Photo: Tom Wilkes
Coming up on ESPN Classic on Friday, April 13 at 7:00pm et: Allianz Presents, The America's Cup, 1851 - 2007.
The longest, continuously held sporting event in the world is the America's Cup. This sailing race has long been a "friendly competition between foreign countries" as written in the Deed of Gift in 1870.
The participants put their total energy and resources into winning this trophy. The stakes are high because the victor takes the trophy and the event to their home waters.
Winning America's Cup tactician and Emmy award winning television producer Gary Jobson has been collecting film and photographic material of this historical event over the past 30 years.
For the first time, the long history of the America's Cup will be presented on ESPN Classic. Exclusive interviews and considerable new, never before broadcast material will highlight this one hour program.
The program is hosted by Walter Cronkite and Gary Jobson.
March 29, ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship. World #1 Claire Leroy (FRA) heads the line up for the 2007 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship on her home waters in St Quay Portrieux, France. Twelve skippers from nine nations will contest the title, with a new name on the trophy guaranteed.
Reigning World Champion Dorte Jensen (DEN) is unable to defend her title, as she will be taking a maternity leave from the match racing circuit, thrusting Leroy into position as the favourite to lift her first World Championship title. The French skipper has held in the top spot in the Women's ISAF World Match Race Rankings for almost two years and won the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final for France last year. She has twice won bronze medals at the 2004 and 2005 Worlds, although came a disappointing eighth last year after putting a hole in the bow of Christelle PHILIPPE's (FRA) boat.
The ninth ISAF Women's Match Worlds takes place from 6-11 August at the Sport Nautique de Saint Quay-Portrieux.
Line Up - (ISAF World Match Race Ranking) Claire Leroy (FRA) - 1 Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (DEN) - 2 Klaartje Zuiderbaan (NED) - 3 Silke Hahlbrock (GER) - 4 Katie Spithill (AUS) - 6 Jenny Axhede (SWE) - 7 Josie Gibson (GBR) - 9 Christelle Philippe (FRA) - 11 Nicky Souter (AUS) - 12 Gemma Farrell (GBR) - 13 Jessica Smyth (NZL) - 16 Sandy Hayes (USA) - 19http://maiarmor.free.fr/wwmr/
March 28, 14th Transpac. Thirty-four years after Ragtime set the sailing world on its ear, the sleek wooden wonder will extend its record for most Transpacs to 14 when the big boat fleet starts July 15. In 1973 the smaller New Zealand-built boat shocked record holder Windward Passage by 4 minutes 31 seconds - still the closest first-to-finish margin - and went on to claim the Barn Door again in 1975, just to show it wasn't a fluke. Other entries include: Steve Hastings Passion a Santa Cruz 50 from Corpus Christi, Texas
On board Morning Light is Genny Tulloch, 22, of Houston, Texas. The twin goals of the Morning Light project are to prepare and send a youthful team from diverse backgrounds in a major ocean race and to produce a documentary film of the entire experience. The film is being produced by Roy E. Disney and Leslie DeMeuse of Pacific High Productions in association with Disney Studios and is scheduled for theater release early next year.
Roger Sturgeon's new STP 65 Rosebud, a step up from the Transpac 52 of the same name on which he won overall honors in 2005, and Bob Webster's Minnow, a Catana 52 catamaran hoping for the company of three other multihulls necessary to establish a class. There also will be several races within the race. Early entries include six Santa Cruz 50s, four each Cal 40s and Transpac 52s and three ULDB 70 sleds, with prospects for more of each class.
America's Cup. With this Sunday's "Unveiling Day" (1 April), a crucial stage in the battle for the America's Cup will finally be underway. From then on, the yachts will no longer be kept under wraps.
Under the rules of the 32nd America's Cup, all the teams must stop using keel skirts to hide the underwater shapes and appendages of their yachts from 1 April. It is tradition for the teams to open their bases for the day and allow the public and the media to see the yachts close up.
From 9.30am, skirting will no longer be permitted until the end of the America's Cup Match; and each team's one or two declared yachts must be available for viewing. The BMW ORACLE Racing Team Base will be open to the general public from 11:30 am until 2 pm.
To mark the unveiling of the team's race yachts USA 87 and USA 98, the Challenger of Record will hold a Design Team Press Conference in the afternoon. Design Coordinator Ian Burns will chair the event featuring design team members: Paul Bieker, Gerald Braun, Bruce Farr, Thomas Hahn, Michel Kermarec, Juan Kouyoumdjian and Steve Wilson.
Barely 48 hours later, on 3 April, the first start gun will sound on the water marking the start of Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13 fleet racing regatta. http://bmworacleracing.com
March 27, If one of your crew falls overboard this weekend he may be dead within five minutes of hitting the cold water, read about the dangers in new article on front page.
March 26, Planted stories, rumours and misinformation are part of the America's Cup. So far this cup has been free of skulduggery; however, a story this week which suggested Emirates Team New Zealand's NZL92 had suffered major structural damage could be the start of things to come.
The story insinuated that NZL92 had suffered major damage while sailing in Valencia last week. Team New Zealand denied it, and NZL92 has been sailing since.
It would appear the story was planted by another syndicate trying to take Team New Zealand's eye off the ball. And it did. Some teams are experts in this area. In the past, Team New Zealand have been masters at it themselves.
A quick look back at Team New Zealand's history in the America's Cup shows some instances where they have been the victims and others where they have been the instigators.
1987
'I don't think you should have said that, Dennis.'
New Zealand introduced the world's first fibreglass 12m yacht. The Plastic Fantastic KZ7 won 37 of 38 matches before losing to Dennis Conner in the Louis Vuitton Cup final.
Not only did Conner and Malin Burnham (Stars & Stripes owner) try to trick their other opponents by sandbagging in the round robin races, they also set out to derail the New Zealand campaign.
"Seventy-eight 12-metres have all been built of aluminium. So if you wanted to build a glass boat then why would you do it? Unless you wanted to cheat," Conner said in a press conference.
Sitting next to him was the late Tom Blackaller, then skipper of the boat USA, who said, "I don't think you should have said that, Dennis."
Conner said, "I'll take it back."
Blackaller said, "It's too late."
Conner asked that core samples be taken from KZ7 to ensure the boat was within the rules. In other words he wanted the New Zealanders to drill holes in their boat.
As you can imagine, Sir Michael Fay told him where to get off.
Because the New Zealanders were having to defend the fibreglass boat, their boat development parked up. Conner's tactics worked a treat.
1988
'Why would I build a dog, when I can have a cat?'
This cup was the mismatch between Conner's catamaran and New Zealand's big boat, KZ1, which resulted in a messy court battle.
In the past, the New York Yacht Club, which had defended the cup for 132 years, always had a "hip pocket" challenge [the challenger of record] lined up, and together they'd decide and announce the boat, the location and the timing of the venue immediately.
But when Conner won it for San Diego Yacht Club, they failed to announce anything. It has been suggested that Conner was exploring other locations. He was keeping everyone guessing in order to give himself a head start in design.
In doing so he opened himself up to a surprise challenge by the New Zealanders. Because it was unexpected, the criteria of when and where and what the boats to be used were wasn't determined. As a result the New Zealand Challenge rocked up with KZ1.
Conner replied with an 18m catamaran.
"Why would I build a dog, when I can have a cat?" he asked.
In terms of misinformation, planted stories and spats, the 1988 cup would just about take the cake. The only good thing to come from it was the establishment of the America's Cup Class rule - the rules the current boats race under -- Peter Lester
Full article at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=106&objectid=10429249
International Rolex Regatta St. Thomas, USVI. A third day of perfect trade winds and pleasant sunshine helped wrap up the International Rolex Regatta, where sailors on 87 boats have been competing in seven classes. The event, in its 34th year and hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club, is the oldest of the Caribbean's popular Spring racing events and counts as the favorite for many, with its unique blend of around-the-buoys and through-the-islands racing mixed with lively local flavor and camaraderie ashore. Full reports, photos, results, and daily video at http://www.rolexcupregatta.com
March 23, America's Cup. Only few days are left until the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series but the bookmakers are already arriving. SNAI, Italy's top chain of betting shops, is the first to release odds on the Challengers:
- Team New Zealand is the favourite with odds of 2.20
- BMW Oracle Racing is second with odds of 3.00
- Luna Rossa is third with odds of 3.20.
Concerning the result of the America's Cup, Alinghi is clearly the favourite (1.66) as the odds for the challengers are set on 2.00.
More the odds are close to 1, more the team is favourite. -- CupinEurope.com, citing Sport Economy: http://www.sporteconomy.it
US SAILING Announces Dates and Locations for 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials. The Paralympic Trial events will be hosted by the Rhode Island Sailing Foundation and Sail Newport. Sailors will compete October 3-14, 2007 in Newport, R.I., in the three events selected for the 2008 Paralympic Regatta in Qingdao, China: 2.4 Metre (Open Singlehanded), SKUD-18 (Open Doublehanded) and Sonar (Open Triplehanded). Only sailors who are eligible to represent the USA at the Paralympic Games are able to compete in the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team Trials.
Upon approval from the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), the athletes who win the Trials will be named to the U.S. Paralympic Team and will compete in the Paralympic Regatta, to be held September 6-17, 2008 in Qingdao, China, a coastal city located 430 miles east of Beijing.
