|
Issue #1488 - 17 April
Brought to you by Yachtworld.com Europe and boats.com Europe, Scuttlebutt Europe is a digest of sailing news and opinions, regatta results, new boat and gear information and letters from sailors -- with a European emphasis. Contributions welcome, send to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Court Expedites Appeal; Denies Alinghi Bid To Stay Proceedings
Valencia, Spain: The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) said today it was very pleased that the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, with agreement of the parties, decided to expedite the appeal filed yesterday by Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG)/Alinghi. GGYC was also pleased that the defender's motion for an interim stay of Justice Cahn's March 17th order (confirming that GGYC is the valid challenger of record) was denied.
"This is a good result for getting on with the match and getting back to a conventional Cup," Tom Ehman, the club's spokesman said.
In a hearing in New York City today, the court set dates for the parties' briefing of the merits of the appeal and set the appeal for disposition in the Court's June, 2008 term. It also set a briefing schedule should SNG/Alinghi seek to pursue its request for a stay to a full panel of five Justices of the Court.
Progress towards the next Cup will not be interrupted by this legal process. An order from Justice Herman Cahn on the date for the match is expected any day, and the GGYC expects this will be for a match in October 2008.
"This defender doesn't want to enter any race they can't run entirely on their own terms. Today they unsuccessfully tried another stalling tactic. We are very pleased that the court told them 'no'," Ehman said.
In December Alinghi had hired multihull experts and Ernesto Bertarelli had said he was "200%" committed to preparing for a 2008 race, but for whatever reason they now wanted the courts to allow further delay.
"So far the defender has taken its arguments to court twice and lost both times. We remain confident these continued attempts to stall will also be rejected, and that the courts will uphold a race according to the ten-month notice period set out in the America's Cup Deed of Gift," Ehman said.
The GGYC was also pleased that the appeal process will be speedy, Ehman said.
Senior Alinghi team members and lawyers have previously given repeated public
assurances that they would not appeal.
www.ggyc.org
* Societe Nautique de Geneve successful in gaining expedited appeal...
Justice Andrias also decided that SNG's request for a stay should be referred for consideration by a five-judge panel of the Appellate Division. Briefing on the stay motion will be completed by 25 April 2008.
Lucien Masmejan, lead counsel for the SNG, commented, "We are pleased with this decision and feel that it confirms that our decision to appeal was correct and taken at the appropriate time. The decision of Justice Andrias to expedite the appeal process was hugely significant to us as it means that the case will be fast tracked through the appeal process enabling us to return the America's Cup to the water without further delays."
"We look forward to addressing the matter of staying the case before the five Justices from the Appellate Division in due course as it is important to ensure that significant sums of money and resources are not wasted upon preparing for a defense that is voided before we take to the water."
The latest evolution of the America's Cup legal case has today seen Justice Andrias from the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Defender Societe Nautique de Geneve's (SNG) request to expedite the appeal process with all briefing to be completed by 15 May 2008. Oral arguments will then be heard during the June term hopefully followed by a prompt decision.
www.alinghi.com
Farr 40 Worlds
Mascalzone Latino crossing the finish line in Race #3 - Cindy Saunders photo
Miami Beach, Fla., USA - Current World Champion Mascalzone Latino charged to the head of the 33-boat fleet on the first day of racing during the 2008 Rolex Farr 40 World Championship. With three races completed in the 10-race series, there are at least a dozen boats that can win the overall title, however today belongs to the Italians.
Despite a last minute change of tactician with American Morgan Larson arriving this morning on the red eye from the West Coast to fill in for Adrian Stead who returned home for the birth of his first child, Onorato had nothing but praise for Larson's ability to jump in and assist with a 3-12-1 scoreline. "Of course he (Larson) did a very nice job and we dedicate this victory to the new Lucas Stead, born yesterday. If you look, we are sailing with a blue stripe on the back of the boat for him."
Only two points separate Mascalzone Latino from Giovanni Maspero's second-place Joe Fly (ITA), winner of the day's second race. Deneen Demourkas's Groovederci 57 (USA) - one of two Groovederci's sailing, the other entry belongs to her husband John Demourkas - is in third place overall, with Carlo Alberini's Calvi Network (ITA) in fourth and Alinghi (SUI), helmed by Ernesto Bertarelli with the majority of crew from his America's Cup winning team onboard, in fifth.
