RYA disappointed at missed opportunity for 2012

by Media release on 18 Nov 2008
While the RYA welcomed the decision to select the Elliott 6m which would allow nations to begin developing their national programmes, the RYA Racing Manager and Performance Director, John Derbyshire, said he was disappointed that the sport had missed an opportunity to showcase a new women’s class to the world in 2012 with the 29erXX.

At its annual conference the ISAF had selected the boat classes which would be used at the 2012 Olympic sailing events at Weymouth and Portland.

The main debate had surrounded the boat for the women’s two person dinghy event – which saw the incumbent 470 class selected over the new 29erXX high performance dinghy – and the selection of a modified version of the Elliott 6m for the women’s keelboat event. This will be raced under a Match Racing format for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The RYA is now calling for prompt clarification from the ISAF as to the 2012 Olympic qualification process for the women’s keelboat Match Racing event, so that the sailors and their support teams can begin to put their 2012 campaigns together.

'ISAF has made its decision in respect of the classes for 2012 and these will enjoy an excellent reception in Weymouth and Portland for the London Olympic Games,' said RYA Racing Manager and Performance Director John Derbyshire.

'British interest will remain high as we have some great talent in the 470 class, both men’s and women’s, and look forward to our women adapting to the challenges of match racing in the Elliott 6m. We will now consider how best to take this forward.'

Derbyshire continued: 'I am disappointed, however, that the sport has missed an opportunity to showcase a new women’s class to the world in 2012 with the 29erXX, which I think would have seen many young British girls continuing to compete after their youth days were over.'

The classes selected for each of the ten events are:

Men

Windsurfer – RS:X
One person dinghy – Laser
One person dinghy heavy - Finn
Two person dinghy – 470
Two person high performance dinghy – 49er
Keelboat – Star

Women

Windsurfer – RS:X
One person dinghy – Laser Radial
Two person dinghy – 470
Keelboat (Match Racing) – Elliott 6m (Modified)