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And In The Proud America's Cup Tradition Of Legal Wrangling...
In the latest twist to the contentious America's Cup, regatta director Iain Murray threatened Wednesday to scuttle the competition unless his safety recommendations are upheld by the Cup's international jury.
The five-member jury is scheduled to meet Monday to hear a protest by Emirates Team New Zealand and Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge over Murray's recommendation regarding rudder elevators.
The dispute is nothing out of the ordinary for the America's Cup. Legal wrangling has been a long-standing element of its history, which dates to 1851. As the event approaches its San Francisco debut, it has been beset by accidents, the death of a sailor, disputes over the rules and questions about the viability of racing on 72-foot catamarans in the first place.
The rudder elevators are the winglets on the base of the rudder blades that help control the pitch of the boat. The configuration of the elevators is the only remaining unresolved part of Murray's 37 recommendations following the death of British sailor Andrew Simpson when Artemis Racing capsized on May 9.
If the jury agrees with New Zealand and Luna Rossa, Murray said he'll go back to the Coast Guard, which issued a racing permit this week, and say he doesn't think the racing would be safe.
In that case, the Coast Guard would almost certainly withdraw its permit. "Without a permit to race on San Francisco Bay, there will be no regatta," Murray said. -- Tom FitzGerald, San Francisco Chronicle
* Regatta Director Iain Murray met the media on Wednesday morning to address issues raised in the protests filed by Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge head on.
Murray says claims that his 37 Safety Rules are changing the game one week before the regatta are baseless.
"I made these recommendations to the teams on May 22, over six weeks before the first race of the Louis Vuitton Cup," he said. "At that meeting, all of the teams agreed to all 37 of the safety recommendations. Grant Dalton (managing director of Emirates Team New Zealand) walked to the front of the room, shook my hand, and told me, 'Good job. You won't get any push back from us.'"
But on June 28, Emirates Team New Zealand filed a protest with the International Jury over the changes. Yesterday afternoon, Luna Rossa Challenge did the same.
Murray also states plainly that claims saying that the Italian and Kiwi boats would not measure as AC72s and are thus ineligible to race are false. He says the official measurers have informed him that both Luna Rossa and Emirates Team New Zealand are fully able to comply with the AC72 Class Rule.
"They can race on the first day, Sunday, June 7, with their equipment as it is now because it already meets the minimum requirements set out in my Safety Rules," he said. "So this isn't about teams not being able to comply. This is about two teams trying to gain an advantage from changes I've implemented to make all of our racing safer."
On the issue that seems to be most contentious to some of the teams, the requirement to have deeper rudders with larger winglets, Murray says these are important Safety Rules.
"This is to give crews more control. The new Safety Rules allows the angle of the rudder winglets to be adjusted up to five minutes before a race instead of by 8:00 am on race days."
* Pierre Orphanidis at a Luna Rossa media event:
Both Sirena and Saenz insisted that the changes had nothing to do with safety. They were about performance and he was ready to fight against that "bull****". He didn't answer my question what would happen if their protest were overturned by the Jury but he did raise an interesting question as to why weren't such changes made after Oracle's capsize last October. He claimed that the changes were made to fit Oracle's design as he claims they have been sailing with the new rudders since the launch of their second boat. In fact, in his opinion, Oracle's second boat would have never been measured as an AC72 if it weren't for the latest rule changes. Why would anyone, he asked, design and build a boat that didn't follow the class rules if they didn't have the intention to later modify those same rules?
Even if he doesn't explicitly mention Oracle, in his view the changes are made in order to fit the Defender's design because apparently they got wrong the position of the rudders and wanted a way to remedy that.
* Editor: I'm not squeamish. Spam filters don't like the full spelling.
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Canfield's Dream Year Ends With Early Exit From Sweden
Marstrand, Sweden: Taylor Canfield and the USone team were one of the most high-profile casualties to make an early exit from the Stena Match Cup Sweden at the end of Qualifying today.
The Americans needed to win all their matches on a light-wind day in Marstrand, but it wasn't to be. Since the Chicago Match Cup eleven months ago, Canfield has never finished outside the Semi-Finals of regattas in the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, including victories at the Argo Group Gold Cup and Monsoon Cup at the end of last year.
The early exit of Mathieu Richard was another surprise, even if his GEFCO Match Racing Team were a Wild Card entry for this regatta, the third of the 2013 season in the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. The French team had won the previous Tour event in Korea a month earlier, but it shows just how tough it is for the 12 teams at these events to make it through to the last eight. The other French crew, Vannes Agglo Sailing Team skippered by Pierre Antoine Morvan, and local qualifier Henrik Eyermann also went home for an early bath.
Winner of Qualifying was the other Wild Card entry Simone Ferrarese from Italy.
