No, they fell off when he bought the minivan... They do that, and don't ask me how I know! (But automatic sliding doors really do rock sometimes. Now if they only had auto-ejection carseats)

But all the work he and everyone else has put in just to get where they are in this trial is stunning. They really are putting the prime of their life "on hold" for this shot.

Not just training, but marketing/fundraising (which can be soul crushing in itself). I recall during Robbie's campaign the discussion about how weak the US Olympic team funding is and how it can be a huge distraction to raise money individually ... That's a lot of car washes, bake sales, and pole dancing...

I have a collection of Multihulls Magazine from the late 70's to 2000?

Jill was Robbie PR's firm. She never failed to write and submit an interesting story of the Tornado circuit. They had great trials and tribulations manipulating the Euro circuit.

I tip my hat to those hat make this great endeavor!

Yes its a very tough business... (not really a game anymore)

My back of the envelope calculation has the US getting 4 boats into the OCR with Canada outranking the USA for the last slot.
4 boats will be the max for any MNA country in N17s..
I hope I missed something here... and we indeed get 5 spots.

So....the MLK regatta will decide the 4th and final USA slot.

The US could send 4 essentially new teams to the OCR unless the Mendelblatts pull it off at the MLK pre event.


Indeed it is a tough business.

The way I see spot allocation based on ISAF rankings and entries received (could change if DEN, ARG, or ARU enter) :

1. USA (Host)
2. ITA
3. AUS
4. AUT
5. GBR
6. FRA
7. NZL
8. SUI
9. NED
10. CAN
11. USA
12. GER
13. ESP
14. RUS
15. PUR
16. GRE
17. URU
18. SWE
19. BRA
20. BEL
21. BUL
22. ITA
23. GBR
24. FRA
25. NED
26. CAN
27. USA
28. GER
29. ESP
30. RUS
31. ITA
32. GBR
33. FRA
34. CAN
35. USA
36. ESP
37. ITA
38. GBR
39. FRA
40. CAN

Nice job.... More detailed then my calculation. I got to Canada with the last spot as well. We probably won't know what happens with the 4 US reps until after the MLK event as teams sort themselves out and make hard choices.

It is a tough business!

Good news.... they persuaded ISAF to allow them to increase the registration caps in all classes and all of the paid up USA and Canadian teams will make it to the OCRs in N17s.... They will have 50 boats at the event ... making it the largest OD cat event in NA

Does that include all 12 teams listed earlier in this thread?

Said another way, paid up in what regard? Is it just the entry fee, or are there memberships required as well?

Mike

US Sailing has released the Olympic selections procedure for 2016. Best combined score from two events.

For Nacra 17 the two events are 2016 Miami OCR and 2016 Worlds in Clearwater. Both US events which is nice.

However, if entries are limited at the 2016 OCR, spots will be handed out based on how teams finish at the 2015 Worlds (Aarhus, Denmark).

Selection document: http://www.ussailing.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/16-SOG-SAI-ATH-all-classes_12_15.pdf

Thanks for the follow up, Jeff.

Interesting that the events are so close together temporally.

Mike

My guess is that the 2015 Worlds results will actually be pretty important to qualifying. With OCR and the 2016 Worlds very close geographically and time-wise, there could be a very large international contingent that comes for both. If that is the case, there is a very good chance there will be restricted entry for the 2016 OCR.

US Berths to the 2016 OCR will be given as: top two finishers at 2015 Worlds, and a third slot (if available) to the top finisher at the 2016 MLK regatta.

Basically, the qualification could very well be cut down to 3 boats before the qualifying events even start.

All of this is contingent on first getting the country qualified...

Mike

Of course, but I think we have some very strong pairings emerging that will make that happen.

JC/Kristen
Mike/Katie
Troll/Louisa
Stephanie/Tripp
Sarah/Matt

all have potential. Plus, you have Bora in the mix (2 time moth world champ), which is never a bad thing.

The big picture is that the selection process is much much better then the US only Olympic trials used in the past. The trials were nothing but trouble in an era of just a couple of international competitors and a small rump US fleet (see wind surf fiasco which led to new US law and the catamaran team racing protests). The principle behind a single selection event was that a sailor would be peaking shortly before the Olympics and carry that edge to a medal in the games. The idea was that the pressure from and all or nothing event was essential in testing the sailors psychological make up and ultimately in actually winning a medal.

The reality is that world competition has raised the bar in all classes to such a degree that "peaking" can't get you a medal. Sailors like Ben Ainslee demonstrate that sheer brilliance carries the day and that "peaking" is less critical then just being the best!

In practical terms, one qualifying slot will be awarded at the 2016 OCRs... having each nation with just three boats entered AND the need to be your nations top sailor because its a countries selection event will minimize any team race bulls...t Of course, a scumbag could have their training partner/buddy from a country with nothing at stake "help" your standing... but with 40 boats on the line... it will be tougher.

Not sure what you mean by:
"In practical terms, one qualifying slot will be awarded at the 2016 OCRs"

For the US selection to the US Olympic Team, it is the combined results for 2016 OCR and Worlds.

Well.... the US starts this critical year with all new teams.... It could be tough to win a USA slot at the 15 Worlds. That leaves the 2016 OCR to qualify the USA for the last spot for Rio...

If they don't qualify the USA... nothing matters... but assuming we do qualify ...that specific team will also be in the lead going into the worlds in 2016 to actually represent the USA at Rio.

Presumably both events weight the same... but without a third tie breaker event... it could get political. (not saying this is a bad thing.... having three events to select would be tough to do... So, I am OK with the possibility of a split... This is why they pay Josh Adams the big bucks)

Tiebreaker goes to better finish at second event (worlds)

Well, it's certainly possible that the plan of crossing non-catsailors into the development teams could see vindication after all. Time will tell...

Mike

Alright, first big test for the US Nacra 17 teams in 2015 starts on Saturday with the Midwinter Championships on Biscayne Bay.

Entry list is here: http://cgsc-nac.sailspace.net/index.php/current-entrants1/

Predictions anyone?

Overall:
Besson/Riou
Martinez
Vaireaux/Audinet

US Boats:
Easton/Pettibone
JC/Lane
Newberry/Whitehead
Wilmot/Chafee

Should be some very tight racing throughout, would love see Tartaglino/Burd have a good one.

Great start by Sarah Newberry and Mathew Whitehead.... they are standing 6 in the warm up event to the Miami Gold cup after 1 day. The rest of the American teams are well back... Lets hope all of the new teams get things sorted before the Miami event.

sadly there was no magic in the USA team reshuffle... Wilmot, Newberry and Mendalabrat finish in the high teens in the N17 midwinters. The pressure is on for funding for the third year of the cycle... TBD at the Gold Cup event in Miami... with Olympic qualification to come in the next worlds.