Living in the Scuttlebutt World

Before nations can compete at the Olympic Games, their athletes must first finish high enough in qualifying events for the nation to gain one of the limited entry slots. This process has begun for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and will continue through to early 2024.

The USA has always gained entry in all events before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but missed out in the Men’s Skiff (49er) event. Therefore, it was good to see that being one of four events the USA has already confirmed. More so, the nation has some depth, with selection to be decided at a win-or-go-home regatta on January 6-13 in Miami, FL. Game on!

The USA Selection System has already confirmed Daniela Moroz in the Women’s Formula Kite event, which is the good news for her. The bad news is that she is scratching for funds. As the US is one of the few countries that doesn’t provide government funding for Olympic sports, all her resources have to be privately fundraised. If you can help, click here.

I return to an old rant when I saw the 2023 Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup provide entry to a foiling monohull. This also occurred last year, but the foiler was sequestered into a division of one so it wouldn’t hurt anyone, particularly the egos of the bazillionaires that own these thoroughbred yachts.

The 2023 event had the foiler racing in the same class as nine other 80 to 100 footers, and while she humbled them on elapsed time, the rating systems have yet to figure out a fair handicap. I hope they never do. This event has thrived for 33 editions but I wonder about its future with this kind of radical disruption.

Yes, technology moves on, and while the competing yachts look a lot different today than three decades ago, this evolution must be managed to avoid attrition. And while a smaller, faster, and likely more affordable boat seems good, is having less people participate in the sport good too? Is more expertise required good? Will this trend impact the marine industry? Things to think about.

The 37th America’s Cup gets underway in a year, with the first offering on display as the six teams line-up in the AC40s for the first preliminary event. Did these ‘rocketships on water’ provide a good show to watch? Send your comments to editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com.