It was an extraordinary day here in Estoril at the ISAF Conference. Discussions the previous day in the Women’s Committee – where Women’s Match Racing had come to the fore – seemed to count for little in a session of intense voting by the 19 members of the Events Committee.
More and more, the writing appears to be on the wall for the Yngling. When the Committee was asked to vote on whether it would prefer a match racing keelboat or fleet racing keelboat, match racing won. Of course the Yngling could yet remain as a match racer, but the weight of opinion seems against this particular keelboat.
The Committee was then asked to vote for the Men’s and Women’s Classes based on two different scenarios: either a 6:4 Men/Women class split, or a 5:5 split.
The 6:4 Scenario
In the 6:4 scenario, there was a clear preference for four Women’s Events –
Singlehander,
Doublehander,
Windsurfer and….
wait for it….
a High Performance doublehander (or a skiff to you and me).
The Women’s Keelboat and Multihull were rejected as neither achieved 50% of the 19 votes to see them through to another round. Job done for the Women’s Events.
It was far more complex in the Men’s Events, even though it was a matter of rejecting just one of the seven possible Events.
There were four clear winners in the first round of voting:
Singlehander
Windsurfer
High Performance Doublehander and…
wait for it….
The Heavyweight Singlehander!
So, this left us with three battling for survival in the second round:
Doublehander
Catamaran
Keelboat.
Now, on to the second round, where the Catamaran scraped home by just one vote ahead of the Doublehander.
In the third round, a straight boxing match between the Doublehander and the Keelboat, with (if you think in terms of the incumbent classes) the 470 beating the Star by 12 votes to 7.
After a long and charmed Olympic life, is the Star fading at last?
So the proposed 6:4 line-up would be:
Men/Women
- Singlehander M/W
- Doublehander M/W
- High Performance Doublehander M/W
- Windsurfer M/W
- Multihull (either Men or Open, can’t remember which)
- Men’s Heavyweight Singlehander
The 5:5 Scenario
Next the gang of 19 were asked to place their votes for a 5:5 split.
For the Women, this was a case of eliminating just one possible Event, and out went the Catamaran again.
For the Men, it was a matter of getting rid of two.
The Men’s keelboat was thrown out in the first round. Really not looking good for the Star.
Round 2 was another showdown between the Catamaran and Doublehander, but this time the 470 got its revenge, edging out the Tornado by a single vote.
So, let’s look at where that leaves us:
Men/Women
- Singlehander M/W
- Doublehander M/W
- High Performance M/W
- Windsurfer M/W
- Men’s Heavyweight singlehander
- Women’s Match Racing Keelboat
What, no Catamarans? And look at the Heavyweight Singlehander on one side of the roster, and Match Racing Keelboat on the other side. Not really achieving that ‘gender parity’ thing that’s talked about these days.
For these reasons, the 5:5 scenario seems less popular with delegates in Estoril. The 6:4 split looks much more workable.
What Rod said
Speaking to Rod Carr from the RYA, he saw five big trends to emerge from today’s intriguing day of voting:
- “There was surprisingly little support for the keelboats in any shape or form, whether you’re talking Men or Women, Fleet or Match Racing.
- It looks like the Multihull is not under threat [crikey, Rod, it didn’t seem that way to me, but if you take the 6:4 scenario then maybe this is true]
- There is strong support for a Women’s High Performance Doublehander.
- The 470 is not as safe as it used to be.
- Looking very safe are the Laser and Radial, the windsurfers and the 49er.”
Pretty much everything that was discussed in the Women’s Committee on the previous day now looks irrelevant. But it’s quite possible the same could be true of today’s votes when the 40 Council members sit down on Friday to make the decisions that really count. They have a history of ignoring Events Committee suggestions, so it could be back to square one again.
But if today is an indicator of the future of Olympic sailing, keelboats aren’t part of it. However, contrary to the vote in the SailJuiceBlog.com Survey, it would appear that the Finn lives to fight another day, and it looks like the ladies will get their version of a 49er.
