Scuttlebutt Europe #2492 - 22 December
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Brought to you by Boats.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 Voting is now open for the Wight Vodka Best Sailor's Bar competition! French Rocket Ship Extends Lead Cammas reported this afternoon that his helmsmen are having a ball steering the boat, but the wind is on the beam, the sea is messy and the spray constantly crashing over the deck is giving the red-eyed crew a tough time. The boat is wet both on deck and down below. The east south-easterly trade winds are becoming more unstable as the fleet progresses north towards the no-wind zone. It is Cammas' plan to position Groupama 4 between the fleet and the unpredictable Doldrums, an area where a substantial lead can be very easily be swallowed up by the chasing pack. However, there is no threat tonight from the four boats behind, which all lost miles on the French team between the 1600 and 1900 UTC position reports. Their nearest rival, PUMA's Mar Mostro (Ken Read/USA) need to close a gap of 78.6 nautical miles (nm) and Read has a 10-mile buffer on overall race leader Telefonica (Iker Martinez/ESP). CAMPER (Chris Nicholson/AUS) are a further 20 nm in deficit, while Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR) are a shade under 230 nautical miles in arrears. None can match the 21.5-knot average speed of the French rocket ship and only PUMA are coming close, but still a knot slower. Groupama are expected to enter the 'stealth zone', an area where the positions of the fleet will remain undisclosed in order to protect the crews from pirate activity, on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Team Sanya remain in Madagascar where they are working to repair damage suffered to their rig on Monday while in the lead. They have suspended racing from this leg. Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships
A large crowd gathered in the Worlds Village to watch the final medal presentations and closing ceremony ahead of fireworks and a farewell party for athletes, officials and volunteers on the shore at Bathers Bay. The ISAF World Championships for 10 Olympic classes were held over 16 days with some 1100 athletes from 79 countries sailing for both a world title and to qualify their country for next year's London Olympic Games. Final medal standings: Laser Laser Radial 470 Men 470 Women RS:X Men RS:X Women 49er Star Finn Elliott 6m Women's Match Racing Full results at perth2011.com The Perfect Gift This Christmas Or perhaps fancy treating yourself? Then why not give the gift that keeps on giving - a subscription to one of our fantastic boating magazines? Save up to 37% on the Newsagent price with issues from as little as £3.33 per issue. That's a saving of up to £22.22 per year. Why Subscribe? - Never miss an issue Set sail in confidence with a subscription to your favourite boating magazines. - Motorboat Monthly - Get more out of boating To take advantage of this incredible offer visit: www.magazinesdirect.com/scuttlebutt Hurry though - this offer sets sail this Christmas. Transat B To B: D+12, Home Safely They made it into the Transat B to B finish port at the end of this afternoon after a more boisterous delivery trip than planned for both skippers. Francois Gabart experienced a hard night just after crossing the finish. Whether it was down to the decompression or the wear on gear, the sailor spent the whole night on deck making repairs here and there. It was nothing very serious, but on top of the fatigue racked up over the past ten days of intense racing, the past few hours at sea have been tiresome. Meantime Armel Le Cleac'h benefited from the course being shortened to go and test his monohull in the bad weather in Biscay, albeit with an eye on safety. The two sailors arrived in Lorient in good shape. Indeed the minute they met on the pontoon, the two main protagonists of this Transat B to B were already starting to analysis their race. Overall standing (after jury): Atlantic Rally for Cruisers Draws to a Close After a downwind start in perfect conditions in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the 217 yachts, including a record-breaking 31 multihulls, headed south and then west across the Atlantic towards Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. Classic trade wind conditions provided exciting downwind sailing, with the Franco-Russian team on super-maxi Med Spirit finishing in 11 days and 14 hours; only 9 hours outside the ARC crossing record set by Capricorno (ITA) in 2006. Following Med Spirit over the line was trimaran Rayon Vert (FRA), Gunboat 66 Phaedo (USA), ex-Whitbread maxi Rothmans (SWE) then Open 40 Vaquita (AUT) - these five boats finishing within 13 days and almost 3 days ahead of the next bunch of finishers. Most of the fleet experienced a 'wind hole' as they closed Saint Lucia, leaving some boats becalmed and chasing the lightest of breezes or resorting to the motor. Line honours prizes for boats crossing the line first in their division without motoring were awarded to Med Spirit (FRA), Rayon Vert (FRA), Vaquita (AUT), Hassebas (NED) and Dantés (GER). The overall Cruising Division prize for