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SCUTTLEBUTT 3506 - Monday, January 16, 2012
Scuttlebutt 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.
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Today's sponsors: New York Yacht Club and New England Ropes.
KID LEADERSHIP
Seven years ago, if you had told Jahn Tihansky, owner J/ World Annapolis,
that he would be the head coach of the U.S Naval Academy (USNA) varsity
offshore sailing team, he would have told you that you were nuts. With a
sailing school to run, he wasn't exactly looking for work - certainly not
the kind which would consume 60 or 70 hours per week in sailing season.
But, opportunity knocked.
After much debate, as well as some prodding from Annapolis sailor Gary
Jobson, (who's a "rainmaker," says Tihansky), who assured him that it was
the opportunity of a lifetime, the business owner had to quickly find a way
to make his school run without him and immerse himself into his new
challenging post. Six years later, Coach T, as the midshipmen call him, is
still surprised at his good fortune and how well the pieces have come
together.
A native of Tampa, FL, Tihansky's family joined the Davis Island YC
"because it had a pool." Curiosity and courage enough to hitch a ride on a
Cal 27 at the age of 12 led him deep into the sport. "The crew figured out
that I'd do anything on the boat from open beers to set the spinnaker, so
they taught me to sail," he says, which opened the door to yacht deliveries
and many years of interesting racing experiences such as the 1978 Key West
to Cuba Race.
After having run his own Sobstad loft as a young man and a stint at
Sobstad's corporate headquarters in Connecticut, Tihansky moved to
Annapolis where he worked for Sobstad for four years before his opportunity
to run J/World Annapolis and in 1993, to buy the sailing school.
It was his brainchild, the J/World big boat winter training program -
during which students would train for and successfully compete in big
regattas such as the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race and Key West Race
Week - that fit the type of coaching experience USNA was seeking.
What makes the USNA offshore sailing team unique is that beyond winning
sailboat races, participation on the team counts as professional leadership
development. "Other sports just can't compare to a kid leading a team of
seven to prepare a big boat to go to Bermuda or even down the Bay," says
Tihansky, who says that coaches are on the boats as mentors, but the team
runs the boat.
"It's a huge responsibility to learn to take care of an asset and take care
of teammates. In the tough situations, that's when your character comes out
- you're puking and cold. It's 2 a.m., and you're called on watch. The crew
must perform. They have to drive, trim sails, navigate, and compete. We do
sail to sail well." -- The Stern Scoop, read on:
http://blog.apsltd.com/2011/12/apsspinsheet-chesapeake-racer-profile.html
BATTLING GOLIATH
(January 14, 2012) - A deal struck with Luna Rossa will help Team New
Zealand compete against the eye-watering budgets of the billionaire-funded
America's Cup teams. The Italian team's arrival in Auckland this week marks
the beginning of the first formal collaboration between two teams in 160
years of the America's Cup.
Emirates Team New Zealand last year sold the Italian team the design to
their AC72 - the new class of catamaran that will be sailed in next year's
America's Cup. Over the next 12 months the two teams will work closely
together, first sailing in SL33 prototypes, which ETNZ unveiled this week,
and post-July in their newly launched AC72.
While such collaborations are allowed for under the protocol, defender
Oracle (USA) and challenger of record Artemis (SWE) appear uncomfortable
with the arrangement. Both teams went to the international jury seeking
clarification on the rules they signed off on.
The wrinkle in the protocol uncovered by ETNZ and Luna Rossa was that while
the teams would have been allowed to build two new boats, by working
together in a particular way they could get more out of that provision of
the protocol than was contemplated.
The jury ruled over Christmas that the collaboration was legal, but imposed
a few more limitations on the rule. "The only variation that came out of
that when the international jury ruled was telemetry switching - having
both boats wired together. We're allowed to race train against each other,"
said Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton.
ETNZ had another victory in the jury room over Christmas in regards to
voting rights after Dalton protested over the ability for teams that have
not paid their entry to the 2013 event to get a vote on matters affecting
the 34th match.
"Because all these little teams are beholden to the defender because of the
deals that have been done for their boats, we're always going to be
out-voted, so Oracle could push through changes that we didn't see
benefited the overall cup. We questioned whether it was right that a team
that hadn't paid their entry should be able to influence bigger issues
further down the road, and the international jury agreed with us."
