If ISAF actually wants to promote sailing, it needs to enable kids around the world to find out for themselves that sailing is the ultimate sport. It needs to realise that its Key Performance Indicators are not about Olympiad TV viewers but the number of people, around the world who participate in sailing, whatever the flavour, whatever their age, gender, ability, or shoe-size. And it needs to get the message across to the masses that sailing is not a sport exclusively for the rich but can be enjoyed on a shoe-string by pretty much anyone.
A good start would be to point out the Americas Cup is an irrelevant, anachronistic multi-billionaires ego-trip and as much to do with sailing as Apollo 11 was to do with a garden firework.
Then drop this ridiculous idea. I’ve always said that sailing is simply not a spectator sport. But the tech is now available to change that – put some telemetry on the boats and push it onto the web.
Oh, and put team racing in the games – now that is a a thrilling watch
These comments in my view sum up why we battle to attract youngsters into sailing. From a Dabchick point of view we need more “Go Pro” footage from you guys on screaming reaches and in other hairy situations. We need then to market these videos on this site, facebook,you tube and anywhere else where we can get an audience. Some of you have already put together some great footage – we need more so lets get to work. This is the era of Social Media, this is how we communicate, the days of posters presentations etc are gone.
Owen