ISAF agree to mixed sailing as an Olympic sport discipline

by Roland and Nahid Gaebler on 7 May 2011 The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has confirmed mixed sailing is an Olympic sport discipline at 2011 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in St Petersburg, Russia.

The victory at the Tornado World Sailing Championship in a mixed team is just 9 months ago and now our sport is an Olympic discipline. In record time we made it from a vision to an Olympic sport. Never in the history of sports, had such a thing happened so fast. We can hardly believe it and we love it.

Even in winter sports three of the six new Olympic disciplines are a mixed sport. If most people around the world together as a couple lives, why they should not run together a competitive sport. It makes so much fun. It is emotional. It speaks to a larger audience. And on-top of this, we have the ultrafast and spectacular catamarans like the Tornado.

It is a big win for the Olympic Games in general and will help sailing and ISAF to power the media value and ticket sales to gain more income. If the ultrafast and well-known brand 'Tornado' comes in the Rio Olympic Sailing Arena 2016, we will have the best sailing show ever in Olympic Sailing. We expect great audience, with the F1 of Summer Olympics in the new Sailing Arena. Woman and man on a boat is one of the best ways to present our sport. The crowds and youth will love it.

The spectators want to see not only all-male or female sports. If men and women sail together, comes across very sympathetic and appeals a much larger fan base.

The victory of the sailing world championship in Travemünde in July 2010 as a mixed team in front of the men's elite, was an incredible experience for us. Now it has become an Olympic sport. We can hardly believe it.

Now, let's put one on it and present our Tornado Speed Sailing event concept We want to be sailing a great spectator and media sport. Starts exact on time in all wind conditions. At the Kiel Week 18th-26th June we will present our new Sailing Arena with many new highlights to make sailing a primetime sport.

In parallel, it is to build the sport internationally and to inspire young people to fast multihull sailing together as a couple. Let's do it. Together with you. Sailing has a great future ahead.

These weeks in spring 2011 most races are won by mixed teams in Tornado. And mostly the women are the crew on the Tornado and showed best artistic and athletic to win the first races and championships of the season.

Team Gaebler website