Kaizenlog

Editorials
The Olympic event selection by the ISAF Council and the America’s Cup steelcage death match continue to dominate the editorials this week…

On the ISAF Olympic Selections:

* From Simon Morgan, Former Hobie 16 National Champion and ISAF Worlds competitor, Founder Wildwind Sailing Holidays, and co-incidentally son of Tony Morgan Silver Medallist 1964 Tokyo Olympics, two man Flying Dutchman class:

Since Scuttlebutt Europe’s weekend edition much prompted at least some defence of ISAF’s controversial decision, (Paul Henderson, Jack Dinelli et al) I would like to follow up their comments:

First of all I can have every sympathy with Mr Henderson’s view that it is ‘ridiculous to blame ISAF, which is only the structure wherein the votes are cast’ - ‘ISAF is only as good as the delegates nominated by their National Authorities.’

However, Mr Henderson also writes ‘that the process is now open and how each delegate voted is public’. This would perhaps not appear to be the case when analysing the vote of the Council to reject the recommendations of its Executive Committee, when an electronic vote was made and no record of how members voted appears to have been recorded. And no one from ISAF has explained this decision. Why bother having an Events Committee then?

If I am not mistaken, the IOC themselves offer pretty specific guidelines as to how choose Olympic events and this seems largely to have been ignored.

”the following principles should be reflected in the general composition of the Olympic Programme”

“Similar events…should be avoided” - Why then vote for two types of double-handed dinghies for both men and women rather than a single type of Multihull for either men or women?

“Global public and media interest in a sport must be considered as key elements… for these are fundamental elements in the success of the Games” - Why then vote against Multihulls, which are certainly the fastest Event in the Sailing Regatta and in general opinion also the most exciting to watch?

“Weight category events should not be allowed, except for the combat sports and for weightlifting” - Since sailing falls into neither of these exceptions, why vote for an Event, specifically described as 1 Person Dinghy (Heavy)?

Specific guidance for ISAF is given in paragraph 3.1.4,
“In comparison with other individual sports, the Commission noted the high quota and number of events in sailing, in comparison to the low broadcast and spectator appeal” - Why then vote against Multihulls, whose size and speed makes them especially attractive for the new technology of on-board cameras first tried out for Multihull and High Performance Events at the Sydney Games?

“It was noted that the Keelboat class are very expensive boats and demand costly infrastructure for Olympic competition, and for general practice and development in comparison to other classes. Therefore, if the Executive Board recommends the reduction in the number of athletes and events, the Commission believes these reductions could be made through the exclusion of keelboat sailing events” Why then specifically disobey an unambiguous guideline and vote to exclude Multihulls instead?

It has also been mentioned (rumoured?) that a number of representatives on Council voted against the recommendations of their own National Authorities. IF even ONE of these had changed the votes then the voting would have been tied; with two…..a clear cut decision in favour with the multihull would have followed.

My real beef is not with the keelboat class per se, even though that appears to be the second least popular class amongst delegates. It is that is seems totally unreasonable to have two singlehander and two two man dinghies at the expense of the multihulls - and the fact that Ben Ainslie managed to jump from the Laser to the Finn and win Gold in both classes seems to be a very real argument against the necessity for such doubling up.

My real complaint has to be that somehow ISAF’s Council members on this occasion, whatever their good intentions, have not represented in any real way the views of their constituents, the sailing public. Perhaps if one good thing will come out of this whole sorry saga it will be a top to toe re-examination of just how Council members are selected and how more true democracy can find its way into top level decision making.

One last point; as of 2030 GMT Tuesday 20th November some 4250 signatures have added their names to the petition to the IOC requesting the re-instatement of the multihull class. While Mr Henderson says that ‘all hell breaks loose’ every time there is a change of class I severely doubt that decisions by previous Councils have in fact found so much public disagreement.

Furthermore, to put those numbers in perspective (even though I have said that I am not specifically against the keelboat class) those 4250 signatures gathered in 10 days compare with one half of all the Sail numbers issued to the Star class since 1911. Yes folks, the Star was designed nearly 100 years ago … and we are dropping the multithull! There really can be no wonder why there has been and will continue to be such a furore until this issue is settled in a more sensible fashion.

* Carolijn Brouwer found time from her busy Tornado training schedule in Sydney to write to SailJuice with her views on what happened two weeks ago in Estoril. You could read the frustration between the lines of what Laser Radial sailor Laura Baldwin wrote a few days ago. Here, Carolijn is much more explicit with her feelings. By the way, a quick reminder that Carolijn finished runner-up in the Tornado World Championships this year, showing the men the way round the track in the manliest of weather conditions. So this is a girl who knows what she’s talking about:

I was gutted after the ISAF meeting in Estoril. I felt empty, confused and especially useless. I am a member of the Events Committee but at this moment I truly don’t really know what I’m doing there and whether it has any meaning.