Stratis Andreadis's Atalanti (GRE) finished fifth in the first race and second in the second, but they struggled with some gear breakdowns in race three and added a 25 to the scoreline for eighth place overall. "Unfortunately, we had a little bad luck in the last race," said Atalanti tactician Brad Read (Newport, R.I.). "We broke a jib and the main halyard going up the first beat. Overall, we've had some struggles in the past few regattas, but the team has amazed me with their perseverance and their learning curve."
Winner of the Pre-Worlds warm-up regatta, Doug Douglass's Goombay Smash (USA), finished the day in 25th.
Today's was "Presidents' Day" in honor of the Farr 40 Class's four presidents over the past 11 years. At the owners dinner on Monday night, the Farr 40 Class elected its first lifetime member John Calvert-Jones. Winner of the 2000 Farr 40 World Championship, held in Newport, R.I., and a past Class president, Calvert-Jones was presented with a specially inscribed Rolex timepiece.
Racing continues tomorrow, Thursday, April 17 at the Rolex Farr 40 World Championship (April 16-19) on the Atlantic Ocean south of Government Cut.
Top ten results after three races
1. Mascalzone Latino, Vincenzo Onorato, ITA, 16 points
2. Joe Fly, GIovanni Maspero, ITA, 18
3. Groovederci, Deneen Demourkas, USA, 22
4. Calvi Network, Carlo Alberini, ITA, 27
5. Alinghi, Ernesto Bertarelli, SUI, 28
6. Sled, Takashi Okura, JPN, 30
7. Barking Mad, Jim Richardson, USA, 31
8. Atalanti, Stratis Andreadis, GRE, 32
9. Mean Machine, Peter de RIdder, MON, 36
10. Plenty, Aleander Roepers, USA, 36
www.farr40worlds.com
High Modulus Seeks International Account Manager
If you are passionate about sales and sails, read on...
High Modulus is currently looking for an International Account Manager to sell composite materials and solutions to sailing and power boat clients around the world. The role is based full-time in our New Zealand office, although some international travel will be required. Candidates need outstanding project management skills, should be driven to achieve excellent sales results and high levels of customer satisfaction, and have knowledge about all aspects of the composite boatbuilding process.
Please send your CV by 2nd May to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.high-modulus.com
470 Spring Cup
The 33rd International Spring Cup has just been sailed at Sanary-sur-mer (France) from 6th to 12th April. 38 crews from 18 nations, including a lot of crews selected for the Olympic Games, took part in this event. As usual in this event, both men and women sailed together in one fleet.
Eight races were sailed within the first four days under strong winds of 20-25 knots, and the races of the last two days, including the Medal race, had to be cancelled due to too strong weather conditions with windspeed higher than 30 knots and big waves.
The organiser (Societe Nautique de Sanary) and the Race Committee did a great job to make a top quality event both ashore and on the sailing area. Surprisingly the International Jury did not get any protest or request for redress to hear, due probably to the strong conditions under which the races were sailed.
Top ten final results after 8 races (38 competitors)
1. Sven Coster / Kalle Coster, NED, 20 points
2. Carl Evans / Peter Burling, NZL, 23
3. Nathan Wilmot / Malcolm Page, AUS, 26
4. Sime Fantela / Igor Marenic, CRO, 30
5. Patryk Piasecki / Kacper Zieminski, POL, 39
6. Tobias Etter / Felix Steiger, SUI, 45
7. Berenger Balzeau / Mathieu Fountaine, FRA, 62
8. Stuart McNay / Graham Biehl, USA, 64
9. Artem Basaikin / Egor Ignatenko, RUS, 65
10. Simon Moriceau / Vincent Guillarm, FRA, 74
www.470.org
Percy/Simpson Win Day Five at Star World Championship
Photo by Marco Oquendo/ imagesbymarco.com
Miami, Florida, USA: Big wind shifts from the Northwest to the East with winds ranging from 8 to 20 knots were accommodated with two start line resets and a change on the course after the second weather mark today in the 2008 Star World Championships at Coral Reef Yacht Club.
