Future Olympic Classes?

Originally posted by Matt Jackson Also although we are fairly keen on dinghies in the UK I never understood why the Olympic was so heavily biased towards them - why not have some big boat racing as well?

When there were big boats in the Olympics not many countries turned up and sailed them. Still the case: in worldwide terms not that many people race big boats compared to dinghies - look at the annual Class returns on ISAF. Britain is actually one of the countries that sails big boats most!

Originally posted by Matt Jackson Originally posted by Guest#260 Open means open - simple Sorry Rick could you be just a little more patronising please? I asked for a reason which is that I don't know what it means. Does it mean open to either sex or any builder or that the boat isn't decked or that it's a development class?

Sorry, I thought it was well know.

Open means open to men and women. The classes that state the sex are not open to the other sex.

Whilst the sport is quite mixed at grass roots level at the pinnacle the physical difference start to show.

The 79er could be an option if it is a success and becomes ISAF recognised.

The thing with this thread is to keep in mind the constraints; of course we'd love to see another 10 medals for our sport; but it's not going to happen.

So with the 11 we have what are the best options considering the average size (world wide) and cost constraints and of course all the many boats already out there.

Rick

PS Sorry again matt

 

 

well having read whats been said for  bit ,it is very clear you guy forget that when they say international this does not just mean Uk or just europe.For a class to be international it needs world wide participation.In looking at the classes around that could even think about being Olympic you have FD, 505,firballs.

 Inlooking at the boat the 505 is still to weight dependant as a 470 is, firballs, they haev the same issue.FDs.they are a alround boat that has stood the text of time.

 If it was supply for a olypmics this could be done.Internatinally it is already there , and the class it self is well positioned to placed back in the 5 ringed circus.

 A 10 -15 year old boat is still winning world titles.Also with the time fame you will start to see that the class profile is getting higher .Here in Aussie more people at making the change from 505s , firballs, moths, 470s.there are 4 new boats being built as we speak for people who are joining the class

 Looking at all the new classes that the builder have either re-invented or pushed as a class it will take many years before they get international status.all those new classes are not here in Aussie, USA, GER, HUN,ASIA etc.

 In looking at what goes in it will be depend firstly on the class members then the  class delegates doing the talking.

The FD guy was used by the 470 to keep them in last time, and they did this because we are good at it.Once we get the balling rolling I think you will find that it will happen.

I suggest that you guys have a sail on one to see why this is happening , as the Fd is the true number 1 dinghy around.No boat comes near it. 

Originally posted by Matt Jackson Maybe I've been talking to too many Americans recently - their sailing scene is almost exlusively big boats and I just assumed that was a worldwide thing.

If a serious Olympic campaign with one or two crew and a £5000 boat costs several £100Ks (and it does) what do you think an equivalent campaign with maybe 10 crew and a £250,000 boat is going to cost? Olympics are supposed to be accessible to any athlete with the talent, not just the wealthy few from 1st world countries. From memory, the RYA spent a couple of £M supporting the Olympic campaign last time around. I don't think the taxpayer or lottery is going to stump up huge amounts more.

and when it comes to energy mate

we are trainine 5 days a week in the gym and on the water .we are on a full sail and mast development and have a sailmaker and mast manfacture on the case as well, with one boat in europe and 1 in Sydney our campaig is the same if not more than what the olympic guys are doing .So saying the energy is going into winning let me tell you waking up at 5am each day to go to gym  there i plently of effort going into winning.The Hungarians and the dutch are doing the same .