July 2005
Summer
School  Kids ripping it up at the San Diego Junior Olympics. Take comfort in knowing this kid is probably already better than you. Thanks to GTSphotos for the cool shot. 7/29/05 |
| Transpac
Report The
much-maligned Jim Donovan designed TP 52 Trader had their best
performance to date with an outstanding 3rd in class and 3rd
overall in the recent Transpac. Or so they thought. Turns out
because the communication vessel couldn't hear two of their
evening SSB radio checks, they were penalized one-hour which
moved them out of a podium finish, to 4th. (BTW, it appears
14 other boats received a time penalty for the same infraction)
This seems particularly harsh in light of what Al deClercq,
who was on board Trader, had to say about their situation. Stay
tuned: 7/29/05 |
| Fun Name that Cockpit  We
might as well have a little fun on a Friday, so our friends and
sponsors at Gul
International, makers of fine sailing apparel, are offering
up a cool Gul baseball hat to the first one who can identify what
type of boat this cockpit belongs to. Have at it. 7/29/05 |
| Open
40....Closed!  As in the deal is closed for designer Kevin Dibley. This is his latest commission, an Open 40 for Kiwi Bryan Cooke who will be taking her to the Northern Hemisphere to race her single-handed in the Transat, Route Du Rhum etc. Good for Kevin - read more here. 7/28/05 |
UH,
GO THE CONE? So, you want to take that 30' of yours on the Transpac, do ya? Take a look at the cockpit of The Cone after arriving in Hawaii and think again! The Cone did do amazing things in the race however, coming from dead last to finish first on elapsed time and second on corrected in Division 3, beating a whole bunch of decent 50's boat for boat in the process. But then again, The Cone is no ordinary 30'....Congraulations btw, to the J/125 Reinrag2 for winning this class on corrected time - their third class win to Hawaii!! 7/28/05 |
NY 42 Well here it is - the NYYC 42, by Swan. After getting proposals from Mark Mills and Bruce Farr, this is what NYYC chose. While it will surly be well executed, it seems a bit pedestrian. It does have a sprit though. Under the terms of the partnership between NYYC and Swan, the NYYC will be responsible for developing the new class rules and, initially, for administering the class and promoting and running class events. Nautor's Swan, on the other hand, will market the yacht and promote the class to sailors and other leading yacht clubs through its global network of agents and service yards. The NYYC hopes to see a rapid acceptance of the class in the US, shortly followed by Europe. Given the boat that they could have gotten from Mills, versus what they are getting from Swan, what do you think? 7/27/05 |
| AC
TV The Outdoor Life Network (OLN) has procured the TV rights to the 2007 AC broadcasts. They are known for providing decent coverage and lots of it, but how about stepping up in the commentator department? Please, whatever they do, don't let Isler, Jobson, Riley etc. anywhere near a camera. Get some fresh blood, with perhaps a bit of energy and the actual ability to broadcast. The AC on TV can be tedious enough without the clichéd, dull and predictable comments we've been subjected to in the past. 7/27/05 |
Loki
Here
Here
is the new R/P 60 Loki. R/P again, you ask? Well, yes. Seems
they are about the most prolific designers on the planet, and
for good reasons. Their boats are very fast, beautiful and well
turned out. The new Loki might be one of the finest examples
of a R/C that we've ever seen. Stephen Ainsworth's new boat
is the fixed-keel replacement for his successful and locally
campaigned carbon Swan 47 "Loki", and only newly delivered
to Sydney from Azzura Yachts Queensland. Preparations are under
way for the Airlie/Hammo regatta next month where she faces
some similar boats. These great shots courtesy of Andrea
Francolini. Enjoy. |
| We
Rock Giddaye Guys Just a short note to say SA has to be the best sailing site on the planet. I log in most days to see what you have next. I contacted Chris Cochran (Our yacht Design 101 author from Morrelli and Melvin - Ed.) about a keel issue regards IOM radio yachts, and he responded with a complete and thorough report. I think its fantastic that your contributors are prepared to respond to inquiries with such enthusiasm. Keep up the good work Regards 7/26/05 |
| Hawaiian
Style!