It was an important victory as there are nine teams listed on the America's
Cup website as "challengers", but only three of those - ETNZ, Luna Rossa
and Artemis - have paid the entry fee to the main event.
While the World Series, sailed in identical AC45 catamarans, has attracted
several new teams, these teams have not been able to secure the funding to
mount a challenge for the America's Cup proper next year. Dalton said that
Oracle helmsman Sir Russell Coutts' promises to cut the costs of competing
in the cup were nothing more than "empty promises from a team funded by a
billionaire".
"The 45s to a point have masked that because a lot of teams have signed up
for that because you can be in a 45 for bugger all, and you need a lot to
be in the Cup." -- NZ Herald, full story:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10778640
NEW YORK YACHT CLUB ANNOUNCES 2012 RACING SCHEDULE
NYYC will host a full calendar of regattas at its Harbour Court clubhouse
in Newport, RI in 2012. Scheduled regattas include the RI Leukemia Cup
(June 2); the 158th Annual Regatta presented by Rolex, first run in 1851
(June 8-10); NYYC Race Week presented by Rolex (July 14-15 Classics; July
18 Around-the-Island; July 19-22 Handicap & One-Design); the U.S.
Qualifying Series for the 2013 NYYC Invitational Cup, inviting 24
prestigious yacht clubs from across the country (Sept. 4-8); and the Melges
32 Worlds (Sept. 22-29). For more information, contact
sailingoffice@nyyc.org. Details and entry information will be posted at
http://www.nyyc.org
CHINA BOUND
The 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race completed their detour though the Persian
Gulf, hosting an In-Port race in Abu Dhabi on Friday and beginning the
race's third leg from the United Arab Emirates to China on Saturday.
IN-PORT: (January 13, 2012) - Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing scored a commanding
victory on home waters on Friday, taking top spot in the 8 nm Etihad
Airways In-Port Race to the delight of thousands of ecstatic fans at the
Volvo Ocean Race's first Middle Eastern stopover. In a light southerly
breeze of around seven knots, PUMA led off the line of the downwind start
but had to take a penalty turn for an infringement involving Telefonica.
Abu Dhabi snuck round the first mark ahead, chased by Groupama. The two
teams exchanged the lead on the way to the second mark before Abu Dhabi
emerged in front for good. Following in order were Groupama, Camper, PUMA,
and Telefonica. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-011312
In-Port video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2nRB31WVeE
LEG 3: (January 14, 2012) - As with Leg 2 of the race, Leg 3 is split into
two stages to prevent the boats from sailing through dangerous waters off
the coast of Africa. Within two miles of the first stage finish, Abu Dhabi
skipper British Olympian Ian Walker stole the lead from Telefonica, who had
held pole position over the fleet from the start of the 106 nautical mile
race to Sharjah. Telefonica, which was then passed by both PUMA and
Groupama who claimed second and third respectively, finally finished fourth
with CAMPER in fifth. The fleet gets loaded onto a ship in Sharjah and
transported to a safe haven port in the Indian Ocean. Once the boats are
unloaded, racing to Sanya will resume around January 23, and the first
boats could reach Sanya by February 4. -- Full report:
http://tinyurl.com/VOR-011412
Tracking/Standings: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/en/racetracker/rdc.html
Video reports: http://www.youtube.com/user/volvooceanracevideos
Course details: http://tinyurl.com/Piracy-121111
Race schedule: http://tinyurl.com/VOR-2011-12-schedule
BACKGROUND: During the nine months of the Volvo Ocean Race, which started
in Alicante, Spain and concludes in Galway, Ireland during early July 2012,
six professional teams will sail over 39,000 nautical miles of the world's
most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Auckland, around
Cape Horn to Itajai, Miami, Lisbon, and Lorient. Teams accumulate points
through nine distance legs and ten In-Port races. -
http://www.volvooceanrace.com
BRING OUT THE SILVER
After 25 years since the inaugural edition of Key West Race Week, the event
has seen its share of changes. But when the 119 entrants line up on Monday
for the silver anniversary's first race, one element will be as true today
as it was for the first event. Key West is still Key West.
Sailing on the R/P 72 Shockwave, Peter Isler explains in his Sailing World
blog. "I love this place. I've been coming to Key West since I was a kid,
and it still has that great "outside of mainstream U.S." tropical feel in
some parts of town. I went for a dawn run through the back streets - I love
the back streets of KW - and enjoyed all the wild chicken sightings. Even
saw a flock of few-day-old chicks being paraded across the street by a
proud mother hen. The canopy shade trees, the old wooden houses, that
tropical Caribbean/Central American feel really resonates with me in this
town. And at night, in the touristy parts of town, there seems to be live
music coming from just about every other doorway that you pass."
