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SCUTTLEBUTT 1807 - March 31, 2005Scuttlebutt is a digest 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. BIG CHANGES In the wake of a medal-less Olympics in 2004, Yachting New Zealand has undertaken several independent reviews of its organization with a particular focus on its Olympic, Youth and general talent development process. The changes are aimed at maintaining New Zealand's position as the top NZ Olympic sport in terms of medals won, and to maintain an international ranking of third or better in terms of Olympic sailing medals won since 1984. The thrust of the three reports into Athens 2004, 2004-2008 Olympic Plan and 2004 Youth Worlds have been very similar and as a result a new simplified structure is being put in place. The three step structure covers all sailors from Learn to Sail to the Olympic podium being: Olympic; High Performance & Youth; and Junior & Participation. The reasons for this structure are: - Presents a simpler more understandable sailing structure and will allow sailors to be transitioned and assisted, if required, from one fleet to the other. - Provides an end-to-end structure from the time sailors start racing to the Olympic podium. Academies, Coaching and Committees will be symmetrical with this structure - Splits away the Olympic program and allows this to be treated as a specialist area rather than being run together with High Performance, as has been the case since the mid-1990's. - High Performance is a new area concerned with talent development, international classes and the ISAF Youth Worlds. - Junior and participation will include young sailors up to 16 years old and is also charged with expanding participation in the sport through schools, clubs and adult sailing primarily in conjunction with six Regional Development Officers of whom three have been appointed. Already the three Committees have been put in place and comprise some of NZ's best sailing talent including Olympic Medallists, World Champions and top Coaches. As part of the new organisation three new remunerated positions have been created being Olympic Director; High Performance and Youth Director; and National Programmes Director. These positions are open to international application and the best available candidates are being sought. - www.yachtingnz.org.nz/135_1/135_1_top.cfm?pageid=322&parentid=9 MORE BIG CHANGES (Excerpts from a very interesting story posted on The Daily Sail subscription website.) With the seeds sown following the launch of four new boats in the USA last year, so the TP52 class in 2005 is not merely growing, it is going supernova thanks to the interest stirred up in the Mediterranean by the King of Spain's participation in the class. Ten new TP52s are currently in construction and will be heading for Spain. To manage the circuit in Europe a group of owners have banded together to form a European TP52 class association headed by Arturo Delago who manages the Bribon campaign on behalf of the King of Spain. The Med class has been working closely with the four year old TP52 class association in the States to ensure that rules and measurement issues remain common globally while negotiations continue to take place over the class' first 'global championship'. Potential disagreement within the class internationally has been over whether or not the TP52 should be an owner-driver. The class rules originating from the US stipulate that it is and this is for the most part the view of US owners. In the Mediterranean it is the opposite case, where moving on from the IMS500 class, boats are typically driven by pros. A compromise of sorts has been found by allowing pro-sailors to drive in the Mediterranean, while helming will remain the province of owner-drivers in the US. But what happens at a potential 'world championship' if the two fleets get together? - The Daily Sail, http://thedailysail.com FOR THE RECORD Currently making a stopover for supplies in Saint Martin, the IDEC trimaran will be heading for New York Wednesday evening or on Thursday morning at the latest. Francis Joyon thinks he will arrive on April 5 at the Manhattan Sailing Club, where he will be staying while on stand by. From April 10 on, the single-handed yachtsman and his boat will be on the starting blocks waiting for a weather window to attack the singlehanded trans-Atlantic record. "I can see a series of lows passing over New York, so things could get going quite quickly," said skipper, Francis Joyon. The important figures New York - The Lizard route (theoretical distance calculated by the WSSRC) : 2925 miles (5,417 km): - Single-handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 7 days 2 hours 34 minutes 42 seconds (June 1994) - 24-hour single handed record: Laurent Bourgnon, Primagaz, 540 miles (June 1994) www.trimaran-idec.com MUSTO IN THE USA The Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe, the Mega Cats and the Super Maxi's: Musto is the favorite brand of foul weather gear amongst the crews. It is available to purchase across the States - try one of the following retailers: Annapolis Performance Sailing, Fawcett Boat Supplies, Fisheries Supply, Layline, Pineapple Sails, Sailing Supply, Team One Newport, The Sailing Pro Shop, or West Marine Stores. You don't need to be a professional sailor to experience Musto. Give it a try next time. For product information and a store finder, check out http://www.musto.com/usa GROWING THE SPORT To foster growth in women's sailing, Rolex Watch U.S.A. has announced that it will sponsor several 2005 "Road to Rolex" clinics across the U.S. and abroad in preparation for US Sailing's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC), scheduled for September 17-23 at Annapolis Yacht Club, Annapolis, Md. Organizers are seeking yacht clubs and sailing centers to host the "Road to Rolex" clinics. Since 1997 the clinics have provided women sailors with additional opportunities to hone the keelboat racing skills needed for competition in the Rolex IWKC. The clinic program is designed for one- or two-day formats and features an instruction manual developed