Quarter Finals Pairings
Simone Ferrarese (ITA) Ferrarese Racing Team vs Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing vs Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar vs Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari vs Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team
Stage 3: Stena Match Cup Sweden - Qualifying Round Final Standings
Skipper/ Nationality/ Team/ Win-Loss/ Points
Simone Ferrarese (ITA) Ferrarese Racing Team 9-2, 9
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing 8-3, 8
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) eWork Sailing Team 7-4, 7
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Team Alpari FX 7-4, 7
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 7-4, 7
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 6-5, 6
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team 6-5, 5.5
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 5-6, 5
Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team 4-7, 4
Mathieu Richard (FRA) GEFCO Match Racing Team 4-7, 4
Taylor Canfield (ISV) USone 3-8, 3
Henrik Eyerman (SWE) Team Henrik Eyerman 0-11, 0
Favorites Win AF Offshore Race
Photo by Oskar Kihlborg, www.kihlborg.se. Click on image to enlarge.
There were two seasoned pros who won this year's AF Offshore Race (formerly the Round Gotland Race).
In ORCi, the more race oriented class, the yacht DataCom skippered by Ralf Aspholm took first place. The broader SRS class was won by Matrisen Sailing Team, skippered by Robert Szabo. Both yachts represent the host club KSSS.
The DataCom team has been able to attract several big names in yachting, such as navigator Roger Nilson, foredecker Anders Dahlsjö and the UK born tactician Matt Humphries. All three have experience from the Volvo Ocean Race and other major events in sailing.
As navigator Roger Nilson experience means a lot for the success of the team. Still Ralf wants to highlight the importance of the boat's owner, Christer Carenfelt, who now sailed the race for the 25th time.
- Christer is 72 years old and had decided that this was his last race around Gotland. Now he finally had his win and it was Christer who steered the last stretch toward the finish line in Sandhamn.
The SRS class was won by a Farr 30 from Matrisen Sailing Team, skippered by Robert Szabo. Matrisen Sailing Team is very active in the Farr 30 class and has an impressive track record with a win at the European Championship in 2011, silver medals in the World Championships 2012 and a win at the Swedish Nationals in 2013.
The winner in the Classic Class was crowned already on the Tuesday. The reason is that the old wooden boats have a shorter course and "only" sail to Visby and then return back to Sandhamn. The one who performed best in this race was Anitra, a 48 foot long cruiser in wood, sailed by skipper Henrik Kahm.
S / Y Anitra was designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built at Neglinge boat yard in 1958. In her first year, Anitra won the Fastnet Race. -- Mats Olsson
Even The Little Guys Need The Right Safety Inventory
The fiercely competitive Quarter Ton class has a busy calendar of racing and at around 26 ft long they are crewed by a team of five. Safety equipment has to conform to ISAF Category 4 so the quarter tonner needs to properly equipped. Ocean Safety is setting the standard by delivering a full inventory of life saving products to one of the fleet, Bad Toad GBR 9827.
The Ocean Safety logo will be visible on Bad Toad's mainsail next month at the Quarter Ton Cup 15th - 17th July at Cowes.
"Our partnership with Ocean Safety has given us access to the largest range of safety equipment available," comments co-owner Jo Assael. "Their expert advice means the boat is fully equipped to the regulations, whilst their innovative products minimise weight and storage volume, critical on a small racing yacht. Our Kru lifejackets are effortless to race in, extremely comfy, and the unique neck/yoke design means the crew aren't stuck on the rail during tacks any more.
Bad Toad, an MG 26 built to IOR in 1992, and now optimized to IRC, has already enjoyed success this year with wins at the Royal Southern Yacht Club's Friday night series. "It's good to get the safety message out to this active fleet," says Ocean Safety's Charlie Mill.
RORC IRC National Championship
Seven nations gather for the highly competitive RORC IRC National Championship. Photo by Paul Wyeth / RORC. Click on image to enlarge.
This weekend yachts from Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, South Africa and the United Kingdom will gather in the Solent for the twelfth edition of the RORC IRC National Championship.
The first ever RORC IRC National Championship took place in 2002 and since then, all over the world, national championships using the Royal Ocean Racing Club's IRC rating system have been established. The RORC IRC National Championship has always taken place in the United Kingdom but it is an open event to all and considered to be arguably the most competitive IRC championship in the world.
The overall winner has come from overseas on five occasions; Gery Trentesaux's French Courrier Nord won the inaugural event and three Irish yachts have also won: Colm Barrington's Flying Glove (2005), Tim Costello's Tiamat (2006) and Dave Dwyer's Mariners Cove (2009-2010), which won the championship in consecutive years, the only yacht ever to do so.
David Franks' British JPK 10.10, Strait Dealer, is the current RORC IRC National Champion after scoring seven straight wins last year.
Two British TP52s will have an exhilarating duel in IRC Zero, Johnny Vincent's Pace and Sir Keith Mills' 5 West are set for an epic encounter. 5 West tactician Robert Greenhalgh has just won the UK Moth National Championship to add to his multiple world championship titles and will skipper an all-star crew.
