ISAF mid year conference and AC45's

Stars at 42 TROFEO S.A.R. PRINCESA SOFÍA - MAPFRE . 300 w  Nico Martinez

Welcome to Sail-World.com's Australian newsletter for 9th May 2011

Breaking News Save Our Seas Round Australia World record attempt is on HOLD, due to an unforeseen logistical issue. As this week unfolds and we get statements from the players, we will get you the devastating detail.

Today's editorial comes from the pen of our Editor at Large, Richard Gladwell from New Zealand


The International Sailing Federation's Mid-Year meeting took centre stage on Friday and Saturday as the Events for the 2016 Olympiad were determined.

As is usual when such decisions are made, any notions that the best interests of the sport being paramount, are quickly put aside, and the usual power struggle emerges between the Star keelboat and the 470 dinghy as they struggle to remain in the Olympic Sailing Regatta.

Sadly the common tactic, when the going gets tough, is to pick the weakest class and try to throw them out of the equation.

This happened once again on Friday, when the 49er became the target, to the incredulity of many of those at the meeting in St Petersburg, Russia. Even more amazingly, the body firing the bullets at the most spectacular boat in the Olympics, was the ISAF's Executive Committee.

We have several reports in this edition on how the debate and amazing battle unfolded, and what the Events will be for the 2016 Olympics to be staged in Rio de Janeiro.

As discussed in the wrap-up story on the final day of the Council Meeting, we believe the actions of the Executive Committee, and others, will have a far more reaching effect in the ISAF's affairs than just this meeting.

05/05/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America's Cup - AC45 Test Event - Day 9  Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

For some time we have been railing against PR sanitising of sailing events. There is no more graphic example of this practice than the official ISAF report on the Mid-Year meeting and the other reports of the same event. Reading the ISAF report one could be excused for believing they were at another venue. To be fair, many other event spin doctors are equally as guilty.

Australia's Paul Pascoe provided some insight into the behind the scenes happening from the multihull perspective and there will be more in the weeks ahead.

Sailing needs colour - as other sports do - and they make as many headlines during the week as they do in the weekend. Life's not all good news and happy clapping. Reporting what really happened, it's essential to build a fan base. The lows are just as important as the highs. That's what sport is about. Celebrate and report it.

The America's Cup Media Trials have concluded in Auckland and the AC45's are being packed off to Europe.

29/04/2011 - Auckland (NZL) - 34th America's Cup - AC45 Test Event - Day 5  Gilles Martin-Raget/www.americascup.com

In this edition of Sail-World, we have a couple of reports on the final two days. Unfortunately the racing had concluded, due to boat breakdowns, on Friday, when Sail-World New Zealand arrived at North Head, on the appointed time, to see some TV footage.

There will be come footage screened when the television deals are formally announced - however no doubt these will be carefully edited to show the coverage in the best light. It will not be until the first America's Cup World series event in Cascais, Portugal that the success or otherwise of the new media innovations in the America's Cup will be known.

Alinghi team during the 2nd day of Vulcain Trophy, Grand Prix Les Ambassadeurs D35 - Vulcain Trophy, Grand Prix Les Ambassadeurs D35   Chris Schmid / Eyemage Media Schmid - Copyright

Many thanks to those who have contributed to this edition, particularly those using our online submission and image loading facility which can be accessed by clicking here

Good sailing!

Richard Gladwell & the Sail-World Team



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