by five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). Alison, an internationally recognized sailing educator and coach, has won the biennial Rolex IWKC five times. "The Road to Rolex clinics are designed to be adaptable to a group's ability level, knowledge of the equipment and skills requiring attention," said coordinator Nicole Christie of Annapolis. At clinics with more than five boats participating, the host organizer will run a series of short races at the conclusion of the clinic. The winner will have her clinic fee deducted from her entry fee for the Rolex IWKC. Organizations interested in hosting a "Road to Rolex" clinic should contact Nicole Christie at: nicolechristie@aol.com. - Media Pro Int'l INTERNATIONAL CATAMARAN CHALLENGE TROPHY John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree, who won a silver medal in the Tornado class at the Athens Olympic Regatta last August, will attempt to add a third International Catamaran Challenge Trophy to their résumé. They are the lead U.S. Defense Team entered in multihull match racing event scheduled for May 26-June 1, 2005, off Rimini, Italy. The 25th anniversary ICCT will be contested on the Adriatic Sea as part of the BLURimini Festival of sail and music. The organizing authority, BluRimini Srl., in cooperation with Vela Viva Sailing Club and Bimare Marine, intends to provide travel assistance of up to 1,000 Euros ($1,300 to $1,400) for the defending champions and the first four U.S. teams that enter the defense trials. Additionally, the organizing authority plans to cover the room and board expenses for all U.S. teams. There's also a prize purse offered for the first time in the history of the event. The organizing authority will award 10,000 Euros (approximately $12,800) to the champion and 5,000 Euros ($6,400) to the runner-up. The challengers' field will also count as many as 10 teams. At least six will qualify from the 2005 International 18HT Catamaran Championship. - http://icct.seacliffyc.org. NEWS BRIEFS * ISAF has just issued its third release of rankings for the Olympic classes. Admittedly, it's difficult for us to get excited about this, three and a half years before the next Olympics. However, the part we like best was that Paul Cayard and Phil Trinter, who have not sailed in the Star Class since the Olympics, just moved up two places. (Huh?) For those who get off on this kind of stuff, the ranking are now available at: http://www.sailing.org/rankings/ * The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation film crew recently traveled to San Diego to film the family sailing program at Challenged America. This free family sailing program provides an opportunity for kids and adults, with and without disabilities, to learn how to sail. The program was designed to get family members involved in the recreational rehabilitation activities of loved ones with disabilities. The Reeve Foundation filming will be used as a video resource to demonstrate how sailing can be integrated into the lives of children and adults as a family recreational activity when a family member has a disability. - www.ChallengedAmerica.org. * The Cadillac Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race does not distinguish between multihull and monohull for the Elapsed Time Trophy. This 580 nautical mile race around Vancouver Island has attracted some of the fastest boats currently sailing in the Pacific Northwest. However, the fastest boat entered this year is the Formula 40 catamaran, 'Dragonfly' with a rating of (-105) which has recorded speeds in excess of 30 knots in non-surfing conditions. 'Cassiopeia', a 72 foot Laurie Davidson design with a handicap rating of (-75) she is the fastest rated monohull. Good luck! - www.vanisle360.com * As the sun breaks on day 60 of the Oryx Quest 2005, Doha 2006 is a few miles south of the equator dealing with fickle, frustrating conditions. They are in Phase One of double doldrums and the going is erratic as the wind changes from patchy calm to sudden, violent squalls. No sailors enjoy this stretch of a race, but it's all part of an around-the-world circumnavigation and must be endured. At 0152 GMT Thursday, Brian Thompson's Doha 2006 was 1864 nm from the finish with Tony Bullimore's Daedalus 2613 miles further back. - www.oryxquest.com/ * There are few photographers that can bring the excitement of sailing to a photo like Carlo Borlenghi. Enjoy the new Scuttlebutt gallery of images by Carlo from a recent Melges 24 regatta in Marseille, France: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/05/m24_0330/ * John Winder has been named Vice President of Product Development of 1bigthink. His primary responsibility will be to shape the development and market of Regatta manager, which is due for release in late summer. Regatta manager is a complete regatta management, promotion, entry and scoring system being introduced for organizers from small One Design and local yacht club events to world class Grand Prix competition. - www.1bigthink.com * With the application deadline around the corner, the number of youth sailors applying to compete in the 2005 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships continue to rise. Applications will be accepted until midnight Eastern Time this Friday, April 1. From June 23 to 30, 150 youth sailors from across the country will be at Cedar Point Yacht Club in Westport, Conn., to compete in the premier youth sailing event in the country. Applications for the event are accepted online for all three classes (Laser, Laser Radial, and Club 420). Applicants must be between 13 and 19 years old. - http://www.ussailing.org/youthchamp/ * The latest Global Challenge RTW race viewer shows Imagine It. Done has recorded one of the slowest 24 hour runs with just 6.7 knots. "We're getting stuck in every wind hole possible that was not in the plan or the weather file. However these things happen and it is good for the crew to hoist every sail in the forepeak and then pack a kite at the end of it all," they explained. Imagine It Done is now 15 miles ahead of Spirit of Sark and 25 miles ahead of BP Explorer. with 