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SCUTTLEBUTT 2603 - May 23, 2008Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions,features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. SO CAL CLUBS VOTE NO ON MANDATORY MEMBERSHIP Within the United Sates, the administration of sailing beyond the parking lot of US SAILING headquarters in Newport, RI is sliced up several ways. US SAILING has divided the country into 11 separate areas, and within these areas are "Regional Sailing Associations," of which there are 36 in all. Each RSA is made up of yacht clubs, and if there is a group of clubs in a small geographic area, they might form their own local association to help administer their racing calendar, etc. One of these local associations, the Association of Santa Monica Bay Yacht Clubs, represents 17 clubs in the area of Los Angeles, CA, and they recently met with US SAILING President Jim Capron to discuss the Mandatory Membership policy and proposed rule change, which will be voted on by US SAILING at their June 2008 Board Meeting. Following those discussions, the organization voted at its May meeting to oppose this initiative, and has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions". Here is a couple: Q: What is US SAILING’s current proposal? A: US SAILING’s board is considering a proposal to add a prescription (addendum) to Rule 46 of the 2009-2012 Racing Rules of Sailing (“RRS”) promulgated by the International Sailing Federation (IASF). The latest draft proposal (as of May 15, 2008) is as follows: “US SAILING prescribes that the person in charge and each person who steers the boat shall be members of US SAILING or their own national authority. However, any person may steer the boat for reasons of safety. This prescription does not apply to races that are primarily intended to teach racing or bring new sailors into the sport, or to races for which US SAILING has granted a written waiver.” Q: Can I just “write out” this Rule in my Club’s Sailing Instructions? A: No. As part of the proposal, US SAILING will add this Prescription to Rule 46 to the list of prescriptions which, per Rule 87 (to be re-numbered as Rule 88 in 2009) cannot be changed by Sailing Instructions. So “mandatory” means just that – mandatory. Complete list of FAQs: http://www.asmbyc.org/racing/2008/USSailing_MandatoryMembership.pdf ROADKILL ALONG TRANSAT ROUTE By Elaine Bunting, Yachting World Talk about tales of the unexpected. During The Artemis Transat race from Plymouth (GBR) to Boston (USA), Vincent Riou, who was rescued from his Open 60 PRB in the North Atlantic after the keel was badly damaged, says he collided with a basking shark and cut it in two. "I saw two portions emerge at the back of the boat," Riou commented, with forensic accuracy. I find myself craving more information. Did he cut in half crossways or lengthwise? What did the 'portions' look like? These boats are so fast they are increasingly sneaking up unawares on whales and sharks - there have been four collisions and at least 10 other whale sightings on the Artemis Transat. But that's not quite as amazing as the leading edge of a canting keel chopping a 40ft shark in half. You can't class these incidents as normal marine collisions anymore; this is roadkill. Here are a coule other reports: * From Thiery Bouchard on the Class 40 Mistral Loisirs - Pole Sante ELIOR: “I have just run into a whale. The collision took place while I was down below eating. The bulb was embedded in the side of the whale. I went on deck immediately to see what was happening and I saw it in the middle of a pool of blood.” * A collision with a whale aboard Sam Davies's Open 60 Roxy today caused damage to the starboard daggerboard. Noted Dee Caffari on the Open 60 Aviva, "There has been absolutely loads of marine life. I've seen loads of Portuguese Man o' War [jellyfish], turtles, dolphins. I haven't seen any whales, though. I don't know if it's the mix of warm and cold currents that means food is in abundance, but there's been a lot. Yesterday when we were crossing through the ice gate [at 40°N], wherever you looked you saw something in the ocean. It was bizarre. A Portuguese Man o' War came by that was massive, a real big beauty and I thought 'Bloody hell!' There were dolphins as well." -- http://www.yachtingworld.