SCUTTLEBUTT No. 773 March 15, 2001
Scuttlebutt is a digest of yacht racing news of major significance; commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American emphasis. Corrections, contributions, press releases and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome.
ADMIRALâS CUP
(Itâs obvious that the Brits are upset about the USA decision to not send a team to this yearâs Admiralâs Cup. Here are two excepts from a long story by Andy Rice on the Madforsailing website in the UK.)
* The Americans have little excuse for not fielding a team for the Admiral's Cup this summer, according to yacht charter organisations in the UK. Jonny Faulkner, a director of race charter and management company Race 1, said he had six Sydney 40s available for charter at a cost of £25,000 for the Admiral's Cup and the period leading up to the event, including the Sydney 40 World Championships.
Responding to US Sailing's Ken Morrison, who said the lack of availability of an IC45 or Sydney 40 was preventing their attendance in Cowes this year, Faulkner told madforsailing: "The spokesman for the American team doesn't know what he is talking about. Our charter fee of £25,000 for a 6-7 week period is up on our website - it has been in the public domain for a long time."
Faulkner said he thought the Americans had tied up a deal with Karol Jablonski, the owner of a Polish-registered Sydney 40 called MK Cafe. "The deal effectively offered them a fully professional set-up with the deposit paid, and to my knowledge that deal had been in place for two to three months, so I don't what's going on. I don't know if they have something they're trying to cover up."
Don Genitempo, manager of the US team, had told madforsailing yesterday that he thought a properly funded Sydney 40 campaign would cost close to half a million dollars, but Faulkner dismissed that as ridiculous. "Our charter boats come with a good set of North 3DL training sails, so they would need to spend about £20,000 on a good set of new sails, plus the cost of bringing over a professional crew and accommodating them. Of course, if they want to stay in a castle while they're here, that's their choice."
Peter Morton of Farr International also dismissed Morrison's claims that there was no competitive IC45 available to them. "Sal Giordano said he would come with Heatwave if a fully professional Sydney 40 was made available to the US team. But he will not come unless that is in place." Which begs the question why the MK Cafe arrangement has not been continued.
* Ken Morrison of US Sailing was unable to give a telephone interview to madforsailing because he is recovering from recent vocal surgery, but he responded by email: "The press release tells the whole story. I do not plan to embellish this. The situation is that playing the game at the Admiral's Cup takes a great deal of money. Ask any owner from the US who has done it in the past 10 years.
"At present we have found no owners in the United States interested in spending the kind of money it takes to field a competitive team this year except in the Farr 40 one-design class, and they are not interested in doing it in any other class." - Andy Rice, Madforsailing website.
Full story: http://www.madforsailing.com/
Steinlager Line 7 Cup
AUCKLAND, NZ (March 14, 2001) - The third day of the Steinlager Line 7 Cup, the fourth event of the Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour, featured more of the same as Team New Zealand continued its dominance on the water.
The day began with the completion of Round Robin One. Gavin Brady, of the Prada Challenge for the 2003 America's Cup, started the day strong, recording three wins to close out Round Robin One. His strong finish placed him in a tie for first place with Team New Zealand's Bertrand Pace and Cameron Appleton with eight (8) wins entering the second round of racing.
In Round Robin Two of the regatta, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Bertrand Pace and Swedish Match Grand Prix Sailing Tour Championship points leader Magnus Holmberg led all skippers, posting records of four wins and one loss (4-1). By virtue of his strong showing Pace overtook teammate Cameron Appleton (three wins and two losses on the day) to take the overall lead. Appleton stands in a tie for second place with Brady who notched three wins and three losses (3-3) in the round. Holmberg is just one win off the pace in fourth place and is on the brink of advancing to the semi-finals.
Nicola Celon of the Prada Challenge was the spoilsport of the day as he defeated both Pace and Barker in successive matches blocking the Kiwis from gaining any breathing room on the rest of the field. Unfortunately for Celon he remains buried down the leaderboard with an overall record of five wins and eleven losses (5-11).
