Commonwealth Games Sailing

I always struggle with the the assertion that the Sunfish is so numerous ... I consider myself well travelled and I have only ever seen a few battered examples in the Caribbean and USA.

Well yes. To my mind sailing shouldn't  or cannot really be considered as an Olympic sport at all. Of course the top people have great fitness, skill and intellect. There is just too much equipment involved in the equation to really be able to clearly see the mantra of "higher, faster, stronger". 

I think sailing has closer parallels with motor racing than anything else. Think of the costs from Clubman Bangers to F1 probably not much different and regarding fitness, half tidy people with top skills can get pretty close to bothering the elite group. 

??? 

The Moth doesn't quite qualify, strictly speaking, as it was invented in the USA as well as Australia, and without the spread from the US branch and US/Swiss/French design input, it would not be what it is today.

IMHO offshore yachts, probably the most popular type afloat, should be represented and a course from coastal town to coastal town could allow the inclusion of many areas that would not be part of the Games.

I'd agree with Jim that the Olympic classes should be allowed, giving us;

Mens S/H- Laser - currently sailed in most CW countries where the sport exists and vastly more than any other class bar the Opti?

(if no Olympic classes are allowed, substitute Contender, currently sailed UK, Oz, Can + Scot?)

Womens S/H - Radial (or "Contender Radial?") 

Mens 2H - 'Ball - currently sailed UK, Oz, Canada, South Africa, Scot(?), Kenya (?), Northern Irel (?) Zim (?) formerly sailed NZ; or 505 (Uk, Oz, SA, Can, Zim (?) Scot (?) NI (?))

Mixed Skiff - 49er/FX - currently sailed UK, Oz, NZ, SA, Scot(?), 

Cat - Viper or Tornado - Viper currently sailed Oz, Sing (?), Uk(?); Tornado Uk, Oz, ??

Keelboat - Flying 15, currently sailed UK, Oz, NZ, SA, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Zim?

Windsurfer - sadly, none of the classes are CW designed. 

Offshore yacht - Farr/Mumm 30, currently sailed UK, Oz, NZ, Can a bit IIRC. Otherwise whatever is strong in the host country ie Sigma 33, Farr 1020.

Team Racing - Ent (Uk, Sri Lanka, SA, India, Scot, NI,) or Tasar (Uk, Oz, Canada, Scot(?)).

It's scary to see how few classes are really widespread. The fact that our few widespread classes are so often attacked is even more scary given their rarity. No wonder the sport has some problems when its players can't agree on international rules most of the time.

PS apologies to the Welsh and others for not including them!