The Trials will identify what we expect will be the most competitive U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team ever. Sailing will be the first sport to conduct trials for 2008, and we are confident that US SAILING and the local organizers will set a high standard for quality of the Trials competition," said Joe Walsh, Managing Director of the USOC's Paralympic Division.
For additional details on the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Trials for Sailing, including the Athlete Selection Procedures, please visit: http://www.ussailing.org/olympics/Trials/paralympictrials.asp
From Top ranked American Finn sailor Zach Railey "Well if you checked the results from the Expert Olympic Garda regatta (see SailingNews March 21), I finished second in the event. I was very happy with the way I sailed and was especially happy with the medal race result that moved me from 3rd to 2nd overall. The medal race was very exciting as it came down to the last few feet at the finish. The boat in 2nd overall was in 8th in the race so I knew I had to finish 2nd to beat him. I was third at the last windward mark rounding going and had one downwind left to the finish to pass one of the two boats in front of me.
"I sailed my way up to the two lead boats and we all three fought down the last downwind with the pumping flag up so we were all working very hard. At the finish I almost inched into first place and beat the third place boat by about half a boat length. It was extremely exciting racing which is what the medal race is all about. I am now in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, sailing the Jonas and it is very cold. It actually snowed Wednesday. Ill let you know how things are going later." -- http://www.zachrailey.com
March 22, After Southern Yacht Club was destroyed by water, wind, and fire as a result of Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, the club and its members found support from many corners. One such hand that reached out to them was Commodore George Hinman and the New York Yacht Club. The idea was to bring US clubs to New Orleans to support the rebuild of SYC, and to use team racing as the impetus.
With the donation of a perpetual by NYYC, the inaugural event - Southern Nichols Cup - was held last weekend. Weather once again interceded, with the NYYC team grounded due to snowstorms in the northeast, but in attendance were teams from Boston Yacht Club, New Orleans Yacht Club, Bay Waveland Yacht Club, and Southern Yacht Club, with SYC beating out BWYC on the tie-breaker. Results: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/0320
March 21, Expert Olympic Garda, Riva del Garda, Italy: Today, with the Medal Race (the final regatta where the top ten of every Olympic class have competed), the Expert Olympic Garda comes to an end. Italy prevailed in the Women's Windsurf classes, in the Tornado, in the 49ER, in the 470M and in the 470W. Magnaghi was fourth in the Laser Radial, crew Negri - Viale third in the Star, Belli Dell'Isca second in the RS:X male. Poggi was only ninth in the Finn class and Bottoli eighth in the Laser Standard.
Final top three by class: Finn 1. Vincec, SLO 2. Railey, USA 3. Misura, CRO Star 1. Pepper-Nichol, NZL 2. Barovier-Colaninno, ITA 3. Negri-Viale, ITA RS:X Men 1. Gadorfalvi, HUN 2. Belli Dell'Isca, ITA 3. Esposito, ITA Tornado 1. Sorrentino-Colombo, ITA 2. Saponara-Misso, ITA 3. Togni-Togni, ITA 49er 1. Angilella-Zucchetti ITA 2. Poli-Gritti, ITA 3. Kostov-Cupac, CRO 470 Men 1. Zandona-Trani, ITA 2. Hmeljak-Nevecny, SLO 3. Dusekevich-Logunov, BLR 470 Women 1. Conti-Micol, ITA 2. Dekleva-Maucec, SLO 3. Cerne-Cerne, SLO Laser Standard 1. De Haas, NED 2. Zbogar, SLO - Bronze Medallist in Athens' Olympics 2004 3. Mihelic, CRO Laser Radial 1. Van Acker, BEL 2. Szotynska, POL 3. Drozdovskaja, BLRFull results at http://www.fragliavelariva.it
March 19, Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta, at San Diego Yacht Club. After 82 races on three race courses for over 1,000 sailors in 14 one-design classes, the final day of racing at the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in San Diego came down to one overall winner. The Boat of the Regatta went to the Flying Tiger Anarchy, owned by Scot Tempesta (San Diego) who received a Sunsail charter during the 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta Championship, later this year in the British Virgin Islands, where he will compete against the overall winners from each stop on the nine-regatta Sperry Top-Sider NOOD circuit.
This weekend's racing may seem the culmination of decades worth of sailing, but Tempesta has barely raced a boat in years. "I've been out of the competitive sailing loop for so long, even though I'm involved in other ways," he said. "I took a hiatus and have a family and have my talk radio show. I think I'll quit the sport now. I'm happy to be back, winning makes it. It's the best sport when you win." Neil Senturia's (La Jolla, Calif.) Occam's Razor finished in third place.
Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club Final Results March 18, 2007
Results are Top 3 in each class: Course A J/80 (10 boats, 5 races) 1. Wild Card, Rusty Nelson, Marina Del Rey, Calif., 1-1-4-1-1, 8 points 2. Avet, Curt Johnson, Los Angeles, Calif., 4-2-1-2-4, 13 3. Merkin, Gregg Kelly, Newport Beach, Calif., 2-5-5-5-3, 20 Clipper, Paul Rendich, Babylon, N.Y., 5-3-2, J/105 (23 boats, 5 races) 1. Current Obsession, Gary Mozer, Beverly Hills, Calif., 2-6-1-1-8, 18 points 2. Doug Werner, Javelin, San Diego, 1-5-4-6-2, 18 3. Wings, Dennis & Sharon Case, San Diego, 6-4-5-3-10, 28 Beneteau 36.7 (10 boats, 6 races) 1. Kea, Chick & Alexis Pyle, San Diego, 1-1-2-3-3-1, 11 points 2. Grizzly, Charles Bayer Grosse Pointe, Mich., 3-3-5-1-4-2, 18 3. Bella Vita, Marty Burke, Redondo Beach, Calif., 2-6-1-5-1-8, 23 Catalina 36 (6 boats, 7 races) 1. Rippin', Terry Smith, Del Mar, Calif., 2-1-1-1-1-1-4, 11 points 2. Isle Run, David Flint, Coronado, Calif., 1-2-3-3-2-4-1, 16 3. Cherimarie, Brad Poulos, San Marcos, Calif., 3-3-2-2-4-2-2 18 Course B J/120 (9 boats, 4 races total) 1. Caper, John Laun, San Diego, 2-3-1-1, 7 points 2. Meltemi, Peter Zarcades, San Diego, 1-2-6-3, 12 3. Doctor No, Jed Olenick, Olivehain, Calif., 6-1-4-5, 16 Flying Tiger (8 boats, 7 races total) 1. Anarchy, Scot Tempesta /John Rickard, San Diego, 2-1-1-2-2-2-3, 13 points 2. Slip Kid, John Folvig, Poplar Grove, Ill., 4-3-3-1-1-1-1, 14 3. Occam's Razor Neil Senturia/Joe Markee Senturia La Jolla, CA. 1-2-2-6-4-4-2, 21 Beneteau 40.7 (7 boats, 4 races) 1. Estela-B, Armando Silvestre, Coronado, Calif., 4-6-1-2, 13 2. French Toast, Michael Dorgan & Steve Wright, 1-3-5-4, 13 3. Drumshanbo, Kirk & Kathy O¹Brien, San Diego, 2-2-3-6, 13 J/109 (6 boats, 4 races) 1. Commotion, Anthony Wetherbee, Dana Point, Calif., 2-1-1-1, 5 points 2. Electra, Tom Brott, Cypress, Calif, 1-2-2-2, 14 3. Linstar, John Shulze, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 4-3-3-4, 14 Course C I- 14 (18 boats, 7 races) 1. Fat Bottomed Girl, Kris Bundy, Seattle, Wash., 5-4-1-1-3-1-2, 17 points 2. no boat name Paul Galvez/Archie Massey Mission Viejo, Calif., 1-2-2-3-1-3-6, 18 3. no boat name, Brad Ruetenik, 2-1 4-8-2-5-3, 25 Flying Dutchman (9 boats, 8 races) 1. Tacyon, Paul Scoffin, Orange Park, Fla., 2-1-1-1-1-2-1-2, 11 points 2. no name, Greg Cole, 3-3-2-2-3-1-3-1, 18 3. Diva, Jim Algert, Chuna Vista, Calif., 4-2-4-3-2-3-2-3, 23 505 (10 boats, 8 races) 1. W'hanahakalugee, Dan Merino, San Diego, 2-2-1-1-3-1-1-1, 12 points 2. Team Oat, Gary Lee, San Diego, 1-1-2-11/OCS-1-2-2-2 22 3. Dirty Harry, Craig Perez, Cameron Park, Calif., 3-3-3-2-5-4-3-3, 26 29er (21 boats, 5 races) 1. Judge This, Judge Ryan, Santee, Calif. 3-1-4-1, 9 points 2. no boat name, Jen Morgan, Alameda, Calif., 4-3-1-2, 10 3. no boat name, Oliver Toole, Santa Barbara, Calif., 7-5-8-3, 23 Buccaneer 18 (13 boats, 5 races) 1. Daisy, Jim Daus, Denver, Colo., 1-2-1-2-1, 7 points 2. Lazy Bones, Antony Chapman, Phoenix, Az., 2-4-4-3-2, 15 3. Screw Cap, Wade McDaniel, Phoenix, Az., 4-1-2-9-4, 20 Ultimate 20 (6 boats, 7 races) 1. Red Viking, Michael Ellis, Irvine, Calif., 2-1-1-1-2-3-1, 11 points 2. Unicorn, Steve Bowman, East Lake, Calif., 1-2-2-2-1-2-2, 12 3. UFO, Trent Watkins, San Francisco, Calif., 3-3-3-3-3-1-3, 19Gonzalo Diaz Sr., aka The Old Man, welcomed 52 Snipe crews to the 41st Annual Don Q Regatta hosted by Coconut Grove Sailing Club. This was also the 41st Don Q Regatta in which The Old Man has competed and it has become more than a family tradition for the Diaz family. This year, The Old Man, his two sons, Augie and Gonzo, and Augie's son, Lucas and Gonzo's son, Gonzo raced in four separate boats.
