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Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Wouter] #118276
10/02/07 12:23 PM
10/02/07 12:23 PM
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I'm just giving you a hard time... a smaller platform might help, but then you'll tell me we need to worry about design again (and you may be right at the 6-year old level).

I didn't say put the Catsy in colleges, I think you may have read that sentence too quickly.

I haven't changed or hidden any "underlying" principle throughout these posts. I'm simply pointing out that there are many strengths in the mono model.

Obviously, not everyone sails to go to the Olympics or to race at college. But, the kids need something to do, and the parents want to be on the water (or at the club, or whatever). When there are races with 90 boats, it's an easy decision. Also, they are small, slow and perceived to be safe (they are actually promoted as "self-righting").

If we had a small enough boat that a 6-year old could sail (preferably a Hobie), I could probably get myself and a few other new Hobie parents to buy one and start a racing program. The problem is, we'd be outside the mainstream sailing organization, so our numbers would be destined to be limited. Not to mention, we are separated by lots of hours (like 5 or 6) of driving. Getting to 90 kid boats within a few hours drive would be a steep hill to climb, especially since we don't see 50 adult boats at most regattas anymore.

Mike

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: brucat] #118277
10/02/07 01:10 PM
10/02/07 01:10 PM
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Annapolis, MD
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The Chesapeake Bay region... Not to mention the east coast does not have a 29ner program at all. Only the west coast seems to have any 29ner activity. Also, Brad Dellenbaugh's daughter is a great 29ner sailor so... BINGO....the USA has a program.

(I think New Jersey may have 4 boats that arrived last year.)

The east coast Yacht clubs have a program that goes like this
Single handed sailor... opti.... laser radial... laser ... College laser

the Double handed team.... two opti's... 420... College 420

So... the feeder to a performance boat will be the 420. Kids's trapeze in breeze.... Now... move them up to apparant wind sailing and Pick...
It could be the 29ner... or a catamaran.

On the east coast... NEITHER program has much of a chance.
No space... and most importantly... Not enough support from the parents.
With the catamaran... the double wammy is that NO College scholarship is available to you if you are a cat sailor. (no way to compare your skills to the other kids).

Parents won't support a performance boat UNLESS the colleges that have sailing programs make it clear they are recruiting those kids.... If it won't get you into the college(read IVY League) it won't be worth the parental investment of time and money.

Is this a REAL problem for the MNA's like US Sailing...
I don't really think so.

The elite Tornado sailors will tell you... Eh... at this age... it doesn't matter what you sail.. cat or performance dinghy... just so long you are dialed into the apparant wind sailing. Since that doesn't happen in the USA... Its a punt anyway. BUT... College is the opportunity to get lots of reasonable coaching and have your god given talent mature on those slow boats. The coaching which focus's a lot on tactics etc,... may not be THAT valuable in the end ... but it can't hurt... and most importantly... you mature in all ways.... fill out your body, develop the mental toughness for competing, etc etc. If you have talent... you will be noticed.

So. My point is... the programatic critique is true AND.... it is irrelevant. Olympic talent is developed after college by serious support and coaching.

IMO... the solution that is achievable is to CROSS TRAIN the kids before they get to college. Get them a racing experience on a catamaran, Hobie 16 or better. ... When THEY get to choose what they want to do with their time... They will come back to cats if we have a competitive and fun racing program for them to rejoin when they are able.

If they have the talent, funding and desire they will ALSO find their way to the Olympic Catamaran.

Now... the if the problem becomes political in that we must have this egalitarian and broad program of growing cat sailors... we indeed have an insurmountable problem.

My two cents worth!


crac.sailregattas.com
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Mark Schneider] #118278
10/02/07 01:59 PM
10/02/07 01:59 PM
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I have to agree with a lot of that, Mark.

It would be nice if we could have a cat program for the youth, but may only be critical for showing a clear path of development leading into an Olympic class. I don't think that hoping we get people to crossover through osmosis is a long-term plan for success.

I'll be more than happy to buy Hunter an Opti and let him get his feet wet with a huge fleet, and one of these Catsy things (if we can get them and start a racing fleet) or a Wave to get his feet wet with cat racing.

