Why I fired my secretary

Not a true story (we hope).

Last week was my birthday and I didn't feel very well waking up that morning.

I went downstairs for breakfast hoping my wife would be pleasant and say, "Happy Birthday!", and possibly have a present for me.

As it turned out, she barely said good morning, let alone "Happy Birthday." I thought... Well, that's marriage for you, but the kids will remember. My kids came into breakfast and didn't say a word.

So when I left for the office, I was feeling pretty low and somewhat despondent. As i walked into my office, my secretary, Jane said, "good morning, boss, Happy Birthday!"
It felt a little better that at least someone had remembered.

I worked until one o'clock and then Jane knocked on my door and said, "you know, it's such a beautiful day outside, and it's your birthday, let's go out to lunch, just you! And me."

I said, "Thanks Jane, that's the nicest thing I’ve heard all day. Let's go!" We went to lunch. But we didn't go where we normally would go. We dined instead at a little place with a private table. We had two martinis each and I enjoyed the meal tremendously.

On the way back to the office, Jane said, "you know, it's such a beautiful day... We don't need to go back to the office, do we?" I responded, "I guess not. What do you have in mind?" She said, "let's go to my apartment."

After arriving at her apartment Jane turned to me and said, "Boss, if you don't mind, I’m going to step into the bedroom for a moment. I'll be right back."

"Ok." I nervously replied.

She went into the bedroom and, after a couple of minutes, she came out carrying a huge birthday cake... Followed by my wife, kids, and dozens of my friends and co-workers, all singing "happy birthday".

And I just sat there...


On the couch...


Naked.

International Multihull Council

This comes from Nick Dewhirst, Secretary General of the newly established International Multihull Council:

The decision of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to exclude any Multihull Event from the 2012 Olympic Games has shown that we cannot entirely rely on others to promote our interests, so that there was a need to establish our own organisation to do so. As there is no representation for Multihulls within ISAF, either formally through a Multihull Committee, or informally, through the interests of individual Councillors, national multihull associations from several leading ISAF Member National Authorities (MNA) have jointly founded the International Multihull Council.

The founder Members are the National Multihull Associations of Australia, Great Britain, Netherlands and United States and are represented on the Executive Committee by Paul Pascoe (AUS) as President, John Williams (USA) as Vice President, Nick Dewhirst (GBR) as Secretary General, Edwin Lodder (NED) as Treasurer and Rod Waterhouse (AUS).

For additional information:
IMC background information and future plans
IMC Meeting Minutes - February 12, 2008
IMC Constitution

What's the worst that could happen?

This week, Scuttlebutt found itself amid the Global Warming debate. We quickly found out how little we know, and how opinionated the 'buttheads are. Amid the comments submitted was the recommendation that we watch this video, which at today's count, makes us the 3,542,631st person to do so.

Another Brick in the Wall

We dont need no education.
We dont need no thought control.
No dark sarcasm in the classroom.
Teacher, leave those kids alone.
Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone!
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall.
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall.



This 1979 Pink Floyd song, “Another Brick in the Wall”, was a protest against rigid schooling, and was the first thing that came to mind when it was learned that Annapolis Yacht Club had committed to buying six 29er sailboats from Canada-based PS 2000. The traditional forces that have funneled American youth sailors through the Optimist and Club 420 are now opening up to some of the more modern and exciting choices that are available today. And AYC is jumping in with both feet.

Recognized immediately by ISAF upon its introduction in 1999, the 29er class has been validated by its selection as the boat for the ISAF Youth Worlds in 2002. Popular in Europe, Canada, the West Coast and Australia, 29ers are now gaining popularity on America’s East Coast, with growing fleets in Newport, RI and Long Island Sound. The 29er will be the ISAF Youth Worlds boat again this year.

The 29er is a true high performance skiff – a 2 person, single trapeze, asymmetric spinnaker boat. Designed by Australian skiff legend Julian Bethwaite, the 29er was designed after Bethwaite’s design of the Olympic 49er. The 29er originally was designed as a youth feeder class to the Olympic 49er, but has emerged as a strong and growing class on its own.

PS 2000’s Ian Bruce said that the 29er “satisfies the demands of modern youth for adrenaline-pumping action”, and compares the 29ers impact on sailing to snowboarding’s impact on skiing.

