Olympic 'finals' proposal

There is an active tempest fleet at Ullswater YC- I've certainly seen quite a few racing when I go there.

I know that it only applies to Olympic classes, but most things will be adopted by the class authorities etc., like olympic courses, more than 1 race a day etc.

Even though there are double points for the last non-discardable race, it would still be possible for the race to be decided before the last race. For example if someone had a 20 point lead, then even if they dawled around 5 minutes behind everyone else came 10th and got 20pts, and the guy in 2nd got a 1st, and 2pts, then he would still win. try explaining that the guy who came last by a mile wins the event to the non- sailing public, it's not as simple as it appears.

That would be a very rare case but it would be quite likely that the guy who comes 5th wins the gold, with the guy in 6th awarded a silver, and the race winner getting a bronze for example, wehich to me defeats the point of it. I think the system is fundamentally flawed-malthough I may have misunderstood the scoring.

Also what would an OCS, DSQ, DNC or RTD score? 21 points, 22points, in this case the gold medalist needent evn come to the starting area, or could sail through the line with 50 secs to go, and keep going towards the boat park????!!!!

I believe that the Olympics should represent slightly the sport we devote our time and money doing, so the sailors can be entertained by situations they understand and can relate to, and the public can have an insight into small boat racing.

Becoming "the champ" is surely a very small reason for choosing to sail a particular class. The vast majority of the sailors in ANY class will never be the champ.  

People may want to compete in Olympic classes to have the opportunity to race against the some of best sailors in the World and raise their game accordingly; maybe for the purpose of returning to non-Olympic classes later and being much more competitive.

Fair and logical point but people are wierd..... if they don't want to win why do they buy the most competitive kit???? ans - we are all latent dreamers trapped in the sweaty, damp wet suit of reality.

Lets hope the rest of sailing realises what a proposterous idea this is. Every sport is different. The reason that the 400m's has heats and semi's is so that they can fit everyone on the track at the same time, sailing does not have this problem. The problem sailing has is a lack of inginuety on behalf of the broadcasters. Whilst doing a world championships in South Africa SABC made a film of the week, with on board cameras the full works, it was broadcast in a 45 minute slot the following week and to be honest was superb.

This was not a huge budget affair, just two guys and a couple of cameras, so why they cannot do the same for the Olymics I dont know. To change sailing when you could be comanding a championships throughout the week and then break a rope, tear a sail or get holed, none of which might be your fault and your medal is gone.

When the ISAF realises that the media is not really interested in sailing because it percieves there is no interest from Joe Public then the ISAF will start to lead and not follow like lost sheep. Hopefully individual classes will not start to follow this line, or I may just retire and sit on the beach all day.

Your quite right Stefan. I fully retract my previous ramblings..... I am the only one who wants to be champion of the world.