 The Andrews 80 Magnitude triple slotting at the Diamond Head finish line Sunday, 13:02:57 HST. Only in the era of the super maxi could an otherwise impressive 80' be relegated to also ran status - see below. Photo courtesy of local John Spadaro. 7/25/05 |
Transpac Report Whiner to Winner It wasn't that long ago that Hasso Plattner announced that he was pulling the plug on his maxZ 86 Morning Glory program and putting the boat up for sail after getting his hat handed to him by Robbie Haines and his So Cal boys on Pyewacket. Look how things have changed! With the clearly superior afterguard and navigating team of Russell Coutts, Morgan Larson and Ian Moore, Plattner extracted some revenge by not only convincingly beating Pyewacket to Hawaii, but also breaking the course record by nearly a day with a time of 6 days 16 hours 4 minutes 11 seconds in the process. Both boats predictably put the wood to the again disappointing Dubois '90 Genuine Risk, a program that not even Dave Ullman and Ken Read could save. Speaking of beatings, get a load of the hurt the 30' Cone of Silence is delivering in Division 3. After a dismal first couple of days that at one point had them last in class and overall, they have dominated the bigger boats in their class, consistently putting up much better miles covered every day since. They now find themselves leading this class boat for boat, and second on corrected. At this pace, they'll win class handily, Go the Cone! 7/25/05 |
Uh
Oh.... Oh we're kidding - no problems so far with the brand new R/P maxi Alfa Romeo (Shockwave). I know we showed it to you last week, but these things don't come along every week. (Actually it seems like they do!) Anyway, here the boys are testing out their canting keel and also later hit 19 knots sailing in light air. Click here for a sailing shot and more dope on the boat. 7/25/05 |
Lexus
Nexus After
struggling in their opening effort, the new TP 52 Lexus/Quantum
Racing Lexus, this time skippered by Dean Barker, appears to be
clicking, winning the Breitling Regatta, the third event of the
Breitling
MEDCUP. Caixa Galicia, with a newly
freed John Kostecki as tactitian, finished second and Orlanda
Olympus, third. We'll get a follow-up from the Quantum boys on
how they stepped up their game, besides the obvious move of kicking
Isler off the boat - ha!7/25/05 |
Rules Preview Most of you hate rating rules, and mostly for good reasons. We've got a superb article coming this week that addresses the problems, and here is a peak.... The world of offshore racing, in which I include measured and handicap racing, sucks. We don't have a Grand Prix Rule and two 'racer/cruiser' rules are doing battle with each other like third-graders in the school yard. Frankly, its a lot of chasing but neither party is really landing any blow major enough to put us out of our misery. Each one has it right in a small part, and wrong to a large part. The problem is that the people who should be leading aren't, and the ones that should have nothing to do with the process are ruining it. To be continued..... 7/25/05 |
| Nice....
