Dinghy development: No paralympics

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No paralympics

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13172
Printed Date: 01 Jul 25 at 10:44am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: No paralympics

Posted By: johnr
Subject: No paralympics
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 7:34am

So the IOC has removed Paralympic sailing from the Paralympics. So if you have a disability this means no more Olympics for you. Should sailing lead the way with creating its own Paralympics solely focused on sailing as a mainly Corinthian event?

Replies:

Posted By: RS400atC
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 8:51am

World Sailing also reports that Para World Sailing has had a period of accelerated growth through initiatives such as the Paralympic Development Program (PDP) that culminated in more than 80 sailors from 37 nations and five continents racing across three events at the 2017 Para World Sailing Championships.

The U.S. has a total of eight entries/nine sailors in competition at the upcoming 2018 Para World Sailing Championships in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, from September 16-22. A record 101 sailors from 42 nations have registered to race across four events and participate in a PDP clinic which precedes the Championships.

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 8:55am

International distribution is to my mind a far bigger threat to sailing even in the main Olympics than TV presentation.

Posted By: Chris 249
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 10:11am

Jeez, Jim, it sounds as if you've actually been doing research like reading the reports of the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission and looking at their criteria.

Don't you know that on the internet that sort of research isn't allowed? What we are supposed to do when this sort of thing arises is to screech "foiler foiler foiler cat cat cat skiff skiff skiff". After all, it works for Magnus Wheatley, Alan Block and all those other luminaries.

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sailcraftblog.wordpress.com

The history and design of the racing dinghy.

Posted By: andymck
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 10:19am

World sailing has an issue with Paralympic sailing. They use expensive boats that require keelboat fascilities, no longer needed by the able bodied Olympic classes. This reduces the take up in less well funded nations as it is just too expensive.
The shame is that sailing can be a truly inclusive sport. We have a thriving sailability set up at Rutland, and many take part in club racing on a regular basis. Often wining.
World sailing should look at different classes that are already being used successfully. But as usual they have ignored the obvious class that would have been perfect. The Challenger was not even invited to the trials for a slipway launch craft. The reasons have never been made clear. I believe they chose the Weta, which has had to be adapted rather than designed for the role.
At the sailability training earlier the Weta was outperformed by the Challenger. The spinnaker was not a useful addition, and the bigger size and complexity required a higher level of support.
With the success of the hansa fleets and the more exciting challenger, they did have a perfect blueprint to take things forward. But I suspect unless they get the class choice sorted to support the development of parasailing in the regions where they lack competitors we will not be getting sailing back for a few cycles yet.

Ps I have no vested interest in the challenger fleet. In fact they are such a handicap bandit in a blow, where they look a blast, while I am working my ass of hiking..... Perhaps I should have a go?

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Andy Mck

Posted By: johnr
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 11:33am

My worry is that without the elite element existing would sailing clubs continue to support disabled sailing. Or are disabled people to be ignored. I would be a bit worried if I was a disable sailor.

Posted By: fab100
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 12:25pm

Originally posted by johnr

My worry is that without the elite element existing would sailing clubs continue to support disabled sailing. Or are disabled people to be ignored. I would be a bit worried if I was a disable sailor.

As far as I can see, that is a false concern. We have a seriously active and successful Sailability section. Olympic sailing is totally, utterly irrelevant to its activities, funding and all but 1 of a three-figure number of our participants and helpers.

I am far more worried about the damage Olympic participation does to sailing generally; far more harm than good IMHO

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http://clubsailor.co.uk/wp/club-sailor-from-back-to-front/" rel="nofollow - Great book for Club Sailors here

Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 17 Sep 18 at 2:50pm

From the IPC handbook, Policy on sports equipment:

"3.1.3 Universality The cost and large scale availability of (principal components of) equipment should be considered to guarantee access to a sufficiently large number of athletes in the sport. "

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Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74.