Olympic Sailing needs a Le Mans start

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt Sailing News
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been reimaging their Games, which for Sailing has led to faster equipment that both genders can use for competition. For Los Angeles 2028, the program is similar as Paris 2024 with two mixed and eight gender-based events, but the difference will be the introduction of new “viewer=friendly” race formats.

Every sport has needed to meet the demands of the IOC, and when the 2026 Winter Olympics are held in Italy on February 4-22, among the new events will be Ski Mountaineering which will feature three medal events: men’s sprint, women’s sprint, and mixed gender relay.

Known as skimo, competitors climb up a mountain on skis and by foot, then descend on skis. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins. Athletes follow a designed course throughout the race, and they must navigate terrain that is more rugged than that in a traditional cross-country or alpine ski race.

Since the IOC wants broadcast-friendly events, perhaps the Sailing Program should have the boats at anchor, and the start began with a run to the beach, then a swim to the boat where sails were raised to complete the course. Sailing isn’t the easiest sport to watch, but I’d watch that.

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA

For more details, click here.