Scuttlebutt Sailing News

1. Curmudgeon’s Observation

   “Blamestorming is a method of collectively finding one to blame for a mistake no one is willing to confess to. Often occurs in the form of a meeting of colleagues at work, gathered to decide who is to blame for a problem.” For stories from June 6: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2023/06/06 Providing wisdom since 1997, the Curmudgeon’s Observation [&hellip

2. America’s Cup: Change needed to bridge gender gap

   Despite the hoopla of the inaugural Women’s America’s Cup that seeks to provide new opportunity for females, the pathway beyond to the historic America’s Cup is blocked by design. Story from insidethegames: Two-time Olympian Francesca Clapcich of Italy has urged future America’s Cup defenders to “change the machine” in a bid to redress the gender [&hellip

3. Managing cost and complexity

   The J/105 was the first ‘sprit boat’ when it was designed by Rod Johnstone in 1990, with the Class Association hosting one-design fleets across the USA and Canada. The continued health of the class is founded in its focus to limit costs to competitively race, with the class website listing these examples: • Sail purchases [&hellip

4. Four USA skippers in the Global Solo Challenge

   The inaugural Global Solo Challenge 2023-24 seeks to be a budget-friendly solo, non-stop race around the world. Eligible boats in excess of 32 feet with an IRC rating below 1.530 will compete with a pursuit start from August 26 to December 16 that begins in A Coruña, Spain, with the first boat to return deemed [&hellip

5. R2AK: Scratching the wolf’s belly

   The 7th edition of the 750 mile Race to Alaska (R2AK) began June 5 with a 40-mile “proving stage” from Port Townsend, WA to Victoria, BC. For those that finish within 36 hours, they are allowed to start the remaining 710 miles on June 8 to Ketchikan, AK. Here’s the Stage 1 report: This was [&hellip

6. Scuttlebutt! Ain’t it a shame?

   For 47 years and counting Maine’s beloved and highly acclaimed folk group ‘Schooner Fare‘ has been composing and performing songs of the sea, as well as traditional songs from the Canadian Maritimes, Ireland, Scotland, and much else. Their 1999 song ‘Scuttlebutt’ is a humorous take on the original maritime expression. They never fail to get [&hellip

7. Annual achievement in college sailing

   The year-end awards from the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association 2022-23 College season celebrates sportsmanship, leadership, service, and overall team achievement: Robert H Hobbs Sportsman of the Year Leo Boucher, St. Mary’s College of Maryland 2023 Jim Rousmaniere Award for Outstanding Student Leadership Michelle Lahrkamp, Stanford University 2023 Meritorious Service Samuel Blaine Pedlow Leonard Fowle Trophy for [&hellip

8. Recognizing college sailing athletes

   Recognizing athletic achievement during the 2022-23 College season, the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association has selected the All-America Team, Open and Women’s Sailor of the Year, and Crew of the Year. Quantum Women’s College Sailor of the Year Carmen Cowles, Yale University 2025 Everett B Morris College Sailor of the Year Jack Egan, Yale University 2025 Mitch [&hellip

9. Course shift in The Ocean Race

   With two legs remaining for The Ocean Race 2023, the around the world course shifts from massive offshore legs to a navigational nightmare of inshore obstacles. Two-time race skipper and North Sails president Ken Read shares his view on this shift: Asked to make a prediction on the outcome, with two legs to go and [&hellip

10. Incident at USA stopover launches investigation

    An incident during the USA stopover for The Ocean Race that led to the removal of Team Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier (above) has now triggered an investigation with ramifications beyond the race. On June 5, French media Europe 1 reported that Escoffier was the subject of a report concerning “inappropriate behavior he allegedly had towards [&hellip