Please select your home edition
Edition
Barton Marine Pipe Glands

…and don’t call me Shirley!

by John Curnow on 19 Sep 2016
"I am serious, and don't call me Shirley!" SW
Ah yes! It could only be the truly inimitable Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen) from Airplane! (And that takes us all the way back to 1980 – believe it or not.) You know the lines; it’s when Ted Striker (Robert Hays) says, “Surely you cannot be serious?” To which Rumack then replies, “I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley!”



Well here we are, and I’m now trying put on a Nielsen-esque dead pan face to deliver, “I am serious.” What about? World Sailing’s new Sailing World Cup v4.0. We have written so much about its forerunners over the years, and even predicted the likely nature of v4.0 only a few months ago. When the expected announcement came during the week, Sail-World.com wrote the following.

“As World Sailing's Sailing World Cup goes in for modification to become SWC v4.0, it is clear the big losers are Australia and China, who lose their rounds of the oft-stalled event.”

“Japan gains a round in the lead up to Tokyo 2020, with Europe retaining pre-eminence. A while ago, one commentator said of the now defunct v3.0, and most specifically the final in Melbourne, 'Has the smell of failure about it.' Well yes it does, so we hope the defibrillator has sparked some life into the corpse.”

OK. So all of that stands, but could Australian Sailing really be serious when a few days later, with their bottom lip quivering, they go crying to Mummy? C’mon! It had its biggest year back in 2011, and has slid oh-so-inexorably ever since. Look at the positive. At least the cash-strapped Victorian Government won’t be asked to shell out hundreds of thousands of shekels more on the Spruce Goose going forward. Those penguins will be happy – ‘Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave!’



I mean the same learned and esteemed commentator said to me, following Australian Sailing’s tears, “Surely they did not believe their own mail, that all was right with the world when Melbourne attracts just 80 competitors for the Olympic Classes, and Europe snares 800-1000 at its SWC events. Surely?”

So yes. Do your best Elmer Fudd and put that axe on the grindstone (Shhh. We’re hunting wabbits!), but this was one Ensign that had been on the Jack Staff for ages, and anyone who thinks the Champagne crew at World Sailing give a toss about ‘inclusion’, or us Antipodeans, has had more of the bubbles than Croce himself.

Clearly I am a proud Australian, but having lived and worked overseas, I do feel I can wear a global suit when required, much like a special function that needs a bag of fruit (suit) and tie. The SWC has had issues for ages and even the Qingdao leg, with all that prize money numbering hundreds of thousands of dollars, did not attract big fields either...

Moving on then, and the IOC, via World Sailing, has said that at Tokyo 2020, sailing will need to be snazzier. We’ve also written about that in recent times (just get the foiling Nacra sorted and put the men and women in an OD Moth to keep it all mostly inside the current structure), but I could not help thinking that if there are to be tears, then perhaps they should be as a result of WS not getting their ‘stuff’ together in time to save Sailing in the 2020 Paralympics.



Getting that Boxing Kangaroo out once more, we find that Matt Bugg nearly made it a clean sweep for Australia in the last class to be decided, the 2.4m. A DSQ in the penultimate race put paid to his one point lead and nearly his podium aspirations, but a terrific bullet in the last race ensured Silver for the solo sailor. Earlier, hats went off to Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesel Tesch in the SKUD18 for an absolute blinder of a regatta, and almost as commanding was the win for Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Jonathan Harris in the Sonar. So it is the last time our Paralympians will get that sort of bling, and to do it in such emphatic style is utterly praiseworthy. Well done!

Then, whilst reviewing all the Paralympic material, I received a note from Peter Conde, the Performance Director at Australian Sailing, in relation to his entry in the rapidly approaching Etchells Queensland State Championships from 1-3 October, inclusive. It is actually the back of Peter’s head on the left of the snap above that Jake Lilley took of the parade at Santander a few years ago, and highlights just how big the Euro circuit really is.

Anyway, Conde said of the regatta, “We are looking forward to quality racing at the QLD States, knowing that there are some really good teams intending to race and the club’s race management always do an excellent job. Myles Baron-Hay, Brian Hillier and I last sailed together at the Etchells Worlds in Cowes, twenty years ago, so it will be fun to get the band back together again.”

Now if you would like to receive the Sail-World newsletter each week, then please go to the 'Newsletter' button at the top of the Sail-World home page and enter your details. Simple...

Rooster 2025Switch One DesignRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER

Related Articles

Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
Marblehead to Halifax Race Update
The front-runners are pushing hard toward the finish After nearly 24 hours at sea, the front-runners of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race are pushing hard toward the finish. Temptation/Oakcliff leads the fleet in both elapsed and corrected time, with Boudicca – Gill Race Team close behind.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul
Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title.
Posted on 7 Jul
Protect Your Skin, Stay Out Longer
Rooster know that long days on the water are what summer is all about At Rooster, we know that long days on the water are what summer is all about. But with the sun high and strong, protecting your skin is just as important as protecting your kit.
Posted on 7 Jul