Above: when a new class joins the Olympic family standards shoot up, as do the costs of participation, and previous pecking orders often get turned on their heads. This proved less so with the board classes, which arrived with a history of professionalism and full time athletes, but previously dominant names still find themselves working harder as big national Olympic squads turn up with every manner of support, human and financial – plus fresh athletes who arrive with a tactical armoury forged in the top one-design sailing classes. In spite of controversies about foils and exit angles, the Nacra 17s still definitely qualify as a one-design class, which makes the enduring success of Italy’s Rugerro Tita and Caterina Banti (left) even more astounding. Four world titles, Olympic gold in Tokyo plus three European titles… was it really that surprising when Tita and another Optimist champion, Marco Gradini, came within one nosedive of wiping the floor with all of their America’s Cup elders when racing AC40s – for the first time – in Jeddah earlier this year
The 470 is a complex little boat and in
the neverending quest for speed the class has seen sailors revisiting (yet again) rig stiffness, centreboard packing, as well as some new rigging systems to balance hull, rig, foils and sail shape to perfection. Infi- nite combinations but at this level there is always an optimum. iQFOil The equipment (RS:X vs iQFOiL)
is dramatically different from at Tokyo 2020, going from a displacement/planing class to full foiling. The sailors have also changed – most noticeably in the men’s class where the top sailors are Finn size at 90- 100kg. The iQ men sail a much more pow- ered-up rig than the women, where the jump in size has been less pronounced, with most abandoning previous restrictive RS:X diets rather than going on massive weight gain. Results are still mostly down to technique so weight could be more of a red herring. While the RS:X had different racing
modes (planing or non-planing) the race formats were very similar to those in other Olympic classes. Not so the iQFOiL, now with three completely different formats of its own which rather quaintly revert to the traditional days of windsurfing: l Fleet racing: like most Olympic classes l Marathon: long-distance racing l Slalom: downwind-only races lasting under five minutes The highlight is of course the dramatic
new medal series – winner takes all so any- one in the top 10 could still win overall. Therefore these three medals will come down to who is (the very) best in the conditions of the final day…
Kitesurfing When you think kitesurfing you think of California legend Daniela Moroz, but the six-times world champion could be in for a tough time in Marseille. This is not only because the depth of ability has (as usual) shot up since the class went Olympic, but also because kitesurfing’s own new format is, like the iQFoil, all about perfect perfor- mance in the final race rather than putting together a consistent series. Marseille can be a challenging place to
sail where excellent kite control is vital. If there is a sudden drop of wind it may be about who survives with the rig they have on the day. There are four kite sizes, which can be swapped between races, and making the correct choice is vital. To be ahead of the game is all about split-second and fear- less decision making. You need to be pretty fearless racing in a mistral travelling at over 30kt. Speeds and closing distances are intense and perhaps that coaching adage about enjoying being scared is more appropriate here than elsewhere. Often viewed as something completely
different, in fact many of the top kitesurfers have come from traditional boating routes. One such would-be medal contender is Britain’s Ellie Aldridge who came up through the 29er class. She is likely to be one of those battling it out with Moroz. The standout in the men’s division is
Max Maeder from Singapore who is a double world champion at just 17. I’ll repeat that because you wouldn’t guess; just 17 years old… and he is still constantly improving. As mentioned, most of the top
guys are big, over 90kg, and there are going to be some brutal battles in this fleet. Speed always makes you a tactical genius and in kitesurfing speed is absolutely king. In the ILCA 7Marseille may be consid-
ered a two-horse race with back-to-back world champion Australian Matt Wearn, also the defending Olympic champion, aiming to extend his country’s dominance of the class (Olympic gold in 2020, 2016, 2012). Britain’s Micky Beckett leads those aiming to ‘stop the rot’… The last gold medal not going down under was won by fellow Pom Paul Goodison in 2008. ILCA 6s The former Lasers have seen a
crew weight increase after moving to the Mark 2 sail, since when things have remained stable although fitness and tech- nique levels will only ever go one way. In the ILCA 6 the two hot favourites
would be another magnificent Dutch sailor, Marit Bouwmeester, going for a fourth consecutive Olympic medal, and Denmark’s current defending world and Olympic champion Anne-Marie Rindom who does not hide her appetite for back- to-back gold medals! Even compared with Olympiads as
recent as 2016, today’s Olympic fleet is virtually unrecognisable. Not everyone approves of the rush to modernity and far higher performance (95kg Finn sailors, you still have a home in the Men’s iQFoil). But observe the skill of any of the Olympic Nacra 17 teams and you cannot argue that the Olympic Regatta is not still a wonder- ful exhibition of the greatest sailors and the greatest sailing that you will ever see. q
SEAHORSE 55
SAILING ENERGY
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