Bringing speed sailing to the arena

Roland Gaebler

Posted: 10  Mar. 2010

Tornado sailing is always exciting

If you have watched the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, you may have seen some new and very dynamic sport disciplines, such as the Ski-Cross or Speed-Skating; four to six people on a downhill or oval racecourse - very spectacular and very emotional - the crowds went crazy – the same can happen with sailing – speed sailing.

On top of this there was the Red Bull re-fresh traditional sports into new era’ – go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPBPHv4HLk On this video you see a river of ice through the crowds. We have rivers with water and many other natural race tracks close to public areas and natural amphitheaters. This video is just a creative example what is possible if you re-think traditional sport disciplines.

I think it is time to do the same for sailing.

We call it ‘speed sailing’. You can call it Sailcross, Xsail, Sail-X-Games or power sailing. It’s radical – emotional - the “best of” sailing, packed and compressed in a sailing arena.

Speed sailing -.a new sailing discipline for the Olympic Games?

- Racecourse extremely close to public area (promenade/pier/beach/inside harbors/city)

- Sprint-races. 8-10 minutes per race

- Two to three laps -. 20 plus races/flights per day over two to six day events

- Starting exactly on time between 1 and 35 knots of wind. This is a MUST for TV and spectators

- On four to six identical high 1uality One-Design Tornados in the race supplied by the builder/sailors

- Round Robin relay and knock-out system with a Grand Final at prime time

- All course figurations allowed with upwind or reaching starts. Just accelerate and go for speed!

- Very small race-area with complete overview for spectators and media

- Races with commentary and music animated

- 10 plus camera positions off and onboard, from ribs, marks, shore etc

- Live web TV via HD webcams from high buildings, towers and cranes. No Helicopter needed

- 16-48 plus teams can enter with four to six boat flights.

- Only one umpire/judge on course with small and agile jet rib to follow the race

- Teams pay the entry and charter fee, fly in and sail the races

- Event/regional sponsors, logos on hulls outside/inside, team and sponsors on sails

- Sailors from all nations can enter: Men, woman and mixed teams – nobody excluded

- Sit-In racing marks for spectators, media and sponsors.

- Most CO2 friendly sailing event on the planet - no coach boats or starting vessel needed

- Most ecological logistic concept in sailing sports - 10 boats in a 40fr container/trailer

- No individual boat transport/container-logistics needed. Just fly in and go racing

- Shopping/merchandising, party and music around the sailing arena - extra income!

- Top price/performance ratio for investors. Top media value - thousands of spectators

- Great turnover for regions, associated companies and partners

- Maximum sailing action for sailors, spectators, media and sponsors

The Tornado
An Olympic Comeback with new race format?

An ultra light 6metre long and 3 metre wide multihull with double trapeze, gennacker and oversized sails is the perfect boat for such a ‘new style’ Event. The Tornado is a well-known brand and dubbed the “Formula-1 of Sailing”. Was an Olympic class until the end of the 2008 Games.

These One Design boats present spectacular speed and action, flying a hull 1-35 knots. Along with the 49er skiff (an Olympic class also) the Tornado won an International Olympic Committee award for the best media coverage at Olympics 2008.

No one will forget the action loaded Tornado and 49er Medal Race in Qingdao. The Tornado delivers highest media value for sailing events.

We are not re-inventing the wheel. We just tune up our sport and combined the most attractive elements of sailing into a water sport arena.

I have already forwarded this concept to the ISAF and national sailing federations and received very positive feedback.

About Roland Gaebler
Roland Gaebler is the winner of over 40 international championships, including an Olympic bronze medal won at the Sydney 2000 Games. He has won many world, continental and national championships.

Gaebler has twice won the Sailor of the Year in Germany, has been honored by German Chancellor and President, set sailing speed records with the late Steve Fossett on Playstation, commentated at the America´s Cup and consulted for Olympic sailing video production.

Gaebler is also a consultant for race management, was Germany’s head coach for the 49er and Tornado in 2001-2003, is a personal and team coach for companies and owns a company for corporate sailing and Yachting. He is currently president of the International Tornado Class.

To contact Roland Gaebler for more information on speed sailing, go to:
www.teamgaebler.de, telephone and Fax. 0045-74648585 or email: roland.gaebler@bbsyd.dk

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