|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2217 – November 6, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is distributed each weekday, with support provided by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, Defender of the 32nd America's Cup (http://www.ubs.com/sailing). OLYMPIC COMMENTARY (The chairman of the US Olympic Sailing Program, Dean Brenner, has submitted the following report in follow-up to the excerpt of the Scuttleblog post in Issue 2214 and Scott Fox’s response in Issue 2215) Over the last two years, we have made a series of decisions with the US Olympic Sailing Program that we believe will help the growth of Olympic Sailing over the long term, AND put us in our best possible position to win medals in 2008. Here are a few of the decisions we have made: 1) Raise money. Our 2007 budget will be about 3 times larger than the 2002 budget. Enough said. 2) Spend differently. We have cut all the fat out of the budget, with less than 10% of pure overhead, zero reimbursement for OSC volunteer expenses, and almost 80% of every dollar going straight into the athletes’ pockets. 3) Concentrate our resources. Giving everyone a nibble doesn’t help anyone compete in the new world of well-funded Olympic athletes. So we give disproportionate resources to the ones who perform best. As they succeed, we use their results to leverage more fundraising. See point #1. 4) Consolidate the brand of our program. The US Sailing Team brand has previously been a muddled brand, with all sorts of athletes with all sorts of commitment levels being on the team. Historically, it’s been relatively easy in some classes to be on the US Sailing Team. We want it to be hard. We want it to be something people fight for. Shrinking the size of the US Sailing Team consolidates the brand around the idea of “elite international performance.” Over time, a consolidated brand should allow us to get more corporate sponsorship interest. 5) Supporting athletes, not classes. Somewhere along the line, someone decided that it was the Olympic Program’s job to foster class growth. We disagree. We believe strong classes are important, but we disagree that it is our job to make them strong. If we spent our resources growing a class that 3 years later was removed from the Olympics by ISAF, then you could easily argue that we wasted our money, because our funds need to be driven towards producing Olympic medals. I agree with Scott Fox that pre-trials attendance was still too small in some classes. But Scott’s point was focused on criticism, not solutions (and some of his participation numbers were not accurate, by the way). We believe the way to increase participation is to make it easier for people to campaign… which means providing more support… which means raising money… which means having a plan… which means sticking to the plan… which requires patience. We are at the end of year 2 of a 20-year plan. Over time one of the outcomes of a healthy program should be higher participation. I agree with Craig Leweck’s point from “Butt 2214 that the word “revolution” is too strong. We have a plan, it is logical and we are executing it. That’s not a revolution. That’s simply good business. - Dean Brenner, Chairman, US Olympic Sailing Program SHOWTIME Virgin Gorda, BVI – Ken Read made it look too easy as he went undefeated through the match racing phase of the Bitter End Yacht Club’s Pro-Am Regatta, sponsored by vineyard vines clothing. He dispatched Russell Coutts 2-0 in the Semi-Finals of the popular event that combines fleet racing with umpired match racing - with guests of the BEYC serving as the crews for the ten invited skippers. Read looked right at home in the cockpit of the IC 24s, where he had an identical 2-0 record against Paul Cayard in the Finals to win the “Junior Division” of the Pro-Am. Sailing in the brisk Caribbean trade winds, Charles ‘Butch’ Ulmer won the Masters Division of the event. He beat Bruce Kirby 2-0 in the semi-finals, but dropped his first match race of the finals to Keith Musto before rebounding with win two straight to claim the division title. The team of Paul Cayard & Keith Musto - both of whom finished second in their respective divisions - were the winners “team championship.” Second place in the team standings was taken by Butch Ulmer and his 'junior' partner Dawn Riley, while third went to Rod Johnstone and Dave Perry, who both also finished third in their respective divisions. Pennsylvania’s Chris Fretz was the repeat winner of the Musto Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championship Regatta held concurrently with the Pro-Am. Fretz scored a one point victory over Martin 242 sailor Jim Durden from California in a six race regatta that was tied going into the final race. While his win does not get Fretz a personal parking spot at the Scuttlebutt SC’s ‘virtual clubhouse,’ it does get him another free trip back to next year’s Pro-Am Regatta. - http://www.beyc.com NORTH SAILS NEEDS MORE SAILMAKERS! North Sails is adding an all-new 10,000 sq. ft. SuperYacht sailmaking floor to our 3DL