SFBayLaser
Member
I posted this to the Laser List the other day, thought I would also post here to see other opinions...
At the ISAF Annual Meeting just ending last week it was decided that at
the 2004 Olympic Regatta there would be no throwout allowed. So, all
races will count to the final score in the regatta.
Today's Scuttlebutt (www.sailingscuttlebutt.com) contains the following
Guest Editorial:
GUEST EDITORIAL - Tom Ehman
Finally! After years of debate including an excellent thread or two in
Scuttlebutt, the drop race is being dropped from Olympic scoring. One
can't blame Ben Ainsle and others for being a bit upset when the
decision was taken less than a year before the next Games. Nor can one
understand why the sole justification given for the decision was "to
make the sport more understandable and exciting for the media" (by
simplifying scoring and assuring that the last race always counts).
While important, forget for a moment about the media -- it improves the
regatta for the competitors as a whole:
+ OCS (premature starter / general recall) problems will all but end as
sailors become much less willing to risk being over early, and those who
are OCS will for for sure return to re-start which clears the first leg
for those who started properly;
+ the leader can no longer use a throw-out race to "match race the
nearest competitor into the tank;"
+ competitors will take even better care of their equipment, and be
more resourceful in fixing on-course breakdowns; and
+ rules compliance in general will improve -- after a foul competitors
will more likely take a 720, and be less likely to make the risky move
to begin with.
As to DNF's resulting from a clear failure of supplied equipment through
no fault of the competitor, they will be able to obtain redress from the
jury same as with any other prejudicial act or omission of the
organizing authority or race committee.
In the "old days" when the Olympic regatta was 7 races and had no 720, a
throw-out made some sense. But with 11 races and a 720 in effect, it
does not. Congrats to ISAF for taking the hard decision, albeit a bit
late, and following the lead of the Farr 40 and other major classes
which, increasingly, are throwing out the throw out. Good riddance. -
Tom Ehman (Olympic judge, 1992 and 1996)
What do people think about dropping the drop race for the Olympics?
How about dropping the drop race for major North American events?
Tracy Usher
ILCA-NA VP
At the ISAF Annual Meeting just ending last week it was decided that at
the 2004 Olympic Regatta there would be no throwout allowed. So, all
races will count to the final score in the regatta.
Today's Scuttlebutt (www.sailingscuttlebutt.com) contains the following
Guest Editorial:
GUEST EDITORIAL - Tom Ehman
Finally! After years of debate including an excellent thread or two in
Scuttlebutt, the drop race is being dropped from Olympic scoring. One
can't blame Ben Ainsle and others for being a bit upset when the
decision was taken less than a year before the next Games. Nor can one
understand why the sole justification given for the decision was "to
make the sport more understandable and exciting for the media" (by
simplifying scoring and assuring that the last race always counts).
While important, forget for a moment about the media -- it improves the
regatta for the competitors as a whole:
+ OCS (premature starter / general recall) problems will all but end as
sailors become much less willing to risk being over early, and those who
are OCS will for for sure return to re-start which clears the first leg
for those who started properly;
+ the leader can no longer use a throw-out race to "match race the
nearest competitor into the tank;"
+ competitors will take even better care of their equipment, and be
more resourceful in fixing on-course breakdowns; and
+ rules compliance in general will improve -- after a foul competitors
will more likely take a 720, and be less likely to make the risky move
to begin with.
As to DNF's resulting from a clear failure of supplied equipment through
no fault of the competitor, they will be able to obtain redress from the
jury same as with any other prejudicial act or omission of the
organizing authority or race committee.
In the "old days" when the Olympic regatta was 7 races and had no 720, a
throw-out made some sense. But with 11 races and a 720 in effect, it
does not. Congrats to ISAF for taking the hard decision, albeit a bit
late, and following the lead of the Farr 40 and other major classes
which, increasingly, are throwing out the throw out. Good riddance. -
Tom Ehman (Olympic judge, 1992 and 1996)
What do people think about dropping the drop race for the Olympics?
How about dropping the drop race for major North American events?
Tracy Usher
ILCA-NA VP
