My original letter. For some reason it did not post:
From: Rex Denton
Sent: 01 October 2007 22:23
To: ISAF Secretariat
Cc: [email]
[email protected];[/email]
olympics@ussailing.orgSubject: Exclusion of the Tornado by US Sailing and RYA
To:
Mr. Göran PETERSSON, President and Mr. Arve SUNDHEIM, Secretary ISAF:
I recently learned of the RYA and US Sailing proposals that exclude the catamaran from consideration in the 2012 Olympics. I believe this is an absurd proposal that does not reflect worldwide interest in the catamaran boat class. First, about me- I am nothing more than a novice sailing skipper, with no agenda, or professional affiliation to boat manufacturers, or any commercial boating interest that would bias my perspective. I am only a beach catamaran owner who has only begun racing competitively (with my son) on a local level. (Frankly, we are not very good, but we are learning and having great fun doing so.)
Despite my novice status in racing events, I have watched the Tornado class (Olympic and otherwise), events and other catamaran events for many years, with great enthusiasm. The Tornado has been a cornerstone of Olympic sailing events for a very long time. The catamaran remains as one of the most exciting classes of World event sailing. With the F18 ‘box category’ class ascending in popularity worldwide, there is a thriving International community of sailors dedicated to perpetuating the catamaran boat class and the sport. Arguably, for us, from the standpoint of spectacle, catamarans and skiffs remain the more interesting boats to watch in Olympic yachting events, with races of both shorter duration and involving a greater mix of athleticism and sailing know-how than in most other classes of boating. In spite of the advantages, the RYA and US Sailing have chosen to act unilaterally, with no additional input, to abandon International catamaran fleets in favor of (with no international catamaran fleet input), two separate and distinct dinghy events, thereby excluding the catamaran from their recommendation for the 2012 Olympics.
While US Sailing explains that they do not endorse any event and are acting in the interest of seeing ‘the US win medals’ such an agenda is not in the interest of the wider sailing community, either in the US or abroad. Rather, this position should be discounted as ‘agenda oriented’ and in place to stack stronger US medal events in the Olympics. US Sailing continues that ... [‘our submission was silent on what we would like the other two events to be]... and [‘our submission did not call for the elimination of any current Olympic event]. Irrefutably, despite their explanation, the US sailing position ignores the catamaran class, thereby having potentially the same consequence as specifically not recommending catamarans for the 2012 Olympics. (See attachment 20070322_USSAILINGResponse_2012.) It is, therefore, disingenuous of the RYA and US Sailing to advance an agenda that only supports specific classes, for unknown reasons, with little input from the catamaran class, (and or windsurfing communities, for that matter).
The basis of this position is unclear but perhaps the RYA and US Sailing either 1) have the more familiarity with dinghies, or, 2) lean toward classes that are so popular that they cannot, or will not bother to advocate other classes, or 3) have favorites based on performance and popularity within regional clubs that have many dinghy owners as members. In any case, such skewed perspectives occur at the expense of the catamaran class, resulting in a formal lobby that, in spite of their claim, neither represents nor furthers the growing popularity of the sailing classes such as catamarans or wind boards. As one who participates in catamaran events I am left wondering how objective such these organizations can remain as acting advocates for the catamaran class (and for International sailing, in general).
Such awkward representation reflects an unreasonable and skewed extension of influence to the level of the ISAF and IOC. Limited and agenda driven positions, in my opinion, should not carry sway or represent the true spirit of the Olympics, where diversity and athleticism on the world stage should facilitate and advance the popularity of sport.
As such, I urge the IOC to discount the advice of both the RYA and US sailing's agenda for exclusion of the multi-hull class and request that the submission put forth by the RYA and US Sailing be withdrawn before ISAF convenes in November. Their positions should be replaced by alternative submissions supporting youth training with catamarans (and wind boards, for that matter) in future Olympics (2012 and beyond). I recommend the IOC to appropriately discount US Sailing’s position on the appropriate classes of boat as parochial, uninformed and exclusive.
It is my hope that the ISAF and IOC engage in a wider, more objective forum of international dialogue, including those within the catamaran and other sailing classes (outside US Sailing and RYA) before the formal IOC positions on the 2012 boat class decisions coalesce. Hopefully, US catamaran sailors can also work with US Sailing and the RYA to portray and promote the vibrant, popular and competitive qualities we see in regional catamaran sailing events.
Respectfully,
R. Rex Denton, Ph. D.
129 Hunter’s Trail
Madison , CT
Catamaran owner, (and pretty lousy cat racing skipper)
rexdenton@snet.net