manufacturing facility in Minden, Nevada and is seeking experienced sailmakers and managers for this new department. State-of-the-art machinery and exciting new systems designed by North's engineering and design staff will bring big-boat sail finishing to new levels in the industry. North Sails offers a very competitive salary with great benefits (health insurance, 401k, etc.) and a terrific work environment. For more information, visit our website at: http://na.northsails.com/Employment/employment2.html or e-mail your resume to Jeff Holden at mailto:jeffH@3dl.northsails.com RACES IN PROGRESS * Velux 5 Oceans, a 30,000-mile solo race exclusively for the Grand Prix IMOCA Open 60 and Open 50 classes, is now in its third week. Leader Bernard Stamm (SUI) is almost through the Doldrums, with the lone Open 50 entrant, Graham Dalton (NZD), still in Porto Santo repairing his rudder. The race begins and ends in Bilbao, Spain with just two stops - in Perth, Western Australia and Norfolk, Virginia on the east coast of the USA. - http://www.velux5oceans.com * Route du Rhum race, the 3,500-mile solo race for multi-hulls and monohulls from France to Guadeloupe has begun its second week, where Lionel Lemonchois (FRA) sailing Gitana XI is under 500 miles from Pointe à Pitre, and looking set to smash the race record and win by a massive margin. In contrast the IMOCA fleet continues to be incredibly tight, with Roland Jourdain (FRA) and Sill et Veolia edging ahead in a three-way battle for the lead. - http://tinyurl.com/ycxyu4 STEPPING STONE (The next big thing in shorthanded offshore racing looks set to be the Class 40. A convenient stepping stone between the Figaro/Mini and the Open 60, 25 examples are competing in the Route du Rhum. Here The Daily Sail looks at this new class as it goes supernova.) For time immorial the shorthanded offshore racing world has been crying out for a stepping stone boat to fit, budget-wise, between the Mini/Figaro classes and the substantially more expensive Open 60 and ORMA 60 classes. In the multihull world, Formula 40 briefly attempted to achieve this in the late 1980s, but died after just three seasons with soaring costs as France plunged in recession. However the latest attempt, the Class 40 monohull, looks set to be much more successful, with 25 boats currently competing in the Route du Rhum - the race's biggest class by far.. First championed three years ago by Vendee Globe skipper and former Course Au Large editor Patrice Carpentier, the Class 40 has a box rule the end result being a dumbed-down water ballasted Open 40 that attempts to curb inevitable cost escalation by, for example, banning canting keels, exotic construction or basically anything interesting that you might find on an Open 60 or even a Proto Mini. Saying this, the boat is no slouch and this morning Class 40 leader, Gildas Morvan, is only 332 miles astern of the first Open 60 after almost five days of racing, having averaged 195 miles/day so far compared to the Open 60's 265. - The Daily Sail, full report: http://tinyurl.com/yg3xl SAILING CENTER OPENS (Ft. Pierce, FL) Representatives from The City of Fort Pierce and the Treasure Coast Youth Sailing Foundation (TCYSF) will unveil the new youth sailing training facility in Ft. Pierce at a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled last Thursday, November 2, at Jaycee Park on South Hutchinson Island. TCYSF, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, was organized to provide an additional and much-needed summer activity for the benefit of the youth ages 8-13 in Fort Pierce and surrounding communities, according to Roy Whitehead, TCYSF president. The Foundation’s sole activity will be to teach sailing to young people in the area, using Optimists, which the Foundation provides. The program is designed to accommodate up to 80 students, with a number of openings available to underprivileged youth. TCYSF will expand opportunities for financially underprivileged students based on demand and funding availability, Mr. Whitehead said, “but the intent is to allow admission to any child, whether or not they have the ability to pay.” This program is strongly supported by the city of Fort Pierce, which has provided a site for the training activities, as well as financial and material aid. It is sponsored and supported by the Fort Pierce Yacht Club. - http://www.fortpierceyachtclub.com J/109 GROWTH JK3 Nautical Enterprises, Inc., the J/Boat dealer in San Diego would like to honor Tom & Coriena Dingman’s for hosting a social event for the J/109 class at the San Diego YC. The Dingman’s are long-time promoters of the class and have owned their own J/109 for several years. The J/109 class is planning to be highly active in the upcoming year with the highpoint series, one-design weekends, monthly social events, and an up-coming race clinic sponsored by Jeff Brown. To become part of the quickly growing fleet or just to get more information, call 619.224.6200 or visit http://www.yachtworld.com/sailcalsandiego/ COLLEGE SINGLEHANDED NATIONALS The 2006-2007 ICSA/Vanguard Men’s