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Issue #1554 - Weekend Edition - 5-6 July
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
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Editorials, Opinions And The Rumour Mill...
Flat Pack Boats in the Land of IKEA
The striking thing about Ericsson 4, as the team call her, is her flat bottom.
There's nothing new in this in terms of race boat design but, boy, does it put a premium on how the helmsman 'lands' the boat when driving at speed.
It's no coincidence that over the years there's been a number of racing boats which have suffered structural failures when doing something seemingly as innocent as motoring along.
Therein lays the problem: the boat is bolt upright. Much better to be heeled so that the flat floor actually becomes Vee-d in section.
But we're talking a different order of magnitude with the Volvo 70s. Quite possibly, these boats will be launched off one wave at speeds up to 40 knots, take some big air, and then crash into or beyond the next trough or crest.
Remember that water is not as soft as it seems. It's incompressible, so slamming into a wave at 40 knots wouldn't be far off hitting a wall in a car traveling at 50mph.
Designer Juan Kouyoumdjian told the audience at the unveiling that: "Some boats come along every now and again with soul. This boat has soul." E4 might have this but she'll also need some grit in her character too given the abuse the seas are going to mete out.
Angular boats are all the rage for this Volvo Ocean Race. The Rob Humphreys-designed Russian boat has both serrated bow sections and topsides that when you lean over the side, instead of seeing the hull curve away from you is as flat as a wardrobe.
Skipper Andreas Hannakamp jokes that the boat was built too big and was put through a band saw to shave her to the right size.
I think he was being apocryphal.
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/Tim_Jeffery
WSSRC and the Minimum Water Depth Rule
The World Sailing Speed Record Council's new rule on minimum water depth for speed record attempts has seemingly caused a great deal of excitement among the kite sailing community with strong opinions being expressed both for and against. Some people have sent several pages of requests for technical explanations of the most detailed kind while others have demanded that the new rule be cancelled or delayed. We really cannot be expected to give a detailed reply to hundreds of questions so the following is an attempt to give a general explanation of the new rule and what led to it.
Every individual record attempt or observed speed event generates a report from the supervising WSSRC Observer. Last year it became clear from these that kite sailors were sometimes running in very shallow water - for instance in the lee of a mud-bank or sand-bar. Their objective was to find water as smooth as possible but it also rang alarm bells with members of WSSRC who wondered if there was some other benefit of running in shallow water which could give an unfair advantage to a particular type of craft.
The alarm bells began to ring more loudly last year when German newspapers reported that a kite sailor had exceeded 50 knots. It turned out that this 'claim' was neither observed nor measured in any acceptable way and was therefore rejected by virtually all reasonable sailors but certainly caused a good deal of confusion at the time. It was reported that this run had been made over mud-flats covered by a thin film of water and raised the questions:
- is this fair?
- is it sailing?
- does it have wider implications for future record attempts?
As the body responsible for ratifying records, WSSRC felt it must investigate.
One WSSRC member pointed to the game of 'skim-boarding' in which a flat board is thrown down onto very shallow water followed by a rider who runs and jumps onto it. If you do it right, the board skims along for many metres with apparently very small resistance. This proves the existence of some kind of 'ground effect' in which the water acts as lubricant rather than support. Most of us have scared ourselves at some time by driving into water on the highway when the tyres unexpectedly 'aquaplane' and lose all contact with the road. This also shows how a very thin film of water can act as lubricant.
The questions that arise are:
- how significant is the effect?
- how shallow must the water be to create this effect?
The Council therefore decided to consult the Wolfson Unit of Southampton University to see if they could come up with some hard evidence. They did - and the results are really surprising. When investigating the performance of seaplanes, a full programme of tank tests had been done years ago by NACA in the United States and the Wolfson team extracted and analysed the relevant data, also adding their own knowledge gained from tests on fast ferries and the science of sailing in general. To greatly simplify these results, they show that a planing surface experiences progressively lower resistance in water depths less than about 50cms. When the water is shallower than the width (beam) of the planing surface, the reduction of drag can be dramatic and in the extreme case when the water depth is less than half the beam of the board, the drag reduction can be as much as 50%. This clearly explains the performance of the wide, flat, skim-board running in a few centimetres of water.
