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Left: force of nature... winning 11 of the 20 Kiteboard races at Hyères Olympic Week and discarding two fourth places, USA’s Daniela Moroz crushed her rivals, finishing with half the points of French runner-up Lauriane Nolot after discards and more than 50pt ahead when all 20 races are counted. Moroz is currently out on her own in this class, but heavier sailors are now coming into the Kiteboard from the Olympic dinghy classes and once all else becomes equal then when it blows weight (and height) is king. An encouraging start to the Paris Olympiad for the USA also in the 49ers, with Mac Agnese (above) and Nevin Snow finishing in the runner-up slot in Hyères (though it much be said that many of the best 49er crews from Tokyo are still on ‘recovery break’)
in various sectors. This summer, just two years before the Games and with a fairly tricky field of play (sailing area), the top teams will all make time to train in Marseille.
I am happy we sent our Kiters and ILCA Development Teams as well as coaching/staff to Marseille last summer. This summer we will be back at our base there with it all that bit more familiar. Looking ahead to 2028, not that we have much time for that, World Sailing is required to review four of the 10 ‘events’ that will compete at Paris 2024. Last November WS selected the Male and Female Kite (Formula Kite), Mixed Multihull (Nacra17) and Mixed Dinghy (470) to be those four events. Looking at the options to be considered at the next WS meeting in Abu Dhabi, we know that: The Mixed Dinghy Event is staying for 2028, using the I-470. The Mixed Multihull Event is staying for 2028, and that during the May meetings it will be decided if there will be an equipment evaluation or if the Nacra will be retained. The Male/Female Kite Event may be evolved to be called the M and F Board Event. If this is agreed to, then there will be an equipment evaluation where the Foiling Kite would probably be compared with the Wingfoil. If the Kite events are retained, then the Formula Kite will be retained as the equipment. We will know the outcome by the time you read this. Any change of equipment evaluation will require ‘selection trials’ to inform a vote in 2023 to determine the equipment/class(es) for 2028. At most there could be two changes in equipment across three events, but there may be no changes – we will know for sure on 29 May. Added to this, WS and US Sailing are pushing hard for sailing to be included in the Paralympics in LA 2028. Parasailing isn’t in the Paralympic slate for 2024 and wasn’t in Tokyo either. In the case where we have new equipment and the Paralympics returns for 2028, the months immediately following Marseille will be a very busy time for all of us.
One year in, I can say that leading an Olympic team is more complex than I had imagined. You have political issues with WS/IOC, logistical issues, athletes to coach and support, coaches to hire, fire and educate, money to raise, fulfilment to deliver, staff to organise and lead, athlete and coach pipelines to develop, equip- ment class association relationships to cultivate, clubs and sailing centres to work with, technology to learn and incorporate, strategies and budgets, compliance with federal rules and laws… Olympic Sailing is not as high profile as some other events in our sport but it is every bit as challenging. Hats off to GBR as they are the current King of this Hill.
SEAHORSE 33 VerticalHalfPage-GEN22 cmyk.pdf 1 13/12/2021 11:23
THE FIRST JIB FURLER WITHOUT FOILS
reduced drag and weight
continuous line option
improved safety
reefed
WWW.UBIMAIORIT ALIA .COM UBI MAIoR ITALIA®
SAIL BLOCKS – DECK HARDWARE – CUSTOM PROJECTS
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