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html Race website: http://www.theartemistransat.com/60/home.asp END OF LEGAL ROAD FOR FARRAH HALL (May 22, 2008) US SAILING announced today that an independent arbitrator has dismissed Farrah Hall’s complaint concerning the protest committee’s decision to grant redress to Nancy Rios at the 2007 Olympic Trials in the RS:X Women’s event. Under the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Bylaws and the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the arbitrator’s decision is final. As a result, Nancy Rios’ victory is confirmed. The arbitrator, C. Mark Baker, heard two days of testimony from Farrah Hall and her witnesses. After Ms. Hall’s legal team rested, attorneys for US SAILING and Nancy Rios moved to dismiss Ms. Hall’s complaint, arguing that Ms. Hall made no showing that the protest committee’s actions and the procedures in the Racing Rules of Sailing that the protest committee followed. Mr. Baker granted the motion and declared the matter closed before US SAILING and Ms. Rios presented their witnesses and evidence. Dean Brenner, Chairman of the US SAILING Olympic Committee, said “This decision brings to an end any uncertainty concerning the US representative in the Women’s RS:X event. My heart goes out to Farrah Hall, who put her heart and soul into making the Olympic Team. She has a bright future in our sport.” Commented Nancy Rios, “I am honored to be representing the United States in the Olympic Games, and relieved to be able to resume my training full time.” AT TRIPP DESIGN This month we see the launch of both Saudade - the 148’ Wally, and the 77’ Black Pearl at Baltic. They share in common advanced composites, lift keels, and easy/fast sail plans for Café Racing and off-road sailing. Saudade debuts in Sardinia at the Maxi Rolex Worlds. Also, we are lucky to be joined by two Davids. Young David Fogg, is a Naval Architect/ Engineer Webb graduate, with 5 years sailing design experience in Sydney and the US. Dave Hulse brings skills honed during 30 years with spar manufacturing and design, plus Americas Cup 1998-2008 experience as performance analyst. http://www.trippdesign.net OLYMPIC SHOWDOWN CONTINUES IN MEDEMBLICK (May 22, 2008) -- Fair skies and a 7-8 knot easterly breeze greeted sailors this morning on the Ijsselmeer in Medemblik, Holland during the second day of the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2008. The breeze faded as the day wore on so that some of the fleets that started their sets later in the day had a difficult time finishing their races within the time limit and had to wait for the breeze to fill later in the afternoon, as was the case with the Tornados or were challenged in very light conditions. Some of the fleets experienced big enough shifts so that there were course changes, but today’s winners bested everybody by finding pressure and staying in it once they found it. In those classes that are well attended by the North American Olympic representatives, it was another productive day. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) remains near the top of the Laser Radial (2nd), Andrew Campbell (USA) is now 5th in the Laser, Stu McNay/Graham Biehl (USA) moved up to 6th in the 470 Men, and Oskar Johansson/ Kevin Stittle (CAN) charged up to 7th in the Tornado. Hard luck notable for the event so far is likely Michael Leigh (CAN), who after winning the Laser event in Hyeres, France last month, had a rough first day in the 117 boat fleet, and then stumbled on day two with an OCS before rolling a 3-3. Leigh is currently in 18th place. Fleet racing continues for Friday and Saturday with the top ten competing in the Medal race on Sunday. -- Lynn Fitzpatrick, read on: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/08/0522 AMERICA'S TOP FOILER If you pay a visit to Detroit either in the evening or on the weekend, you are more than likely to find a lone boat foiling around in circles again and again in the cold waters of the USA’s far north. For almost exactly one year, 32 year old Bora Gulari, has been learning the art of foiling – he bought his first ever Moth mid-May 2007. Since then he has gone from being an American sailor who was getting to grips with the class by buying a Bladerider, to one of the top contenders for a World Championship win this July in Weymouth. So who is this new threat to the world title? Gulari was actually a fairly latecomer to sailing. Early on he could be found out on the water windsurfing and spent a lot of time course racing those. When the short board revolution kicked off he spent less time course racing and a lot more time short board sailing. After spending time in California and Hawaii he was then due to head to Michigan to study for his Aerospace Engineering Degree. “Going to school in Michigan and being a short board sailor does not quite work. There is not really enough breeze, he explains. “I stumbled across club sailing at college and off we went from there.” -- Daily Sail (subscription site), read on: http://abe5.com/45o PRAYERS AND