calculated results was awarded to Standfast 56 Splendid (NED) skippered by Kees-Jan Baartmans, and vintage Oyster Lightwave 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) skippered by Ross Applebey, won the RORC Racing Division. Of the 217 boats that set off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 20 November, 215 crossed the Atlantic successfully (two retired to the Canaries) and 214 crossed the finish line in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. Damages were limited to blown sails, a few broken booms and two broken forestays, but all of the damaged boats were able to finish. The organisers and participants were deeply saddened to learn on 8 December of the sudden death from suspected heart attack of Andrew Nash, who was sailing on Ocean Wanderer. Full list of winners online at www.worldcruising.com/arc/results.aspx Organizing Clubs Announce Atlantic Ocean Racing Series Results, Look Ahead To 2015 Second in the AORS and the winner of the New York Yacht Club Comet Trophy was Clark Murphy's Leopard with a fleet second in the Rolex Fastnet and fleet thirds in the Annapolis to Newport Race and the TR 2011. Third and the winner of the New York Yacht Club Aloha Cup was Chris Bull's Jazz with a fleet fourth in the Rolex Caribbean 600 and fleet fifths in the Annapolis to Newport Race and the TR 2011. These AORS awards wrapped up a remarkable year for Atlantic Ocean racing. For the Transatlantic Race 2011 itself, Ken Read's PUMA Mar Mostro won overall and was the recipient of the RYS Queen's Cup, Rambler 100 was second and Leopard third. Twenty-six yachts in six classes started and finished the TR 2011, and 11 yachts qualified for the AORS. Looking ahead to 2015, George David and Steve Frank, co-chairs of the TR 2011, said, ÒThere have been early discussions among the four Organizing Clubs for a TR 2015 to coincide with the Royal Yacht Squadron's bicentennial celebrations in that year. The group anticipates a companion AORS as well. Atlantic Ocean racing in 2011 has been at a high level with substantial fleets, and there's lots of enthusiasm to continue into 2015. Sponsors of the TR 2011 were Rolex, Thomson Reuters, Newport Shipyard, Perini Navi and Peters & May with additional support from Sperry Top-Sider and Atlantis WeatherGear. On the web at www.transatlanticrace.com Media seeking further information, contact Michael Levitt Dubarry Sligo - Dash of a Different Kind Is The RYA Out Of Step? In their delayed response the RYA have declined to do any more than make a vague and unenforceable promise to 'consult'. They do not even say 'who' and since it is at best a resolution of their Board, they can undo it at any time - even without their membership or elite sailors being told. The Team have advised us that they view this as wholly inadequate protection for future sailors. Also that no invitation to the London Ceremony has been forthcoming and that they have seen no evidence that it has ever been considered. There is little doubt that the RYA of 1980's behaved badly towards the Team and they have done their best to ignore them since. However the Team say that it is not too late for the RYA of today to make an effort to put that right and ensure that no other generation of the best of British sailing has to endure the same treatment. The Team will therefore continue its campaign and welcomes support from readers by email to which they will then pass on to the CEO of the RYA. Gavin Simonds (Soling crew 1980) noted: "The RYA of 1980 behaved appallingly badly towards us all, we were ignored and misled. We had hoped that the RYA of today would want to make an effort to put that right - very soon we are going to find out if this particular leopard has changed its spots." Jerry Richards (1980 470 crew) says that: "It appears the RYA keep the right to make the same boycott decision the next time they are under political pressure, but have resolved only to try to handle it in a more courteous manner. How does that match up to their published mission to support sailing? Boycotts destroy most athletes' hopes and dreams - for life. Imagine a doctor or lawyer not being allowed to take the final exam, always wondering what they might have achieved." Colin Simonds remarked: ''I spent 10 years campaigning to get to the Olympics - if it needs 10 years again I will find a way to get the right decisions made. We are now considering a range of further options, and are looking for even more public and RYA member support. ''We have had many emails of support to us and our campaign email address of which a selection have already been forwarded to the RYA Chief executive . We welcome more direct to the RYA or to us, and will pass them on. We MUST stop this happening again. -- Gavin Simonds (Member of 1980 Olympic Sailing Team) Old Finn Farts Regatta August 25-26 2012 Limited to all Finn sailors still alive. (There is a rumour that Bruder, Van Dyne and various Rogges will appear at least in our minds.) For accomodations we will arrange hotel rooms on Toronto Bay or if requested billeting either in homes or on boats at the club. Book early! $150 CAN Includes Barbecue and Dinner plus the usual Keg of Beer. Contact: Paul Henderson 416-487-3193 18ft Skiffs: Nsw Championship - Race 5
