Level playing field ensured by Equipment Inspection team

The class rules are the essence by which each class uses to control the equipment on the playing field. As is common at championship events, the equipment inspection stage prior to racing offers that opportunity to ensure each boat is compliant. And at the Olympic Games, this stage is more thorough than ever before.

“A typical world championship will check most of the critical items but the sheer number of competitors does present limitations,” notes Jason Smithwick, Director of Technical and Offshore for World Sailing. “At the Olympic Games, we have the opportunity to be more thorough to insure the playing field is as level as possible.”
 
For six days before competition begins Dimitris Dimou, the Equipment Committee Chairman, is leading a team of hard working officials processing the boats and gear for the 274 entrants competing amid the ten events at the Games. The provided equipment – the Laser and RS:X – can breeze through in 15 minutes. At the other end of the scale are the 470 and Finn which have multiple manufacturers and can take up to an hour.
 
The Rio Test Events in 2014 and 2015 provided the competitors with a glimpse of the process. “Generally, the sailors have been really prepared, as one might expect at this level. There are 56 countries competing, and even though some don’t have a long history of competing at this level, the process so far has gone fairly well.”
 
Beyond the equipment limitations, the inspection stage ensures that there is not branding or boat names that are not compliant with IOC regulations. “We had named our boat Gisele after the Brazilian model but had to cover it up,” remarked Croatian 470 helm Sime Fantela. The equipment inspection stage also allows for the broadcast equipment for on-board cameras and trackers to be affixed.
 
With regard to spare equipment, each event is guided by the class rules. “For the Finn class, they can measure in two masts and two sails, so the sailors have options in the case of damage or different wind strengths,” explains Smithwick. “For the boats with spinnakers, at the Olympics the nation flag is prominent on the sail, so those classes all measure in a second spinnaker with the flag so it’s ready. We carry those on the water, so if they do rip their spinnaker during a race, the replacement is readily available. For the provided equipment such as the RS:X and Laser, we have those spares to insert if needed.”
 
If equipment is damaged in competition for which a competitor uses an unchecked replacement, the competition regulations provide guidance. “For example, if a 470 team broke their spinnaker pole, but have an uninspected replacement available, they can use it but we will inspect it post-race,” notes Smithwick. “However, we may still decide they have to repair their original pole. For a larger item, such as a hull, we have already been asked if a competitor can have a replacement ready. We are determining that protocol.”
 
As for maintaining standards during competition, the inspection station remains in place throughout the Games. “We have people on the water that will do random equipment checks during racing,” said Smithwick. “The inspected equipment has limitation decals, so we can check for that and ensure all safety equipment is in place along with other particular items required by each class. We also have a team that can walk the boat park to check for compliance. For the top ten that qualify for the Medal Race, there is a secondary measurement process the night before the race after which the boats are kept within a quarantined area. It is all about insuring fairness amongst the competitors.”
 
The Sailing Competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will start on Monday 8 August at 13:00 local time.

Find information below on how to follow the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

RESULTS / ENTRIES
A full list of sailors racing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is available to view here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/qualification/sailors.php#.V6ZHvo6BLqM. Results will be available on World Sailing’s Olympic Website when racing starts on Monday 8 August here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/results/index.php#.V6ZH_Y6BLqM

LIVE TRACKING
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking. Live tracking will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_tracking.php

Live Tracking via the Sailviewer-3D Tablet App will be available for devices with 7″ or greater screens.

Click here to download the iOS Application – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sailviewer-3d/id912801278
Click here to download the Android Application – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stsportservice.sailviewer

COMPETITION STATUS
The Competition Status Screen feeds in straight from the Race Committee boats with the teams inputting data such as race times, course type, the status of each race and the plan moving forward. The competition status screen will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_tracking.php

LIVE BLOGGING
Sailing journalist Craig Leweck will be following the racing LIVE on World Sailing’s Olympic Blog throughout Rio 2016. Follow LIVE here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/live_blog.php#.V6dUbY6BLqM

PRESS RELEASES
World Sailing will be releasing international press releases after racing throughout the duration of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. All the latest news and reports will be available to read here – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/news/index.php

TELEVISION
To find out who your Olympic broadcaster is, click here – https://www.olympic.org/rio-2016/broadcasters. The following link – http://go.olympic.org/WS – will redirect you to the Rights Holding Broadcaster in your country.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the event on World Sailing’s social networks:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ISAFWorldSailing
Instagram – https://instagram.com/isafworldsailing/
Twitter – @worldsailing
Snapchat – Follow our Story on Snapchat, search for worldsailing

USEFUL LINKS
World Sailing Olympic Website – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/home.php
Competition Schedule – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/about/schedule.php
Latest Olympic Sailing news – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/news/index.php
Online Notice Board – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/results/notices/notices.php
Social Wall – http://www.sailing.org/olympics/rio2016/multimedia/social_wall.php#.V6ZteY6BLqM