The news from the world of catamaran sailing in the last few days is that the Council of the International Sailing Federation voted on Friday to drop the multihull event from the Olympics after 2008. What’s worse is that the two US delegates both voted against the multihull event, even though US Sailing (an organization I’m a member of – the US equivalent of the NZ Yachting Federation) submitted a recommendation supporting both men’s and women’s multihull events. And the decision on the multihull event was lost by exactly two votes.
I have sent a “please explain” email to the entire Board of Directors of US Sailing. I have so far had one unsatisfactory reply from Leslie Keller, the US Sailing treasurer. I’ve sent her a follow up email.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Many catamaran sailors here are talking very seriously about withdrawing from US Sailing and forming a separate administrative body for the sport. However the anger is spread right around the world, from Australia to Norway.