Well the RYA are going to look right numpties (in their eyes) if they don't

I bet the rules didn't state that the winners would get selected.  Always a good get out of jail card that one.

I think it was similar to the Olympic selection. The trials is only a guide to the selectors.

This was done to prevent the likes of Ben Ainslie from being deselected at any trials due to bad result.

"Six months after making the move to the new boat, Weguelin and crew Sophie Ainsworth (Ashford) were crowned Under 19 and Women’s World Champions at the 29er Worlds held in January this year."

So if I understand correctly, the RYA is sending the currrent Under 19 and Women's World Champions in the class. That seems a fairly understandable decision. A difficult and controversial one possibly but hardly "dreadful".

It's not the first or last time that the best sailor(s) at a selection event have not gone on to the big event.

This is the old problem ...if you stick to the first past the post system you may leave your best sailor behind.

Buckley & Newlands won the 470 Worlds and the Gold at the pre-Olympics and didn't win the trials so didn't go.

I think there are even more examples at Youth level.

When you enter the event you know the rules ... harsh for these sailors though.

Perosnally at youth level I'd say skills are changing/developing so fast that it should be first past the post but not for Olympics ....

Hard luck for Peters & Diamond but I have no doubt they will bounce back with even more determination.

The Youth Nationals were sailed in light winds only.  The selectors have a responsibility to consider a wider range of conditions when selecting representatives for a future event (unless the event venue is Qingdao...).  All competitors will have been aware that the Nationals weren't a "winner automatically qualifies" event.  Whilst this is understandably disappointing for any winners who aren't selected it doesn't justify Adds' bitter-sounding accusations of favouritism and "already made there (sic) minds up" unless he/she has some genuine inside knowledge that we are unaware of...

Mike

Putting aside the issue of did the right boat get selected,  I have been working on a results database ( http://www.sailracer.co.uk - SailRacer ) to help answer these questions.

The SailRacer system was used to display the results at last week's http://www.sailracer.co.uk/youthnats.asp - Youth Nationals  and I had also captured some of the previous results of the competitors,  this allows us to do comparisons between when they have competed against each other. 

Harry - the table represents actual results,  but as you say there may be factors or circumstances behind the data that could influence individual positions,  this is where the knowledge and experience of the RYA selectors comes in to play..

Peters and Diamond are clearly sailors to watch in the future even if they missed out this time

Simon,

Your table is totally misleading, especially when you consider that there is a 2 year age gap between Peters and Weguelin,and most results listed are in the optimist class where age is highly significant. Others factors not reflected are

- the amount of coaching received by the 2 pairings - one is fully funded in the youth squad with ts support + loads of additional support , and the other is largely self coached and not in any squad and completely self-motivated

- the fact that Diamond only started crewing in January having previously been a successful helm - Ladies European 29er Champion after only 3 or 4 months in the class and 21st at the Worlds with a crew not ever sailed with before - not publicised anywhere.

Statistics may have their uses but definately not in this case.

The heading amuses me - British Sport?? What has this thread to do with the obvious failings in the so called 'Major sports'? Unlike those sports, the RYA system and lottery funding has produced a whole generation of world class sailors. A resultant fact is that we have at least two exceptionally good female 29er crews and EITHER would have been very good representatives. The fact the RYA went for the more experienced, very well proven championship performers should be no suprise.

If the current youth policy continues and top crews continue to develop,  I suspect that a year or two from now Sophie et al will find that policy a good idea.