Party killer

When Bill Hardesty asked me to join his team for the recently held Etchells North Americans, we knew our crew weight would be near the class maximum of 628.3 lb (285 kilos). However, we were not alone, as the weigh-in list from the event showed that over half the fleet was within 10 pounds of the limit.

With its narrow beam, an Etchells needs help staying upright. An athletic hiking crew at max weight has proven to be fast, such that 13 of the top 15 boats were all within 10 pounds of the limit. Given the relevance of crew weight, the class has onerous rules to manage the issue. During the four day regatta there were two weigh-ins, otherwise known as ‘Party Killers’.

The first weigh-in was from 7 am to 9 am on the FIRST day of racing. This schedule effectively crushed the party the night before, as a welcome reception of good eats and drinks was not conducive for managing crew weight. Additionally, there was a line of people ready to weigh at 7 am, as the two hour window would provide just enough time in the sauna to make any adjustments. Are we having fun yet?

The second weigh-in was from 7 am to 9 am on the THIRD day of racing. You want to know what was scheduled the night before. Yep, another poorly attended party, as the bulk of the fleet was likely seeking out salad rather than enjoying the full bar and buffet that was included in the entry fee. Even more teams arrived early for the second weigh in; the practice of complete nudity during weigh-in was held in check by a clothing rule requirement.

So, after all these weigh-ins and poorly attended parties, I have to wonder whether we are missing the point. Are we so concerned about crew weight that we are willing to sacrifice the social part of the sport, particularly now with participation numbers down. Would a weigh-in between 3 pm and 5 pm the day before the event been enough to insure the rule is being met? I know it would have absolutely allowed everyone to relax more after the races, and would have given me a couple more hours of morning sleep. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt editor

Motivating people

Motivating by email is an oxymoron. While sending out a group email is immensely easier than making as many phone calls, it is far too passive a tool to inspire the fence-sitters. To counter this reality, the organizing group for the Etchells North Americans in San Diego, CA (June 9-12) created an email campaign that they hoped would encourage the masses. You be the judge.

Regattas as public attractions

The five event Audi MedCup Circuit is in Marseille, France this week, with circuit organizers making a concerted effort to draw public interest to the event. Besides the quality video production, the race village has many features to draw in the walking crowd.

The free access Public Village allows visitors to really experience the heart of the regatta atmosphere at a location which is in the middle of Marseille’s historic Vieux Port, ride by the Town Hall. There they can enjoy a complete leisure program which included interactive contests with the sailors, live broadcasting, thanks to the 3D Virtual Eye system, simulated skipper contests, concerts.



The Open Pontoon Day will allow the visitors to walk down the pontoons and have a close look at the boats. The same day the Public Village will open, a free access, day-long non-stop open visitor arena, which this season will be set out in several zones: LiveZone, Chill Out Zone, Sail&Play, Fun Zone and Partners’ Corner.

The LiveZone is a free access zone where visitors will be able to enjoy a stage with a big screen where the best images of the event will be shown. It will also hold concerts, contests, interviews, and a giant screen broadcasting live the action straight from the water.



In front of the stage, the Chill Out Zone offers comfortable sofas and atomised water cooling, for the visitor to chill out while enjoying the show.

Designed for the little ones, the Sail&Play area includes a pool with remote controlled boats, pedal boats for children, an inflatable TP52 for them to jump on, and a climbing wall built on a five meters high buoy for the not so little.

The Fun Zone offers two PlayStation virtual driving games, a pedestal grinder simulator, a workshop which teaches sailing by using games, and interactive screens to learn all about the Audi MedCup Circuit.

Daily activities include a morning dock out show with interviews and information for visitors and the public live just as the teams head out for racing.

Every day there is radio controlled model boat racing for those who want to get a flavour of the cut and thrust of racing without even getting wet. And there will be a dance marathon display by local groups.

Last, but not least, the Partners’ Corner is available for sponsors and other institutions involved in the regatta, in this area they will be able to promote their products.

Newport Bermuda Race - Almost a spectator sport

"If the Newport Bermuda Race is any one thing, it’s historic,” writes yachting historian John Rousmaniere. “Founded in 1906 as the first ocean race for amateur sailors in normal boats, it has inspired other long-distance races, and has attracted almost 4,500 boats crewed by some 46,000 men and women who have raced nearly 3 million miles to Bermuda. It’s a blue-water habit obsession.”