While they were out on the water, Carmen Diaz and her crew managed registration, Saturday's Daiquiris, and Cuban meal for all of the competitors. With no run away leader going into Sunday's final race, it was George Szabo and Alan Capellin that came through for Szabo's fourth plaque on the perpetual. -- Read Lynn Fitzpatrick¹s complete report with results here: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/news/07/SnipeCircuit/
1. George Szabo / Alan Capellin, 2-2-8-4-4, 20 pts 2. Ernesto Rodriguez / Kathleen Tocke, 4-3-10-0.75-3, 20.75 3. Andy Pimental / Julia Langford, 6-5-2-9-0.75, 22.75 4. Peter Commette / Sheehan Commette, 3-0.75-17-2-2, 24.75 5. Augie Diaz / Pam Kelly, 7-9-0.75-3-8, 27.75New US-IRC Executive Director Named, Newport, RI - Richard du Moulin, Chairman of the newly formed US-IRC Owners committee and member of the US-IRC Association, has announced the appointment of John Mendez as the Executive Director of US-IRC. Mendez, a past chairman of the New York Yacht Club Race Committee, replaces Barry Carroll who leaves the post to pursue other business interests. Carroll will remain affiliated with the US-IRC as a technical advisor. Mendez raced dinghies and raced offshore in England from where he emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1968. He is also a member of Larchmont Y.C. where he served as Commodore.
"US-IRC will continue to pursue its primary goal of promoting the IRC rule and IRC events," Mendez said "We successfully introduced IRC racing into the United States three years ago and Barry Carroll has done an excellent job of building the fleet and growing events in the US. Now with his resignation, we will take this opportunity to review our next challenges."
US sailing will continue to manage the rule in the US. Their Offshore Office will continue to issue IRC certificates and will support the rule fully, as other Member National Authoritys do in their commitment to managing IRC. US Sailing will be there to address questions from owners on all topics including among other matters, the status of their rating in the system, validity of their measurements, perceived differences between PHRF and IRC ratings, differences between "sister ships", how to get measured, where to get measured, and how to contact a local measurers.
"US Sailing Offshore is the management entity for IRC in the U.S.A.," Mendez concluded. "And the US-IRC organization will focus on communications and marketing to build the IRC fleet, to promote existing IRC events and to spread IRC participation from coast to coast. Our goal is to get sailors sailing." -- US-IRC website, full report: http://www.us-irc.org/news_full.cfm?ID=25
March 18, GALVESTON, TEXAS. The majestic 1877 iron barque ELISSA, declared the Official Tall Ship of Texas in 2005 by the Texas legislature, will soon begin her 25th annual Sea Trials since her restoration by Galveston Historical Foundation in 1982. The weeklong series of daysails, commencing March 19, will demonstrate ELISSA's readiness for sea, and reward the volunteers who maintain the ship throughout the year with an authentic seagoing experience.
From Monday, March 19, through Tuesday, March 27, the public may watch ELISSA depart from Pier 22, off Harborside Drive between 21st and 22nd Streets in Galveston, at about 10 a.m. daily. (Thursday departures will be at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Friday's departure is scheduled for 11 a.m.) The vessel's licensed officers and trained volunteer crew will take her out into Galveston Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Because the departure area must remain secure while the crew is preparing to set sail, the public may not enter the gates to Pier 22 until 10 a.m. on sailing days. On Monday, March 26, ELISSA will remain at the dock for maintenance and preparation for an overnight sail on March 27. She will return the afternoon of March 28, and re-open to the public on the following day after a final inspection by the U.S. Coast Guard.
During the 11-day period of her annual sea trials, ELISSA will be closed for public tours, but the Texas Seaport Museum will remain open, charging only half its normal admission price. During sea trials, admission to the Texas Seaport Museum will be $4 for adults, $3 for students ages 7 to 18 and free for children 6 and younger.
As one of only three 19th-century square-riggers in the United States still sails, ELISSA also was declared a National Historic Landmark and one of America's Treasures by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
To learn more about ELISSA, visit http://www.tsm-elissa.org/elissa-main.htm To book school tours, contact Galveston Historical Foundation's Director of Education, Lori Crossno at 409-765-7834.
March 17, Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club, San Diego, Calif. (March 16, 2007) - The opening day of the Sperry Top-Sider National Offshore One Design (N.O.O.D.) Regatta in San Diego, Calif. got off to a foggy start. Although the coast was blanketed, Principal Race Officer Sue Reilly and the San Diego Yacht Club's race committee were able to complete three races on each of the two race courses - one "outside" on the ocean and one "inside" on the bay - where it was sunny with steady 12-17 knot wind. The San Diego NOOD regatta - which runs March 16-18 and is number two in the nine-venue national circuit - is hosting 160 boats in 14 one-design classes, with six of the classes competing all three days and the rest opting for two days.
Making its debut at the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta is the Flying Tiger 10 Meter class, a nomination in Sailing World's 2007 Boat of the Year Awards. The eight-boat class joined the Catalina 36 and Beneteau 36.7 classes on the Ocean course, while on the South Bay Area course the International 14, Flying Dutchman, 505 and Ultimate 20 classes competed.
With a 2-1-1 scoreline, Scot Tempesta (San Diego) and John Rickard lead the Flying Tiger class with their Anarchy. "We had speed and we were smart, so of course tomorrow that means we'll be slow and stupid," laughed Tempesta, who has been sailing in this area for over 20 years. "Eric Shampain is doing our tactics and I have known him since he was 10. He's a great young sailor and made life really easy for us."
Although Anarchy leads its class after three races, Tempesta has his eye on Occam's Razor, owned by Neil Senturia (La Jolla, Calif.) with professional sailor and San Diego native Bill Hardesty on-board. "Primarily it's us and them and Slip Kid, with Keith Lawrence aboard," he said. "In the first race, we had a really bad start and could never catch Bill. They were right behind us in second race. The boat's got great potential and we're stoked about racing. We feel like we've spent a long time getting this boat set-up well. Our expectation is if we get off the line in good shape, then we have the ability to set the pace. What you have to worry about is if you get behind it¹s hard to get ahead."
Tomorrow, action in six additional classes begins with the 29er, Buccaneer 18, J/109, J/120, J/24 and J/80 classes. For more information on the Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta in San Diego including reports, photos and full results with exclusive photos and videos by Sailing World Associate Editor Tony Bessinger, go to www.sailingworld.com
The 2007 Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas will sail into nine cities in 2007, including Boston, Mass.; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Mich.; Houston, Texas; Larchmont, N.Y.; San Diego, Calif.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Annapolis, Md.; and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regatta at San Diego Yacht Club: Preliminary Results Top 3 in each class, Day 1 March 16, 2007 Course B Beneteau 36.7 (10 boats) 1. Kea, Chick & Alexis Pyle, San Diego, 1-1-2, 4 points 2. Bella Vita, Marty Burke, Redondo Beach, Calif., 2-6-1, 9 3. Grizzly, Charles Bayer Grosse Pointe, Mich., 3-3-5, 11 Catalina 36 (6 boats) 1. Rippin', Terry Smith, Del Mar, Calif., 2-1-1, 4 points 2. Isle Run, David Flint, Coronado, Calif., 1-2-3, 6 3. Cherimarie, Brad Poulos, San Marcos, Calif., 3-3-2, 8 Flying Tiger (8 boats) 1. Anarchy, Scot Tempesta /John Rickard, San Diego, 2-1-1, 4 points 2. Occam's Razor, Neil Senturia /Joe Markee Senturia, La Jolla, Calif., 1-2-2, 5 3. Slip Kid, John Folvig, Poplar Grove, Ill., 4-3-3, 10 Course C I- 14 (18 boats) 1. Paul Galvez/Archie Massey, Mission Viejo, Calif., 1-2-2, 5 points 2. Brad Ruetenik, 2-1-4, 7 3. Fat Bottomed Girl, Kris Bundy, 5-4-1, 10 Ultimate 20 (6 boats) 1. Red Viking, Michael Ellis, Irvine, Calif., 2-1-1, 4 points 2. Unicorn, Steve Bowman, East Lake, Calif., 1-2-2, 5 3. UFO, Trent Watkins, San Francisco, Calif., 3-3-3, 9 Flying Dutchman (9 boats) 1. Tacyon, Paul Scoffin, Orange Park, Fla., 2-1-1, 4 points 2. Ariadne, Douglas, hometown not listed, 1-4-3, 8 3. no name, Greg Cole, 3-3-2, 8 points 505 (10 boats) 1. Team Oat, Gary Lee, San Diego, 1-1-2, 4 points 2. W¹hanahakalugee, Dan Merino, San Diego, 2-2-1, 5 3. Dirty Harry, Craig Perez, Cameron Park, Calif., 3-3-3, 9For full results go to: www.sailingworld.com
March 16, The British Spitfire Class Association produced this 3:24 minute video, where the Spitfire catamaran demonstrates its ability for both high-speed action and pitchpoling destruction. Titled 'Trouble', it is set to music of the same name by Pink, which will hopefully pass muster, and will surely sound nice through a multi-speaker home system. Click here for this week's Scuttlebutt video of the week
Customs Alert - BVI. The new requirement by Homeland Security that U.S. Citizens must have valid passports to gain entry to the U.S. Virgin Islands might now be well known, but another new, less-publicized, requirement may not, and for non-U.S. citizens wanting to gain entry to the U.S. Virgin Islands for the International Rolex Regatta, there might be problems getting through the front gate. The law states that non-U.S. citizens arriving on a non-commercial vessel--for example, a private sailboat-- must have a visa.