With my luck, he'll want to play golf anyway...

Mike

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: RickWhite] #118279
10/02/07 02:31 PM
10/02/07 02:31 PM
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Guys you are not going to bump people from the Opti even though the Open Bic is catching the Opti class by surprised with it's popularity. Still many of these classes have been around for a long time and people are perfectly happy with them so why change, what so they can sail a new multihull at a higher price tag. Opti’s or like dinghies are easy to transport and easy to find used, and many many sailing programs have them in their programs. You can’t create a little cat for the price of an opti, oops I guess there is the Hobie Bravo. Kids learn via the Opti, Sabot, El Toro, and now maybe the Open Bic, then they go to the 29er (not as big a class as some report), 420, then to the 49er. Or from the multihull perspective go from the Opti or Open Bic, and then go to the H16 and stay there like so many do. Sorry guys the H16 worlds are awesome and well attended with the youth division, women’s, masters, open class. Heck the H16 class does not even need the Olympics to put on a great world event and has great attendance. The H16 worlds has been going on now for over 30 years. As I have always told people many multihull sailors keep shooting themselves in the foot with their Hobie 16 bashing, etc. One thing that has made Opti’s and like dinghies popular is how the programs are ran, that is like a soccer program for kids. Parents can come and drop their kids off and the kids have a great time with a lot of other kids. So if you can do this with multihulls then you have a winning program, actually we already have a winning program by utilizing the opti programs and then introducing them to the H16. For me its getting the kids sailing via an Opti program and then plug them into the Hobie Class Assoc. That is what I am doing and it works.

And honestly where is the Olympics headed? No sailing in the Olympics is where. It’s only a matter of time before it happens due to cost, etc.

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: 16nut] #118280
10/02/07 03:01 PM
10/02/07 03:01 PM
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Quote

For me its getting the kids sailing via an Opti program and then plug them into the Hobie Class Assoc. That is what I am doing and it works.


Now THAT's what I want to hear! Where are you doing this, and how are you successfully "pulling" kids away from the 420s and Lasers?

Mike

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: brucat] #118281
10/02/07 03:07 PM
10/02/07 03:07 PM

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What is the typical change-over age?

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: 16nut] #118282
10/02/07 03:07 PM
10/02/07 03:07 PM

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According to the ISAF, the H16 is considered unsuitable for mixed crews.

http://www.ifds.org/technical/YouthMultiEval_05Com.pdf (page 3)

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: ] #118283
10/02/07 03:34 PM
10/02/07 03:34 PM
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Detroit, MI
mbounds Offline
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Quote
According to the ISAF, the H16 is considered unsuitable for mixed crews.

http://www.ifds.org/technical/YouthMultiEval_05Com.pdf (page 3)


That's only for youth teams, and I would have to agree with them. It's tough to make the youth minimum weight with a mixed or all female team. In the 2007 H16 Youth NAs, my daughter (14 years old) sailed with a 16 year old female skipper and they had to carry the maximum of 50 lbs of dead weight to make minimum weight. They were totally overpowered the first day when it was blowing 15+ kts.

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: ] #118284
10/02/07 07:27 PM
10/02/07 07:27 PM
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Wouter Offline
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Can we try to avoid the Hobie 16 tar pit this time.

It has been discarded by several National sailing associations as being insufficiently suitable. Even ISAF itself is actively trying to replace it by the SL16.

For youth sailing as defined by the national associations its days are numbered and we all agree to some extend that it doesn't pass the Pepsi test with todays youngsters and teenagers.

The Hobie 16 youth class is a different entity in its own right and sadly unrelated to anything the national organisations find interesting. Without these being involved the colleges will never offer scholarships as there is no high profile ending (return of investment) for their efforts. It is common knolegde that companies will fund F18 and Tornado campaigns (after much convincing) but not any Hobie 16 teams.

The Hobie 16 youth class is fully geared towards keeping the sailors in the Hobie 16 class. This is their right but also contradictionary to growing and supporting the larger cat sailing scene or national sailing association programs for cats. As such it will not keep any multihull in the Olympic program and it will only garantee that the larger cat scene is starved of fresh blood as the H16 class will most definately try to corner it. I hate the say it but I've not found the Hobie 16 class to be much of a team player. Sorry.

