Boardsailing
- An Olympic Class History<
by
Bruce Kendall of New Zealand - dual Olympian Medal winner.
Our sport is still called Boardsailing in Olympic jargon and was a demonstration sport at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and an Olympic event at each Games since.
1984 - Los Angeles,
USA
For Los Angeles, the Olympic board choice was between the original Windsurfer One Design manufactured by Hoyle Schwitzer
and the Windglider designed and made in Europe. The Windglider was chosen late
in 1983 based on it being more 'one design' as the Windsurfer was made of
polyethylene and its rocker could be easily changed with heat and weight on a
daily basis. The Windglider used a 6.5m sail but the use of a harness was not
permitted. The daggerboard weighed around 4kgs and was carried over the
sailor's shoulder during the downwind legs and when reaching with many sailors
ending up with badly bruised thighs and legs from it swinging wildly and
uncontrollably around in heavy weather. The course of 9 nautical miles sorted out
who had put the time into training and who hadn't. A real Olympic feat just to
finish. The supplied equipment was rotated daily (except for the rigs). The
1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles were won by Stephan Vandenburg from Holland,
Scott Steel from the USA was second and Bruce Kendall from New Zealand third.
Bruce is still the youngest Olympic boardsailing medallist so far at 20 years
of age. Australia's own Greg Hyde was there as well.
1988 - Pusan, Korea
The next Olympiad saw the introduction of Division II boards for the Olympics.
The Division II class used a 6.5m sail and were round bottomed boards designed
for upwind sailing in light to moderate winds and had a good competitive weight
range. Although they were difficult to sail downwind and a technical board to
sail upwind, they are still the fastest 12 foot board upwind in up to 8 knots
of breeze. Again, the Olympic board was decided only one year before the
Olympics. The contest had been between the Davidson (a Swedish design) and the
Lechner built in Austria. The reason for the choice was a mystery to most but
it was hinted that North Sails had some influence in the Lechner finally being
selected. The final Olympic rig was available less than a year before the
Olympics. Pusan in Korea was reportedly a light wind venue but no one realised
until too late that this information came from the airport which was located in
a sheltered valley. It turned out to be that the 1988 Olympic Games were the
windiest ever with one day of racing postponed due to too much wind. one day of
racing saw around 30 knots of wind with 5 knots of current going against the
wind. There was a lot of equipment damage and rescues for many classes
resulting in many DNF's and requests for redress. Again, the supplied equipment
was rotated daily (except for the rigs). Bruce Kendall won Gold without having
to sail in the last race, Jan Boresma from the Netherland Antilles (a surprise)
won Silver while Mike Gebhart from the USA won the Bronze. Australia's
Chris Lawrence was there as well.
1992 - Barcelona,
Spain
For the 1992 Olympics, the Olympic Class for the first time was announced four
years in advance and it was to include a women's event for the first time. This
saw a real growth in Olympic windsurfing globally. the Lechner was modified to
bring the centreboard and mast track further aft. The sail size went up to a
camber induced 7.3m rig. this shifted the competitive weight range up without
increasing it dramatically. The rig supplier, Neil Pryde, was decided 3 years
before the Olympics. Barcelona was the first and only time (so far) that the
Olympic village was next to the Olympic Harbour. Many there will remember
having to sail in the polluted water. The supplied equipment stayed with the
sailor for the entire regatta as it was excepted that each board needed special
tuning to the daggerboard system. Barbara Kendall from New Zealand won Gold,
Zhang Xiaodong from China won Silver with Doreen De Vries from Holland winning
the Bronze. The men's regatta saw a close battle for the Gold between frank
David from France, who eventually won and Mike Gebhart from the USA who won the
Silver. Australia's Lars Kleppich won the Bronze. Fiona Taylor represented
Australia in the women's event. There were some equipment failures that
affected the medal results in this Olympics but for the first and last time
there wasn't any redress allowed for equipment failure. This may have been a
factor for the change from Division II to the Mistral Class for the next Olympics.
