|
SCUTTLEBUTT 2043 – March 3, 2006Scuttlebutt is a digest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus.QUICK THINKING SAVES MOVISTAR Four boats in the Volvo Ocean Race were put on immediate standby yesterday to rescue the leaking Movistar, whose crew were woken early in the Southern Ocean by the words: "We are sinking!" The leak has now been brought under control as Movistar begins to round Cape Horn, but an email by skipper Bouwe Bekking tells how close he and his crew came to a dramatic rescue. "Everybody up," he wrote. "Slow the boat down, the water is coming in very fast, and close the wateright hatches." The crisis arose from one of the recurring problems for the race's Farr-designed boats, which have a complex system of keel fairing doors. On this occasion, the doors had failed and the box sealing the keel aperture had cracked. Movistar's experienced crew felt the boat was sinking under them, prompting navigator Andrew Cape to fire off a message to race headquarters and Peter Dorien to prepare emergency grab bags on deck. The boat's central hull area was flooded to shin height. The decision in Melbourne to add high-capacity pumps to the boats was vindicated. Chris Nicholson managed to work underwater inside the hull to connect the electrical pump to the batteries and probably saved Movistar from disappearing under the Southern Ocean. Movistar was in second place at the time, and all boats behind - Pirates of the Caribbean, Brasil 1, ABN Amro Two and Ericsson were placed on standby to intervene.It was a repeat of the incident that afflicted Paul Cayard's Pirates of the Caribbean on the first night of the race last November: high-speed sailing had ripped off the keel door under the hull, and the sealing box was on the brink of failing in the face of loads it was never built to withstand. Farr Yacht Design have attracted wide criticism for their fairing doors, which slide into pockets in the hull skin as the keel is canted from side to side. The ABN Amro boats, designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian, have their keel hinge fitted in dimple in the hull and so avoid having an aperture - which FYD do not believe represents a fair hull shape. Movistar's crew, having weathered the drama, are now planning a stop in the port of Ushuaia, Argentina. ~ Tim Jeffery, The Daily Telegraph, http://tinyurl.com/rqjmz QUOTE / UNQUOTE If we had rats onboard they would have jumped off by now.” Bouwe Bekking, movistar skipper TO THE RESCUE Just three hours after the second breakage aboard Movistar, the Spanish boat racing in the Volvo Ocean Race, Desafío Español 2007, the Spanish America's Cup challenger, put in place a logistical operation in order to help repair the damaged parts of the boat. Pedro Campos, director of Movistar, got in contact with Agustín Zulueta, general director of Desafío Español 2007, early morning on Thursday asking for help in the repair of the damaged Movistar. Immediately, Desafío Español mobilized their logistics team through the builders of their new America's Cup boat, ESP-88, the Argentinian shipyard King Marine, whose headquarters are located in Buenos Aires. As we speak, Desafío Español 2007 have made all the logistical preparations in order to carry out the repair by sending members of the shore crew to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, the southernmost tip of the American continent. The logistics team of the Spanish challenger is facing two problems; on the one hand, shipping all necessary material (carbon fiber and resin) by air, on the other, carrying out the repair in record times. It is Desafío Español's intention to carry out the repair within 24 hours. ~ Valencia Sailing, full story: http://valenciasailing.blogspot.com/ THROUGH THE SCORING GATE Massive seas and patches of no wind, a deadly combination, were lurking in wait for the Volvo Ocean fleet as they rounded Cape Horn. Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) passed Cape Horn in 33 knots of wind and now, just 47 miles east, they have just five knots of wind, but a huge seaway. “At least we are headed directly where we want to go: La Maire Strait, which is the water between the very bottom of Argentina and Staten Island,” wrote Cayard tonight. Leading yacht, ABN Amro One (Mike Sanderson), is in the same situation, but worse, only managing two knots in 4 knots of wind. The best wind is offshore and Cayard and his band of Pirates may well change their game plan once they become aware of this. The luck is staying with the back markers as they scream up behind the leaders, in a pattern that is now becoming a familiar threat to Mike Sanderson at the head of the fleet. ABN Amro Two (Sebastien Josse), the furthest south, is giving the becalmed boats a wide berth, keeping well to the south to avoid the wind hole. She is still sailing in 26 knots of wind, while Ericsson Racing Team is making 22 