Events for 2012...

The RYA does not have three reps on Council it has one - Chris Atkins.

 Fiona Barron is an ISAF vice president she is selected by ISAF. The GBR  after her name designates where she lives. She is independent and is required to be so by ISAF.

Philip Tolhurst is in the same position constitutionally, though as chairman of the ISAF Offshore Committee he probably felt bound to vote in support of the Olympic Keelboat discipline.

i think although it seems very unfair, someone was boud to lose out - it seems that having two mens single handers and nothing for the multi hull sailors is very imbalanced and ridiculous, but there was never going to be a solution to make everyone happy. What most people have to do when choosing to go olympic sailing is to look at the boats, choose one that suits their physique or potential physique, and learn how to sail it. Thats what all the single handed women have to do, who are too small to sail a radial. They have to learn how to helm a 470 or something instead, or a yngling etc. It doesnt mean dreams are shattered, it is sad, but it just means that to get where you want to be, you need to find a new route. saying that, i would not be happy if my class were scrapped but that is what i would do too.

surely the Uk dinghy parks are not a true reflection on the rest of the planet though???!!!!!  Symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers are a totally different skill - some would argue that symmetric are more challenging, I remain undecided. I agree that yes, they could've removed the open double hander and that would be a good move but the point I was making is that whatever the classes, there is always something for someone, and if you want a ring of gold that much, you'll learn a new trade.

As for 18footers, yes, excellent boats, a great circuit, but how would the poorer nations be able to afford to campaign those!? So the star is expensive too, which is why it attracts the sailing legends - they can get as much sponsorship and backing as they need to campaign one, an 18 footer would be totally fundable by the likes of the Ozzies and the Brits etc but what about the eastern europeans where sailing budgets are much less or those countries where it would be impractical to sail them? Its more than just about british sailing.

Originally posted by kanga i think although it seems very unfair, someone was boud to lose out - it seems that having two mens single handers and nothing for the multi hull sailors is very imbalanced and ridiculous, but there was never going to be a solution to make everyone happy. What most people have to do when choosing to go olympic sailing is to look at the boats, choose one that suits their physique or potential physique, and learn how to sail it. Thats what all the single handed women have to do, who are too small to sail a radial. They have to learn how to helm a 470 or something instead, or a yngling etc. It doesnt mean dreams are shattered, it is sad, but it just means that to get where you want to be, you need to find a new route. saying that, i would not be happy if my class were scrapped but that is what i would do too.

FWIW my feeling is that there should be 3 sectors to olympic sailing...

Women, Light Men & Heavy Men

Each sector should have a single hander and a two hander so...

Women: Laser Radial + 29er
L Men: Laser + 49er
H Men: Finn + Star (Yes really)

Add Open: Catamaran (in reality Light Men but Caroline Brouwer would do well)

There you would have it, a broad range of disciplines, televisual appeal from the 29er, 49er and the Tornado.


Edited by Norbert

but why would the men get two seperate weight categories and not the women? i think you need 5 categories:

multihull

keelboat

single handed

double handed

windsurfer

and then you choose boats to go in these categories for women and for men, and the fleet/match decision too. This covers all bases. If you're not the right physique for one, you choose another.