Wouter


Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: brucat] #118285
10/02/07 07:36 PM
10/02/07 07:36 PM
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Issaquah, WA, USA
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Quote
[quote]
For me its getting the kids sailing via an Opti program and then plug them into the Hobie Class Assoc. That is what I am doing and it works.


Agree,this is the right approach. At Sail Sand Point in Seattle, see www.sailsandpoint.org, this is what we are doing. We now have five Waves and six Hobie 16's in our program. In addition, we have a strong cadre of Hobie Cat Volunteers that teach Hobie 101, 102, and help train youth teams for the US SAILING Youth Multihull Champ. Three teams were trained last year, and attended the 2007 Event.

The number of H-16 students, both youth and adults is growing each year. The Waves have participated in three of our Hobie points regattas this year, with youths on board. The number of youths now racing multihulls both as skipper and crew is increasing due to these programs.

Caleb

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Wouter] #118286
10/02/07 07:52 PM
10/02/07 07:52 PM
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Issaquah, WA, USA
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Quote


For youth sailing as defined by the national associations its days are numbered and we all agree to some extend that it doesn't pass the Pepsi test with todays youngsters and teenagers.

The Hobie 16 youth class is a different entity in its own right and sadly unrelated to anything the national organisations find interesting. Without these being involved the colleges will never offer scholarships as there is no high profile ending (return of investment) for their efforts. It is common knolegde that companies will fund F18 and Tornado campaigns (after much convincing) but not any Hobie 16 teams.

The Hobie 16 youth class is fully geared towards keeping the sailors in the Hobie 16 class. This is their right but also contradictionary to growing and supporting the larger cat sailing scene or national sailing association programs for cats. As such it will not keep any multihull in the Olympic program and it will only garantee that the larger cat scene is starved of fresh blood as the H16 class will most definately try to corner it. I hate the say it but I've not found the Hobie 16 class to be much of a team player. Sorry.

Wouter


Sorry to disagree Wouter, but our youth teams for the US SAILING Youth Championship were trained on both the Hobie 16 and the Tiger. The Tiger was used for the spin training. The Hobie 16 youth are now also sailing on the Tigers, mostly as crew, but and will eventually be skippers on Tigers and/or FX-1's. What better way to advance to the F-18 classes and hopefully to the Olympic Multihull class, no matter what it may be. In the Northwest, we do have a good record of Olympic sailing athletes. Why not add a Multihull sailor to this group?

Caleb Tarleton

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Wouter] #118287
10/02/07 08:49 PM
10/02/07 08:49 PM
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Detroit, MI
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I love it . . Wout says, "Let's avoid the Hobie 16 tar-pit" and then jumps in with both feet!

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: mbounds] #118288
10/03/07 06:56 AM
10/03/07 06:56 AM
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North-West Europe
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You are right, so let me rephrase that.


Let's avoid the Hobie 16 tar-pit.

Lets get back to the topic and that is how to adress the issues as given by RYA for not supporting cat classes; knowing what we know about the efforts already made by the UK (H16, SL16 and Dragoon) youth squads. And then generalize this analysis to cover the whole world.

Wouter

Last edited by Wouter; 10/03/07 06:57 AM.

Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Wouter] #118289
10/03/07 07:39 AM
10/03/07 07:39 AM
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Annapolis, MD
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Yes..

MNA like the Brits and USA conclude that we don't have a program. It's too late and cats should be dropped!


So, we can argue that we do have a prgram and describe it once again for them.


Or say the hell with it.

Or, Build the program that they want...
This is the tough one. space, time, money, KIDS, JRS, College sailors , and sailors in the olympic pipeline are not there in the USA... Now the brits are saying the same thing and I thought they had a pretty good program.

So what now!


crac.sailregattas.com
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Mark Schneider] #118290
10/03/07 08:51 AM
10/03/07 08:51 AM
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What Matt said, times 1000... Wouter, you'd do us all a huge favor by deleting that entire post. What you proclaim as fact are points that can be argued (with facts that point to the contrary) forever. And, none of that helps the discussion on this thread.

