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The piano position

You should learn something new every day. If it hasn't happened yet, read on:

Date: 09:21 AM 11/29/2007
From: Helena de la Gándara, Mean Machine PR
Please find enclosed the Mean Machine Farr 40 Press Pack, for further information about the team and the new boat. Thanks in advance, Helena de la Gándara

This team is pretty good about promotion, and usually has good information. However, when we opened up the attachment, we were confused over the crew jobs. So we wrote to Helena to clarify:

Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:35:27 -0800
From: The Curmudgeon
Thank you for the information. On the crew list below, we do not know what position Sander fills. We have never heard of "piano" on a sailboat. - Scuttlebutt

SAILING TEAM
Peter de Ridder ­Owner/ Driver
Ray Davies. Tactician
Dirk de Ridder. Mainsail trimmer
Jonathan Swain. Trimmer spi/genoa
Allen Smith. Bowman
Sander Van der Borch. Piano
Dennis Goethals. Trimmer
Joost de Graaff. Asst. trimmer
Sander Speet. Mastman
Emily Davies. Floater

Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:41:26 +0100
From: Helena de la Gándara, Mean Machine PR
Good Morning! Thanks for your mail. You are completely right! Sander's position is as a pit. In Spanish "pit" and "pit assistant" is translated as "piano" or "ayudante de piano" (yes, like a music instrument) and in the Press Kit it wasn't translated! Congratulations about Scuttlebutt; Absolutely great! Regards, Helena de la Gándara

Okay, so now we know.

Avoiding the slaughterhouse

We don’t know how many situations exist like the one below. It is not often that we receive a request like this, but maybe it is because folks think that we aren’t able to afford newsletter space for such a project. We probably can’t, and if we get a hundred requests similar to the one below, we will have a problem on our hands. However, most Scuttlebutt features result because of a need, so we will likely figure out a way to handle it. Until that time, here is letter from a group of people trying to keep a boat out of the slaughterhouse:

Dear Editor:

Acting upon the suggestion of several members of the Association for Yachting Historians (and yes, I am a member) I'm alerting you of the following opportunity to acquire a truly unusual and very special classic yacht. Venture, a 55-foot GL Watson gaff ketch launched in 1924, is available at the Gannon and Benjamin Yard on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, as a restoration project. Unfortunately the owner's plans have changed and he has given the boatyard instructions to demolish the boat unless a qualified new owner can be found to take on the project.

We are hoping that you will include this project (a welcome antidote to the machinations of the America's Cup and the ISAF) in your newsletters because time is running out for this boat. She's in a space that must be allocated to a new project if a potential owner does not surface in the next couple of days. Hence the urgency. The chain saws aren't running but the chains have been sharpened. Thank you very much. -- Virginia C. Jones

RESTORATION PROJECT
VENTURE, a 55' OD x 42' LWL x 12' B x 8'6" D GL Watson gaff ketch launched 1924 by Samuel White in Cowes is available at the Gannon and Benjamin Yard on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, as a restoration project. The boat has been disassembled to the bare hull and a detailed proposal prepared for the rebuild/restoration. Although this is a substantial project, there is a lot of the original boat remaining and she is an eminently viable project. Unfortunately the owner's plans have changed and he has given the boatyard instructions to demolish the boat unless a qualified new owner can be found to take on the project. G & B is uniquely qualified to rebuild her to yacht standards and she would make anyone seeking such a vessel a truly special and elegant Edwardian style yacht. Photos, references and further information are available at gandb@gannonandbenjamin.com, or contact Nat Benjamin at 001- 508-693-4658.

Let it go

I probably should let it go, but just can't. I was doing my end of week email clear out when I came across the Swiss statement that the NY court decision went against them. What was most startling to me was the subject line: Statement from Alinghi, SNG and AC Management

What I probably should let go is the fact that these three groups are, in theory, three seperate entities. However, ever since Alinghi won the 32nd event in July (has it been that long), the lines have been blurred between them. It has been hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. They continually spoke for each other as if they were... the same.

So when the email came with this statement, and it made the point of saying it was from these three "seperate" groups, I thought to myself, "hmm, that's a new one."