The day featured beautiful conditions tailor made to match racing and, with the windward mark set just off Hobson Wharf, the Waitmata Harbor venue where a large crowd of spectators gathered midday to watch the action. - Shawn McBride
Overall Standings: Bertrand Pace (NZ) 12-4; Cameron Appleton (NZ) 11-5; Gavin Brady (ITA) 11-6; Magnus Holmberg (SWE) 10-6; Dean Barker (NZ) 9-6; Rod Davis (ITA) 9-7; Chris Dickson (USA) 9-7; Jesper Radich (DEN) 7-9; Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) 6-10; Nicola Celon (ITA) 5-11; Andy Green (GBR) 4-12; Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 3-13. - www.steinlagerline7cup.co.nz
SWMBO
It's your boat.
www.pyacht.com
Yves Parlier
Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) confirmed during the radio chat with the Vendee Globe Race HQ that given the current, favourable weather forecast, he should arrive in Les Sables dâOlonne at around 1700hrs French time, Friday 16th March. The tide will not allow him to enter the channel before 1745 hrs. However, that is the rising tide and so one can lessen the margin either side for safetyâs sake. Yves insisted that he wanted to get in as soon as he possibly could, in mind of the enormous media schedule he will have to plunge into as soon as he returns. - Philippe Jeantot, http://www.vendeeglobe.com
LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON leweck@earthlink.net
(Letters selected to be printed may be edited for clarity, space (250 words max) or to exclude unfounded speculation or personal attacks. This is not a bulletin board or a chat room - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. We don't publish anonymous letters, but will withhold your e-mail address on request.)
* From: Chris Caswell chriscaswell@compuserve.com I'm interested that in all the discussions of popularizing sailing and comparing it to stadium sports no one has mentioned the short-lived "stadium sailing" series that took place in swimming pools across the country. Sponsored by Chevy, competitors sailed slalom courses in mini-12s using huge fans for wind. Spectators cheered from bleachers, it was all quite visible and great fun. I only attended one in Long Beach, but it was a giggle. I know that similar windsurfing events indoors in Europe have had incredible attendance. Perhaps sailing just needs to find a better way for spectators than standing on the beach or waiting weeks or months to see it on TV.
* From: "M. Therrien" vice_commodore@cal-sailing.org As an officer of a community sailing program that is proudly "dragging the general public into sailing" I have to take exception to comments suggesting that this will "certainly destroy the sport as we know it." While most of our members take up sailing too late in life to climb to the lofty heights of a Paul Cayard, more than a couple of people who have learned to sail at our humble club are now regularly racing on boats like Farr 40's, Santa Cruz 50's, Melges 24's, 11:metres and Antrim 27's (Not to mention all the others sailing 5o5's, Santana 22's, Merit 25's, Catalina 27's, etc.). The yacht club next door is certainly grateful for the unending flow of fresh crew meat.
So instead of looking down on the riff-raff at your local community sailing program, give us your whole-hearted support. A cash donation now and then is much appreciated (and usually tax-deductible), and please remember us when you have equipment that youâre not using anymore. And if there is no community sailing program in your area help get one started-- because it's a sure fire way to get more people into the sport.
* From: Jeff Martin, International Laser Class Association office@laserinternational.org On TV coverage Geoff Emanuel writes in Butt 770 that "unless or until sailing becomes a participation sport like golf..." In the UK sailing is the second largest participation sport (behind angling and ahead of golf)! I suggest the difference is sailing does not have the big money sponsorship that professional golf has. If we did we could buy TV coverage - another chicken and egg.
Geoff is right about fleet racing in one designs e.g. Farr 40's. If I remember an international media conference correctly the highest viewing figures from the '87 America's Cup in Perth came from the fleet race series with 10 plus 12 metres all approaching the weather mark in 25 knots and big waves. That was exciting.
CURMUDGEONâS COMMENT: Thatâs the last word this thread is now officially dead!
* From: David Munge munge@compuserve.com What a great opportunity for the all the rest of the US Sailors, you can charter Sydney 40s from www.u2canrace1.com , the Farr 40 you already have, the 45 must be available.
This will be a massive year in Cowes, whilst all the superstars are being picky and complaining, get your selves organized into the US East Coast Team or what ever, and take this opportunity to compete in a great Bi annual event.
Common Guys , what has happened to the pioneer spirit, wagons roll, and worry about them Injuns some other time.
* From: "Brian Janney" b_janney@hotmail.com I also heard that New Zealand will not be forming a team because of lack of interest in the IC 45 and the Sydney 40. What does this tell you about the type of boats selected for this years Admiral's Cup?
* From: Jay Price jprice@nando.com To some degree the organizers have brought this crisis on themselves by their original decision to select the Sydney 40. It was clear they figured out this was a mistake when they finally caved in and picked the Farr 40, too. Many folks would probably like to see Farr's near monopply on the big-boat one design market loosened a bit - more competition in the design world would certainly be a healthy thing for racing. But the Sydney call was a bad one.
* From: "Fin Beven" FinBeven@email.MSN.com (edited to our 250-word limit) It's way-old news, but one of my issues is the "new" starting sequence. I sure don't know what the "right" answer is, but it just seems to me that a new program is being instituted that has not really been "sold" to the members.
Is this particular change really something that the broad base of US Sailing members have been clammoring for ? If so, I must have missed it. If not, why are we doing it ? Maybe I am simply the last one to figure out which way the train is going.
In my last (and only other) question to US Sailing, I asked about a possible US Sailing internet forum (Scuttlebutt style) for such questions. As a race organizer, it would be great for me to be able to bounce generic questions off of others who may have faced similar issues. And...even better if someyone from US Sailing would then assess and suggest solutions.
It would also seem interesting for US Sailing to determine from such a forum, based on limited issues, whether or not it is speaking for the "grass roots".
* From: Matthew Sessions Matthew@PeoplepcHQ.com While bashing US Sailing seems to be an active sport in the 'butt, I would like to offer a small word of praise to one of their staff. Having misplaced my USSA card, I did not have my membership number to register for a regatta discount. In exactly 61 minutes of sending the email, I was promptly supplied the needed information. Thank you Tim Rossi.
* From: "J. Joseph Bainton" bainton@baintonlaw.com I think that Peter Godfrey underestimates the level of general disgust with ISAF and US Sailing among those who race sailboats. How about forming a United States based organization called the "United States Yacht Racing Union", which could be a member of an international organization called the "International Yacht Racing Union"? The sole purpose of both organizations would be to promulgate and interpret rules governing yacht racing and to certify individuals qualified to serve as judges and umpires?
CONGRESSIONAL CUP
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Next month's 37th Congressional Cup brings the road to the next America's Cup through Long Beach, where Rod Davis will feel right at home. Davis has won twice as many Congressional Cups as anyone else: four. The winner's traditional prize is a Crimson Blazer, and he has enough to outfit his own barbershop quartet. As an honorary member, he will represent the host Long Beach Yacht Club, for which he won his first title in 1981. Following that initial success, he won every four years through 1993. He missed '97 but returns on schedule in 2001. The California native now lives in New Zealand and sails for Italy's Prada Challenge.
But April 25-29, with a touch of Auckland in the air, he will face what may be the event's strongest fleet. Seven of the 10 skippers will be gearing up for the next America's Cup in 2002-2003, and other participants represent as many as six other Con Cup titles. They include: Bertrand PacŽ, Peter Holmberg, Ken Read, Jesper Radich Johansen, Andy Green, Luc Pillot, France, James Spithill, Morgan Larson and Sebastian Destremau
Two-time ('96-97) Congressional Cup winner Gavin Brady, a New Zealander living in Annapolis, Md., has moved from AmericaOne to Prada and will be Davis' tactician. Terry Hutchinson of Annapolis, who won in '92, has joined Team DC and will work with Read.
Also, Australia's Peter Gilmour, the '88 winner, is the designated skipper for OneWorld and could sail with Spithill. Larson's tactician will be another OneWorld member, Olympic gold and silver medalist Jonathan McKee.
The competitors will sail Catalina 37s in a double round-robin format, followed by best-of-three semifinals and finals. A windward-leeward course will be set near shore off Belmont Pier, which will offer facilities for spectators. Rich Roberts, http://www.lbyc.org/
AMERICAâS CUP
A stylish new look that incorporates a revitalised logo has been created for Team New Zealand. The sailing team's new black and silver colour combination, and the streamlined silver fern emblem; are featured in an all new range of Line 7 merchandise that is providing valuable funding for the team as it prepares for the next America's Cup. The new look was on display at a function today to announce a renewal of the successful exclusive supply agreement between Team New Zealand and Line 7. Team New Zealand Chief Executive Ross Blackman said the agreement for global merchandising rights will inject many millions of dollars in royalties into the 2003 defence budget.
