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SCUTTLEBUTT 3698 - Tuesday, October 16, 2012Scuttlebutt is published each weekday with the support of its sponsors,providing a digest of major sailing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com Twitter: http://twitter.com/scuttbutt Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sailingscuttlebutt RSS: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/rss/index.xml Today's sponsors: Dieball Sailing and Team One Newport. THE GATEWAY TO GROWTH AND SUCCESS By Christopher Gill, WindCheck There is much written and discussed regarding the state of our sport, be it junior sailor retention, professionals vs. amateurs, Olympic performance, and so on. I am constantly provided with statistics and studies, panel discussions and focus groups that all have differing opinions of why junior sailors have lost interest in the sport, don't have the necessary portals by which to continue sailing, or won't enter the maritime trades in their late teens and twenties. I guess it's good that people are out there talking and figuring, and I suppose everyone has a different view and agenda. I see things a bit differently. We're at the gateway to growth and success. I made an observation during my travels this summer, at junior regattas and while attending this year's boat shows; a sense of encouragement with respect to pursuing a career in sailing. I saw many more young sailors crewing on big boats, apprenticeship programs gaining a foothold, young sailors attending the boats shows, eager to see what's new and interesting – and an industry that is responding – or at least beginning to do so - in a pro-active manner. I first witnessed this feeling of 'positivity' when I had the opportunity to spend time with some of my yacht club's junior big boat team - the supposed 'at risk' kids of the junior program. (...at risk of fading out of sailing because of waning interest...) Not one of those sailors is leaving the sport. In fact, many of them are looking for ways to get more involved. Big boat racing seems to be the entry for many of them at this time, but some spoke of frostbiting and mixing it up with their parents in Lasers or Ideal 18s in the off-season, others of coaching and even boatbuilding. I heard Ken Read speak at a recent Rhode Island Marine Trades Association meeting during the Newport Boat Show, and his message was clear: Step it up. We need to do a better job of not only retaining junior sailors, but helping them to find their niche - whether as professional sailors, builders, designers or consumers. Kenny cited Rome Kirby (the 23-year-old that he'd sailed in the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race with aboard PUMA Ocean Racing's mar mostro) as an example of the great success that can be had in sailing if you set a goal and work to attain it. Rome is now sailing in the America's Cup for Oracle Team USA. Truly excellent - The VOR and the America's Cup - Rome is one American sailor who is achieving his personal goals while raising the bar for other young American sailors. Full report: http://tinyurl.com/WC-101512 WHY AREN'T THERE MORE ELITE AMERICAN SAILORS? While competing for Boston University, American Ken Read was a three-time All American and College Sailor of the Year in 1982. When he graduated in 1983, he was immediately immersed in the marine industry as a sailmaker. That was Ken's reality for 20 years before the pull of the Volvo Ocean Race turned him into a full-time professional sailor. But for younger sailors, the reality is much different. Ken comments on the current lack of Americans involved in grand prix events like the Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup, and what is necessary to turn it around. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- A new culture in this country and in the marine business world has to be developed to promote and push the best young sailors to stay in the sport and thrive. Without the opportunity to get into sailmaking when I got out of college, I would never have had a chance to do what I do. It seems as though the marine industry (and especially the racing side of the industry) has gotten pretty old with proven people from my generation and just a bit younger. It is time to be more aggressive, drafting the best kids out of college and let them loose and help them become the next generation of great sailors for this country. And, groups like US Sailing, has to completely step up its game to promote Professional Sailing as an option for young kids as well as continue to promote and expand amateur sailing. Kids in every major sailing country (like New Zealand, Australia, France and England) understand early in life that if they have talent in sailing, there is a real chance they can make a living at it and thrive. There aren't enough kids in the US who think sailing is possibly a means to make a living and work at it as such. In fact, I think professional sailing has been played up as bad for the sport in a way, as if a pro sailor is going to do damage to the masses of amateur sailors. It is just the opposite. The next Nathan Outteridge (AUS) or Ben Ainslie (GBR) is here in the US somewhere. We just have to give them the opportunity to make a career at sailing like I have been so lucky to do. It is up to the marine world, groups like US Sailing and other opinion leaders in the sport, to make this happen! And when there are great US sailors, the entire sport benefits because the PR surrounding these kids will help attract more youth to sailing and the snowball will start rolling downhill again. I spoke to 400 kids at my daughter's school the other night. I asked the crowd how many people had been sailing before. I bet 3/4 of the auditorium raised their hands. Then I asked how many had raced before, and it was probably a bit less than half the room. Then I asked how many had considered the marine industry or sailing as a future when