Scuttlebutt Europe #1960 - 6 November
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Brought to you by Boats.com Europe, Yachtworld.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to Alinghi Offers Australian Venue Ahead of tomorrow's hearing at the New York Supreme Court, the Swiss Defender has proposed a solution to the legal impasse brought about by the Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC). While the Defender's first choice for the Deed of Gift Match is Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, in order to achieve a Match in February SNG proposes to stage the 33rd America's Cup on the east coast of Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, in compliance with the Deed of Gift. This is a venue that should be acceptable to both teams if, as expressed publicly, the true intention of BMW Oracle is to race for the America's Cup on the water. A specific race course in the Pacific Ocean off the east coast of Australia, with weather conditions suitable for racing in February, will be announced promptly should GGYC accept this offer and cease their legal strategy. The east coast of Australia offers several locations with ideal sailing conditions for the best-of-three match. A venue in this region would be approximately two and a half weeks away by ship from BMW Oracle's base in San Diego, while Alinghi's voyage from Ras Al Khaimah would take approximately three weeks. SNG is hopeful that this offer will be accepted and that the competition will resume on the water rather than in court. * Generally the move has to be seen as a positive one, and the first sign of a realistic option being put forward by the Defender in the two year impasse. However no specific venue has been nominated, just a region. The rider that all legal action must cease is likely to be overtaken by events, as the fundamental rules questions were decided by Justice Shirley Kornreich last week and reinforced in written decisions this week. The outstanding matters relating to questions of Load Waterline Length measurement with ballast tankage, safety of Valencia as a winter venue, and race organisation process rules. These matters should be quickly resolved once the panel of Expert Jurists has advised Justice Kornreich, after their meeting on Saturday. That only leaves SNG's Appeal to the Appellate Division on the table, which could be resolved by withdrawal by the Swiss club. That just leaves the Breach of Fiduciary Duty action, over SNG's actions as a Trustee of the America's Cup which is in its infancy. That action may not be successful if an America's Cup were held on the date prescribed the the New York Supreme Court, and is a mutually acceptable venue. In other words, it could be overtaken by subsequent events. -- Richard Gladwell in Sail-World.com, www.sail-world.com Transat Jacques Vabre With two days to go before the start the atmosphere, if anything, is slightly restrained. The pressures of the global economic downturn has perhaps eliminated some of the adventurers and those who might normally be taking their first steps on the ladder with this biennial classic race. That means that the IMOCA Open 60 fleet, seven months after the finish of the Vendee Globe, has been pared back to serious teams which are all well funded, highly professional and prepared to approximately the same high level. Meeting their respective international press contingents today both Michel Desjoyeaux, who is out to defend his win in the 2007 edition of this race, and Hugo Boss skipper Alex Thomson individually observed that the fleet of IMOCA Open 60's for this race contains neither weak boats, nor weak crews. Eight of the 28 IMOCA Open 60 skippers here did not finish their Vendee Globe, from the unfortunate Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel), Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) who were among the victims of the first big storm, Jeremie Beyou (who races on Foncia with Michel Desjoyeaux) to Sebastien Josse (BT), Vincent Riou (PRB)now Akena Verandas with Arnaud Boissieres), Mike Golding (Ecover, now Mike Golding Yacht Racing) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) who was the last who was soloist who was forced to retire whilst lying second. All are back here, racing this new course to Puerto Limon,Costa Rica French sailing legend Yves Parlier returns to the IMOCA Open 60 fleet, sailing on the Spanish flagged 1876 partnering Spain's Pacchi Rivero. Parlier is a past winner, in 1997 with the late Eric Tabarly, which he still describes as the highlight of his sailing career, and last competed in 1999 with Ellen MacArthur. British female skippers Sam Davies and Dee Caffari are back in the fray too. Davies is sailing Artemis with Sidney Gavignet, while Caffari is joined on Aviva by Brian Thompson whose third Transat Jacques Vabre this is. While Caffari's confidence after the Vendee Globe and an all girl Round Britain record attempt on Aviva in the summer, is at all time high, Davies, along with Gavignet is just getting to grips with the very powerful Rogers designed Artemis. Quality Founded In One Design Ullman Sails - Make an investment in your performance. Visit us online at www.ullmansails.com Spirit Of Cooperation In Nice
The two teams were meant to practice this afternoon, but strong winds postponed the session. Instead, the trio began discussing how to get the most out of tomorrow morning's session because the wind is forecast to build again tomorrow afternoon. Such is the air of openness and cooperation at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Nice Cote d'Azur. There are no boundaries at this match race regatta. The teams are here to race with the only agenda being victory. Sailing, however, has been problematic. Practice sessions were scheduled every morning and afternoon this week, but the wind and the sea state build quickly on the Bay of Angels off Nice. And it's the sea state that has organizers most concerned with regards to shock loading the America's Cup sloops. "We're trying to make the boats as even and reliable as we can make them," said Laurent Esquier, CEO of the World Sailing Teams Association for the Nice event. "We have 40 shore crew here to work on the boats and sails, but the less damage the better." The draw for boats and ends of the starting line will take place Friday evening at an opening ceremony at the Nice Opera House, and is expected to be attended by the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who also holds the titles of president of the region Nice Cote d'Azur and minister of industry for France. The first warning signal is scheduled for 0900 on Saturday. The eight teams will initially race two Rounds Robin, before the strongest teams advance to the final stages of the event, culminating in a 'first to two