Simple Rules

Whoever made the KISS rule, "Keep it simple, stupid," deserves more credit. If all you ever tell is the truth, it makes everything else go much smoother. Such was the case on March 20, 2006, when we printed the following in Issue 2054:


DAMAGE CONTROL
Scuttlebutt received the following note from Bernard Schopfer, Communication Manager for Ericsson Racing Team: An article about the Ericsson Racing Team has been published on Sunday in the UK, and there seems to have been a lot of misunderstandings between the journalist and our navigator. I would therefore like to ask you to be so kind and not to publish it on Scuttlebutt. Just for your information:

* Our navigator Steve Hayles is contracted until the end of the race and there is no talk about him stepping down.

Curmudgeon's Comment: Out of respect, we have agreed not to include the above mentioned article. However, from the above note, you can likely guess what the news source had stated with respect to Steve Hayles, and his intent to continue with the team. Time will tell.
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Well, we knew we had been suckered into being Ericcson's mouthpiece, just realized it a bit late. ERT was in damage control mode after Hayles truthfully told an English journalist that he was done with the team and the VOR, and wanted out. Surely, some snidely lawyer reminded Hayles of his contract, got him to calm down and do the next leg while the team worked to secure a replacement.

Today, ERT sent a press release announcing that Hayles has stepped down, to be replaced by Mark Rudiger. "It has been a hard race," explains Steve Hayles. "I have given a huge amount of energy to get the boat going better, but at this stage the best thing for me is to make a change." Yea, right!

As we stated, time will tell, and as ususal, it did. Next time, we hope to stick with the facts, the truth, and let the spinners tug on someone else's chain. - Craig Leweck