1996 - Atlanta, USA
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics were sailed in Savannah on the Warsaw Sound. For the
most part the class and equipment to be used had been known since 1992. This
gave the Olympic windsurfing sport a huge boost and helped make it more
universal. For the first time amid much controversy
pumping the sail was allowed. This had a dynamic effect on the sport and
as in 1984, supreme fitness was a factor in deciding the Olympic winner. There
was a surprisingly large amount of equipment failure in 1993 leading up to the
Olympics such that some sailors would sail with an extra daggerboard. Some were
able to break the boom at will. Mistral did its best to remedy this with some
modifications. again, the supplied equipment stayed with the sailor for the
entire regatta. There wasn't any significant equipment failure that effected
medal chances. Sailors had to contend themselves with the one hour plus bus and
boat ride from their accommodation to the floating barge where the equipment
was stored and back each day. Most noteworthy were the regular and extreme
thunder and lightning storms which resulted in postponed and abandoned races
due to massive wind strength and direction changes. The Medallists came from
all corners of the world which showed that finally the Olympic Boardsailing
class was no longer dominated by the developed sailing nations. Lai Shan Lee
from Hong Kong won the women's Gold, Barbara Kendall from New Zealand Silver
and Alissandra Sensini from Italy the Bronze. Nikos Kalaminakis from Greece won
the men's Gold, Carlos Espinola from Argentina the Silver and Gal Friedman from
Israel won the Bronze. Brandan Todd who is currently Australia's Boardsailing
Coach represented Australia in the men's event and Natasha Sturges representing
in the women's event.
2000 - Sydney,
Australia
There wasn't any significant challenge for equipment to be used in the
Boardsailing events for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and the Mistral One Design
Class remained. This gave the class the chance to consolidate itself worldwide
and the Olympic aspirants a renewed confidence in their preparations and
campaigns for the 2000 Games. There are now more Olympic Class Windsurfing
Organisations around the world and more Olympic Class boards on the water than
ever before. The international standard has a broader base than ever before. a
look at the last four years of World Championships results confirms this. The
Mistral One design is the most 'one design' of any of the Olympic sailing
classes and the least expensive to campaign. However, in 1997, Mistral with
only good intentions embarked on a mission to modify the Olympic equipment to
make it more durable, more 'one design' and more user friendly without
increasing costs or changing the performance characteristics. This has been
largely achieved. In an effort to further reduce costs, Mistral tried to shift
production of the boards to Malaysia and then, due to perceived insurmountable
difficulties, shifted the production back to Europe. As often has been the case
during previous Olympiads, the supply of Olympic equipment didn't always meet
demand and this has caused much frustration for the sailors and has prompted
some call for a change. If there is a change of the Olympic Class we will
possibly be witnessing on Sydney Harbour for the last time the pinnacle of
Olympic Class Boardsailing in its purest form. If there isn't a change, the
Olympic Class stands to only get stronger and help to build the whole sport of
Windsurfing globally better than ever before.
Due to the big equipment performance differences found in other windsurfing classes Olympic Class Boardsailing is possibly the most pure type of athletic sail racing in the world - a real Olympic sport. Sadly, it is and possibly always will be little understood. Like all small craft sailing classes, the best informed spectators are the competitors. It has taken twenty years of two steps forward and one back for Olympic Boardsailing to get to the level it is now. As a consequence of the Olympic Boardsailing Class's current achievements, governments are allocating a lot of funding towards growing the sport. The current Olympic Class is a great asset to the sport of windsurfing. Let's look after it and keep the current Olympic Class for at least another Olympiad.
- this article first appeared in "On the Wind" Sep 2000. "On the Wind" is a newsletter put out by the Stormriders Sailboard Club and the NSW Boardsailing Association.
-----------------------------------
2004 Olympic Selection
Bid
1. OLYMPIC WINDSURFING SHOULD
REFLECT THE COMPETITION FORMATS ON ALL LEVELS AND AROUND THE WORLD.
A.
IMCO
equipment is raced in 70 countries worldwide at Youth and Senior
level including 5 continental championships, one world championship and one
youth world championship. In addition, there is a developing Asian Continental
Racing Circuit containing 6 international events;
B.
IMCO
is the second biggest fleet at the “Semaine Olympique Francaise” and
at SPA; there are IMCO fleets in all the main Olympic Class Regattas in all
continents of the world. The Mistral One Design is the current ISAF Youth World
Championship official windsurfing equipment and is the current EuroSAF
appointed Youth Windsurfing Equipment;
C.
The
Mistral One Design is currently the official windsurfing equipment for
the Asian Games, the Pan Am Games, The Small Island Games,
the World University Games and the South Pacific Games amongst
others;
2. OLYMPIC WINDSURFING SHOULD BE
MODERN AND ATTRACTIVE FOR BOTH THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE MEDIA.
A.
There
is currently only one Olympic sailing event, which uses more modern
equipment (49er) than the Mistral One Design;
B.
IMCO,
like any Olympic Class, has seen the level & quality of competition
become higher in each succeeding year. Nationally, this has had the effect
of reducing local fleets to either those competitors serious about “Going for
the Olympics” or Youth Development squads. Inevitably, recreational competitors
have left to race Raceboard or even FW as it is easier to be competitive and
not so serious;
C.
IMCO
racing is as attractive to spectators and the media as any other Olympic
sailing event in fact probably more so because at the Pre-Olympics the
spectator boats came to the “boards” course first in preference to viewing the
49ers or the Tornado catamarans;
D.
IMCO
events get regular coverage in main stream national and regional newspapers;
E.
IMCO
has made great strides forward in ensuring TV coverage of its events and
worldwide distribution of the images. 5 TV stations covered the 1999 Mistral
Worlds. The 1999 Mistral Europeans in Poland were covered by German and Polish
National terrestrial TV and achieved viewing figures of 10m. per airing?
F.
When
IMCO has the promotional budget to invite specialist “windsurfing” journalists
to its events, it has achieved impressive coverage in the windsurfing press;
3. THE FORMAT AND
EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE USABLE FOR COMPETITION ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
A.
IMCO
equipment is raced in 70 countries worldwide at Youth and Senior level
including 5 continental championships, one world championship and one youth
world championship. In addition, there is a developing Asian Continental
Racing Circuit containing 6 international events;
B.
IMCO
is the second biggest fleet at the “Semaine Olympique Francaise” and at SPA;
There are IMCO fleets in all the main Olympic Class Regattas in all continents
of the world. The Mistral One Design is the current ISAF Youth World
Championship official windsurfing equipment and is the current EuroSAF
appointed Youth Windsurfing Equipment.
C.
The
Mistral One Design is currently the official windsurfing equipment for
the Asian Games, the Pan Am Games, The Small Island Games,
the World University Games and the South Pacific Games.
4. THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE
ACTIVELY RACED BY WOMEN WORLDWIDE.
A.
The
Mistral One Design Women’s fleet is the biggest women’s windsurfing fleet on
the planet;
B.
In
the 1999 Mistral World Championship, 64 women entered. This represents 66%
of the men’s fleet.
C.
There
is a growing women’s fleet in the Asian Continental Racing Circuit;
D.
In a
recent IMCO women’s forum, there was unanimous support for the Mistral One
Design for 2004. Andrea Hoeppner, Barbara Kendall, Sigi Rondelez, and
Alessandra Sensini, all of whom raced on the PWA circuit, are now racing the
Mistral One Design and support it’s selection for 2004;
E.
Jessica
Crisp, an ex-PWA World Champion, supports the Mistral One Design as the Olympic
equipment for 2004;
F.
IMCO
works hard to ensure equality of opportunity between the men’s & women’s
fleets both in terms of wind conditions as well as TV coverage and prize
money.
G.
At
the 2000 World Championship, GEMS TV, a South American “Women’s Issues”
satellite channel, covered the IMCO women’s fleet exclusively;
H.
At
the 2000 Penta Mistral Cup, the prize money pool available to the women’s
fleet was equal in size to the men’s fleet. Alessandra Sensini won US
$10,000. No woman has ever won more in the history of windsurfing;
5. THE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE PRODUCTION
EQUIPMENT AND COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE AROUND THE WORLD AND IF POSSIBLE FROM
MORE THAN ONE MANUFACTURER.
A.
Mistral
Sports GmbH is the largest distributor of windsurfing equipment in the
world with the biggest dealer network;
B.
IMCO
have reached agreement with Mistral Sports GmbH so that the One Design sails
can be made under licence by any sail “loft” anywhere in the world between
2001 and 2004;
C.
IMCO
will sell Mistral One Design spare parts through its e-shop based on the
IMCO website so that competitors can buy at “retail price” direct from the
factory for delivery anywhere in the world;
6. THE FORMAT AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE
CAPABLE OF BEING USED IN A WIND RANGE FROM 6 > 35 KNOTS.
A.
The Mistral
One Design Format allows racing to commence in 5>6 knots of wind
and depending on the sea state, can continue up to 30 knots of wind;
B.
Since
1992 when IMCO was selected for the Olympics, we have never failed to
complete a regatta due to lack of wind. In all cases, we have either
completed the maximum number or races allowed or to within two races of that
maximum;
C.
The
current Mistral One Design Format allows the boards to race successfully at
all times when other Olympic classes are racing. This will not be the case
if FW is selected as the Olympic equipment;
7. THE EQUIPMENT SHALL BE OF HIGH
QUALITY, DURABLE AND AFFORDABLE.
A.
A new
Mistral One Design costs less than an Optimist;
B.
