EDITOR'S
GOT MAIL
Here
is a story that, if it wasn't true, would be hard to believe. As you
know, here at Sailing Anarchy, we tend to take a different approach
to talking about the sport of sailboat racing. I guess that's a nice
way of saying that we're not afraid to open our mouths and voice our
opinions on certain matters. When we find things that we like, we say
it and when we find things that we don't, we say that too. Some of you
agree, some of you don't and quite frankly, that's the way it's supposed
to be.
One
of the reasons we started this site is our general dissatisfaction with
the way the sport is covered by the media. A lot of fluff, and nary
a criticism to be found anywhere. Seahorse magazine being about the
one lone exception. One of the things we find laughable are some of
the boat reviews. Every boat is great and nobody ever has a complaint.
Ludicrous, we say. It was a few months ago that we came across a review
by the great Peter Isler in Sailing World where he sang the praises
of a little-known boat called the Bravura 29 and termed it a "great
value" at well over $100,000. As is our right, hell, our obligation,
we felt compelled to comment on both the boat and Isler's review. Many
of you have already seen this, but here is the commentary that we wrote:
Again,
keeping in mind that we are Sailing Anarchy, this commentary is quite
in keeping with our penchant for the occasional bash. So a couple days
ago we get an e-mail from an obviously agitated Leif Beiley, the designer
of the Bravura 29. He was pissed that we had called the boat a pig and
threatened legal recourse. Of course the notion of suing for opinion
on a public matter is ridiculous, and we told him as much. We also offered
a reasonable solution to his obvious displeasure. Here is his original
e-mail, and our response. (By the way, the e-mails- there's plenty of
'em are in the order recieved and no content from either on has been
edited. The editors comments between emails is Italicized.)
Bravura
29 (from rumors
and lies)
So,
we're looking around at the results at the recent North Sails Race Week
in Long Beach, CA, and we notice that the new Leif Beiley designed Bravura
29 finished next to last in its PHRF Class. Now, we weren't there so
we don't know what exactly happened, but the finishes were not good,
and early reports are that the thing isn't very fast anyway. It's also
a bit odd looking and seems to lack sail area and in this day of sprits
and huge asso's, the sail plan seems pretty dated. Oh well, it's not
exactly a Farr-type pedigree. Oh yeah, that and it's pretty pricey -
something well over $100,000!
But
then we remembered that the great Peter Isler had reviewed this boat
for Sailing World. Surely his knowledge of boats and Yale education
would give us insight into this boat, right? Not exactly. Not only was
his review politically correct drivel, it included this gem: when talking
about the boat and price he referred to this 29', over $100,000 less
than speedy speedster as "a great value." A great value? Not a "good"
value, or a "fair" value, either of which would be inaccurate and flatly
untrue. No Isler called it a "great value".
Now
the question is, for whom does Isler summate that this pig would be
a great value? If it is such a "great value" we must assume that Isler
has one on order, because surely he wouldn't want to pass up on a "great
value", would he? Is there one person, besides the designer, who would
possibly call this boat a "great value"? Obviously Isler feels no responsibility
to provide an honest evaluation for readers. Now, granted no need to
hammer the boat unmercifully, but jesus, how about stepping up and telling
it like it is? When Car & Driver reviews a car, you get an honest, albeit
subjective review. And we know that all reviews are subjective. But
I doubt you'll see them call, say a $100,000 Panoz Esperante a "great
value". Perhaps a little dough changed hands during the Bravura 29 review?
Now then we would understand what Isler means by "great value"!
B-1:
You
clearly don't know what your talking about in your article on the Bravura
29. You failed to identify who wrote that piece so I assume you have
very good reasons for not wanting to be identified. I resent you referring
to my boat as a pig. Most likely YOU are a pig. If you had done your
job as a journalist and learned something about the Bravura 29 you would
certainly not have published an article that was so blatantly ignorant.
I will have my attorney investigate whether we have any legal recourse
against the irresponsible article you published.
Leif Beiley
Bravura Yachts, Inc.
