Every Olympic sport needs a relay

by Gerald New, SailWeb
It has become very obvious that Sailing is missing a trick by not having a Relay event.

Watching the excellent Winter Olympics, you quickly realize that the IOC loves a relay, presumably because you get an extra event – often the most exciting event – by repurposing the existing equipment . . . the competitors, it’s a win-win situation.

It is rare for a winter event not to have a relay … Ok curling might have proved a step too far, but if they can manage a Slider relay, surely sailing can come up with a format.

Sailing could manage at least two events, one for dinghies and one for Boards, they would most likely be mixed events, another IOC favorite, to tick all the boxes and get that jeopardy feeling going.

Any ideas?

The Slider Mixed Relay:
Each team will get just one run per sled, and relay order will be as follows: women’s singles, men’s doubles, men’s singles and women’s doubles. The relay is continuous, with the next sled starting as soon as the previous sled crosses the finish line and the slider strikes a touch-sensitive pad with their hand.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

For more details, click here.