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SCUTTLEBUTT 1739 - December 24, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing, whining and personal attacks for elsewhere. A POLITICALLY CORRECT CHRISTMAS 'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck; how to live in a world that's politically correct? Four reindeer just vanished, without much propriety, released to the wilds by the Humane Society. His workers no longer would answer to "Elves." Vertically challenged they were now calling themselves. Both the hours and conditions at the North Pole, were alleged by their union to stifle the soul. Equal Employment had already made it quite clear, he had better not employ only reindeer. So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid, were replaced with 4 pigs--you think that looked stupid? All the runners were removed from Santa's sleigh; the ruts were deemed dangerous by the E.P.A. Besides, people had started to call for the cops, when they heard sled noises on their roof-tops. To demonstrate the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing for unauthorized use of his nose. He went on Geraldo; and in front of the nation, and demanded a couple million in compensation. Half the reindeer were gone; along with his wife, who suddenly decided she'd had enough of his life. She joined a self-help group, and left in a whiz, demanding forevermore he address her as Ms. As for the gifts, why, he had never a notion, that making a choice could cause such commotion. Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, this meant nothing for him, and nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls, or just for the boys. Nothing that hinted of being gender specific. And nothing that's warlike or non-pacifistic. No candy or sweets...they're bad for the tooth. And nothing that seems to embellish a truth. So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed. He simply couldn't figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry; he tried to be gay, but one has to be careful with that word today. His sack was quite empty, flung on the ground. Could anything acceptable ever be found? Something special was needed to make the day bright, a gift that won't anger the left or the right. An offering that would satisfy, with no indecision, each group of people, and every religion. So here is his gift, its price beyond worth, "May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth." SMT - A YEAR IN REVIEW The Swedish Match Tour concluded the 2004 calendar year as it began; with Ed Baird (USA) and his Team Musto crew turning a massive deficit into a light-air victory. Last month, Baird and crew Andy Horton, Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Jon Ziskind were dead in the water at the start of the third flight in the final of the Nippon Cup. But they turned it around and came back to win the race, and the final 3-0. At the Congressional Cup last April, Baird and Team Musto turned a 1-minute, 41-second deficit at the windward mark into victory in a light-air final. Baird also won the Portugal Match Cup last July against Russell Coutts in another light-air, see-saw affair that saw more lead changes than a headsail trimmer on an America's Cup Class sloop. In his last four events Baird has scored two firsts and a third, and at the midpoint of the sixth Swedish Match Tour season he heads the leaderboard with the high score of 65 points out of a possible 100 points. Baird is 20 points ahead of both Coutts and Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN), who are tied for second with 45 points. Reigning Tour champion Peter Gilmour (AUS), skipper of the Pizza-La Sailing Team, is fourth with 42 points. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) is in fifth with 26 points, 39 points behind Baird. Looking forward to 2005, the Tour is in negotiations with three events about joining the Tour. But the big question is whether Baird will be able to continue his fine touch. Baird had great speed on the racecourse in '04, which got him out of a lot of trouble. But, the newest helmsman to join Switzerland's Team Alinghi in its defense of the America's Cup will probably have to sail with an Alinghi crew. Will a new crew upset Baird's balance? Will Gilmour regain his winning ways and make a bid to become the first repeat winner of the Tour championship? Will Coutts continue to win whenever he enters? - Sean McNeill 2004 SMT Statistical Highlights (combined results form the second half of the 2003-'04 season and first half of the 2004-'05 season) Most wins: 1. Peter Gilmour 106-46 2. Ed Baird, 67-26 3. Gavin Brady, 62-31 Most championship points: 1. Peter Gilmour, 139 points (9 starts) 2. Ed Baird, 106 points (6 starts) 3. Russell Coutts, 95 points (4 starts) Best winning percentage: 1. Russell Coutts, 73.9 percent (51-18) 2. Ed Baird, 72.0 percent (67-26) 3. Peter Gilmour 69.7 percent (106-46) Most prize money: 1. Russell Coutts, $127,343 2. Ed Baird, $91,235 3. Peter Gilmour, $84,758 Full story: www.swedishmatchtour.com/default.asp?m=da&id=15135 CALENDAR OF MAJOR EVENTS (Sponsored by West Marine) Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar OUCH! The ice field lying in the path of the solo Vendée Globe sailors showed how dangerous it can be yesterday when Sebastien Josse hit a growler, one of the small, virtually submerged masses of ice which can be deadly to a lightly-built racing yacht. Josse, who was in fourth place, stopped VMI, lowered the mainsail and inspected the damage. He did not appear to be at risk and resumed a normal course and speed, though VMI's bowsprit and bow rail were damaged. The incident took place at 15.30 GMT, night time for Josse, who is now some 500 miles south-east of New Zealand. The race's astonishingly fast pace continues, and it is possible that the winner could finish in fewer than 90 days. - Tim Jeffery, the Daily Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/6lrml Leaders at 1900 GMT December 22: 1. Bonduelle, Jean Le Cam, 10,628 miles to finish 2. PRB, Vincent Riou, 10 miles to leader 3. Ecover, Mike Golding, 245 mtl 4. VMI, Sébastien Josse, 310 mtl 5. Temenos, Dominique Wavre, 1008 mtl Complete standings: www.vendeeglobe.fr/uk/ U G L Y The 60th Anniversary Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht race looks set to be firmly in the tradition of its predecessors. The Hobart has a well-earned reputation as one of the toughest ocean races in the world, and early indications are that 2004 will test the crews and their boats thoroughly. Barry Hanstrum, the Regional Director (NSW) of the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology has issued a preliminary outlook that is full of southerly winds. Spectators should see a spectacular spinnaker start in light to moderate southeast winds, and these will turn northeast during the afternoon allowing the yachts to rehoist their chutes for a downhill run along the New South Wales coast. It will be a wonderful day for sailing. However, Hanstrum says that on Monday the conditions will deteriorate, with freshening north to northwest winds ahead of a gale force southwest change reaching the far south coast of NSW during the morning, about the same time that the front runners should be getting ready to launch themselves into Bass Strait. The change will extend up the coast, reaching Sydney Monday evening. Southwest gales with stronger rainsqualls will welcome the lead boats off the Tasmanian coast on Tuesday, with very rough seas and a heavy swell. The forecast would appear to be good news for the Volvo 60's though. Water ballasted and built for the southern ocean, they will relish the lively conditions, especially if the supermaxi's are forced to sail conservatively. A lot will depend on just how much distance they give the bigger boats on that first day. For the smaller boats it is going to be a very uncomfortable ride. They will have more of the gale to sail through but will hope that, as compensation, they get northerlies after the big boats dock in Hobart. That could turn the 2004 Rolex Sydney Hobart into a small boat race. - Peter Campbell, full story: http://www.sail-world.com/ NEWS BRIEFS * Russell Coutts will not rule out being able to take part in the next Cup in Valencia in 2007, despite ongoing legal issues which may prevent him from doing so. Coutts was sacked by the America's Cup holder Alinghi earlier this year, and he is contesting the validity of a rule which prevents him from joining another syndicate and competing in the 2007 regatta. He says lawyers from the respective parties have established a timetable to try and resolve the situation, and he hopes he still may be able to take part in the next Cup. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/sport_story_skin/465954%3fformat=html * Ellen MacArthur's B&Q is losing time on Joyon's round the world record. However, the moderate conditions have allowed Ellen an opportunity to thoroughly check the 75-foot multihull in preparation for the Christmas storm. The NW breeze is forecasted to start increasing Thursday night and building to gale-force by Christmas Eve night - could be 60 knot winds and 40-foot seas. Her lead on Joyon's record pace in now just seven and a half hours. - http://www.teamellen.com/ * On December 26, the Bitter End YC's Pro Am Regatta and its participants are front and center on the Fine Living Channel's Fantasy Camp TV Show. Watch Russell Coutts go head to head with Ed Baird and Lowell North take it to Butch Ulmer in a battle of sail-making legends - with guests of the BEYC crewing. You might even see the Curmudgeon. The Fine Living is channel 232 on Direct Satellite TV and is also found on various cable providers and available for certain DISH TV subscribers. For the schedule in your area, check www.FineLiving.com * Swarovski Crystal continues its Power of Love Campaign in an effort to raise awareness for the number one killer of women - heart disease. In addition to a $125,000 donation to the American Heart Association, Swarovski is donating $25,000 to sponsor registered nurse and sailor, Maureen Roddy, of Rhode Island. Roddy is sailing the 2005 Bermuda 1-2 Yacht Race from Newport to Bermuda. In honor of this event, she has named her boat the Red Dress, and, like Swarovski, is hoping to educate women about the risks of heart disease. - www.reddressracing.com. PERSONAL NOTE With each passing year, we here at Scuttlebutt are ever more thankful for the devoted community of 'Buttheads that join us for each issue of the newsletter, and our committed advertisers that help make this all possible. We certainly hope that the holidays provide you with some joyful time with family and friends, and that your health remains strong. Also, if you were hoping for just one more greeting card to arrive this week, enjoy the following from the Curmudgeon: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/04/holidaycard.jpg 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. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Bob Klein: What were US Sailing and Mount Gay thinking when they selected these venues? I mean come on, since when were Pascagoula, Miss., Blue Point, N.Y., Houston, TX, Boston, Mass, And Westport, Conn. Considered epicenters of sailing? What happened to Miami, FL, Annapolis MD, and Newport RI? * From Richard Goldsmith, Perth Australia. I sail on a Bakewell White 36ft (BW 36) also known as a Foundation 36 (F36) - of Australia Cup. 3 yrs ago the class, 11 yachts decided to go IRC. We all had same hull, 2 mast heights, 2 keels. The 1st measurement was arranged for a morning and we all read the IRC handbook on preparing the yacht for weighing ie empty of everything except batteries and permanently fitted items and interior. Filled out and signed the forms and cheque (US$300) -10mins. A cradle was set up near travel lift pen, with scales under 4 corners, travel lift placed each yacht in approx 10-15 mins each. Measurer then takes digital photos of interior as weighted. You take largest headsail, mainsail and largest spinnaker and measurer them 30mins, hull and spar physical measurements float markings fwd and aft 20-30mins. Rating certificates arrived about 7 days later. The 6 yachts that sail in the ocean, rate very favourably against 65ft and sports boats. The beauty of IRC is a very large pool of diverse yachts across the world as a base data set, with a secret rule, that is tweeked each year, to return all yachts to a standard base rule. The optimising that has occurred has been in spinnaker pole length, spinnakers, and headsail size. After 100+ races we have not had one rating protest. The biggest single difference in the fleet is crew and no one's invented a rating rule for that yet. * From Garry Hoyt (edited to our 250-word limit): As an old Snipe sailor, I am well aware of the crew companionship value, which clearly adds an important facet to the attractions of sailing. But there is no escaping the fact that the best skills--and the best sailors--come from single-handed training. Witness Russell Coutts, Robert Scheidt and Ben Ainslee to name a few. There is a vital synergy between trimming the sheet and turning the tiller, that only the single-handed sailor acquires. There is simply no better way to grasp all the fundamentals and manage the responsibility for your own actions, than learning to rig, launch, sail and land your own small boat. Just as you cannot be a pilot until you solo the plane, you are not really a fully prepared sailor until you can solo a boat. Embracing that reality as the best starting point will in no way limit the growth of a sailor into other boats. It is worth noting that all those sports whose wider participation we envy--like fishing, skiing, golf, tennis, roller blading, surfing--all are based on individual control of the equipment. Obviously there is nothing exclusionary or anti social about any of these activities, nor is there about single-handed sailing. In fact my experiences with the Finn and Sunfish classes demonstrated a closer bonding with single-handed competitors than with any other kind of sailing. So in the search for better growth in sailing, single-handing is a strength to be nourished, not diminished. * From Eric Matus (edited to our 250-word limt): Reading about the Jules Verne Trophy's; world 24h record (706.2 miles at an average of 29.29 knots); Ellen McArthur's B&Q and other similar feats of the last few years points out that the materials and performance to make wind and alternative power viable for today's commercial and military requirements are here! Just image a 400' version of Cheyenne silently hunting submarines. Running at its potential hull speed, using a combination of wind, solar, and fuel cell power, it could locate its target (with passive technology made effective by its silent propulsion) and launch a strike before the submerged target is aware it is being stalked? Bernard Smith's book, The 40 knot Sailboat, about the Navy's effort to design hydrofoil sailboats in the 1950's may be matched or even surpassed in the next few years. Imagine the cost savings and the warfighter's 'force multipliers' that can be achieved with a blend of information age and advanced sailing technologies applied to anti-submarine warfare. Think also of the advances in knowledge a 200 foot version of Cheyenne outfitted for exploration of the seas could accomplish - silently tracking whales and other animals on their annual migrations could open a new era of discovery. Extended duration made possible without the need to carry huge tanks of fuel could make longer term studies of aquatic life possible. Anticipation of the application of the many new technologies in commercial, scientific, and military arenas is very exciting! * From John J. Ford: Thanks to Cameron McIntyre for his thoughts on parent sailors and their children, for they triggered many fond memories of my sailing parents. My parents did more than instill an affinity for sailing. From sailing Saturday mornings at the Winthrop Yacht Club with my siblings and parents, to honing my skills later in my youth on Buzzards Bay, an exciting dimension to my existence blossomed. Dad was an accomplished competitor and Mother a skilled crew while racing the Hester, a Massachusetts Bay Hustler. Later, our family owned two hustlers, and match racing against my father was the best practical education I ever experienced. He founded the Boston College Sailing Team in the late 1930's, a team I would later become a member of. My parents have left this world without ever forcing their children to participate in any activity. Their example and encouragement spawned a passion that still exists today. * From Mike Esposito: Would the Scuttlebutt Sailing Club ever consider backing El Reto? I'd hate to see someone not get to play in the AC for a silly thing like not being sponsored by a club. Curmudgeon's Comment: We're ready! In fact, we've just received a fresh supply of SSC burgees and think it would be great fun to spend some time in Valencia next summer. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION "Santa Claus has the right idea - visit people only once a year." Victor Borge |
