Sometimes you get an interesting insight into how the ‘real-world’ sees sailing. Here is a version of a conversation I had yesterday with someone selling something…
“We are focussing on Sport and media. I see you do a lot with motorsport and yacht racing – do you do anything with mainstream sports?”
“Are they not mainstream sports?”
“Oh. Well I mean, sports that are in the Olympics – like Athletics.”
“Sailing has 10 medals in the Olympics.”
“Oh. But you don’t work with sports like Tennis?”
Which all goes to show that we in the industry need to remain vigilant and use every opportunity to promote the sport in a way that allows it to get mindshare in countries like the UK where only a handful of sports get any attention.
Perhaps the introduction of Kiteboarding will help the cause!
Amongst the types of sailing being considered by ISAF for the 2016 Olympic medals is Kiteboarding – spurned on by the apparent sucecss of events like SnowboardX in the Winter Olympics.
Now an evaluation team has been selected for their in depth Kiteboarding knowledge – made up of representatives from both ISAF and the IKA.
The evaluation has proposed that several kinds of Kiteboarding will be tested including: short track, slalom, course racing and enduro. Throughout the five day trials, sailors will sail the different formats and provide feedback.
And because the Olympic sailing equipment process is so complicated, political and unweildy, there will also be trials for a Women’s Skiff – to replace Women’s Match Racing and a new Multihull.
The six skiff options will be:
- 29erXX – Ovington Boats
- ARUP Skiff – ARUP
- AURA – Ovington Boats
- Hartley Rebel – Hartley Boats
- Mackay FX – Mackay Boats
- RS900 – RS Sailing
The seven multihull options are:
- Hobie 16 – Hobie Cat
- Hobie Tiger – Hobie Cat
- Nacra 17 – Nacra Sailing International
- Nacra F16 – Nacra Sailing International
- Spitfire S – Sirena Voile
- Tornado – International Tornado Class Association
- Viper – Australian High Performance Catamarans (AHPC)
Throughout the nine day evaluation, sailors nominated by their Member National Authorities will sail the boats and provide feedback. A report will then be produced at the 2012 ISAF Mid-year meeting in Stresa, Italy where ISAF Council will make the final selection!