Experiences not to be forgotten

This weekend, there is a Melges 32 class event in Ft Lauderdale, FL, and a component of the event is for entrants to have a junior sailor on their crew, exposing the youth to both the excitement of the boat, and the extremely talented sailors that will be in attendance. I had a similar opportunity thirty years ago as a young teen, when I was able to sail in the famous Congressional Cup match race event with… Bruno Troublé. It was an experience I have never forgotten.

You likely need to be a certain age to know about Bruno, and why the opinion he shared in Issue 2486 is so valuable. Here are some background notes that he shares:

“Coming back from the Olympics in 76 (Solings), I was asked to come and sail with Baron Bich. From tactician, I quickly became the skipper of the French boat in 77/80 (not much in the later part of 77 after I was hit by a winch drum in the stomach (cast failure, two weeks in hospital ). In 1980, we were the semi-finalist after beating Lawrie Smith on Lionhart, but then were beaten in the challenger finals by Australia. In 1983 - with the same boat as Baron was out and money was scarce - we were beaten before the semis, but then I became the sparring partner helmsman for Alan Bond's team (steering ''Challenge'' in pre start training).

“It was in 1982 when I came up with the idea of the Louis Vuitton Cup for the challenger series, and I have been working with LV since as a part time consultant. I never missed one single race of the trials and Cup! In 2001, I was co-organizer of the AC Jubilee in Cowes, which became one of my very best memory in life. From 1988 to 2003, I was in charge of the communication/ media/ press centre for the Cup. As for 2007, I was working only for LV to make sure that their investment was right. And sadly it wasn’t…"

In Issue 2486, John Rousmaniere also shares his views, and between these two gentlemen, along with so many other valued and respected contributors that have witnessed so much and understand the aura of the Cup, Scuttlebutt has been fortunate to provide extremely valuable dialogue regarding this storied event.

What’s in a name?

Breaking news came today from the organizers of the 2007 Rolex Sydney Hobart race, as there have been some changes to the fleet since the original 90 applications for entry were announced. Are you ready… here they are:

Name changes: ICAP Leopard now called Cityindex Leopard, TBA is now called Patrice Six, The Bigger Picture is now called The Bigger Picture KM&T

Commercialism of sailing… be careful what you ask for.

Jinxing ourselves

It’s nearly 3pm PT, and we haven’t received any hate correspondence from our story titled BOARDSAILING BATTLEGROUND in Issue 2484. Maybe we got it right then, or we are now jinxing ourselves. It would seem that the parties involved are providing their side to certain media outlets, while Scuttlebutt did a bit of digging to get a more balanced version. However, you never know how these things turn out. It was pretty startling, though, to learn how Mike Gebhardt has a report of misconduct filed against himself from the US Olympic Trials PRO. That one could really sting if it plays out.

Kids write about the sea

From the innocence of a child:

1) This is a picture of an octopus. It has eight testicles. (Kelly, age 6)

2) Oysters' balls are called pearls. (James, age 6)

3) If you are surrounded by sea you are an Island. If you don't have sea all round you, you are incontinent. (Wayne, age 7)

4) Sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend no more. (Kylie, age 6)

5) A dolphin breathes through an asshole on the top of its head. (Billy, age 8)

6) My uncle goes out in his boat with pots, and comes back with crabs. (Millie, age 6)

7) When ships had sails, they used to use the trade winds to cross the ocean. Sometimes, when the wind didn't blow, the sailors would whistle to make the wind come. My brother said they would have been better off eating beans. (William, age 7)

8) I like mermaids. They are beautiful, and I like their shiny tails. And how on earth do mermaids get pregnant? Like, really? (Helen, age 6)

9) I'm not going to write about the sea. My baby brother is always screaming and being sick, my Dad keeps shouting at my Mom, and my big sister has just got pregnant, so I can't think what to write. (Amy, age 6)

10) Some fish are dangerous. Jellyfish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers. (Christopher, age 7)

11) When you go swimming in the sea, it is very cold, and it makes my willy small. (Kevin, age 6)

12) On holidays my Mom went water skiing. She fell off when she was going very fast. She says she won't do it again because water fired right up her fat ass. (Julie, age 7)

A DAY WITHOUT SMILING IS A WASTED DAY!!!