Anyway, Mark is spot on. We have a tough one to tackle, and while nothing is impossible, this is as close as one could imagine.

The good news is, we're all here actively discussing this.

Mike

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: brucat] #118291
10/03/07 09:46 AM
10/03/07 09:46 AM
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United Kingdom
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Mark,
very good point.

The dutch have 500-700 at RoundTexel annually
The French have 300-400 at the various Long distance 'Raides'(France)annually

I expect these guys have lessons for us both! The French easily have the best strength and depth in their cat fleets, especially in Tornado, the Germans are very strong too.

UK RYA FORUM: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3418&PN=1

UK petition now at 1768 names with lots of top US names, pls add yours, its a fight we must all take up if we truly believe in our sport.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CatamaranSubmission/signatures.html

Sail fast, the only way, CATAMARAN!
Regards JR

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: Wouter] #118292
10/03/07 10:38 AM
10/03/07 10:38 AM
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My ideal path would indeed by like this

F12 : key target group of 12 years of age till 16, but possible to remain sailing till much older especially women. Daddy's car toppable play boat (as laser is now).

Nacra 500 : the doublehander boat from 16 years of age and daddies recreational cat. With spi it is better then the SL16.

F16 : As soon as a serious crew gets up to 120 kg combined, basically this means from 16 years onwards. Daddy's versatile recreational racer (both 1-up and 2-up mode). Feeder to both F18 and A-cat.

F18, A-cat : As the real training ground and racing classes for crews up from 140 kg (65 kg) ; 18 years and older. F18 as feeder class to Tornado. A-cat being the end stop for 1-up.

Tornado : Olympic slot.


This would be the equivalent of :

Opti/topper/Splash/Laser 4.7, laser radial and laser adult (F12 at 3000 Euro)
420, 470, 29-er (Nacra 500 = at 10.500 Euro)
29-er / RS600 / musto skiff (F16 = at 14.500 Euro)
49-er (F18 c.q A-cat/Tornado = at 18.000 and 25.000 Euro)

I think with such a line up we can really provide a comparable path to what the mono's have. The other halve of the story is then to organise such a setup into a organisation that is supported internationally by the cat sailors. With "try-out" programs and shared events where all 5 classes (except Tornado) are present. That will be the really hard part, but I think it can be done. Then the goal is to get all 5+tornado classes to refer to eachother in those specific roles and thus close the circle and present an unified concept and growth track to the outside world. This should not be too hard to do, won't cost anything.


With respect to the designs, those classes except for the F12 exist already and are sufficiently succesful to be assured continued existance. With the Nacra 500, one is even assured ample cheap second hand boats (BIG problem with the SL16). All the rest are self supportive. Nacra 500 is also significantly cheaper, by about 20%.

The F12 can be created, it will cost less then 4000 USD and perform as good as a Hobie 14 and the doublehanded 29-er. Setup time under 10 minutes and it'll weight under 65 kg. Ideal weight 60 kg (so women will love it), but with a range from 40 kg to 80 kg. 80 kg means two kids double handing will still have fun. Boat will carry alot more weight but not in a performance oriented way. It will be about 20% faster then the adult Laser-1 version and 30 % faster then the kiddies laser 4.7.

The intent of the F12 is to throw these boats around, maybe with some soda-pop sponsorship and spoil the young brats. Once you have gone fast at 12 years of age, you will never look at the slower dinghies in the same way again. As a result they will look at the next step up in cats (nacra 500/F16). Getting them at age 16 or 18 is too late as then they will have experienced their formative years in the dinghies classes and have made friends c.q. formed loyalties there.

That is my take on the situation.

I think we can make this work, it may not be perfect for everybody and I'm sure things could be made perfect here and there but this is what we as amateurs can MAKE to work with the minimal required effort and financial input. And these two considerations are of paramount importance. A perfect but unobtainable setup is as good as none. But we need to together, we ALL need to work together to make it happen and have a decent shot at succes.

I guess I'm asking for you guys feedback and possible involvement.

So what do you think.

