New ladies skiff

Can I ask why you think the Olympic trials have found the wrong boats? The problem could be the amount of complete BS about such trials, not the results themselves.
 

 

I've a lot of detailed information going back to 1952, much of this might well be seen as contradicting some of the more popular beliefs already expressed here on the subject. It has to be remembered that back in the days of the IYRU, classes didn't get get hoiked up into the Olympics (think Laser/49er/Elliot 6), but instead  got added to a list - the boats were then chosen from that list. So the Trials were not for a actual  place in the Olympic Regatta, but for inclusion onto the A list - as that was the gateway to the 5 ring circus. In theory, the Contender AND Musto Skiff are both there on that list - somewhere!!

 

Did it go wrong..well, at times, yes it did. The same set of Trials that chose the Tornado also selected the Australis as the chosen A class - over the top of the superior, yet maybe not as pretty Unicorn, and in doing so put back the progress of the A class movement by many a year. The Unicorn as a cat may be dated now against the modern hi tech A class boats, but on Handicap are still well capable to giving good account for themselves.

 

As for the Contender - well.......here you have a classic example of a Committee setting out their criteria then moving the goal posts! (and not just once either). I covered this topic in detail in the book on the Contender, but suffice to say that the Contender 'winning on the water' was far from the case . As anyone who has put time in on the boat knows, it can be a frustrating pig of a boat in light airs and that is being generous to what is still one of the loveist boats to look at afloat. I've had the chance to sail the David Thomas Unit quite extensively and would say that in light to medium airs, the Unit was quicker upwind and down (thought entries to the Single handed Trials had been told that mere speed was only one factor). In addition, the Unit was the one leading boat that was not being sailed by a very high profile 'hot shot' helm, brought in for the event. Even so, had the IYRU had followed their own criteria, the Unit or Jeton could well have got the nod back at Weymouth...but as to the why...well, that's a long story.

 

As is the seletion of the 49er which was also far from straight forward, though here the pressures were very different. Sadly, the fear of official retribution precludes me going into more detail - let's just leave this one as a case of "the record books show that the 49er was selected".

 

Jim C and others wondering about the first Womens Skiff Trials - I'm sure I've covered this before on this forum but the simple answer is that they never happened. What went on down at Hyeres was just an indicative exercise for ISAF, so that they could - and I quote now from my own records of the time,"see what is out there".  As such, the media were discouraged and stayed away - though in sheer bloody mindedness I did attend - the only journalist to do so.. Now just because it looked like a Trial, smelt like a trial and to the observer gave all the appearance of a trial it wasn't - ISAF still insist to this day it was only an indicative event. (For those of you who are RS Association Members, go back two issues of the RS Mag and you'll see my report on what happened there -  suffice to say the GT60 looked great as did the newly redecked 800 - as far as I could see, these were the two boats that best 'hit the spot') NOTE: that view is taken as a 100% independant. I owe allegience to no one!!)

 

But come the Ladies Skiff Trials, will the 'best boat' win, for that is the real heart of the question.  There is little doubt in my mind that the best boat for sailing/racing, the best overall package and the name of the boat finally selected, may end have very little in common - but that I am afraid is the heavily politic driven and comercial nature of the final decision making process!! (don't forget - the RYA has already shown a willingness to throw away it's long term investment in the 420 and 470, to cast a vote for what was then the almost untried version of the 29erXX)

 

Dougal

Bearfacemedia (as a journalist do I have to declare a commercial interest when writing something?)

Out of all the boats I think this is the best option

When was there an Olympic trials series between the Laser Radial and the Byte CII?

The Byte CII site doesn't refer to one. The ISAF press release about the selection makes no mention of one (seehttp://sailing.org.au/?page=13652&Format=,%20print,%20pda&MenuID=News%2F10537%2F0). 

Google gives no clue. I certainly cannot recall hearing of one, or reading of one. 

With respect, it's a bit harsh for ISAF to cop criticism for allegedly ignoring trials that apparently did not actually occur!  If you are going to make such criticisms, could you please provide evidence that the trials occurred and of those results?