We traditionally are strong in women's events and especially new women's events. If there was a possibility of a women's catamaran that would change the dynamics considerably for the USOSC.



There is no denying that it is very strong.



The decision is strongly based on the politics of trying to have an influence on the ISAF process and manipulate the events in the direction of US strengths. I think they have the facts correct at this point in time. My major disagreement with this is on the principal. I think that the Olympics should look like sailing with all the major disciplines represented.



We need to see talent come out of the catamaran community more often. Everyone pays for their own campaigns through their own fundraising. This is the same in every class. the USOSC doesn't really build "programs". They take proven talent and try to give it a final push over the top. If there is going to be a program WE need to build it and we are starting 100 years behind keel boats and about 75 behind dinghys.



I don't think so.



I do think that Europe will not let the multihull go away but it's scary to think that any MNA is considering it.
I think US Sailing has surrendered in terms of the board sailing. Not quite as much in catamarans. If there is going to be a development of young elite catamaran sailors it's going to be up to us. That's the way it is across all the classes. For example CISA does a fantastic job training elite dingy sailors (probably the best), but that is not a USOSC program.
BTW: US Sailings position on multihulls changes significantly if there is a possibility that the class would change to something other than the Tornado. A new class means a fresh start in terms of the talent pool and the USOSC thinks they will have a chance at that game. Don't shoot the messenger.



See previous comments about the training program. I think the USOSC feeling is that the US will do well in events with new equipment and in women's classes.



The Star and the Tornado are particularly professional, making it very hard to break into the top of the fleet, not to mention that those fleets are the smallest at the Olympics so it's very hard for even the best sailors to get there at all. We have a strong base of professional keelboat sailors to draw from in the Star. Not so much in the Tornado.



Personally I disagree on the principal.



Grass roots is great for long term and catamaran sailing in general. In this instance the only plan of attack would be to start at the top with a few elite kids that can hanndle the long hard road and expand down into grass roots programs. It's a bit opposite of what you need to do in order to just increase participation.






Absolutely ZERO dollars from the membership go into the Olympic program. It's completely independent. Dean has made big strides on the fundraising side but it's a long road.



Remember that Lovell is an accountant and he is on the US Sailing Audit committee. The US won a medal in the Tornado last time around. That means they get more money from the USOC. New guys and girls with no big results get nothing across the board. Dean is working hard on the fundraising aspect but it's a long hard road.