knots. Even the stricken movistar, who almost sank earlier today, is managing 13 knots at times, but she still has 78 miles to run to reach the scoring gate before diving into Ushuaia to effect repairs to her leaking keel box. ABN Amro Two reports massive seas, 45 knots of wind and, at times, upwards of 35 knots of boat speed. They totally destroyed their code 6 spinnaker when the boat nose accelerated down an impressively large wave and the bow dug in, stopping the boat dead in her tracks. ~ www.volvooceanrace.org Cape Horn rounding times and points: 1. ABN Amro One (Mike Sanderson) 1238 GMT 3.5 pts 2. Pirates of the Caribbean (Paul Cayard) 1440 GMT 3.0 pts 3. Brasil 1 (Torben Grael) 1810 GMT 2.5 pts 4. ABN Amro Two (Sebastien Josse) 2125 GMT 2.0 pts 5. Ericsson Racing Team (Neal McDonald) 2158 1.5 pts Volvo Ocean Race Positions at 2200 GMT Thursday 1. Team ABN Amro One, Mike Sanderson, 2168 miles to finish 2. Pirates of the Caribbean, Paul Cayard, +25 miles 3. Brasil 1, Torben Grael, +43 miles 4. Team ABN Amro Two, Sebastien Josse, +94 miles 5. Ericsson Racing Team Neal McDonald, +104 miles 6. Movistar, Bouwe Bekking, +169 miles QUOTES FROM THE BOATS “The only thing that looms ominously over our heads is the dwindling supply of gas bottles required to heat our food. With relatively few left for the next week at sea we could be on a diet of cold freeze dried food. It is pretty marginal at the best of times so eating it cold is going to be very interesting indeed... All I can say is the value in power bars is about to go up rapidly,I better start hording them now!!” ~ Simon Fisher, ABN Amro Two navigator RAIDER RIB 1200 There is a 40' Raider Rib 1200 now being listed at Sail California San Diego. With center console and a generous non-skid surface floor plan, this model makes for a great race committee boat or tender. Contact Sail California at 619-224-6200 for details, or view images and info online, along with all the other available listings at http://www.yachtworld.com/sailcal GUEST COMMENTARY As I write this I am listening to a CD of the late Maria Callas. What does this have to do with sailing? Absolutely nothing...and everything! Each of us have different aspects about sailing that draw like a magnet. Is it the grace, beauty, speed, or is it the challenge, the planning, the exultation on successfully completing a great race, a long slog to weather, or a landfall on a tiny island in the ocean. Those who love sailing, love it for myriad reasons. It is the same with opera. Those who love it truly love it. Most do not. It has reached the point where about 99.99% of all radio stations never play opera, except by "accident" during a commercial. Similarly, I suspect 99.99% of all TV stations never show sailing, except by "accident" during the news when some sad hull goes aground in a storm. From direct experience I can confidently state that few things are as futile as trying to "explain" opera. Similarly, endless "explanation" of sailing, or tinkering with race formats, or camera angles will likely produce minimal results. Taking a child out on a small boat and letting them "learn by doing" seems the best course. I love sailing. I love opera. I love physics. I love celestial navigation. None of these are ever likely to be on any "most popular" lists. Does that mean I love them less? Not a jot! ~ Paul Jacobs ANNIVERSARY Thursday marked the three-year anniversary of the Challenger, Alinghi, winning the 31st America's Cup. At approx 1500 hours on 2 March 2003, a few seconds after Alinghi crossed the finish line to win race 5, the Protocol Governing the 32nd America's Cup was signed between representatives of the new Defender, Societe Nautique Geneve, and the new Challenger of Record, Golden Gate Yacht Club, aboard Ernesto Bertarelli's motoryacht Vava. The Challenger has won four of the last seven AC Matches: 83 - Challenger (Royal Perth YC) 87 - Challenger (San Diego YC) 88 - Defender (San Diego YC) 92 - Defender (San Diego YC) 95 - Challenger (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) 00 - Defender (Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron) 03 - Challenger (Societe Nautique Geneve) AC 32 Challenger Commission Blog: http://www.challengercommission.com/2006/03/time-flies.html CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar TWO MONTHS IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN Dee Caffari, who is attempting to be the first women to complete a solo ‘westabout’ non-stop circumnavigation is bracing herself for big winds and huge seas again tonight? The second storm in three days is moving in fast bringing winds of 55 knots, equivalent to Storm Force 11. “At noon Thursday Dee was already down to three reefs and there have been gusts of 45 knots,” said Project Director Andrew Roberts, “and there is no avoiding this violent secondary low-pressure system.” Dee is currently in a race to get south-west as fast as possible to avoid the worst of this storm and it is apparent that the conditions are beginning to take their toll. Dee said today she is ‘physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted’ adding that she is, ‘hanging on for the ride for the next 12 hours.’ “Aviva has now spent 57 days in harsh Southern Ocean conditions and is taking a hammering in the extremely rough seas. Dee has reported some deck leaks, the origins of which she can’t locate until conditions moderate. ~ www.avivachallenge.com NEWS BRIEFS * San Diego YC Puerto Vallarta Race final results - 11 finishers: Division 1: 1. Peligroso, Dale Williams/ Mike Campbell; 2. Scout Spirit, David Janes; 3. Medicine Man, Bob Lane; 4. Magnitude 80, Doug Baker. Division 2: 1. Mongoose, Dennis Conner; 2. Pendragon, John McLaurin. Division 3: 1. Blue Blazes, Dennis Pennell; 2. Morpheus, Jim Gregory; 3. Miramar, Paul Scripts; 4. Lucky Dog, Bob Shanner; 5. Rum Funny, Bud Suiter. The overall winner was Blue Blazes ~ http://sdyc.org/vallartarace/ * SAILsports, Inc. announced an exclusive sales, marketing, and production agreement wherein SAILsports will market the Ultimate 20, Ultimate 24 and the Antrim 27, in the United States and Europe. Jeff Canepa, President of SAILsports, will oversee the new sales company. Abbott Boats, located in Sarnia Canada, was appointed the North American builder of the Ultimate 20, with the molds be readied for hull #200. The European builder, CBZ is located in Crema Italy. SAILsports will direct the production of all three boats. The U24 and Antrim 27 will be built in La Selva Beach factory located in California. ~ sailsmart@aol.com. * A record 264 boats have signed in St Maarten Heineken Regatta -, from the 115ft Sojana belonging to Great Britain’s Peter Harrison, to a Nacra 5.5 catamaran. The previous record of 254 boats set in 2000 has been easily eclipsed and given a benevolent weather forecast, it looks as though all will make it to the starts and through to the finish on Sunday. ~ http://www.heinekenregatta.com/ * Enjoy the February 2006 comic from Dave and Joe Comix, which explains the sacrifices that are sometimes needed to compete at the highest level in sailing: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/06/feb * Commodore Travis Daniels, of the Red Rock Yacht Club, will sail his boat, Gracie Mae 2, 1000 solo miles on Lake Red Rock in Pella, IA. Travis will sail 20-22 hours a day for 10 days on this sailing marathon, without returning to the docks. He is doing this to raise money and awareness for the Red Rock Yacht Club Junior Mariners Program. The program is for children ages 7-18 who want to learn the skills and art of sailing, racing, and water safety. Travis will raise the money with a pledge drive per mile sailed, local sponsors, and donations. ~ www.rryachtclub.com * Luna Rossa ITA 86 has left the boatyard in Nembro (Bergamo, Italy) and started her transfer to Valencia, Spain, where Luna Rossa's configuration will be finalized with the fitting of the mast and appendages. The hull will travel to Livorno and then reach Spain via ship. Luna Rossa's arrival at the base is expected in the first part of next week. The launching will take place in Valencia on the 22nd of March at the new Team Base planned for PRADA and Telecom Italia by Renzo Piano. ~ www.lunarossachallenge.com * The Lands’ End National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta series has resigned two of its partners for its nine regattas in 2006. Sunsail will partner to name a top overall winner for each of the nine regattas in North America. In 2006 the top crews will be invited to participate in the 2006 NOOD Caribbean Regatta, hosted by Sunsail, to crown the overall NOOD national champion. North Sails is offering free daily online weather forecasts and wind information for each of the regattas, and Sailflow.com will provide wind and weather history and data for each site. ~ http://www.sailingworld.com NORTH 3Dr TECHNOLOGY North Sails has launched 3Dr, the latest revolution in 3D sailmaking technology. For a virtual tour of this awesome new sailmaking process, visit our Web site. The tour is available in both 2D and 3D - http://na.northsails.com/3D LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. You only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree. And please save your bashing, and personal attacks for elsewhere. For those that prefer a Forum, you can post your thoughts at the Scuttlebutt website: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi) * From Means Davis: Thanks for putting into focus that which so many have missed. It's about people! This is true at every level. Just try to build a fleet by hawking the boat. It doesn't work, but show a prospect the camaraderie of the fleet and the fun they have at an event and you have a new sailor in the making. Boats - especially the dinghies - are about the people