Going back to the earlier questions -
- Is this fair? WSSRC thinks not because it is an advantage only open to a very specific craft; one that is effectively flat-bottomed and can be sailed at very deep wind angles without needing a skeg, board, hydrofoil or other device that counters leeway.
- Is it sailing? We do not believe that the public could possibly accept running in 10cm of water as a World Sailing Speed Record and neither would it accept that only kite-boards could hold the record in future.
- Are there wider implications for the future? Yes. Once it is generally understood that there is a big advantage to be had from running in shallow water, there will surely be efforts to create a perfect artificial course (just as the windsurfers created the 'trench' course in the past). This could be a flat piece of ground such as a car-park on which is laid plastic sheeting to contain the necessary few centimetres of water. And what is meant by 'water'? Must we analyse it to ensure that polymers such as soap solution have not been added to lower resistance further? The safety of competitors is not the responsibility of WSSRC but even so it might not be advisable to recognize a 'sport' in which there is real risk of falling onto concrete at 50 knots. So far, the ISAF has not played any part in these discussions but if they found out that WSSRC was intending to ratify a World Record under such circumstances, they would surely be horrified.
Three more points need to be made.
It is not possible for an Observer to carry out a complete and accurate survey of the area in which record attempts will be run. In practice he will use all means at his disposal to check that in general the water is at least 50cm deep. There could easily be stones, bumps or sand ripples standing higher and these will surely not affect the speed.
This new rule is nothing to do with measuring speed by hand-held GPS, which is a completely different discussion.
The intention of the new rule is to ensure that a wide variety of craft have a fair chance of establishing records. With the 50 knot record currently under attack by multihulls, hydrofoils, planing craft, windsurfers and kiteboards, it is particularly important that all should have the same opportunity of success. Nothing prevents kite-surfers from finding or creating a course where the water is 50cms in depth very close to the shore.
John Reed
Secretary to the WSSR Council
www.sailspeedrecords.com
Paralympic Sailing Competition
The IFDS Bulletin of 2 June 2008 (No. 57) describes the recent 2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta and states that I said the following at the closing ceremony
'Over the past few days, the top athletes from 16 countries competed on Fushan Bay and have given us wonderful and unforgettable impressions in the sailing events. As the largest IFDS International Regatta in terms of scale in Asia, this regatta gave us a comprehensive test of competition organizing procedures, venue and the city's accessible facilities, Qingdao Paralympic Village Operations, Services, Security and City Operations etc. before the Paralympic Sailing Competition. It has brought us valuable experience and laid a solid foundation for the coming Paralympic Sailing Competition.'
The above might bear some resemblance to what was said by the interpreter who translated my words into Chinese, but it bears no resemblance to what I said. My words, read from a script that had been earlier submitted to the Qingdao Mayoral office for approval and translation, were as follows:
'The measure of a man is not the wealth he acquires. The worth of a woman is not the affluence she attains. How then do we gauge greatness? Human beings should be judged by the principles that they propound and by the obstacles that they overcome. By those standards, we, tonight, find ourselves in the company of giants.
This week, on the waters off Qingdao, women with impaired hands sailed against men with useless legs, and again defined the meaning of ability.
The Qingdao International regatta was originally intended as a modestly-funded opportunity for disabled sailors to experience conditions on the Yellow Sea. But in just he last few weeks, the championship became a major test for Olympic and Paralympic sailing. The regatta was expected to reveal weaknesses in preparation. Instead, it demonstrated major strengths in preparedness. China is ready for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Qingdao is ready for the Olympic and Paralympic regattas. Staff, volunteers and sailors are ready for racing.
