Olympic Sailing - interesting paper

Originally posted by mozzy Finn was the men's heavyweight dinghy (it's now open I believe...). Europe was the women's singlehander, the equivalent to the laser. It was replaced directly by the radial, i think on cost amongst other things like the global reach of the laser class and circuit.

So logic would dictate that what's fair for women..

So why seriously do we need two single handed hiking classes, when we have one with a mix of two sails and if necessary a bigger rig could be sanctioned if they, unlike windsurfing, are permitted another weight group which is all it is replacing..

There's nothing in a Finn can't be done in a Laser and arguably the Laser has a Global spread across all genders and weight groupings, there is no counter argument given the Ainslie victory in both classes.

Sorry it's got to go to make way for something more modern and equally available to a Global chequebook and gender spread.

Edited by iGRF - 27 Mar 18 at 2:10pm

I would say a Finn is tweakier, and a more sophisticated in general.  The physical efforts needed to pump 1:1 downwind are definitely an athletic skill beyond any Laser sailing bicep curls, but then so is straight-legging it in a Laser and footing off just enough to plane upwind like Slingsby - both beyond most posting here for sure. 

Edited by turnturtle - 27 Mar 18 at 3:22pm

I think there is a lot of difference in the details between the Finn and Laser in how they are sailed, but the fundamentals are similar. From a Olympic class criteria standpoint, what separates them is really just ideal weight. They are the closest of any two Olympic classes. 

Originally posted by Old Timer Originally posted by Bootscooter Originally posted by salmon80 Originally posted by Old Timer Originally posted by getafix   As I wrote before. No idea why a class as prestigious and with such great history (freestanding of the Olypmics) as the Finn, puts soooool much emphasis on being part of it.  Because they know what happens to classes when they lose the Olympic slot, name me one example of a class that has thrived following deselection? Star The Europe - admittedly not in the UK where it has never been a big class, even when part of the Olympics, but have a look at International numbers and you'll see that it's huge! http://dokumenter.asf.no/resultater/NOV/2015/WC_Europe_2015.htm 46 at a European worlds ...  http://www.costabrava-europeworlds17.com/en/default/races/race-resultsall 54 in Spain Pretty small beer ... similarly the Firefly is nothing outside the UK where we get 31 at last years nationals ... Star has a benefactor that runs a few high profile events for a few pros but otherwise is dead ... No-one survives the post Olympic slot come down ...

The Finn is a great class with a great history, arguably the boat and rig have evolved into one of the most developed and sophisticated single-handed sailing dinghies in the world today. There are and have been great, great sailors in the class and I'm sure will continue to be as well.

The Laser is a beach boat that has been elevated by sales numbers (note not sail) to Olympic status and given a level of 'serious racing' credibility the designer and producers never expected or catered for.  There are and have been great, great sailors in the class and I'm sure will continue to be as well.

Both are, IMO, like the rest of the Olympic classes, subject to the rule that the best funded campaigns do most of the winning most often.  This is fine for us here in good old Britannia, because we have very well funded sailors - undoubtedly very talented too - so we win lots of medals and champs pots.

Now, my problem with the original article is that, for me, the fine establishment of the Finn class hangs way too much importance and emphasis on retaining Olympics slot and has contributed to the grubby political intrigues, back room deals and potential corruption we all usually associate with bodies that run football, not a fine sport like ours.  Every time there is even a wiff that heresy might take place, worthies emerge from all sorts of nooks and crannies to spout on about how much of a tragedy it would be for 'our sport' and 'ruin the spectacle' or 'unfairly punish' one category or another.  Basically, my point is, the Star did all this, many times, but still got binned from the O-Games. 

Because the IOC care about sponsorship dollars and media licensing dollars and merchandise licensing dollars and suitcases of dollars from cities wanting to host the games.  Very, very few of these come from Olympic sailing, or ever will IMO.  What's going to make this worse is that the 40-60% increase over the last two cycles of people watching coverage online (and on catch-up) means a continually greater focus in future on sports that can fit nicely into highlights packages of 10 minutes or less (much less in many cases).  Sir Mo has come along at a good time, will there even be a 10,000m in three or four cycles?  Will there be a medal for race walking or air-pistol shooting or archery, never mind Finn vs Laser sailing??  Its more likely they will introduce a 'legends' 100m so they can bring back Bolt than they'd bother spending even 5 minutes debating whether to have x or y number of sailing events or who'd be the target athlete profile for them.

The Finn class, like a lot of sailing bodies, would be well served, IMO, by focus on how to maintain/build participation, encourage youth and retain oldies and spend a lot less cycles worrying about buying dinner for the ISAF vote from xxxxxxxxx (fill in with small African or Asian country that has no sailing budget and is therefore a vote for sale <note not sail>).

Sailing needs to ween itself off the idea that the Olympics is the pinnacle and focus its efforts and attention on something longer lasting, more sustainable and something much more of the planet can get involved in and get behind, generation after generation.