Now, I can’t predict if you’ll cringe, laugh or cry when you read this. But here are the recommendations to Yachting New Zealand from its Olympic Committee.
Note in particular Point 3, which says: “NZL is currently suffering in expensive classes (Tornado & 49er) that are suited to younger (fit) sailors - so we should avoid these.”
Yes, after all, this is the Olympics. We can’t have young and fit sailors in the Games, can we!
I wonder, did Yachting New Zealand consult with any young Kiwi sailors before considering these recommendations? Also I’d suggest the YNZ offices shut down and everyone go on holiday for the week when the Tornado World Championships is going on, just down the road in Takapuna next March.
This leaked document is yet more evidence why some Member National Authorities (MNAs) cannot be trusted to do anything than vote for self-centred, short-term interests. If the MNA’s views are truly representative of what its sailors believe, then fair enough. But is that the case? I doubt it.
As for only having the top six or eight crews in match racing events at the Olympics, seriously, what would be the point? You could pretty much name those six or eight nations now. Either have a decent number of nations represented in the match racing (what about two-person keelboats by the way?) or don’t do match racing at all.
The last thing the Olympic Regatta needs is to be perceived as even more elitist and wealthy-nation oriented than it is already.
Olympic Events 2012
Olympic Committee Recommendation to Board
Note: Recommendation is based on our ability to win medals 2012
Events:
Men’s One Person Dinghy
Heavy Weight Dinghy
Men’s Two Person Dinghy
Men’s Keelboat
Men’s Windsurfer
Skiff
Women’s One Person Dinghy
Women’s Two Person Dinghy
Women’s Windsurfer
Women’s Keelboat
Brief:
1. Wherever possible, the men’s & women’s events and classes should be the same. This helps develop fleets in smaller countries.
2. NZL needs to concentrate on classes where the local fleet sizes are greatest. The classes that are more expensive, more technical and more complicated hurt the smaller countries (match racing is an exception to this).
3. NZL is currently suffering in expensive classes (Tornado & 49er) that are suited to younger (fit) sailors - so we should avoid these. This seems to be caused through lack of money to create fleets and competition in these classes.
4. The Multihull event will most likely be the Tornado. This is currently the furthest from NZL’s reach of all the classes to win medals by 2012 as explained in 2. & 3. above.
5. Given our pedigree on the world Match Racing circuit over the past 20 years, we should be pushing hard for men’s and women’s Match Racing. The Match Racing classes should be 3 person boats with the top 6 or 8 crews only being at the Olympics. Match Racing feeder series should be held earlier in year to select Olympic teams. Classes would be the same for Men & Women.
Recommendation:
1. It is recommended that the event to be dropped for 2012 be the Multihull as first choice followed by the Skiff as second choice.
2. It is also recommended that both the Men’s Keelboat and the Women’s Keelboat events be based on match racing.
Posted in Olympic Classes, multihull | Tags: Olympics, Weymouth 2012, Olympic Sailing, ISAF Conference, Yachting New Zealand