Wouter


Wouter,

I like the thought process here. I agree with others that opti sailing begind much earlier. I began on Scorpions, then Lasers, then at 14 my first cat. I think that there does need to be some road to go from a opti that would entice youths to switch to multihulls. I like the F12 and wonder if this can be setup to be a safe, easy to rig boat, that also is easy to right.

As avid catsailors, we need to develop and promote a path to the world of multihulls to our youth programs. We also need to get involved at a yatch club/youth program level and be directly involved with the programs. I have helped more than a few young sailors weave their way through to cats, and am using my a-class to do that right now with 2 teenagers who are sailing 420's and lasers. All I can do is get them out on it and get them excited about sailing cats. I use my classic rig Tornado for the same thing.

Again, the essential point is to develop a path. A path that can be supported at a club level and to get involved with it. It is also essential to get companies like Vanguard behind the production and development of the boats. Vanguard has a great track record with development boats as well as classes like the Laser & 420. I still regularly sail my laser. Steve Clark who is an avid cat sailor, might be approachable with the right boat/concept. I do not know him, but I would approach him if I believed in the class,concept and structure.


Tom Siders
A-Cat USA-79
Tornado US775
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: windswept] #118293
10/03/07 10:59 AM
10/03/07 10:59 AM
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Brighton, UK
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Back on topic, having a catamaran in the Olympics is extremely important. I can't speak for other countries but here in the UK the Olympics generates a huge amount of publicity. When the sailors do well, which the UK sailors do (except in the cats <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />) they become media stars.

At no other time is dinghy sailing found on mainstream television or on the front page of national newspapers. Our sailors were thrust into the public limelight after the last Olympics.

Like it or not there is no other event that gives the general public access to sailing like the Olympics, for that reason we need the Tornado to be included so please sign the petition.

Gareth

Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: windswept] #118294
10/03/07 11:10 AM
10/03/07 11:10 AM
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Posted by TeamVmg on Yatchs & Yatching Blog
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3418&PN=1&TPN=5
Interesting stuf on this topic by a former top man in ISAF;

Paul Henderson: Sailing and the 2012 Olympics

To Fellow Buttheads:
I trust you will take the following biased opinion as being from a recently excommunicated "Pope of Sailing" and also a Member of the IOC. The IOC, in their wisdom, set the maximums for the 2012 London Games at 28 sports, 300 events, and 10,500 athletes. Here is what that means for sailing:

1) On sailing being kicked out of the Olympics:
Each sport is voted on by the 120 Members of the IOC, and it takes 50% +1 to remain Olympic. For the vote on events to be held at the London 2012 games, sailing received over 70% support. Of the sports that were dropped for 2012, Baseball got 35% and Softball 50% (missing the +1). Rugby 7's and Squash were voted on to replace the two deleted sports. However, they got only approx. 35% of the vote so were not admitted. The result is that there will be only 26 sports for London and a slot for 500 more athletes and two missing events. Several years ago a tabloid polled 100 of the movers and shakers of the Olympics who were asked the question: “What sports should remain in the Olympics?” Amongst these people, sailing ranked 8th, tying with Soccer out of the 33 sports, which included the "wanabees". By the way, Sailing is the sport the now IOC President started in as he rose up the IOC ladder. Long story short, sailing looks solid.

2) On sailing being promoted on TV during the Olympics:
Of the 28 sports, 14 get minimal TV. Sailing is one of them. Nothing sailing does will ever change this. Sailing is a participatory sport. However, Sailing was the number 5 sport in Olympic hits on the Internet. That is our medium and to prostitute the integrity of the sport for some "pie-in-the-sky" TV dream is ridiculous.

3) On sailing needing more countries competing in the Olympics:
Sailing gets close to 60 nations, which places it in the top half of the 28 sports. Sailing has had over 20 countries win medals in the last several Olympics, which is excellent, and shows how broad-based our sport is. This statement has many facets, as sailors must be sent by their National Olympic Committee (NOC). The Sailing authority has little power, including US Sailing Assn (USSA) and the Canadian Yachting Assn (CYA). Many countries have much more restrictive policies than the ISAF standard imposed by the IOC. While USA, by an act of congress, must send any athlete who qualifies (after years of fighting Canada also), many European countries will not send a competitor unless they are ranked in the top 8 countries. Even if you have 40 countries allowed in the Laser, it does not matter to the Europeans. If you are not in the top 8, you’re not going. How many countries can you fit into the top 8?

