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SCUTTLEBUTT 2465 – October 31, 2007Scuttlebutt is a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, featuresand dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors. SAILBOAT HOT RODDER OPENS NEW SPACE With fall poised to tumble upon Rhode Island, the employees at Goetz Custom Boats took a break from working on the new Puma Volvo 70 entry last month to watch as company founder Eric Goetz, along with family and friends, celebrated the opening of a new facility in Bristol. It was the latest chapter in an excellent tale about ambitious customers, their high-end boats, and jobs for people who like to build them. Outside, grass was just taking hold on the newly landscaped lawn and the parking lots still look brand shiny black. You couldn't help but notice the ‘help wanted’ sign pounded into the fledgling turf. Inside, the 43,000 square feet of workspace dwarfed the crowd of 300 or so who came for the festivities and snacks on a warm Friday afternoon. The highlight of the new facility, aside from the sheer volume in which to undertake new projects, is a six-axis, state-of-the-art robot gantry tool that will allow for more accurate and fast cutting of molds and boat parts. In addition to Eric and his sister, Venice Goetz, speakers included Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri, Puma Ocean Racing skipper Ken Read, and Paul Harden of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. -- Cruising World, read on: http://tinyurl.com/384u5n HEART OF STEEL The hull of a modern grand prix ocean racer depends on carbon fibre for its structural integrity but it is a more humble material – steel – which is at the heart of the matter for boat builders such as Eric Goetz, responsible for PUMA Ocean Racing’s Volvo Open 70. Given the quantity of carbon fibre required in a construction process which can span 35,000 man hours, you might think that ordering large boxes of the black stuff well in advance would be a smart first move. But according to Goetz carbon fibre is no longer the key ingredient when it comes to the critical path planning. Instead, the process starts with ordering a large lump of metal. “Right from the outset, we tell our customers that the first thing that they have to do is order a large piece of steel for the keel,” says Goetz, the Bristol, Rhode Island-based boat builder. “There is a 26-week lead time on simply getting the steel forged, and that’s time that has to be allowed for before the three-month milling operation to turn the block of high-tensile steel into an efficient keel fin section,” he explained. From the moment the hot metal is poured there is no room for error. Keeping 7.4 tonnes slung out to one side while the boat careers along at speeds into the 30-knot zone and beyond, makes this one of the most critical areas of the overall construction. Supporting and canting such a powerful structure in such an unstable environment puts huge demands on the mechanism that supports and cants the keel. This small, yet critical, area of the hull can take weeks to build as layer after layer of carbon fibre is laid down, vacuum bagged and cooked into place to create the support and pivot for the keel. Alignment is another key area, especially for the keel ram mountings. Here also, there is no margin for error. -- Complete story: http://tinyurl.com/339eby SCUTTLEBUTT OFFSHORE CHAMPIONSHIP Keith Musto showed both his small boat skills and his tenacity to win the Annual Scuttlebutt Offshore Championship held this week in conjunction with the Bitter End Yacht Club’s Pro-Am Regatta in the British Virgin Islands. Sailing an IC 24, the former British Olympic medallist corrected to 4-1 on the two-legged race from Virgin Gorda’s North Sound to The Baths and back to take the championship. Interestingly, second place was taken by the Youth Sailing Team from the Royal BVI Yacht Club, who gave the invited pro skippers sailing in the event an impressive lesson in local knowledge. Another local, pro sailor Peter Holmberg, placed third overall. The Curmudgeon, aka Tom Leweck, surprised almost everyone, including himself, by winning the cruising boat division of the championship. In a charter boat fleet of identical Beneteau 39s, Leweck and his energetic crew of small boat sailors won both legs of the series for an overall win over Ed Baird, with Bruce Kirby taking third place. The Pro-Am Regatta begins now, with guests at the Bitter End YC crewing for the 10 invited pro skippers in a series of fleet and match races in IC 24s. Competing skippers include Ben Ainslie, Ed Baird, Ken Read, Peter Holmberg, Dawn Riley, Rod Johnstone, Bruce Kirby, Keith Musto, Lowell North, and Butch Ulmer. -- Event