Sadly there will not be any cat at the 2012 Olympic Games!

http://www.sailing.org/21257.php?PHPSESSID=e6cf5e7f6953efa9cbce5e99d282ab98


You all do realise that now that the ISAF has dropped ALL/ANY multi hull from the Olympics, they (the ISAF) have at one stroke of the pen, removed every disincentive to ANY/ALL multihull class(s) from organising and calling their event “NATIONALS” and “WORLDS”?
The threat from the ISAF that any sailer who competed in a class event that called their events “”world titles/championships” without the approval of the ISAF could/would be ”blacklisted” and unable to compete in future ISAF sanctioned events (primarily the Olympics) does not carry any weight now? So what if you compete in a non sanctioned “world catamaran championship” event now? What will the ISAF do? Ban you from sailing in the Olympics on a Laser when you sail nothing but cats? BIG DEAL. I say stuff the ISAF; I like the idea of the ICAF (or anything similar that is totally independent of the ISAF).
Personally I feel that, indirectly they have done us (cat sailers) a big favour! They have now come out of the closet (so to speak) concerning their (mono mentality) dislike of multihulls, and actually, “put in writing” just how they do think of multihulls – they want our revenue, they want to control us, but they don’t want us to be seen or heard – It’s taken THEM over forty years to actually come out and say just how they feel about us, and now there can be no doubt as to just how much they DON”T like multihulls.
Well stuff them! We now have the opportunity to “do our own thing” so lets not let this golden opportunity slip through OUR fingers – lets be pro active, not reactive – WE WILL SURVIVE, in spite of any and all anti multihull sentiments

Personally, I think that the ISAF, YA, YNSW.,.........etc etc., are all a complete waste of space as far as cats go. They have only ever been seriously interested in big monohull events. They suffer the OTB mono's and have always tended to ignore cats of any size.
I have to agree with Darryl in that we should now get off our lazy butts and do something about it. ICAF, ICRF, whatever, too good IMHO. All that money we provided for the monohull frat can now be channelled into International Catamaran Racing.

Are we up to it is the next question?

Berny

Who among us has experience with marketing and promotion? We should have some idea of how big this nut is before we try and crack it.

There must be someone looking to spend a few advertising dollars on a wholesome event. If we attach it to a charity cause i.e. Hospice, Red Cross etc. we would gain instant exposure and recognition.

Just a thought.

I found this in my mailbox:

Dear sailor

I attach a copy of UKCRA's recent press release regarding ISAF's recent decision removing the multihull from the Olympics. The press release can also be found at

www.asnr29.dsl.pipex.com/UKCRA_Press_Release_20071110.doc

UKCRA have also set up a new petition, this one being aimed at the IOC. If you disagree with ISAF's recent decision then please sign the petition which can be found at

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/multihullinolympics/index.html

Please send the press release and petition address to all sailors and any media contact you may have.

Regards

Jon Worthington

yes

If anybody asks me then I'm not in favour of the F16 class seeking ISAF official status. I don't feel ISAF has anything to offer as that is valuable. Only additional expenses and meddling by whig who don't understand modern formula sailing or even catamarans. They want to make everything One-Design and stack the class rules with an increasing number of useless rules and regulations.

Wouter

A real hoot would be to apply to the canoe body as a two hulled canoe.. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The International canoe class falls outside ISAF..

Scooby managed to get hold of the ISAF voting results. All three US Candidates Cory Sertl, Charles Cook and Dave Irish all voted against the inclusion of Multihulls at the 2012 Olympics. The RYA voted 2:1 against and the Dutch rep also voted in a negative way which was quite a surprise. I should have checked the main forum to see if this info had previously been posted. If it has then I didn't mean to repeat it.

I'll say !

Wouter

I've also confirmed it is 100% accurate.

I really don't understand how they can vote for TWO one-man dinghy's (Heavy, Finn and Light, Laser) and NOT vote for a Multihull! Are they that insecure that they cannot stand the thought of a much faster platform out there near them?