Stepping Up - Deserving Props

Each morning the Scuttlebutt staff opens the email, checks in with the sailing media, and by days end, hopefully compiles and creates the most riveting and relevant stories for the newsletter. The Scuttlebutt community is a major source of information, and the credibility of our readership is a valued asset. However, when a reader offers to write about an event, we still often have no idea where it will lead. That was the case when NY lawyer Cory Friedman asked if we would be interested in his commentary regarding the lawsuit that Golden Gate YC had filed against the America’s Cup defending club, Société Nautique de Genève (SNG).

From Cory’s first submission, it was obvious how lucky we were. The tangle of press releases from both sides of the case was consistently unraveled, and the facts of the case were both fairly analyzed, and entertainingly presented. Cory’s commentary was picked up by the international sailing media, and even earned him a seat next to Ernesto Berterelli in the Model Room of the New York YC. The sport of sailing is rarely granted such quality reporting on legal matters, and Scuttlebutt felt highly privileged to have been the conduit for the service he provided. To Cory… thank you… and to the Scuttlebutt community, your opportunity awaits.

* A Perpetual Cup for Not So Friendly Competition Between Lawyers (nine reports)

* "One On One” with Ernesto Bertarelli

Coffee tastes better with soul

We get a lot of letters, and try to publish all those that have something to contribute. This section of Scuttlebutt is special to us, as these are real people using their real names, saying things that they stand behind. Stuff like that counts. Here is one that deserved to be blogged:

I've been reading daily Scuttlebutt messages more often lately. Many of the articles and response messages make me undertand how Andy Rooney (the old dude on 60 minutes) stays on as a reporter of sort.

I usually enjoy drinking my coffee and reading Scuttlebutt as the sun rises each morning to learn about fun stuff, how old friends are performing, and about race results. Your site has offered this great opportunity prior to checking the stock market and going to work each day.

Can the court BS move on to Court TV rather than to your sailing website? Coffee tastes much better with soul rather than with an attorney in mind. -- Rob Snyders

Great ideas gone bad

Remember when tossing someone into the water was a dandy prank on a summer day? Winning an event got you tossed into the bay. Walking too close to the pool’s edge earned you a nudge into the drink. But today, with our pockets full of phones, car remotes, cameras, etc, taking an unexpected swim can be at a minimum expensive, but more likely extremely inconvenient due to the loss of valuable information.

We got a good laugh from a new gadget that is meant to save our valuables from sinking when accidentally dropped in the water. Here are the details on the Waterbuoy floation device w/ flashing light:

After using 20 unique and internationally patented functions, the creators of the Waterbuoy are confident that you will be able to enjoy your water fun without having to worry about valuables falling into the water. So here's how is works: After your keys, radio, tools etc. fall into the water a trigger activates gas to be released into a balloon which has buoyancy to lift 1Kg. As soon as the Waterbuoy is submerged in water a flashing high intensity LED is activated. This makes the Waterbuoy the first flotation device visible at night.

Great, so we have spent $32 to save something that is now broken. Click here to sign up.

Sailing is a sport for...?

According to Tiger Woods:

"Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps."


Okay, but who is Sailing a sport for?

Comments on

Scuttleblog just turned on the comments feature. When the blog was initially set-up, we thought that having comments on the blog would spread out the converations too far. Having letters in the Newsletter, posts in the Forum, and comments in the Blog seemed too much. However, we might have broken Blogger ettiquette by this decision, and in doing so have kept the conversation too one-sided. Comments on - chat away.

Blowing it out the backside

The evolution of the America's Cup into this commercial mega-event has created a workforce that must maintain it. However, this workforce now has a vested interest to keep the event active, and given that it is far from a stable business model, it would seem to be a challenge to keep the interests of the Cup first and foremost. Maybe we are just being cynical, but this photo reminds us how America's Cup press conferences could be dangerous to our health.

Editorial decisions

Scuttlebutt editors find a lot of stuff, and a lot of stuff is sent to us. Some of it is relevant to the sport, and some of it is crap. Here is an example why the process won't ever be automated:

Britney Spears' ex Kevin Federline was forced to cancel a family yachting trip last month (Oct07) after his sons contracted the eye infection that has plagued their parents. Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, were enjoying a presailing barbecue when Federline noticed them robbing their eyes. He immediately realised both boys had pinkeye because he was the first member of the family to suffer the infection. Spears also spent a week hiding her infection behind dark glasses.

