The
Olympic Classes
There
are eleven classes of sailing in the Olympics, utilizing nine
different types of boats. Four of the classes are women only:
470 Women (double-handed), Laser Radial (single-handed), Yngling
(3-person keelboat), and NeilPryde Women (windsurfing). Four
of the classes are men only: 470 Men (double-handed), Laser (single-handed),
Star (2-person keelboat), and NeilPryde Men (windsurfing). The
remaining three
classes are open to men and women: Finn (single-handed), 49er
(double-handed), and Tornado (multi-hull).
"One-Design"
All nine
of the Olympic classes are "one-design", meaning the equipment
is manufactured using strict standards
for materials, dimensions, and methods used in construction.
While in theory all boats in a one-design class are identical,
there are actually variations between boats and sails
within the design limits. High-level sailors attempt to utilize
these variations to gain a competitive advantage. Testing
sail, hull and rig configurations is one of the most important
elements of a successful Olympic campaign.
Country
Qualification
Because of capacity constraints, there is a limit on the number
of countries that are allowed to compete in each of the eleven
classes in the Olympics. The countries invited to
compete in each class are determined by the results of the
designated qualifying events
in the years prior to the games. The host country is given
an automatic birth. For 2008, 75% of the country births will
be determined by the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championship in
Cascais, Portugal and 25% will be determined by the 2008 470
World Championship in Melbourne, Australia. The total number
of births for each of the classes in Beijing has not yet been
finalized. In the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the women's 470
class had 20 births.
Competitor
Qualification
A country that has secured a birth at the Olympic games is
free to send any representative it chooses, and doesn't necessarily
have to send the competitor who qualified the country for
its birth. The US uses a single-event system to determine
its Olympic sailing representatives. The winner of each class's
Olympic trials regatta (16 races over 8 sailing days) earns
the right to represent the US at the Olympics.
Courses
Most
of our races take place on trapezoid courses. The diagrams
below show an outer trapezoid course (left) and an inner
trapezoid course (right). The windward legs are typically
1/2 mile to 1 mile, depending on wind conditions, and races
take 45-60 minutes, on average.
 
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Training & Preparation
The key to a successful Olympic campaign is preparation. Teams prepare for the
trials by testing sails and hulls to determine the optimum configuration, fine
tuning boat-handling and technique, sharpening racing skills and tactical knowledge,
and constantly working on physical conditioning. To
accomplish all of these goals, teams must attend training camps,
arrange for training partners outside of organized
camps, hire coaches with expertise in their class, and compete in regattas
both nationally and internationally. Many competitors
also hold full-time jobs
up until a few months before the trials, which makes finding the time to
do all of the necessary training and preparation even more
challenging.
International
Competition
There is no substitute
for the experience gained by racing in international regattas against
the best 470 sailors in the world. The 470 class in the US is small
relative to other areas of the world,
particularly
Europe.
As a result,
most
of the
large,
high-caliber
events are held in Europe each year, and US teams must travel to
these events to gain the racing experience necessary to succeed at
the Olympic games.
National
Competition
In
addition to international competition, US teams compete in a
handful of national events each year. Some of these events are
designated as ranking regattas for the US Sailing Team, which
consists of the top 5 teams in each class each year. Being a
member of the US Sailing Team has several benefits, including
coaching, logistical support, and a small
amount of funding assistance.
Fundraising
US
Olympic hopefuls rely almost
entirely on private donations and corporate sponsorship to finance
the training and preparation required for Olympic success. Individual
supporters can be part of the quest for Olympic gold through tax-deductible
campaign contributions (see our Fundraising section for more details).
These funds are used for equipment, travel to training camps, boat
transportation,
and
competition-related
expenses, among other
items. A more detailed breakdown of our expenses and fundraising
targets can be found by clicking here.
For more information on corporate sponsorship opportunities, please
visit our Sponsorship section.
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