Of course I’m very disappointed ISAF kicked out the Multihull and is taking a huge step backwards in sailing by not including the High Performance dinghy for Women. They are too scared to take a possible risk and move forward.

But most of all, I am disappointed about the Events selection procedure. The members of the Events Committee have been chosen by their MNAs because they are the so called experts in the issues/areas that involve Events, including Olympic Games and Olympic Event Selection. The normal procedure is that the voting on respective issues that involve Events is done on our Committee and we then put them forward as a recommendation to Council. Council usually accepts our recommendation.

This time however they just chucked it out the window and started all over again. So, what are we actually doing there as an Events Committee if our expertise is not being used anyway? This is really disappointing and to be honest I don’t understand what ISAF is doing. It’s frustrating being part of it, and having the feeling that you are completely useless. It’s not about the sailors, it’s about the blazers. So many people have told me already, don’t try and understand, it’s a waste of time. And I still keep thinking I can make a difference in there.

The past week I have been on the verge of resigning from the Committee. But that would be giving up. We need more active sailors on the committees, not less.

I have a very straightforward, simple and symmetric opinion of how easily we can have only ten events for sailing in the Olympics and still cover the whole range that our beautiful sport has to offer:

- Singlehanded Men/Women
- Doublehanded Men/Women (High Performance)
- Multihull Men/ Women
- Windsurfer Men/Women
- Keelboat Men/Women (matchracing)

It doesn’t have to be difficult, it can be easy.

Carolijn’s full editorial on SailJuice.com:
sailjuiceblog.com/2007/11/23/catwoman-sharpens-her-claws/

* Yachting Australia has expressed both disappointment and concern over the decision taken last week by the ISAF Council to drop the Multihull from the list of events for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Yachting Australia delegates supported the retention of the multihull event throughout the ISAF Annual Meetings which took place in Estoril, Portugal from 3-11 November.

ISAF was challenged with reducing the number of Olympic events from 11 in 2008 to 10 for 2012 in Weymouth. “To not include the multihull in 2012 is to disenfranchise a large part of the sport of sailing,” says Phil Jones, CEO of Yachting Australia and member of the ISAF Events Committee, which recommended that the multihull should be retained. “The speed and excitement of catamarans is a real draw to young people. They are the speed machines of sailboat racing. Whilst there is only a limited number of countries involved in the Tornado Olympic Class, multihull sailing is an attractive and truly global part of the sport.”

ISAF has been heeding the clear message from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over recent years that for the sport to maintain its place on the Olympic Program it must take steps to become more attractive to the media and the public. Changes to the format of the competition have been made and a World Cup Series has been agreed in effort to ensure more regular exposure for Olympic sailing.

“Catamaran racing is fast and comes across as really exciting,” says Phil Jones. “The Tornado is one of the most telegenic boats in the Olympic Regatta. The boats are big enough to carry on board cameras and tracking devices that can really bring the contest to life for the viewer. To not have a place for it, or another multihull, is a real step backwards for a sport that has the challenge of building its profile. For us, there was just no focus on the bigger, long-term picture.”

Yachting Australia is also concerned over the process by which the multihull was excluded. The ISAF Council voted to change the process recommended for the selection of the events. This meant that there was no “run-off” vote between the Multihull and the Keelboat.

“There was no real discussion over the implications of the change. It altered the fundamental principles of the recommended system.” says Phil Jones. “Some consider that the change, which was taken on a motion from the floor, was taken with undue haste. Certainly many around the Council did not seem to appreciate the full implications of the change. Those that used their first vote to support other events may well have backed the multihull over the keelboat had they had the opportunity. This change denied them this opportunity. I am sure that having had time consider the implications, many will recognise that the change, put forward as a mere simplification, was much more than this.”

Yachting Australia is concerned over the reaction to the ISAF Council decision. “We understand that some will be very disappointed but the personal and vitriolic attacks that we have seen do nothing to help the cause of those making them. In fact, they only do damage. Yachting Australia does not consider this type of reaction appropriate in any way.”

Yachting Australia is considering what further action, if any, can be taken to revisit the decision. “However much we might disagree, if we felt the decision had been properly considered and made with those around the table fully understanding the implications, we would accept it. Obviously we don’t consider that this is the case. We shall be discussing the issue with colleagues from other countries and IOC representatives over the next few days before deciding how we proceed.”

Editorials: America’s Cup
Bob Fisher:

The underlying reason for the proposed delay is the lack of sponsorship. After the last cup races, Louis Vuitton, which had sponsored the event for 24 years, announced that it was withdrawing its backing. Its contribution to the 2007 event totalled 45.2m Euros. There had been no move by any company to offer to fund the event for 2009, despite a growing number of teams challenging Alinghi, including Britain’s Team Origin led by Sir Keith Mills. The total number of challengers rose to eight this week when Italy’s Mascalzone Latino and new Spanish team Ayre were admitted.

