RYA statement on the selection of Olympic Classes for 2012

by Lindsey Bell, RYA 15 Nov 2008 09:34 GMT

At its annual conference, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has today (Friday 14 November) selected the boat classes which will be contested at the 2012 Olympic sailing competition at Weymouth and Portland.

The main debate at the ISAF Conference regarding the Olympic equipment choices for 2012 surrounded the boat for the women’s two person dinghy event – which saw the incumbent 470 class selected over the new 29erXX high performance dinghy – and the selection of equipment for the women’s keelboat event. This will be raced under a Match Racing format for the 2012 Olympic Games, with ISAF Council today electing that a modified version of the Elliott 6m boat be used.

The RYA welcomes the decision to select the equipment as the Elliott 6m at this juncture, to allow nations to begin developing their national programmes, and ISAF World Cup event organisers to establish fleets of supplied equipment.

The RYA is now calling for prompt clarification from ISAF as to the 2012 Olympic qualification process for the women’s keelboat Match Racing event, so that the sailors and their support teams can begin to put their 2012 campaigns together.

“ISAF has made its decision in respect of the classes for 2012 and these will enjoy an excellent reception in Weymouth and Portland for the London Olympic Games,” said RYA Racing Manager / Performance Director John Derbyshire.

“British interest will remain high as we have some great talent in the 470 class, both men’s and women’s, and look forward to our women adapting to the challenges of match racing in the Elliott 6m. We will now consider how best to take this forward.”

Derbyshire continued: “I am disappointed, however, that the sport has missed an opportunity to showcase a new women’s class to the world in 2012 with the 29erXX, which I think would have seen many young British girls continuing to compete after their youth days were over.”