The emerging countries have difficulty qualifying at major regattas, so ISAF fills with these countries. I personally took on this responsibility to take the flak. The truth is that if a sailor could get their NOC to send them, then we could find a slot in the Laser and Boards. In the other classes, possibly only one competitor in each class was ever discarded. At 400 sailors and 11 classes, it was a minor inconvenience.

4) The 2012 Games: 10 Events, 380 sailors and more Women:
ISAF received the 11th event for 2000, which put the Star back in with the agreement that the event would be used in Athens 2004 for the Women's Keelboat. ISAF agreed that we would go back to 10 for London 2012. There is really no need, but the IOC is holding ISAF to the agreement (too bad for the UK - the premier sailing nation). Dropping 1 class and going down from 400 to 380 really means each remaining class gets more, as each of the now 11 events has each more than the 20 sailors deleted. In Savannah 1996, the women were at 19%. The IOC demands each sport be over 30%. In Athens 2004, sailing had over 35% women. Sailing is hitting this target, and any class changes will not be touching this requirement.

Having pontificated on the above, lets get to my bias on the classes. Sailors sail boats and that should be the criteria, not the equipment (classes). People and the sport should be the focus. ISAF does not pick classes per se. The classes are only the equipment used in a specific event. Sailing, like most sports, dictates the size and shape of the athlete done by the equipment selected. Sailing must pick the classes that allow sailors of all size and gender to compete. Singlehanded sailing is very restrictive on the size of the sailor as it dictates a narrow band of physique. I am also accused of being adamant that the sport is "Sailing" not "Air Rowing" (as the boardsailors do). Justifiably so! Therefore I would consider the following for the 10 classes:

1) There must be 4 classes where the women can compete: Single, Double, Keel, Mixed Doubles.
2) The Finn, Star, Women's Keelboat must remain so as to have classes which are geared to larger body shapes.
3) Cats and Skiffs should be sailed as Kinetics is of minimal help. Sailing is the sport! I would have a skiff for men and another for the women. I would also have two Cats - one high performance and the other mixed doubles.
4) The Laser is unchallenged for men and women.

If there are any slots left then let others, and they will, decide. There is another issue that must not be forgotten. Sailing is one of the Summer Sports, which is accessible to the disabled in the Paralympics. It is essential the keelboats remain so the facilities are in place for these wonderful, challenged sailors.

Paul Henderson
Ex Everything Else


Tom Siders
A-Cat USA-79
Tornado US775
Re: RYA drops cats from Olympics [Re: windswept] #118295
10/03/07 11:14 AM
10/03/07 11:14 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 613
New Hampshire, USA
windswept Offline
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windswept  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 613
New Hampshire, USA
RYA Youth and Olympic Catamaran Policy.





Last Friday I had a meeting with Brian Phipps and Rob White who made me aware of the depth of feeling in some quarters over the RYA policies in this area.

I have also been briefed by John Derbyshire the Racing Manager on the reasoning of the RYA Youth Steering Group regarding these submissions.

Clearly the RYA has not communicated its views sufficiently well in the areas of;



Youth cat race training

RYA submission on youth cat racing at the ISAF youth worlds.

Current RYA thinking on the Olympic classes for 2012.



…we will endeavour to do so in the next week or two.



I have suggested that John Derbyshire and Chris Atkins [the chairman of the RYA Racing Committee] meet with Brian and Rob so that both parties can explain their views. Following the meeting we will publish a paper that sets out our stance so that at least everyone is aware of the facts.



No RYA member’s money or club affiliation fees are spent on our Youth and Olympic programmes; it is all funded by the Lottery. We manage this funding in pursuit of medals in the relevant classes. There will be one less Olympic class in 2012.



I have coached and been involved with cats for over 30 years I even own one! …. There is no institutional anti-cat bias in the Association, but sometimes hard decisions have to be taken based on facts and not sentiment.



Rod Carr



RYA CEO.



22nd September 2007.


Tom Siders
A-Cat USA-79
Tornado US775
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