website: http://www.beyc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181 A WINNING COMBINATION! Ockam offers integrated instrument solutions with proven race-winning performance for all boat types. The powerful Tryad processor supplies a smarter, faster & lighter platform that includes built-in RS-232 communications, GPS, NMEA ports, polar information and internal data logging. Your information streams unimpeded throughout the system’s single cable network to provide the most stable, accurate real-time numbers available. Take advantage of the the new Matryx II, a transflective graphical display that provides a simple, clear way to view multiple lines of information, strip-chart data and control the system. Contact an Ockam consultant to discuss flexible instrument solutions for everyday use. mailto:Sales@ockam.com AREN’T WORTH THE PAPER THEY ARE WRITTEN ON Many likely find the dispute regarding the Protocol for the 33rd America’s Cup to be rather ridiculous. On some levels, it absolutely is. Unfortunately, the event is governed by a seriously outdated yet controlling document, and when you mess with the Deed, you are messing with the law. For now, we are stuck with this reality. Since the Deed was written in 1887 (and revised in 1956 and 1985), there has been no shortage of shenanigans. While it seems like the drama is now at a new level, it is more likely that the new age of online media is doing a better job of demonstrating the theatrics. A story in Issue 2464 pointed out some interesting information about the Club Nautico Español de Vela (CNEV), which is the Spanish club chosen by Société Nautique de Genève (SNG) and Alinghi as their Challenger of Record. We already knew the club was quickly formed on June 19, 2007, but now know that the legal address of the CNEV is the Desafío Español America’s Cup team base in Valencia, and the club’s phone number is that of Agustín Zulueta's, general manager of the team, and his personal number in the base. Additionally, the club does not (yet) have any plans to accept members. Spanish yachting journalist Jaume Soler has now provided a story regarding the club’s famous regatta in November – the one referred to by Alinghi’s lawyer David Hill before Justice Cahn in the New York Supreme Court, and the one which is supposed to validate Club Náutico Español’s (CNEV) status as a Challenger of Record for the America’s Cup. The event will be held out of the Desafío Español’s team base, but after looking at the event’s NOR, Soler has found that the event organizers have completely circumvented some of the rules and requirement of the Spanish Yachting Federation. As Soler remarks, “For CNEV the rules and regulations aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Looks like this has turned in to a lawless city, where the norm is jumping one’s own rules – and the rules of other’s.” -- Complete report by Soler (translated into English): http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/1030 Event NOR (in Spanish): http://tinyurl.com/37ukev => Curmudgeon’s Comment: Michel Hodaro, COO of ACM, told Scuttlebutt that a press release regarding the new ACC 90-foot rule should be available on Wednesday, October 31, 2007. COUNTDOWN Just in from Europe--the worst of the San Diego fires were out by the time he arrived home--one Peter Isler, whose ride, Titan, bailed on the Middle Sea Race. The next stop for "Pedro" was Spain, to work with American Jonathan McKee and Barcelona homie Guillermo Altadill, prepping Estrella Damm for the Barcelona World Race start less than two weeks away (nine entries due to start November 11th). I checked in re. wildfires and boats, thinking that a guy who has seen one after another America's Cup, Olympic classes, and a heap of ocean racing would have seen it all, but here is Isler on this deal: "It was incredible. I had never caught up with the Open 60 scene in Europe. You can't believe the boats. I hadn't realized that the Open 60 rule allows the mast to be any height at all. And there are boats with rotating masts, and some have masts with compression struts to widen the effective chain plate angle. Simply put, these are the coolest monohulls I've ever seen." So what about the Farr-designed boat that Altadill and McKee will sail? "They have a conventional rig," Isler said, "and they're by no means the favorites in this race. PRB is that. But as long as the boat holds together, Jonathan is brilliant. Having someone in the race that you know brings it a lot closer. -- Kimball Livingston, SAIL West, read on: http://sailmagazine.blogspot.com/2007/10/countdown.html NOT ON ONE START LINE Annapolis, MD - J/105s are rolling into town for the class's North American Championship which