The shoreside attributes are matched by great sailing conditions, and the
early forecast by Sailing Weather Service expects the week to be typical of
southern FL. A little cool to start with but then warming temperatures
through the week and plenty of sunshine. There is a chance of some trade
wind showers from about mid-week onward, but no days of significant rain or
thunderstorms are presently expected this week.
Monday and Tuesday look to be the windiest days of the week with wind
topping in the low or mid-20s. Conditions moderate on Tuesday before the
lightest day of the week under 10 knots on Wednesday. A gradual return of
pressure is expected through Thursday with moderate trade winds returning
for the final races on Friday.
The Melges 32 class just nipped the J/80s for largest one design fleet,
with the growth of the IRC 52s, Farr 400s, and J/111s expected to provide
for some great racing. Here are a few links to help follow the event:
Event website: http://tinyurl.com/KWRW-2012
Sailing World: http://www.sailingworld.com/racing/quantum-key-west-2012
Quantum Sails: http://www.quantumsails.com/News/index.php/category/keywest
SAILING SHORTS
* Due to a recently announced island-wide primary election and the
subsequent closure of many businesses due to the vote, the Puerto Rico
Heineken International Regatta will not be held as scheduled on March
16-18. Regatta organizers seek feedback from sailors about a new date and
are tentatively considering the Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28, 2012. The
venue, Palmas del Mar, will remain the same. For information or to provide
feedback, please contact at info@prheinekenregatta.com, 787-413-7702 or
787-785-2026.
* (January 13, 2012) - Following the start of the 37th Annual Fort
Lauderdale - Key West Race (160 nm) on Wednesday, the last boat crossed the
finish line at 10:49 am Friday - 46 hours after the start. The race started
in 20-25 kt south wind and 4-6 ft seas. Soon after, the wind died and the
weather was changing the rest of the race. Thirty nine boats started with
only 20 finishing. Rambler (RP 90) was the First to Finish with Sarah (X41)
winning the IRC Division. Denali (Ker 55) won the PHRF Division, also
netting them the award for "Best Overall Performance". -- Race website:
http://www.keywestrace.org
* Charlotte Harbor, FL (January 15, 2012) - The 2012 International
Association for Disabled Sailing World Championships concluded its six days
of competition for the 42 entrants. Final winners are Damien Seguin (FRA)
in the 2.4mR, Alexandra Rickham/ Niki Birrell (GBR) in the SKUD, and
Aleksander Wang-Hansen/ Marie Solberg/ Per Eugen Kristiansen (NOR) in the
Sonar. -- Event website: http://www.ifdsworlds2012.com
* (January 13, 2012) - Longtime Newport (RI) resident Elizabeth "Liza''
Baldwin, accused of running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme and
defrauding local investors, has been sentenced to serve eight years at a
state prison under a plea agreement reached Friday. She was also ordered in
Superior Court to pay $7.9 million in restitution. Some of their money
allegedly allowed Baldwin to buy a 65-foot mahogany sloop that she
skippered in the centennial Newport-to-Bermuda race in 2006. Baldwin had
been scheduled to go to trial Tuesday to face charges of obtaining money
under false premises, computer fraud, embezzlement and passing a bad check.