They kept the 100 year old Star, the 50 year old Finn, and the 30 year old Laser, yet no Multihull? [censored]? I knew there was a reason I never thought it was worth the time and money to pursue Olympic racing...what a bunch of snobs, and on old, slow boats no less.

(Yes, I know the Tornado is an "old" design too, but it has recently been upgraded to include double traps and spinnaker, at least they keep up with changing times and new technology, which is something the Laser, 470, Finn and Star class have not)

It's just a continuation of the cats v. mono argument. The mono's are the traditional sailing boats, been around for centuries and they see the cats as trying to muscle in on their game. And that wouldn't necessarily be a problem except that cats being so fast, they make most mono's look stupid. You can understand why they don't like that very much. Think about it, you own a megga million dollar ocean racer and a cruising cat will outrun it. Well maybe that's a bit rich but you get my meaning.

They have really done us a favour. No longer do we have to adhere to their rules, pay their fees or support them in any way, and why should we?.
We can now form the ICRA and the ACRA and the NSWCRA etc., and run our own events, get our own sponsorship, promote cat racing exclusively worldwide. All funds now will go to the improvement of cat racing world wide, all of it. We can run our own worlds, nationals, states without ISAF/YA/YNSW etc. sanctions. All fees, will be payable to our organising bodies.
We should have been doing this all along. Relying on the mono fraternity to promote us is like asking the cops to support bank robbers or bicycle riders to promote GP bikes. It's a joke right?
Now we have to stand up and take responsibility for ourselves and its time we did, way overdue in fact.

Berny

from the A-cat site:

First reactions from several Catamaran sailors and A class sailors :

(from the petion website , see link above, read all the other reactions as well !)



Robbie Daniel : Why take the most exciting class out of the Olympics. It is one of the more cost effective classes since you can fit 10 in a container. It is a sport that applies to all ages. Sailing is doomed in the Olympics with out flash on the water


Scott anderson:An utterly disgraceful decision by the body that is supposed to represent all sailors , not just monohulls.It is an insult to all multihull sailors worldwide past and present - ISAF you are now the enemy.


Will Sunnucks: The Olympic movement strives for the ultimate - the fastest and the best, reflecting the colour and diversity of sporting activity around the world. Multihulls have superior performance, are interesting to watch and should certainly be included in the 2012 Olympics.


Glenn Ashby :
Multi Hull sailing world wide represents a large majority of sailing. There are numerous dinghy classes currently competing within the Olympics. I feel that it is only fair and just to have at least one multi hull dicipline included in the Olympic Games. The Multi Hull being excluded is an insult to Multi Hull sailing around the world!


Darren Bundock: I have lost all faith in the ISAF and especially the council decision making process. Sailing has taken a massive backwards step not only eliminating the multihull but not implementing the women's high performance skiff or the woman's multihull. Keeping the double handed dinghy and not moving with the times. Our sport had the chance to take a massive jump in London 2012 (finally a Olympics with maybe wind) but our sport has been destroyed by a council made up of inactive un-youthful ex sailors living in the past. The multihull has been discriminated against, it was the easy option. Despite multihulls making up for 25% of the sailing fraternity we have very little representation on the ISAF council. The lobbying, Pub parties and deals that go on in the corridors before the ISAF Council meeting under my definition spells corruption. How can they throw out the Events committee recommendations after all they are ISAF's experts that are in touch with the sailing communities


John Forbes: The multihull is the most spectacular of all sailing classes and should be the last to go. If they must discard one sailing class then get rid of the slow boring boats like 470, Star and Finn. The are all not interesting to watch either live or on TV.


Tom Siders:I can see that the ISAF, USSailing and the RYA all believe that having dinghies filling six of the ten open spots is a great representation of the sailing community at large. I must state that after years of supporting Tornados in the Olympic games, I am shocked at the outright contempt shown towards this discipline and to know that "back room" deals were cut with the 470 class. Shame on these MNA attendees and voters. I have been a continual member of both the ISAF and USSailing, but question what reason any of us who sail multihulls now have in supporting either of these organizations. The RYA should be added to this list.