unfolds on the Chesapeake over the next five days. However, the image of a starting line packed with 69 34-foot boats will not be part of the regatta. The first two days of racing will feature a fleet divided into four "qualifying fleets." Boats with strong 2007 records were "seeded" and spread among the four qualifying fleets. The balance of the entrants were randomly distributed amongst the four fleets. Following the four-fleet, four-race, round-robin qualifying series, boats will be assigned to a three-race final series Gold (Championship) and Silver fleets on the basis of their qualifying series scores. Thirty-five boats will race in the Gold (Championship) fleet and 34 boats will race in the Silver fleet. -- Floatline, full details: http://www.floatline.com/floatline/2007/10/j105-north-amer.html SAILING SHORTS * Ralf Steitz of Port Washington, N.Y., has received U.S. Sailing's Timothea Larr Award for his lifelong commitment to quality sailing education. The award is the U.S. Sailing Training Committee's highest honor, presented annually to an individual whose vision and guidance has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of sailor education and training in the United States. Steitz was presented with the award by Rich Jepsen, U.S. Sailing Training Committee chair, last Friday at U.S. Sailing's Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. -- Complete story: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2007/larr_award.asp * Chicago Yacht Club will offer a special seminar for new participants in its annual Race to Mackinac, presented by Lands’ End. The seminar is titled “Race to Mackinac 2008 – Getting Started,” and will be held at Chicago Yacht Club on December 8, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. A record number of requests have already been received seeking invitations to the 100th Race to Mackinac, which begins July 19, 2008. The December seminar is designed to provide first time participants with information and insight on how to prepare a boat and crew for this exciting and challenging event. -- Complete details: http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/popup.cfm?content=viewthenews&thenewsid=7299 * Sailing World has an audio interview with newly re-elected U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee chair Dean Brenner, where they speak with Brenner about what he's achieved so far, why he's coming back for a second term, and whether the U.S. Trials system is still the best way to pick an Olympic sailing team. -- http://tinyurl.com/3832wp DISCOVER GRAND PRIX COMFORT The Atlantis Grand Prix Softshell Jacket is winning the hearts and minds of some of the highest-profile racing programs and one-design classes in the US. From Etchells, J/105s and Club Swan 42s to IRC race boats from Newport to the Med, the Grand Prix Softshell is the preferred gear of choice. Warm, waterproof/ breathable softshell fabric that embroiders beautifully and looks great whether you’re on deck or in the bar. Discover the new wave in performance sailing gear. Discover Atlantis http://atlantisweathergear.com/Grand_Prix 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 John Rousmaniere: A new examination of the famous "ghost ship" Mary Celeste will appear on Sunday, November 4, at 8 pm, on the Smithsonian Channel (Channel 267, DIRECTV). “The True Story of the Mary Celeste” takes on one of the sea's most confounding mysteries - a ship in seaworthy condition found abandoned near the Azores in 1872. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle speculated about it, as have generations of sailors, scholars, and lovers of the mysterious. I'm one of them. The Mary Celeste is featured in a chapter devoted to abandonment at sea in my 2002 book After the Storm. My theory (involving a waterspout) is featured in an interview in the show. "I love the idea of mysteries, but you should always revisit these things using knowledge that has since come to light," says Anne MacGregor, who wrote, directed, and produced “The True Story of the Mary Celeste.” For additional information: Good article: http://tinyurl.com/343qy4 Smithsonian Channel: http://www.smithsoniannetworks.com * From Jim Fulton: Let's see: a "yacht club" that no one can join--that, in fact, has no private members and doesn't want any--and whose only contact is the general manager of Desafío Español. Someone ought to forward this to Judge Cahn. How do you spell "scam" in Spanish? * From Doran Cushing: (In Issue 2465, regarding the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club Championships at the Bitter End YC in the BVIs) It's a pity you couldn't attract any big names for this incredibly fun event. Who are these guys and gals: Coutts, Cayard, Read, Riley, Ainslie, Baird, North, Musto, Johnstone, Kirby, Ulmer, et al? Google any major newspaper in the U.S. for these names and you might get a hit, maybe not. Where's the beef? For those who have not been there, the Bitter End Yacht Club is perhaps the best resort in North, South, and Central America and beyond. It is pricey, but it is also priceless. I don't work for them...I've just been there. I can't imagine a more romantic, and a more favorable sailing venue, bar none. * From the Forum (regarding naval architecture/ marine engineering programs): Excerpts from two posts: => (from ibsailn) Most degrees will be in "Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering" That is what my degree reads (from Webb Institute). Naval Architecture deals with design of hull shape, interaction with the water (hydrostatics and hydrodynamics), propeller design, and structures. Marine Engineering deals with ship systems including machinery design and layout, pumps, cargo handling or deck equipment, and is generally systems engineering for marine craft. Most programs deal with both together as they are integral to total ship or yacht design. Options in the US for undergraduate work are mainly Webb Institute, Michigan, University of New Orleans, Virginia Tech, and somewhat of a program at Texas A&M I believe (maybe Texas Tech...sorry for confusing the two). Webb and Michigan are generally seen as a cut above the rest. MIT has a very good graduate program in Ocean Engineering, which is another variation on the NA/ME thing. It should be noted that Webb is free (full tuition scholarship for all students), but only open to US Citizens. => (from Tony Thompson) If you are interested in a Naval Architecture degree program in Canada, contact Memorial University in St. John's NF. Our firm has hired several Naval Architects out of that program and they are well-trained professionals. To the best of my knowledge it is the only degree granting program in Canada. The Marine Institute of Memorial offers a diploma program (3 years) in Naval Architecture with some transfer abilities into a degree program. A lot more details can be obtained by calling either of these institutions. See Forum thread at: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=5435 * Glenn Highland: (RE: Loki and Middle Sea Race thread beginning in Issue 2462) There seems to be confusion on what is required of an ocean racing yacht. According to the NOR for the Middle Sea Race, it was classified a ISAF Special Offshore Regulations Category 2 race. The yachts are clearly required under 4.15 to carry an emergency tiller AND an alternative method of steering in case of rudder failure. However, I agree there has to be a question of seamanship and situational dependence-- an alternative method of steering is not a safe equivalent to a high performance rudder in every situation. For those doing some of the west coast distance races, Balboa Yacht Club has a Safety at Sea seminar scheduled on January 26, 2008 -- Ralph Naranjo will explain it all! * From James Marta: It would appear that many of us who race should take the Loki experience to heart. In many of the Pacific Northwest Category I and II events, Maui and Trans-Pac races, an emergency rudder/steering mechanism is required. I know of many racing yachts that attempt to comply with this requirement with spinnaker pole/emergency steering and other systems don't really appreciate just how difficult it is to steer a sailboat in big seas with some of the "minimal" solutions that may pass dock inspections, but have no place on the high seas. Should a boat lose a rudder it needs to be replaced with a secondary means of steering within an hour or two. Sea sickness and emergency deployment don't go well together in a heaving sea with no way on. I have seen several great and yes, sometimes expensive rudder systems that will steer a boat well, even though not at racing speeds. Weight and storage remain a problem today with the emphasis on keeping the boat light, but safety is still of upmost importance. The skipper and crew of Loki deserve our congratulations for having kept this in mind and surviving a difficult experience. (I've sailed eight Maui and Trans- Pacs as well as 35 Swiftsure races, so I am not speaking from armchair experience, the oceans can be difficult) CURMUDGEON’S HALLOWEEN OBSERVATIONS Frankenstein: Hot dog and a mug of beer Zombie: What you look like before that first cup of morning coffee. Goblin: How you eat the Snickers Bars you got for Halloween. More at Scuttleblog: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/blog/2007/10/halloween-definitions.html Special thanks to Ockam Instruments and Atlantis WeatherGear. |
