Sailing Test Event Underway in Tokyo

(ATR) The first official test event for the 2020 Games is underway in Sagami Bay.

Sailing is holding its traditional regatta two years out from the Summer Olympics at Enoshima, the first such opportunity to put a 2020 venue through its paces before the Games. The sport will have a second test event next year.

The event comes a year after two other Tokyo water venues failed a water quality test and in the aftermath of Typhoon Jebi which rocked the country. Enoshima is an island located in Sagami Bay, south of Yokohama. It also hosted the 1964 Olympic regatta.

The sailing test runs from Sept. 9 to 16 and will serve as the first event of the 2019 World Cup series.

"We've had prevailing ocean wind and big breezes, which is sort of what we expect when the winds come up here," Jake Lilley, an Australian competing in the Finn class, told Sail World before the regatta. "You can also get some shiftier winds from the north and flatter waters. But generally, it's an ocean racing sort of venue here."

Test events are ways for organizers to sort through any hiccups by hosting events before the actual Games start. In the case of sailing, organizers apologized for a controversial opening to the regatta that involved an aquarium and a dolphin show.

British sailor Luke Patience took to social media to express disappointment after being brought to a show with dolphins in captivity. He said it ran against sailing’s mantra of being a sport that respects its environment.

"Couldn’t be more embarrassed with what I’m witnessing," Patience tweeted. "We are sailors, and apparently a ‘green’ sport [World Sailing]."

In a statement to AFP World Sailing said the federation "does not condone displays" involving marine animals. The federation said that there was no prior approval sought for the show.

"As part of World Sailing's Sustainability Agenda 2030, there are specific targets linked to marine life," the statement said. "One of which is to mitigate negative impacts sailing can have on marine cetaceans by 2020 by producing guidance, as necessary, which will be provided to our event partners to ensure this does not happen again."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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