Alinghi said that it was looking at pushing the competition back to 2010 or 2011. Alinghi’s design team coordinator Grant Simmer said: “We look forward to the end of this uncertainty and getting started with our plans to defend the cup.” — sport.guardian.co.uk/sailing/story/0,,2215804,00.html

Team Origin, the British syndicate:

* At the same time as TEAMORIGIN and the four other bone fide challengers participated in a consultative process with the Defender and ACM on the Competition and Event Regulations and the new AC90 Class Rule - the exciting new and larger class of boat proposed for the 33rd America’s Cup - the five have also been actively mediating between the two litigating parties.

“Last week we came to within a hair’s breadth of a solution that should have been acceptable to both. Unfortunately the tactics employed by the two have sometimes brought into question the willingness of both to want to find a solution at all,” said Mike Sanderson, TEAMORIGIN’s Team Director.

With this uncertainty hanging over the America’s Cup the teams and the organisation would be unable to finalise commercial and logistical arrangements for 2009 had that date been kept. This now necessary delay is required to ensure that the next competition will be an event of the highest standards and standing possible, something that is expected of the America’s Cup.

“This is a really sad day for the America’s Cup and a bad day for sport,” said said Sir Keith Mills, TEAMORIGIN’s Team Principal. “Disputes like this should not be resolved in a Court of Law. For one team to seek to impose its will on a sporting event by using a lawsuit is reprehensible. For another team to slow the process down is equally damning. The full rejection of the offer from the GGYC to the SNG made last week meant that any chance of an ‘out of court settlement’ appeared to have gone.

“We can only all hope that common sense will prevail and that over the following days the parties will come to their senses and realise that the offer on the table is a good one for all concerned. If that was to pass then we could all get on with making our respective arrangements for an event in Valencia in either 2010 or 2011. If that doesn’t happen we can only surmise that the greed of one side is only matched by the belligerence of the other.”

* Magnus Wheatley:

Well no real surprise in the announcement this afternoon from ACM postponing the 2009 regatta but it does put the whole AC into a tailspin that will see numerous teams go to the wall and, more importantly, will turn the public off the event in droves. Already the sports writers on the major nationals just sigh at the mention of the Cup and with all the balls now firmly up in the air it’s going to take some strong management to get this back on track.

The problem is: ACM and Alinghi don’t have strong management so unless they reform and pretty damned quickly then there is no way they can turn this oil tanker of negativity and stop looking like a complete joke…

Now there’s some serious trouble for the Cup as His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has apparently decreed that he doesn’t want the Alinghi team or the America’s Cup in Dubai. Apparently, according to my source in Dubai who had close workings with Grant Simmer, there were all sorts of troubles when Alinghi trained there earlier this summer as the local authorities got all difficult both logistically and financially and the Sheikh (brother of the ruler) has now switched to powerboat racing and won’t entertain the thought of the Cup on his shoreline anymore.

The smart money now is on a bid from Abu Dhabi who are hosting a monster sailing grand prix in March 2008 where the Russell Coutts 44’s will be in abundance alongside VX40 multihulls and Rohan Veal bringing a swarm of Foiling Moths. — www.rule69blog.com

* Valencia Life:

Vicente Rambla, the Deputy President of the Valencian Government stated yesterday that there was no doubt whatsoever over the Americas Cup being celebrated in Valencia, but did not say when that would be. However, he did add that postponing the event by a year would be the best for all concerned. At the same time, Mr Rambla used his press conference to call the attention of the Socialist Government to the effect that it had not paid its part of the funds necessary as demanded by an agreement signed with Americas Cup Management. He added that the two ,other parties - the Valencian Government and Valencia Town Hall - had paid their part and that the Government delay was inexcusable. — www.valencialife.net

And One from Elaine Bunting…
Your editor’s favorite editorial of the week, from Elaine’s must-bookmark blog… * All that hoo-ha about the ISAF World Sailor of Year, which only a handful of people care about anyway, and there has not been a squeak about the joke recipient of an award that is of far greater importance to sailing and the marine industry.

I’m talking about the DAME awards, the premier design award made every year at METS, Europe’s big marine equipment show. This is the award that recognises and highlights innovations and inventions that ought substantially to improve life on board, and this year the jury gave it to a chaise longue.

I kid you not. I’m sure the Teaky Beach chaise longue is beautiful and clever, but it’s irrelevant. It’s trival. It’s not a proper piece of marine equipment at all. On that basis alone, it should never have got a look in for a top award. — her full article at www.ybw.com/yw/blog/elaine_bunting.html

On The Coffee Table This Weekend….
“The Storm Prophet”
by Hector MacDonald, 385 pages, large format paperback, Viking Press. 10.99 GBP.