(Note: if you come by way of a commercial vessel--for example, by plane or ferry-- a valid passport will still suffice for non-U.S. citizens.) This may cause unexpected inconveniences for boats being delivered by non-U.S. citizens for the International Rolex Regatta, which runs March 23-25 in St. Thomas, USVI. The normal procedure is for the boat and its crew to stop at Cruz Bay in St. John, USVI, check in to the Customs Office there, and then proceed to St. Thomas. But again, if a non-U.S. crewmember is aboard without a visa, he or she and the boat will be turned away.
"The solution for those without visas is to re-route to West End, Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands," said International Rolex Regatta Co-Chair John Sweeney, "and take the 20 minute ferry ride to the St. John Customs Office. Since you came by commercial ferry, the customs office will stamp your passport and allow you to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands or even to re-enter at St. John aboard the private vessel--but you must have the documentation saying that you've been cleared."
Sweeney says the St. Thomas Yacht Club is on standby to assist with questions and has made arrangements to privately ferry sailors back to West End from St. John, should they need it, after they've cleared customs. Contact Sweeney at 340-998-2754 or Bill Canfield at the St. Thomas Yacht Club, 340-775-6320.
March 14, UBS J/24 World Championship, Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico: Brazil's Mauricio SantaCruz and his team on Bruschcetta are the 2007 J/24 World Champions. Sitting in top spot all week, SantaCruz went into the final day needing only to hold off the three USA boats that have been chasing him since Day One. Mike Ingham's Brain cramp (21-7) finished in second placce with Mark Hillman driving WIP in third. Chris Snow on Bogus, who was in the top four most of the week, dropped to 8th place after 36-8 finshes on the final day.
SantaCruz retired after the first race of the day, the Championship in hand after his 18th place finish. The last day saw some of the best racing of the week with 10 knot winds and mostly flat seas.
Final top ten: 1. Mauricio Santacruz, BRA, 63 points 2. Mike Ingham, USA, 81 3. Mark Hillman, USA, 85 4. Yasutaka Funazawa, JPN, 89 5. Wataru Sakamoto, JPN, 94 6. Southworth / McLaughlin, GBR, 95 7. Alejo / Gonzalez, ARG, 101 8. Chris Snow, USA, 101 9. Rossi Milev, CAN, 103 10. Grimaldi / Contessi, ARG, 105Full results: http://www.j24mex.com/worlds2007.asp
Violation of Rule 41, 2, & possibly 42 in America's Cup racing. From a letter to editor@scuttlebutteurope.com From D. Baker: Shosoloza's use of Archbishop Desmond Tutu as a 17th man represents a sinister escalation of the use of outside influence in Yacht racing and should be immediately stamped out. Rock stars and Royalty are quite acceptable. We have all come across helmsmen and tacticians that have sold their soul to the Devil but the use of someone with a direct line to the supreme being represents an unacceptable upping of the ante.
You can well imagine the situation. 'My son, how are we doing?' 'Not well Archbishop, those guys have picked up a lift on the right,and a band of wind to go with it. We need serious help!'... 5 minutes later, well done! Archbishop. They've sailed into hole, their spinnaker has collapsed... and... and they're sinking!' A clear violation of rule 41, 2 and possibly 42 -- from Scuttlebutteurope #1179
From Bruce Kirby: In response to D. Baker's letter on Archbishop Tutu helping the South African America's Cup team, I can recall that during races my father, who sailed very well and attended church (in the winter) would frequently invoke the name of the Lord when he had blown the start or missed a couple of early shifts. With grand fortissimo he would address either or both God the Father and Christ the Son, (not usually troubling the Holy Ghost unless the situation was truly dire) But it was surprising how often the opposition would be so distracted... horrified or amused... by these invocations that they would lose concentration and allow us to slip reverently into the lead -- from Scuttlebutteurope #1180
To subscribe to Scuttlebutt Europe go to: http://www.scuttlebutteurope.com
Safety At Sea Seminars. With spring almost here, numerous sailors across the country are getting ready for another fun and exciting spring and summer sailing season. For sailors looking to compete in offshore regattas and/or planning an offshore cruise, the US SAILING Safety at Sea Seminars presented by Cruising World magazine help these sailors prepare for any safety-related issue they might face. Sponsored by West Marine and Landfall Navigation, these Seminars cover a wide range of topics, such as safe seamanship, heavy-weather tactics, and boat preparation.
Participants of these most authoritative daylong safety Seminars will learn more about medical, first-aid and seasickness prevention; understand the differences between SOLAS and other visual distress signals; view safety equipment demonstrations; and learn crew-overboard recovery techniques. The Seminars are moderated by some of the most well-known names in sailing safety, such as John Bonds, Chuck Hawley, Ralph Naranjo, and Ron Trossbach.
Several Safety at Sea Seminars are on US SAILING's calendar, scheduled to take place in the upcoming months:
* March 24 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA.
* March 24-25 at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
* March 25 at the South Carolina Maritime Foundation, Charleston, SC.
* April 14 at Chicago Yacht Club, Belmont Station, IL.
* April 15 at Chicago Yacht Club, Belmont Station, IL.
* May 5 at Milwaukee Yacht Club, WI.
Two additional Seminars are in the works with exact dates to be determined. One will be held in Long Beach, Calif., just before the start of the Transpac to serve those who were unable to attend earlier ones. The other will be held in Newport, R.I., in early June to support the HSH Nordbank Blue Race to Hamburg, Germany.
For more information about the US SAILING Safety at Sea Seminars, including exact locations and registration, please visit www.ussailing.org/safety/Seminars
. March 13, 2007 ROLEX International Women's Keelboat Championship, LaPorte, Texas. The Notice of Race for the 12th running of US SAILING's Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship (Rolex IWKC) is now available online at the event website www.ussailing.org/riwkc and as a 10-page color brochure. This world-class event, one of the highest profile women's keelboat regattas in the world, will be held November 12-17, 2007 at the Houston Yacht Club in LaPorte, Texas. In the past competitors from Asia, Australia, Europe, South Africa and New Zealand have participated alongside previous champions such as Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wis.), an Olympic hopeful and the 2005 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year; JJ Isler (La Jolla, Calif.) a two-time Olympic medalist and four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year; and Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), a five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. The Rolex IWKC is part of the US SAILING Adult National Championships program.
"The racing at this world-renowned event promises to be as challenging and fulfilling as any you could find given the skill level of the entrants and the experience of the all-volunteer Organizing Committee and Race Committee," said Houston Yacht Club's regatta chair Ginny Garrett. "Our club has been preparing for the Rolex IWKC for much of the past two years and is committed to making this an unforgettable sailing experience for all."
From November 12-17, the Rolex IWKC will feature 11 races in four days and will be preceded by two days for registration, measurement and a practice race. Evening social events, which include a unique visit to the NASA Space Center in Houston, will culminate with the traditional Rolex gala and awards presentation. A Rolex timepiece will be awarded to the winning boat's skipper.
"Houston Yacht Club will be a terrific location for this world-class event," said Liz Filter, a 2004 Olympian and national chairperson for the event. "Jim Tichenor and Taran Teague have been recruited as the Principal Race Officers for the event and we know they will ensure that the racing will be top notch." The Notice of Race is available on the event website at www.ussailing.org/riwkc. Sailors also may subscribe to receive email news announcements about the Rolex IWKC by visiting www.usssailing.org/riwkc. The 10-page color brochure also will be mailed to female sailors worldwide.
For more information about the 2007 Rolex IWKC, please visit www.ussailing.org/riwkc or contact Ginny Garrett by email at rolex07@houstonyachtclub.com or at (281) 471-6131.
About the Rolex IWKC: Inaugurated in 1985 at the instigation of US SAILING's Women's Championship Committee, the Rolex IWKC quickly became the premier women's sailing event in the U.S. and worldwide. Held biennially, the event provides women keelboat and offshore sailors high quality racing and an opportunity to compete with top national and international women sailors. The winning team will receive US SAILING's Bengt Julin Trophy.
March 12, 2007 Accura Miami Grand Prix, Miami Beach, FL., March 11, 2007. Sailors from 11 different countries traveled to South Florida seeking great sailing conditions and world-class racing. The 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix delivered on both counts. Sunny skies, temperatures in the 80s and double-digit breezes arrived like clockwork all four days of the regatta. All four classes came down to the final day and none was more exciting than the professional-laden Farr 40. Warpath, sailed by the father-son team of Fred and Steve Howe, posted a second in Race 8 to move into first place then protected a narrow two-point lead in the ninth and final race to capture the Rolex North American Championship.
