Broken Glass
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 06:10AM Former 470 campaigner from the US, and now sailing a 29er, Jen Glass wrote her response to the ISAF Council decision for SailJuice:
"As a young female skiff sailor and the 29erXX Representative on the 29er Executive Board, today's ISAF Council vote brought me great disappointment. Following six years' campaigning in the 470 I gave the 29er a try on a whim in between quadrenniums. I was instantly hooked on skiff sailing and the true athleticism it brings to the sport.
Not long after stepping into the 29er I had the opportunity to try out the 29erXX. It was amazing! A boat where both the skipper and crew needed to be coordinated, acutely aware of their actions, and work together with the boat. And when you get all of these things right, you're generously rewarded with amazing boatspeed.You can't sail the 29erXX without grinning from ear to ear. Now here's a boat I can spend a few quadrenniums in!
The 29erXX is the future of sailing. We want something fast, fun, physically challenging and extreme. But today ISAF chose to keep us in 1963.
Photo: Dave Keane
So I just have one question for the Council. Why put the folks on the Equipment, Events and Women's Committees through the countless hours they put into their research and eventual decision, if you're not going to follow what all three of them recommend?
Lady sailors, let's vote by sailing.
The 29erXX will join the 49er at their World Championship July 12-19th on Lake Garda, Italy. The class is now sponsored by Seiko and the event promises to be amazing. Come and join us!"
Question: What chance of a women's high performance skiff being voted in by ISAF in four years' time?
29erXX, 470, ISAF, Jen Glass, Olympic Sailing