Devon, I've asserted several times that the mixed multihull event was part of the ISAF Olympic Commission's strategy that was vetted through the IOC, who began supporting mixed sports in 1995. If the insiders are telling us that this is the path to an Olympic multihull event, and we want to play in their reindeer games, then we ought to listen.

I made the case to the Council for focusing on other events in multihull sailing shortly after the Estoril vote, but the sailors want the Olympics. Nobody could have foreseen how things would change in the few years since, culminating in Ellison's declaration of revolution. If we don't get an event, we have lots else to occupy ourselves - while Weymouth showcases dinghies, we'll be enjoying three major World Championships here in the US.

But the die is cast for next week. After this thread, I am personally more convinced that a mixed multihull will showcase our niche of the sport very nicely. The arguments against mixed focus on red herrings, advocacy for specific equipment, straw man misdirection, and outright sexism. If anyone thinks that a mixed team can't sail a high performance cat at the pinnacle of the sport, I'd say they need to get out more, try some different classes, and not make it about themselves and the sailing they do or have done. Ask yourself why you want an Olympic multihull, and if it truly is an altruistic motivation, then what should it matter which boat as long as the "exciting, telegenic, high-performance" criteria are met?

We told the OSC that we wanted them to vote in the interest of the sport, not in the interest of the medal count. I think they followed through. We have more two-man, heavy teams than most countries - if OSC wanted to stack the deck, they'd only push for a men's multihull. That's where our medals are! Two dudes! Instead, I think OSC has taken the Olympic Commission's lead.

Looking back through this thread, I still don't see the women's perspective offered. Maybe they think the debate is silly, or maybe they don't pore over this site like the men do. I know what some Olympic women think... I know what my daughter's sailing coach thinks.

It is fine to disagree and I'm not sitting here at my desk with the objective of changing anyone's mind. My mission and my hope is to see a multihull event reinstated - if the wind blows us toward a mixed event, then that's where my advocacy will go. If the political wrangling moves us toward open, I'll do what I can to keep the scales tipped our way. If 5/5 makes some sort of zombie comeback, I'll do my best to convince the OSC that we can compete.

I get accused of being naïve all the time, and I'm often described as a hopeless optimist. This thread's turned into a bummer, but I'm trying hard to see the glass half-full; we have a good shot, and while the evaluation of equipment may be divisive and difficult, if nothing else, it will be exciting. It is a good time to be a cat sailor.