What the Athletes Say

Following on from the graphs published yesterday, here are the anonymised comments of some of the Olympic sailors who added their views.

One of the strong messages coming through is that the Athletes really do want to have one of their peers sitting at the 38-strong table of ISAF Council.

Comments from the Athletes Commission survey of Olympic sailors

Laser Class
 There should be an effort to put Team Racing in the Olympics. It's fun to watch, cheap and a lot of fun for the sailors.
 Selection should be based on representing the wider trends in sailing. Course racing for sailboards is not popular outside of the Olympics
but moth sailing is growing rapidly.

Tornado Class
 I think that the Olympics should represent all aspects of sailing, such as dinghy, skiff, multihull. We need classes that are exciting to
watch and that will make people want to try sailing and classes that look good on TV for media coverage.

Finn Class
 I took part in the 2007 ISAF meeting and think as a sailor that ISAF needs a long term strategy regards to classes and media and
therefore need a new selection procedure.
 The one representative per Country rule should be abolished as some of the worlds best miss out due to this rule.
 I believe that in order to attract more spectators, fleet racing should change to match racing something like tennis. Have a ranking list,
competitors should get an invitation for regattas and have the finals. Also a good idea is to include money awards for regatta first ten
boats.
 470 men & women OUT and choose a 29er and 49er and the double-handed classes.

Radial Class
 I think that the one design aspect is very critical, so that the Olympics are a true test of sailing ability and not funding into sail / mast
development. There needs to be more variety of boats to sail for women as at the moment there are no fast or exciting boats for women
to sail, the men get the 49er and the women get nothing fun. There should be a one design skiff for women to keep sailing exciting and
more media friendly.
 The most important thing is to choose classes that are interesting to watch and affordable and reasonably easily available. The
continuity is important for media perspective and for the same reason making the classes clearer ie: Laser & Laser Radial / 49er and
29er) We need to move forward --> fast and fun boats which attract youth to sail them --> stronger sport.
 Mix of events should be "understandable" (not match racing keelboat women / fleet racing keelboat men). Mixed or open events should
be realistic classes sailed by men & women, not heavy-weight dinghy but rather a keelboat!


Star Class
 More active sailors in deciding committees!!
 Give the Athletes a vote at the ISAF council
 Let the athletes vote!
 The officials are too many, more real sailors!
 Best sailors in the world sail Stars, so Stars should be in the Olympics
 I am afraid British Federation has caused a ridiculous situation changing their minds after complaints from cat sailors. Can ISAF afford
women’s match racing? Does having top sailors sailing (i.e. the Star) create higher levels of competition? That is what the Olympics is
supposed to be about.
 I think we need to consider weight of sailor as an important part of selecting the class of boats, ie 470, 49, Tornado all are similar weight
sailors.
 The Star is the only boat I sail at this level given my size.
 I believe that any decision should include full size sailors, not simply small individuals.
 Keep the Star in the Olympics. It is the only class for the slightly older, big name sailors. The little guys already have plenty of options.
 Finn out – Tornado in. Match racing is a must have at the games!
 Basically there are not enough girls sailing. Why introduce new women’s classes? No one wants to match race.
 If about 85% of the people who sail are male Olympic games must be about 6/4 or 7/3 events for male or female. To make the games
more spectacular and get media image must be an amount of races to determine who 10 are going to sail the medal race. And then that
race should be the final result not taking into consideration the previous races.
 I personally think we should have a revote because we should catamarans in the Olympics as keelboat but I also think that for example
the 470 men/women can be exchanged to cats and female shift class to the 29er for example. Keelboats need to stay in the Olympics
especially the Star because it’s a very challenging boat form 3-25kts and also for all different weight categories sailing it. Keelboats make
70% of all worldwide sailing.
 Affordability is a factor that athletes control. Everyone looks for an advantage somewhere and most spend heaps to get it because it’s
easier.
 There should always be an Olympic class in which people can sail at an advanced age so that the sailors Olympic career does not stop at
say 35 years.
 The star must remain an Olympic class for many reasons, 1) the big names in the sport of sailing sail Star boats. 2) close intense racing. 3)
The tradition of the class is second to none. 4) the cost of campaign the Star makes sense.
 The Olympics should be about what is good for sailors and not TV rights.
 Thank you for letting sailors comment. Change is not always good, be careful and wise. Do not make or choose sport events for media
and or public views. They will follow the best sports/athletes.
 Two singlehanded boats are not necessary. Why do we have this expensive Finn class in the Olympics?
 I would like to see the disciplines reviewed less frequently as changes have far reaching cost for very little benefit to the sailors. 2) Ban
coaches as a cost cutter 3) Boat builders to supply equipment for Olympics as a measure to lessen pressure on the measurement rules.
 The Star Class has to stay in the Olympics because it is the only class who attract sailors out of all the Olympic classes. Further I is a class
where the name of sailing compete in (eg Russel Coutts, Paul Cayard, Robert Scheidt, Hamish Pepper and so on…). The Star class is a very
big worldwide fleet where everybody can race.
 I sail the star because of good local competition. I’m pleased that it is in the Olympics because I have the opportunity of compete
against the best sailors in the World. Personally I have no hope of ever going to the Olympics.
 The Star class is the only Olympic discipline where all the best sailors in the world can sail and compete. Young talents, former world
champions from all other Olympic classes, professional sailors from the A-Cup everybody is competing in the Star class.
 Disciplines should be chosen according to the worldwide sailing activity ie (keelboats, dinghies, catamarans) to keep at least the sailing
public interested. Disciplines like windsurfing which is not practiced in this form outside of ISAF events are obsolete. The Star class with
all the former champions of the Laser and Finn class as well as the champs from big boats must remain the highest valued Olympic class
to attract the most successful sailor beyond their dinghy years.

470 W Class
 Athletes shouldn’t decide next Olympic events but a good representative board to choose right classes

470 M Class
 Considering number of Multihulls worldwide, it’s a disaster if there is no representation at the games
 Rather choose skiff than a woman keelboat!
 No need for two single handed male classes
 Kite surfing and speed sailing should never be Olympic
 Sailing should be shown in all its differences like sailing is a multisided sport.
 Reconsider number of boats in all events that must be related to number of country’s sailing
 Big boys can sail star, lose the Finn
 Open classes are not for real, it’s happening only once
 I totally agree same male as female events
 470 is so global it should stay Olympic
 Multihull for woman is not possible. This should be exhibition class like moth of kite surfing
 Cheapest for poorest countries: all sizes is essential to have popular Olympic events. We are in 21th century, men and woman are equal.
So should be equal at games

QUESTION: What are the most useful comments to come out of this survey? What should ISAF pay most attention to?