Uh,
Not so Nice... 7/22/05 |
Real Nice There is no doubt how nice the layouts are on the new generation of performance boats. Here is the stunning cockpit of the new R/P 72 Beecom. Not doing well in the Transpac, but winning on style points! Photo courtesy of Maddog. 7/22/05 |
Dumb
Asses 7/22/05 |
2.jpg)
Boxed In Normally a bad place to be, this time it is good as in the new Storm Trysail 65 Box Rule rule has been officially announced. Based in part on the success of the TP 52 box rule, this one should also be good at developing interest and a new class of the new breed of boats. We'll be sure to feature various designer's initial interpretation of the rule as we get them. 7/22/05 |
Maximus! 7/25/05 |
Round
n' Round 7/21/05 |
F You Below is an example of why we hate most all yachting media, even the so-called "alternative" ones. The article was sent to us from someone who got it at the Latitude 38 site. Lat knows god damn well that we had this story a full day ahead of anyone else, because sure as anything, they read it here first, just like everyone else. But they claim that Scuttled "reported" it (which of course means they simply copied it from elsewhere, per usual). Adding to Lat's butchering of the story, Kostecki was not dismissed (he left on his own), is indeed free to sail the VOR (read the e-mail in the Kostecki Out piece further down the page), and to somehow indicate that it was Kostecki who "personality-wise" was the problem is ridiculous. For "personality-wise" issues, look no further than Dicko. Kostecki
Free? It's been reported in Scuttlebutt that Marin's John Kostecki has been dismissed as skipper and sailing director of the BMW Oracle America's Team Effort. In the recent Acts, BMW Oracle did well but not great. Syndicate head Larry Ellison has a history of replacing heads of departments at Oracle and on his America's Cup boats. Personality-wise, Kostecki might not have been the greatest fit. Does that mean Kostecki might be free to race in the upcoming Volvo, which he won last time around? Could be. 7/20/05 |
DC Challenged Last week we ran a quote from Wooden Boat by Ol' DC saying that he would accept a challenge from anyone to race against his restored classic, Cotton Blossom II, with $100 grand at stake. Carl Cramer at Wooden Boat got the first counter challenge and here it is. It will be interesting to see what His Largeness counter's with!: Dear Carl; There he goes again, as Ronald Reagan would say. In the article about the restoration of Cotton Blossom II, a wonderfully restored Q-boat, Dennis Conner challenges the “East Coast” to bring out a New York 30 or any boat of our choosing to match race. (With that open-ended challenge, he’s lucky we won’t bring a catamaran!) IYRS, and friends, accept this challenge, based on the following key points—and others to be negotiated: Dennis must find an IYRS comparable 501 (c) 3 to sponsor his campaign; Each party, as Dennis indicates must put up (at least) $100,000, to be held in escrow; The winning 501 (c) 3 gets 65%; the loser 35%; Match racing to be held in neutral water. Dennis, we await your response. Sincerely, Terry
Nathan, tnathan@iyrs.org 7/21/05 |
| Game
On! 7/20/05 |
Upgrade
7/20/05 |
| AlohA! 7/19/05 |
"Uh,
do we have a flatter jib?" We love watching these big bad boy tri's race on closed courses, but they certainly have different issues than "normal" boats. Here on Groupama at the Galicia Multihull Grand Prix, look at how tough it can be to keep their code 0 trimmed - no doubt . Also note the main trim then look at the headsail - amazing things, these cutting edge multi's. Another great shot from Gilles Martin-Raget 7/19/05 |
| Yeah!
Yee f-ing haw at the Columbia Gorge Racing Association Gorge Skiff Regatta, hosting the 49er North Americans and the 29er North Americans. Photo from our friend Sean Trew. 7/19/05 |
G
Spot BG
Spirit finished first overall in the Global
Challenge 2004/05 after a close win over Barclays Adventurer
in the seventh and final leg, finishing just a few minutes in
front as seen here. 7/19/05
|
| Playa' One thing about the Big Boys - they usually know how to spend money about as well as they know how to make it. Oracle guru Larry Ellison seems to have taken a real interest in real estate in Malibu of late, to the tune of $180 million. Check it out. 7/19/05 |
| Code...G?  Here's the new TP 52 Pegasus tuning up for their Sunday Transpac start with what we thought was a Code O, but have been told is a mast head genoa. The fact that it is on a furler and has no spreder patches threw us off - we're not that smart, as you know. Photo from our Transpac correspondent Max Rosenberg who will be sending us daily e-mail's from the R/P 77 Scout's Spirit. 7/15/05 |
Last Dance...
...of
the irrelevant? The IMS Worlds are taking place in at the Yacht
Club Costa Smeralda. Might as well race these things while
someone still cares, right? |
| SA
Banned at CYC This from a reader: Here is the message you get if you try to access the forums from the public computers at the Chicago Yacht Club this week: Access to this website is locked. Reason: The website's content is inappropriate. Thought
you would find it amusing. BTW, you can get to the front page,
only the forums are locked. |
| Old
School 7/15/05 |
| Inevitable? With any rule, even a box rule, invariably boats get out-designed, but with the rapid rise of the TP 52 class, it seems the fall can be just as rapid. We hear the boys on the US TP52's said that the Brightstar/Bambakou/Sjambok generation has no chance at a win at the International level. There is discussion of new foil packages, but the thinking is they would still struggle to place. No one has ordered new foils as of yet. Thoughts? 7/15/05 |
Scow Anarchy
We
love it when we see pictures of y'all wearing the colors. Click
to see these E Scow boys looking better than the normally would.
