The following questions were asked by the IYA to Ekaterina SKUDINA (RUS). Ekaterina have sailed the Yngling since it became Olympic and represented Russia in the 2004 Olympic Games. She has numerous wins and podium places in ISAF grade one regattas and open Yngling events. Ekaterina and her won the 2007 Yngling European Championship.

How do you consider the Yngling as Match Race Equipment?
I am sure Yngling is a good boat for Match racing because it is easy handled and not overpowered with sails and rigging. It has very similar speed in the fleet so only tactics and quick decisions are important. It is more fair play and not a technical trick.

Do you think the equipment chosen for Match Racing should be a three person boat or larger?
Triple handed boat is advantage of Yngling because there is limit of participants in Olympics. I think 3 persons is enough, no more is necessary.

How important is the number of nations participating in the Olympics in a future Match Race event?
When there are more competitors (nations) the competition is more interesting.

As you know the Yngling is a boat with equal upwind and downwind speed and a limited turning radius. What effect would that have in Match Race compared with modern planing boats?
Yngling is good in maneuvers if the crew is experienced. If crew helps skipper by jib and main Yngling is very fast in maneuver. So well prepaired team has more chance to win. It is also fair play

Would the Yngling be interesting to follow and commentate via live media in Match Racing compared with faster boats?
Match race is fast competition and there are a lot of fast maneuvers in Match race. So Match racing in slow boat will be more interesting for Media then fleet racing in fast boats. I think there is no difference for Media if the boat is fast in Match racing. I am sure the decisions are interesting.

The Yngling is an established class also outside the Olympic arena with several thousand boats in the open fleet worldwide and annual World and Continental Championships. Does that fact have any importance when deciding Match Racing equipment?
The fact that Yngling is popular all over the World is also advantage of this class. It means competition can be in any country and together with Open fleet. It makes campaign more interesting and cheaper because many boats are built already.

If you were to set up an Olympic Match Racing campaign, what would you focus on? Sailing regattas in all types of boats or only on the same equipment that has been selected for the Olympics?
I would focus on regattas in the Olympic class of cause. But sometimes it is interesting to try other classes.

What do you think would be the most expensive in an Olympic Campaign in Match Racing? Coaches, equipment, travels, etc?
I think Match Race make campaign much cheaper. We avoid transportation of the boats and there is possibility to train in own country. The most expensive will be coaches for sure.

If Yngling were to be the Match Racing equipment what do you think about suggestions to ban droop hiking?
Regarding hiking in Match Race I think without hiking match racing will be more safe. Match race is a close fight race so collisions and  incindents can happened often.

The Yngling currently has a weight limit of 205 kg for the crew in fleet racing. Do you think this weight limit would be suitable also for Match Racing?
205 kg is fine for girls crew.

Many Match Racing events today have price money. If you were doing an Olympic Campaign is price money important? Would you prefer to participate in a regatta with a lot of price money or would you go for the regatta with the toughest opposition?
Regarding money prizes. I think if competition has good money prize tough opposition is guaranteed. Because for most of good sailors sailing is a job. I think these are two factors overlapped with each other.

The Yngling is a solid and durable construction. Do you think it would endure the stress and unavoidable contacts of Match Racing?
Yngling is very solid and it is very important for Match race. There are many contacts between boats in Match racing so the boat must be very strong. In Yngling you can make a huge collision and you will get just a small damage in the boat. Yngling is very good in this side of question.