Summer Olympic Sports >>Sailing

ABOUT

A means of transport since antiquity, the competitive sport of sailing is a unique combination of athleticism, skill and technology used to harness the power of the wind and waves.

Sailing was first contested as an Olympic sport in Paris in 1900, although the race format and the classes of competing boats have changed significantly since then reflecting the global spread of the sport as sailing has become more accessible around the world.  Olympic racing is now conducted with boats categorized into one-design classes based on similar weights and measurements.

COMPETITION

Races are sailed in what is known as a fleet racing format: fleets of equally-matched boats racing around the same course area at the same time. The boats race around courses, which incorporate a variety of different sailing angles: upwind, downwind and reaching.

Races are scheduled to last between 30 and 75 minutes depending on the event.  Scores are awarded according to finishing positions in each race.  Each event consists of a ten-race opening series (15 for the 49er), from which each boat can exclude one score.  The ten boats with the lowest accumulated scores at the end of the opening series qualify for the Medal Race.  In this race on a shorter course, the points scored are doubled and added to the opening series’ scores to decide the top ten positions.

Boats are identified on the water by national flags on sails and the crew names on the mainsail.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing are in force for all boats racing.

LIST OF EVENTS

• 470 - Two Person Dinghy Men

• Laser - One Person Dinghy Men

• RS:X - Windsurfer Men

• Star - Keelboat Men

• 470 - Two Person Dinghy Women

• Laser Radial - One Person Ding Women

• RS:X - Windsurfer Women

• Yngling - Keelboat Women

• 49er - Skiff Mixed

• Finn - Heavyweight Dinghy Mixed