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On a range of issues from the Olympics, record attempts to the BBC's coverage of the America's Cup

On the issue of the keelboats potentially being dropped from the Olympics , Paul Reeve sent us this:

The Olympics are a business and sailing unfortunately will be gradually eased out, as will other 'dull' and/or expensive to stage sports. Eventually it will become an athletics, golf and tennis and football tournament, although is Andre Agassi more proud of his gold medal or of winning Wimbledon?

Sailing is never going to be a spectator sport, and will always be difficult to televise, but even given that cost/return is now everything in all sports, ISAF have to acknowledge that lumbering keelboats all in white are never going to have much appeal. (Although in 5-8 knots of breeze, all sailing looks pretty tame.)

Selection of the Yngling never made any sense anyway, and the Star even with the crew weight limit is limited to the "rich" European and N. American countries.
However I totally disagree that the total numbers of sailors should be reduced. Why is sailing the only sport that allows one entry per country per class? Any less than 400 athletes, and it is getting to be a pretty small scale event, a large RS multi open meeting has more people attending! Olympic sailing should be held in one design dinghies, with perhaps restricted rigs, in a mix of skiff and traditional classes. The best sailors will always win, but something has to be done to make Olympic sailing the true pinnacle of small boat sailing, and that should involve beating the best in the world, not just the best from each country.

Another anonymous has this to say:

Regarding reducing the level of sailing in the olympics - golf isn't a sport!! And it has a more costly infrastructure than keel boats. How dare they consider it. What the olympics needs is another catamaran class!

The news about the BBC's coverage of the America's Cup has come with mixed results. Wendy Cox from Rutland writes:

Not impressed with Peter Snow who treats his audience as idiots. Not an image to encourage a following of sailing. Why not Richard Simmonds who is excellent.

Ahh - the Richard Simmonds fan club! Richard will be very involved with the TV side of the America's Cup but as the man on the ground in Auckland. It will be who shoves the microphone in front of Ian Walker, Peter Harrison & co in person. Unfortunately as is often the case with yacht racing on the TV, it is pitched to the lowest common denominator, so anyone who actually knows anything about yachting finds it quite boring. Let's hope the BBC will be able to straddle both camps...

A reader in New Zealand writes following Maiden 2 's success Cowes-St Malo and Round Britain record attempts:

I think all the Maiden 2 team should be congratulated, sailing team and shore side alike. I think their dedication to the challenge is superb; considering they have been running on a considerable budget their acheivements have been outstanding. If any team deserves good funding and sponsership, they do! Once that is in place, I have no doubt that they will kick ass!

They will have some competition shortly when Ellen MacArthur takes possession of Orange (to be renamed Kingfisher 2). In the meantime Ellen will have to wait for the new mast to be built.

On the subject of Maiden 2's silence on the position reports during their Round Britian attempt, John Cummings felt:

I think that by remaining silent on positions they are missing a marketing opportunity. My view is out of sight, out of mind. I think had people been able to follow their progress it would generate tremendous interest. Now maybe they don't care and this is just rich men/women's toys.

Regarding the Around Alone round the World race Rene' Serrao says this:

I think it may be a bit early to come up with the right form as we haven't seen the competetors in their true singlehanded trim as yet. Being Canadian I was thrilled to learn that [Derek] Hatfield is up front in the 2nd class of boats with his 40footer, though I watched it when it sailed into and out of Halifax during his delivery from central Canada and the boat looks bigger than a 40footer and didn't look to be any slouch power reaching out of the harbour as she departed in a "brisk" souwesterly I'll be rootin for the Canadians and eagerly waiting for Leg 1 to shake itself out.

On the topic of the San Francisco Big Boat Series , Rene' raises another good point:

Since when does a Farr 40 qualify to be called a "BIG BOAT" in this day and age of giant yachts.

Indeed. What is a big boat these days?