OLYMPICS: Revised format

TESTING, TESTING, TESTING
The 44th edition of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre for Olympic classes (Mar 30-Apr 6), the first European event of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, has been chosen by ISAF to test the racing format to be used at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The format follows the successes and failures from the format tests conducted in January at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami. Here are the hightlights of what will be used in Palma de Majorca, Spain:

* The qualifying series ranking will be used as a score for one of the final series races.

* There will be two medal races on the Final Day for the top ten sailors. These will be scored as double points, non-discardable. This if for all classes except for the 49er and 49er FX that will sail four Stadium Races, of ten minutes duration instead of thirty and reserved to the top eight and with single scoring; with four non-discardable races.

* The results from the Final Day will be added to the results of the final series (which already include the qualifying series as one race) to decide the final overall results and podium.

* For the monotypes both the qualifying and the final series will consist of six races of 50 minutes duration (in the final series, one of these six races is the one resulting from the qualifying series), while the 49er, 49er FX and Nacra (the new mixed skiff) will sail 30 minute races, nine in the qualifying series and six (plus one carried forward from the preceding round) for the finals.

* Every single win scores 0 points instead of 1, while second classified scores 2, third scores 3 points and so on.

ISAF will evaluate this racing format at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mapfre and with the sailors’ feedback it will make the necessary amendments towards the next SWC regatta to be held in Hyeres (France) on Apr 20-27.

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