But when the race begins June 18th, the test will be if this classic ocean race lives up to its website billing as being ‘almost a spectator sport’. In the new era of Internet information, the Newport Bermuda Race has historically lagged behind its distance race brethren, but heightened emphasis on race communication this year is eagerly anticipated.

Race coverage on the event website will be provided by an international team of writers, editors, photographers, and videographers. Video and still cameras in chase boats and helicopters cover the start at Newport. The finish line at St. David's Lighthouse, Bermuda, is on video, stills, and Webcam. Additionally, iBoat tracking system will follow the fleet of more than 180 boats from the start to the finish of the last boat.

John Rousmaniere will be writing race commentary, while Chris Museler files shoreside stories plus reports from the race course in his Bermuda Race ride, Titan XV. Barry Pickthall is the race’s official photographer, with Daniel Forster providing helicopter coverage of the start. Videographer Pete Slack of Godfather Productions is a veteran of the Discovery Channel, MTV, VH1, and other outlets and has done many shows on sailing. Coordinating the renewed effort is Talbot Wilson.

What to do and see in Annapolis

Not to get caught up in the 'Sailing Capital of the U.S.' debate, here is what the marketeers for Annapolis want us to know about their city:

Ten Things to Do and See in Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay

Annapolis, Maryland—School is out, and families are making plans for summer fun. To help streamline the planning process, the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau (AAACCVB) has developed a list of Ten Things to Do and Ten Things to See in Annapolis and along the Chesapeake Bay. For a more complete listing of summer events and activities as well as places to dine, shop, and stay, individuals are invited to visit the AAACCVB's www.VisitAnnapolis.org website or stop by the 26 West Street Visitors Center in Annapolis.

Ten Things to Do

Tour the U.S. Naval Academy – No visit to Annapolis is complete without a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy. Home of the 4,000-strong brigade of midshipmen, the Naval Academy is the training ground for officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Don’t miss the newly renovated chapel and its massive pipe organ. The Naval Academy Museum features more than 50,000 artifacts and is home to the famous Gallery of Ships. On weekdays during the academic year, be sure to catch the midshipmen in noon formation. Guided tours of the USNA begin at the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center. 410-293-8687. www.navyonline.com.

Get Out on the Water – Want to get out on the water but don’t know wwhere to begin? The professionals at our world-class sailing and powerboat schools can get you started. If relaxing is at the top of your list, enjoy a two-hour cruise aboard a 74-foot schooner, charter a boat for the day, or unwind on a boat and breakfast getaway. If fishing floats your boat, charter with a seasoned captain or strike out on your own. Or, take a different tack and explore the bay by canoe or kayak. 410-280-0445. www.VisitAnnapolis.org.

Pledge of Allegiance at Chick & Ruth's Delly – The home of the largest milkkshakes in the world and the three-pound Super Duper Colossal Burger is also a major seat of patriotism in Annapolis. Every weekday morning at 8:30 a.m. and weekends at 9:30 a.m., owner Ted Levitt invites his patrons to get their day off to a bright start by joining him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. If you play your cards right, the master of magic might even do a personalized magic show at your table. 410-269-6737. www.chickandruths.com.

Ride an eCruiser – Electric-powered eCruisers are bbecoming a frequent sight on the streets of Historic Annapolis and Eastport. The six-passenger, environmentally-friendly vehicles provide complimentary transportation to riders who flag them down for a quick and easy ride to attractions and restaurants. 443-497-4769. www.eCruisersllc.com.

Take a Water Taxi – While Annapolis iis a walkable city, sometimes the quickest way to get from point A to point B in America's Sailing Capital is to hop aboard a water taxi. Use one to get from City Dock to Eastport for an enjoyable meal along Restaurant Row or drop anchor across from the Naval Academy and phone a water taxi to bring you into town. They are a quick, relaxing, and affordable way to work the water into a busy itinerary. 410-263-0033. www.watermarkjourney.com.

