2006 US Yachtspeople of the Year

We think we are so sneaky by getting the jump on the Rolex voters, and letting the ‘buttheads decide who they think should win these annual coveted awards. The official vote isn’t until January, so we have effectively set the table for them.

But after reading the votes and comments, I am not sure if we have selected the Rolex winners or the Prom King and Queen. Don’t get me wrong; Jud Smith and Anna Tunnicliffe, who were our winners, are worthy of the award. But from the comments, you sense that Jud and runner-up Greg Fisher had tremendous support due to their involvement in popular US one-design classes. And for Anna, who absolutely crushed ISAF Sailor of the Year Paige Railey in the poll, it was evident that her involvement in college sailing and youth coaching had earned her major kudos amongst the voters.

Maybe the “emotional vote” came from our phrasing in that voters should be deciding not who will win, but who should win. Consideration will be given next year to take the nominees and call it the Scuttlebutt / Paul Elvstrom Award, where the premise of the vote will follow his famous quote: “You haven't won the race if in winning the race, you have lost the respect of your competitors.”

Sooo, if someone swipes this idea, at least I got into the blog now. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

Lots of bottles

This week we wondered out loud as to how many “message in a bottle” stories the ‘buttheads had. We evidentially forgot the adage, “be careful what you ask for” as we were soon inundated with many such tales. By coincidence, this week we also carried a Greenpeace story, and we are now wondering if half the ocean’s trash is filled with notes. While cute in concept, I am now thinking that there is another term for tossing into the ocean a bottle with a message inside… littering. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

PS - All the stories are on the Scuttlebutt Forum in the thread, 'More Bottles, More Messages'

Where Olympic Yachting is Headed

Adjusting your sport to remain relevant to Olympic viewers has happened again. Just 10 months ago, we witnessed the debut of snowboard-cross at the Winter Games in Torino, which drew big crowds and good ratings. Now for the 2010 games in Vancouver, expect to see the latest variation, skicross.

Similar to snowboard-cross, Skicross will involve groups of skiers racing each other to the bottom of a course with jumps, rollers, banks and other man-made and natural terrain features along the route. As the IOC is quoted to have said, skicross has a "strong appeal for the young generation."

For sailing, what events or classes have a “strong appeal for the young generation?” Do current Olympic classes like the Star and Finn - two of the less sexy classes currently being used - have a chance when events like the skicross are being invented for the “big crowds and good ratings.” Will the retention of long-standing Olympic classes be riding the coat tails of boats like the Foiling Moth? Or as Alpine sports have done, should sailing re-invent itself just for the grand stage of the Olympics?

I once tried to hop a water-ski ramp with a Flying Scot. Maybe the wrong tool for the job, but perhaps this is where Olympic yachting is headed. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt

What I want for Christmas

It has been fun seeing the holiday gift lists that have been submitted on the Scuttlebutt Forum. Some have been hopeful, while others more realistic. Some have even included items that will be given. Considering that we are encouraging others to submit their “must have” items, I thought it was time that I too jot down my wish list for the 2006 holiday season. So here are the things that I want:

-- ISP spam filters that won't block the Scuttlebutt e-Newsletter.
-- An active and engaged readership.
-- The Scuttlebutt Store to hold all the items that people want.
-- To get my Lehman 12 back in the water.
-- Continued growth in the Scuttlebutt Forum.
-- Speedy resolution for Rule 69 offenders.
-- A great America’s Cup with a surprise ending.
-- More entertaining videos (and photos).
-- And lastly, for Sailing Anarchy and Scuttlebutt to get along (or, as the Blues Brothers said in the song I Don’t Know, “…what did I say to piss you off this time baby?”)

- Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt