September 2004
| Phil's (Not Just) Foils
09/24/04 |
Da Kine 46
Here's a pic of the new DK 46 DeKadence about to be launched at Sandringham Yacht Club, Melbourne Australia for Philip Coombs, Commodore of the club. Our 2004/5 sailing season opens this coming Saturday with the traditional free piss-up at the Club followed by lunch on board the boats, more booze, a sail past and salute in which flags, pants and bikini tops are traditionally lowered to salute the flag officers and welcome in the new sailing season.The theme this year is "Hawaii" so we can expect all sorts of tropical regalia, coconut bras,surfboards, Japanese fighter pilots and Jack Lord look a likes (Book em Danno!) This is all followed by even more drinking, a usually very loud band on the YC lawns, an evening fireworks display and even more booze. After that we all do the responsible thing and get in our cars and drive home! Your intrepid correspondent will be out and about amongst the action armed with his trusty evidence gatherer / digital camera.The weather forecast is for a very un-Hawaiian 18Deg C with showers so it will be a soggy affair. Looking forward to it! 09/30/04 |
Smokin'?
Drawings of he new 90' Nicorette in build for Ludde Ingvall in Sydney. She's being built in a shed owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Trust, which means the public has access to the build site, 6 days a week (Saturday tours being guided). Once again, Ludde has returned to Sth African based design team Simonis Voogd for his new boat. Apparently, in order to get in under the rating limit for Hobart this year, she'll step a masthead rig (112 foot mainsail luff length), and should go upwind in up to 15 kts with 3 (yes, three!) headsails. A Code 0 off a 6 foot bowspirit, a number 1 off the forestay, and a smaller jib off a permanent babystay. No spinnaker poles....and from the looks of the structure in place, no doorway big enough to pull a spinnaker bag through, so it'll be all hatch hoists. The deck was sawn off the old 80' ILC maxi in order to speed up the build process. The shell of the 80 is for sale for any seriously interested party. Initial impressions are of a boxy hull, with lots of long flat surfaces. In order to not modify the old deck too much, the transom of the old yacht was left attached, meaning that the new hull will have a really nice 6 foot sugar scoop on the bum. The new boat is a TMF (Triple Moving Foil) design. Keel (with trim tab) cants, while the forward (in line) daggerboard has a trim tab and is retractable. All computer controlled..... Winches are hydraulic Harkens. Forestay is also hydraulic. The keel box was being placed tonight, and if fits will be off to be anodised tomorrow. Once that's back, it will be installed and the deck placed on. After this, the hull will be flipped again for final fairing of foil cutouts. Estimated time to launch......6 weeks. 09/30/04 |
| Multifaceted Russell Coutts is going to sail with Groupama, Franck Cammas' trimaran. He will be the tactician for the last Orma Grand Prix this weekend in Marseille. It seems that Russell had enough with the Cup, and will likely be doing a number of different things. We think it is the first time he will be sailing officially on a trimaran of this sort. 09/30/04 |
| What's the Dilly, Yo? Hey! What IS it with this KiteShip kite thing? Is this the cat's ass or is it a POS? Where's the DATA? Poster No Rumours has offered an across-the-board 25% discount to SA readers if they'll buy one and write about it on SA. C'mon, poor Alan H is holdin' up the tent all by hisself! The offer's good from Sept 28 through October 4 only. Anybody got game? Order here. 09/29/04 |
| Yo, Money!
The nonstop round-the-world race, The Oryx Quest, will start in Doha, Qatar in February 2005 and will finish at the same location approximately two months later. The Oryx Cup is open to multihulls of 100 feet and longer. The prize for first place is US $1 million, a lot of dough, fo' sho'. Gotta spend all that natural gas money somehow. But which one is Cayard? Photo courtesy Rick Tomlinson 09/29/04 |
Dig It!
The maxi catamaran Orange II which beat the trans-Mediterranean sea record between Marseille and Carthage (Tunisia), averaging something sick like 25 knots. Hey now! Photo courtesy of Gilles Martin-Raget/Orange. More here. 09/28/04 |
| More Worlds Old School Jeez, it never stops, does it? Now the J/24 Worlds are underway in Connecticut and an old school name is atop the leader board: Dave Curtis! Think he can stay there? Check it. 09/28/04 |
Finally!
The
maxi catamaran Orange II finally set a record, beating the trans-Mediterranean
sea record between Marseille and Carthage (Tunisia), averaging
something sick like 25 knots. |
| Mumm's The Word
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| Speed Freak! 09/27/04
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Pete
Melvin skippering the new Nacra A2 catamaran, swept the A-Class
North American Championships with 7 bullets out of 11 races. 28
top sailors from North America competed for the championships
but were defeated by Melvin on the A2 who's total score was only
13 points. The full results can be found
The Grind Begins! Bruce Schwab and his still very cool Ocean Planet depart for his date with destiny for the Vendee Globe, which starts in November. Needless to say, we're pulling hard for him! 09/27/04 |
One Up
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The new Windward-Leeward course made the racing more tactical with the opportunity for the crews to split tacks and use opposite sides of the track. After a long morning delay, of which INVICTUS and RONSTAN spent swanning around on a 38ft Power yacht that had come to watch the racing, the breeze gently built to 10 knots for the west and racing got underway late in the afternoon. RONSTAN performed very well in the shifty conditions without the many breakages the had plagued the Team in the qualifying. In the Trophy for the Little America's Cup PATIENT LADY 6 surprised everyone to beat COGITO by four seconds in the first race of the finals. However the superior boat speed of the defender proved too great and went on to win the day 2-1. Racing continues today in Upper Narragansett Bay. 09/24/04 |
| Clearly Drunk We get letters, and some are actually nice. Hello Just wanted to let you know I think S.A. is THE BEST maintained site of any I visit on the web. Whether one likes or dislikes its content, agrees or disagrees with opinions, the information is always fresh and informative. I cannot think of another site except maybe a newspaper site which has new content every day. So, keep up the obviously very hard work and I hope you are enjoying it and making a good deal of $. You deserve it as you provide entertainment and information to thousands of sailing folks around the world. Coincidentally, I have met several local sailors I did not previously know via the forums. 09/24/04 |
Better Late.....
The boys at Owen Clarke Design offer up their version of the TP 52. The boat is to build this winter, and we'll bet they'll produce a fast boat, like they are known for doing. Fun to watch! 09/24/04 |
| I 14's, Covered PeteM was kind enough to get you up to date on the wild I14 Class happenings. Enjoy. I14 North Americans in Toronto Sept. 11-13 followed by the US Nationals in Annapolis Sept 16 – 19. I 14 East Coast Tour North American’s Report Light air two of the three days, not much fun for a 14 crouched in the boat. The Canadians obviously were used to these conditions and the West Coasters were looking for power. Last day was a breeze on easterly with big waves, excellent fun. I was laughing as we crashed thru the waves upwind and fell off the faces down, yee haa. Hope Renee got some good photos. Andrew
Yates, 2. Zach Berkowitz, 3. Ron Boehm Nationals Report. Down in participation, but good racing. Bit of an upset when the host club canceled at the last minute, but the local fleet and the Severn Sailing Assoc. (SSA) saved the day and we went racing. Four races in light air for Thurs. Light and rainy turning out nice and about 12 kts for the long distance race on Friday. Hurricane Ivan blew us out on Sat and Sunday was three races in a shifty 5 – 15. It all came down to the last race and the last 30 meters of a downwind finish to decide the title. It was very stressful. Ron
Boehm, 2. Ted Rogers, 3. Brad Ruetenik 09/23/04 |
| Vidie Well Oops Video This video of the lame name Oops Cup has got some good action. Check it out, it may take a couple times to load, and yes it is produced by a company touting their shiznit, but it's still fun to watch. 09/23/04 |
| Mumm 30 Worlds Family Affair The Kahn family is having a good early start to the Worlds. Team SA is out of the blocks slowly, but here is a little pre-race tidbit. Opening was good (we were wearing the SA polos), free Mumm bubbly and fruit and oysters. Had to get the crew out of there before they got too loaded. SA banner is flying tight and somebody tried to give us shit for the logo on the dock and another crew on another boat spoke up and beat them down. True love everywhere for SA. Word from dinner was that Chris Larson didn't want any bad press on SA! Best line heard on land last night on various cell phones conversations when asked where to find results online - "Check out SA." Again SA had full results first. Hell, that Giles (SA name) on SA belongs to RCYC and is part of the regatta and he is posting it first on SA not the worlds site! 09/22/04 |