Ride a Duffy Electric Boat – Enjoy a fun, eenvironmentally-friendly afternoon on the water with your friends when you rent a ten-passenger Duffy electric boat. Board your climate-controlled, 22' Duffy at the Chart House Restaurant pier at 300 Second Street in Eastport. You can charter the boat with or without a captain for an entire day or as little as an hour. No boating experience is necessary. 443-433-2129. www.experiencetheduffyboat.com.

Test Drive an Electric Bike – “If you want to cycle throughout the Historic District without breaking a sweat, hop aboard a Green Pedals electric bike. Equipped with high efficiency electric motors, the state-of-the-art vehicles deliver all the fun of standard bikes, but they require only as much effort as you want to put into your ride. The bikes are typically rented for a two-hour period. 410-280-5005. www.green-pedals.com.

Feast on Steamed Crabs – Restauraants serving up nature's bounty dot the more than 400 miles of shoreline that weave their way throughout Anne Arundel County. Favorites like Mike's Restaurant and Crab House, Cantler's Riverside Inn, Skipper's Pier, and others help contribute to the claim that some 3.9 million crabs are cracked here each year. The Annapolis Rotary Crab Feast held at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium the first Friday in August each year is recognized as the largest crab feast in the world. 410-280-0445. www.VisitAnnapolis.org.

Take the Roots and Tides Driving Tour – Today, as in the past, the rhythm of life in Southern Anne Arundel County moves to the tides and the seasons. Maritime villages such as Deale, Galesville, and Mayo invite you to escape to a simpler time. Experience the life of a 19th-century waterman at the Captain Salem Avery House Museum in Shady Side. Enjoy the quiet of Galesville's Quaker Burying Ground before wandering past Victorian houses on Main Street to the Heritage Museum. Historic London Town and Gardens in Edgewater continues to unearth the past at the largest ongoing archaeological dig in Maryland. The Roots and Tides trail will help you trace southern Maryland's history as you drive along picturesque roads past the carefully preserved homes of our nation's early settlers. 410-222-1805. www.fourriversheritage.org.

Enjoy a Free Concert or Festival – If you're here onn a weekend, be sure and catch our Summer at City Dock performances that bring street performers and musicians to Annapolis' waterfront every Sunday from noon until 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays on holiday weekends. Every First Sunday of the month from May through October, a First Sunday Arts Festival takes place on the first block of West Street from Church Circle to Calvert Street. During the noon to 5:00 p.m. celebrations, craft vendors, artists, musical acts and street performers gather to celebrate the arts. This year's First Sunday offerings also include open swing dance lessons. Summer at City Dock: 410-268-1636. First Sunday Arts Festival: 410-741-3267. www.firstsundayarts.com.

Ten Things to See

Wednesday Night Sailboat Races – Looking for an exccuse for a mid-week escape from the office? How about the Wednesday Night Sailing Races in Annapolis? More than 130 sailboats slice through shimmering waters, their colorful, wind-filled spinnakers backlit against a golden sky. After racing around several marks in the Chesapeake Bay, they return to Spa Creek for a finish in front of the Annapolis Yacht Club. Races begin the final Wednesday in April and run through the second Wednesday in September. The first gun is at 6:05 p.m. 410-263-9270. www.annapolisyc.com.

Annapolis Maritime Museum – Since April, 2010, the Annapolis Maritime Museum hhas been hosting a new permanent exhibit, Oysters on the Half Shell. The highly interactive display highlights the natural history of the oyster and demonstrates why it is so important to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. It also captures the cultural history of the hard-working people who harvested, shucked, packed, and shipped oysters from the McNasby Oyster Company. Key elements include a 1,000 gallon aquarium with a living oyster reef and the many critters that thrive in that habitat; a touch tank; a large-scale oyster that opens up to show all the anatomically correct body parts; an exhibit of the skimming and processing equipment; and recreated shucking tables. Sections of the workboat, Miss Lonesome, are being used to demonstrate how wooden boats such as this were built and used. 410-295-0104. www.amaritime.org.

Maryland State House – Annapolis iss home to the oldest State House in continuous legislative use in the nation. It is also the only state house in the country that also served as the nation's capitol. The Continental Congress met in the Old Senate Chamber from November 26, 1783 to August 13, 1784. During this time, George Washington came before Congress to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the Treaty of Paris was ratified, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War. 410-974-3400. www.mdsa.net.