thinking about what they were going to do when they grew up. Not a single hand went up, and that includes my daughter by the way. Clearly, I have to put my money where my mouth is, and join the marine industry to start doing a better job promoting sailing. DIEBALL SAILING-YOUR PARTNER IN A SHARED SAILING PASSION We are right there with you. Putting it away for the winter months is pretty depressing. No need to get down, simply visit the Dieball Sailing Web Site and follow along as our Sailing Pros share their sailing stories while offering up great savings on sails and equipment! The migration south has started, so be sure to check in and sign up for our fantastic newsletter and follow along! We know that to earn your business we have to provide you with unconditional value. Tips, techniques and sharing what we learn is what we are all about! Check us out: http://www.dieballsailing.com HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES New Orleans, La. (October 14, 2012) - There was an abundance of Southern hospitality and tradition in evidence today as the National Sailing Center & Hall of Fame (NSHOF) inducted nine of the sport's significant contributors into the National Sailing Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the second-oldest yacht club in the U.S.A, Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans. From the opening notes played by the US Marine Corps band to the closing gun fired by master of ceremonies and 2011 inductee Gary Jobson, the four living and five posthumously inducted sailors were celebrated for having persevered to succeed in the sport. "The reason why we really are all here is the overall long term commitment and enjoyment to the sport of sailing," said Bruce Kirby (Rowayton, Conn.), one of the four living sailing icons who were celebrated for their impact on the sport. "No other sport can engage so many interests and such a broad range of intellects. Our sport is the purest and most challenging, the least harmful and the most restful pastime there is. Keep on sailing as long as you can, it's real good for you. " 2012 National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductees (alphabetical): Peter Barrett (Madison, Wis.) Bob Bavier (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Gregg Bemis (Boston, Mass.) Stan Honey (Palo Alto, Calif.) Bruce Kirby (Rowayton, Conn.) John Kostecki (San Anselmo, Calif.) Mark Reynolds (San Diego, Calif.) Rod Stephens (New York, N.Y.) John Cox Stevens (New York, N.Y.) Full report: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/12/1015/ SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE This past weekend Severn Sailing Association hosted the 61st Annual Lightning Frigid Digit in Annapolis. It was a typical Annapolis fall weekend, with Saturday welcoming sailors with light air and a strong current. On Sunday, the fleet expected and prepared for the stronger breeze and choppy waters. It was in the stronger conditions when a competitor had turtled and snapped their mast. Allan Terhune and his team decided to drop out of a race to assist, severely damaging their results. It is acts like this that make the Lightning Class so appealing and so popular. Allan showed that as a sailing industry professional - sometimes helping others takes priority over your own race results. On behalf of the ILCA, we thank you for setting a good example. -- John Faus, President, International Lightning Class Association Complete report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14637 SAILING SHORTS * St. Petersburg, FL (October 15, 2012) - The opening day of 2012 Sunfish World Championship saw local David Mendelblatt roll a 5-2 for a one point lead over Columbian Juan Diego Escallon. Seventy-four entrants will continue to compete through October 19. Full results here: http://sunfishworlds.org/resultsfull.asp?j=2012&e=N * Martha's Vineyard, MA (October 15, 2012) - Today kicked off the 2012 North American Speed Sailing Championship Invitational, with 12 Kiteboarders and 1 Windsurfer competing at Katama Bay. In winds of 17-20 knots, it was Outright World Speed Record Holder Rob Douglas who maintained his dominance by posting the first bullet of the Event with an average speed of his two best runs equaling 37.47 knots. Brock Callen posted an average of 36.91 knots to currently rank second. -- Full report: http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=14641 * Chicago, IL (October 15, 2012) - Chicago Match Race Center's Don Wilson and his team of sister Jen Wilson, Sally Barkow, Tod Reynolds and Erik Shampain have today won the Yacht Racing Union of the Great Lakes' 100th edition of the Richardson Trophy on an impressive streak of victories: in 24 flights, Wilson and team lost only three matches in the three days of this event. By doing so, Wilson joins a long tradition of repeat winners of this venerable trophy, the world's oldest match racing trophy that is not a challenge cup. -- Read on: http://www.chicagomatchrace.com/news.asp?n=1119 * The overall winners from each of the seven 2012 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas will be in the BVI with their crews to compete at the 2012 Sperry Top-Sider Caribbean NOOD Championship presented by Sunsail on Nov. 9-13. This year's Caribbean NOOD Championship competitors are Fisk Hayden (San Juan 21 Ole Yeller, St. Petersburg NOOD); J Michael Honeysett (Beneteau 40.7 Wiki Wiki, San Diego NOOD); Chris Doyle (J/22 The Jug 4 1, Annapolis NOOD); Ben Colwell (F-18 Rum Line, Seattle NOOD); Tom Weber (Beneteau 40.7 LaTempete, Chicago NOOD); Charlie Pendleton & Jim Raisides (Rhodes 19 Bight Me, Marblehead NOOD); and Scooter Simmons (J/105 Blackhawk, San Francisco NOOD). -- http://www.sailingworld.com/nood-regattas/nood-championship/nood-in-the-bvi * The 32nd edition of Student Yachting World Cup will be held October 28-November 2 in La Rochelle, France. Thirteen teams from Australia, Canada, Finland, France (2), Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and USA will compete in the 31-foot one-design Grand Surprise. The SYWoC is an annual sailing competition organized by students at the École Polytechnique, a French engineering school, seeing the world's best student sailing teams confront each other in a week-long series of windward-leeward and coastal races. -- http://www.sywoc.org/ * Billionaire William Koch, winner of the America's Cup in 1992, is being sued by a former employee who accuses the tycoon and his agents of kidnapping him. Kirby Martensen claims in his lawsuit, filed October 11 in the Northern District of California, that he was interrogated for hours at a ranch Koch owns outside of Aspen, Colo and held against his will while seeking to leave. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/Forbes-101512 * The 86-foot sail training vessel, Spirit of Bermuda, has organized a father-son adventure around the picturesque island of Bermuda. This voyage aims to establish trusting family relationships through principle centered leadership. Board late afternoon on Fri, Nov 23, and disembark early morning on Mon, Nov 26. Berths available for only 8 father-son pairs; sons aged 12 to 15 years. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/415853028470074/ THE SAILING SEASON IS WINDING DOWN - CLEAN YOUR GEAR Whether you live in the Keys, Newport or even Seattle. Fall is the best time to make sure you gear is clean and reinvigorated. All your foulies should be reconditioned at least once a year or before putting them away for the season. That time (for many unfortunate souls) is now. As we say here at Team One Newport, "Clean gear is happy gear... Happy gear lasts longer!" Shop Team One Newport's reconditioning section for tips and products from the best in the business. http://tinyurl.com/ton-clean GUEST COMMENTARY Scuttlebutt strongly encourages feedback from the Scuttlebutt community. Either submit comments by email or post them on the Forum. Submitted comments chosen to be published in the newsletter may be limited to 250 words. Authors may have one published submission per subject, and should save their bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. Email: editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com Forum: http://sailingscuttlebutt.com/forum * From Alan Veenstra: Thank you Jahn Tihansky, for reminding us about what makes sailing so compelling and timeless. Your story (in Scuttlebutt 3697), while common at one time, is largely missing in today's 'risk-adverse' America. From the moment our ancestors crawled out of the oceans, we humans have drawn back. While some say that this is because the salinity of our spinal column matches that of sea water, I think our attraction to open water is just much more about our human appetite for independence and adventure and personal challenge. Indeed, the entire history of mankind is immortalized in our statuary, of heroes who asked just two questions: "What lies beyond?" and; "How far can I push myself?" It is no coincidence that there are no statues immortalizing those who dared-not, or honoring the tort lawyers who sucked the salinity out of our lives. * From Shawn Pillars: Amen for Jahn Tihansky reminding today's teenagers that there is more to sailing than an endless diet of Club 420 windward-leewards. Before I graduated from high school, I had raced Windsurfers, Hobie 16s, an assortment of one design dinghies and keelboats. I knew which way to wrap a winch and could do foredeck on dip pole gybes, a tack-change, and was proficient at splicing. Plenty of adventures during those years. I knew people from all corners of the sport, and these people helped to get me involved in the sport. When I completed college, I never missed a beat. That was 25 years ago and seemed like yesterday. * From Karl Kirkman: I was saddened to learn of the passing of Britton Chance, Jr. Brit was a complex and many-faceted individual who aroused strong opinions, but his designs were some of the most unusual and innovative of his time and we were richer for having him. He never wavered in his interest in using the latest engineering tools available to him to try achieving breakthrough designs, and from time to time was probably betrayed by some of them. * From D. Randy West, St. Barth: I'm terribly sorry to hear of the passing of Brit Chance. Kudos to him for also designing such wild and wonderful boats that I experienced: The maxi yawl, centerboard "Inverness" ex "Equation", the centerboard, 2 tonner yawl "Pleides", and the 21st century Harken concept sloop "Amaco Procyon" The man was the cutting edge of innovation. * From John Olson ('14) The University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Sailing Team is looking to connect with sailing team alumni! If you see this please shoot us an email or join our Facebook page. A lot is going on with the team right now and we'd love for you to see what has been happening, not to mention invite you out to see the team and enjoy seeing old friends at the Alumni Regatta. As always, sail fast. Email: sailing.ucsd@gmail.com Website: http://sportsclubs.ucsd.edu/sports/teams/sailing/overview.php Facebook: UCSD Sailing Team Alumni PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT The Scuttlebutt website provides a marketplace for private parties to buy and sell, or for businesses to post job openings. For free. As a bonus, each week the Scuttlebutt newsletter includes some of the recent ad postings. Have an ad? Post it in the Classified Ad section of the Forum. CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos, then you probably haven't completely understood the seriousness of the situation. SPONSORS THIS WEEK JK3 Nautical Enterprises - BIC Sport North America - Dieball Sailing North Sails - Team One Newport - North Sails - Point Loma Outfitting Allen Insurance and Financial - Ullman Sails - APS - Soft Deck Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers |
