Joe Bousquet's blog made my blood run cold.
The worst thing that could happen to the Moth Class would be its inclusion in the Olympics. The proof is there for all to see at the Belmont Worlds where the Moth Squad, largely made up of Olympic contenders, dominated the event and made many of our best amateur sailors look pedestrian. Imagine what would happen if they were to concentrate on the Moth full time instead of it being a distraction from whatever "water-pusher" they were competing in - you would not see them for dust and leave the rest of us wondering what is the point of continuing?
The proof in the UK is that every Olympic class in this country has virtually no presence at club level because most sailors perceive them as being sailed by elite squads where they have no chance of competing on a level playing field.
I think a lot of Moth sailors feel like me. However, it is commercially very tempting for a Moth builder to go for Olympic status as they could sell a lot of boats in the short term. Look at the failed attempt by BladeRider as proof that a builder can try to proceed down this road without any form of consultation with the class as to what is best for it. Thankfully, BladeRider's lack of business acumen that lead to their demise ultimately saved us from this fate.
I hope this is just me being paranoid and that ISAF will stick to form and maintain the dull set of classes they currently have. Just in case, though, we do need to be ready.
Abolutely... Ninja spinners are being sharpened!
ReplyDeleteGraham,
ReplyDeletetotally agree. I think that Mr. ISAF secretary, Jerome Pelt, did not know what he was talking about when he said: "Moths with Wing masts for the Olympics". What did he smoke?
Until the IMCA has enough cash to create a proposal, fly around the world lobbying and going to all the ISAF events then it will not happen. If it is successful the class would need paid administration too. The Moth class keeps getting put up for the Olympics by various people that have nothing to do with the IMCA. Each time ISAF look at the proposal and laugh at it because it is no more than a nice idea. A manufacturer like Bladerider could propose a one design Moth based product and invest/gamble what they like the ICMA has no control over this as it is nothing to do with us. It would be nice to be consulted about this but this never happens.
ReplyDeleteThere is ZERO discussion on the exec list about the Olympic so why would ISAF decide the IMCA is a good partner. If they approached us I am sure there are guys like myself that would prove that we are a unprofessional bunch of stubborn sods with big egos and different opinions that are not likely to change and ISAF will run away.
So for the foreseeable future you will not find the Moth class dominated by Olympic guys doing coached full time international training campaigns. Doooh....
ISAF will get proposals for boats and chose the best proposals. This will be some hulks of shit that we can all laugh at.
Until the IMCA has enough cash to create a proposal, fly around the world lobbying and going to all the ISAF events then it will not happen. If it is successful the class would need paid administration too. The Moth class keeps getting put up for the Olympics by various people that have nothing to do with the IMCA. Each time ISAF look at the proposal and laugh at it because it is no more than a nice idea. A manufacturer like Bladerider could propose a one design Moth based product and invest/gamble what they like the ICMA has no control over this as it is nothing to do with us. It would be nice to be consulted about this but this never happens.
ReplyDeleteThere is ZERO discussion on the exec list about the Olympic so why would ISAF decide the IMCA is a good partner. If they approached us I am sure there are guys like myself that would prove that we are a unprofessional bunch of stubborn sods with big egos and different opinions that are not likely to change and ISAF will run away.
So for the foreseeable future you will not find the Moth class dominated by Olympic guys doing coached full time international training campaigns. Doooh....
ISAF will get proposals for boats and chose the best proposals. This will be some hulks of shit that we can all laugh at.
Sorry Doug - your comment ended up in my junk email yesterday so I have just retrieved it.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of people out there who want their particular tosspot craft in the Olympics for no better reason than to try and make some money. Interestingly when you google Pelts comment, you get the Kite Surfers pushing their inclusion enthusiastically.
Hopefully if we continue to be grumpy, ISAF will leave our wonderful class alone.
First off I totally agree. Moth class goes from "band of brothers (and sisters)" to "spy vs. spy" if it goes the way of the Olympics.
ReplyDelete...but it doesn't have to for everyone.
We do this for fun, and enjoy a challenge and when the guys that have gone to the Olympics sail these boats for fun, that speaks volumes. I would happily get second at the moth trials any day and wouldn't have my boat sold by sundown, because there is nothing cooler to sail the following weekend.
Also, if given the opportunity I would gladly run a few hot laps against some Formula 1 cars in a Ford Econoline (with a huge Detroit logo). Not many other sports give one the chance to go head to head with the BEST on any given Sunday, and with that attitude I think the Moth will be fine with or without the games.
Interesting..
ReplyDeleteI'm not *for* the inclusion of the moth, but I do wonder: The leading lights of the UK fleet, Mike, Simon et al are so far ahead of mortals like myself as to make me look pedestrian, but I still want to sail the boat. I also got properly 'schooled' when I went from the RS600 to the 49er, but loved it, and at the time there were some decent club fleets - I don't know now, but all the rig changes can't have helped.
I presume lasers still do OK at club level, other classes that succeed, e.g. RS - is it non-olympic status, or is it that they throw a good party and have fun? I'm not sure they need be mutually exclusive.
What's my point? Not sure - Perhaps that only a few people would be materially affected/knocked off the top of their pile. The playing field isn't exactly level anyway.
As a sidenote, my spies report a decidedly full time olympic kinda commitment from the aussie squad pre-worlds, if that makes anyone feel better :)
Oh, and the point I was intending to make (sorry, getting senile) - Olympics might be bad for the Moth, but some form of Moth at the olympics could only be good for sailing.
ReplyDeleteMight actually get the attention of Gen whatever-they-are-these-days.