Weymouth, Spectators Wow Sailors

(ATR) Olympic sailors and the secretary general of the International Sailing Federation tell Around the Rings having fans close to the races is a boon to his sport.

Austrian 49er crewman Nikolaus Resch said being able to hear cheering spectators was similar to the opening ceremony.

"It gives sailing a totally different point of view," he said.

Just a few hundred yards from the courses, 5,000 spectators can recline on a grassy knoll in Weymouth, enjoying the sailing action.

"The atmosphere was amazing. It was a really great feeling. As a sailor, you usually never have this experience."

He added that he hopes ISAF continues to organize races with spectators nearby "so they can enjoy it and we can enjoy it."

Nathan Outteridge, who skippered the gold medal-winning Australian 49er boat, felt similarly.

"It’s been good fun to be involved in and feeling very comfortable here in the venue. It’s quite different."

Speaking to ATR near the competition site, ISAF secretary general Jerome Pels said the federation is happy to be selling tickets to sailing for the first time.

Tickets are sold out, and "the customer satisfaction level is extremely high," he added.

Pels said Rio 2016 is discussing perhaps doubling its seating capacity for sailing to 10,000.

Good Wind, Smooth Sailing

What Pels was most pleased about: the weather.

"It’s very rare when at least from the last few Olympics, we have been able to run the races exactly on schedule. We haven’t lost any races due to weather."

Pels said the last time he could remember that happening was at the Seoul 1988 Olympics.

LOCOG Support

Organization of sailing during the Games received support from the highest levels of LOCOG, Pels said. Keith Mills, one of LOCOG’s vice chairmen, is an active sailor and took a personal interest in the sailing competition.

"LOCOG has delivered pretty well but not by over-spending."

"It’s a good template moving forward. In the Olympic Games, it’s almost like an oil tanker on full speed. It’s very difficult to make adjustments. People repeat the good things, but they often repeat the bad things as well. It’s very difficult to get out of the bad habits."

Sailing Legacy

ISAF has three main hopes for a London legacy, Pels said.

"One is more spectator seating,but also having improved technology overlays so fans can follow match action closer, and inspiring new sailors throughout the world, not just in Britain.

"The Brits probably need that the least. They’ve got a good system in the federation that is doing really well."

Smaller Sailing Village

Both sailors had high marks for the Sailing Village –where Olympic sailors make their berth during competition –even if it's smaller than past versions.

"It’s been good," Outteridge said. "We’ve tried to keep things as normal as possible here."

Pels said that while it's smaller, it's not a problem. "Bigger is not necessarily best," he said.

He called the site "perfect" and noted the National Sailing Academy is designed for dinghies, the type of boats used at the Games.

Return Visit

The strongest endorsement of Weymouth and Portland came from the Austrian sailor Resch.

"It’s a lovely place to sail," he said. "It’s a fun place, and I’d like to come back for other serious events."

Reported in Weymouth by Ed Hula III.

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