Tactician Ian Williams and strategist Dave Armitage did the math following the first race and figured out that Twins was the primary threat. Warpath got off the line clean and was able to cover the French entry, which finished seventh in that race - two places behind the California boat. "We only got two good starts all week and one of them came in that last race when we really needed it," said Howe, who also earned the prestigious Acura Boat of the Week honor -- Full report: http://www.premiere-racing.com/07_AMGP_Results/miami_2007_news.htm
Farr 40 (Rolex National Championship with no discard) 1. Warpath, Fred & Steve Howe, San Diego, CA, 4-10-13-1-3-4-1-2-5, 43 2. Twins, Erik Maris, Newport, RI, USA, 6-1-2-7-9-5-4-4-7, 45 3. Nanoq, HRHPrince Frederik, DEN, 12-7-5-5-1-9-3-1-6, 49 IRC (with discard) 1. Samba Pa Ti, TP52, John Kilroy, USA, (3)-1-3-2-1-3-1-2-(7) 16 2. Magic Glove, Ker 50, Colm Barrington, IRL, 1-3-2-(5)-3-2-3-1-4, 19 3. Windquest, TP52, Doug DeVos, USA, 4-2-1-3-(6)-5-4-4-1, 24 Melges 32 (with discard) 1. Let¹s Roll, Claudio Recchi, ITA, (3)-2-2-2-3-2-1-1-2, 15 2. Star, Jeff Ecklund, USA, 4-1-1-3-1-(13)-4-5-1, 20 3. New Wave, Carroll/Kullman, USA, 5-5-(9)-1-2-1-3-2-6, 25 Mumm 30 (with no discard) 1. Mean Machine, Peter De Ridder, Monaco, 1-2-1-1-1-1-4, 11 2. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, Santa Barbara, CA, 3-1-2-2-2-4-3, 17 3. Champosa, Jonathan McDonagh, USA, 5-3-3-3-4-2-2-3-3, 28For Gary Jobson On-Line Video go to: http://www.jobsonsailing.com/
80th Annual Bacardi Cup, Rolex Miami OCS Star Class, Biscayne Bay, Miami. New Zealand's Hamish Pepper, the current Star Class World and North American champion, sailing this week with his crew and coach David Giles of Australia, won the 2007 Bacardi Cup Star Class Regatta Friday on the waters of Biscayne Bay, near Miami.
Despite the duo's seventh place in today's final race of the six-day series, Pepper and Giles held on to their first place overall to win the coveted Trofeo Bacardi in one of the most prestigious Star Class events in the world.
Sweden's Fredrik Loof and Anders Ekstrom, reigning Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta champions, finished third (in the final race) and climbed to second in the overall standings.
German sailors Matthias Miller and crew Manuel Voight won Friday's Day Six race, just ahead of their countrymen Marc Pickel and crew Ingo Borkowski who took second place honors. With their Day Six victory, Miller and Voigt edge out Bermuda's Peter Bromby, a two-time Bacardi Cup champion, and crew Bill McNiven for sixth place in the final standings, while Pickel and Borkowski finish the regatta in fifth overall.
Poland's Mateusz Kusznierewicz, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the Finn Class, and crew Dominik Zycki finished 11th Friday and drop to third in the final standings, while Australia's Iain Murray and crew Andrew Palfrey finished fourth Friday and remain in fourth overall.
The prestigious Trofeo Bacardi was presented to the winners dockside where skipper, crew and Jose "Tito" Argamasilla Bacardi, the retired former vice president of public relations at Bacardi U.S.A., Inc., drank Bacardi Rum from the Cup in an annual tradition that dates back to the first Bacardi Cup Regatta sailed in Cuba in the 1927.
David Giles was presented with the "Tito Bacardi" Cup, a special cup that was created last year to honor the crew of the winning team -- Janet Maizner
Final top ten: 1. Hamish Pepper / David Giles, NZL, 15 2. Fredrik Loof / Anders Ekstrom, SWE, 18 3. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, POL, 23 4. Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey, AUS, 29 5. Marc Pickel / Ingo Borkowki, GER, 36 6. Matthias Miller / Manuel Voight, GER, 37 7. Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, BER, 41 8. EIvind Melleby, Petter Morland Pedersen NOR, 60 9. Luca Modena / Michele Marchesini, ITA, 60 10. Henrik Dannesboe / Eki Heinonen, SUI, 62Full results: http://starclass.org
Photo: Tom Wilkes
March 11, 2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix. Class championships remain in doubt heading into the final day (Sunday) of the regatta, organized by Premiere Racing. Action on the Atlantic Ocean course is sure to remain fierce as those teams in contention pull out all the stops to claim victory at one of the world's most renowned venues.
Competition is incredibly close in Farr 40 class, which is contesting the Rolex North American Championship. Twins maintained its lead for a third straight day, but has a pack of six other boats within striking range. Only five points separate the top five teams in the 16-boat fleet and the winner probably won't be decided until the final race of the four-day series.
"I would rather be two points ahead instead of two points behind," Twins skipper Erik Maris said. "We are in position to control our own destiny, but the boats behind us are all extremely well sailed. We have to forget about the standings and approach (Sunday) as though we are all even."
Warpath won Race 7 and also notched a fourth on Saturday to jump from fifth to second in the overall standings. The California entry, sailed by the father-son team of Fred and Steve Howe, is the only Farr 40 to have won two races so far.
"We are one of the quicker boats on the course and our tactician (Ian Williams) has done a good job of picking the lanes, picking the shifts," helmsman Steve Howe said. "Coming into a major regatta like this, all you can hope is to have a chance to win on the last day and we do."
Lurking just three points off the pace is Alinghi, the Swiss syndicate that is current holder of the America's Cup. Skipper Ernesto Bertarelli opened the regatta with a bullet before suffering a ninth and 12th, but has rebounded with a string of top five finishes.
"We haven't sailed these boats in the steep waves we have here in Miami. It's quite different from what we saw in Newport and Key West," Alinghi tactician Brad Butterworth said. "We started a bit slow, but have re-trimmed the boat a bit and have tried to help Ernesto out with handling the boat in the waves."
Alinghi has been training hard off Dubai to prepare its defense of the America's Cup, which gets underway next month with the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series. Bertarelli, Butterworth and crew had this week free because their Cup class boats are being shipped to Valencia. "We wanted to keep our sailing skills sharp and this is the place to do that. I think Key West and Miami are the premier regattas in the states," Butterworth said. "We've had fantastic sailing here this week. The conditions have been terrific and the race committee has done a really nice job."
Things are equally as tight in the Melges 32 class, which has a five-point spread between the top three boats. Let's Roll, skippered by Claudio Recchi, took over the lead with a first and a second on Saturday. The Italian entry has been incredibly consistent, finishing no worse than third in all seven races.
"Those guys sail the boat very smart and very hard, both upwind and downwind. They have great boat speed and don't make any mistakes," said Simon Williams, skipper of fifth place Fresh Guidance.
Star, which entered the day with a two point lead over Let's Roll, now trails by two points. Skipper Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) welcomed the completion of seven races because that allowed him to throw out a 13th sustained on Saturday morning.
"We are pleased, but we must be careful because there are at least four boats that are just as fast as we are," Recchi said. "We will keep an eye on Star, but we also must be aware of (third place) New Wave."
Let's Roll dominated the fleet at Acura Key West 2007, winning the series with one day to spare. Recchi did not hesitate when asked how it would feel to also win in Miami. "It would be an incredible honor, an incredible achievement. Those are two very prestigious regattas and the class has become so tough," Recchi said.
Samba Pa Ti, the TP52 owned by John Kilroy of Los Angeles, Cal., held the lead in IRC class for a second straight day. Kilroy has assembled an all-star crew consisting of Volvo Ocean Race veterans and has finished first, second or third in all seven races. "Samba is sailing very, very well. They have clearly upped their game since Key West and seem to be going a lot faster than the other TP52s," said Colm Barrington, skipper of second place Magic Glove.
Magic Glove, the second smallest entry in the nine-boat fleet, also counts all top three finishes and stands just two points behind Samba Pa Ti. "We have seven boats that are bigger than us so we are taking gas all the way around the track,² said Barrington, a native of Dublin, Ireland. "It cuts down on your tactical options because most of the time you just go for clean air. All things considered, we are happy to be as close as we are."
Mean Machine has dominated Mumm 30 class, winning five of seven starts. However, skipper Peter De Ridder and crew have not clinched victory as Groovederci is still mathematically alive. Skipper Deneen Demourkas and crew would need to win both races on Sunday and hope for Mean Machine to suffer a fourth and a fifth in order to pull off an improbable comeback. "We've sailed a solid regatta so far and we just have to go out and do it for one more day," said Mean Machine tactician Jono Swain, a Fort Lauderdale resident.
De Ridder has already announced intention to field a Volvo Ocean Race syndicate and is also having a TP52 and a Farr 40 built. The Mumm 30 has already been sold and this may be the Monaco resident's last regatta in the class. "It would be nice to go out on a high note," Swain said.
Action in the four-day regatta, organized by Premiere Racing, concludes on Sunday.
2007 Acura Miami Grand Prix March 8 11, 2007 Provisional Class Standings after 7 Races - March 10 - Top 3 Boats in Class IRC (with discard) 1. Samba Pa Ti, TP52, John Kilroy, Los Angeles, CA, USA,(3)-1-3-2-1-3-1, 11 2. Magic Glove, Ker 50, Colm Barrington, Dublin, IRL, 1-3-2-(5)-3-2-3, 14 3. Windquest, TP52, Doug DeVos, Holland, MI, USA, 4-2-1-3-(6)-5-4, 19 Farr 40 (Rolex National Championship with no discard) Twins, Erik Maris, Newport, RI, USA, 6-1-2-7-9-5-4, 34 Warpath, Fred & Steve Howe, San Diego, CA, 4-10-13-1-3-4-1, 36 Ainghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, Geneva, SUI, 1-9-12-4-2-3-6, 37 Melges 32 (with discard) Let's Roll, Claudio Recchi, YC Italiano, ITA, (3)-2-2-2-3-2-1, 12 Star, Jeff Ecklund, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 4-1-1-3-1-(13)4, 14 New Wave, Carroll/Kullman, St,Petersburg, FL, 5-5-(9)-1-2-1-3, 17 Mumm 30 (with no discard) Mean Machine, Peter De Ridder, Monaco, 1-2-1-1-1-1-4, 11 Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, Santa Barbara, CA, 3-1-2-2-2-4-3, 17 Kaizen, Baker / Solomon, Noank, CT, 2-4-4-4-3-3-1, 21 Acura Grand Prix Awards (Key West and Miami Series Combined) Provisional Standings after 7 Races - March 10 Top 2 Boats IRC Samba Pa Ti, TP52, John Kilroy 26 points Magic Glove, Ker 50, Colm Barrington 28 points Farr 40 Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli 88 points Twins, Erik Maris 98 points Melges 32 Let¹s Roll, Claudio Recchi 24 points New Wave, Carroll / Kullman 47 points Mumm 30 Mean Machine, Peter DeRidder 38 points Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas 56 pointsFull report: http://www.premiere-racing.com/07_AMGP_Results/miami_2007_news.htm
March 9, J/24 World Championship, Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico: Mid-way through the 2007 World Championship Brazil's Mauricio Santacruz (3-3-8-1-7) and his Bruschetta team are still firmly in first place, with Chris Snow's Bogus (8-4-5-2-36-6) from the USA right at his heels.
USA continues to hold 3 of the top 5 spots, with Mark Hillman (18-1-25-4-2-3) on WIP and Mike Ingham's Brain Cramp (7-2-16-11-8-2) claiming third and fourth place. Argentina's Tag Heuer, driven by the team of Grimaldi and Contessi (16-5-3-12-25-5) dropped are in fifth position.
Day Three's first race started with light air and flat seas. Great Britain's Imarsat Hedgehog (50-12 -15-9-1-18) helmed by Ian Southworth and Chris McLaughlin took a strong early lead and held it to the finish, followed by Chris Snow on Bogus, and Argentina's Tag Heuer in third place.
The big wind shifts of yesterday repeated themselves today as the wind clocked south just before the start of the second race. The Race Committee reset the course quickly, and the fleet had one of the best starts of the regatta so far, with only 3 over the line early. 18 knot winds forced the quickest boats on the first windward leg to change to small jib, but by the turn, the big sails were up again. In oscillating winds Mauricio Santacruz on Bruschetta and Chris Snow battled for position, while Canadian John Polglase (71-11-57-16-41-1) on Fragata sailed to a first place finish.
2006 and 2007 Mexican National Champion Kenneth Porter on S finished the day in 13th place.
http://www.j24mex.com/worlds2007.asp
ESPN2 to air Acura Key West Race Week Sunday, March 11 at 1:30pm et. Join Gary Jobson and the ESPN sailing team for an in depth look at Key West Race Week. Exclusive on board video with America's Cup champions Russell Coutts and Ernesto Bertarelli are featured. See how the pros do it. Ten classes are featured during this 30 minute program.
Acura Miami Grand Prix, Miami Beach, Fla. While early forecasts called for lighter winds, a sea breeze came on faster and stronger than predicted, allowing Principal Race Officer Dave Brennan and his team to get in three races on the opening day (Thursday) of the grand prix regatta.
One of the teams on a roll was Simon Williams' team on the Melges 32 Fresh Guidance, from Newport, R.I. with a 2-3-1. Williams, formerly a Farr 40 owner, made his debut in the Melges 32 class at Acura Key West 2007 and finished a respectable fourth.
Claudio Recchi and Let's Roll won that regatta in convincing fashion and Williams felt the Italians were the team to beat here. "Let's Roll is a great boat with a great crew. They are a formidable opponent, but we were faster than them today," Williams said. "We learned a ton at Key West and that time in the boat has really improved our performance." Bill Hardesty, former College Sailor of the Year at the Merchant Marine Academy, is calling tactics for Williams. -- Full report: http://www.premiere-racing.com/07_AMGP_Results/miami_2007_news.htm
Preliminary Results: Melges 32 1. Fresh Guidance, Simon Williams (USA), 2-3-1, 6 points 2. Star, Jeff Ecklund (USA), 4-1-2, 7 3. Let's Roll, Claudio Recchi (ITA), 3-2-3, 8 IRC 1. Magic Glove, Colin Barrington (IRL), Ker 50, 1-3-2, 6 points 2. Windquest, Doug Devos (USA), TP52, 4-2-1, 7 3. Samba Pa Ti, John Kilroy (USA), TP52, 3-1-3, 7 Farr 40 1. Twins, Erik Maris (FRA), 6-1-2, 9 points 2. Nerone, Massimo Mezzaroma (ITA), 9-3-1, 13 3. Norwegian Steam, Eivind Astrup (NOR), 7-2-4, 13 Mumm 30 1. Mean Machine, Peter De Ridder (MON), 1-2-1, 4 points 2. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas (USA), 3-1-2, 6 3. Kaizen, S. Baker/M.Solomon (USA), 2-4-4, 1080th Annual Bacardi Cup, Rolex Miami OCS Star Class, Biscayne Bay, Miami. Poland¹s Mateusz Kusznierewicz, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the Finn Class, and crew Dominik Zycki won day five at the 2007 Bacardi Cup Star Class Regatta on the waters of Biscayne Bay Thursday. They finished only two boat lengths ahead of new Zealand's Hamish Pepper, the reigning World and North American Star Class champion, who finished second today with crew and coach David Giles of Australia.
The two teams had been tied for the overall lead heading into Thursday's race. However, because sailors drop their worst of five finishes today, Kusznierewicz and Zycki now find themselves second in the overall standings, six points behind Pepper and Giles. The final race is scheduled for Friday. - Janet Maizner, full story: http://www.starclass.org/artman/publish/article_258.shtml
Preliminary results after five races (top ten of 77 boats): 1. NZL, Hamish Pepper/ David Giles, 2-3-1-(16)-2, 8 points 2. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, 4-(9)-7-2-1, 14 3. SWE, Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom, 8-2-2-(18)-3, 15 4. AUS, Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey, 6-5-6-8-(76/OCS), 25 5. BER, Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, 5-11-10-5-(76/OCS), 31 6. GER, Marc Pickel/ Ingo Borkowski, 10-(48)-8-10-6, 34 7. GER, Matthias Miller/ Manuel Voigt, 7-7-(17)-11-11, 36 8. NOR, Eivind Melleby/ Petter Morland Pedersen, 12-14-(20)-4-10, 40 9. SUI, Henrik Dannesboe/ Eki Heinonen, 20-(46)-5-14-5, 44 10. USA, John Dane/ Austin Sperry, 9-(41)-30-1-9, 49Full results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1127
March 8, 2007 Bacardi Cup Regatta on the waters of Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA: Defending Star Class World and North American Champion Hamish Pepper of New Zealand, sailing this week with his coach and crew David Giles, won the third of six scheduled daily races at the 2007 Bacardi Cup Regatta on the waters of Biscayne Bay.
The Kiwi victory increases their overall lead to six points ahead of Sweden's Fredrik Loof and crew Anders Ekstrom, the defending Rolex Miami OCR champions, who finished second.
Today's race was sailed in winds that escalated from 10 to 15 knots out of the North/Northeast and followed a traditional windward-leeward course. Szabo and Liljedahl, an Olympic Gold medalist who is celebrating his birthday today, held third position off the starting line and through the second mark. They dropped to a fourth place finish, which moves them up to seventh overall.
America's Cup veteran Iain Murray and crew Andrew Palfrey of Australia finished sixth and keep their third place overall, while Poland's Mateusz Kusznierewicz and crew Dominik Zycki crossed the finish just behind them and keep their fourth position overall.
2004 Bacardi Cup champions Afonso Domingos and crew Bernardo Santos of Portugal took third in today's race moving them up to 33rd place overall. Even though their chances of winning were obliterated by a black flag on Day 1 and a 28th place finish on Day 2, Santos remains optimistic about finishing in the top 15.
