Olympic Investment

I used to race a Raceboard 7.5 on the NW regional circuit (where we still race a 7.5m class) and the odd national event, reasonably successfully. For a short while we managed to persuade the local T15 reps to combine their events with our UKBSA/UKWA Raceboard events with the older kids racing the same course as the adults. They stopped doing this 'cos they said the kids were 'intimidated' by the sight of us 'big kids'! Now the kids don't realise that there is windsurf racing after the age of 15....... The RYA doesn't seem interested in promoting Raceboards and appears to abandon the over 15s unless they have 'Olympic potential' and there are virtually non entering Raceboard events. Dinghy sailors have more chance as most clubs have a racing culture where windsurfing clubs don't (and don't get me started on how Formula W destroyed windsurf racing at club level 'cos they just don't work on small inland ponds.....)

An interesting observation that with Rio finally 'done and dusted' there has been little comment made on the results from the three para-lympic classes. The one official comment that was made  - "Their success means that the British Sailing Team has achieved its pre-Rio target of two medals." is as interesting for what it doesn't say as what it does. Hmmm..two bronze medals - job done? More like a case that Team GBR had an arse kicking from the Australian contingent that came close to a clean sweep, finally settling for two Gold and a Silver.

Word is that the performance of 'Team GBR' will now be the topic of some fairly far reaching discussions, with a potential funding cut being just one of the options that are on the table.

The bigger question? Would the £5.4m cut in funding stay in the sport, in one form or another, or be directed elsewhere?

D