points' Final between the top two teams. * BMW ORACLE Racing will be represented in Nice by an all star line-up, led by team skipper and CEO, Russell Coutts (NZL), who is hoping to sail with the team in the early stages of the regatta. The team has been matched against the new Italian team, Azzurra, in the first Match, of the first Flight of racing in Round Robin One. The American squad is scheduled to face the winner of the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, Emirates Team New Zealand in Flight 12, in what should be a highlight match. BMW ORACLE Racing will have a deep pool of talent from which to select its afterguard, including team owner Larry Ellison (USA), Gavin Brady (NZL), Hamish Pepper (NZL), and Michele Ivaldi (ITA). The rest of the BMW ORACLE Racing team: Alberto 'Albi' Barovier (ITA) - Mid Bow They're Off! A granulated sky, gusts, intermittent showers, setting sun, big Atlantic swell, squalls, breaking waves: here we have the setting for this latest departure to gain a new reference time in the Jules Verne Trophy, the round the world record held by Bruno Peyron and his crew since 2005 (50d 16h 20m). Groupama 3 left the pontoon of the port of Le Château in Brest, NW France this Thursday 5th November at 1300 hours before a warm crowd of locals and the crew's families, which came out as far as the Petit Minou lighthouse to bid them farewell. Under two-reefed mainsail and a small jib, Groupama 3 then released her tow at 1400 hours and headed out to sea in a building swell... As such the giant trimaran had to put in a few tacks to get to the North of Ushant before setting the clock running at 15h 50' 22'' UT. The NW'ly wind associated with the low, which passed over Brittany on Wednesday, was still very active: the stormy sky with its cumulonimbus was generating a twenty to twenty-five knot breeze, gusting to over thirty-five knots... Above all though, the seas were hard at the exit from the English Channel with waves of nearly seven metres offshore! As such conditions weren't ideal for the start, but the next stage in the programme is highly favourable, once the crew reaches the Portuguese coast. As a result, for half a day, Franck Cammas and his nine crew are likely to be tackling beam winds and may even have to sail close-hauled for a few hours... A Modern Twist on a Classic Look Outfit your crew today at: www.camet.com ISAF Returns To Korea Where Sailing History Was Made His Star sailing career started in the late 1930's. By 1947 he had won the Star World Championship title. Early promoters of Star sailing in the Bahamas helped get him started and sailing internationally. Leaving the Bahamas with a Star meant that his team needed a car, a trailer and transport off of the island of New Providence. He and Sloane Farrington used a borrowed car to tow their homemade trailer during the eight-day trek from Miami to California for their first World Championship appearance. With the Bahamian Olympic Association not yet formed, Knowles and Sloane Farrington, qualified to represent England in the Star in the 1948 Olympics. The young Bahamians, who favored heavy air, went into the final race of the seven-race series as medal contenders. Leading down the first run, their focus went from holding off legends Carlos de Cardenas and his son, and Agostino Straulino and Nicolo Rode for the Gold, to dealing with the shock of inverting their mast. Recalled Knowles later, "I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in my sailing career than when that mast went overboard." Knowles and Farrington recovered from their fourth place finish at the 1948 Olympics. Bacardi Cup and Pan Am Games victories followed. Ever persistent, Knowles, with Cecil Cooke as his crew, won the 1964 Olympic Gold Medal in a very tight series in Japan. Theirs was the first Olympic Gold Medal ever to be won by a Bahamian In 1988, at the age of 70, Knowles, with Steven Kelly crewing, did not put in an Olympic medal performance in the towering waves and blustery conditions at the Pusan sailing venue. He was the oldest athlete at the Games and his story was told to millions of television viewers and newspaper and magazine readers around the world. He even made the Guinness Book of World Records. The ultimate Olympic honor was bestowed upon Knowles in 1988 when he was awarded the Olympic Order, the highest tribute paid to a sportsman by the International Olympic Committee. -- Lynn Fitzpatrick Exercise Transglobe Leg 5: Perth To Sydney Exercise Transglobe is a major Tri-Service Adventurous Sail Training Exercise being undertaken by UK service personnel, Regular and Reserve. It is the largest-ever adventurous training exercise to be mounted for the services. Tracking, position reports and periodic blogs as well as more details about Exercise Transglobe can all be sourced at the official website at: www.exercisetransglobe.com Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show: It's Your Show Come along and enjoy the thrill of being on board one of the hundreds of fascinating boats on display; from historic replica vessels to the latest in marine technology. With over 500 exhibitors* showcasing power and sail boats, dinghies, deck equipment, charter holidays and sailing courses the Show promises to offer something for enthusiasts and first time visitors alike. Don't forget 'Kids Go Free' aged 15 and under provided they are with a paying adult. For the more discerning visitor looking for that little bit of luxury; the new, exclusive Platinum Ticket. Numbers are limited so make sure you secure your place! For more information visit www.londonboatshow.com *taken from 2009 London International Boat Show Launchings He would very much like to build three at one time, as that makes the economics of boat construction so much better. The yard already holds the timber and it is understood that the boats will have mahogany planking with iroko deadwood. The stem and horn timber will be in oak. The boats will be built to the classic plans approved by the Class and will be checked by the Class Measurer throughout the build process. It is great news for the X Class to know that brand new boats will be launched in time to compete in the Centenary year of 2011. Anyone interested in buying a new XOD should contact Laurence Boarer at Clare Lallow on 01983 292112 -- www.xonedesign.org.uk * Lila Lou Design has created a radical and possibly revolutionary idea, a swing-sail system with side-by-side, matching masts and booms that split port & starboard, harnessing the power of the wind, as well as electrical power with vertical-axis wind turbines. This system effectively doubles the sail area, generating so much power that twin sub-surface foils and a sliding keel bulb are needed to keep it upright. Revolutionary isn't always ridiculous, right? 
