as a sailor I would like to tell you my opinion about the class I would like to sail in the Olympic Games 2012.

Proposal Match Race 2012

Status quo:
ISAF decided that the new Keel Boat format in the next Olympic games would be Match Race. That is good, but we still missing a concept behind it.

We have a great circle of boats, teams in the Yngling class. A lot of the teams or driver are already thinking about to continue sailing in match racing. 

On the other hand we have the pro circuit in match racing with some teams.
Status:
There are so many sailors witch are interested in match racing that there will be at least 50 drivers. Nobody wants to sail a round robin witch takes a week due to the fact, that we have to many competitors. The system right now is working by the world ranking. There is absolutely no way that this system can continue. Everybody has to have the possibility to sail. 
Even worth would be a drop of system and no full round robin. Imagine you have to travel over 1000 km to participate in a match race and you are sailing 20 min – one race – and you have to go home. There has to be a better system.

Proposal:
We need a system that every sailor is able to participate in match racing.
We are using the Yngling as equipment and the old Soling System as race mode. In the Fleet race the best 8 to 10 best teams will be qualified for the match race. (Similar to the Medal race by 10). 

In the match race a whole round robin with finales, would be an option. 
All the crews have the same chance to get into the match race and the pro crews don’t have the advantage from only doing the match race. Every crew has to qualifier themselves in a great competition before hand. There are also so many boats on the market that everybody can easily get one. I like that idea because it gives everybody the same chance and we should not think about the prospective of 8 pro teams. Olympic sailing is more than fly with an invitation from one place to the other. We love to get better every day, thinking about new systems, be fit and healthy and now on top prepare our self for a totally different sport on top.
We would be included in the normal Olympic Circus, which means we will participate in all ISAF Graded events like we did before. 
I also think that the amount of money you have to spend for an Olympic campaign is totally in the limit. If you have to fly with your crew to every event to collect some points to climb up in the world ranking, that needs so much time – maybe a year – and a lot of money. I am sure that also the crews witch are match race will buy new match race boats to train. And therefore they have to buy two boats to train the specific sailing in match racing. 

I am totally positive, that the Yngling and the combined match racing and fleet racing format will be the most effective program, because it is economical, fair and last but not least it will give every sailor the chance to start right from the beginning. 
With that format it is also good for the viewers. First fleet race - conventional sailing and than match race - easy to understand (boat against boat). 
In total the best all-round sailor is winning.

Best regards
Ulrike Schümann GER