Preliminary results: 1. NZL, Hamish Pepper/ David Giles, 2-3-1-16, 22 points 2. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, 4-9-7-2, 22 3. AUS, Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey, 6-5-6-8, 25 4. SWE, Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom, 8-2-2-18, 30 5. BER, Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, 5-11-10-5, 31 6. GER, Matthias Miller/ Manuel Voigt, 7-7-17-11, 42 7. NOR, Elvind Melleby/Morland Petter Pedersen 12-14-20-4, 50 8. USA, George Szabo/ Magnus Liljedahl, 15-15-4-19, 53 9. AUT, Hans Spitzauer/ Christian Nehammer 14[AVG]-17-11-15, 57.3 10. ITA, Luca Modena/Michele Marchesini 11-18-31-6, 66Full results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1127
http://www.bacardicup.com
US Sailing names the 2007 US Sailing Team. This year the top three ranked sailors in each of the 11 classes selected for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, are: 49er, 470 (Men and Women), Finn, Laser, Laser Radial, RS:X (Men and Women), Star, Tornado and Yngling. The US Sailing Team was created in 1986 to recruit and develop the top American sailors for the upcoming Olympic Games.
The US Sailing Team rankings are based on attendance and performance at qualifying events. Athletes who have qualified for the US Sailing Team are identified as strong contenders to go to the Olympic Games. As members of the Team, they will be assisted with coaching, logistics, fundraising and other benefits from US SAILING.
The members of the 2007 US Sailing Team are:
49er (Skiff):
1. Morgan Larson (Capitola, Calif.)/Pete Spaulding (Santa Cruz, Calif.)
2. Tim Wadlow (Beverly, Mass.)/Chris Rast (Wake Forest, N.C.)
3. Dalton Bergan (Seattle, Wash.)/Zack Maxam (Coronado, Calif.)
470 Men (Men's Two-Person Dinghy):
1. Mikee Anderson-Mitterling (Coronado, Calif.)/David Hughes (San Diego, Calif.)
2. Stu McNay (Boston, Mass.)/Graham Biehl (San Diego, Calif.)
3. Justin Law (Newport Beach, Calif.)/Michael Miller (Charleston, S.C.)
470 Women (Women's Two-Person Dinghy):
1. Amanda Clark (Shelter Island, N.Y.)/Sarah Mergenthaler (Harvey Cedars, N.J.)
2. Erin Maxwell (Stonington, Conn.)/Isabelle Kinsolving (New York, N.Y.)
3. Molly Carapiet (Belvedere, Calif.) /Molly O'Bryan (San Diego, Calif.)
Finn (Heavyweight Dinghy):
1. Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
2. Geoffrey Ewenson (Annapolis, Md.)
3. Darrell Peck (Gresham, Ore.)
Laser (Men's One Person Dinghy):
1. Brad Funk (Clearwater, Fla.)
2. Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.)
3. Kurt Taulbee (Dunedin, Fla.)
Laser Radial (Women's One-Person Dinghy):
1. Anna Tunnicliffe (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
2. Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.)
3. Sarah Lihan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Neil Pryde RS:X Men (Men's Windsurfer):
1. Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
2. Bob Willis (Chicago, Ill.)
3. Mark Powell (Coconut Grove, Fla.)
Neil Pryde RS:X Women (Women's Windsurfer):
1. Nancy Rios (Cocoa, Fla.)
2. Karen Marriott (Lakewood, Colo.)
3. Farrah Hall (Annapolis, Md.)
Star (Men's Keelboat):
1. John Dane (Gulfport, Miss.)/ Austin Sperry (Gulfport, Miss.)
2. Andy MacDonald (Laguna Beach, Calif.)/Brian Faith (Miami, Fla.)
3. John MacCausland (Medford, N.J.)/ Bob Schofield (Annapolis, Md.)
Tornado (Multihull):
1. John Lovell (New Orleans, La.)/Charlie Ogletree (Kemah, TX)
2. Robbie Daniel (Clearwater, Fla.)/Hunter Stunzi (Marblehead, Mass.)
3. Don Thinschmidt (Holland, Mich.)/Drew Wierda (Miami, Fla.)
Yngling (Women's Keelboat):
1. Sally Barkow (Chenequa, Wis.)/Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.)/Carrie Howe (Grosse Pointe, Mich.)
2. Carol Cronin (Jamestown, R.I.)/Kim Couranz (Annapolis, Md.)/Margaret Bonds Podlich (Annapolis, Md.)
"We expect extraordinary results from this talented group of athletes. The 2007 US Sailing Team is an exceptional collection of experienced veterans and rising stars," said High Performance Director and Head Coach Gary Bodie (Hampton, Va.). In addition to Bodie, the Team is coached by Olympic Coaches Luther Carpenter (LaPorte, TX) and Skip Whyte (Wickford, R.I.).
Sponsors of the 2007 US Sailing Team are: Rolex Watch U.S.A., Vanguard Sailboats, Nautica, Gill, Sperry Top-Sider, RIBCRAFT, Harken, New England Ropes, Extrasport, Nikon and Team McLube. The 2008 Olympic Games are scheduled for August 8-24, 2008, in Beijing, China. The Olympic Regatta will be held in Qingdao, a coastal city located 430 miles southeast of Beijing.
For more information on the 2007 US Sailing Team and ranking system, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics/usst.htm
March 7, The Etchells class is seeking any information on the large powerboat that sped across Biscayne Bay last Sunday, causing the breaking wake that led to the dismasting during the Midwinter Championship of entrant Oscar Strugstad. Witnesses should contact Class Secretary Bunny Wayt at mailto: etchells@att.net
80th Annual Bacardi Cup, Rolex Miami OCS Star Class, Biscayne Bay, Miami.
Preliminary results after three races (top ten of 77 boats): 1. NZL, Hamish Pepper/ David Giles, 2-3-1, 6 points 2. SWE, Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom, 8-2-2, 12 3. AUS, Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey, 6-5-6, 17 4. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, 4-9-7, 20 5. BER, Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, 5-11-10, 26 6. GER, Matthias Miller/ Manuel Voigt, 7-7-17, 31 7. USA, George Szabo/ Magnus Liljedahl, 15-15-4, 34 8. AUT, Hans Spitzauer/ Christian Nehammer 14[AVG]-17-11, 42 9. CRO, Marin Lovrovic/ Sinisa Mikulicic, 19-12-13, 44 10. SUI, Flavio Marazzi/ Donat Hofer, 14-4-27, 45Complete results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1127
America's Cup getting busy - Scuttlebutt Europe reports: Only three weeks before the beginning of Louis Vuitton Act 13 in Valencia, America's Cup winner David Dellenbaugh has been appointed to the position of tactician in the United Internet Team Germany. Former tactician Henrik Blakskjær will now strengthen the team as a pitman.
"The position of a tactician is crucial on board. With David Dellenbaugh we appoint the most experienced tactician in our team", says Head of Syndicate Michael Scheeren. Until now the American Dellenbaugh has been available to the team part-time only. However, the 53 years old Dellenbaugh moved his domicile to Spain in February 2007 and is now able to support the team until the end of the America's Cup. "I am very happy to see David in this position. His experience will help to make our team even stronger in the upcoming races", says skipper Jesper Bank.
David Dellenbaugh already participated in several America's Cup campaigns successfully: For the first time he was the tactician in the US team Heart of America in the America's Cup in 1987. He won the desired trophy as a tactician and starting helmsman in 1992 on the winning yacht America3. Three years later Dellenbaugh again participated as a tactician in the US team Mighty Mary. He is the author of the popular Speed and Smarts newsletter: http://www.speedandsmarts.com -- http://www.united-internet-team-germany.de
* Tuesday March 6th at 20h30, the first Chinese America's Cup class in the history of the America's Cup was christened in Valencia, Spain. CHN95 has become Longtze, "the son of the dragon". Longtze will carry the Chinese colors during the 32nd America's Cup, starting April 3rd 2007.
The christening ceremony took place at the China Team base in Valencia, including the presence of the Mayor of Valencia, Rita Barbera, Mr. Qiu Xiaoqi, Chinese ambassador from Madrid, Wang Chao Yong, syndicate president, sponsors of the team and 300 invited guests.
Longtze was christened by Xin Li, Chinese model and actress, ambassador for the team since its creation, who opened up a bottle of Chivas on the bow of the America's Cup Class yacht. The christening ceremony was equally the occasion to present to the press the new collection of Lladro porcelain inspired by the China Team dragon as well as the new TAG HEUER collection of watches, China team Aquaracer -- http://www.china-team.org
Symbolic of China, synonymous with power and nobility, the dragon is an inescapable element in Chinese culture. Longtze follows in this tradition, in the birth of a new generation of Chinese sailors.
* BMW ORACLE Racing has begun the final two-boat race training session in the lead-up to Louis Vuitton Act 13 and the 2007 Louis Vuitton Cup starting next month in Valencia. The team's two 2007-generation race yachts USA 98 and USA 87 lined up together for the first time as skipper Chris Dickson and the sailing team performed a series of tests and in-house races in the waters off Valencia today.
The team sea-trialed USA 98 in New Zealand and ran a two-boat race training session there in January and February. USA 98 arrived to Valencia by Antonov February 23 and underwent on-the-water technical checks last week. USA 87 also sailed last week for the first time following winter modifications.
BMW ORACLE Racing will continue the two-boat race training programme through March in preparation for the 2007 racing season which begins with Louis Vuitton Act 13 (fleet racing) on 3rd of April. The Louis Vuitton Cup starts 16th of April -- http://www.bmworacleracing.com
* A few of Sweden's most promising young sailors that have been given the most desirable work experience there is. Viktor Bolmgren, 17, Filip Bolmgren, 19 and Anton Thorin, 14, winners of Victory Challenge Jr. Cup and Paulina Hammero, 16, and Carl James, 17, from the sailing college in Angelholm, are on work experience with the America's Cup challenger, Victory Challenge, in Valencia.