| A Sad Day Sometimes we simply forget what an unforgiving environment in which our sport exists. Connecticut sailor Chris Conradi tragically lost his life in a squall off Stonington this weekend. He was trapped under his friends 31-ft trimaran which had flipped, and while he was pulled out from under, he was unable to be resuscitated. We are sorry to hear of this and our best wishes go to Chris' family and friends. The full story can be found here. 09/22/04 |
Rocky Start Mirabella
V, Joe Vittoria's 246ft Ron Holland-designed yacht launched earlier
this year, in trouble on the French Riviera! The Big Rig apparently
ran onto rocks near the entrance to Beaulieu sur Mer harbor, having
dragged her anchor. Winds are reportedly Force 6-7 and Mirabella
is on a lee shore. Bad times. |
| What the Hell is Wrong With Me?,II My Ed Word below generated an amazing amount of e-mail. Here are a couple of responses: I'm an avid reader of SA, and I really enjoy reading your editorials which are usually amusing and quite true, especially when it comes to Dee Smith and his "a-hole quotient". However, I was really shocked this morning when I read your comments on being invited to go sailing in the big boat classes. There's no need to rub it in you know - I'd be loving it if I was being invited to go sailing on all these yachts - I live in the UK and the biggest yacht I've ever sailed was a Swan 46, and that makes me quite privileged for the average sailor in the UK. I understand you might not want to go, but there's no need to write about it as if its such a drag being invited. Realise what an incredible position you're in friend. I've never even seen boats as incredible as the TP52's or other such boats which you seem to find quite standard. Remember there are people who would give away their home, car, and close relatives to be in the position you're in. Keep up the SA vibe, ************************************************************************** Ed: I gave up crewed racing several years ago cause I just don't like most people. Our OD fleet was dying and frankly I didn't have patience for most crew. The shorthanded thing has been great. ***************************************************************************** Dear Editor, You aren't burnt out---you just need a sportsboat of your own with a SMALL crew Enjoy 09/15/04 |
| On Your Knees, Boy This, from a reader..... Now when it is close to 400 days until The Volvo Ocean Race starts, the VOR boat builders prayer is unleashed! WHAT A BOAT WE HAVE DONE The VOR Boat Builders Prayer In the night we are the insane In stress and in vain We build in God blessed suffer and pain In hope and love to the sea, all right We buff it until it shines diamond bright In God we trust so the sea will love us back In faith to God there will be none us to track In a second after the shot, the race has begun Oh my God, what a boat we have done. 09/15/04 |
| Maxi Taxis
The Big Rigs showed up at Puerto Cervo for the Maxi Worlds, which doesn't mean much to you or I, since we aren't likely to be playing in that arena any time soon, but surely means much to those either writing the checks or accepting them. Pyewacket likely surprised everyone by winning this thing with some ease over Wild Oates and Genuine Risk. The results can be found here. 09/13/04 |
Sacre Blew!
At
about 2:30 this morning, 12 hours after the final race of the
"Marseilles Louis Vuitton Act 1," a brief but intense
thunderstorm packing 65 knot winds hit Marseilles. The AC yachts
belonging to Alinghi, BMW Oracle and TNZ, sitting on cradles nearly
side by side in the boat park, were blown over. All three landed
on team porta-coms at about a 45-degree angle. TNZ's NZL 82 appears
to have sustained the worst damage, Alinghi's SUI 64 probably
the second worst, and Oracle's USA 76 probably the least damage
(and Oracle has their back-up boat USA 71 in Valencia ready to
go, while apparently neither Alinghi nor TNZ have back-up boats
in Valencia). |
| Mad World
09/13/04 |
| Today Was a Good Day The SoCal weather has been hot and sunny, so your Ed had maybe a perfect outdoor day Sunday: Surfing at south Carlsbad early AM, mountain biking at San Clemente Canyon late AM, and IOM racing at the pond in the PM. Even racked up some good finishes (2, 4, 8 - over early in that one - and a 3rd) before splitting early. Damn, every day should be like that! 09/13/04 |
Farrs in Frisco
We
haven't been giving this Farr 40 World Championship any coverage
mostly because its an arrogant fleet run by an arrogant YC. We
understand the racing as usual has been vicious and we don't know
if that means it is a whole lot of fun. |
Thunder Down Under
A
wild night in Sydney! Photo taken Sunday night and comes to you
courtesy of Sportscar. |