While Thurlow Fisher took out the championship, today's race was a one-boat affair as Gotta Love It 7 (Seve Jarvin, Sam Newton and Scott Babbage) gave an awesome performance throughout the North-East course to score a brilliant 4m4s win over Thurlow Fisher. Two earlier disappointing placings for the '7' team saw them finish third overall on 15 points, behind Lumix (Jonathan Whitty, Greg Dixon and James Hozack), which was runner-up to Thurlow Fisher on 10 points. Third placing today went to Appliancesonline.com.au (Micah Lane, Paul Montague and Tom Anderson), which finished 55s behind Thurlow Fisher. Fourth place overall in the championship went to Smeg (Nick Press) on 15 points, followed by Rag & Famish Hotel (Jack Macartney) on 25 and Appliancesonline.com.au on 26 points. The Australian 18 Footers League's next race will be on Sunday, 8 January 2012, when it conducts the Cordukes Clubhouse Trophy. -- Frank Quealey, Australian 18 Footers League www.18footers.com.au Letters To The Editor - * From Richard Dobbs: The letters from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston et al on the Ainslie incident are relatively clear on a significant concern with the race organisation in Perth. I am looking forward to hearing the response from ISAF or the race organisers in a future Scuttlebutt Europe - it does not appear that they have yet had a chance to addressed the concerns raised on their websites. If no explanation is forthcoming, one might ponder the reason for this. Perhaps: 1. They don't think the concerns raised are serious. If they don't want to get into the incident, perhaps they could let us know which of these (or other reasons) apply? * From David Branigan: The stream of ill-informed comment regarding the Ainslie incident last week is starting to obscure the actual facts which need to be re-stated in the hope that some of the more hysterical commentators might take notice: FACT: It was the official event TV production company with special sanction to enter the course area, not a media boat involved in this incident. FACT: The majority of actual media boats respect the needs of the competitors while trying to capture great stories and imagery that are strengths of our sport. FACT: In fairness, the RIB driver in this case was an unpaid local volunteer acting in good faith even if it didn't work out on this occasion. He must be properly respected and thanked for this fact. FACT: The evidence that the RIB interfered with Ainslie on the run to the finishing-line did not include the aerial TV footage that has been withheld from public consumption (on legal advice to ISAF) until the Rule 69 process has concluded. However, it is available to the RYA and should definitively show whether or not the TV boat's wake obstructed Ainslie or even whether it altered the outcome of the race that Pieter-Jan Postma of The Netherlands won. It's already been suggested already that 'mission-critical' roles should not rely on unproven personnel, voluntary or professional. This is clear: only by employing the latter can you retain some form of real sanction over the expertise, seamanship and sailing knowledge of, in this case a RIB driver. Events, sponsors and competitors gain great benefit from the efforts of genuine sailing media. Pillorying press with the same vituperation reserved for elements of tabloid media is simply unfair and will lead us towards 'worst case makes for bad law.' Ultimately, everyone will lose out. In comparison to the number of races sailed, how often do media boats actually interfere with a race? Rarely, I suggest. And while accidents can and will happen, professional sailing media stake their own reputations on ensuring this does not occur. Featured Brokerage Ranger, a replica of the "J-Class" yacht which won the Americas Cup in 1937, was a labor of love by the current owner. A stellar team contributed to the successful build of Ranger, finally launched by Danish Yacht in 2004. Naval architects Studio Scanu, Reichel-Pugh, and Fred Elliott worked with the original lines of Starling Burgess and Sparkman and Stephens to create a yacht that not only wins honors in regattas, but cruises in style as a proper luxury yacht. A departure from the original, she carries a central cockpit and doghouse as well as a splendid mahogany interior boasting 4 staterooms aft for owner and guests with 3 ensuite baths - all created by Glade Johnson Design. In addition, the interior is extremely quiet, as acoustical engineer Joe Smullin was in charge of isolating it from the hull, greatly reducing vibration and noise . Whereas the hull is steel, true to the original, the new teak doghouse is carbon fiber underneath and the classic raised panel interior is actually Nida-cored to keep weight down. Countless hours were spent on fitting modern technologies and living concepts into the matrix of a vintage yacht that conformed to the J-Class Association?s rules and regulations. Brokerage through Northrop and Johnson: www.yachtworld.com/northropandjohnsonfl/ Complete listing details and seller contact information at The Last Word |
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