The sport of sailing is to be modernised in Olympic terms and in future offer a much broader range of events, but above all a balanced selection for men and women: In addition to replacing surfing with kitesurfing, the expansion of mixed disciplines and the reintroduction of an offshore competition are also being considered. The radical changes could take effect as early as 2024, when sailing will be held under the five rings in one of its strongest European countries: France.
The usually well-informed Sailing Illustrated was the first online magazine to present some new ideas and plans in detail today. According to Sailing Illustrated, with the support of World Sailing President Kim Andersen and Managing Director Andy Hunt, there could be an email vote on the new programme for 2024 as early as the beginning of 2018 before the World Sailing Federation's mid-year meeting. Single-handed disciplines for men would remain Laser and Finn Dinghi, while a foiling kite would replace the RS:X surfboard. Comparable solo disciplines are being considered for the women: a new single-handed dinghy for lighter athletes and a foiling kite are to be added to the Laser Radial. This would make six single-handed classes. The two 470 disciplines for men and women are to become a mixed discipline. The same applies to the two high-performance 49er and 49erFX dinghies. According to the leaked plans, the foiling Nacra17 would remain a mixed discipline.
Kim Andersen: "Pure fantasy"
The highlight: According to Sailing Illustrated, the introduction of a mixed double-handed offshore class is also being considered, whose Olympic programme should include at least one overnight race. With these new plans, the number of Olympic sailors could be raised to a level - a declared strategic goal of both World Sailing and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its Agenda 2020. When asked by YACHT online, World Sailing President Kim Anderson described the current reporting "on Facebook" as "'free fantasy' by people who are not aware of what decisions have been made and how the process at World Sailing works". He could therefore not comment on the reporting. According to Henderson, anyone interested in the decisions can read them in the Replay of the live broadcasts from the Council Meeting in Mexico in November. In any case, there is no doubt that Paralympic sailing should be reintroduced to the programme as soon as possible.
Philipp Buhl: "Put the personalities of sport more in the foreground"
While the various camps and class associations criticise or applaud the plans - depending on how they are affected - the active spokesperson of the German Sailing Team takes a more general view of the development. Philipp Buhl, who sailed into the limelight last weekend in fifth place at the Star Sailors League final off Nassau, said: "I don't understand why it always has to be new classes and constellations. Why doesn't World Sailing think about creating more interest through the media coverage of sailing competitions and making our sport more attractive? It's always just new, faster and more mixed classes that are supposed to represent something special and achieve positive effects. It would be better to work on the content and type of broadcasts and to better emphasise the personalities of the sport. A 4x100 metre sprint without Usain Bolt is only half as attractive. Even if the relay were mixed and held on foils..."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