Send in a picture
with the SA gear/logo in it and you get an SA hat! |
| Crooks
and Liars Most of you know that corporate criminal Bernard Ebbers was sentenced to an incredible 25 year prison sentence, but did you know that he had marine ties as well? Former owner of the now defunct Intermarine, in 1998 Ebbers and two partners paid US$14 million for a 21-acre Savannah, Ga. shipyard that used to supply the Navy with high-tech minesweepers and submarine rescue ships. He named it Intermarine, invested another US$4 million into improvements, and built luxury megayachts. Intermarine was sold in 2002 to Palmer Johnson for US$9.8 million. Palmer Johnson has since sold the facilities.. 7/15/05 |
| Going...Going.......................Gone
This year's Eurocard Gotland Runt offshore race outside Stockholm in the Baltic started 238 boats on July 3. In normal conditions the first 60’ tri was expected to make in less than 24 h. This year it took winning Academy with Norwegian Knud Frostad just over 48 h. But that’s not the story. In this shot, the photographer is onboard the 80' Royal Blue at sea in the middle of the light Baltic night in winds around 16 knots, they are being passed by a Sea Cart 30 tri doing 19 nm/h! Check out the sequence we put together. Thanks again to Håkan Lindström for the info and Gustaf Martin-Lof for the shots. 7/14/05 |
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Classic Throw Down The Great DC, while showing off his refurbished 1925 Cotton Blossom for an article in Wooden Boat magazine, threw down a challenge. In the context of perhaps racing against like classics on the East Coast, DC made this statement, "I'll tell you what. Why don't they chose the best boat and ship it out and I'll put up $10,000 and race them boat for boat." That my friends is a sucker bet and nobody with half a brain would take it. DC on his home court, with his highly modified "classic" would have the deck very stacked. And he'd take your money with no problem. 7/14/05 |
Twice as Nice?
So not only does Grant Wharington have the launching of his new VOR 70, he has the re-launching of this one as well.....
It is his 98' Skandia Maxi arriving in France. Must be nice! 7/14/05 |
Nut Job
Should we be flattered or call the psycho ward? Long booted out of here, yet another clown continues to be obsessed with SA. Join the club, knucklehead. 7/14/05 |
| This Looks Familiar... Speaking of DC, here's a story that has a familiar ring to it! These IACC Stars $ Stripes boats don't have a very good track record, do they? This sent in from one of you loyal readers - thanks. Note how the dope who wrote the article doesn't have his facts too straight about the boat and its AC history..... 7/14/05 |
They Only Want To See This View Once...
The VO70 “movistar” returned to the water to be subject to the safety righting tests required by the VolvoOcean Race regulations. The rule consists of capsizing the boat hull completely by using a crane to tip it over by hanging it from its keel bulb until it capsized completely. Four members of the crew – including Skipper Bouwe Bekking and Bowman Pepe Ribes – participated in the maneuver from inside the boat to check for possible flooding on the cabin and perform the self-righting of the hull. The whole capsizing maneuver lasted 8 minutes and the boat was upside down for nearly 12 minutes. To complete the operation successfully, the members of the crew inside the boat activated the pivoting keel system to return the boat to its natural position, fully autonomously. The keel movement righted the hull slowly and gradually in just 5 minutes.“The operation has been a complete success – said Bouwe Bekking after leaving the boat’s interior -. The system has worked beautifully, and the watertight integrity is fantastic: We have just boarded 100 litres of water, a minimum amount for a boat this size”. 7/13/05 |
The Hand That Feeds
7/13/05 |
Local Knowledge East Coast 7/13/05 |
Transpac Updates Live wireless We indeed are going to have daily e-mail reports for you from onboard a couple of good boats in the Transpac. Max Rosenberg from onboard the R/P 77 Scout's Spirit sailing with the big boys in Division 1 will be checking in with us daily, as will Tim Beatty owner of the Perry 56, Stealth Chicken in Division !!!. We may also hear from Uk/Halsey's Doug Christie on Coruba, the N/M 68 (and current Swiftsure elapsed time record holder). It will be a great way to get the onboard flavor from the comfort of your computer. Stay tuned. 7/12/05 |
| The Perfect 30?