Really? Women’s Match Racing? If you want a class that is less global, more expensive to do and less representative of sailing globally women’s match racing would be it. Very few countries participate, there are very few women’s match racing events and very few women participate, oh and open classes? A joke. The event has been dominated by one woman for 2 years. Look at the WIMRA website. There is so little racing in Africa and Asia they don’t even have a representative on the committee. At least the Yngling is growing – a Brazilian team joined at the ISAF World’s, we have 2-3 China teams, a Japanese team and a South African team that qualified in the top 10. We are up to 30 countries represented. It is true that we have few regattas, but most of us cross train in mixed or all female small keelboats we love – Etchells, J22s, J24s – just like Star sailors, Finn sailors etc. Apologies to Liz and the strong US contingent who have been campaigning for years to get women’s match racing in, but match racing was a mess in Solings in the previous Olympics and would drive most amateur women’s sailors out. We get little enough coaching and attention (certainly not parity) as teenagers and in universities (sailing is a man’s sport we’re told over and over again unless you are tiny or a single-handed distance sailor in which case you are hated for getting sponsorship too easily). Then add match racing skills as a barrier, access to events and training partners and only full-time professional female sailors would be able to participate – how many of those are around? We can’t make money in America’s Cups to fund our Olympic sailing. Just like Stars, who’s US representative are a dad and his son in law small keelboats encourage women over 25 to stay in the sport and continue to race competitively. Yes Ynglings are a pain to sail, rig, manage and race – we’d much prefer something that we can race outside our few Olympic Class events – Women’s match racing is far away from an inexpensive, encouraging, amateur ideal.
By: C on 8 November 2007
at 10:11 am
hurrah for the Finn. sense prevails.
By: fergus allan on 8 November 2007
at 10:39 am
From the previous responce-”We get little enough coaching and attention (certainly not parity) as teenagers and in universities (sailing is a man’s sport we’re told over and over again…” This this the the most outrageous and false statement i have heard in a while. Let us look at the propotion of women to male sailors in the sport. Yes it is a male dominated sport. Throughout all of youth level and junior level women sailors are subject to possitive discrimination, the proportion of women in national squads is hugely disproportionate to the number of women sailing in those classes. This also extends to International championship places at these levels where the same number of male places exist to female places. How anyone can say that women do not have access to enough coaching is beyond me. This is not to say I am against the support of women’s sailing, only don’t complain, the chances of women recieving coaching is much higher then for men!
The idea of extending this misrepresentation of the sport to olympic level is foolish. 5 male classes and 5 female! Looking at the numbers of nations and sailors in the current olympic classes, we can see that, obviously the womens classes are badly represented. Within Britain the number of sailors currently on an olympic campaign in the 470: 3?, in the yingling:3? and to propose to dialute these sailors by gaining a women’s class, will only bring down the level of the current women’s olympic classes.
Fill the current number of classes then try and add one
The reason why there are less women in sailing? Well i’d blame evolution, because the last time I checked, women are different to men, and don’t punish men’s sailing for this.
By: Ian on 8 November 2007
at 10:46 am
Hi Andy!
I was just about to comment my concern about NOT having Men’s Keelboat in the Olympic programme anymore …. by the time I’ve caught up with the discussions (no time to read while in Estoril) I found the new post with Gary’s point of view and the comment above…
This might sound personal (as a Brazilian sailor and big fan of Robert Scheidt) but now my question is: what about Sailing being a sport for “all body types”? No men’s keelboat will lead the big boys to what class? 49er? We can’t see that.
To me, honestly, whatever the decision is about the boring Finn….just do not kick the men’s keelboat out! Make the Finn an open class if this will make people happy! But keep the Men Keelboat!!
For Women events same subject comes up after reading Gary’s opinion and some comments around the blog….”less is more” – will this make us have big women fleets? It does not give room to “all body types” for girls as well. It’s unfair. Many girls will not have another option if the only Women events are L. Radial and High performance dinghy.
Kick out the women’s keelboat and forget about the women’s match racing (I completely agree with Gary here, is not media appealing) – get the girls to sail a Cat!
The good thing about having the women’s match racing in is that finally Brazilian girls sailors will have representatives with good chances to improve and achieve good results. On the other hand…. apparently not in other parts of the Globe….The only thing for sure….if match race comes, just don’t use the Yngling!