THANKS FOR TED KENNEDY Helicopters were circling Beacon Hill on Wednesday. Politics in America had reached the highest level of public interest in years. In the midst of this furor and a great personal tragedy, Ted Kennedy told the world that the one thing he wanted to do was go sailing. The indominatable spirit of this man to hound his wife and doctors to let him out of Mass General to get out on the water and then race in the FIGAWI to Nantucket on Saturday... and the brain tumor and tests be damned! .. deserves our thunderous applause. The helicopters must have all flown to Hyannis to watch his schooner set sail. Great sailing shots of Ted and Jack were all over the network news. Thanks, Ted, you have done more for promoting the sport we all love than you possibly could have imagined. -- Bob Johnstone * Additional details: http://abe5.com/45p SAILING SHORTS * Clipper Ventures Plc has announced that the next edition of its biennial event, the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race, will start and finish in the Humber on the east coast of England. The seventh edition of the ten-boat race will start on September 13, 2009 and return on July 3, 2010. The current edition of the event has just finished its 6th leg from Santa Cruz, CA to Jamaica, and will begin its final leg to Liverpool, England on May 24th, with the fleet passing through New York, Nova Scotia, and Cork en route to their final finish line. -- http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com * The RC 44 Austria Cup will take place on the beautiful Lake Traun, between May 28-June 1, which will be the third event of the six stop RC 44 Championship Tour. Following the first two events held on the sea, with waves and fairly strong winds, this regatta may well reshuffle the cards. Once again, the lineup is exceptional with Class leaders Armando Giulietti and his pro skipper Sébastien Col sailing against Larry Ellison, John Kostecki, James Spithill, Cameron Appleton, Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Russell Coutts and many more. -- Read on: http://www.rc44.com/en/regattas/news/index.php?idContent=942 * Eight of the events in 2007 from the World Match Racing Tour are now being shown online at T2P.TV. -- http://www.t2p.tv/guide/wmrt07.php * Correction: As one ‘butthead astutely pointed out in our information regarding the Summer Solstice event on June 21-22 in Issue 2602, we wrongly sated that this was a “world-wide” sailing celebration to encourage boating on the longest day of the year. For the June date, it is a Northern Hemisphere event only, though event organizer John Arndt noted that one year someone did sign up from Oz with the quote, “down here it's the shortest day of the year but it's the longest night to party!” Additional event information is at http://www.summersailstice.com DESIGN ENGINEER Would you like the opportunity to work on innovative rigging products for some of the most exciting racing and cruising projects? The Composite Rigging Division of Southern Spars is an industry leader in the application of advanced composites in yacht rigging, including EC6 carbon rigging. Recent projects have involved Open 60’s, VO70’s, AC, Maxis, IRC yachts, super-yachts. The business is expanding and requires a design engineer with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, and experience in mechanical engineering, analysis, modeling, and drafting using AutoCAD/ SolidWorks. Composite Rigging is based in Rhode Island, USA. Please forward resumes - mailto:angela.whyte@southernspars.com by May 28, 2008. PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Some of the random photos from the sport received this week at Scuttlebutt include l’Hydroptère getting launched in France prior to her 50 knot speed record assault, the restoration of the P Class yawl BERNICE (1916), BMW Oracle Racing’s Extreme 40’s before the capsize, winning Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race crew celebrating in Jamaica, a raffle for a sailing board game developed by S&S, and a sequence of a Star boat wiping out during a regatta on Gull Lake (MI). 