weigh much less, which means that the centre of gravity is lower and easier to handle. Sail materials and the rigidity of the hulls have also improved, now the boat is easier to control (and easier to right!). But it is just as physically demanding… in my time you could rest a little reaching and downwind – now with free-pumping allowed you only rest upwind. SH:What do you think about the changes in the pumping rule? GS: I think it’s good because it makes sail- ing a bit more athletic and especially more dynamic. The Finn was very static and I think it now requires much more technique than before. I like it better, although at my age I can’t stay with them when it’s windy. Besides, everything is clearer now, because years ago you didn’t know exactly what the limit was. I also like it because arguments and protests are now avoided that some- times used to extend into the next day; add in on-the-water judging and the racing is fantastic because at the end of the race you already know the results. SH:Why aspire to lead World Sailing? GS:Well, I had already retired from every- thing and was once again engaged only in sailing and being on the sea. Truth be told, I was quite fed up after 30 years in the administration of sailing and also in the IOC, left sitting at a table all weekend while all my friends were sailing. I had left all my administrative positions
when one day they called me from one of the national federations and told me, ‘Ger- ardo, we have a problem in World Sailing and you have to apply for president.’ I told them no, that I had already retired, but they insisted and then a member of the IOC also called me: ‘Gerardo, we have a serious problem with World Sailing and you have prestige, experience, you have been an entrepreneur and you are an active sailor, you have the perfect profile…’ I was talking to a couple of friends and
some vice-presidents of World Sailing who told me that there really were problems and so I accepted their request. The first thing I did was call the current president, Kim Andersen, who is a friend of mine, and he took the news reasonably well. ‘We are friends,’ he said, ‘but you have a con- flict of interest as president of honour of the Finn class and you cannot be a candi- date.’ Twenty years ago I was appointed honorary president but I have now resigned to avoid trouble. I hope one day I can recover a title that means a lot to me. Then I talked to many people, especially
in the IOC, because there is currently a conflict between the international Olympic movement and World Sailing. After this in March I decided to go for it – now I am very excited about the possibilities. SH: So these problems in World Sailing, what are they? GS: Honestly, I prefer to talk about the opportunities, but I will give you a sum- mary. There is a problem with the budget. More money has been spent than comes in, and sponsors that were expected to sign
42 SEAHORSE
After a break of 41 years, now aged 70, Seeliger returned to the Finn at the 2017 Gold Cup and he has been a regular competitor at Open and Masters events in the class ever since – now racing in the ‘Legends’ category. After being lobbied by both Finn sailors and members of the wider sailing community Seeliger launched his campaign for World Sailing president with a personal letter to all Finn sailors seeking advice and support
did not do so. People have been taken on at very high salaries – specifically the CEO. Then the office moved to London which
was extremely expensive and also prompted experienced staff to leave. There was not enough financial discipline per- haps, or anticipation that the expenses were running dangerously high. I have not seen the figures but from what vice-presi- dents and national presidents tell me there is a major budget problem. Another issue is the absence of transparency in the proce- dure that gives us the Olympic keelboat, where it seems that there were unexpected changes of opinion and little time allowed to make the decision. A third problem is the choice of Olympic classes in general, such as the licence problem with the Laser. Fundamentally I am concerned that
decisions are taken top-down instead of bottom-up – sailors deserve more promi- nence and you have to listen to the opin- ions in the boat parks. SH: You defend a certain classicism regarding the Finn or Laser and their values yet you also helped to promote an ‘artificial’ Olympic class like the 49er with no fleets or previous experience as a class. GS: It has to do with evolution, but first of all it has to be about the talent of the sailor. To choose an Olympic class now new technology is almost more important, which could decrease the influence of the sailor’s talent. The Laser is the opposite and has about 200,000 boats worldwide. Now imagine that for a nation to get to the Games in a new class it must have at least 30 boats for a healthy training environ- ment. That means there must be at least 3,000 or 4,000 boats worldwide and this is very expensive, very complicated to create. In the case of the hypothetical keel- boat the concept would be utopian. SH: Do you think that the 49er and the Nacra 17 should remain Olympic classes? GS: The 49er, yes, for two reasons. Many
of the America’s Cup sailors now come from the 49er and it is a ‘ladder’ boat to switch to more important yachts. Another reason is that it is the same hull for girls and boys with different rigs, and this is an advantage for yacht clubs because sharing hulls is a big saving, similar to the Laser and Laser Radial. The high cost of sailing is one of the biggest problems our sport has. I cannot comment on the Nacra because I do not know it sufficiently; but sailing has three factors… physics, chess and technology, and I think the Nacras are technologically extremely advanced boats. I think there must be a balance. SH: And your dear Finn? GS: There is no other boat for athletes over 85kg – and I’m worried because now some sailors are trying to lose 20kg to be able to compete in the Laser. It’s a tragedy. The Olympic movement preaches the univer - sality of sport and this limits it. We must also acknowledge that man has
grown in recent decades. I went to the Games because I was the biggest and now I am the smallest and lightest. SH: Can’t these big boys sail in the new offshore class… GS: I see several problems, all starting with the high cost of the new class. Many coun- tries will have trouble just getting into this class. It is also said that in Marseille in summer very little wind will blow, and this will favour light crews… SH: The non-Olympic classes seem the big forgotten topic yet some of them are very important. GS: The Snipe and Europe are examples of very active popular classes, with a lot of close racing to a high level. Also the Dragon and Etchells. They are great classes that must be promoted, they do not need to be Olympic to be supported. What happens is that international and
national federations are obsessed with money, and their only economic input
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