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    Posted: 08 Feb 06 at 6:05pm
Originally posted by Bumble

Originally posted by Blobby

Selection of classes for the olypmics is 99% political and 1% about the boat.  To get the new class in you need to make a lot of powerful friends...

Every big session for the ISAF involves a discussion of one type or another on the Olympic classes. One thing is for sure...... they have no reservations about altering the status quo and their fear of stagnation due to 'dated' classes is admirable by degree of conviction at least.

History has shown that the cream always rises to the top, so the actual class choice is arbitary and I suspect further changes will be made soon in an attempt to adjust the women/man balance and try to reflect the developments dinghy sailing has taken recently.

My hunch is the finns days are numbered, because it has been nominated for the chop a few times now. The laser has not succumed to the 'curse' of the olympics so its difficult to see that being removed but for many, a MPS or similar would be an attractive choice.

The best sailors will always win regardless of the classes.

But ... some classes will offer better media appeal than others. Seems that given the ISAF tinkering with the racing format misses the point - if the boats are uninteresting then the format is a side issue.

I think the IOC are looking for more inclusion and media appeal and I don't think expensive slow boats are fitting with that. ISAF document 037-03, which I downloaded off the website but it's hard to find, gives an outline; not all the current classes fit the outline requirement.

3 = Laser
4 = Finn
6 = 470
7 = 49er

Rick

There are loads of meeting minutes on this page but they are not that well indexed.

http://sailing.org/default.asp?MenuID=oev~GMwpmB7qq3,~ITv3J5 Y1IQEcrFGFNZB?m?QgjrElRd

 



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Originally posted by BBSCFaithfull

Just a quick thought. Do you the fellow forumites believe that the laser and finn will be replaced with faster high performance assy's. I would of thought that they would be phased out by the MPS or something similar. Any thoughts? I would of thought it would make more of a spectacle for the Olympic Games i.e. a MPS or something similar creaming downwind jumping from crest to crest opposed to the laser and finn plodding along in comparison.
Any thoughts? I just thought it was a good thread topic

Why would you want to replace the Laser? Tactically I don't think you can get closer racing ,it's sailed in just about every country in the world and it's an affordable boat,so any great sailor has the opportunity to sail for their Country. I personally don't think it should be replaced.

Maybe they should just add another one in the form of the MPS/700!!



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the laser is (relatively) cheap compared to some classes tough so i cant see that going soon (next decade).
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Posts: 302 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bumble Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 06 at 3:50pm
Originally posted by Blobby

Selection of classes for the olypmics is 99% political and 1% about the boat.  To get the new class in you need to make a lot of powerful friends...

Every big session for the ISAF involves a discussion of one type or another on the Olympic classes. One thing is for sure...... they have no reservations about altering the status quo and their fear of stagnation due to 'dated' classes is admirable by degree of conviction at least.

History has shown that the cream always rises to the top, so the actual class choice is arbitary and I suspect further changes will be made soon in an attempt to adjust the women/man balance and try to reflect the developments dinghy sailing has taken recently.

My hunch is the finns days are numbered, because it has been nominated for the chop a few times now. The laser has not succumed to the 'curse' of the olympics so its difficult to see that being removed but for many, a MPS or similar would be an attractive choice.
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 06 at 9:17am
Originally posted by Blobby

Selection of classes for the olypmics is 99% political and 1% about the boat.  To get the new class in you need to make a lot of powerful friends...

Correct - dosn't mean there should be no changes though ...

The Laser and 49er have been great for the Olympics - opened up sailing to more nations and created more media appeal.

These classes are also true to the Olympic ideal - there are plenty of chances to test leading edge technology in our sport but the Olympics is not the place for an arms race.

Changes are slow and the sport suffers as a result - we need a radical at ISAF.

Rick
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Posts: 779 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Blobby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 06 at 12:40am

Selection of classes for the olypmics is 99% political and 1% about the boat.  To get the new class in you need to make a lot of powerful friends...
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Posts: 710 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Chris Noble Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 06 at 11:17pm
hopefully there will come a day..... but the classes are very good classes
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Posts: 1251 		Post Options Post Options   Quote BBSCFaithfull Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 06 at 10:15pm
Just a quick thought. Do you the fellow forumites believe that the laser and finn will be replaced with faster high performance assy's. I would of thought that they would be phased out by the MPS or something similar. Any thoughts? I would of thought it would make more of a spectacle for the Olympic Games i.e. a MPS or something similar creaming downwind jumping from crest to crest opposed to the laser and finn plodding along in comparison.
Any thoughts? I just thought it was a good thread topic
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