Optimist, Open Skiff, Youth & Olympic Sailing Blog

by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, Oxford educated development economist, former lecturer at the University of Brussels, and sailor. This is just a short piece to express a very straightforward viewpoint, a viewpoint of reason.  There shouldn’t be any Olympics before it is safe, and it will not be safe before we have a vaccine. While the coronavirus pandemic is growing, stock exchanges are plunging, many governments are taking draconian measures to deal with the pandemic, there is kind of a surreal approach when it comes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. « The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive. » stated the International Olympic Committee (IOC) just 2 days ago, on March 17. « The IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they c...

This is a summary of the proposal for the 2024 Olympics, as presented on the Sailing Illustrated webcast of January 25. Please download the 10 slides in .pdf at this LINK . Here are key points - Goal: to be able to get 75% of support or more from MNAs, WS board, to reverse the December 2018 Sarasota decision - To disrupt as little as possible the 2020 lineup - To accommodate a wide range of physiques, including heavy weight male sailors - To have only pinnacle events - not experiments such an mixed double-handed offshore - To be compliant with Article 23.1 of World Sailing regulations, and to deliver gender balance - Goal here is not to decide here if kiteboarding is sailing or not, so kicking out kiteboarding from the lineup is not proposed here Currently adopted Sarasota Lineup for 
2024 Olympics is weak because: - The newcomer mixed double-handed offshore event is very little practiced in sailing, is mostly untested, and does not meet the Olympic « pinnacle ...

Diam 24 in action -- the One Design Trimaran used for the Tour de France à la Voile Note: this is an indicative playlist - it's not a formal suggestion/recommendation ; the idea is just to help broadening the consideration of options for equipments and events, in light of what is currently available. Although one event by type of boat is presented, there would be male, female and mixed events in the lineup. MY 2024 SAILING OLYMPICS -- YOUTUBE PLAYLIST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcE83K79ViuLDhgI2xmfutTCgQhoTWhRN The lineup is as follows: - high pace coastal raid in a multi-hull - Diam 24 or equivalent - match racing - in strict one design identical keel boats - that could be with smaller teams of say 4 or 5 sailors - foiling dinghy - either Open or 2 events, one for men, one for women, in an affordable one design class such as the Wazsp or equivalent - foiling windsurf - in a one design class to be determined - 49er - which could be made a mixed event i...

Olympic Sailing: Why Not Making it Simple, Accessible, and Affordable? Contribution to Sailing Illustrated I was reading various contributions about what sailing should look like at the 2024 Olympics in Marseilles, France.  And frankly, I was disappointed. There is very little convergence. There was no submission I could much agree with. And key issues that are present in the sport are left unaddressed. So here is my take to develop a meaningful program for the 2014 Olympics. I will just use a few common-sense criteria. First, let’s make it simple . We all know that sailing is mostly practiced in a few boats, such as single-handed dinghies, and double handed dinghies. Yes there are relative newcomers, such as the windsurf, the skiffs, kiteboarding, foiling cats, etc. There are also disciplines that previously took place at the Olympics, such as match racing. No need to reinvent the wheel here. Second, Olympic sailing should be made accessible by most.  There shou...