Mark Cole: This decision demonstrates pure elitism and a crying shame for the sport, and the for the future youth of today with a sincere passion for the multihull discipline.


Jeremy Evans: like a lot of people i'm lost for words, apart from wondering why cat classes should continue to pay homage to ISAF who have followed up their unbelievable mess of youth cat selection by Olympic cat class rejection


Pim Nieuwenhuis: banning the fastest class from the olympics is possibly the worst choice they could make. Well done boys! but maybe we will see the AC in giant multi's?


Mark Bulkeley: to be a fair representation of sailing there needs to be a catamaran class. ISAF have once again thrown a completely random decision up in the air. It feels like politics and deals have decided the fate of the 2012 olympic classes not what the people want or a fair represenation of the sailing world.


Pieterjan Dwarshuis: How the F*** is it possible that cat sailing losing it's Olympic status, and there are 10 (!) 'half-boat ' classes still in the games ????? bloody politics .... Catsailing is at least 25 % of all dinghy sailing In Holland it is probably even 50 % ........or more........

So it's not just me... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

It is starting to sound more and more as though the IOC and ISAF are losing sight of the fact that competition is about the competitors and competing, rather than about the spectators.

Sailboat racing generally is an untapped resource for corporate exposure.

The continuation of sailing as an Olympic event is highly dependent on it being made a suitable spectator sport and a vehicle for advertising.
Unlike most sports, [Football, Baseball Cricket etc.,] not only are there shirts for advertising, we have a very large canvas billboard in the sail.

Presently, sailing is not popular with the general public. It's lack of appeal is mainly due to it being conducted in a geographic location which is not spectator friendly. This means that television coverage is absolutely critical to the success of sailboat racing as a spectator sport, probably more so than for any other sport, yet TV coverage of sailing is possibly the poorest of any sport.
To encourage the general public to adopt sailboat racing as a spectator sport, good television coverage is necessary, but although sailing is a difficult sport to televise, there has been very little development in method and technology to take advantage of it's untapped potential.
TV coverage of sailing is mostly done by 'general' sports produces, directors and commentators' who often know very little if anything about sailing. This generally results in an inferior product which, although being of some interest to sailors, it has little appeal or entertainment value for the general public. Put simply, there are not many if any directors and/or commentators who can produce a product to give an accurate, comprehensible and interesting account of a sailboat race for Mr. Joe average. This means that although a sail is a great canvas for advertising, sponsors are not keen to put money into sailing in general because the sport lacks exposure.

We desperately need good, well trained directors and commentators as well as some specific development in image capturing technology for the sport. With so many Television broadcasters worldwide looking for content, it should be a gold mine.

We now have the opportunity to develop catamaran sailing as a great sport for spectators and sponsors and a very lucrative investment opportunity for entrepreneurs.
What we have to do is develop a way to televise it, then produce it sensibly, with good direction, and commentary [NOT the Rob Mundle method], in a way which is palatable to the general public.
We could lead the way here and then the IOC and the ISAF would beg us to let them use us.
Difficult but not impossible.

should the title of this thread not be

No more cats in the Olympics after 2008 !

We are too self involved. We need to look for ways to be a part of our communities as a whole.

This is a good place to start.

http://www.hospiceregattas.org/

Hi all,

Below you can find the reaction of Darran Bundock to de ISAF descision.

http://sailjuiceblog.com/2007/11/11/bundys-blast-at-isaf/

Mind that in the half of the reply the Viper is mentionned, not the F16 as a class....

Gill

But if you follow the provided link you clearly see references to the F16 class and both on the top and the sides of the page the boat is referenced to as "F16 Viper"

Everybody see for himself.

www.ahpc.com.au/m_viper1.htm

Wouter