Hi Folks -
If you recall, earlier this year the US SAILING Board approved a submission to ISAF regarding events for the 2012 Olympic Games. The submission did not include a multihull event and many sailors voiced their displeasure. Sailboards found themselves pretty much in the same situation, and many of them also took issue. The topic was an uncomfortable one and was much discussed throughout US SAILING and the US Olympic Committee, and within the multihull community world-wide - a pretty big deal, really. That's the short recap.
The Board of US SAILING has approved a submission to ISAF to replace the previous one - the events for the 2012 Games will be decided this November at the ISAF meeting. The US delegation's list of events includes two multihull events - a men's and a women's. Sailboards are still not on the list.
There are a million little political nuances that go into selecting events for the Olympics. I was blissfully ignorant of the process until the last submission was brought to the attention of the Multihull Council. Since then, we've had a crash-course in upper-level lobbying and negotiation. It would be silly to claim that any one person or group or action resulted in the Board's revised position. I think that the members of the Board (some of whom are multihull savvy) are simply doing their best to steer the organization on a good and even course.
I'm sure that some here will feel that this decision doesn't affect them very much, and maybe that is true to some extent. The debate about this subject was intense - in the end, I agreed with those that asserted a loss of a multihull event in the Olympics would damage the health of the multihull community. With this new submission, we can feel better that our National Governing Body is supporting multihulls into the next quadrennium.
Text of the now-approved meeting minutes can be viewed HERE.
The next US SAILING meeting is October 24-28 in Phoenix, AZ. This topic and others will be under discussion during the Multihull Council meeting on Saturday the 27th. The MHC meetings are open - please join us if you can, or touch base with your Area Representative to make your voice heard.
John Williams
MHC Chair
I am glad to hear that that multihull events have been added back but it sucks for the boarders that their event is still not there. I hope that they can get that figured out.
Appendix 4
Selection of Events for the 2012 Olympic Regatta
A submission from US SAILING
Proposal:
The following Events shall to be selected for 2012:
1. Men’s One Person Dinghy
2. Women’s One Person Dinghy
3. Men’s Two Person Dinghy
4. Women’s Two Person Dinghy
5. Men’s Two Person High Performance Dinghy
6. Women’s Two Person High Performance Dinghy
7. Men’s Keelboat
8. Women’s Keelboat
9. Men’s Multihull
10. Women’s Multihull
Current Position:
None
Reason:
1. This slate of events will appeal to a wide range of athletes.
2. Skiffs are exciting and generate media interest and buzz.
3. The events provide a natural progression for sailors as they age, broaden their skills and move on to
new challenges.
4. Keelboats attract well known sailors, including world champions from other classes and America’s
Cup sailors. These “heroes” appeal to the media, spectators, and future Olympians.
5. The symmetry between men’s and women’s events will increase participation by women and may
provide ISAF gender equity in Olympic sailing competition.
* * *
The above replaces Submission USA1 that was held-over by the ISAF from the Mid-year meeting that
was held in May of 2007.
Thanks for the update John...really appreciate it.
Dan
Does multihull mean tornado or something else like f18?
I think it means thed big T
The process first decides on the events, then the equipment is decided. But having at least one multihull events makes it pretty certain the Tornado will go another round.
What will the womans event be on, Tornados also? Pretty cool, Sarah Newberry has been training with Jamie on a T, I wonder what other woman will be interested. Oh, and Jamie will have to wear a wig.
I hope that it is the Tornado for 2012. It would be nice if it were for both men's and women's.
I wonder if this would get Pease Glaser back on the helm of an Olympic multihull again?
Is the next summer games in 2012 or 2008?
Don't get me wrong, the more cats the better.
But i don't see why there should be sex segregation in cat sailing.
Next games are 2008, China - Bejing. Sailing will be in Qiudango (sp?).
2012 is London, with the sailing taking place in Weymouth. Should be a great place. Hopefully we will see the Tornado in action there.
I think the US is the only ones who have suggested two multihull classes for the games in 2012. Dont think we will see it happen.. But we will definately see a mixed team from Belgium on the Tornado for the 2008 games!
Uh-oh, here the testosterone thread starts again <img src=
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/> How very fortunate that Caroljin (sp?) is doing well in the Tornado class, to demonstrate that you dont need male levels of testosterone to compete in a class with 99% males. Mary? <img src=
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Brian,
The wig and maybe a little shave