AYC Junior Sailing Director Michael Hennon said “the 29er will introduce our more advanced junior sailors to skiff sailing, which will be an Olympic class for years to come.” The 29er “will complement AYC’s strong 420 and Laser programs”, said Hennon, who stressed that AYC’s 29ers will not replace other programs offered by the club. Instead, according to Hennon, AYC sailors will “cross-train” on AYC’s fleet of Club 420’s and the 29er depending on conditions. AYC intends to offer 29er clinics beginning this spring, and plans to host the Chesapeake Bay’s first major 29er regatta, the Mid-Atlantic Championships in August, 2008.

AYC Commodore Peter Gordon contends that this fleet purchase amplifies the club’s firm commitment to junior sailing. “AYC has supported junior sailing for 60 years. As we look toward the future, the purchase of these exciting 29ers should continue to attract and train the next generation of racers in Annapolis”, said Gordon.

About Annapolis Yacht Club: AYC is known worldwide thanks to the members who are prominent in participating in, promoting, and organizing the sport of sailboat racing. Large international events such as the Star Class World Championship, Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, and many North American championships are hosted every year at AYC. AYC’s Sailing Center is filled with one design boats (J/22s, J/24s, Etchells, Stars, Melges 24s) while the in-the-water boat slips are in high demand. AYC’s Junior Fleet is a national leader in youth and high school sailing with instruction in Opti’s, Club 420’s, Lasers, J/22’s, and 29ers. For more information please go to www.annapolisyc.org

Marine mattresses

What are the chances that these “marine” items will cost 4-times the amount of home bedding?

Hickory, North Carolina (USA) - Hickory Springs Marine Group (HSMG) has launched a product information website for its new SeaComfortTM marine mattresses and SeaRestTM webbing support systems. SeaComfort mattresses are the only marine mattresses manufactured in compliance with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission mattress flammability standard. They are available in four models - Select, Premium, Ultra and Plush - and custom-manufactured to builder specifications at Hickory Springs factories across the USA.

SeaRest sleep and seating synthetic webbing support systems have been specially designed by HSMG to reduce weight while enhancing comfort on board. Made in the USA, the high density monofilament construction provides extraordinary firmness, superior resistance to the elements and fabric memory, which helps the webbing retain its original shape indefinitely. – http://www.sea-comfort.com

The Brits are going down

When I was younger, I wore Bollé or Ray Ban sunglasses, but only because I could afford them. The swankier Vuarnet glasses were always out of my price range. Now that I am older, and rolling in the big bucks at Scuttlebutt, I wear Kaenon Polarized glasses, as do seemingly all the top sailors. A recent press release from the British Olympic sailing team, Skandia Team GBR, might finally show a kink in their armour:

"Skandia Team GBR is delighted to welcome Bollé as the Official Supplier of performance sunglasses and prescription eyewear. Celebrating their 120-year anniversary this year, Bollé is an industry leader in eyewear and offers the highest quality sunglasses for performance and protection. Using the very latest optical technology and polarization, Bollé will provide Skandia Team GBR with the very best eyewear in order for the sailors to achieve their optimum performance both on and off the water."

Without Kaenons, the Brits are going down.

We are not alone

“When the ship is sinking, it’s time to get creative.” This kind of thinking can be applied to most every situation, and with the recession that the sport of sailing has been experiencing, this approach been actively applied herein. What’s interesting to learn is that through our struggles, we need not have a “WHY ME?” sentiment, as at least one other sport is feeling the pinch as well… Golf. Here is a New York Times article titled, “More Americans Are Giving Up Golf”, and it is not a stretch to say that many of the challenges noted in this article are shared by sailors as well:

Hauppauge, N.Y. - The men gathered in a new golf clubhouse here a couple of weeks ago circled the problem from every angle, like caddies lining up a shot out of the rough. “We have to change our mentality,” said Richard Rocchio, a public relations consultant. “The problem is time,” offered Walter Hurney, a real estate developer. “There just isn’t enough time. Men won’t spend a whole day away from their family anymore.”