Iain Percy and crew Andrew Simpson (GBR) took first place and sailed like the world champions they are. However, their black flag in race two and a disqualification in race four, put them out of the running for anything but a mid-fleet finish overall. Diego Negri/Luigi Viale (ITA) finished second and John Dane/Austin Sperry (USA) came in third.
The Polish team of Mateusz Kusznierewicz/Dominik Zycki, current holders of the number one ISAF ranking for the Star Class, finished fourth today and moved into first place overall after the fifth race in the six race series.
The Japanese team of Kunio Suzuki/Daichi Wada, which is trying to qualify its country for the Olympics, finished 19th today and jumped from 23rd to 11th overall. Other countries still racing for the four available Olympic slots are Austria, Ireland, Croatia and Switzerland. -- Janet Maizner
Top 10 Standing after five races and lowest score discarded:
1. Mateusz Kusznierewicz / Dominik Zycki, POL, 9.00
2. Diego Negri / Luigi Viale, ITA, 17.00
3. Robert Scheidt / Bruno Prada, BRA, 29.00
4. Hamish Pepper / Carl Williams, NZL, 32.00
5. Marc Pickel / Ingo Borkowski, GER, 34.00
6. Mark Mendelblatt / Mark Strube, USA, 36.00
7. Flavio Marazzi / Enrico De Maria, SUI, 38.00
8. Xavier Rohart / Pascal Rambeau, FRA, 46.00
9. Fredrik Loof / Anders Ekdstrom, SWE, 49.00
9. Iain Murray / Andrew Palfrey, AUS, 51.00
www.starworlds2008.com
An Impressive Regatta Line-Up
5...4...3...2...1...GUN! It was a successful Miami Race Week for B&G boats, where Colm Barrington's J/V 52 'Flash Glove' achieved a striking win in IRC 1 running B&G WTP2. Antigua Race Week is fast approaching with an impressive fleet poised to take on some stiff competition. We look forward to another epic duel between Mike Slade's 100ft ICAP Leopard and George David's 90ft Rambler, both of which choose WTP for winning performance. B&G are on the dock and on the water providing help and advice to all B&G competitors.
Visit www.bandg.com for full regatta schedule and more.
GP42 Quebramar Cup:
First Rendezvous in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy
Photo by Pierre Orphanidis
It will be the well established Regate Pirelli - Trofeo Carlo Negri, organized by Yacht Club Italiano in the lovely village of Santa Margherita Ligure on the Italian Riviera, only a few miles from the world famous Portofino to host the first rendezvous of the 2008 GP42 season, from now on Quebramar Cup from the name of the Portuguese sportswear apparel producer, the circuit official main sponsor.
The GP42 class is about to begin its second year of activity with an intense racing programme: six events in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal for a five months long truly international calendar, from May to mid-October.
The six events circuit will see some eight to twelve participants, in different venues. Each leg will be made of a maximum of nine races, which will compose the final general standings.
The new boats, all being currently under the final stages of preparation and testing, are Roma 02 and Airis, owned by Italians Filippo Faruffini and Roberto Monti; the Farr design Near Miss which will fly the French flag and the Spanish Madrid.
Many renowned sailors have confirmed their participation to the circuit, among them a number of key characters of the last edition of the America's Cup such as Spaniard Alicia Ageno, navigator onboard Victory Challenge, who will have the same role onboard Canarias Puerto Calero.
Italian Roma 02 will have an international star studded crew with Shosholoza's helmsman Paolo Cian and Areva's tactician Sebastien Col.
Spanish entry Madrid will count on Finn and Star Olympic sailor and multiple champion Jose Maria Van Der Ploeg at the helm while another Olympian, Sandro Montefusco, will lead the all-Italian crew of Airis.
Quebramar GP42 Cup 2008 - Official Calendar
- Regate Pirelli, Trofeo Carlo Negri - May 1 - 4, Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, Y.C.Italiano
- Giraglia Rolex Cup - June 8 - 10, St Tropez, France, Y.C.Italiano & S.N.St.Tropez
- Rolex Trofeo de la Reina - July 10 - 13, Valencia, Spain, Real Club Nautico de Valencia
- Copa del Rey Audi-Mapfre - July 26 - August 2, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, RCNP
- Trofeu Quebramar - August 28 - 30, Cascais, Portugal, Clube Naval de Cascais
- Trofeo Cesar Manrique - October 16 - 18, Puerto Calero, Canary Islands, C.M. Puerto Calero
www.gp42.net
Volvo Ocean Race Galway Stop Over Seek Your Help
The Irish Sailing Association and "Let's do it Galway Team" are looking for boat owners, who would like to get involved with the Volvo Ocean Race, Galway stopover (May/Jun 09).
