Stewart and Darryl, thank you for the history lessons. I really enjoy posts looking back at the infancy of the beachcats. Would be great to see a photo of the winged tornado which broke during the trials.

To get back on topic. Building national multihull (or high-performance to include moths and perhaps skiffs if they want to) can not hurt. Starting an international assoc. can not hurt either. At least not until this effort eventually is succesful and a threat to ISAF. It is a very long way to go before we are there, if we ever get there. Until then, I can only cheer for John and the others working within the current structure. If the attemt at getting multihulls and a high-perf dinghy for females in the 2012 games doesn't work out, we (as in catsailors) really should work hard at developing and strengthening the teamwork and structures which have succeeded in influencing the RYA and YA. Perhaps the discussion should move on and begin finding ways of attracting and keeping catsailors organized/affiliated. What is the key and why have we not succeeded so far (Are NAMSA and UKCRA successes? Others)? Should we use "Remember Estoril" as a slogan. Doesn't quite have the same "schwung" as "Remember the Alamo"

This is my OPINION, not fact and from what I saw happening at the time.....

A few people left the Hurricane 5.9 fleet (The Hobie 20 carries a remarkable resemblance to the 5.9, some might say the Hobie is a close copy)
But at the same time, people where leaving the Dart 18 fleet (was by far the strongest cat fleet in the UK at the time) to go to F18 and I'd not be surprised if people were also looking at the T as the ultimate boat.

There are now people around the UK that just sail the T for fun - there really were not that many that sailed the old T for fun, just for the Ollies. There is now a proper fleet at Mennis Bay (Kent coast) - but not sure how many(maybe 10?), there are a few scattered around the rest of the UK (maybe 10?) and we even had 3 (I think) entered for the Grafham Cat open (Biggest in the UK with usually approx 200 boats) and in the past we only ever had 1 from Grafham enter. I'd say the T is doing quite well in the UK, and I'd like one at some point if my kids decide to sail with me.

Imagine the chagrine should the 2008 Deed of Gift America's Cup Challenge be decided on fast, big multihulls-a very likely possibility.

"Lovey, what's that fast, odd-looking boat in our water!? Be a dear and refresh my Oporto- I'll hail the commodore..."

I owned a 'B' class, a Cunningham Quest B class [no not QB2]. Fantastic boat. Had it for about four seasons, raced it only twice in all that time. Mainly used for taking ppl out sailing and scaring the pants off them. Worked well with the women. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've never enjoyed sailing as much as I did when I owned that boat.

Still love it but that 'B' spoilt me really.

Guys, I think I'm very much over all this Olympic stuff. The more I look into it the more disillusioned I get with all the politics, all of the small print and backroom deals yadayada, it all looks like so much crap to me and as a cat sailor I really just want to sail and race a bit and have some fun and I'm able to do that without getting involved in all that highly elitist corporate bs. And I'm getting the feeling that a lot cat sailors you feel the same way so why are we stressing.
That's NOT cat sailing, and virtually has nothing to do with it IMO.

I've been looking into the YA and YNSW and it all looks to complicated for us to get any real benefit from any of it. Nobody from YA or YNSW really gives a flying fig about cats so Bolloks to it all I say.

Berny.

But who wants to watch 2 women go as slow as they can in a highly tactical race that looks stupid when you can watch two women scream around on a cat and who knows what they may loose in a pitchpole <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. I still want the guys on the Tornado's to pitchpole but I dont want any wardrobe malfunctions. I'm not going to sit through the Olympic sailing telecast with only an occaisional shot of a 49er.
regards

There won't be a telecast. Even with Australia having a great shot (and eventually winning) in the 470 in Sydney, I saw no coverage until the last race. And then it was pretty weak coverage at best, I can't even remember them showing the start, just the last couple of legs.

It is up to the sponsors to kick up a fuss and either pull out all their financing or put in some serious dollars, both in support of sailing. It is their advertising, they need to make it work for them.

Potential sponsors should be looking at sailing as an opportunity to make money, it is an untapped and poorly run marketing machine at the moment, but with huge potential. The answer is greater visibility.

We faired better here then because I sat through a fair bit of slow crap to see some decent sailing last time, sailing was listed in our guide but not what type.
regards

A couple of times I seem to recall sailing was listed but turned the TV on to find something else was being shown instead. Hah, and it was usually late at night, so the replays were being bumped for something else!

http://scott.projectsomewhere.com/2007/11/12/commiserations/#comments

just another interesting commentary of the fiasco.