Instead of a school desk in a cold, dark and wintery Sweden, they have flown to Spain to try out working with sailing during the preparations for the world's most prestigious regatta. And it is sunny and 25 degrees.
Four of them are E-dinghy sailors. The youngest, Anton, who is in year eight at Vikenskolan, is planning on moving to E-dinghy in the summer. The oldest, Filip, who will soon turn 20, is set on starting with 470s.
Their work experience will be over on Sunday. Then it remains for Victory Challenge to host two trainees, Victor Bergstrom and Lisa Ericson from Lerums Seglargymnasium, before it is time for the final pre-regatta of the 32nd America's Cup, the Valencia Louis Vuitton Act 13, which will be decided 3-7 April, and the challengers' series the Louis Vuitton Cup which starts on 16 April -- http://www.victorychallenge.com
* SUI91 arrived in Valencia yesterday afternoon on an Antonov plane from Dubai. SUI64 is due to follow by ship.
This is the first time during this campaign that the Swiss Defender has flown a racing yacht, the last being in 2001, when the team flew SUI64 from Geneva to Auckland where they successfully won the America's Cup in 2003.
The plane for the occasion was the Antonov AN-124, one of 56 built and introduced in 1986. It can carry up to 150tonnes and 88 passengers, although they rarely take more than a few due to limited pressurisation in the fuselage. Six crew members fly the 68.96m plane which stands 20.78m high and has a wing-span of 73.3m at a maximum speed of 865km/h and a cruising speed of 800km/h.
The Antonov landed in Valencia on Sunday, late afternoon and SUI91 was transported to the Alinghi base on Monday. Sailing is on schedule for mid-March -- http://alinghi.com
From: Scuttlebutt Europe News Letter #1176, March 7, 2007.
To subscribe to Scuttlebutt Europe: http://www.scuttlebutteurope.com
March 6, 80th Annual Bacardi Cup, Rolex Miami OCS Star Class, Biscayne Bay, Miami. With a square line and about a third of the fleet determined not to push the start in fear of having more letters added to their score, the 78-boat Star Bacardi Cup fleet got off to a clean first start at noon on Monday. Pity the teams who were black flagged in the first race on Sunday, then for Monday°Ųs race went to the right side on the first beat (ugly move) and to the left on the second beat (ugly move again).
However, if you happened to do just the opposite, you may have been in for the thrill of your sailing career. Despite not being on anyone's pre-event favorites list, sail number 8043 belonging to Americans Jock Kohlaus and Larry Scott, rounded the first weather mark in fifth in the company of skippers Ian Murray, Freddie Loof, Mark Reynolds, and Flavio Marazzi, and were the best today at managing the fickle winds on Biscayne Bay.
Preliminary results after two races (top ten of 77 boats): 1. NZL, Hamish Pepper/ David Giles, 2-3, 5 points 2. SWE, Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom, 8-2, 10 3. AUS, Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey, 6-5, 11 4. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, 4-9, 13 5. GER, Matthias Miller/ Manuel Voigt, 7-7, 14 6. BER, Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven, 5-11, 16 7. SUI, Flavio Marazzi/ Donat Hofer, 14-4, 18 8. USA Jock Kohlhas/ Larry Scott, 23-1, 24 9. NOR, Eivind Melleby/ Petter Morland Pedersen, 12-14, 26 10. ITA, Luca Modena/ Michele Marchesini, 11-18, 29Complete results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1127
Hamish Pepper and David Giles. Photo: Dan Nerney/Rolex
March 5, 80th Annual Bacardi Cup, Rolex Miami OCS Star Class, Biscayne Bay, Miami. A record 23 boats were black flagged at the start of the first race of the Star Bacardi Cup, and found themselves sailing back to Coconut Grove after learning their fate at the first weather mark. For the rest of the boats in the 77-boat fleet, the day belong to the Irish, as Maurice O'Connell and crew Ben Cooke went coast to coast from the first weather mark, never relinquishing their lead to the pressing Kiwi team of Hamish Pepper and David Giles. The "could of-should of" file had one submission, as Pepper was delayed at the leeward gate following a back flip out the boat. Thankfully, while he did his back flip, he hooked the main sheet with his feet and managed to pull himself hand over hand back onto the boat.
With a one race per day structure the pair placed second in the first race. Hamish Pepper said, 'It was a light tricky start to the race, we escaped with what could have been a terrible start for us. We had one boat that was over the start line come reaching down on top of us right when we were about to start the race. Luckily we managed to lift off him and hold our position.
'Things continued to not go as smoothly as we hoped. I fell out of the boat after missing the hiking strap at the bottom mark. I was some 20 feet behind the boat but managed to hold onto the mainsheet and pull myself back in. It was an exciting couple of minutes, but the type of excitement we could do without! But we came good and I was happy to finish in 2nd.'
First place was taken by Maurice O'Connel of Ireland and third by Robert Stanjek of Germany.
Once again, the international competition is strong with more than 100 Star Class teams from 20-plus countries. Teams will compete in daily races over the six-day sailing event.
Bacardi Cup 2007 Preliminary results after first race (top ten of 77 boats) 1. IRL, Maurice O'Connell/ Ben Cooke 2. NZL, Hamish Pepper/ David Giles 3. GER, Robert Stanjek / Frithjof Kleen 4. POL, Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki 5. BER, Peter Bromby / Bill McNiven 6. AUS, Ian Murray / Andrew Palfrey 7. GER, Matthias Miller/ Manuel Voigt 8. SWE, Fredrik Loof/ Anders Ekstrom 9. USA, John Dane/ Austin Sperry 10. GER, Marc Pickel/ Ingo BorkowskiFor all results: http://www.starclass.org/search.cgi?Action=view&Event_id=1127
March 2, 2007 DN Worlds and North Americans. Pete Crawford, maker of the A-scow film The Ultimate Ride, was filming at the 2007 DN Worlds and North Americans, sailed on the ice at Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Menominee, Michigan. His plan is to cut the footage into a 30-minute DVD with music and race commentary, but for now, enjoy the three sample video - Click here for Scuttlebutt's video of the week
March 1, IRC Ratings Change For Battened Spinnakers. Following IRC Notice 2007/01 regarding the rating of battened spinnakers, the IRC Policy Steering Group has reviewed the increase in TCC given to boats carrying such sails, with the intention of ensuring that the deterrent effect of the increase in TCC will be such as to discourage use of such sails. The IRC Policy Steering Group did not sanction the banning of Spinoas.
In light of this, the IRC Technical Committee is now reviewing the treatment of battened spinnakers. Owners are therefore advised that any IRC certificates to date including a battened spinnaker, trials or amendments, may be rescinded.
The RORC Rating Office or UNCL Centre de Calcul, as appropriate, will advise further as soon as possible. IRC Rule Authorities are requested to directly contact boats under their jurisdiction advising them of this statement (see list below). Mike Urwin RORC Technical Director
To date, the following boats have applied for trial or amended certificates
so may be affected:
Quantum DK 46 13722
Quantum Cookson 50 15511
Stickybeak Farr 40 15433
Akatea Cookson 12m 15313
Samba Pa Ti TP 52 15784
XLR8 R/P 46 13046
Meta Baron IMX 40 11012
Red TP52 15168
Wedgetail Welbourn 42 14614
Jazz J 145 12574
See http://www.rorcrating.com/ir2000/IRC/Interpret/IRC-Notice-2007-01.pdf
2007 US Disabled Sailing Team. Created in 1998 to develop and prepare the team representing the U.S. at the Paralympic Games, the US Disabled Sailing Team annually recognizes the top three sailors in the classes selected for the Paralympic Games, based on athletes' performances at a series of qualifying regattas. The three classes selected for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Qingdao, China are: 2.4 Metre (Open Singlehanded), SKUD-18 (Open Doublehanded) and Sonar (Open Triplehanded).
The members of the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team are: RE2.4 Metre 1. Nick Scandone (Fountain Valley, CA) 2. John Ruf (Pewaukee, WI) 3. Roger Cleworth (Lithia, FL) SKUD-18 1. Scott Whitman (Brick, NJ) / Julia Dorsett (Boca Raton, FL) 2. Karen Mitchell (Deerfield Beach, FL) / J.P. Creignou (St. Petersburg, FL) 3. Mark Lewis (Hingham, MA) / Maureen McKinnon-Tucker (Marblehead, MA) Sonar 1. Rick Doerr (Clifton, NJ) /Bill Donohue (Brick, NJ) / Tim Angle (Marblehead, MA) 2. Bert Foster (Wayzata, MN) /Jim Thweatt (West Sacramento CA)/ David Burdette (Lutherville, MD) 3. David Schroeder (Miami FL)/Keith Burhans (Rochester, NY) / John Pucillo (Andrew AFB, MD)"This 2007 roster is filled with talent," said US Disabled Sailing Team Coach Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). "Our 18 sailors make up one of the strongest US Disabled Sailing Teams that we have ever had in the Paralympic disciplines. Our dream of posting podium finishes at our upcoming World Championships and 2008 Paralympic Games is certainly in reach."
The 2008 Paralympic Games are scheduled for September 6-17, 2008, in Beijing, China. The Paralympic Regatta will be held in Qingdao, a coastal city located 430 miles southeast of Beijing. For more information on the 2007 US Disabled Sailing Team and the ranking system, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics/paralympic.