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/08/0523 * If you are into extreme engineering, you will want to view this slideshow. Imagine an elevation difference of 35 meters between two rivers, and what you might design to move ferries between the upper river and the lower river. If you thought of ramps, cranes, rope tows, think again. This design is epic, and it completes the function in fifteen minutes. -- http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/08/0522a/file.pps LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name, and may be edited for clarity or simplicity (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, a more open environment for discussion is available on the Scuttlebutt Forum. -- Scuttlebutt Letters: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com -- Scuttlebutt Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Mike Esposito: (re, thread in Issues 2600-2) I like the yellow jersey idea. It would work well in one of those credit card commercials: "New sail, $20,000; a pro calling tactics, $5,000; wearing a yellow jersey after the awards ceremony, priceless." Of course, it would also work well as a tourist novelty shirt: "My skipper spent $50,000 to sail this regatta, and all I got was this lousy yellow T-shirt." * From Andrew Bray, Editor, Yachting World: A far older tradition than breaking bottles over bows when christening yachts, or ships come to that, is to pour a libation to the gods over the bow from a silver goblet and then throw it over the side. I always take the precaution of tying a length of fine fishing line to the goblet, much to the chagrin of the diver who went looking for treasure on one occasion. It also means that there is plenty left in the bottle to perform the full and proper christening celebration. * From Cressida Robson: I followed your link from this story (in Issue 2602) … “ISAF is currently accepting nominations for members of the Committees, Sub-Committees and Commissions of the International Sailing Federation for November 2008-November 2012..... -- http://www.sailing.org/23396.php” .....and I just loved the photo and caption...nothing to me says more about why we have ended up with the classes and events we have at the Olympics. Diverse? Three white shirt and tie, grey haired men? I don't think so. => Curmudgeon’s Comment: We posted her note and photos on Scuttleblog… you be the judge, and post your comments there: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2008/05/diversity.html * From Jeremy McGeary: There was no luck involved in Loick Peyron having a video camera in hand when he rescued Vincent Riou in the Artemis Transat (Scuttlebutt 2602). Peyron has a record of this behaviour. In the inaugural Vendee Globe (non-stop around the world, singlehanded) in 1989, he performed a similar favor to Philippe Poupon who, somewhere west of Cape Town, was scratching his head aboard his capsized Fleury Michon, wondering why it didn't a) roll right over or b) return upright. Peyron arrives on scene in his Lada Poch to help Poupon right the boat. As he sails up to Fleury Michon his camera, attached aft, is running. With Fleury Michon clearly visible in the background, Poupon leaves the helm of Lada Poch, walks aft to the camera, and polishes the lens with a cloth -- watching it, you feel like he's wiping your face. We then see him catch a line thrown by Poupon, quickly make it fast, and proceed to tow Fleury Michon head to wind. This, mind you, in the Roaring Forties, not Long Island Sound in August. Any wonder that, after that demonstration of media savvy, Peyron was sponsored for years by Fujicolor? * From Chip Pitcairn: (re, Video of the Week in #2602) Did anyone else notice that Vincent Riou and Loick Peyron didn't sink the liferaft after abandoning PRB? I thought this was standard practice to avoid would-be rescuers chasing empty liferafts all over the ocean. * From Derek Bouwer: (re, story in #2602) I understand the problem of mistaking the fishing rod holder for the fuel port, but 1) Talking on his mobile while pumping gas is a real no-no, and 2) He's lucky that the bilge pump didn't set the fuel off and blow his boat to bits, an expensive lesson well learned I hope. * From Eric A Sorensen: (re, story in #2602) The boat fueling diesel into his bilge must be a common story. A bit worse was the dude in a 24' fish boat that filled up with 150 gallons of gas in the same manner up here in Anacortes WA. He had to be towed, VERY carefully to the hoist and taken ashore for his cleanup which must have ruined the boat. Again, the fishing pole holder was mistaken for the fuel inlet. As he was going past my boat en route to the hoist, I was hoping his batteries were under the fluid or dead. Odd that he didn't notice the amount since he only had an 80 gallon tank. Must be a powerboat thing. I wonder if insurance pays off in this sort of situation. It must, but the rates go up and up. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION There are those who make things happen, those who watch things happening, and those who, with time on their hands, wonder what happened. Special thanks to Tripp Design and Southern Spars. A complete list of preferred suppliers is at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