Hey,
that's a nice response. One approach you might have considered would
have been to say that you disagreed with a couple of points and offered
a counterpoint. And had you offered it with anything less than the vitriol
you just wrote with, I gladly would have printed it. However, you didn't
choose that option, did you? Contact your attorney? Now that's funny.
(Now,
here is where this story really heats up. By the way, we stand by all
of the original article, even the dig at Isler. I think the boat is
odd looking, I don't think it is very fast and I think it is too expensive.
Whatever, that's my opinion. I'll grant you that calling the boat a
pig in the article might be a bit harsh, but we're Sailing Anarchy remember?
We say what we feel.
But even we have a conscious and I felt like I should give the guy a
chance which is why I gave him the chance to open a dialogue. He didn't
think that was such a neat idea)
B2:
I
disagreed with ALL of it. You don't know anything about the boat. You
don't have the guts to identify yourself and yes I've already contacted
my attorney regarding it. It's possible that we can't do anything about
your untrue and irresponsible journalism but I am certainly going to
find out and if there is, we will.
Leif Beiley
Bravura Yachts
(Now
at this point he still seems to have a grip on his facilities, and we
can sort of understand his level of unhappiness. Sort of. We've not
got much patience for this sort of whining.)
You
disagreed with ALL of it? Gee, that's just too fucking bad, mate. In
this country we have the right to voice our opinions. You don't like
it? Some figure out a way to successfully communicate at least a partial
resolution, and I've already told you how to do that. Yet others like
you go running to their attorney. Sort of like the little boy who runs
to their mommy when they hear a bad word. I gave you a chance to not
be a complete douchebag. Looks like you opted for the douche. Want to
sue me Beiley? Bring it on. It'll make a great story.
B3:
I
make my living building and selling boats. When you print irresponsible
articles denigrating my boats and implying that I bribed Peter Isler
you are hurting my business and my reputation. When you do it without
any firsthand knowledge of the boat, what it was designed for or what
it's target market is, that is plain irresponsible. Sure you have a
right to your opinion but when you publish articles like that you've
gone over line because people don't stop to think that it's nothing
more than your opinion which is not even based on any factual knowledge.
The article was referred to me by a prospective buyer who asked me to
explain it. I was stunned and shocked to read that someone would print
such a thing as if it were fact, and I had to tell the guy that I didn't
know who had done it and couldn't explain why it was done. Now, I don't
know if he will eventually buy a boat from me but your article definitely
had a negative impact on him. Why you chose to dump on a boat that you
don't even know is beyond me but I'd like you to retract that article
and apologize for printing it. And if my suing you over it would make
a great story then maybe you've got yourself some publicity. I have
referred the matter to my attorney. As I said before I don't know yet
if we can do anything about you printing that article, but if you don't
correct this situation I will take legal action because you have already
had a negative impact on my business. If you're half a man you'll publish
this letter.
Leif
Beiley
(Now,
clearly we've had enough of his whining: )
Hey
Beiley - Here's a little something for you to ponder. When a movie gets
a bad review, does the producer sue the critic? When an automotive publication
gives a car a less-than stellar review, does the manufacturer sue the
writer? No, they don't. Rather, they accept that not everybody agrees
with their point of view. Do you think they threaten to sue for lost
business?
In
fact, it is unlikely that they attack the critic at all. Isn't it more
likely that they approach the critic from the perspective of trying
to affect better communication?
Would
you say that a Product Manager from Ford, upon hearing of a less-than
favorable review of their latest "SUV" in Car and Driver would send
the e-mails like you sent me, to say, Brock Yates? Pretty fucking unlikely.
I would guess they would say something like "Hey, we heard you don't
like the car, tell me what you don't like and maybe I can tell you why
we did the things we did." And then a dialogue gets started. The threat
of a lawsuit will get you nothing.
Perhaps you should have thought of that. The fact that I even have to
tell you this is fairly indicative of your PR acumen. And don't give
me any horseshit about people not knowing if it's opinion. It is under
a section entitled "Rumors and Lies". Christ, even you should be able
to figure that out.
I appreciate the fact that you design and build boats for a living.
However it doesn't block me from voicing my opinion about them. This
isn't China.
The
simple fact is that what I say is my belief. It's called Free Speech.
