Olympic Classes

I bought a new Finn, not an MPS, even though there is no Finn fleet racing where I live. To some of you that must seem incomprehensible. Why would I want to go slow when I could go fast?

So read carefully.

If I just wanted fast I would have bought an A class cat. For the money I wouldn't have gone for an MPS which is, relatively, only a bit faster than the Finn, but for something really fast (and with the added benefit of not falling over as much). In fact if speed was absolutely everything, I would have bought a powerboat.

But of course I didn't because speed is just all relative, and because there is more to it than just speed.

Why would anyone have a bicycle when they could have a motorbike? They are similar enough in concept, but the motorbike is, of course, much faster and more exciting. The answer is that they are different, and people want different things. I enjoy the challenge of the Finn, and lots of other people do as well, in the same way people enjoy the challenge of racing a bicycle.

So please stop this superficial harping about speed and excitement, and please stop writing off those of us (actually, the majority of us) who recognize that practically none of the things we really enjoy doing in life, including our sailing, generate a continuous adrenalin high.

Now I think the MPS is a nice boat which obviously has, for others, the same appeal as the Finn does for me. But if you're honest, do you like the MPS because it is full-on adrenalized sailing the entire time? I wouldn't think so. Do you never sail it in light winds? Do you never sail upwind, or are all your races just kite runs in 20+ knots? I'm sure you like it for a whole range of reasons, relatively few of which are related to its absolute speed.

Now for the Olympics, and recalling that the MPS is only relatively faster than the Finn, do you really think that this speed difference will double the TV audience? Triple it. If you're honest you'll recognize that it won't make any difference at all. While a bit quicker, watching an MPS race is hardly the stuff of the X-Games (and how many of you watch that, by the way?). Of course all sailing classes would look better with higher quality and more imaginative tv coverage, but that is not what this discussion is about.

So before you write, think about what the Olympics is supposed to test in an athlete, and whether what you are offering is really better in that regard. If you come honestly to a different conclusion than me, then fine. But please stop bashing the Finn for, frankly, no other reason than that it is not a skiff.



Edited by 7250

Originally posted by dinghysolutions Sailing would be better off not being in the olympics at all. This would mean that people will sail boats that they actually like  and some of these old classes would not be around any more..   To decide class's and race foremate  just to suit TV makes the olympics a waist of time as you dont get all the best sailors in the world sailing the best boats in the world. And example of this could be one 470 world title the top 10 were full of 7 New Zealanders but only one went.So the silver and Bronze winners at those olympics where not really the best in the world.  Worlds Titles have more recogition than Olympics. Sailing would be better off not in the olympics at all!

 Its not me with a new name.... I swear. Great piont though.

Originally posted by 7250 I bought a new Finn, not an MPS, even though there is no Finn fleet racing where I live. To some of you that must seem incomprehensible. Why would I want to go slow when I could go fast? So read carefully. If I just wanted fast I would have bought an A class cat. For the money I wouldn't have gone for an MPS which is, relatively, only a bit faster than the Finn, but for something really fast (and with the added benefit of not falling over as much). In fact if speed was absolutely everything, I would have bought a powerboat. But of course I didn't because speed is just all relative, and because there is more to it than just speed. Why would anyone have a bicycle when they could have a motorbike? They are similar enough in concept, but the motorbike is, of course, much faster and more exciting. The answer is that they are different, and people want different things. I enjoy the challenge of the Finn, and lots of other people do as well, in the same way people enjoy the challenge of racing a bicycle. So please stop this superficial harping about speed and excitement, and please stop writing off those of us (actually, the majority of us) who recognize that practically none of the things we really enjoy doing in life, including our sailing, generate a continuous adrenalin high. Now I think the MPS is a nice boat which obviously has, for others, the same appeal as the Finn does for me. But if you're honest, do you like the MPS because it is full-on adrenalized sailing the entire time? I wouldn't think so. Do you never sail it in light winds? Do you never sail upwind, or are all your races just kite runs in 20+ knots? I'm sure you like it for a whole range of reasons, relatively few of which are related to its absolute speed. Now for the Olympics, and recalling that the MPS is only relatively faster than the Finn, do you really think that this speed difference will double the TV audience? Triple it. If you're honest you'll recognize that it won't make any difference at all. While a bit quicker, watching an MPS race is hardly the stuff of the X-Games (and how many of you watch that, by the way?). Of course all sailing classes would look better with higher quality and more imaginative tv coverage, but that is not what this discussion is about. So before you write, think about what the Olympics is supposed to test in an athlete, and whether what you are offering is really better in that regard. If you come honestly to a different conclusion than me, then fine. But please stop bashing the Finn for, frankly, no other reason than that it is not a skiff.

