and if this story is to be believed nz could well medal in the remaining tornado olympics and make their 2012 vote look stupid

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0510/S00012.htm

ouch! that's a 2005 story....

over my head here

getting out now

What needs to be clearly understood is that this vote not only removed catamarans from the Olympics, it put sailing in the position of being comnpletely removed as well. This fight that we are in and are asking everyone's help with is now about keeping sailing itself in the Olympics. We are in this position because we have not stood up for ourselves, the MNA's have voted for very selfish reasons and the ISAF has accepted that vote. You had better believe that the IOC is now looking very closely at sailing and saying to itself, WOW, we told them the changes that needed to be made and what did they do? They ignored all of our findings and reccommendations, so they have not lived up to the responsibilities required of a sport to maintain Olympic Status. Gee, should we keep them here? or is it time to remove a very costly, non-telegenic sport from the games? If you look at the costs and infrastructure that is required, as well as how sailing defines the possible locations, it makes sense to drop us if we are not helping by providing exciting, television ready, accessable and vibrant sports. If I were the IOC, I would use this opportunity that the ISAF and voting MNA's have given for the complete removal of sailing from the games after 2012.

Quote.
{I now think the biggest boost to getting cats back into the Olympics will be if the next AC turns into a cat fight}
End quote.

Using the criteria logic of NZ it surprises me that they didn’t lobby and vote to have the Americas cup included as part of the Olympics, - NZ’s best chance to win a medal? – (Their arguments being - millions of sailors around the world sail these boats at clubs and regattas ever week, they are the pinnacle of sailing ability, an inexpensive class to get started in, at any venue you can see hundreds of these boats being raced every week, live video streaming into the homes of tens of thousand of viewers who are kept on the edge of their seats watching this fast, exciting racing (better than F1 in cars), all race results finalised on the water with never any protests or court action arguments, this class is just what the sport needs at Olympic level to increase TV rating much higher than any other sport and provide massive amounts of revenue into the IOC’s and ISAF’s coffers).
This is about as logical an argument/dream “for the betterment of the sport” of sailing at Olympic level, as the arguments that NZ (and others) used to vote in the ridiculous way that they did.

Does that maen they are young(fit) sailors? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If the IOC suspended all athletes from the countries that did not follow the IOC guidelines.. Should be enough to bring the ISAF and NMAs to rethink their involvement... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have to say that given my years of involvement in sailboat racing, management, development and promotion in Australia, I'm not in any way surprised by the current ISAF outcomes. It's been my experience that the main focus of ISAF, YA, YNSW seems always to be, and always has been, on offshore, bigboat racing, [where the big money is], with little if any interest in OTB club level racing [where there's not much money].
The exception being the introduction of measures to ensure the maximising of revenue input from these small sailing clubs. I've never seen, or been able to encourage any interest or input from YA/YNSW in small boat racing club activity. I've seen many, many small sailing clubs go to the wall without the slightest interest or concern from YNSW or YA and if it happens to be a cat club there is considerably less than no interest.
As I see it, it's an absolute scandal and for the life of me I can't see any reason whatsoever for continuing my YA. support funding. As a member, you are offered all these bogus entitlements which amount to 3/5ths of 5/8ths of nothing at all useful for the average w/end small boatclub jock and in reality, you don't even get an acknolegement of you having paid your fees. What a joke. And to add insult to injury, we no longer have guaranteed participation at the Olympics. To be treated with such utter contempt is outrageous.

I'd be happy to be proved ill-advised on this but both my head and my heart tell me otherwise.


Berny

Berny, I dont have the same perception, that ISAF and MNAs only think about big boats and offshore racing. Here in Norway it is the other way around, a very strong focus on the olympics, recruiting young racers and not much else. The offshore racers and bigboaters have the resources to fix things for themselves. It might look like the big boaters is the focus group due to media coverage (thats vere the money is), but our MNA dont invest much in them.
Our sailing federation also care about access and clubs. Just this fall the sailing federation supported a club with both resources and political pressure. Some developers wanted to fill the canal they used to access the fjord and build houses. So, there obviously are differences between nations. One of the advantages of being involved with a "small" sport is the ability to get involved at a pretty high level quite fast..


Andy Rice came with a new, interesting, piece on the topic today: http://sailjuiceblog.com/2007/12/02/just-five-to-get-a-revote/

Perhaps time to talk with your MNAs? If the general secretaries begin talking things can change..

Well said Berny. My sentiments exactly. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Hobie Weighs in on Olympic Multihull Class Removal

Monday - December 3 2007 - 0915 PST - A spokesman from Hobiecat wrote this statement regarding the ISAF's decision to not include multihulls in the 2021 Olympic games:

In the past few weeks we have all had time to reflect on the International Sailing Federation decision to remove the multihull from the Olympics with the effects it has for multihulls and the Hobie Classes.

As the largest multihull class association in the world with our successful world championships, youth programs and sustained grow the International Hobie Class Association will continue to grow and give our members great sailing.

The International Hobie Class Association will work carefully with other multihull organizations to see if and how we can achieve the inclusion of the multihull discipline for the 2012 Olympics.

In the countries that did not support the multihull I would suggest a small working party to ask if you can meet with the National Authority and ask what the multihull must do to be more involved with the national authority. It is important that we work with the national authorities as these are the organizations that will vote at ISAF. For far too long all of the multihulls have worked outside their national authorities. Unfortunately this has now been to our detriment of our discipline. Because of our independence the national authorities do not know of all the work we do. It is important for them to understand how important we are to them.

If I can also suggest that you be professional in your approach and do not attack or be rude to the national authorities or individuals. We need their support and abuse will not help our cause.

We all must keep working ahead in a positive professional manner to get ISAF to review and reverse their decision. .

Posted on XS Racing today!

It's not clear what portion of Hobie Cat is the author.
the class association, HCA
Hobie Europe or
Hobie USA/Australia

IMO... Bravo... well said!

It's written in David Brookes' style. He's the Executive Director of the International Hobie Class Assn. and is on the ISAF Classes Committee.

Hi Matt, Thanks

Does that mean that the US HCA has chosen to make their position known to US Sailtng through the IHCA on this issue?

Or, will the US HCA formulate a position independently and contribute this to the Multihull Council and US Sailing in the future?

Thanks for the update.

Mark

confirmed, check your inbox for the IHCA December eblast from David Brookes sent this morning.

re: The HCA-NA's position - I haven't heard if there will be a formal position / statement made by the HCA-NA. The HCA-NA Chairman is (or was) the VC of the Multihull Council. You would have to ask him (Bob Merrick).

Would you like to expand on this?

I beleive that some of the MNAs and or their representatives have received quite agressive emails on the way that they voted, I beleive that this was in the initial period after the vote....but it is VERY good advice.

Support is growing with some MNAs for our cause and it would be a shame to loose that with an ill mannered email, letter or telephone call...even though it may be what you are thinking.......PLEASE think of the hard work that others are doing, and the hard work that you MAY undo

I agree, keep it calm, professional and to the point. Throwing out insults, insinuations and even worse, threats will only damage our position in this fight.

Petion is closing soon please sign if you haven't already

petition

RYA Document Attached

That is some real support from the RYA. They rise 1 notch in my esteem after that show of support and olympic vision.
It looks leal, so I'll forward a copy to the leader of the norwegian sailing assoc (in a polite way of course).