We need to develop sailing into a suitable Telesport [television]. Television is the single most important vehicle we have to promote sailing and raise revenues. Presently there are some initiatives being investigated and developed to make Catamaran racing, television friendly. These initiatives include developing sailing specific filming strategies and training sailing savvy directors, producers and commentators. Imagine presenting an NRL game on television but using directors, producers and commentators who know very little about Rugby League! This is happening with sailing. Even at Olympic level our best directors and commentators are seriously incompetent. It's no wonder you don't see sailing on TV because the general public have no idea what's going on when they watch a sailboat race on tele and so it's not popular.
We need to find the Ray Warrens, Frank Hydes and Phil Liggetts of sailing. These people are probably responsible, more than any for giving their prospective sports legendery status in the homes of the general public.

So true Berny! The AC in Auckland had some very good production. Even my wife who dont care for racing at all got caught up in it. But productions like that costs money and somehow the ball need to start rolling if it is to develop.

Bern,
As we have discussed what you're saying is so basic I can't understand while people are not all over it.
I think you're in possession of the solution. We just need to find the dollars to turn it into reality.
Regards,
Phill

I agree with you Berny,But sailing is only television worthy if there's action,thrills and spills.The joe average punter won't watch sailing unless it has the above,i know i work with a group of shift workers and they always tell me if they watch it and there's action BUT if there's no action they always comment on how boring it looks.So while ever that theory is around television coverage will be limited.Just ask people that have tried to organise television coverage of events.
And lets face facts that while ever there is money available for the winners of medals in olympics people will always stack the decks do deals or cheat (if they can get away with it)
The removal of the tornado's from the olympics hasn't changed my sailing from week to week as i know that my sailing ability wouldn't even fill the pinky finger on the top guys & gals
These are just my thoughts Richard

Media pressure is still on down under:

http://www.sail-world.com/australia/ISAF-hits-new-low-with-2012-Olympic-Events/39854
http://www.sail-world.com/australia/Multihulls-on-the-March/39875

The "ISAF Hits New Low" article is excellent - I would reccomend reading it all the way through twice, despite its length and poor title choice. Very good job of 'setting the scene,' explaining the lead-up and describing how the various MNAs balance considerations. Reasoned explanations for re-opening the vote like the one presented by Phil Jones are exactly what is needed to move forward. Threats of forming a new international body or lawsuits or petitions are far less effective - in fact, things like that damage our position terribly, especially when those threats are empty.

In the US the Multihull Council is working along these lines, although to say it is an uphill battle is to comically understate our situation. There is plenty of international support to keep the multihull event in the Games, but we are a vocal minority in this country with too few volunteers working at the national level. It isn't even about the sailors or our chances at medalling (again!) in my opinion. It is about perception - something far more difficult to sway. The two basic and unavoidable issues we face are that multihull sailors are a minority in the US, and that some members of the Board of USSA currently believe that the men's keelboats event must be preserved over the multihull event.

Counter arguements and positions against re-opening the vote are solidifying behind the scenes. Each point raised by RYA and YA is met with criticism and undermining interpretations of the 2002 and 2005 IOC documents - some ISAF officials are feeling very defensive because of the vitriolic responses they've received. We are, however, making progress.

Will there be a multihull event in 2012? I just can't say. What I can assert with more certainty is that things are different in the US today, will be very different in a year, and may be dramatically different in three years.

John Williams
US Multihull Council Chair

Phill, my post on that topic had too many words in it and nobody read it. They skip reading any post with more than five lines. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I mean, get serious, we're not that interested in actually doing anything. We're cat sailors remember.

And in any event we're not allowed out much anymore these days. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi, I know lots of you do not think that cats in or out will affect you, but is does and in a bigger way than you would think. With getting on TV we need to take one step at a time it will not happen over night, after running the 2007 f18 worlds which we got on Nat prime time morning show and state prime even shows, and with over 1 mil hits on the web site and this does not inclued sail.tv site or sail-world.com all up the exposure was above all expectation and we learnt ways of doing it better.
It can happen!!!!
Mark

To be honest "some ISAF officials" need a good bollocking..

The position taken by USSA and then adopted by ISAF stinks. Plain and simple. If IOC decides to reduce further the involvement of sailing in the Olympics. This will be laid completely at USSA's feet.

My very limited understanding of the situation has it that one very important element missing from multihull sailing on the US and ISAF scene is politicking. I heard there is one class -- I think the Star, but it may have been the Flying Dutchman or something else -- is renowned for their parties at the ISAF meetings. Now THAT is politicking!

When it gets to the point where people are talking about your parties, you know those boys are on to something! Multihullers need to work on many different fronts to get this cart turned around. But one front that is an absolute must, in my opinion, is working the halls at ISAF. Wining, dining, chatting it up, and wheeling and dealing. I believe that has so much bang for the buck.

I get the impression that the Tornado class/reps may have alienated themselves from 'the good ole boys' at ISAF. I might have that wrong. But if that is the case, then the Tornado class would do every multihuller a service by changing out the guard, and getting in some new blood that knows how to smile and schmooze!

We need to get some 'friends' at ISAF -- and lots of them!!

Nice idea, where's the money comming from?