com Overall scores: http://www.volvooceanrace.org/rdc/#tab4 HOW THEY PULLED IT OFF (San Francisco, CA) - When the Melges 24 U.S. Nationals ended in a three-way tie for first place last weekend, it was Brian Porter on USA-749 Full Throttle that would ultimately win a record-setting fourth U.S. National Championship title, beating out Vince Brun on USA-553 Bailout in second and Dave Ullman on USA-505 Pegasus 505 in third. But what is more remarkable is how the final race concluded the regatta with all three teams stuck on 20 points a piece. For race eight, the final race of the regatta, Porter was still leading, two points ahead of Ullman, and three ahead of Brun. But at the gun Porter was called OCS, with Brun and Ullman blazing away with a 1-2 finish. As for Porter, here is the story from Kristen Lane, who was top women at 7th overall: “In the start of the last race I started at the boat just above Porter and his Full Throttle team. At 15 seconds to the gun, my tactician Brian Ledbetter said, ‘Stall high, Full Throttle is early’. He was right. Full throttle had pulled the trigger too early. And, they were the last boat to be called over early. They returned to the line so late, their fate seemed determined. But, leave it the Full throttle team and tactician Harry Melges to never give up. “They rolled the dice and banged each corner and before you knew it, they were on the 5th leg of the race and the last beat sitting in 5th place behind Lounge Act. From that point they focused on beating Lounge Act at the finish line, which they did in the very last tack of the race. To say these guys pulled off a miracle win is to adequately describe how they could possibly come from so far behind on what should have been a one-way race course to finish just well enough to win the regatta on a tie breaker.“ -- http://tinyurl.com/lfztr4 * Final results: http://tinyurl.com/lwvcxz DISCOVER: A HIGHER LEVEL OF FIT, COMFORT & PERFORMANCE Yeah, we know - you’ve heard it before and been burned. But here’s the deal: the all new 2009 Aegis line is designed to work better, fit better, and look better. A new jacket, spray top and hybrid bib pant that are loaded with features and designed with the kind of attention to the small details that only happens when gear is designed by sailors for sailors.Become a believer. Visit http://www.AtlantisWeatherGear.com to check out the line and to find an Aegis dealer near you. Discover your Atlantis JOIN THE WORLD’S LARGEST SAILING RALLY It’s the 9th annual Summer Sailstice weekend on June 20th and 21st, the start of summer and the longest sailing days of the year. Summer Sailstice, the international holiday for sailors, encourages you to join sailors worldwide by getting out on the water, signing up for free and posting your sailing and racing plans at summersailstice.com. Wherever you sail and whatever you sail, Summer Sailstice is the weekend to connect with the rest of the world for a celebratory sail. All sailors signed up at summersailstice.com are eligible to win from over 400 prizes from top sailing industry partners with a grand prize of a free one-week BVI charter from The Moorings. Join sailors everywhere and join the world’s largest sailing rally at http://www.summersailstice.com SAILING SHORTS * (Long Beach, CA) - Sally Barkow (Nashotah, WI) and her all female team won the ISAF Grade 3 Ficker Cup, with the victory earning her team entry to compete in the 2010 Congressional Cup, the only open ISAF Grade 1 match race in North America. Only two other women have skippered in the Congressional Cup over the years - J.J. Isler (1993) and Betsy Alison (1999). Finishing second in the Ficker Cup was two-time Congressional Cup winner Dave Perry (Southport, CT). -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7663 * (Newport Beach, CA) - Sweeping line honors through the three-day Invitational Regatta for the Hoag Cup will be the moral victory for John Madden’s TP 52 Stark Raving Mad's, but it was the ORR corrected times that gave top honors to Roy Pat Disney’s 18-year-old Santa Cruz 70 Pyewacket II. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7657 * (Buffalo, NY) - Geoff Becker (Annapolis, MD) repeated as the winner or the Great Lakes International Challenge Cup, the P/C IRA G. ROSS GREAT RACE for the James H. Righter Trophy. Hosted by Buffalo Yacht Club, a collision during the Finals between Becker and Chris VanTol (Detroit, MI) penalized VanTol 2 points, and with the best of 5 format, they were unable to overcome the deficit. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=7665 BOAT SALES DOWN, OPTIMISM UP Here is an excerpt from the Cleveland Boating Examiner, which is doing a series of articles about how the economy is affecting boating-related businesses in the Cleveland area. Rob Morley, President of Riverfront Yacht Services, located in the Flats, is always hashing up creative business ideas. With the economic downturn, Rob is free associating, thinking outside the box more than usual. He shared his latest idea and economic observations in a recent interview: * How is the service end of your business doing? ROB MORLEY: “Boat refrigeration sales are way down. People don’t have enough money to buy good beer, much less enough money to keep it cold. They are now resorting to drinking warm rum instead. This is leading to major hangovers and depression, and calling off work the next day without pay, which is reducing their paychecks further.” * Sad news... how do you suggest solving this disastrous problem? ROB MORLEY: “Government bail-out money should go toward marine refrigeration. Boat dealers could then sell a boat with a free refrigerator and, as another purchase incentive, stock it with cold beer upon sale.” * Don't you think all the free beer could contribute to more of the stereotypical lascivious behavior that boaters are known for? ROB MORLEY: “Beer is fine. Sailors should not drink rum. They turn into pirates. Not much difference between pirates and politicians and we don’t need any more politicians.” Full interview: http://tinyurl.com/BoatRefrigeration FATHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY!! We've got great gifts like Waterproof Offshore Backpacks, Offshore Duffels, Optimum Time watches, Leather & Mylar sailcloth portfolios & wallets. Plus shirts, hats, belts & gloves. Order now for delivery by Father's day and we'll even include a card with your salutation @ no extra charge if you ask. http://www.OceanRacing.