Try to challenge that and you'll simply look like a bigger idiot than
you've already presented yourself to be.
There will be no retraction.
PS
- You know, I was about to remove a couple of the older pieces like
that one, but since you've continued to whine about your attorney and
some toothless and laughable First Amendment challenge, instead of being
smart enough to say, invite me up for a sail on the 29 to show me your
perspective, I believe I'll leave it up for a bit longer. Thanks for
asking, though.
(Here
is where it gets really good. )
B4:
Hey
Shithead; Here's something for YOU to ponder. If you were a real journalist
and wanted to write about our boat you would have contacted us. I would
have been glad to give you a boat to sail and evaluate. Then if you
wanted to criticize it you would at least have the benefit of knowing
what you're talking about. Your article proves that you don't. And unlike
you, real journalists get the facts before they publish a story. To
use your analogy, car companies don't have to threaten lawsuits because
the journalists who write about their cars are bound by the standards
of journalistic integrity set up by the publications they write for.
Therefore their criticisms are legitimate, and not just a bunch of made
up lies. For you to compare your drivel with Brock Yates? You must be
joking. He's a professional with class and integrity, qualities you
clearly lack. You on the other hand are a loser who apparently couldn't
make it as a sailmaker or any other constructive endeavor so you've
turned to something more compatible with your lack of character: Lies
and bullshit. Keep it up Shithead, you're making enemies of the people
and companies in the industry you want to be part of . What an asshole.
Now keep in mind, it was never purported that my original comment on
my boat was anything even approaching a 'review'. If I wanted to do
that, well obviously I would have to go sail it and all that. It was
a general observation, from my perspective.
Shithead?
Loser? Asshole? Have you used up all your big words now, Beiley? I gave
you your chance, but you are apparently too dim to have seen it. Too
late now. You don't know shit about me, and don't act like you do. You
on the other hand, have certainly shown me all I need to know about
you. Nice work. Look for the story on my site next week. I'm sure you'll
enjoy it. Be sure to call your attorney and tell him that you heard
a bad word.
B5:
Tempesta:
Go ahead and publish some more lies. That's what you seem to be best
at. You're utterly irrelevant anyway. You worthless shithead.
I
was wondering how to end the story. Thank you so much for the perfect
finishing touch. And it's so in keeping with your previous eloquence.
Again, thank you. Now, go fill all those orders for the Bravura 29.
(It
is here that I'm hoping that this clown will just go away. But, no such
luck! )
B6:
Tempesta:
You are a pathetic sack of shit. Nobody cares what you write because
you lack the one essential ingredient that every writer and journalist
must have: integrity.
You're
irrelevant. You're a fart in the windstorm of life. Your parents never
even thought you were worth teaching not to lie, or if they did, you
were too stupid to grasp the meaning of that lesson. Go ahead shitbag,
write whatever you want. No one cares because we all already know you
are a LIAR. It's like what John Lennon said "One thing you can't hide
is that you're crippled inside"
Hey I know that in your stupid, pathetic, insipid way you were trying
to get me to invite up to sail on one of my boats, but, you dick, you
went about it ass backwards, you should have apologized for your lies
and asked to come and sail a boat. Now you've blown it and everyone
knows you are a lying sack of shit. If and when you ever grow up you'll
learn the value of integrity. Until then you'll be the low life pile
of shit that you've shown yourself to be.
Jesus!
Who peed in this guy's Wheaties? Oh yeah, we did.
What
part of 'go away' don't you understand?
B7:
My
attorney has suggested something better than simply filing a lawsuit
against you, you worthless liar. Check the attached file and you'll
see what I've got planned for you. I am about to become your worst nightmare.
Here is the attachment that he included:
You
Fraud:
Go away? Not a chance of it, you fraud. You don't get it, do you? You
publicly insulted me, wrote a pack of lies about my boat, cast aspersions
on my character and that of a colleague and friend. And it was all a
fabrication of your sick little mind. You owe me an apology. And you
owe it to me and to Peter Isler to correct the lies you told. Go away?
Not until you apologize and correct the bullshit story you wrote.
