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6:37 PM Thu 13 Nov 2008 GMT
 | | 'The ISAF Events Committee meeting in Madrid'
ISAF ©
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The Events Committee have added their recommendation to that of the Equipment Committee and the Women's Sailing Committee, for the 29erXX to replace the 470 as the women's 2 Person Dinghy at the 2012 Games. It now goes to the ISAF Events Committee on Friday for the final decision.
In looking at the Olympic equipment, the Events Committee followed the same procedure in selecting the equipment as the Equipment Committee. Most of the discussion centred around the choice of equipment for the Women's Two Person Dinghy and the Women's Keelboat Match. The vote in the remaining eight events followed the votes of the Women's Sailing and Equipment Committee to select equipment used at the 2008 Olympic Games.
On the topic of the equipment for the Women's Two Person Dinghy, the choice was between the 470, equipment at the Olympic Games ever since the Women's Two Person event was introduced in 1988 and the 29erXX, a skiff from the same designer as the 49er successfully introduced at the Games in 2000.
Several Committee members spoke in support of the 29erXX as a move to develop the sport and create a new pathway for young female sailors.
Carolijn Brouwer(BEL) acknowledged concerns about upsetting the balance of the current Men's and Women's 470 events, but supported the 29erXX as a way to develop the Olympic programme, referring to the introduction of the 49er at the 2000 Games. 'I believe there is a chance to move forward here with our sport,' said Brouwer 'There is a very strong demand from women in sailing with a high performance dinghy as there was in the men when they introduced the 49er,' she added.
Adrienne Greenwood(NZL) spoke in favour of maintaining the 470 as equipment until an overall strategy was in place, 'Constant change is not always a good thing,' she said. 'Keep the status quo until we can go forward with a new strategy and a new path forward.'
Fiona Kidd(CAN) added her support to the 29erXX, referring to young sailors who competed in the 29er class when used at the 2007 and 2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, 'This is next generation of sailors in our sport and they need to go somewhere or we'll lose them,' said Kidd.
Committee member, John Crebbin(IRL) said the Committee must take a long-term view, 'It is our task to look towards the future and to make our judgement according to what we think is best for future.'
A very close vote followed, with the 29erXX prevailing by a narrow margin.
The Committee then moved on to the decision of the Women's Match Racing event.As in the Match Racing Committee, most of the discussion focussed around the timing of the selection of the equipment, with two views prevailing.
The first was summarized by Committee member, Kim Anderson(DEN), 'The idea of choosing match racing as a format is that we were choosing a none-equipment driven event.' Olivier Bovyn(FRA) added, 'Adaptability is at the very essence of what match racing is. To keep a boat secret up until the last minute is probably impossible, but to delay the decision is not.'
The opposing view stated that the equipment should be selected now to help sailors and nations in their planning and preparation for the event.
'We're all agreed match racing is not equipment driven, but let's not take that too far,' said Chris Atkins(GBR). 'The sailors want to know and want to start developing the skills that will get them to the World Sailor Awards dinner in four years time. Tell the sailors the criteria by which they will be judged. The alternative is to say there is no guidance and I don't think that's a service to our sport.'
In another close vote, the Events Committee decided in favour of delaying the selection of match racing equipment, recommending the equipment decision to be made at a later date. But, they also voted to recommend the Elliott 6m if the Council decided not to postpone the decision.
This gave the following result:
Ballot 1: Women's Windsurfing - RS:X
Ballot 2: Men's Windsurfing - RS:X
Ballot 3: Women's 1 Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Ballot 4: Men's 1 Person Dinghy - Laser
Ballot 5: Men's 1 Person Dinghy (heavyweight) - Finn
Ballot 6: Women's 2 Person Dinghy - 29er XX
Ballot 7: Men's 2 Person Dinghy - 470
Ballot 8: Men's 2 Person Dinghy (high performance) - 49er
Ballot 9: Women's Keelboat Match - equipment decision to be made at a later date
Ballot 10: Men's Keelboat - Star
All the recommendations from different Committees will be collated and compiled tonight ready for the start of the ISAF Council meeting, which begins tomorrow and continues through until Saturday. The key decisions on Submissions and Olympic equipment are scheduled for Friday.
by ISAF
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Mount Wellington, TAS