Production
of the Mistral One Design has now been transferred back to Germany and is now built in
the same factory as many FW “wide style” boards;
C.
Small
nations like Fiji can compete on an equal footing with the rich ones. Tony Philp (FIJ) came 2nd
in the 1999 Mistral World Championship;
8. OLYMPIC WINDSURFING SHOULD BE
CAPABLE OF BEING COMPETED IN BY PEOPLE IN AS WIDE A PHYSIQUE RANGE AS POSSIBLE.
A.
Mistral
One Design competitors
in the men’s fleet have a weight range of 64 >80 Kgs and in
the women’s fleet have a weight range of 50>67 Kgs;
B.
The 1999
FW World Champion weighed more than 90 kilos;
C.
By
way of a comparison, in the late 70s and early 80s, when the windsurfer
class was dominant, out of the 320 pre-qualified male sailors at their world
championship the mid-point in weight terms was always 68>69Kgs… 25% of
the fleet was under 64Kgs… 25% between 64 & 69Kgs… 25% between 69 & 76
Kgs… Only 25% was over 76Kgs and less than 10% was over 80Kgs
NB. The only exception to this weight spread was when the WC was held in
Japan when the mid-point was much lighter!
9. THE FORMAT AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD
REDUCE THE NEED TO PUMP, WHILST AT THE SAME TIME BEING AT LEAST AS PHYSICALLY
DEMANDING AS IT IS NOW.
A.
The IMCO
format is optimised to reduce the need to pump;
NB. At the 1998 ISAF Conference, The ISAF Council agreed that 6 knots
should be the minimum wind speed for competition in Athens 2004.
10. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL NATIONS
TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
A.
There
are over 70 Countries currently sailing & racing the Mistral One
Design world wide;
B.
During
1999, we welcomed Belarus, Cuba, The Seychelles, Sudan, Tahiti, &
Zimbabwe as National IMCOs making a total of 63;
C.
The six
medals in Savannah went to 6 countries in 4 continents;
D.
At
the 2000 Worlds, the top 3 men & top 5 women were from 3 different
continents;
E.
Overall
52 Nations took part in the 2000 Olympic qualification series for
boards; 48 nations in the men’s fleet & 33 in the women’s;
F.
Competitors
from the “less well off” countries can afford to compete in IMCO Racing!
Small nations like Fiji can compete on an equal footing with the rich ones. Tony
Philp (FIJ) came 2nd in the 1999 Mistral World Championship;
G.
IMCO
is pro-active in the development of Junior & Youth competition;
H.
Continental
Regatta Series & Ranking Lists outside Europe enable development of national squads
& offer international experience close to home inexpensively;
I.
The
Class leaves a legacy behind following all major regattas – IMCO
encourages the development of local race management teams in each
continent;
11. COMPETITORS IN OLYMPIC WINDSURFING
ON ALL LEVELS SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEALTH RISKS.
A.
Mistral
One Design Racing subjects competitors to less health risks and
produces less injuries than other Olympic Classes;
B.
The
health risks involved in Mistral One Design Racing are no greater than in any
other windsurfing racing format.
12. THE RESTRICTIONS ON THE EQUIPMENT:
1 BOARD, 2 SAILS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS TO LIMIT COSTS.
A.
Mistral
One Design Racing Competitors in the Olympic fleet only use one board
and generally, only one rig together with one fin and one daggerboard;
13. ATTRACT THE BEST & BEST KNOWN
A.
The best
Mistral One Design Racers such as Bruce Kendall, Aaron MacIntosh, Nikos
Kaklamanakis, Mike Gebhardt, Barbara Kendall, Jessica Crisp, Lee Lai Shan &
Alessandra Sensini are the best in the world and are recognised as such;
B.
They
are at least as
good if not better than the best Funboard course racers;
C.
In
Asia, Karin Jaggi is unknown by the general public, in comparison to Lee Lai
Shan;
D.
In
New Zealand, Bruce & Barbara Kendall are probably better known by the
general public than Bjorn Dunkerbeck;
E.
In
Greece, Nikos Kaklamanakis is better known by the general public than almost
any other sailor of any kind;
F.
In
Argentina, Carlos Espinola is better known by the general public than almost
any other sailor of any kind;
14. PART OF THE PROGRAMME SHOULD LEAD
THE SPORT AND ANOTHER PART SHOULD REFLECT THE SPORT.
A.
Mistral
One Design Racing is the most widely practised format worldwide and thus
reflects the sport.
So, please support….
IMCO, THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC WINDSURFING CLASS EVER