Innovations in Olympic Sailing
Last week EUROSAF announced the dates of a new series of regattas in Europe, under the name EUROSAF Champions Sailing League. After due consideration, it has been decided that the series should be renamed EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup.
The aim of the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup is to provide the best possible competition for Olympic and Paralympic Classes. The series is based on established regattas within Europe, in order to guarantee the highest level of event and race management.
To make the racing easier to understand from the non-sailors perspective and more enjoyable for the competing sailors, the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup will adopt some new race formats. Being a completely new series provides an opportunity for different formats to be introduced and new ideas to be developed.
The following innovations will be adopted as part of the EUROSAF Champions Sailing Cup:
• Shorter, but more races each day (12-15 over four days for ‘conventional’ classes and up to 20 for high performance disciplines).
• The boat winning the final race will win the gold medal.
• The ‘theatre’ style of racing, as used by the 49er class in their recent World Championships.
• Spectator boats on the course.
All five participating events will be ranked as ‘100-pointers’ in the ISAF World Sailing Ranking List.