ISAF annual meeting

by Sail-World on 8 Nov 2000 Stay or go? 49er or Soling? The Events Committee of the International
Sailing Federation today nominated two different slates of boats for the ISAF Council to vote on this Thursday. One slate drops the 49er, the other drops the Soling.

Both add a women's keelboat matchracing event, this a result of IOC directives to increase women's participation in Olympic sailing.

The first round of voting saw the election of the Tornado Sport (it's a Tornado with twin traps, larger mainsail and an asymmetrical spinnaker), the Mistral sailboard clung to it's Olympic status by a single vote, and the 470 women, Europe, Soling and Star all made it through. Then came the block voting, Olympic musical chairs, with four boats and only three slots: men's single-handed, men's double-handed and open dinghy. The four boats were the 470, 49er, Finn and Laser. The 19 Events Committee members were instructed to select 3 boats in their balloting. The Laser got 19, 470 16, Finn 13 and 49er 9 votes.

After a short recess, there was a second round of voting, this for a slate of boats based on criteria from the Events Committee's midyear meeting in Cyprus last May. (The first slate was based on guidance from ISAF Council). In this second round, it came down to the Star vs. the Soling for men's keelboat. The Star won the day 11-8.

A motion by the Australian Yachting Federation's Phil Jones, that the elimination of any dinghy "would not be in the best interest of the sport" was passed 14-1 with four abstentions.

The Council now has two slates to choose from. Lobbying is at a fever pitch in Edinburgh.