For the 2013 470 European Championships, the 470 Class has a introduced a variation on the test format being trialled by ISAF at the recent ISAF Sailing World Cup events. ISAF has been trialling various formats, to evaluate suitability for introduction at the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The 470 Class has reviewed the feedback received from our sailors to the formats used at ISAF Sailing World Cup Palma and ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres, and responded with a few tweaks. An overriding principle is to enable sailors to maintain integrity in their results, with the scoring reflecting the teams’ performance over the Championship. By holding just one medal race, this also puts more emphasis on the Finals Stage. With just the top 8 boats advancing through to the Medal Stage, reflects the diplomas which are awarded by the IOC to the top eight in an event at the Olympics.

Whilst ISAF is leading on the format trials, all Olympic Classes have been invited to test alternative formats and provide input to ISAF at the end of this Summer. ISAF will be making a final decision on the format for the 2016 Olympic Games at its Annual Conference in November 2013.

470 Class Vice-President Nino Shmueli, who is the Technical Delegate for the 470 European Championships, said, “Whilst respecting ISAF’s wish to make the regatta format more media attractive and spectator friendly, we have aimed to take the best elements of the trials already undertaken, whilst reducing the element of chance by only having one medal race.”

All 470 Sailors are welcome to provide their feedback to: office@470.org

More Information:
470 European Championship website - europeans.470.org
Sailing Instructions

28/5/2013 17:38