946 miles to the finish. - www.globalchallenge2004.com/en/ WELCOME ABOARD ULLMAN SAILS - VIRGINIA Ullman Sails International is excited to announce that Jerry Latell and his sailmakers at Latell Sails have joined the Ullman Group. Jerry originally opened his loft in Irvington, Virginia and for the last several years has operated as a satellite location of Ullman/Skelley Sails. His success dictated a larger facility, which he recently moved to in Deltaville. Over the past decade, his customer base has included one-designs from Flying Scot's to J/105's, many offshore PHRF racing teams, and a large cruising clientele. "The Fastest Sails on the Planet" and Jerry's contact information can be found at http://www.ullmansails.com 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 Robert Bausch: The AC event is turning into a non event - one that people are not going to be interested in, whether or not it actually happens, in, what year is that? I still have my old Betas of Dennis taking the Cup back in Fremantle. Now, there was real sailing, and a real America's Cup! * From Frank Rogers: Regarding recent comments about the America's Cup and the tedium of reading about it... I find it holds my interest but mainly because it is one of the very few sailing events which will get decent TV coverage. I want to read all about it before it happens so that I know the players, the boats, the gossip - all the background that will add to the interest. Hey - I miss hockey too but would rather be (or at least watch) sailing! *From Matthew L. Thomas (edited to our 250-word limit): It's always interesting to hear all the complaints about too much AC coverage or the high cost of the Oryx. As a daily online publication, news is a vital commodity. If you want to hear about other things, then start submitting news about the sailing in your locale! The big projects have full time media people who constantly fire off news and this is the stuff that we get to read about. Sure, the folks at the "Butt" get to sort through it, but as journalists they have a responsibility to give us as much news as they can, and they do. While it's easy to bash one side or another, or complain about the coverage, it is news. If you want other news, Start submitting it - it's up to you! Issuing press releases and news takes a lot of time. I'm here in South Africa mounting a campaign with a Mini Transat yacht. First step is to win the South Atlantic Race and then do the Single-handed Transpac to Hawaii before going to Europe to prepare for the 2007 Mini Transat. This is a full time project and takes a lot of time and energy. What with getting the boat launched and sorted out, searching for sponsors and keeping the press informed. While each magazine/ publication is interested, they all want unique stories for their readers. Doing this takes a huge amount of time - way more than sailing and boat stuff! * From Nikki Featherstone (edited to our 250-word limit): It should be no surprise to anyone that the AC teams are at times caught up in politics, after all each team operates as a full scale organization, as it has to considering the number of employees each team has and the amount of money involved in each campaign. There are few organizations of that size that do not suffer from political debacles or situations where the employee gets dealt a harsh blow by the employer. If you stand up to your employer and tell it how you see it you must also be prepared to suffer the consequences. It would seem that this was not a problem for Russell Coutts and he has dealt with it. Perhaps then we could all begin to see the Coutts for what it is - an opportunity for world-class sailors, riggers, sail makers, electronics, the whole nine yards, to participate in the sport they love at the highest possible level. Of course the competition is going to change over 150 years; it would be a bit concerning if it didn't. It still remains the most highly publicized, therefore talked-about and watched sailing regatta there is. It's a brilliant opportunity to draw the public into our sport and it's not my money or your money that is being spent so why not just appreciate it. Surely it's a good thing when hundreds of men and women are having the time of their lives sailing, and millions get the chance to enjoy watching it. * From Peter Johnstone: That is really sad news about Dave Ovington, otherwise known as 'Ovi'. Great sense of humor, hard of hearing from blaring tunes in his car, good natured, and always level-headed. He built beautiful boats that were first rate in every respect. Ever since Dave, myself, Takao Otani, and Julian Bethwaite created and launched the Olympic 49er together as partners, I always felt I'd go back and do more projects with Dave. The years have slipped by, and he is taken far too early. Damn. This was one of my favorite guys in the sailboat business. * From John Roberson: Our sport, and the boatbuilding industry have lost a rare and valuable asset with the death of Dave Ovington. I would simply describe him as a "great bloke".I first met Dave about thirty years ago, when we were both sailing International 14s, it was always good to have a chat with him over a beer at the end of the day. I have followed the development and success of his business with great respect and pleasure over the years, and we've caught up for a chat over a beer many times, though living on opposite sides of the world, it was not often enough. I last saw Dave in September last year back where we started, with the International 14 fleet, at the Century Cup, in which the combined age of the helmsman and crew must be 100 or more. Dave won, and we had a chat over a beer, or two. Dave hadn't changed in all the years I've known him, a decent, honest bloke with a passion that he followed with determination. He had a wry smile and a good sense of humour. Like many others around the world, I'll miss him greatly. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Some will tell you, 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained,' while others recommend, 'Better safe than sorry.' Apparently you can take your pick. |
