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Sail-World.com : Editorial: Elliott 6 selected for 2012 Olympics
Editorial: Elliott 6 selected for 2012 Olympics
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 | Team New Zealand’s Dean Barker gets some advice on the second day of the National Keelboat Championships - Kipsan Beck |
Welcome to Sail-World.Com's New Zealand newsletter for 15 November 2008
The Greg Elliott designed, Elliott 6 Metre, was selected earlier today as the equipment for the new Womens Match racing Event for the 2012 Olympic sailing regatta in Weymouth.
Elliott becomes the first New Zealander to have one of his designs used in the Olympic Games, and the move will be seen as a progressive one for the sport and the Sailing Olympics.
The other options were to use an established international keelboat class, however some changing of ISAF regulations opened the way for the selection of the new design. It follows precedent set with the introduction of the 49er and RS:X windsurfer, which were selected after evaluation trials and then class structures established followed by international class status.
 | The Elliott 6 metre has been selected as the new Womens Olympic Match Racing class - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia © |
For the selection of the Womens Match Racing class, the International Sailing Federation formed a Working Party to consider the various options and that group recommenced the Elliott 6. It is likely that Elliott will continue to work with the ISAF to establish the new class and make small modifications to the design, and it may become known as the ISAF 6 Metre.
Probably the biggest advantage of the new yacht will be its use in fleets purchased by countries to both develop match racing at all levels, but also for sail and youth training. Another Elliott design the 5.9 was the backbone of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Youth program for many years, and the sportsboat type proved ideal for a number of uses, producing many, many top sailors and developing much of NZ's America's Cup and Round the World yachting talent.
With careful thought, the Elliott or ISAF 6 should be reasonably easy to control in terms of cost and production - however those factors will be the key to its international take up and acceptance.
In the other key decision from the ISAF Council Meeting, the 470 was selected as the Womens Two Handed class. That decision would have surprised no-one before the ISAF Conference, however given that the 29erXX received the endorsement of every other ISAF Committee that considered the matter, the Council decision is a little surprising.
Clearly the conservative thinking that has been the recent hallmark of the organisation prevailed once again. From a New Zealand perspective the decision is a neutral one in the short term. Medium to long term there are obviously other wider issues that need to be taken into account as to the direction and upgrading of the sport.
The vote was 16-19 in favour of the 470, which indicates again the battle of the progressive countries over those opting for a more conservative approach.
In this issue we feature two exclusive stories on the America's Cup.
The first is an interview conducted on Thursday with BMW Oracle's Tom Ehman, giving their take on the breath of the divide that exists between the US team and the Swiss holder of the America's Cup. To many, the whole situation has got very pedantic and with a little more flexibility on both sides, a solution would seem to be able to be agreed and a multi-challenger America's Cup could commence as planned in Valencia in 2010.
Part of the impasse stems from 'progress' made since the last America's Cup in the Protocol for the 33rd Match. Essentially these points of difference are now confined to three principal areas - all to do with the administration and adjudication of the event. It would seem that BMW Oracle Racing have largely accepted the new class, the Defender sailing in the Challenger Selection Series and other sailing issues.
The second story relates to the ten points of issue that have been discussed between BMW Oracle Racing and Team Alinghi, and their respective clubs. These expand specifically on the points mentioned above. Another exclusive to Sail-World.
 | The 470 remains as the Womens Two hander in the 2012 Olympics - Richard Gladwell |
On the Waitemata today, the Club Marine National Keelboat Championships are underway again with the fleet being split into Gold and Silver divisions after two days of qualifying rounds.
Series leader is now Emirates Team New Zealand's Dean Barker, who sailed well in the light and shifting airs yesterday to move past former Etchells World Champion, Andrew Wills who had a difficult time of it yesterday. Sailing in the morning, Wills and his crew were unable to emulate their three wins of the first day, and struggled on the first beat in the two races sailed.
 | Andrew Wills and friends competing on Day 2 2008 Club Marine NZ Keelboat Nationals - Richard Gladwell |
The decision of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club to commission a fleet of 10 Platu 25 yachts for their keelboat program looks, with the benefit hindsight, to be a very smart move. The yachts look very pretty, sail well, and take a crew that is similar to many keelboats in New Zealand. A glance down the result sheet shows that the fleet is a great leveller.
There are two days of racing to be staged on the Waitemata, with the final being sailed on Sunday. With the advent of the Platu 25 this has developed into a tremendous event, and will be one of the highlights on the New Zealand racing calendar.
 | Vincent Riou (PRB) Vendee Globe - image Benoît Stichelbaut / PRB - © PRB |
Stay tuned to the Sail-World.Com/NZ website over the weekend for updates from the Waitemata on the National Keelboat Championships.
Tonight (NZT) the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race gets underway from Cape Town. we'll have updates and coverage from the 4,400nm to India.
Good sailing!
Richard Gladwell
NZ Editor
nzeditor@sail-world.com
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10:22 PM Fri 14 Nov 2008 GMT
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