William A. Gatz, owner of the Long Island National Golf Club in Riverhead, said the problem was fundamental economics: too much supply, not enough demand. The problem was not a game of golf. It was the game of golf itself. Over the past decade, the leisure activity most closely associated with corporate success in America has been in a kind of recession. The total number of people who play has declined or remained flat each year since 2000, dropping to about 26 million from 30 million, according to the National Golf Foundation and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. -- Read on

Proud moment

You know that sailing has hit the big time in the sporting world when one of our high profile athletes is compared to a fisherman. This comes from Eric Sharp of the Detroit Free Press:

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- If you say "TO" to a football fan, he'll almost certainly know you're talking about Terrell Owens. To a racing sailor, "DC" means Dennis Conner. And to a bass angler, "KVD" can only be Kevin VanDam, the Kalamazoo Kid from Michigan, who today hopes to win the Bassmaster Classic for a third time and add another half-million dollars to the record $2.6 million he has won in a spectacular career. – Read on

Terrell Owens must be proud.

An AED for everyone

Regardless of the type of boat you sail, the sport of sailing has changed a lot during this generation. Nowhere is this most evident that in the support category. There was a time when seeing the sailmaker’s van in the parking lot meant the event was a biggee. Nowadays, support tents and trailers from all facets of equipment providers might be onsite, plus competitors often now bring their own supply trailers (and let’s not even start talking about coach support). Businesses have also emerged to act as a liaison between competitors and the services needed, providing the supplies of the manufacturer along with the skills of local support.

One of these such businesses is Sail22, LLC, a company geared toward providing the coordination for everything from boat delivery to rigging, coaching to crew gear, dinner reservations to team chefs, team fitness, photography and event housing. However, it is a new item on their service list that might be setting them apart from the crowd: first aid. Sail22 has teamed up with a company called First Responder Educational Services, and they now have an AED (automatic external defibrillator) among the supplies in their support trailer.

With racecourses well removed from the traditional emergency medical response system, Sail22 is working to fill this potentially dangerous void. Given that a heart attack can happen anywhere, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with defibrillation (shocking the heart to restart it) can increase survival of a heart attack by 45-75% if it occurs within 5 minutes of the event. By making their AED available at events, and in offering to train Race Committees and yacht clubs in how to use it at no cost, they hope to achieve their goal in educating sailors about the necessity of on-the-water first aid.

Look for Sail22 at the next Etchells Jaguar event, Acura Miami Grand Prix, Farr 40 Worlds, and the Annapolis NOOD. Click here for additional details.

Moths reach critical mass

It was one of those moments that occur where the significance is hard to gauge. You know, “one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” The International Moth class – those foiling crafts popular among high performance tech-heads in Australia and Europe – have landed in the US, and had six boats racing last weekend at Mission Bay Yacht Club in San Diego, CA. The group was a mix of youth, techies, Olympic campaigners and professional sailors. A broad mix… and in their eyes, a perfect mix.

Because it is a development class, the Moth fleet had long been the domain of only those willing to suffer through the trials of learning the right combination of this or that, toiling away in their basements, building their carbon machines. However, now there is a production boat available, so those willing to take on the reality of foiling need only place their order and wait a few months until the Fed-Ex truck delivers the box… literally. The idea is for the boats to be very transportable, so all the components are designed to break down to the size of oversize airline baggage. Away regattas have never been easier.

The timing for the class couldn’t be better. Countries have finalized their Olympic teams, so countless campaigners are on the sidelines looking for a new fix. With the America’s Cup on hiatus, some folks simply have extra time on their hands. As for the US, the national class was formalized a week ago. Total stateside boats are now kissing twenty, and with the majority presently on the west coast, the plan is for the first Nationals to be held in August… at where else… the Gorge. With the big winds that the site is known for, the US Moth class is expecting a big launch for their inaugural year … literally.

Videos:
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/0424
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/media/06/0731

Research project

We try to help folks whenever possible, but this request is asking more than we can provide. However, we encourage you to post your comments to Tiffany thru the link below.

Hello:

I stumbled upon your blog while researching about boats. I am a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University and I am researching about automobiles that tow, such as boats, jet-skis, etc. I was hoping you could help me by answering some questions. Do you use an automobile to tow your boat? How often do you go sailing? When you go sailing, does your family come with you? What do you always bring in your car when you go sailing? Also, do you ever eat or take a nap in your car while driving to the dock or while you are at the dock?

If you could answer any questions, that would be wonderful!

Thanks in advance,

Tiffany Yang

Activity or stupidity

Is this a report on boating activity, or just showing that folks aren’t screwing up as often as they used to.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWS From BoatU.S.
Boat Owners Association of The United States

NATION'S LARGEST ON-THE-WATER RECREATIONAL BOAT TOWING SERVICE REPORTS REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE DOWN SLIGHTLY IN 2007

On-the-Water Towing Calls Mirror Boating Activity

ALEXANDRIA, VA., Feb. 14, 2008 -- High gas prices, drought conditions, and brush fires have all hampered recreational boating in 2007, according to the nation's largest on-the-water recreational boat towing service. The TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist towing fleets - parts of BoatU.S. Towing Services - reported today a 1.5% drop over the previous year in the annual number of requests for on-the-water assistance made by recreational boaters. The annual total, which includes tows back to port, fuel drop offs, ungroundings and other services, is one indicator of yearly boating activity.

Blonde Joke

This has nothing to do with sailing (unless this guy met the gal in a regatta bar), but was too cute to toss:

A blonde calls her boyfriend and says, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get it started." Her boyfriend asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?" The blonde replies, "According to the picture on the box, it's a tiger."

Her boyfriend decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a tiger."

He takes her hand and says, "Second, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then let's put all the Frosted Flakes back in the box."

Wife swap

This recruiting letter was sent to the Curmudgeon. Why do we think that this may have already occurred at some regatta, just without the cameras:

Monday, February 11, 2008

Hello,

My name is Danielle Gervais. I'm a Casting Producer for ABC's Primetime show, "Wife Swap." I hope you don't mind me contacting you, but we're currently into our fourth season at the moment and we're looking for one-of-a-kind families with plenty of personality. Specifically, we’re looking for families who are passionately involved with the sport of competitive sailing! If you’ve always thought your family was entertaining enough to be on television, I would love to hear from you! In addition, please feel free to forward this email on to anyone you think would be interested in taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the moms switch places to experience how another family lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Wednesdays at 8 pm- the family hour!

Requirements: Each family must consist of two parents and at least one child between 7 and 17 and should reside in the continental U.S. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)

Participating in the show is a very unique experience that can be life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives $20,000 as compensation for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1000 as a 'thank you’ from us.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this email and I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! If you're interested in learning more, please include your contact information.

Thank you for your time,

Danielle Gervais
Casting Producer, Wife Swap
Wifeswap.danielle@gmail.com
646-747-7956

Imagery is powerful stuff

The inconvenience of winter proved to be a strong motivator for attending the Thistle Midwinters West last week, with 8 of the top ten crossing state lines to attend the event in San Diego, CA. Among the participants was a young family from Phoenix, who took this opportunity to compete against a national caliber fleet, with four of the top five from last year’s nationals in attendance. This family was new to the sport, but after growing up near the sailing community of Toledo, OH, it wasn’t until the move to the Arizona desert before the sailing bug fully bit. What did it take? While the interest in sailing was there, it wasn’t until viewing the movie “WIND” when they decided to take the steps to get involved in the sport.

How many kids take up baseball because they want to be like the guy they watched hit the homerun? How about folks go out into the street at half-time to throw the football, all jacked up after watching the game in HD? Imagery is powerful stuff. The television coverage from the 1987 America’s Cup set new standards, bringing us onboard to experience the feisty conditions of Fremantle, Australia that served as the backdrop for Dennis Conner’s stunning victory against the Kookaburra III team. It was powerful stuff, and countless stories were heard in how those shows were largely responsible for a period of growth in our sport.

If you are a skier (or boarder), attending the Warren Miller ski movies in the fall is how you get fired up to start planning your next trip. When I watched this year’s film, ‘Playground’, I kept thinking about how sailing could do the same thing. This film was eye candy for folks who held an interest in the sport, or were just curious what it was all about. The movie had the same formula we often see in the Scuttlebutt VIDEOS OF THE WEEK – quick editing, pounding music, exciting footage, and humor. Following the movie, which charges premium prices and shows in smaller community theaters, the audience was clearly jacked up.

We eagerly await the release of "Morning Light", the movie by Roy E. Disney and Pacific High Productions that chronicles one of the youngest crew ever to compete in the Transpacific Yacht Race to Hawaii, with footage also including crew selection and training. The current release date for the movie by Walt Disney Studios is October 17, 2008, and we are hopeful that this movie provides the kind of interest that gets folks off the couch, and out on the water.

Movie trailer for Playground:

History, by Billy Joel

Turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 50 years of history in less than 3 minutes! This is an old Billy Joel song and you can see the images associated with his words. Try not to blink; you'll risk missing some of our history! Thanks to a Billy Joel song and some guy from the University of Chicago with too much time to Google! Click here to listen and view.