Historical Electronics Museum –“ For an offbeat and off-the beaten-path excursion, try the Historical Electronics Museum. You will learn about TVs, radios, cell phones, and see a working original Edison cylinder phonograph. The museum houses the first American radar system ever built, a lunar camera like the one used to photograph Neil Armstrong's moon landing, and the SCR-584 – a giant radar unit that visitors can enter and explore. 410-765-0230. www.hem-usa.org.

National Cryptologic Museum – Take a peek at tthe world of secret codes at the National Cryptologic Museum located next to the National Security Agency in western Anne Arundel County. Learn of some of our nation's World War II cryptological triumphs as you peek behind the curtain and trace the development of cryptology from the 1500s to the present day. 301-688-5849. http://www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/museum/.

William Paca Garden – The two-acre, reconstructed 18thh-century pleasure garden is an oasis in the heart of Annapolis. Located behind the National Historic Landmark home of Declaration of Independence signer William Paca, the garden is the only one of its kind in Maryland. 410-267-8146. www.annapolis.org.

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse – Get an up close and personal look at the last screwpile lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay still in its original location when you take a tour of the National Historic Landmark Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. A boat that departs from the Annapolis Maritime Museum takes you on a one-and-a-half mile journey to the 1875 lighthouse at the mouth of the South River. Once there, you can climb up into the lighthouse for a docent-led tour. Remaining tour dates for 2010 are Saturday, July 31, and Sundays, July 11, and August 15. The tours depart at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 3:00 p.m. Reservations are required. 410-295-0104. www.amaritime.org.

Ego Alley – No visit to America's Sailing Capital is coomplete without a visit to City Dock and the Annapolis Harbor. Fondly known as Ego Alley, it is here that boats of all sizes strut their stuff before an admiring public. Grab a seat at a dockside eatery, catch an outdoor concert, or pick up a gelato and stroll along City Dock for a people- and boat-watching experience extraordinaire.

Most Beautiful Doorway in America – Annapoliis is home to more 18th-century brick buildings than any other city in the nation. The great five-part Georgian mansions are the crowning architectural jewel in a city that embraces three-and-a-half centuries of architecture. Built by English architect William Buckland in 1774, the Hammond-Harwood House at 19 Maryland Avenue boasts the Most Beautiful Doorway in America. 410-263-4683. www.hammondharwoodhouse.org.

Woodland Garden at Historic London Town & Gardens – Modeled after the Windsor Greaat Park in Great Britain, the eight-acre woodland garden features a mile-long path through a variety of garden settings, including a holly grove, dry stream, spring bay, Hosta garden, winter walk, Camellia collection, wildflower walk, Azalea glade, and dell. A wide variety of hollies makes the walk a beautiful place to explore even in the heart of winter. 410-222-1919. www.historiclondontown.org.

Entertainment events

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is an organized series of 10 events providing professional sailors with the opportunity for income and elite competition. The third stage of the tour - Korea Match Cup - had 12 teams competing last week at Gyeonggi, Korea, where eventual winner Mathieu Richard (FRA) earned just over 60 thousand dollars.

Increasing the prize money has required the events to expand both their commercial and spectator platforms. But making the events more ‘fan-friendly’ has come at a cost. Much like the Medal Race at the Olympics, course locations at WMRT events may be great for observers but not so great for the sailors.

Here is a report from Australian Torvar Mirsky’s Mirsky Racing Team (MRT), who is ranked fourth in the Tour standings, and was eliminated by Richard in the Korea Match Cup semi-finals:

“The race committee was eager to race the semi-finals before the Live TV broadcast came on, so racing began in unfavourable conditions. The first race against Richard saw MRT dominate the prestart, before a big windshift forced both boats under the start line, and putting Richard in the lead. MRT managed to work their way back into the French Match Racing Team, but it wasn't enough and they went down one race.

“The second race was in a completely different wind direction, with shifty winds plaguing the race course once again. MRT dominated the race, and held onto a substantial lead, however Richard followed their line on the final run, and managed to take advantage of a private gust which took them down to the finishing line, winning the quarterfinals by a mere seconds.”