C above here, It’s nice to see how honorable for the Yngling class it was to have a BRA 1 team in the entry list…BUT sadly most probably it won’t last too long anymore…because Brazil is one of this countries where the class simply never existed and saying that the class is growing worldwide using BRA 1 in the entry list as an argument is just an illusion….the campaign had to be based in Europe otherwise would not even had happened until Cascais. Because of the disbelief regarding the class coming from the CBVM (Brazilian Sailing Committee), lack of financial help and interest from sponsors, the chances for the team to make it for the next worlds in Miami are small. I really hope that from the 6 countries that will be there fighting for the last 4 spots left, everyone is able to be there…. differently from us. I personally, put all my bets on Sofia Bekatorou to be grabbing the first of this four remaining spots.
Olympic sailing is not for amateurs, and I am a real proof of that…It needs 100% dedication.
Sorry Gary….NO team race! Does not matter how boring match race is for who is watching (only!), team racing sounds too complicated….three boats, three teams…too many girls…without spinnaker?? Afffff.
Ok, by the time I post that comment it will probably be out to date….ISAF must have voted already for the events!!! Fingers crossed Robert, Bruno, JD, Austin….
By: Marina Kienitz - Brazilian sailor struggling to campaign in the Yngling class on 8 November 2007
at 11:44 am
Of course costs a Keelboat campagne more money as a dinghy campagne. But the ISAF has to take care that every type of sailor is able to compete the olympics.
You can´t sail a 470er or even a 49er with 200 pounds…So what about the big guys??? I Think it´s the wrong way to eliminat the keelboats.
If the Star would lose the elamination, what will be with these well known sailors…
The best of the best race Starboat…In no other class you will find so many high performing sailors. At least there are reasons why legends like Robert Scheidt, Mark Reynolds, Torben Grael and even Russel Coutts sail Star
For me the 470er and the 49er competing in the same weight level and it would be easier for a 470er sailor to sail a 49er as for a starsailor. It´s like the former high performance Dinghy (470er) and the new high performance Dinghy (49er). So one of these have to leave. Not the Finn or one of the keelboats.
By: Mike on 8 November 2007
at 2:00 pm
Really what is so difficult about this. If certain people in the so called know would just stop and think about it. Every other sport has equal claseses and more classes can be open which would make more people happy.
Singlehander M/W (Finn / Laser Radial)
Doublehander M/W (470)
High Performance M/W (49er and ???)
Windsurfer M/W
Open Cat
Open Match Racing (weight equalised in boats that can sail with 3-5 crew to make it work)
Another option would be to make the doublehander a open class. I believe it was before and it worked. Open events are better for small countries and match racing is a great event that people like to watch. It needs more marketing but is easy to practice and you can have mixed fleets. There is no good reason why it is divided into boy / girl teams.
Just another thought maybe having women only or men only events actually hurts womens sailing more? There are lots of women sailors but most sail on mixed teams. Maybe we would get a higher ratio if there were more mixed teams allowed?
My biggest gripe is having two mens single handed events – not needed. There isn’t much sailor weight difference between the Laser and the Finn and most of the guys sailing laser are on diets to stay competitive. Keep the Laser Radial and bin the Laser.
By: Emma on 8 November 2007
at 6:54 pm
Ian, your comments make no sense. Marina, of course I mentioned you, you were 2 docks over from us! I hope you do make it to the Worlds. Ask Sally if she has a spare boat for you to use.
By: C on 9 November 2007
at 9:24 am
Hi C!!! I have no guess who you could be….! Two docks over to the right or to the left?
Are you going to Miami? Feel free to write to me.
Cheers
By: Marina Kienitz - Brazilian sailor struggling to campaign in the Yngling class on 9 November 2007
at 1:38 pm
YYYYYYUUUURRRRRAAAYYYY!!!!
MEN’S KEELBOAT STAYSSSSS!!!!!!
By: Marina Kienitz - Brazilian sailor struggling to campaign in the Yngling class on 9 November 2007
at 1:39 pm