Update
on the measurable physical metrics of the boats and their sails, struggles to even out these advantages. In my view, irrespective of their length, boats that use stored
power to cant their keels, move water ballast, hoist and furl sails, trim sheets, move the mainsheet traveller or grind backstays are fundamentally different vehicles from those that rely only on human strength and skill. The two groups should not be racing against each other. Motorbikes do not compete in the Tour de France. At the trophy presentation after the 2018 Sydney Hobart CYCA
Commodore Paul Billingham said: ‘We have a desire to deliver a race that evolves, and that’s what the CYCA commits to going for- ward. There is a need to learn and constantly evolve the race towards the future. We really want to deliver the best race for everyone.’ ‘Everyone’ is surely the key word there.
David Salter has competed in 11 Sydney Hobart Races to date
LOVING THAT MULE – Terry Hutchinson Frenzy… that is the only word that can be used to describe the pace of 2019. We have started the year at American Magic with clear objectives for 2019, 2020 and 2021. Funny when you write it out like that seems to be a long way to the 36th Match but really only 763 days! Not a lot when you consider where we have to get to be successful. I cannot go into a lot of detail about the mule but I can say it
is indeed a boat like no other. Each day sailing is a small step towards learning and when coach James (Lyne) comes alongside and asks, ‘Terry, why are you smiling?’ it is very easy to say because this is without question the coolest boat I have ever sailed. Don’t get me wrong, I love the TP52, Maxi72, Farr 40s and even
the J/24… But the mule just impresses and going out on the water and listening to Dean (Barker), Goody (Paul Goodison) and coach talk about the performance while at pace reminds me I am a novice in this world. Who would have thought at this point I could get up every morning and learn more than I ever imagined. Just awesome! Bella Mente. Coming down from the buzz of the mule we have
a different and equally exciting (albeit more in the comfort zone) development with the new Bella Mente. Our first event is the RORC Caribbean 600, one of the best medium-distance races going. Trade wind sailing with a premium on boathandling, preparation
and speed. The uniqueness of this race is that it is a sprint for those 48 hours and having a team that is mentally prepared to ‘put in’ is paramount. Thirteen boathandling corners that, as strategist Adrian Stead points out, mean the last five minutes into a corner and the first five minutes out of the corner are an opportunity to gain the time that is mandatory for success. Our last edition (2017) of this race Bella Mente did 87 sail
changes over the 600 miles… That was a whipping and unique as the previous race in 2016 you could count the sail changes on one hand. Hiking for 36 hours while in a consistent boathandling frenzy is a team effort for every one of those 600 miles. Other challenges that we face? Learning the boat. This will be
the first line-up against George Sakellaris’s Proteus (sistership to world champion Momo). And we know Proteus is fast. Those two boats were the reason for a new Bella Mente. Devel-
oping the boat while racing is always tough as the competitive spirit gets in the way of rationale. We know for a fact that these boats hit their stride in year two or three. Understanding the rating, the moding, strengths and weaknesses versus the fleet does take time. Somehow I think between Hap (Fauth) and the entire Bella Mente team patience is not a virtue so we will have to learn on the fly and manage our expectations. Good luck with that! Up next. Right now we are back at it in the mule. As I said the
clock is ticking and the competition incredibly good. Back to work. Standing by in a frigid Newport, RI
SNAPSHOTS Brought to you in association with q
Today a PC would be more useful but in 1968 three-time Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart lines up on the grid in his fragile Matra MS9 typically well-prepared and ready to go with a shifting-spanner taped carefully onto his steering wheel
18 SEAHORSE
l Broken…arm l Not…the skipper l But…Banque Pop reckon their forward beam was damaged by a third-party impact and later failed l Leading to…the float popping up l The…aft beam breaking l And…Armel taking to the airwaves l So beams…not floats l The team…seem pretty certain, useful to know for everyone else l Of course…Gitana lost the front of her starboard float l Back…to the drawing board l A real tragedy…of the oceans… l At least… 150,000 gallons of Mount Gay were lost in a fire at the company’s distillery in Barbados l Of purely…medicinal interest, obvs l Them folks…at World Sailing took yet more grapeshot (in the foot) over the eSailing Championship l That’s…World Championship (seriously?!? – ed) l First announcing…a big cash prize l Which didn’t…look so smart under present circumstances l But…it isn’t us, they cried l Someone else…will put up the cash (honest, guv) l Sadly…no one would be surprised l Back…to the eSailing World Championship… l Naah…the ed’s gone to lie down in a darkened room l Oops…pity GGR founder Don McIntyre l No sooner…had he got a great close race to the finish (good news) l Than it emerges…the two leaders had been running unlicensed HAM radio comms to get their weather info (bad news) l One of the…good ones… l Dee…Caffari wants to return to the Vendée and/or the ‘Volvo’ l One of…the very good ones, in fact l Joining in…creator of glorious yachts Gerry Dijkstra will address the Auckland Superyacht Gathering on matters green l Also…largely responsible for the resurrection of the J Class l Cracking…sailor too, by the way l Are people seriously…even debating this question? l Would a shift…by US college sailing from polly-wolly flop-abouts to Olympic classes improve Uncle Sam’s medal count? l Well…that’s pretty bloody obvious… l But…the extra cost and complexity would probably wipe out 85 per cent of college boat clubs l So…back where we started, then l Maybe leave…a good thing alone l And suck it up…with the Olympic stuff? l Very sad to lose you…Jeff Martin, instrumental in the success of the Laser class and a generous rules and ‘advice’ guru to many l Nice…move l Into action…Oakcliff Sailing Centre will trial the proposed mixed gender Olympic offshore discipline using modified Melges 24s l Or they could…find something much better at
RaceboatsOnly.com l Of course…we found out about it at
scuttlebutteurope.com l Cheesy…or what l Soz…
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