A source tells America's Life & Style magazine, "Kevin had originally booked a yacht ride for everyone, but they had to cancel it because of the pinkeye. Everyone thinks it (infection) came from Britney's dog. The dog had it first, and then everyone else seemed to get it - including Britney." -- The Post Chronicle

The Nielsen Ratings

We don’t envy the challenge print magazines have at maintaining their online presence. Write for the magazine and get paid in subscriptions – write for the website and drain the marketing budget. Some magazines move old articles from the magazine to the website, while others try to feed the beast with a steady diet of fresh stories.

In our humble opinion, Elaine Bunting of Yachting World seems to have found an ideal groove of providing newsy features with a casual writing style. They are short bites, but always valuable. A recent post of hers gave us a good giggle, as she wants to expose some of the sailing website that like to announce their greatness through inflated and misleading web stats.

Apparently, Yachting World purchased a £7k licence for audit software, has been looking into the stats of some of these sailing website, and is getting ready to reveal the rankings. As Bunting calls it, the software is a “cross between an internet lie detector and a giant Bullshit Taser.” We are eager to see the results, though with the large number of Scuttlebutt readers that receive the e-Newsletter, we suspect that our website will not be among the leaders. That’s okay, just so there is a single means of measuring everybody, and the boasters get revealed if they have been "cooking the books."

Let's say thanks

The following comes from a valued American Scuttlebutt reader, and while it has nothing to do with sailing, and likely has enough political implications to warrant a full inbox of disgruntled 'butthead email, we shall post this anyway... cause it is the right thing to do:

This is a great thing to do for our troops! Something that Xerox is doing. If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them ...

Angel Funding

Fundraising programs for community sailing center is hardly news. We would suspect that most every community sailing center relies heavily – and annually – on donations to keep their programs running. However, the news quotient does rise when the fundraising goes particularly well, or has the ability to do so. Enter the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center.

Since 1977, this not-for-profit, volunteer-driven, open-to-the-public sailing organization has introduced more than 100,000 people to the sport. Nearly 8,000 adults and 20,000 children have taken formal sailing and racing classes there. Additionally, MCSC is also internationally acclaimed for bringing sailing to children and adults with disabilities, and to kids that otherwise would never have a chance to sail. And it has all been done, 7 days a week May through October, from a sagging, leaky 900 square foot building with no indoor plumbing and one cluttered poorly-lit classroom.

MCSC has been working for almost 5 years to raise the funds to improve its facilities and programs and increase its reach. Buddy Melges has served as campaign chairperson, and Harken kicked it off with a major commitment. But it has been a long road. Then last month, a donor challenged the organization to stop fundraising and start building. If MCSC reaches $2.4 million in commitments by December 1st, 2007, it will receive challenge grants of more than $1 million and the expansion can begin.

Click here to learn more about their expansion plans, or click on the button below to make a donation.

Access forbidden?

Access forbidden, or just not available? Always a shame to see a media entity having problems... honest!

Delicate balance of life

I hate blog entries that start out saying how sorry the blogger is for so much time passing since his or her last entry. I am only writing it here to get me in the right frame of mind to continue, and plan on deleting it once I am done. If I forget to delete it, please send me an email to let me know.

The delicate balance of life has been tilting again at Scuttlebutt Headquarters. While the sport takes a snooze in some circles during this time of year, office life here remains at a quick pace. The tragic fires in San Diego and Southern California affected so many, and while our location was far from being threatened, life was affected nonetheless.

Additionally, multi-tasking is heightened as the fall and winter season is when ad sales become the focus. Most companies are now setting their ad schedule for the coming year, and with our limited ad inventory, we will have sold up to 70% of our ad slots by the end of December. This past year has been our strongest ever, with ad placement lead-time reaching six months. It is a tribute to our quality readership that has made the publication such a valuable tool for marine advertisers.

The approaching holidays have a way of interrupting the flow of work, but they are an important time to check in with those things that really matter: family and friends. Taking a line from a previously used Curmudgeon’s Observation…” Work is good but it's not that important.”

Pumpkin Regattas

Go figure...

Click here to read story.

Happy Skeleton

Yes, this has nothing to do with sailing. Yes, Halloween was yesterday, but we are not going to wait until next year, so you might as well just give it a look.