The 49erFX class will be included in the Pan Am Games of Toronto, 2015. A few months ago we reported that the 49er class was to be included in the Pan Am games after a decision by the PASAF committee included it in their program. After some intense lobbying by one of the departing classes, the 49er found itself ousted once more with the status quo events remaining.
Photo of Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA) racing downwind in their 49erFX.
PASAF have since lobbied to have an additional medal added to the program and won the case. There will now be 10 medals for sailing at the Pan Am games. Here is the announcement as translated by google:
“Dear Members of the Pan American Sailing Federation (FEPAV)
We are pleased to announce that after a long-STEP PASO management has given us one tenth medal for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. The only requirement PASO-STEP is chosen as the Olympic boat. The reason for this requirement because we will try to make the sailing competitions in Toronto 2015 are qualifiers for the 2016 Olympics in Rio
PASO-STEP also requires that all sports in the Pan American Games with a goal equal number of women and men.
The only women’s Olympic boats today are not represented in the Pan American Games are the 470 and 49erFX. As the 49erFX a class “core”, meaning that is guaranteed for two Olympics (2016 and 2020) we have chosen for the tenth 49erFX medal. Summarizing the boats would be:
Olympics:
RS: X Women 6 boats six sailors
RS: X Men 7 boats seven sailors
Laser Standard sailor male 12 boats 12
Laser Radial sailors Female 12 boats 12
6 boats 49erFX 12 female sailors
No Olympics:
Open 12 boats 12 Sunfish sailors
Lightning 7 boats 21 sailors mixed
Open 10 boats 20 Snipe sailors
Hobie 16 Open 7 boats 14 sailors
J24 open 6 boats 24 sailors
A total of 140 sailors.
Assistant can find the details of the qualifying competitions for all classes of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. Please remember that this detail has to be approved by PASO-STEP.”
49er class president, Marcus Spillane, had this to say, “The 49er Class Association is thrilled by this opportunity for the 49erFX sailors to compete in this prestigious event in front of the continent and their fans. These teams will get the chance to complete at a multi-sport games and that is a thrilling experience.”
The PASAF body have also released a preliminary schedule of qualifiers for the 2015 Pan Am Games. With only 6 spots available, the competition will be very close for all involved. The two qualification events will both be outstanding events. The 49er South American Championships is a new event in 2012, but with so many South American sailors adopting the 49erFX it is likely to become a mainstay on the circuit. The other event is the Miami World Cup, 2015. Here is the preliminary list of qualification events.
Qualification Events for Sailing: 2015 Pan Am Games – FINAL – 6 MARCH 2013
RS:x MEN
2014 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami-Florida-USA
2014 South American Championship 2
2014 North American Championship 2
2015 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami, Florida, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 7 boats – 7 sailors
RS:x WOMEN
2014 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami-Florida-USA
2014 South American Championship 2
2014 North American Championship 1
2015 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami, Florida, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 6 boats – 6 sailors
SUNFISH – OPEN
2014 Midwinter Championship 2
2014 South American Championship 4 Paracas- PERU
2014 North American Championship 4 Bay Waveland YC, Mississippi – USA
2015 Midwinter Championship 1
Host Country 1
TOTAL 12 boats – 12 sailors
LASER RADIAL WOMEN
2014 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami, Florida, USA
2014 South American Championship 4 Paracas, Peru
2014 North American Championship 4
2015 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 2 Miami, Florida, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 12 boats – 12 Sailors
LASER STANDARD MEN
2014 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 1 Miami, Florida, USA
2014 South American Championship 4 Paracas, Peru
2014 North American Championship 4
2015 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 2 Miami, Florida, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 12 boats – 12 sailors
SNIPE – OPEN
2013 South American Championship 2 Yacht Club Uruguayo, Montevideo, Uruguay
2014 South American Championship 2
2014 Western Hemisphere
and Orient Championship 5 San Diego YC, California, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 10 boats – 20 sailors
LIGHTNING – MIXED
2014 South American Championship 3
2014 North American Championship 3 Sheboygan YC, Wisconsin, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 7 boats – 21 sailors
HOBIE CAT – OPEN
2014 South American Championship 3
2014 North American Championship 3
Host Country 1
TOTAL 7 boats – 14 sailors
J24 – OPEN
2014 South American Championship 3 Callao, Peru
2014 North American Championship 2
Host Country 1
TOTAL 6 boats – 24 sailors
49er FX – WOMEN
2104 South American Championship 1
2015 Miami Olympic Classes Regatta 4 Miami, Florida, USA
Host Country 1
TOTAL 6 boats – 12 Sailors
TOTAL 85 boats – 140 sailors
The other interesting note is a comment on the quote of the PASAF committee, who stated that they wish to use this event as a qualifier for Rio. It certainly makes sense for the Pan Am Games to utilize its position in the 4 year cycle to bolster it’s importance by being the Olympic qualifier. As a class we have to be careful that with such restricted numbers of entries that we can guarantee a fair qualification process for all our athletes who wish to pursue the Olympics in Rio. The entire qualification process has still to be decided by ISAF, so there is much work to be done on this topic. We look forward to representing the interests of the sailors along with the games organizers, Pan Am and Olympic.
