Match Racing in the 2012 Olympics?
SCUTTLEBUTT 2265 – January 22, 2007
* From Henry Menin Chairman ISAF Match Racing Committee: I read Gary Hoyt’s letter to Scuttlebutt (in Issue 2262) about sailing in the Olympics with great interest. I agree with Gary on several points. I would suggest to him, and to your readers, that there are solutions to the problems with sailing in the Olympics other than those he has recommended.
I agree that the success of sailing is not dependent on Olympic participation…but it will be much more difficult without it. The Olympics are responsible for much of the funds that are used to promote sailing worldwide, for running youth and development programs, for sailing clinics, for the training of race officials (measurers, race officers, umpires, judges), for the running of many regattas, etc.
I disagree that sailing must have winds over 15 knots to sustain viewer interest. What is needed is close coverage of an exciting race. Match racing, in winds much less than 15 knots, provides that kind of close coverage and excitement because the game is played along the shoreline, using the shore as a part of the game, giving viewers an “up close and personal” perspective of the racing where you can hear the skippers and crews talking (yelling?) to each other as they maneuver to control their opponent in a one-on-one battle. More…