Olympic Classes for 2012

Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by Scooby_simon Originally posted by Guest#260 I have to say the cat lobby have gone very quiet ... perhaps thay have been told not to rock the boat at the ISAF conference whilst ISAF get the 11th medal lined up with the IOC ... Maybe we know more than we are letting on. I susepct there is somthing going on ....

The 11th Medal is already on the agenda for today

To change the topic a bit, interesting piece from the Finns on the front page about setting up a builder in Brazil... There have been various submissions to ISAF conferences in recent years that suggest that there are quite a few countries that resent the SMOD classes because everything must be imported.

The One design classes like the 470 and Tornado have an appreciable selling point there if they can work things so that different builders' boats are as close as possible in performance (something they tend to seek to do anyway), and even if your Olympic contender has to go abroad there must be mileage in being able to build up local fleets more cheaply.

Well it looks like the 29erXX got it then and the 470 is out..

I still can't believe it..

From the front page story, criteria taken into consideration...

"

Factors for the Council to consider in making their decision are:

• Only International Classes shall sail in the Olympic Sailing Competition
• Criteria for selecting Events & Equipment is:

  (i) allow athletes around the world, male, female and of different sizes and weights to participate;

  (ii) give the best sailors in each country the opportunity to participate in readily accessible equipment;

  (iii) combine both traditional and modern events and classes, to reflect, display and promote competitive sailing;

  (iv) include at least two events for men and two events for women designed to maximise excitement, innovation, public and media appeal; and

  (v) meet the International Olympic Committee's criteria (if any) for participation in the Olympic Programme and achieve the current International Olympic Committee's objective (if any) for the minimum level of participation for women;"

Point iv - presumably the two "exciting" men's events are 49er and RSX (now the big T has gone). If two "exciting" women's events are required, the writing could be on the wall for the 470...

Originally posted by kanga 470W stays in 19 votes against 16.

Suprised it was a close as that... Must say I think they've got that right. Ditching the 470, which is popular with the small countries, for a boat that seems to have few boats anywhere, didn't come out of the trials well, apparently has has no class racing and seems to still be in development doesn't sound like the smartest of decisions to me. I wish Julian had done the job properly and designed a new hull...