ISAF Worlds

Remember without funding very few sailors could sail full time (before funding virtually all UK were amateur, holding down jobs and not sailing full time and thus not getting the same time on the water as other countries top sailors). The huge increase in full time sailors also made coaching a variable career, rather than a second source of income.

a lot of money is being spent that could be spent elsewhere.  not only the personal expenses of the athlete but also coaching, boat prep etc.  There is a huge distinction between pro and amateur in the amount of resources that the pro gets - eg time on the water, coaching, boat prep.  These advantages have to be translated into success or it is a waste of money.

And by the way Nick is not going to the Worlds.  He was not selected.  Funded sailors who finished behind in the selection series are going instead...  The funding process is flawed and the money would be better spent on grass roots sailing eg a programme to help clubs combat weed growth in their water.

Nick Craig was involved with the  rya youth set up in the early 90's sailing cadets .  He  was a product of pre lottery  funding where  the rya  did not push its  best sailors  as hard as to day and it was  far more difficult  to get funding  to sail full time.    Remember   the laser only got selected in 93  for the olympics by which time  Nick ws lagering it up at  uni    sailing ents  and team racing  so maybe not even be in the  rya's radar at the time for  lasers.  Also look at the  top guys from the 95 trials in the laser (Ainsle , Percy Hugh Styles) to see the   sucess with the   youth policy at the time.  

Now to the present the    due to the joys of  the current uk system within any goverment funded system it is goal related. For youth and olympic sailing that means medals! Sailing   cycling and rowing  get them,  if you read some of the rya  website you will know that the sports also  share  resources if they can't  afford specailist's full time on their own resources.  Also points= prizes  in the rya case skandia sponsor   them and I think the rya  use their resources well. 

Personally   I wished I had  been   able to enjoy the  lottery system but   at the time the prospect of uni and  a    good job  was more enticing than groveling around  to be able to sail  full time.

All  the best for nick to go back and do it  but it will be interesting to see  how he does at the worlds

 

 

 

I agree with getafix,

I am nothing but pround to be associated with a sport where we are the worlds best. If a high level of funding is needed to keep the system bringing home gold then its worth it.

I imagine there's other sports who have more funding that can only envy sailings success.

Edited by E.J.

Originally posted by Rupert Nick Craig is hardly an ordinary "amateur" though is he? He spends a lot of time in OKs and Finns, and had he so chosen, I'm sure he could have gone down the professional RYA olympic squad route. Instead, he chose a more balanced life, and it seems to have suited him! Great to see him so far up the rankings.

Rupert,

I would disagree, there was an interview in Y&Y with Nick. If you read it you will see is is pretty much an ordinary amateur sailor. Admittedly he has a job that helps him and has the ways and means to compete in several classes and he has natural talent. If memory serves the reason he did not got the RYA route is because he came to sailing relatively late and was too old (I could be wrong, I am sure someone will confirm or deny).

From what I have heard from people who have done events where he has been present he is also a friendly guy who is not scared to share his knowledge and expertise with everyone.

Paul