FDBULLETIN; NR 158, MAY 2012

Vintage Yachting Games

!Since I started So the idea was. Why not do- • Also the foundation offers a FD’s on and off I thought ing it ourselves! place where the organiza- Worlds, Europeans, Eurocup In the Olympic period most of tions of the former Olympic and local events I never heard about the Vintage. I met Rudy the classes were nagging about classes can seek cooperation den Outer, Chairman of the Vin- the fact that they did not between them on possibili- tage Yachting Games Organiza- have influence on the format ties like: Combined Interna- tion for the first time in 2011 dur- of the Olympics and on the se- tional and National events, ing the Guelcher memorial. We lection of the teams. This idea logistics, sharing cost, com- talked a little and he told me that could give the classes the op- bined politics and so on, and in 2012 the Vintage would be sailed at Lake Como. portunity to do it better. so on !Who doesn’t know •And finally the Vintage Dervio and Lake Como! It is Yachting Games Organiza- one of the venues you always tion has the task to docu- want to spent some time dur- ment the heritage of the ing the season. So my ques- former Olympic classes. The tion became how to get there. results of this can be looked I found out pretty soon that it would be mission impossible. at Wikipedia. This is an on- You have to qualify to attend. going task since the former The NED-18 crew is not (yet) Olympic classes are still de- that good. So I then found out veloping that sailing the Vintage was only for the best FD-sailors in Who can compete ... each country. What’s the purpose of the event Like the Olympics … everyone but you have to work !It also became clear to ... me in the last couple of weeks To realize this event a for it! that in the FD -park a lot of foundation was created with The Vintage Yachting Games FD-sailors didn’t know the pur- the presidents of the partici- aims for a starting line of 20 pose of the Vintage as well. So pated classes in a supervisory or more per class. To that’s why I met with Rudy to realize this, an intelligent gain more information about this board. This construction is to guess is made at the beginning IFDCO event. guarantee that the ownership remains with the classes and of the four year period on how How, why and when did it start that the classes will be com- many countries are repre- ... mitted. So the Vintage - sented in the class. This gives It started as a brain- ing Games is an IFDCO event a number of how many boats wave in 2006 while following like the World Championship per country will be allowed per from my the is. class. At this moment it is set Dutch Championship. It irri- The mission of the foundation to 2 for the FD. The National tated me that wonderful for- is: class organizations have the mer Olympic Classes, like FD, • To realize every four years duty to select their represen- , Soling and Dragon an Olympic type of sailing tation. were discontinued for the event for the selected teams Olympics, and no substitute of a class event was offered by ISAF.

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Vintage Yachting Games

Also like in the Olympics the Countries who are interested So it looks like we have the teams are not only sailing for to host the event have to place interest of major organizers their own glory buy to repre- a bid. How does that work and and continuity on that front is sent their country! work out for them ... guaranteed Besides the boats per country some Is the Vintage interest- ing for the classes and wildcards are given. sailors ... It’s only the second ! From my point of Vintage Yachting view it is! For the Games is the format classes it gives expo- ‘water’-proof ... sure to the Interna- ! Also the tional sailing world. Do Olympics evolved in not forget that the their format. From former Olympic classes a complex system still form the largest of gentlemen sail- cross-section within ing in the early the International days to a sailor ori- ! Direct after a Vintage classes and a representation in ented sport in the 2nd half of Yachting Games countries are many countries in all conti- the 20th century to maybe an teased (via the classes) to bid nents. These classes are far audience spectacle in the fu- for the Vintage over 8 years. from death! And as stated ture. For 2016 this was done early above cooperation between the For the Vintage we aim to be a 2009. Than later (late 2010) a classes can work beneficial for sailing SPORT oriented event formal request for proposals is them especially in cutting cost where the level of competition issued by the Vintage Yachting and improving quality at this between the countries will be Games Organization to the time. as high as possible. The event countries and class organiza- For the sailors, most events will be evolving over the years tions. aim for large fleets and good/ driven by the class organiza- After the proposals are in, the many social events. The Vin- tions (sailors). One of the pos- supervisory board selects the tage aims for a large number sible developments for the next Vintage country. The of countries per class and al- wider spread classes like FD, date is announced during the though there will be good so- Soling and Dragon it might be Vintage and thus available for cial events the sailing will be a possibility to go to one boat the International calendars paramount. It will give once per country. With the right four years in advance. The vot- every four years the best sail- support and focus this will give ing process for 2016 is in ors per country the opportu- teams a real long term target process at this moment. Al- nity to battle it out for GOLD. to work for. But most impor- though not all votes are in yet Besides that it will give teams tant the classes must actively the probability for Weymouth an alternative for an Olympic give input to these develop- is very high. Furthermore a campaign in a wider range of ments letter of intent for 2020 from classes than the Olympics. Douanenez (FRA) is already arrived.

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Vintage Yachting Games

What should classes do together best teams, per class, per Do you see further growth ... more than just the sailing the country will represent not only ! Absolutely! In quality Vintage Yachting Games ... themselves, but also their and quantity. In 2008 we had ! As we discussed earlier country. the , O-Jolle, FD, Soling classes can organize events During a Vintage the quality of and Dragon involved. For 2012 together. E.g. this year the sailing and race management the 12’ Dinghy, Tempest and Soling and FD have both their will be the most important 5.5 Metre will participate as World championships in the factors. well. For 2016 the will US. Only at different times join and probably the class(es) and different locations! When What about sponsorship ... discontinued after this Olym- the calendars are more syn- ! Sponsorship will be pics. Also since the purpose of chronized in the future the more difficult to obtain at this the event will be more and logistics could be easier. Put moment. In my opinion com- more communicated the level one Soling in a container to- bined high quality events will of competition will rise. gether with four FD’s and eve- lower the risk for the sponsor rybody is happy. E.g. I can as well as it will increase the Where and when will the next imagine me combined Worlds in exposure VYG be ... 2016 for FD, Tempest and Sol- ! Officially this will be ing at Weymouth just before A staggering 275% more com- announced at Lake Como, but petitors this year how did this the Vintage. there are clear pointers in this happen ... Also International politics can interview be discussed among the ! We have tried to com- classes to strengthen their municate the event as much as Famous last words ... position at ISAF or at Na- possible to the classes and the ! Do not wait to step into tional level. sailors. At this moment there the Vintage Yachting Games. are entries from almost 20 The FD is a class who always What kind of competition is countries and from Australia, embraced new ideas and devel- the Vintage ... Africa, North and South opments. And that’s why they The Vintage is an Olym- America and Europe. are still going strong! pic type of event. Where the

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