Looks about right to us. It is the The Luca Brenta new B30, which will be officially presented during the Genoa Boat Show 2005. Damn, now can they build them in China for $40k?? 7/12/05 |
| Another.....
7/12/05 |
Vidiot That Ain't Right....
7/12/05 |
Seems
like all we have doing lately is featuring multi hulls, and
for good reason - they are in the news and they kick ass. Just
ask these guys shooting
Classifieds Help Wanted You may not know that we have a new Job Listings section in our classified section. We have a couple of interesting jobs there already so take a look. And thanks. 7/12/05 |
Finish.
Team Geronimo arrives in Sydney, completing their around Australia sail in a record 17 days, 13 hours, 32 minutes 39 seconds. At press time, no cigarette information was available. Well done and a mighty contrast to the story below. This bitchin shot from a very on the spot Andrea Francolini. 7/9/05 |
Finished.
The sad ending to a brilliant career - Francis Joyon's IDEC on the bricks. What should he build next? This great shot here and below courtesy of Sea and See via SA friend Joe Barry. 7/9/05 |
Not The Look As pointed out by the ubiquitous Teaky, get a load of this unbelievably lame looking official Transpac gear. What were they thinking? Perfect for the geriatric crowd... 7/11/05 |
"Go Straight to Hell Boys" -The Clash
We've got punk themed headlines today, and this seemed like a good one. Not meaning to be unduly harsh, but these boys are pointed in a certain direction, no? This great shot from the 29er Worlds courtesy of huge Yankee fan Erik Simonson. 7/8/05 |
Nic Fit "Sign’em
up, gotta smoke
Some of you threw a Nic Fit of your own over the fact that the frogs on Geronimo, currently setting a record around Australia, threw an occasional butt in the drink. Here then is a map that better details their Nic Fit around the island. Click for a better view 7/8/05 |
Bittersweet - Hoodoo Gurus Perhaps taking some consolation after suffering the loss of IDEC, Francis Joyon's Transatlantic single-handed record has been ratified by The World Sailing Speed Record Council:
We know that IDEC was a great boat and that Joyon loved it, but what will be interesting is to see what he comes up with next.... 7/8/05 |
Anarchy and the SA - Apologies to The Sex Pistols This story has little to do with anything other than it likely explains the large influx of Political Anarchy posters in the forum, but out of over 4 million hits that appear when one types the word "Anarchy" in Google, SA comes up 10th, right at the bottom of the first page. We're famous. Or something. 7/8/05 |
Big Pimpin Sailin' On - Bad Brains
Need it now? get in touch with Sails Online. 7/8/05 |
Real Bummer Unfortunately, an unhappy postscript to the Real Deal Holyfield story below: JOYON'S HISTORIC IDEC FEARED LOST - JOYON SAFE At 0100hrs this morning Francis Joyon was returning IDEC to La Trinite sur Mer when she ran aground at Pointe De Penmarc'H. Francis - exhausted after his epic transatlantic record is believed to have fallen asleep. IDEC struck the rocks and in strong onshore wind and with a big swell running it appears impossible to have been able to extract her. Joyon was taken to hospital for a check up but left quickly to help salvage the yacht. However by 0700hrs today he said "The boat is on the rocks and I fear that it is impossible to save it. It is embedded by the stem. The mast fell one hour ago and the boat is breaking up little by little. We are currently trying, with a high-speed motorboat from the SNSM [French equivalent to UK's RNLI] to release it from the rocks, but I fear that she will end up in 1000 pieces, the swell in particular makes the operation very difficult" 7/7/05 |
"She's
a bit tippy, isn't she?" Naw, just a shot of the Inversion test for the Aussie Grant Wharington's Premier Challenge getting ready for the Volvo. Thanks to Andrea Francolini. 7/7/05 |
