This is a game about medals…. How many can you win??? The game started a while ago. The Brits and the USA felt that they did not have good prospects. So… their game plan had them dropping the multihull from the games with only 8 recommended classes. OUR petition drive etc etc spoke about things like fairness, representation, opportunity, gender equity…. Once the [censored] hit the fan… they modified their public stance, to appease us.
S0, The two catamaran plan was nice, gender fair, good for the sport overall, etc etc… BUT when other factions started playing a different game… just as the USA predicted… They went back to their strategy for medals… how many can we win.
IMO, This game was lost when the women decided that they MUST HAVE a match race (assuming keel boat at all costs) Why…. I think they see a pro gravy train that follows from racing a keelboat. It’s a formula that can generate a marketable personality.
The women’s group voted DOWN the women Multihull first… Then the HP dinghy was sacrificed… all for the Match Race discipline. They also voted to not push for gender equity… and the women were happy to take 4/10 events so long as they had the freaking match race discipline. Once that was a done deal… it became Star versus Multihull… given all the other factions .
So, Mike Grandfield versus the Star contingent. Remember… the STAR has experience with getting tossed out before. They understood the game AND they had a lot of money and clout ready to rock and roll. Just look at how they spin the class./ for the PR campaign… Oh… XXX learned the ropes in the VERY DIFFICULT STAR BOAT. XXX has said the STAR are the most competitive fleet they have ever sailed … Blah Blah Blah..
Once it came down to keel versus multi… we were doomed… Brenner is the chief USA fund rasiser…A former STAR campaigner etc etc.. He can raise money from the rich guys who build gran prix yachts .. this gives him control of the cash..… marketing cat sailors… not so much… AND Lovell and Daniel are likely to retire… the USA B fleet is YEARS from competing without a big investment in training.…. The decision was straitforward.
I think we should hope that justice is served and they made the women match race Hobie 16’s with spins…. Those old girls will really get a thrill out of trapezing and match racing while wearing a wet suit.. Tight fitting Pink Neoprene wet suits will show off their figures… don’t you think? They should be psched about the marketing potential!?