Madam Zang (Vice-Mayor of Qingdao), Qingdao will become the sailing capital of Asia. The city is also positioned to become the Asian model for excellence in disability services. The future is merely a mater of choice for the people and government of Qingdao.
Ladies and gentlemen, it will not be just me who thanks the Vice-Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee (Madam Zang). It will be you. It will not be just me who thanks the enormously long list of people who delivered the success that was the Qingdao International Regatta. It will be you.
Our species is not constrained by a belief in the impossible. Let us therefore rise and applaud our friends who made all this happen.' -- Phil Vardy (AUS)
www.sailing.org/ifds.php
Providing A Service For Uk Folkboat Sailors
Folkboats UK has just developed a new website, providing information and essential kit to race or cruise a Folkboat in the UK.
Services offered include refit and repairs, or you can come along to the Folkboat South Coast Centre and carry out your own work either undercover or outside. Folkboats UK provides a complete rigging service and is able to supply the vital on-board spares, as well as providing hauling out, storage and additional back up for events in the local area.
Folkboats UK is centrally located for most South Coast fleets. Equipment can be viewed and purchased via the NEW website.
www.folkboats.co.uk
Tenth Edition Of Les Voiles
Photo of Lulworth from www.snst.org
Over 25 years after the original event, La Nioulargue, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and the infamous bay continue to work their magic by appealing to the most beautiful yachts on the planet, old and new alike. Organised for the first time in 1999 by the Societe Nautique of Saint-Tropez, thanks to support from the Town, the Port and the local associations, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez will this year celebrate their tenth edition. This grand autumnal rendez-vous will be an excellent opportunity for the 3,000 or so skippers and crews to celebrate, along with a wealth of locals from Saint Tropez and a diverse public visiting the peninsula for the occasion. Maxi yachts from the third millennium and jewels of traditional sailing with one, two or three masts will once again ensure a fantastic spectacle in the unique end of season light of Saint Tropez both on the water and in port.
There will be a change to proceeding for 2008 with all the starts to be given at sea, including Thursday's Challenge Day. As has been the case since the event began, the organisers' focus is on safety and putting in place the most suitable measures to ensure the best possible sailing conditions, both for the competitors and the craft, be they private or public, who come to take part in the races. With this in mind, a meeting took place last winter with the captains of the large craft in order to live up to their expectations and fulfil their constraints as best as possible. For the second year running, competitors will thus be divided into three distinct 'rounds': The Wally boats, with a first start off the Baie de Pampelonne, the modern boats, with a second zone off Les Salins beach, and the traditional boats of the third zone, whose starts will be hosted in the Bay of Saint-Tropez.
Programme
Traditional Yachts
Sunday 28th and Monday 29th September: Greeting and scrutineering
Sunday 28th September: arrival of the Yacht Club de France's Coupe d'Automne from Cannes
Tuesday 30th September, Wednesday 1st October, Thursday 2nd (J. Laurain Day, Challenge Day, Club 55 Cup), Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th: Coastal course, 1st start 1200 hrs
Modern Yachts
Saturday 27th September - Sunday 28th: Greeting and scrutineering
Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th, Wednesday 1st October, Thursday 2nd (J. Laurain Day, Challenge Day), Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th October: Coastal course, 1st start 1130 hrs
www.snst.org
Classic Yacht Projects Available
Traditional Boat Works in San Diego, California has three interesting classic yacht projects looking for new owners: ALTAMAR, #3 of the legendary Cal 32's, designed by Nick Potter and launched in 1937; VANJA VI, a 30 Square meter, designed by Knud Reimers, launched 1944 (pictured at right); LAUGHING LADY, a rare Luders designed and built powerboat launched 1949. Take advantage of the weak dollar to take over the restoration of any or all of these classic boats. TBW - the very highly qualified and experienced wooden boat yard on the west coast who restored COTTON BLOSSOM II - will provide detailed specs and estimates.