7250, please don't think anyone is Finn bashing; I think the Finn is a great boat and I am well aware that the Finn enjoys a great following world wide outside of the Olympics. I believe the Finn masters event is huge.

However, this thread is about the best choice for the Olympics. If we can compare the 49er with the FD I believe the 49er is better for the cameras and a test truer to the Olympic ideal ... FD is still a great boat but things have moved on and the 49er better fits the modern Olympic bill.

I personally believe the above analogy can be applied to the open single hander slot; this doesn’t mean the Finn is a bad boat; just perhaps things have moved on and the event would benefit from a newer design ...

Rick

Originally posted by dinghysolutions Sailing would be better off not being in the olympics at all. This would mean that people will sail boats that they actually like  and some of these old classes would not be around any more..   To decide class's and race foremate  just to suit TV makes the olympics a waist of time as you dont get all the best sailors in the world sailing the best boats in the world. And example of this could be one 470 world title the top 10 were full of 7 New Zealanders but only one went.So the silver and Bronze winners at those olympics where not really the best in the world.  Worlds Titles have more recogition than Olympics. Sailing would be better off not in the olympics at all!

but thows people that are sailing the class will have to stay there as they will be the only boats with sailors as good as them in them there not about to buy a boat where there wining every race and laping every one how much fun would that be not much

so they will stay in the class they are in for the close racing

the laser was relly big class befor it was in the olipks with good sailors in

althow there may be very good sailors in sonme of the class not meany have the skill to give ben anserly a run for him money paul godison chris draper they will need to stay in the class they are in to keep the compertishon at there leval and they will only move if all there mates that sail in the olipks move at the same time into the same class to them or there would be no point

note i think the laser is a rubbish boat but its not all about the boat its also the people that are in them looks how good the fleet is

Edited by 5420

If you look at the criteria for the various categories, and apply them rigidly, there's no way the MPS could possibly replace the Finn. Go read the criteria, then come back and name a single SMOD that fits the bill.

As for the political element, Paul Henderson ( FD sailor) was President of ISAF when the FD was dropped. Didn't help much did it? Personally I think being dropped from the 5-ring circus was the best thing that could have happened to the FD class, and any "open" class that is newly selected will encounter exactly the same problems - and benefits - that the FD did.

Problems:-

Arms race over gear, perception that unlimited funds are necessary to win, and the idea that the boat is not for mere mortals, just to name a few!

Benefits:-

Top sailors come into the class, RYA support (if that really is a benefit!), ready-made international regatta circuit, and a steady flow of good second-hand gear from the Olympic gods to help the poor of the parish

I agree with 7250 in the main. The choice of boat will make very little difference to the viewing figures. Viewing figures for sailing in the UK were good because we were in the hunt for lots of medals. If the situation is different next time (God forbid!), no-one will bother except sailors. How many of us had ever watched curling before 2002?

The 49er is a great boat, but a better boat than the FD? Better for what? If you were standing on the shore looking at 25 knot breeze and 4m waves, which would you pick to go racing? None of this is anything to do with the boats, it's more to do with the current obsession with the word "modern". Next thing we'll see will be compulsory pit-stops and shoe-changes every 4 laps in the 10,000 metres! No? Wait till a TV executive suggests it, then see how quick it happens. The only sport I have experience of at that level, fencing, has been completely ruined - sorry, "modernised" - by the pressure of making it more telegenic to keep Olympic status. Dinghysolutions is probably right in the end.

Neil