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Reader commentary is encouraged, with letters to be submitted to the Scuttlebutt editor, aka, ‘The Curmudgeon’. Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and be no longer than 250 words (letter might be edited for clarity or simplicity). You only get 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 Ken Brink: (re, story in Scuttlebutt 2865) Point number 3 in the "Protest" Section of the "Don't Worry" simplified rules posting seems to be a double negative. Shouldn't it say "If you think there was no foul, continue,,,,,"? * From Ted Cremer, Laser D-8 Secretary: (re, story ‘Culture Clash?’ in Scuttlebutt 2865) I see both sides of the issue having coached Opti regattas and currently competing as a Laser Master and serving as a District Laser Class Secretary. The need for coaching in the Opti class is pretty evident given the size and scope of the major regattas and the number of hours these kids spend on the water. Since we are dealing with kids 10 to 15 years in age, on the water support is key. I have found in the Laser Radial class that the coaching is to a lesser level, but still apparent. I understand that the Annapolis regatta was very frustrating with light breeze and strong current, so the behavior of the coach and parent support boats could have an unintended impact on the performance of a non-coached sailor. Proper positioning of the coach boats (downwind of the start and then moving to a position downwind of the leeward gate) would better insulate the competitors from boat wakes and unintended wind shadows. For the Laser regatta we are hosting this weekend at Sayville, those rules will be in play . . . the only boats up near the weather mark will be official/RC related boats. A quality experience to all is of importance to us and we as hosts hope to balance everyone's needs as best as possible. * From Jon Luscomb: (re, story ‘Culture Clash?’ in Scuttlebutt 2865) I am an old fart laser sailor and in those big races with the kids it is clear they do not sail fairly. I have sailed in both Master Mid-winters East and Open Mid-winters East and the difference is amazing with regard to fair sailing. Kids know the rules, but I would guess that the coaches are teaching how to get away with a foul rather than to accept and pay for it. Kinetics is a good example. The kids allow each other to get away little infractions such as contact at mark roundings or touching marks. It is a quid pro quo. While doing race committee in an Opti state championship (103 boats) a few years back, there was one boy who knowingly had a sail that was not class legal (the Dumbo which had a noticeable roach) and sailed the regatta with it anyway. He placed in the top 3 or maybe won it, but no one would protest him. It was the discussion for the entire event. As it turns out, the PRO convinced the boy (and his parents) that he should RAF for the infraction. It was a big deal that took hours to sort out. Most troubling was the parents attitude and argument that even though the boy sailed unfairly, the results should stand because no one protested and it was not the boys place to withdraw for that reason. -- Read on: http://tinyurl.com/nb4tc3 * From James Barton: (re, story ‘Culture Clash?’ in Scuttlebutt 2865) Tillerman and laserman may be being a bit tough on our current crop of Opti sailors. For those of you who have never been to an Opti Championship, here's how it breaks down: Most big regattas require that every sailor have a coach or a parent on the water, remember these are little kids, often 8 or 9 years old. Most of the kids are members of a Yacht Club Team, or other Racing Team of some sort, that already has a coach. Teams over 9 or 10 sailors sometimes have two coaches. Small teams sometimes "join forces" as there are two or three races going on at the same time. I am not aware of anyone at this year’s Opti Team Trials who had a private coach, although I have seen it at other regattas. There is absolutely nothing wrong with coaches taking wind readings and passing them along to the team before the start. Although at the Team Trials I have attended, the race committees were very communicative and broadcast all race committee activities on VHF radio for everyone to hear. If you want to know the wind direction at the weather mark, all you had to do was listen to your radio. These coaches are rarely highly paid and perform a great service to the sport by teaching the kids, respect for the rules, and respect for each other. To think that any of them are teaching the kids to cheat is ridiculous. * From Richard Jepsen, CEO, OCSC Sailing: (re, Grant Headifen's post on diving v. sailing in Scuttlebutt 2865) Grant makes some good points. Certainly, sailing has a reputation for being 'expensive'. And, online education, of which Grant is a purveyor, is a good step in the right direction.. However, the rhetorical gambit to describe sailing schools with broken furniture and boat dealership buildings in need of paint jobs goes a bit far. I've been to many, many sailing schools and many dealerships. Most do a REALLY good job of making sailing accessible and attractive with their websites and their physical plants. Check out lots of dive shops with PADI certification offered and they look very similar to sailing schools and dealerships..... And, Grant, Blackboards, really? Sailing definitely has something to learn from diving but let's avoid stereotypes that are at least 20 years old. That all said, sailing needs a better market vision, just as diving has created for itself. Part of that vision is education and standardization.. Diving's relative success was based on the setting of reasonable national standards for instructors and divers..It gave the public confidence that they wouldn't be at risk while they learned to dive. That gave it the money and the market base to afford a glossy magazine. While US SAILING doesn't have a glossy magazine, it is working hard with 21st century technology to reach out. if you look at US SAILING'S website, it's newsletter and its video podcast, you'll be impressed with its ability to promote what is fun and unique about the sport. -- Read on: http://blog.tradeonlytoday.com/tradetalk/?p=159 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION “The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.” - Ronald Reagan Special thanks to North Sails, Atlantis WeatherGear, and OceanRacing.com. Preferred supplier list: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