Contact Doug Jones about these and other wooden boat projects, including hull work and spars.
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
, www.traditionalboatworks.net , or 1-619-542-1229.
Thirty Boats for the Vendee
Philippe de Villiers, President of the Vendee Council and organiser of the Vendee Globe presented the line-up for the 2008-2009 Vendee Globe at a conference in La Roche sur Yon on 2nd July. It was in fact on 1st July, at midnight that the list of entrants for the Vendee Globe was definitively established.
The thirty places planned in the race notice have now been filled and there will be thirty candidates lining up on 9th November for the start in Les Sables d'Olonne. An exceptional line-up, an unprecedented competitive level, this edition of the race deserves all the superlatives.
There will be twenty eight men and two women, Dee Caffari and Samantha Davies, seven nationalities, which is another record for the race: 17 French skippers will be lining up, followed by 6 British skippers and 2 from Switzerland. Canada, the United States, Spain and Austria are each represented by one skipper.
Twenty new boats, or in other words two thirds of the fleet, have been specially built for this race, while the other ten from the 2004 generation have been completely refitted.
Never has a fleet of solo yachtsmen brought together so much experience in one race: the skippers taking part in the 2008-2009 Vendee Globe have completed 32 circumnavigations and 21 Vendee Globe races, which represents a total of 1.5 million miles raced around the world's oceans. Added to that, there is the presence of two previous winners, Michel Desjoyeaux (2000-2001) and Vincent Riou (2004-2005), so there will be a record-breaking champion line-up at the start in Les Sables d'Olonne.
The fleet:
Roland Jourdain - France - Veolia Environnement
Jeremie Beyou - France - Delta Dore
Jean-Pierre Dick - France - Paprec-Virbac
Jean Le Cam - France - Vm Materiaux
Samantha Davies - Great Britain - Roxy
Yann Elies - France - Generali
Kito De Pavant - France - Groupe Bel
Arnaud Boissieres - France - Akena
Marc Guillemot - France - Safran
Michel Desjoyeaux - France - Foncia
Loic Peyron - France - Gitana Eighty
Rich Wilson - Usa - To Be Announced
Bernard Stamm - Switzerland - Cheminees Poujoulat
Dominique Wavre - Switzerland - Temenos
Derek Hatfield - Canada - Spirit Of Canada
Mike Golding - Great Britain - Ecover
Jean Baptiste Dejeanty - France - Maisonneuve
Yannick Bestaven - France - Cervin Enr
Raphael Dinelli - France - Fondation Ocean Vital
Unai Basurko - Spain - Pakea Bizkaia
Armel Le Cleac'h - France - Brit Air
Alex Thomson - Great Britain - Hugo Boss
Sebastien Josse - France - BT
Dee Caffari - Great Britain - Aviva
Marc Thiercelin - France - Dcns
Brian Thompson - Great Britain - Pindar
Jonny Malbon - Great Britain - Artemis
Vincent Riou - France - PRB
Norbert Sedlacek - Austria - Nauticsport Kapsch
Steve White - Great Britain - To Be Announced
www.vendeeglobe.org
Multimedia
* This week's Volvo Sailing Podcast has a navigation focus as we speak to Marcel Van Triest - navigator on Brasil 1 on the last Volvo Ocean Race and also to Irishman Ian Moore who is set to navigate aboard the Green Team in the upcoming Race.
We also have an in depth discussion with Bouwe Bekking who talks us through the latest from the Telefonica camp and his thoughts on the two boat campaign.
www.volvooceanrace.org/podcast/
* This week Dee Caffari returned to Leeds Metropolitan University, where she studied sport science as a student before becoming a PE teacher in nearby Halifax. Caffari remained a PE teacher until she decided to take up sailing and her first world record. Since the Aviva Ocean Racing campaign launched in January 2007 Caffari has been returning to the experts at Leeds Met to look after her physical, emotional and nutritional preparations ahead of this year's round the world Vendee Globe race. On completion of the race Caffari will be the only woman in history to have sailed solo, non-stop around the world in both directions.
Download:
ftp://ftp.the-group.net/avivaocean
username: aor
password: ten189oo
folder: Summer Activity - Dee Caffari Leeds Vodcast
URL Link:
www.avivaoceanracing.com/videos
* The iShares Cup Extreme 40 six-part TV series is hitting TV screens around the world over the coming weeks.
Programme 1 will air for the first time in the UK on Setanta Sport on 5th July and on Sky Sport on 11th July. In Ireland the programme can be seen on Sky Sport on 11th July and in France, the first show goes out today on Sport+. Sky New Zealand will be airing the first episode on 8th July and Sun Sport Florida in the USA has already shown the first show. So far, 11 broadcasters around the world have chosen to broadcast the iShares Cup TV series covering the UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, USA, Australia, New Zealand, the pan-African regions, Middle East, pan-Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltics. See latest broadcast schedule below.
Programme 1 covers the first round of the iShares Cup that took place on Lake Lugano on the Swiss/Italian border. The action kicked off immediately, in the first race of the first day as America's Cup defenders Alinghi capsized in dramatic style after being caught out by a severe squall that ripped through the fleet in seconds.
In Programme 2, the iShares Cup circuit moved on to Hyères in France. The infamous Mistral ensured racing was testing for the crews and exciting for the spectators. There was plent! y action, including a spectacular pitch-pole by American team Tommy Hilfiger. But it was Ed Baird and the Alinghi crew who fought off a strong challenge from 2007 iShares Cup defending champions, Rob Greenhalgh and crew on TEAM ORIGIN, and went on to make a great come back.
Listed below are the broadcast dates known at this time, for future transmission times please go to the website at www.isharescup.com and click on the TV TIMES button to check future listings. In addition, the 6-part series will be made available online at www.isharescup.com following UK broadcast.
iShares Cup TV Series Broadcast Schedule (as at 3.7.08):
UK & Ireland, Sky Sports - Programme 1
Friday 11th July @ 1830 Sky Sport 2
Friday 12th July @ 0300 Sky Sport Xtra
Sunday 13th July @ 1530 Sky Sport Xtra
Sunday 13th July @ 1930 Sky Sport 3
Sunday 13th July @ 2300 Sky Sport Xtra
Monday 14th July @ 1830 Sky Sport 2
UK, Setanta Sport - Programme 1
Saturday 5th July @ 0800
Saturday 5th July @1330
Monday 7th July @ 1130
UK, Setanta Sport - Programme 2
Saturday 12th July @ 1600
Sunday 13th July @ 0230
Sunday 13th July @0830
Monday 14th July @ 1130
France, Sport+ Programme 2
Tuesday July 8th @ 1630
Friday July 11th @ 1445
New Zealand, Sky
8/7/08 1800 Sport 2
9/7/08 1830 Sport 110/7/08 0830 Sport 2
Photo Galleries
Click on the image for the photo gallery.
From left to right:
- US Sailing League, San Francisco. Photos by Erik Simonson, www.h2oshots.com
- Audi Medcup, July 4, Photos by Ingrid Abery, www.hotcapers.com
- 18ft Skiff European International Championships, Photos by Christophe Favreau, www.christophefavreau.book.fr
- Telefonica VOR boats sailing, Photos by María Muina / Equipo Telefonica
Featured Brokerage
60' Formula , 2,500,00 SEK, Located in Stockholm Sweden.
Full updated 2007, with dinghy, and 20 feet container.
Brokerage through Boaterik: www.yachtworld.com/boaterik/
Complete listing details and seller contact information at
uk.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatFullDetails.jsp?boat_id=1937281
The Last Word
Errors of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. -- Thomas Jefferson
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