With 18 highly competitive yachts, IRC One will arguably be the most hotly contested class in the championship's history. Piet Vroon's Dutch Ker 46, Tonnerre de Breskens, is the scratch boat and has been in fine offshore form this season, winning three RORC races including last weekend's Morgan Cup. Three Ker 40s are likely to feature highly in the results: Harmen J de Graaf's Baraka GP, Edward Broadway's Hooligan VII and last year's class winner, Andrew Pearce's Magnum 3. However, there are proven winners right through IRC One. Mathieu Goubau's Belgian First 47.7, Moana, is back after coming second in class last year and Mike Bartholomew's King 40, Tokoloshe was in outstanding form at this year's RORC Easter Challenge. Anthony O'Leary's Irish Ker 39, Antix, will be hoping to emulate Irish success in the championship.
Racing starts on Friday 5th July with 8 races scheduled on tight Solent courses over three days.
Light Winds In Ibiza
Photo by Ingrid Abery, www.ingridabery.com. Click on image for photo gallery.
After a long, hot and frustrating three hours delay waiting for enough breeze to build it was Tony Langley's crew on Gladiator which won Race 3, the only contest of the day, at the Royal Cup Marina Ibiza for the 52 Super Series. The win takes Langley's team to the top of the Ibiza event standings, three points clear of Quantum Racing.
With the SE'ly breeze struggling to make six knots and then dropping away almost entirely by the finish, Langley's team built their lead at the top of the first beat where they found an extra gear in the very light conditions, rounding with a small margin over Ergin Imre's Provezza, steered by double Olympic medallist Nick Rogers. Provezza lost out at the finish to Manouch Moshayedi's Rio which took second, their best result of their Mediterranean season so for.
With the breeze threatening to disappear altogether the race officer elected first to shorten the second windward leg to just one mile and then stop the race at the windward mark.
Windward-leeward racing is scheduled to continue Thursday with the coastal race postponed meantime.
Royal Cup Marina Ibiza, Ibiza
Standings after Day 2
1. Gladiator, GBR, Tony Langley 7pts (2,4,1)
2. Quantum Racing, USA, Ed Baird 10 pts (1,5,4)
3. Azzurra, ITA, Alberto Roemmers, 12pts (5,2,5)
4. Rán Racing, SWE, Niklas Zennström 12pts (3,3,6)
5. Interlodge, USA, Austin and Gwen Fraogmen, 13 pts (4,1,8)
6. Provezza, TUR, Ergin Imre, 17pts, (6,8,3)
7. Rio, USA Manouch Moshayedi, 17pts, (8,7,2)
8. Paprec, FRA, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin 20pts, (7,6,7)
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Record Entry Forecast For 2013 Laser World Championships In Oman
A record entry is forecast for the 2013 Laser World Championships in Oman from November this year with interest so overwhelmingly high that places are already oversubscribed for the Master class four months ahead of the October entry cut off date.
Entries are now filling up quickly from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North, South and Central America. The line-up for the Laser Standard is expected to include renowned Olympic medalists such as Pavlos Kontides (Cyprus), silver medalist at the London 2012 Olympics Game, Andy Maloney (NZ) rising star from New Zealand, bronze medalist in the 2012 Laser World Championship in Germany and Tonci Stipanovic (Croatia), silver medalist in the 2012 Laser World Championship in Germany.
The Laser Radial Youth World Championship to be held from 28th December - 3rd January has so far attracted sailors from 19 countries and all indications are that this category may also soon be reaching triple figure.
"The overwhelming interest in the event shows that competitors, their families and friends are keen to travel to Oman from every continent. This is a direct result of how we have marketed the championship," says Oman Sail Events Director, Issa Sultan Al Ismaili.
"We expect to set a new all time entry record in the Laser Standard Men's World Championships especially since we are working closely with the International Laser Association to encourage entries from emerging sailing nations. Our goal is to have sailors from 60 nations competing and I think it is achievable considering early indications."
Steady winds and typically 24 degree weather in November combined with state of the art infrastructure and facilities for sailors, media, race and event management, a 54 berth marina, refuelling station, dive school and workshop facilities complemented by upmarket accommodation and retail amenities all within walking distance is what sets Mussanah Sport City apart.
ISAF Invites Nominations for ISAF Athletes' Commission Members
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is inviting athletes to nominate candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission.
The ISAF Athletes' Commission represents the interests of the sailors in the Olympic events and reports directly to the ISAF Executive Committee. The Athletes' Commission is composed of athletes representing Olympic events, and is elected by the athletes themselves.
Three new members, who must be Olympians who competed at the 2008 and/or 2012 Olympic Games, will now be elected with the final two appointed by the ISAF Executive Committee. ISAF is now inviting athletes to nominate new candidates to represent their Olympic event on the ISAF Athletes' Commission. The final date for candidates to put their name forward is 31 July 2013.
Candidates may be nominated from the 10 sailing events selected for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. To ensure a balanced Athletes Commission there shall not be more than one member from any Olympic sailing Event on the Commission.
For further background information on Eligibility, Term of Membership, Composition, Election, Meetings, Committee Representation and Terms of Reference view the ISAF Athletes' Commission Consultation Paper here: www.sailing.org/34665.php
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Long Weekend
Your humble narrator will return on Monday after a longish weekend. No issue for this Friday.
The Last Word
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