Professionalism and Olympic Partnerships

The following is a letter to Harry Walker and the Star traditionalists in reply to the reminder about an article I wrote in StarLights twenty years ago.

“That article which I wrote in 1980 was sent to me months ago by Bill Munster and was very insightful. It shows what I believe in my heart and how I personally liked to sail.

BUT that was 1980 when the Olympic pressures were just starting and I could see that it would change the sport as we knew it and like all of you wanted to fight it.

It was when we all paid our own way and sailed for our shear love of the Game. It was when being considered by your peers as a sportsman was paramount. I loved sailing in Pow Pow, Cooperstown and the Bacardi.

The greatest day in my Star life was winning the last race of the Worlds in San Fran with 108 boats in 25 kts. My crew, Bruce Brymer, and myself weighed a total of 175 kilos (385lbs) and both of us were so short we did not need to duck when we tacked to get under the boom. We beat Blackhaller, Conners, and Cayard (crewing). I also remember the N Americans at in San Diego when Melges presented me a with a gold painted “Plumbers Helper” and I immediately stuck the suction cup to my bald head.

Those were the days!!! And the friends I made then are still my friends. Most of us sailed on our holidays as we had to also build our business careers. How I wish we could have stayed in that twenty year old “Time Warp”.

As President of ISAF I must face the reality of today’s Olympic World. We have National Teams, coaches, managers, sport psychologists. Governments and National Olympic Committees pay sailors, buy equipment and generally control the athletes’ life. National Authorities get money from their governments and sponsors depending on how well their Olympic Teams do.

Sailors get rewarded by how well they do at regattas and sailing is their job.

One country paid their sailor $15,000 for finishing high at the Bacardi Cup and another gets added $$$ from his sponsor if he wins SPA, Hyeres or Miami OCR.

In 1988 the sailors petitioned to allow advertising on what were previously white boats, which has dramatically changed the Game, and all Olympic Classes are now Cat “C”.

When you accept sponsorship or government $$$ (MNA’s) you now have partners and lose your autonomy.

On top of all this the IOC in 1992 put strict quotas on both ISAF and the National Olympic Committees which took away the autonomy of ISAF and therefore the classes.

Do I like it? It makes no difference what I think. ISAF must deal with the reality of the situation.

The IOC directive to cut a class (and the keelboat) was found out in a letter slipped under my door at midnight, with no prior notice. if you think ISAF orchestrates these intrusions, this is not the case.

I am really very disturbed by the constant harassment of the Star traditionalists who refuse to face the reality that is now upon us. There are only two choices:

1. The Star Class must accept the Olympic Obligations which means that you have partners the IOC. ISAF, NOC’s and MNA’s.

2. Opt out of the Olympics and return to the lovely world of my 1980 epistle

Munster phoned me two years ago about getting the Etchells as the Women’s Olympic Keelboat. My answer was very blunt: “Bill, Why screw up such a great class?”

ISAF does not ask classes to apply, the classes petition for Olympic Status. If they do, then they lose some of their autonomy. That is reality!!”

Respectfully
Paul Henderson

Related Articles:

Sailing Himalayan Mountains – 4 December 2002
Olympic Evolution – 26 November 2002