-- http://tinyurl.com/Baldwin-011512
* (January 15, 2012) - Australian teenage sailing star Tess Lloyd remains
in a critical but stable condition five days after a violent crash at the
national youth championships. Lloyd, 16, suffered severe head injuries when
her two-man 29er skiff collided with a sailboarder during a race off
Brisbane on January 10. A Yachting Australia statement on Sunday said she
was making slow progress in hospital and there was no word when she would
be brought out of the coma. -- Full story:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8403386
* (January 13, 2012) - Sailing World's Conference Rankings for the Fall
2011 season look at the top teams in each conference. -- Details:
http://tinyurl.com/SW-011512
* Cabarete, Dominican Republic (January 15, 2012) - Thirty-six sailors from
13 countries were challenged in all possible sailing conditions during the
10th Caribbean Laser Midwinter Regatta on January 13-15. Julio Alsogaray
(ARG), who recently won the Gold Medal in the Pan Games, took the Full rig
title while the Radial rig class was won by Juanky Perdomo (PUR). Master
winner was local Ari Barshi. -- Full report: http://tinyurl.com/DR-011512
NEW ENGLAND ROPES: BOOTH #410 - STRICTLY SAIL CHICAGO
Stop by New England Ropes booth #410 at Strictly Sail Chicago January 26 -
29 to see the latest and greatest in running rigging and anchor and docking
solutions including the new Vintage Series which has the performance and
quality you expect from New England Ropes with the classic look perfect for
traditional vessels. And while you're at the show, check out the New
England Ropes sponsored seminars entitled: "Rigging Basics, "Rig Loads, Big
Loads," and "The Hidden Causes of Rig Failure" hosted by yacht rigging
expert Brian Toss. -- http://www.neropes.com
EIGHT BELLS
Disabled sailors, the Hobie Cat and SoCal surfers have lost a pioneer and
good friend to all three communities. Born on November 5, 1942, Corky
Aucreman was by day a successful Radiologist specializing in mammography
analysis. He had a life-long passion for surfing, and Corky was well known
on many of southern California's surfing beaches. Corky was one of the
earliest Hobie Cat devotees, because as he liked to point out, they were
being easily sailed off the beach. He was an accomplished sailor, who spent
many summers cruising his Deerfoot 58 in Scandinavia and northern Europe.
Corky was a member of the US Disabled Sailing Team, with the 1998 Disabled
Sailing World Championship win on his resume. Corky represented the USA as
a member of the Team USA Sydney 2000 Paralympic Sailing Team. A gentle and
introspective man, Corky leaves his beloved bride Juliet and many friends
sharing his passion and calling for the sea. "Hang ten Corky, and hike
harder." - Keith M. Burhans, Sydney 2000 Teammate
SCUTTLEBUTT SAILING CALENDAR
Events listed at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar
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 Mike Brown:
On the topic of expense and what it takes to covet an award for the fastest
track to a circumnavigation (in Scuttlebutt 3505), it seems that the Banque
Populaire cost of 14 million Euros is out of touch for MOST sailors. I
know, you're probably saying that with sponsor's and backing from banks,
etc. the costs are in the hands of a corporation or some ga-zillionaire,
but what kind of message does this send?
I bring this up because in light of trying to assess our political affairs
in the United States it seems we have embarked on the same dilemma, the
average Joe or Jane cannot run for office because they can't afford
it...and...the average Joe or Jane cannot have a sailing campaign because
they cannot afford it.
Local sailing clubs and community sailing centers are the avenue to
creating and establishing ranks for the "not so deep pocketed" individuals.
BUT, there are no records to be won or accolades to be given out if you
open up a low cost venue for introducing people to sailing.
Nothing these days comes cheap but we have quickly defined an aristocratic
aura around sailing...and Joe is not going to participate, or watch for
that matter because he just plainly can not afford it. Hopefully between
Joe and Jane they have enough to pay those sailing dues at their local
yacht club to race on the weekends.
* From Robert Wilkes:
Mario Sampaio's rant (in Scuttlebutt 3503) is nothing new. In February 2008
he published a very similar diatribe on the now defunct Rule69Blog. His
latest hysterical rant contains a large number of factual errors, some of
which are noted below. For information I am the former secretary and a
member of honour of IODA but had no part in any of the arrangements or
events in Napier and am writing in a personal capacity. -- Forum, read on:
http://forum.sailingscuttlebutt.com/cgi-bin/gforum.cgi?post=13142#13142
COMMENT: Clearly I opened a can of worms that is best handled within the
class or on the forum. Mario lists excessive fees in his initial report,
and while I could not find examples to match his report, I did find
examples in excess of what Robert quotes in his rebuttal. Another point of
disagreement is in price fixing. After personally working in one design
sailmaking for twelve years, I can say that all the manufactures are quite
aware of what their competitors are charging, and all the prices become
very similar. If there are further comments out there, please post them in
the forum link above. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION
Flannel sheets and flannel pajamas. Might as well be velcro.
SPONSORS THIS WEEK
New York Yacht Club - New England Ropes - North U.
Dieball Sailing - J Boats - US Sailing - North Sails - Ullman Sails
JK3 Nautical Enterprises - Doyle Sailmakers - The Pirates Lair
Need stuff? Look here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/ssc/suppliers
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