As well as the Team New Zealand brand, Line 7 has renewed it exclusive agreements covering the event which this time around is the America's Cup 2003 brand and the America's Cup brand that incorporates trade marked images of the cup itself. - Murray Taylor
THE RACE
There was worrying news from Warta Polpharma today, who apparently have enough rations for just 10 more days at sea. With just under 4,000 nautical miles still to sail and the unpredictable navigation of the Doldrums ahead of them, the Poles will have to tighten their belts. But they are heartened by their recent speeds in the southeast Trades, and navigator Dariusz Drapella affirmed the tough crew's intention to keep the boat speed at the maximum. - Adam Chappell, now Sports website, http://www.now.com/feature.now?fid=1376515&cid=997704
Positions: Team Adventure, 2579.7nm from finish; Warta Polpharma, 3757.9nm; Team Legato, 5971.2nm - http://www.therace.org/
EASIER SAIL HANDLING
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NEAT STUFF
David McCreary has downloaded four segments of the new Transpac Race video onto the Sailing Source website. Itâs good stuff - take a peak! Youâll need to install REAL player to view it, but thatâs free, and McCreary has put a download link on the same page: http://www.sailingsource.com/videos/default.html
INDUSTRY NEWS
* Dr. Christine Brooks has been selected Executive Director of US Windsurfing, the national non-profit organization for windsurfing in the United States. US Windsurfing is a Council of the US Saiiling Association. She replaces Holly Macpherson who is stepping down after eight years with the organization, five in the Executive Director position.
* US Sailing has launched Sailing Smart - a foundation in water safety and an entry program for children 10-13 years in age. It is a day-by-day curriculum designed for waterfront park and recreation programs. The 30-hour program introduces students, to the fun of water sports through the use of both muscle-powered boats (canoes, kayaks and/or rowboats) and wind-powered boats (small sailing dinghies). The United States Coast Guard supported the development of the program though a grant. National Recreation and Park Association is partnering with US Sailing in the marketing and promotion of the course nationwide. - http://www.ussailing.org/training/csc/index.htm
COMMENTARY
(Following are two excerpts from a story by Bob Fisher on the Sports.com website.)
* In the ãCity of Sailsä, there are new stirrings of appreciation of sailboat racing and they have become readily apparent at the Steinlager/Line 7 Cup, a match racing event on the Swedish Match World Tour. Not only are there three teams from the group that is to defend the Americaâs Cup here in 2003, but there are Kiwis in almost every other one of the twelve teams taking part, yet that is not the most significant feature of this week-long regatta.
It is that an organisation as traditionally based as event-host the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron undoubtedly is - and might be expected at all costs to preserve the vestiges of elitism which has tainted the sport for donkeyâs years - has decided to market the event. In doing so, it has cast aside many of the hide-bound precepts which has held back sailing as a public spectacle and made it a less-than-popular sport with many of the media.
Instead, the Yacht Squadron has positioned the event in downtown waters that are readily accessible to everyone, set up a temporary grandstand and put the course close to the harbour walls, where the Americaâs Cup boats are berthed and where Aucklanders have already learned to promenade and mingle with the yachties, who they have found far from the aloof characters they expected.
* Both have been successful and the crowds around the Viaduct Basin walls on a weekday would point to a sell-out (if such is true of a free event) for the semi-finals and finals at the weekend.
ÎIn the past,â said an enthusiastic spectator, Îyacht racing was over there,â pointing towards the horizon, Îyou could never see it and that made you care even less about it. Now, we are almost in the boats. You can hear what the sailors are saying and see exactly what they are doing. Itâs totally fascinating.â
It is hoped that other sailing event organisers take note and adapt their events whenever possible. In Auckland the crowds have begun to cheer, not only for their favourites, but for the event organisers who have brought the racing to them. Bob Fisher, Sports.com website
Full story: http://www.sports.com/sailing/news/2001/03/14/sLON01OTg0NTY0NTczNw.html
QUOTE / UNQUOTE
(Following is a quote from the editors of Sail magazine about the ÎYnglingâ grants (totally $45,000) that US Sailing just gave to Betsy Alison, Jody Swanson, Hannah Swett and Ellie Field.)
ãNaturally, we applaud the effort to support these deserving sailors. But isnât it at least possible that thereâs more than one (of four) deserving someone outside a small circle surrounding Portsmouth, Rhode Island?ä - http://www.sailmag.com/html/briefing.html#havana
THE CURMUDGEONâS COUNSEL
If you drink, don't park. Accidents cause people.
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