Medal Races - poor format?

I agree that the medal race and the double points system is flawed because it is too easy for someone to knock you right down the table, even if you have posted a consistent scoreline all week

The issue for me is if you come into the race in Silver well clear of Bronze but a threat to the sailor in Gold you'll be sc*%wed - can't see how that fits in with the Olympic ethos.

IMHO much better to take in a point for your postion at the end of the fleet races, then add a point for your position at the end of the medal race. Lowest score wins with draws decided by posisition before the medal race. 

    

Just read SA - and Chris249 post on the medal races, got me thinking so howabout this idea..

• Normal series one throwout.
• 2-9 place in the series go through to the knockout round. 1st place as a bye in the first knockout
  
• Knock out round rules - 15 minute races max..must have a reaching finish...
• Rnd 1 - last 4 get binned
• Rnd 2 - winner of series is automatically in this round, races against 4 others - Medals decided on placings.

Good for tv and avoids "Paul is in 9th place in the medal race and will gold if it stays like this". Gives some advantage to winning the series as it means you only have to beat 2 boats to win a medal. ok doensn't beneifit the guy/girl in 2nd but hey.

Don't think this will lengthen the regatta much either...

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Edited by laser4000

Surely Nick Dempsey's fate shows the folly of a double-points medal race, and not (just) because he's a Brit.

After a week's sailing, he was in line for a medal, but thanks to a farcically short medal race, shortened due to a wind shift, he missed out.

Surely the event should be staged in such a way as to sort out the sailors in order of ability as fairly as possible, so that the best sailor wins the gold, the next best the silver and so forth?

The double-points medal race introduces a chance factor (emphasizing one race's result just because it's the last) which tends to randomize the results in the name of 'spectacle'. Hardly appropriate given the effort the the competitors have put in over the four preceding years.

Originally posted by Medway Maniac Surely Nick Dempsey's fate shows the folly of a double-points medal race, and not (just) because he's a Brit. After a week's sailing, he was in line for a medal, but thanks to a farcically short medal race, shortened due to a wind shift, he missed out. Surely the event should be staged in such a way as to sort out the sailors in order of ability as fairly as possible, so that the best sailor wins the gold, the next best the silver and so forth? The double-points medal race introduces a chance factor (emphasizing one race's result just because it's the last) which tends to randomize the results in the name of 'spectacle'. Hardly appropriate given the effort the the competitors have put in over the four preceding years.

We all know what you're saying but you need to contrast that with the 'need' to make sailing TV friendly. The medal race seemed to be the best compromise at the time to valuing the series but then going for a 'final'

Yes there are more variabilities in sailing than virtually any other olympic sport, but if you turn on the tv and watcht the other sports they all have either heats, qualifying or knockout and then you have a 'winner takes all final' - .e.g. track and field, rowing, cycling etc etc..

The problem it generates is that you then get Simmonds having to explaing "it doesn't matter if Perce/Bart finish in 5th provided they are ahead of the swedes they win gold"...which to us makes sense..to 'armchair fan' doesnt..