and Women’s Singlehanded National Championship were completed this past weekend, with Emery Wager of Stanford and Shannon Heausler of Charleston winning the men’s and women’s divisions respectively. Hosted by Roger Williams University, with racing in Bristol, RI, the thirty-two competitors experienced light to moderate conditions on Friday and Saturday, with no racing on Sunday due to a lack of wind. - Event Website: http://www.rwuhawks.com/icsa Men’s division - 12 Races 1. Emery Wager, Stanford, 61 pts 2. Trevor Moore, Hobart, 71 3. Clay Johnson, Harvard, 77 4. Kyle Kovacs, Harvard, 79 5. Chris Branning, USMMA King's Point, 81 Women’s division - 11 races 1. Shannon Heausler, Charleston, 55 pts 2. Allison Blecher, Charleston, 61 3. Charlotte Hill, Navy, 62 4. Emily Hill, Yale, 65 5. Evan Brown, Stanford, 76 * Thanks to photographer Glennon Stratton for these photos from the event: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/06/1105 SAILING SHORTS * (Nov. 2, 2006) Larchmont, NY -- With IRC racing having rapidly evolved into a premier offering at regattas across the U.S., three northeastern clubs --New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club (STC) and Stamford Yacht Club--have taken the lead in announcing the application of a fixed IRC/PHRF split at their 2007 events. Effectively, all PHRF yachts faster than PHRF 90 will sail in IRC class only. Yachts rating 90 or slower will have a choice of PHRF or IRC and can participate in dual scoring for both classes when a regatta accommodates such scoring. - Storm Trysail Club website, full report: http://tinyurl.com/yaxdea * Five sailing academies costing RM100 million (more than US$27 million) will be established as the Malaysian government strives to produce sailors of world-class standard. Malaysian Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Azalina Othman announced the first was being built in Terengganu, (on the East Coast of the Malay Peninsular) followed by the others in Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak. They will be built on two-hectare sites (approx 5 acres) in phases starting from the end of this year, with all of them expected to be completed before the start of the 2007 Monsoon Cup championship next year. - State News, full story: http://tinyurl.com/yee9rf * (Nov. 2, 2006) Miami, FL -- Even with 28 days left in the 2006 hurricane season, the odds are good -- dare we say it and tempt fate? -- that the six-month worry period is already over, particularly for storm-prone Florida. After an unusually slow October, which produced not a single named storm, the season has entered its last and usually quietest month with some notable weather watchers doubting the Atlantic basin will spawn another named storm this year. - Orlando Sentinel, full story: http://tinyurl.com/ybzffk * (Gosport, UK) Clipper Ventures is delighted to announce two further entries into the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race, Uniquely Singapore, sponsored by Keppel Corporation, and Hull & Humber, a UK entry backed by Yorkshire Forward. Uniquely Singapore and Hull & Humber will line up in September 2007 to race around the world against entries from Durban, Glasgow and Liverpool amongst others (Clipper Ventures owns a total of ten Dubois designed 68-foot yachts for which they seek sponsorship in the hopes of having all ten boats in the 07-08 race.). - http://www.clipper-ventures.com * The Dubai Sailing website (and the Valencia Sailing website) is reporting that Alinghi might not be the only America’s Cup team that is heading to Dubai for training during the Valencia winter. The website has unconfirmed reports that the Swedish syndicate Victory Challenge is also on their way to Dubai in the next month or so. - Full report: http://dubaisailing.net/archives/1/115 * Last Friday, a request was made for some help needed in identifying the members of George Coumantaros' Boomerang crew from a photo posted on the Scuttlebutt website. Thanks to Jeff Neuberth and Jim Whitmore, both members of the crew, they were able to recognize and name nearly everyone from the1984 Bermuda Race crew photo. Link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum/2006/1102 “AN EXCELLENT BIT OF KIT…” – SAILING WORLD The press loves them and so will you; Ocean Racing's new waterproof bags. The Offshore Backpack features a padded internal laptop sleeve plus room for your foulies & boots. The Offshore Duffel has room for all your gear, be it for a Sydney-Hobart or just a weekend cruise. http://www.OceanRacing.com LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or space (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, there are no word or frequency limits on comments sent to the Scuttlebutt Forums. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forums: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Scott Mason: Magnus Wheatley (letter in Issue 2216) would jettison all Olympic classes save the Laser and 49er, and in the process disenfranchise women's teams and any sailor over 180 pounds from the Games. North America doesn't keep the Finn class alive, Europe does. The Finn Gold Cup, Finn Master's World's and Finn European's consistently attract the largest fleets of any one design class in the world, and the boat is the most physically demanding (strength and endurance) Olympic class ever. The Olympics test and crown the world's best athletes, and sometimes the competition that has worked for decades still serves the global athletic community well. Greco-Roman wrestling is a sport that, like sailing, gets the world's attention every four years. Like Greco-Roman wrestling, sailing should continue to serve its entire global body--not just a small segment of that body. Keep a diversity of classes that serve athletes of all nations and sizes well. * Tucker Thompson, T2Productions: The challenge of growing the numbers of people participating in our sport is truly is an effort in which we can all play a part. I think just introducing kids (and adults) to any type of boating like Brock Callen's "Messing Around in Boats" is a fantastic idea. Let them have fun first and take it from there. As for getting more people to race, how about a top down approach whereby every major regatta in the country offers a substantially discounted entry fee for boats that compete with a crewmember who is brand new to sailing or at least to racing? Perhaps the deficit could be subsidized from a fund created by US Sailing since part of their mission is to grow the sport. I would gladly donate to that fund knowing that my dollars helped to directly promote and grow our sport for those who otherwise may not have had the opportunity. Boat owners, regattas, and certainly the new sailors themselves would all benefit. * From Brad Van Liew: With regard to the Gulf Stream Series being more available to the smaller boats I have to expand on thoughts of Mr. Saavalainen (letter in Issue 2215). Firstly, I need to make a point that I find it ironic that there is all this chat about expanding our sport but now 40 footers are considered small. I am not that old (although my grey hair doesn't help reinforce that) and when I was a kid getting to race on the Aerodyne 38 of the time (pinched IOR transom and all) seemed like a big boat and there were a gaggle of them everywhere. We do have a couple of events here in Charleston that would fit the GSS calendar very nicely and we are going to offer IRC classes in each of them. Charleston Race week in April and Charleston to Bermuda race in May. Both events have notable southern hospitality, are more affordable than many other similar events and Charleston isn't a bad place to hang out for a few days in the spring. If you've never been here than you owe yourself the treat. If public opinion and interest warranted it, I would be more than willing to throw our hat in the ring and discuss this with the GSS organizing committee. For more info, there are links to the event web sites at scmaritime.org. * From Charley Cook: (In response to Magnus Wheatley’s rant about Olympic equipment in Scuttlebutt 2216) Magnus, was your colloquy intended for the April 1st edition? You recommend that the ISAF delegates (you called us stooges last year – we must at least be headed in the right direction) approve Submission 079-06. But you also bitterly criticize the Yngling, Star, Finn and Tornado. Did you know that Submission 079-06 includes each of those classes in the list of equipment eligible for selection? You also claim that the North Americans are responsible for retaining the Finn. Have you been to a Finn regatta? It is the Europeans – by far - that compete in the largest numbers and support this fine class. I’m sure all of us “stooges” would be happy to vote the way you tell us, but your direction is confusing and seems to conflict with the facts. * From Colin de Mowbray: I do not read all the letters to the Curmudgeon but always note and enjoy Magnus Wheatley's. His advice to the ISAF Delegates on the choice of boats for the 2012 Olympics is both topical and beautifully controversial. I do however note that he only endorses the Laser and the 49er and rubbishes the rest. I am sure the Delegates would find it most helpful to know his full hand and maybe you would allow him a second letter on his subject to do this. This could then be the start of a great public discussion or even a Scuttlebutt competition ... and just in case I am accused of not being constructive, I would like to cast my vote for the Lymington Scow to be included. * From Mark Chew, Australia: Some things are just a bad look on a yacht. Things such as deck shoes with socks or skippers yelling at their crew in public. But worst of all...motoring along with fenders trailing in the water (see Allianz Cup video clip Day Three). Link: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/1102 CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION Warning: Dates in calendar are closer than they appear. Special thanks to North Sails, JK3 Nautical Enterprises, and Ocean Racing. Scuttlebutt is also supported by UBS, main partner of Alinghi, the Defender of the 32nd America's Cup. |
