RC44 @ Key West Race Week 2011

Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck rode in the media seat on the RC44 Mascalzone Latino on Wednesday at Key West Race Week 2011. “The boat is designed to race. And if you like going over 7 knots upwind in 8 knots of wind, this is the boat for you.” Here are some videos that he took:

Happy Birthday Tom Leweck

When Scuttlebutt founder Tom Leweck launched this publication in 1997, he was a spry man in his mid-sixties, hell bent on turning the distribution of sailing news on its ear.

On Friday, January 14th, he will be a little less spry, and while the duties at Scuttlebutt World Headquarters have been handed off to the next generation, he remains healthy and as active as ever.

He will also be turning 80 years old. Happy Birthday Tom!

Uncertain future

Since July of 2007, the America’s Cup has taken quite a tumble. Following the 32nd Match, the event has existed more in courtrooms than race courses. And when racing did occur, it was a forgettable series against two ill matched multihulls. It has not been the best of times.

But for the ever diminishing crowd of America’s Cup enthusiasts, the Golden Gate Yacht Club - the defender of the Cup - has assured us that good times are ahead. It was the GGYC that had taken the event on a nearly three year detour, but it was with the best intentions. And we wanted to believe.

Fast forward to today. As we dust off the holiday hangover, the future of the America’s Cup remains uncertain. Sailing fans wanted a return to monohulls, but GGYC said no. Sailing fans wanted a nationality rule, but GGYC said no. And finally, with what was assumed to be a no brainer, sailing fans were taken on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride before GGYC declared on Dec. 31st to host the 34th Match on their home waters - San Francisco Bay.

To be certain, it is only out of respect for the Deed of Gift that the defender of the America’s Cup is referred to as Golden Gate Yacht Club. The truth is that the club is a mere marionette of the Oracle Racing team that now holds the Cup. One can only imagine how somber the New Year’s Eve party would have been at GGYC had its members been told the venue had headed east.

But it’s a new year, and it’s time for renewed hope. As the Curmudgeon’s Observation notes below, “If you do not change direction, you are likely to end up where you are headed.” The inverse, of course, is that we currently have no idea where we are headed. The vision of GGYC is to create heightened excitement through high performance sailing. The fear is that what appears sugary and sweet on the outside will be without substance on the inside.

So as GGYC mixes their new batch of Kool-Aide for the 34th Match, engaged sailing fans are holding out their cup for a fill of needed hydration after a painful and historic drought. As for the disillusioned sailing fan, they are humming the title track of Kenny Rogers’ 1978 album, The Gambler: “You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, Know when to walk away and know when to run.”

Hangover Bowl 2011

Photographer John Payne shares some tradition from his club in Ft. Lauderdale, FL:

Lauderdale Yacht Club always rings in the new year by holding its New Year's Challenge Cup, a.k.a. The Hangover Bowl. Clyde Wright started the regatta in 1978 when he was sail master at the club. That first event was held on a cold, breezy day in full rig Lasers. Many top local sailors competed against a group of past Naval Academy sailing team members including Clyde's brother, now Rear Admiral Gar Wright. Participants now include members and guests, their children, sailors and coaches still in town after Orange Bowl, dock rats, and whoever else wants to jump into a boat.

This year's edition, the 24th, was sailed in Club 420's, in a double elimination match race format. Breeze was strong, and most importantly, warm, under mostly sunny skies with temps in the low 70's. The format starts with a random draw of the 36 skippers (the skipper grabs a crew off the dock), and where you land on the ladder might mean racing against three green fleet Opti sailors or Olympic medalist Anna Tunnicliffe. Against the former you may like your chances. Against the latter? Well, chalk it up to a learning experience.

Winning the 2011 New Year's Challenge Cup was Sarah Lihan, a recent graduate of Yale University where she was an All-American co-ed skipper. Of course having Anna as a crew didn't hurt her chances. Second place went to the defending champion, JP Wright from the University of Florida. The Oinker Award is presented annually to that skipper who is, well, an oinker. It is awarded to that skipper, of some considerable repute, who takes an early exit, or otherwise fails to live up to their reputation. Losing to your daughter, is a good way to qualify (see photos to determine winner).

Because the club is closed on New Year's, the parents put on a huge cookout, led by master chef and past commodore, Clyde Wright. Several flat screen TV's and a satellite dish are jury-rigged to provide full coverage of the day's football action. The "signal boat" for the racing is actually a corner of the junior sailing's floating dock, so everybody can watch the racing from the East lawn.

For the 24th time, it proved to be a great way to start the year.

Images by John Payne.