who sail them. Stay in contact with them and fleets grow because it is the people who count and that will interest others. * From Bob Fisher: Further to Andrew Bray's letter regarding the "three blondes in a boat," the general press couldn't have given a fig for the fact that they won the gold medal without sailing the last race. * From Scott Corder: For what seems an eternity, debate has raged here over how the media is either the problem or the solution to our sport’s allegedly waning popularity. After all this energy given to rules and format changes, and how more “drama” in the sport might make it more newsworthy – it strikes me that people are attempting to fix something that may not really be a problem, especially given recent declines in Olympic TV viewership. Do we really think that thousands of couch potatoes are suddenly going to flock to our sport after viewing a brief and altered reality on TV, or after reading an inappropriately dramatized version in a newspaper? If this were the case, figure skaters would easily outnumber sailors. Clearly they do not. The fact is, the audience for sailing is and always will be almost entirely comprised of those who actually participate in the sport for its inherent merits. Sure, we may not number enough to justify daily front page headlines or broadcast coverage, but in the end, is that really critical to the survival of the sport? Or are we just irritated that other sports get more press than we do? Do we really need widespread coverage to somehow feel legitimate? Let’s stop trying to change the sport to please those who will never participate and start inviting our friends and children to go sailing! Call me silly, but that seems much more likely to grow our sport than a few minutes of mediocre Olympic TV coverage. * From David Pike, Fremantle: I have been reading with interest the problem of attracting the media to have any interest in showing a sailing race event on TV (even the Olympics). I have been sailing for over 40 years including sailing in 15 Australian and World Championships in 18 foot skiffs but if I asked any friends to watch a race the comment was it was similar to watching the grass grow. We are in a selfish sport in that once we have left the beach we leave all behind and the non sailors of this world look at boats on a course seemingly going in all directions without purpose. The solution has already been tried and proved very successful with the 18 foot skiff Grandpre series in that they had cameras fitted in the boat and or on the head of a crew generally the skipper and you could see all the action including the audio which occasional because of the fast an furious action on a skiff had to be bleeped out but it adds to the experience. What this did is it provided the viewer to see all the action first hand. Every Olympics it seems to me that sailing always takes back stage in any coverage so I believe the 18 foot experience is worth pursuing. * From Dieter Loibner: Thanks to Nick Mace for a thoughtful commentary, which has only one cardinal flaw: It preaches to the choir and that won’t halt the sport’s slide. Aside from the dearth of hip, gnere-transcending personalities (sorry Ellen), sailing has an image problem with young (non-sailing) people. Look no further than Nick’s list of names, which is an accurate reflection of the stereotype (white, male, rich, mostly old or dead). To fix it, don’t look to the Olympics. According to NBC’s stats, the Winter Olympics have lost 37 percent of primetime TV viewers in just four years, despite frantic efforts to add more telegenic events. Maybe a sign that the inflation of new sports is diluting the affair. Just wait for the Soccer Worlds this summer and you will see some Nielsen ratings. And these guys don’t have onboard cameras, canting keels and a hostile ocean to conquer. What they have is color—color of skin and color of flag—passion, and a ball. A $50 ball to kick around in the park or on a dirt lot. Anyone understans this, that’s why people tune in, even those who don’t have a team there. Instead of focusing on new camera angles, let’s make sailing more accessible to more and different people and we will score in several ways: with more boats on the race course, more eyeballs on your Web sites, more readers and advertisers, and certainly more butts on the couch when sailing is on. * From Woodie Cobb, re Martin Dudley' assumption in Scuttlebutt 2041 that a boat must be registered to a port. I have seen many boats registered to areas with no port, let alone a tiny pond. I was told by racing boat owners that it is up to the owner / organization paying for the lettering, with no requirement to list a valid port - In fact; many list no geographical reference at all. CURMUDGEON’S OBSERVATION You know you’ve grown up when hear your favorite song on an elevator. Special thanks to Sail California San Diego and North Sails. |
