State of the Slate

Change is afoot on the Olympic sailing front, with two new disciplines for Paris 2024.

Q Little else stokes the emotions of die-hard sailors than the unpredictable selection process of sailing’s Olympic classes, which is ultimately in the hands of World Sailing, the sport’s governing body. At its recent annual conference in Sarasota, Florida, debates were long and heated about altering the slate of sailing events for the Paris Olympic Games. In the battle of give and take, sailing’s most iconic singlehander for the big boys of the sport was eased out to pasture, alongside the Star class and many others before it, replaced by what

is envisioned to be sailing’s marathon medal. Here’s what’s on the slate for 2024.

MEN’S SKIFF

Sydney 2000 marked the arrival of high-performance skiff sailing in Olympic competition with the 49er.

MIXED TWO-PERSON DINGHY

No equipment selection trials planned. The International 470 (used since 1976 for the men and 1988 for women) might live to sail another quad.

WOMEN’S SKIFF

The 49er FX debuted in Rio, with Brazilian Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze as its first gold medalists.

MIXED TWO-PERSON MULTIHULL

The Nacra 17 put catamaran sailing back into the Games in Rio, and for Tokyo 2020, the fleet will be foiling.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S WINDSURFER

The RS:X replaced the Mistral One Design class for the 2008 Summer Olympics, and is subject to future equipment re-evaluation.

MEN’S ONE-PERSON DINGHY

The Full-rig Laser made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. It is subject to re-evaluation.

WOMEN’S ONE-PERSON DINGHY

The Laser Radial arrived in 2008 in Qingdao, China, the year the United States’ Anna Tunnicliffe won gold.

MIXED KITE

Equipment and format trials will determine the combination of board, foil and kite for this coed event.

MIXED TWO-PERSON KEELBOAT OFFSHORE

The class is to be determined; something in the 30-foot range.

MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT DINGHY

The Finn made its first appearance at the Olympic Games in 1952, the same year Paul Elvstrøm won his second gold medal.