The
way to stop scum like you is to expose your fraud. Until you repair
the damage you've done. I am going to make sure that my friends, colleagues
and business associates know exactly what you've done. I will make sure
the editors of Sail, Sailing World, Yachting, Seahorse, Latitude 38,
Santana, 48 North, Southwinds and every other publication I do business
with know about the moral bankruptcy of Scott Tempesta.
Until
you repair the damage you've done I will make sure that my friends,
colleagues and business associates at Harken, Lewmar, West Marine, Forespar,
Edson, Ballenger, Seatec, Southern Spars, North Sails, Ullman, UK, Quantum,
Banks, Elliott-Pattison, Andrews Yacht Design, Farr International, Bob
Perry, Bruce Nelson, Joe Neal, Tom Wiley, Carl Schumacher, Morelli and
Melvin, CompsitesOne, Revchem, Gougeon Brothers and all the shipyards
I do business with are aware of the fraudulent bullshit put out by Scott
Tempesta.
Until
you repair the damage you've done I will make sure my fellow boat builders,
including Barry Carroll, Lynn Bowser, Frank Butler, Jerry Douglas, Roger
MacGregor, Marshall Duffield, Hank Morchlatt, Dennis Choate, Randy Reynolds,
Paul Bieker, and John Conser know about what a LIAR Scott Tempesta is.
Until
you repair the damage you've done, you pathetic bullshit artist, I'll
make sure that all the people I sail with, my friends, clients and fellow
boat owners know that Scott Tempesta is a prevaricator and fabricator
of BULLSHIT.
You've
created a mess for yourself, you liar, and the only way you can fix
it is to repair the damage you've done. Go away? I'll go away after
I've exposed you for the fraud you are.
You
appear to be someone who is less than stable. Because of your implied
threats, I've forwarded this to my attorney. You're making yourself
look really bad. Really, it's an embarrassment to yourself. I don't
believe you'll be attracting many new customers when they read your
rantings on my site. Congratulations.
(Now,
clearly this is all completely ridiculous, but if you can stand the
tedium, here's more.)
B8:
You're
running to your attorney. You ARE a joke. What's his name? You're not
much on telling the truth so I'd like to verify that you have referred
anything to your attorney.
I'll
cc the letters I'm preparing to both you and your attorney, if you actually
have one.
I'm
not running anywhere, Beiley. The language and tone of your correspondence
bears watching. You'll learn about my attorney if I deem it so. Now,
for the salvation of what might be left of your self-respect, do yourself
a huge favor and go away. Jesus, dude, you're going to look really bad
here. I'd quit now if I were you.
B9:
Hey
Tempesta, You Liar. The worst nightmare of a fraud and a liar is to
be exposed for what they are. Here are the first three steps I am taking
to make sure that everyone knows YOU for what you are.
Step
one: Since you're not one to check facts, you're probably not aware
that I also have a website and guess what liar is going to be very prominently
featured in it next week. That's right, one Fraud Tempesta along with
that pathetic piece of fiction you wrote and the true facts pertaining
to you're bullshit article.
Step
two: I am sending letters to the editors of the various publications
I mentioned in my previous email to you, along with that piece fiction
you wrote, informing them of the fraudulence of Scott Tempesta, and
to be aware of your lack of character.
Step
three: I am sending letters to all of the business associates, friends
and colleagues I mentioned along with that fabrication you wrote to
inform them that there is one Scott Tempesta who is a Liar and to beware.
Since
you're not much on facts, I'm going to let you in on one more. Our industry
is pretty tightly knit yet informal, and one of the most important aspects
of our business is the personal integrity of the people in it. You have
soiled yourself and everyone I know in this business is going to know
about it. The only way for you to salvage yourself is to repair the
damage you've done.
Who
cares? You no doubt will spin it with your own bias. I, on the other
hand will print ALL your and my correspondence UNEDITED. I wouldn't
count on many people waiting to buy boats from you after they read what
you wrote. You don't just look silly, you appear to be insane. Again,
congratulations.
B10:
I
DARE you to print all of the "dialogue" between us. I was hoping you'd
do exactly that. Can't wait to see it. I'm going to do the same thing.
Consider
it done.
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