No skiff at 2016 Olympics
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Windward Mark
Super Anarchist
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What is the point of having all of these committees if they don't get listened too??
JimC
Not actually an anarchist.
No skiff at all (controversial) or no women's skiff (very reasonable as virtually no-one sails one now)?
It sounds like there is still a way to go on this - although ISAF have made some odd decisions in the past, surely they won't manage to remove skiffs altogether?? I suspect a slate with minimal changes will emerge - something like 2 x boards, 2 x laser, finn, 49er, star, 2 x 470, mixed multihull. But this ISAF, so they could easily fuck ther whole thing up...
JimC
Not actually an anarchist.
You can listen to someone and take on board everything they have to say without agreeing with their conclusions. The exec committee and events committee have different terms of reference and different viewpoints, so its scarcely a suprise that they come up with different conclusions, especially in this situation where there are no good answers. Both committees are small largely self selected groups containing mostly people from first world countries. Council on the other hand is a much more representative body.
Lets face it, if there was a good and obvious answer to the class selections everyone would be shouting out a consensus. As there isn't everyone comes up with their own answers, all with a healthy dollop of personal or national prejudice... There is a huge rich first world bias to the particpants online, and I wouldn't expect Council, which has a much more varied makeup, to come up with a decision we'll like.
learningJ24
Super Anarchist
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If we can't agree on classes on a pretty homogeneous board, how can committees that have more greatly varying interests agree? Everyone here agrees that Olympic sailing ought to promote the sport however a percentage of the decision makers are concerned with TV and revenues.
Personally, there should be a mix of the tradlitional and cutting edge in the Olympics. A high speed skiff (fun to watch) as well as a multi-crew keelboat (what most people sail) would be an appropiate mix. The more the Olympics (and the America's Cup) move toward the cutting edge of design, the less relevant they become to the majority of sailors.
Personally, there should be a mix of the tradlitional and cutting edge in the Olympics. A high speed skiff (fun to watch) as well as a multi-crew keelboat (what most people sail) would be an appropiate mix. The more the Olympics (and the America's Cup) move toward the cutting edge of design, the less relevant they become to the majority of sailors.
Board skiff
Super Anarchist
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It's the lacknof consistency that gets me, more than the choice of events itself. Why do they have to change the events so frequently? The equipment may change over time, but the actual events ought to be virtually unchanged from one Olympiad to the next. And yet here we have multis out, multis in, womens skiff as a real prospect and then possibly no skiff at all. Shambles. Utter shambles. Feel very sorry for the guys campaigning, especially those who may miss out for 2012 but may be realistic prospects for Rio. If you don't know whether your event, let alone specific class will be at the Olympics in 5 years time how are you supposed to plan and prepare?
JimC
Not actually an anarchist.
I usually agree with Richard Gladwell, but I reckon he's off the plot there. I don't reckon the Exec Slate is any better (or any worse) than the Events slate. Neither, to my way of thinking is anywehere approaching least worst option. I do wish people would get off this TV slate. Sailing doesn't do television well, and we need to live with that. Arguing about classes is a bit like arguing over whether gloss paint, acrylic paint or emulsion is the most entertaining to watch dry...
Steam Flyer
Sophisticated Yet Humble
Because we have a committee empowered to do so, and they will change the event in exercise of that power even if the change makes no sense or is outright destructive. That's what committees do.
Good question... ... ... ... ... ... ...
FB- Doug
Board skiff
Super Anarchist
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Agreed. But a consistent slate from oneOlympics to the next would be nice.
JimC
Not actually an anarchist.
In practice that's what you usually get and probably will this time. Just shut your ears while all the politicking and posturing is going on. But frankly if you can't cope with a change of boat what on earth makes you think you're a world class sailor. Everyone's in the same position.
mustang__1
Super Anarchist
man i sure hope this is some sort of a sick joke. the women's skiff is not surprising....but dropping the 49er? i love sailing 470's, but they arent that interesting to watch in less than 25kts....
cantp1
Anarchist
Just plain terrible... Really hope they don't go ahead with proposition 29 from Puerto Rico...
surf nazi
Super Anarchist
So because skiffs may not be in the olympics the whole business is dirty ? I guess if skiffs were in , you would not be calling for transparency and would not be accusing people of back room dealing ?
You and many others assume that faster boats means more people watching the sport on TV. Well, the skiffs have been in the olypmics for a quite a few years now. Are their ratings any higher than any of the other classes ? I doubt it. Simply going faster and maybe having more crashes does not equal fannies in front of the TV/computer. Yes, we need to market the sport better but simply pushing skiffs and similar boats isn't going to do it.