We are looking for volunteers who can help with the race management functions (escorts/umpiring/marshalling, mark laying, committee boats etc) and registered passenger boats for the media and corporate hospitality functions.
The range of craft needed vary in size/operational capacity, a rough guide being 6-10metres, operational capability from 10-35knots with an offshore range from 5 - 20 nautical miles.
In addition there will be a requirement for some larger registered passenger craft to fulfil Corporate Hospitality functions - there is no specific specification here except perhaps in terms of the number of guests who could be hosted. There would be no specific operational capability either as most would operate either along-side or on inshore waters.
If you own a boat and are interested in helping to make this event a success, please contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
for further details.
No Reconsideration for Farrah Hall
A five-man Protest Committee today reaffirmed a decision made last October to remove Olympic boardsailing hopeful Farrah Hall as winner of the US Olympic Selection Trials for RS:X Windsurfing. Meeting in Providence last week, the Committee finally considered evidence found by Hall but elected not to alter its decision.
In October last year, Hall, from Annapolis, Md., won the last race of the Olympic Trials in Long Beach, Calif., and the right to represent her country at the sailing Olympics this August in Qingdao, China. Barely an hour later, the event Protest Committee named Nancy Rios of Miami, Fla., as the trials winner after Rios sought redress from a starting line collision in the last race involving a third sailor. Rios, who finished fourth, said the collision damaged her sail and hurt her ability to compete effectively. The decision dropped Hall to second place overall.
"I am disillusioned and bitterly disappointed with the Committee's actions," Hall said. "We provided telling photographic evidence and witness testimony from other competitors and observers that showed that Nancy Rios' fourth place finish in the last race was not significantly affected by the collision or by a tear in her sail.
"The jury insisted on holding a one-party hearing on Nancy's request for redress, and then asked me to prove to the same jury at a second hearing the next day that they had made a clear error at their hearing on Nancy's redress request. As my lawyers have noted, people fighting unfair parking tickets receive more legal protection than I have as the winner on the water of the Olympic Trials."
Farrah Hall intends to pursue her claims with a US Olympic Committee review board to demonstrate that US Sailing's rules do not meet the minimum due process standard guaranteed by the USOC and federal law. She is also pursuing an American Arbitration Association hearing to prove that the Jury decision was clearly wrong. -- Keith Taylor, www.farrahhall.com
Letters To The Editor
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Letters are limited to 350 words. No personal attacks are permitted. We do require your name but your email address will not be published without your permission.
* From John Harwood-Bee: What is it about sailing that has, in recent years, attracted those prepared to sacrifice the very best of sailing on the altar of greed, arrogance and ego.
The latest about turn by Mr 'we won't appeal' Bertarelli, must surely result in the final demise of the America's Cup as a credible sailing competition for sportsman.
I am in no doubt that the behaviour now associated with the cup will appeal to those who watch gutter 'gladiatorial' TV shows. I do however regret that the AC will now join the list of once respectable events that have suffered at the hands of the unworthy.
The self interested politics that currently surround Olympic sailing are a disgrace with total disregard for the true opinions of sailors. In 2004, the awarding of the Jules Verne Trophy to an 'also ran' destroyed it's credibility as THE trophy for the fastest circumnavigation. The RACE was lost because of wrangling, arrogance and the high demand on entry fees. Even the lesser though potentially successful Oryx Cup was destroyed by greed and arrogance, incompetence and possibly fraud. In every case this could have been avoided had it not been for the actions of individuals seemingly hell bent on destruction. These events, whatever spin you try to put on them, are dead and buried. I am not alone in wishing that we could divert the multi million dollars, once invested in them, towards The Volvo, The Clipper races, the Artemis Transat and other well run events where sportsmanship is still of paramount importance and ego's are left on the dock.
The Last Word
The saying "Getting there is half the fun" became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines. -- Henry J. Tillman
|