A great read. It’s not about the 1998 Sydney Hobart, but there are echos of it throughout this novel. The protagonist is a Petra Woods, Director of the Sydney New Coastguard; fans of the RNLI will thoroughly enjoy the bits about rescues and gear, the stresses put on those who save lives for a living. Petra’s mother was killed in the 1998 Sydney Hobart, in a scene eerily reminiscent of how British Olympian Glyn Charles died during that race: a rolled boat, an injured crew saw her floating away, unreachable, severely injured but still alive, never to be seen again. Petra’s father was a volunteer coast guard for 40 years… Petra takes the Sydney Hobart race very seriously and very personally.

On a vacation trip to Africa with her best friend Kirsten McKenzie, she meets a teenage boy named Moses who may have the gift of prophesy. His first prophesy comes true; to save him from the wrath of his own family and villages, Petra and Kirsten take him to Australia where me makes another series of prophesies, most notably about another monster storm in the Bass Strait during that year’s Sydney-Hobart race.

There are plenty of nice subplots involving the high stakes stock gamble Kirsten has made with her inherited bank, Moses’ prophesy that a budding romantic relationship for Petra won’t last, Moses’ prediction of his own death… but the real guts of this story for an old wharf rat like me is the telling of the storm, the rescues, Petra’s daring in saving Moses from the flooded forecabin of Kirsten’s sinking mega-maxi. It’s an absolutely mesmerizing section, a bit maddening in that I’m going to have to go back and read it again as I burned throught it much too fast in trying to get to the conclusion of the rescues and aftermath.

My family and I arrived in Melbourne for the 1999 Sailing Worlds just a few days after the 1998 Sydney Hobart disaster. My wife helped our hosts Paul and Jenny Pascoe prepare a dinner party for the British Team; that was a somber affair so soon after Glyn’s passing. This book brought back a lot of the shock, disbelief and numbness that so much of Australia and the sailing community worldwide felt in the immediate aftermath, and which we felt that night at Paul and Jenny’s.

After the Sydney Hobart race there is a battle between Petra and Kirsten, which ends very violently and tosses one last great plot twist into the last few pages.

Hector MacDonald’s going to make a well deserved, very large pile of cash for movie rights to The Storm Prophet. Here’s hoping the movie’s as good as the book.

“A terrific read” declared ABC Sydney. “I was glued to it,” said Bob Fisher.

Best to order directly from the author, who says he’ll be happy to sign each copy and even pen a dedication if requested (handy for Christmas):

www.hectormacdonald.com/pages/the-storm-prophet/sales.asp

“J Class”
written and edited by Francois Chevalier and Jaccques Taglang, 450 pages, published by Yachting Heritage. Contributors include Olin Stephens, Elizabeth Meyer, Colin Baxter, Martin Black, Volker Christmann, Dominque Gabirault, Llewellyn Howland III, John Lammerts van Bueren, Guy-Roland Perrin, Theo Rye and Philippe Valetoux.

By far the heaviest book in my library, this is not a book to curl up in a chair with, you will need a bookstand to properly appreciate it.

This is one of the finest coffee table books on sailing ever published. Slipcover, silk page marker, superb paper and binding, thousands of prints and line drawings of every JBoat built and conceived. It’s in English and French, with side by side text; this would be a far more interesting way to learn to read French than any other!

The print collection that accompanies the ’standard’ edition is now framed on my office walls, which saved my copy from the ignomy of having a number of its pages cut out and framed.

This is a definitive work… the annexes alone include Herreshoff’s Rules, the Universal Rule, Technical Data, the Class Constitution and Rules and an extensive index.

‘J Class’ The Book is 265 GBP
including Slip Case & Part Print Collection

‘J Class’ The De Luxe Book is 580 GBP and is bound in leather with gold tooling. including Slip Case & Complete Print Collection. Only 100 copies were printed.
16 remain for sale.

yachtingheritage.com/english/products/

And He’s Off!
51 year old Francis Joyon and his maxi trimaran IDEC set off at 11h05′52” French time this morning on a bid to recover his singlehanded non-stop round the world record from Dame Ellen MacArthur. This record currently stands at 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds, so to beat it Joyon and his valiant three hull steed must return before Sunday, 3 February, 2008 at 1h23′25” (French time).

Starting from the Gulch exit from the Rade de Brest, Joyon will sail 21,600 miles around the world, passing the three Cape - Good Hope, Leeuwin, Horn. As IDEC set sail it was in a x15 knot northeasterly - forecast to build to 25 knots - and under a sky filled with big black clouds. — from TheDailySail.com, doing English language reporting… the website and PR is strictly in French. — www.thedailysail.com

The Last Word
Where would the poetry of the sea be if there were no big waves. — Joshua Slocum