2008 ISAF Conference Decisions

Hi All,

At the ISAF meeting currently in progress in Madrid, the following classes have been confirmed for the 2012 Olympics.

The decision on the Women's Double Hander is of interest to the multihull Community (see next post).

Confirmed Classes:
Boards Men/Women - RSX
Single handed men - Laser
Single handed men (Heavy) - Finn
Double handed men - 470
Double handed men (high performance) - 49er
Keelboat men - Star
Single handed women - Laser Radial
Double handed women - 470
Match Racing women - Elliot 6 (modified)

Lennie

So on the 11th medal, the following is how it works:

1) IOC Program Commission make recommendations on number of medals. There are planned deletions of medals for multiple sports, so it is not just an issue for sailing
2) IOC Executive Board meets on Dec 10-12(ish) and everyone is hopeful that they will then make a decision, but it may not be made until a later meeting
3) ISAF then have to decide what discipline to award the 11th medal - it is not automatically the multihull.
4) ISAF then need to decide what class to choose.

The decisions on points 3) & 4) will not be made until the May meeting at the earliest. Given that this means that it will be only a bit over 3 years till the Olympics, it is unlikely that ISAF would risk a new boat, and the Tornado would be most likely to be selected.

Lennie, Thanks for the update.

If I am not wrong, there will also be some new faces in council. That could change everything.

Absoltely agree that "we" risk a match against the 29erXX bid, but that would be a bit strange as the reason the IOC is petitioned in the first place is to get the multihull back in. If the 11th medal is reinstated and council decides to give it to a womens high performance dinghy instead of the multihull..

Rolf,

There will indeed be new faces on the Council, and new faces on the Executive.

Why is women's match racing in the Olympics?

Is this niche of the sport REMOTELY accessible to sailors world wide?

IMO, this was an unholy alliance between an ISAF official who is a promoter and the Old girl network of ISAF who dream that they will get some proffesional work after this Olympic exposure.

I cannot come up with a single reason why it is postive for sailboat racing anywehre in the world.

When you say 'Confirmed classes' do you mean disciplins or equipement?

Paul

Mark,

I think they choose match racing becouse of its TV appeal. And ditched multis with the other hand. Yes, seriously.

On thinking about this the second time, I am puzzled that Council again goes against all their committees. Me dont like that ISAF..

Maybe instead of the "Golden Anchor" membership we should get the "Redheaded step child " membership.

Reference the Council voting against the recommendation of their lower committees.

The Womens, Equipment and Events Committee all voted for the 29erXX with the Events Committee being the most important and with the closest vote only winning by one vote. The vote on the Council only required one or two people to have a different opinion and the 470 was back in.

And "why choose match racing".

I think a lot of countries were of the belief that it would be a cheap way to get to the Olympics as you just fly into a venue, sail whatever boat the organisers provide and fly out again.

I am not sure how match racing got the support that it did during last november's meetings. My fear right now though is that the push for an eleventh event will become a fight for what thast event becomes. Could it be that instead of reinstating the multihull, it is instead used to allow both the 29erXX, match racing and women's 470. If this is the case, then the focus should be on the 5 disciplines approach for 2012 instead of 2016. I know that this will not happen. If an eleventh event is added and it is used for something other than a multihull event I believe that the worldwide outrage will far exceed that of the November vote. I pray for clear minds and cool heads on this matter.

Usually I try to stay away from the political side of the sport,but if the 11th medal goes to the 29erXX,maybe its time to to sever our ties to the ISAF.The ISAF has certainly not looked after our interests over the last years.

I can not believe that will happen. The petitions are pretty clear when it comes to where the 11th medal is to go if IOC relents.

If ISAF Council manages to give an eventual 11th medal to the 29erXX, they know what the outrage is going to be like. From what I hear, more than one council member have been threatened with physical harm after they dropped the multihull. Not good, but at least they know there are raw feelings in heaps here.

THis is, IMO, the reason the 470 got the nod; 470 stays, but the Multihull gets the 11th slot.

IF the 29erxx had got in, the 470 would ahve gone after the 11th slot.

Political bollox, yes; good for the sport, NO

Anything we discuss regarding the 11th medal is purely hyperthetical. Suggest we just wait till the IOC makes their announcement. Better to spend out time fanging around on fun boats rather then waste hot air discussing what may or may not happen. Nothing we can do till then.

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia...;ntid=10&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

this came into today's mail. looks like a good thing from where I am sitting.

A major overhaul for ISAF's approach to Olympic sailing looks set to come into fruition after the Council accepted the need for an overall strategy towards the Olympic Sailing Competition. This decision is by far the most important to come from the 2008 Madrid Conference and as far as Olympic sailing probably one of the the most significant of the last decade.

Events Committee chairman Bjorn Unger (SWE) introduced Yachting Australia's Submission 082-08, proposing an overhaul of ISAF’s future Olympic strategy. 'This is perhaps the most important issue we have. We heard in our discussions yesterday that strategy was mentioned many, many times,' he said.