Made for television events transforms athletes into entertainers, which is fine for the athletes when their income is guaranteed. But on the WMRT, the only guaranteed money is from each team’s sponsor. Tough way to make a living when a winning prize purse can get snatched by the random will of the wind.

Lightning Fleet Promotion

Here is an idea to grow a local Lightning fleet: Give a loaded boat to a team of fresh-faced lovely ladies and watch how many similarly aged gentlemen decide that racing Lightnings is something they would like to do too.



2010 BUFFALO CANOE CLUB LIGHTNING BOAT GRANT AWARDED TO THE TEAM OF CHRISTINE MOLONEY, KAYLA OAK, AND JULIANNE MACDONALD.

The Buffalo Canoe Club is pleased to announce that the 2010 BCC Lightning Boat Grant has been awarded to the team of Christine Moloney, Kayla Oak, and Julianne MacDonald. Christine and Kayla will be entering 10th and 11th grade, respectively, at the Nichols Schools in Buffalo NY and Julianne will be entering 10th grade at Waterdown High School in Carlisle, Ontario. We wish this team the best of luck as they represent the BCC and Fleet 12 at many regattas across the northeast including the Junior North Americans.

Similar to the ILCA Boat Grant Program, the BCC Boat Grant Program provides a team of junior sailors with a top quality racing Lightning, practice and racing sails, and support from two established Lightning sailing mentors.

The BCC Lightning Boat-Grant program started in 2008 with the financial and service help of many Fleet 12 members. The program currently consists of a single boat. There are two committees assigned to the program, as well as two mentors. The Selection Committee reviews the applications and decides who each year’s recipient will be. The Boat Maintenance Committee repairs and maintains the boat, keeping it in top notch condition. The mentors are responsible for helping guide the BCC Boat Grant Team throughout the sailing season.

In 2009 Connor Mangan, Lauren Jones, and Jeffrey Markarian were the first recipients of the BCC Boat Grant boat. Their season culminated with a second place finish in the ILCA Junior North Americans. This summer, Connor, Lauren and Jeffrey will participate in the Youth World Championship in Salinas Ecuador.

Polars and routing

America’s Cup winning navigator Peter Isler shares a nugget on how to tune a boat's polars to improve routing information:

Garbage in - Garbage out. That saying certainly applicable in the world of weather routing, where software takes precious few inputs as “givens” and then produces an optimum route that appears so nice and tidy on the computer. But the whole process is fraught with peril. The boat’s polars, the weather “GRIB” files, and even the settings of various dials on the software itself all affect the end result. When coming up with a strategy for the crew on deck, the ocean racing navigator must consider the multiple variables that affect the calculation of this so called ‘optimum route’, tweak them to the best of his ability and then interpret the result with careful analysis.

A good place to start is the boat’s polars. These usually start their life as the output of a computer program in the designer’s or handicapper’s office and on most boats that’s how they stay. But before you do any weather routing (or polar editing) you need to know to what wind speed the polars are referenced. Most designers work with polars that are referenced to the meteorological standard of wind speed at a height of 10 meters. But wind speed varies with height and if your wind instruments are located at the top of your mast, you (or your designer) will need to convert the ‘10m polars’ to ‘masthead polars’. The process involves using a conversion formula which unfortunately is not always ‘perfect’.

In fact nothing in the whole routing process is perfect, so one should not expect perfection in the outcome. But careful preparation and a thorough understanding of the common routing pitfalls can greatly improve the results.

MORE INFO: On June 16, in Newport, RI, Peter Isler is giving a seminar on using Expedition software in the Newport to Bermuda Race. Details at: http://www.customoffshore.com

Six months of training or instant chemistry

The Etchells North American Championship begin in San Diego on Wednesday, but for a lot of teams the preparation began over the winter. Amid an intensive renovation of San Diego Yacht Club, the local Etchells fleet has hosted out of town boats for practice and the monthly one design regatta. While best laid plans would have allowed for hugely competitive training events, Southern California chose to have an actual winter that saw most every storm synched with the regatta schedule. The end result was cancelled races or conditions atypical of June sailing.

What has given the North Americans additional drawing power is that the class World Championship is one year away at the same venue. Committed sailing programs from Jud Smith of Doyle Sails, Dave Ullman of Ullman Sails, and Vince Brun of North Sails have also heightened the interest. The entry list now numbers 43, and includes local heavy hitters like Dennis Conner, Bruce Nelson, Chris Busch, and Brian Camet.

