‘
Editorial Andrew Hurst An irreversible change of direction
Having long been a given in the still relentlessly expanding field of shorthanded racing, the steady ingress of the autopilot into crewed competition will within not very long be enjoying a similar level of acceptance. While the organisers of the Sydney Hobart are still battling the shorthanded fraternity about the
eligibility of pilot-equipped two-person teams for the overall prize under IRC, in Europe that bird has long since flown. For the CYCA it may be a better look to roll over now (and look at allowing multihulls into the Hobart race while you are at it). The introduction of pilots for crewed racing also comes at a perfect
time (in the narrow non-clinical sense). Where big boat racing is taking place this year crew numbers have been restricted. The general theme of sailing-as-it-emerges-from-Covid is of smaller crew numbers. Wider use of autopilots will accelerate that trend and ensure it continues once all Covid restrictions are finally relaxed. With the need for fewer crew more casual sailors will explore racing.
With fewer crew life for those onboard becomes pleasantly busier. No more ‘rail meat’ (not a nice phrase but an honest one). Everyone has to get stuck in. Less time checking how wet and cold you are. This will be good for sailing at a time when the sport needs all the
help it can get. Peter Harken when interviewed here a year or two back said the only thing that will ever really make sailing much more popular is to make it easier to do. He was talking about automated systems for controlling your craft of which the better autopilot is one. A balance needs to be found in terms of sport versus recreation
and of course, as it always has, competitive sailing will take place at many different levels. But if Covid has shown people how to race with fewer people and less complication then the current boost in enthusiasm will continue. The move to greater use of pilots will only accelerate that. For the worst of reasons sailing could yet come out of an awful situation with a spring in its step.
Platinum lining Of course another spin-off from the drift towards smaller crews will be a spike in the attraction of the sprit-equipped yacht. Could the end finally be in sight for that head-bashing, out-of-control unwieldy lump of metal pipe beyond the requirements of classic yacht racing (and professional masochists)?
executive inherited a decent if dull organisation doing a reasonable job of administering an international sport which operates on modest budgets compared to big professional sports like soccer or ice hockey. At the time there were some good initiatives in place and things looked promising; I would highlight the ISAF (as it was) Emerging Nations Programme which went a long way towards doing what it said on the wrapper, encouraging less well-resourced nations to get afloat and helping their keenest young sailors up the ladder. Then it all went wrong. A new incoming executive looked at soccer
and ice hockey and decided they should bring the administration of sailing ‘up to’ a similar level… or at least the administrators. Sadly they only went to work on one side of the balance sheet, spending money like water, inflating operating costs to a degree that even at the time looked like madness – eventually busting an organisation that was doing a pretty decent job by sticking to its brief. I well remember a member of the new guard patiently explaining
to me why Lausanne would be a cheaper operating base than Southampton; that got my attention. Of course the IOC is based in Lausanne while FIFA is in Zurich, another city famous for its low cost of living. In passing, FIFA’s revenues in 2018 totalled $4.6billion. Whoever is elected to the World Sailing board this November has
Jokes aside We admit we made hay with goings-on at World Sailing. Much as it may seem disrespectful to sailing’s governing body respect is earned and in this instance the legacy of respect left by the previous admin- istration was thrown away in such a fashion as to look deliberate. We also make no bones
‘ COOL
about being an admirer and friend of previous ISAF president Carlo Croce, a charming and distin- guished Italian yachtsman from a distinguished family of yachtsmen. Carlo cares immen sely
A few hundred weeping snowflakes or Boney… we know where our money is
about the sport and, while his administration may at times have lacked velocity, it never lacked integrity and good motives. Sadly Carlo’s heart was never in his campaign for re-elec- tion four years ago and sail- ing is now the poorer for it. The current World Sailing
a job on to steady the ship. Sadly they will also have their hands tied in terms of investing in good causes. But some excellent people have put themselves forward and I hope that enough of them are voted in to salvage what is a shameful situation. If the wrong people get in then sailing goes on just as we know it – only soon without a big organisation hoovering up fee income wherever it can. Put like that it’s actually very hard to decide.
q
Don’t forget to drink – Max Verstappen reminds his engineer not to get dehydrated (while winning the British Grand Prix)
SHY LIMEYS We are very, very, very, very, very, very (and it
continues…) sorry – Sky Sports apologises for Nico Hülkenberg saying ‘ass cheek’ live on air
COMFORTABLE Q: Was life difficult being [Ayrton] Senna’s team-mate? Gerhard Berger: No. Once you understood you couldn’t beat him, it was OK!
GIVE DONALD A BREAK Until you kill me, there will be no new
elections – Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus (later ‘comfortably’ re-elected)
STICK TO THY LAST Can I have a large scoop of statistically inaccurate virtue signalling with my grossly overpriced ice cream please
Seahorse magazine and our associate raceboatsonly brokerage site are both at:
seahorsemagazine.com The editor is contactable by email at:
andrew@seahorse.co.uk
SEAHORSE 11
– British MP James Cleverly is unimpressed with Ben & Jerry’s political interventions
actually live longer – Sir Clement Freud
THOUGHT FOR TODAY If you resolve to give up smoking, drinking and loving, you don’t
It just seems longer – Freud
NUTSHELL Before, it was a slow moving programme, what sailing’s all about – tactics, defending your position, boat
handling – Buddy Melges is asked about the America’s Cup
like a raped ape – Melges
Now it’s a drag race. Pedal down and go
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