I always found it funny to see so many different but basically the same dinghy classes at the Olympics.

What is the difference between a Laser and a Europe ? Come to think of it what is the REAL difference between a 49-er and a 470 ?

If one would have :

A dinghy
A keelboat
A windsurfer
And a multihull

then yes, you would have 4 sufficiently different sailing craft in your olympics. Make it gender specific and you have 8 classes. What on earth is the added value of having a Laser AND a Europe class at the olympics. Sailors from either class can easily switch from one to the other.

To me the Olympics are an example of one of the worst kinds of bureaucracy. Powerful as hell, but also as dumb as I don't know what.

Wouter