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SCUTTLEBUTT 3506 - Monday, January 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: 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 |