One team that also hopes to have an impact will be led by 2008 World Champion Bill Hardesty, who called me four weeks ago to join him. Bill reminded me that it had only been 20 years since we had sailed Snipes together, which was preceded by a cross-country drive and a towing accident that involved Mark Reynold’s Star boat (sorry again Mark!). Fortunately we are joined by Mandi Markee, who Bill has teamed with in match racing, and Tyler Sinks who arrives home after helping his Boston College team win the Coed Dinghy Nationals.

We all will meet for the first time Tuesday to find our boat ‘Line Honors’ with her rig down and in need of a bit of work to get her going. We will soon find out what is better: six months of training or instant chemistry. In this era where the cost and effort to remain competitive may be be slipping out of reach for some people, I know I will be rooting for us. - Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt editor

Louis Vuitton Trophy needs a tune-up

When the 33rd America’s Cup was stuck in the New York Supreme Court, professional sports teams were stuck on the sideline. Pink slips replaced paychecks. Out of the darkness came the Louis Vuitton Trophy series, which was designed to be a cost-effective format for match racing competition in Version 5 America's Cup Class boats that are loaned for the event.

In just over a year there have been four events, with the most recent in La Maddalena (Sardinia, Italy). They have provided new and existing teams with a vital opportunity to learn and advance. Bringing together a crew of 17 to compete on unfamiliar boats with incredible loads is not to be underestimated. However, the format now needs a tune-up.

A two week race schedule is too long. While the racing is close, and the video coverage is advanced, expecting people to closely follow the event for two weeks is a huge assumption. Major tennis tournaments are two weeks; the Soccer World Cup is four weeks. The LVT is neither. If there is an interest to engage the sporting public in the Louis Vuitton Trophy series, the events need to either be shorter or more relevant, and there can be no question as to the equality of the boats.

The next event is not until November 13-28 in Dubai, UAE. Plenty of time for review. Until then, photographers Chris Cameron, Stefano Gattini, and Sander van der Borch provide images that demonstrate the power and beauty of this racing format: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/photos/10/0607/

Never Give Up by Bouwe Bekking

The 2005-6 Volvo Ocean Race was the initiation of the Volvo Open 70 design rule, and it didn’t go well for most boats. Countless structural and design failures took teams off the track, with pitstops and rebuilds becoming the theme for the race. No boat suffered more than Movistar, which nearly sank off Cape Horn and finally did sink on the leg across the Atlanic. The skipper of Movistar was Bouwe Bekking.

Bekking was back again for the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race - his sixth - as skipper of Telefonica Blue. Also back again was Bekking’s bad luck. While the Volvo Open 70 rule had evolved to provide a fairly reliable ride, Bekking remained a lightning rod for adversity. T-Blue proved speedy in some conditions, but a disaster in others. Then there were the breakdowns and collisions. Simply stated, no team had more highs and lows than T-Blue.

To share his story of the 08-9 VOR, Bekking has co-authored ‘Never Give Up!’, a 153-page book providing an onboard and behind the scenes look at the Telefonica team. While the official race book ‘Spanish Castle to White Night’ (authored by Mark Chisnell) provides a recap of the race, Bekking’s book (written with Riath Al-Samarrai) offers a more personal perspective. And given the rollercoaster ride of T-Blue, his team had the best tale to tell.

Their third place finish was a tribute to Bekking's leadership and his crew's tenacity. The book was an easy and enjoyable read, with great photos and handy diagrams to support the story. Race commentary from the crew is blended into the narrative, and the tight competition between T-Blue and second place PUMA Ocean Racing seeps in between the lines. If you are looking for summer reading, here are the details: http://www.bouwebekking.com/book/book.asp

AMAZON: No luck searching for this book on Amazon.com, but you will see the other 312 titles that share the same book name.

Scuttlebutt Sailing News On Kindle

Kindle users will now have the option of getting their daily dosage of Scuttlebutt Sailing News on their handheld wireless reading device. Here are a couple links to help:

Information on buying a Kindle
Subscribing to Scuttlebutt for the Kindle.