| Samba Gate Update Staggy caved in and Kilroy got to race with an “old” medium. The other owners are livid. 31 boats there, and 30 others got the rules right, this decision punishes them. They’re still in a bunch – when they were dog slow in the first race, they had three separate people trim the headsail in the first race, including Cayard. 09/09/04 |
| World of Outlaws
How ya like this little fucker? Know what it is? 09/07/04 |
| Kahn Job I'll
bet Philippe Kahn and I don't have a bunch in common other than
a love for the sport, but I think he secretly digs SA, even though
he'd likely never admit as much. "It is very sad that Transpac 2005 may turn out to be a delivery to Honolulu given the change in rule and the fact that the new rule has been designed by and for Roy Disney. The only boat that could potentially turn that embarrassment into a race is Morning Glory. We at Pegasus Racing would like to help Transpac continue to be a serious race like we did successfully in 2001 and 2003." In other words, its a done deal. 09/07/04
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| New Found Glory We have heard that Philippe Kahn is in the final negotiations of buying the maxZ 86 Morning Glory from it's current owner Hasso Plattner. The deal has been going on for a couple of weeks. You'll recall that Platner got pissed getting his ass kicked by an aggressive Pyewacket at Cork Race Week and decided to just up and sell his brand new and very primo R/P '86. The word is he is going to take it and a good portion of the existing crew and do Cabo and Transpac. Given Kahn finding Dee Smith a royal pain in the ass to sail with, we're pretty sure that Smith won't be part of the new team! But you never know - it's a strange world out there....... 09/04/04 |
| Borracho y Perezoso The last holiday before the end of Summer seems like a pretty good one to take off, so we will. Your faithful Ed however, will drag his sorry ass out of bed at 4 am to be on the radio. I'll do the borracho y perezoso thing later in the day. Y'all enjoy your day off. 09/04/04 |
| NorCal Vibe
Frisco is a fairly amazing place, and the 18's sailing there are pretty amazing as well. Local activist Erik Simonson has done a nice job capturing the action. The results can be found here. 09/03/04 |
Back in Black?
From:
Tom Schnackenberg |
| Whining Ahead Iain
Percy, the British Star class skipper who missed out on a medal
this time, is planning to have another go in 2008, but he was
scathing about the choice of venue in China. “I’m already
thinking, ‘Why the hell are we sailing in Qingdao, which
is a venue with no wind? This just makes a mockery of our sport
— it’s going to be like skiing on grass,” Percy
said. |
Dig It! The
new breed of IRC boats getting a work out in 'Frisco before the
upcoming BBS. 09/02/04 |
| Vidiot Multis Rule! Even weird and maybe not the fastest ones like Yves Parlier's Aquitaine Innovations. Nonetheless, this is a great look at how fast these fucking things really are. This video rocks. Enjoy. 09/02/04 |
Zippy Aussie 18's hit the Bay. Looks like fun, especially from your desk, eh mate? The results can be found here. Photo courtesy of Frisco Giant lover Erik Simonson. 09/01/04 |
| ....There's This Visitors
to the 2003 show might remember the needle-like
form of the JS9000 sportsboat. Unfortunately, the Australian yard
couldn't deliver so JS Yachts (now Regatta Racing Yachts) decided
to build their own. The Phil Morrison-designed Regatta 9000 is
similar in concept and appearance but with a few differences.
Most obvious is the 5 ft bowsprit for the big kite. A lot of development
has also gone into the keel to overcome the old boats' problem
of not being able to exceed 22knots! Tsk tsk. At a race-ready
price of 24,640 pounds ex VAT, we might see a class soon, but
until then the first boat should be racing at Cowes. 09/01/04 |
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Sponsored by ClewGear Race Committee work can require creative people when you try to run a race in no air. Here is what this committee has to say.
Ok all you know the drill. You winners send an email to the ED to claim your prizes. Sorry it took so long to get this together. In addition to my usual slovenly and tardy efforts here, I've got a new radio morning show that I'm very busy with. Fear not friends (and tough shit, haters), SA will continue to soldier forward. We actually have some new things we are working on to make this place even more kick-ass than it already is. - Ed. 09/01/04 |
| Help Wanted We need you to send us stuff about what is going on in your town. We have a little thing here called Local Knowledge that has gotten good response and we want to keep it going. Race reports, stories, rumors, drunken escapades - everything sent in that we use gets you a new edition SA tee shirt. A must have item, don't you know. Send your shizzle to the Ed. 09/01/04 |