Olympic Sailing - interesting paper

but the average athletics centre can be re-used by a commercial operator after the event.... like West Ham United.  

The average sailing centre just sits there as an eltist bubble and wind block in a North Westerly 

Considering the level of some of the exchanges on here, this has been an interesting debate with some good points made well.  TT is right, it is all too easy to rely on stereotypes and overlook that the true picture might be actually very different. Then you get Bootscooter who gave us the details of the entries for the Finn Europeans (note...not the Worlds but a 'European' event) which is an impressive list of nations. One has to wonder how many of the other so called 'international' classes can get anywhere near this level of  support; maybe if WS were a little stricter on what actually comprises an international class the picture would be a little clearer.

This wide spread support does of course suggest that the Finn will continue to get the nod. This is nothing to do with dodgy voting or 'buying' support like FIFA, but just reflects what is going on around the globe. This can though have some unexpected consequences; I think it was when the then ISAF were voting for the boats for 2012 that they had to be very quick on their feet, else the 49er would have been voted out in favour of the Snipe. I jest not..... but if Snipe are sailed by more MNAs around the world, one might get surprises like this creeping in!

And finally, well said Getafix for suggesting that  the question has to be asked as to what the sport wants as the 'pinnacle' going forward. Is it the Olympics, or some form/format of open championships? The current set up of one entry per nation is itself something of an issue.  Take this away and it would be easily possible to have the UK with 2 out of 3 medals in the Finn, France getting a clean sweep in the kitesailing - but if you stick to the current set up, can you say that the Olympics are truly the tops?

The last time I looked at the figures, it was clear that World Sailing are totally beholden to the Olympics, it is where a significant chunk of their revenue comes from. Being at the Games is really what keeps the trough full, so they will do whatever is required to maintain that position.  So if you find that the classic racing of boats around a course gets replaced by 'Kite-o-Cross' - where they race, then jump obstacles, getting marks for style or how ethnic their sailing wear is, then you'll know why. "It's sailing....but not as we know it".

D

Exactly; the Finn enjoys international support because it has been Olympic equipment for 70 years ... not because it is a Finntastic design ...

Make any other class Olympic for 70- years and you get the same ...