Real Deal Holyfield
Francis crossed the line at the Lizard (British Cornwall) today at 12:44'03' GMT, establishing a new Atlantic Solo record after 6 days, 4 hours, 1 minute and 37 sec at sea (awaiting WSSRC ratification - business as usual) This reference time is better (by roughly 9 hours) than Serge Madec's performance (fully crewed on Jet Services V in 1991), which held 11 years only to be beaten by PlayStation in 2001 in fantastic fashion. Compared to Laurent Bourgnon's record (previous solo reference time, estd. in 1994), Francis has a 22 hrs 33 min and 5 sec. advantage. He's now heading back home towards southern Brittany (La Trinité), where we'll be meeting him tomorrow morning (Thursday July 7). "Big guy Francis" rules !!!! - Jocelyn Blériot 7/6/05 |
Record! Francis Joyon is currently well ahead of the Transatlantic solo record, and in the process has, on his 90ft trimaran ‘IDEC’, established a new solo 24-hour speed record of 543 miles (still to be ratified by WSSRC) at an average speed of 22.5 knots. Good Lord! Photo © F. Van Malleghem / Mer & Média 7/6/05 |
| Frisco
x 29er = Blast  Them little fellers look like fun don't they? And looks like they need hard work, and agility, and strength and talent and...the hell with it. We'll stay on the couch - its safer! But for those sailing in the 29er Worlds in Frisco, it looks like a blast. Young San Diegan Cameron Biehl is a close second behind Pom Ed Chapman in the early going. Photo By Linda Wright. 7/6/05 |
| Open
or Closed?  There appears to be some momentum to the Open 30 Class, with a few new boats now under build. Can this class become something? 7/6/05 |
| Old
meets New  The first Who, What and Where gets you a Sailing Anarchy hat. Bring it. Photo courtesy of George Bekris. 7/5/05 |
| Holiday Happy Independence Day July 4 is a big deal in this country as we celebrate the Independence of the USA. Despite, or perhaps because of a president and an administration that are an embarrassment to this country and so far removed from the founding founders in nearly every way possible, we will take this day off, joyful in the history, yet burdened by the reality of today. Comments. 7/4/05 |
Black
Beauty Oh yeah, this baby is looking sweet. It is the plug of the new Flying Tiger 10 Meter. With over 50 sold in 60 days, all through the community here at Sailing Anarchy, this project is going to rock the world. 7/1/05 |
| No
Traction First
it was the 70' sleds that left the West Coast of Cali, then
a fairly thriving 50' class (SC 52's, Andrews 56's, SC 50's),
then the TP 52's (which started here but have disappeared),
now the big Turbo Sleds are leaving. First Zephyrus went (it
is now Windquest), Pyewacket is on the market and sure to find
a home elsewhere, and now the Andrews 77' Alchemy has been surveyed
and we are pretty certain donated to USMMA (King's Point). Add
the likely end to the Genuine Risk program sooner than later,
and you once again have a promising big boat group left fractured
with little hope of any real recovery. |
| No
Blo Your faithful Ed hooked up with long time fellow sailor Brian Kent (it had been 21 years since we'd last seen each other!) of Class Action Racing to go sailing a Blokart land sailor down on the Silver Strand in Coronado here in SoCal. Oh my god, are these things a complete kick in the ass! We has maybe 12 knots of wind and we were hauling ass on an oval course on the parking lot, doing I would guess 30-35 mph, having an absolute hoot of a time. Needless to say I immediately was kicking Kent's ass (like always) and quickly dominated the day. Of course it didn't hurt that I am probably 40 pounds lighter than him! Seriously, these things are good fun, and I'm hoping to see if people are interested in getting some sort of fleet racing going on down here. Count me in. 7/1/05 |