According to Lila Lou Design; "We have developed 'Ankida' in a manner that we see is the natural progression for sailing yachts, the most fundamental aspect of which is the mast, rig and keel configuration, moving away from a traditional centre line mast arrangement in order to structurally integrate the entire set-up with the hull and superstructure, making all wind generated forces work homogeneously with the craft, thus maximizing the propulsion efficiency." Obviously, Ankida will rely heavily on an automated mechanical system, coupled with a sophisticated software package for weather, navigation and operation. It is intended to be a yacht could effectively sail itself. Each mast side has booms parallel to one another, which would not be effective if one were "shadowing" the other, therefore the booms are hinged and have the ability to swing (or slide) forward and backward. -- more in MegaYachts Russia, megayachts.ru/en/news/10/944/ * Morris Yachts has been awarded the contract to build four 44-foot sailing vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for use in its Leadership 44 sail training program. 
The company will begin construction on the new boats, each costing more than $800,000, by the end of this year, according to Cuyler Morris, president of Morris Yachts. The new project will allow the company to rehire as many as 20 workers who were furloughed this summer because of economic conditions. The training vessels were designed by David Pederick for use by the U.S. Navy. There have been a few modifications to the design to adapt them for use in the Coast Guard Academy's sail training leadership program. They will replace the decades-old Luders-designed vessels the academy now uses. The first Leadership 44 is scheduled to be launched next September with one boat to be delivered in each of the succeeding months. Although the initial contract is for four of the sailboats, the academy hopes to build as many as eight vessels, one for each cadet company. -- Bangor Daily, www.bangordailynews.com/detail/126444.html# See also www.morrisyachts.com Letters To The Editor - * From Richard Allen: Is it me or is the Americas cup turning into one of those black and white war films, where young girls push the boats around with sticks on a map table to show who's ahead? I like many of us am saddened to see one of the greatest yacht races of all time simply be turned into a legal battle (he who has the best lawyer wins, forget about the crew, the boats and the sailing). I thought like many that the Americas cup was about sailing, a fact that seems to have long been forgotten by certain quarters. Powered winches? Give us a break! Can't recall Dame McArthur using those on her round the World record. What next a legal challenge to the name of the Cup? This classic race should be fought on the water not in the courts, for the Americas cup to be won and lost in court is just ridiculous. If they (Oracle) win it in the current circumstances will anyone ever challenge for it again. Who in their right mind will risk $50M+ to lose it all in court. * From Rene Wllage: I am totally and thouroughly disgusted with the seemingly un- ending court shehanigans surrounding the AC. What was once a prestigious sailing event has been downgraded to a nasty courtcase where one party (the AC defender) seems to be willing to drag decades of yachting sportsmanship through an un-ending mass of mud. How a sponsor could still be seriously interested to dump hard earned funds into this mess is beyond me. I think we should just put the mug back into it's display case and forget about ever sailing the AC again. Let bygones be bygones. Featured Brokerage A schooner of this size, from the board of William Fife III, is something of a rarity. Elise was rescued from neglect by her current owners in 1992 and lovingly and generously rebuilt over a four year period - she has rewarded them since; successfully cruising, Scotland, Northern France and the Caribbean as well as generating the interest that seems to go hand in hand with a Fife design. Elise has a new oak interior, allowing her to be enjoyed, and easily used, as a family yacht; with 3 double cabins, an extremely large galley and a saloon that sits 10 people with ease. Elise's rig is thought to be close to original and although, a gaff staysail schooner, her sail plan makes her extremely manageable for a yacht of this configuration. William Fife 3rd designed and built the gaff rigged staysail schooner No 601 during 1911 and 1912 in his yard at Fairlie on the Clyde. Original yard drawings are available. Brokerage through Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.: Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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