ISAF Host - Daniel Smith:
Today the Events Committee recommended Submission 055-12 which would see Men's and Women's RS:X replace kiteboarding for Rio 2016. **This is not the final decision.** The ISAF Council will make the final decision. We issued a Press Release on 26 October which outlined the process to let everyone know.
This stated, "The Olympic events and equipment are defined in Regulation 23.1.4 and it is also defined that Council can only make changes to this Regulation and the timeframes detailed in Regulation 23.1.3 if at least 75% of votes cast are in favour of a motion to do so. If this 75% is not reached then the Events and Equipment confirmed by the ISAF Council in May 2012 will stand.
"The final twist in the tail could be seen at the Annual General Meeting of the ISAF Member National Authorities on 10 November. The members present at the AGM review any Regulations made or amended in any substantive way by the Council since the last Ordinary Meeting which was in November 2011. As defined in the Articles of ISAF, decisions at the General Meeting shall be taken by a simple majority of votes of those present and entitled to vote."
www.sailweb.co.uk/2019/02/22/early-british-scow-launched-at-southsea/
I'm following this very closely, but struggle to keep up with all the officialism.
I believe they vote tomorrow, but not sure what they are voting for any-more?
I think they still need 75% to officially reinstate windsurfing?
No they need 75% to decide whether or not to revisit the issue ie re-open the vote at the ISAF council meeting. If it is re-opened they will then vote on one the submissions that have been put forth (this would require 50% majority to pass). The windsurfing and kitesurfing committee have supported a submission of joint kites (m/F) and RSX (m/F) and the events committee have supported RSX to replace the kites. There are other submissions also eg male kites and female RSX.
I believe that if the 75% is not reached (and thus there is no re-vote) then the whole thing can again be revisted at the General Assembly of member nations (specific countries) at which time only 51% is required. This is different to the ISAF council where votes are taken on a group basis - grouped by different geographical areas.
This is my understanding of it all.
I have also heard a rumour that the IOC have said that they want kites in but I'm not sure of the veracity of this.
Well now it's over.... only 68 % votes for re introduction of RSX....
Shame on ISAF 
Agree with you Sean, dunno why the red thumbs.
68% of the ISAF commitee voted that they were not happy.
They are not happy because a vote FOR kiting was a vote to throw windsurfing out and they didn't know that.
68% is pretty substantial unrest to have in the peak racing organisation/authority with international clout.
But they needed 75% so really it is irrelevant, we're out and too bad
The whole thing has been disgraceful the IOC want kites in, Branson's $$$$ thrown around and the ISAF wants a bit of that action, btu to get another class in they have to kick one out. If they wanna add kiting so bad, make it an additional class
Damn this is like watching Coronation Street... I was ready to switch to kiting (yeah, right).
windsurfing back in
, but why ditch the kiteboarding.... makes Isaf look like a bunch of stupid undecided people......
Just run the two events and be done.....
Great news!
We tried hard to sway the view of YA but this was to no avail. However common sense prevailed elsewhere in the world.
Great day for windsurfing.
, but why ditch the kiteboarding.... makes Isaf look like a bunch of stupid undecided people......
Good day for RSX not so for kite racing, lets hope YA and RSX Australia actually start to push juniors towards RSX or we may end up looking silly and not having reps at rio. Let hope we do for sports in Australia in general.
Totally agree. Hopefully they will realise this for 2020. We fully understand how the kiteboarders feel. Its been a crazy 6 months. Maybe ISAF will get their act together for future decision making. The way this issue was handled was disgraceful.
As far as I remember from being part of 2 Olympic training squads for Athens and Beijing the same applied for all sailing teams. Just because you qualified the country doesn't mean you are automatically sent. Everyone starts a 4 yr campaign knowing this. It was pretty clear then and sure it is now. All classes are required to do this. YA needs results and medals to get $$$ from government. It is debatable as to if a strong class results should carry a lesser performing class. So it's not just as clean cut as get selected and you should go. Look at it like a business as that's the way the government does.
I'm not saying this is totally right. But I don't disagree with it either.
I'm confused first part few said only 68% voted in favor where you needed 75%, now people are saying RSX is back in? Can we have a link confirming please?
Looks like ISAF, IKA & IWA politics is doing us all over. The original decision to drop windsurfing was bad. Flip flopping the decision is even worse.
Surely there is room for both? They should trial kitesurfing as a demo sport in Rio then decide how to progress, and leave Windsurfing as the established sport that it is.
www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/11/kitesurfing-replaced-by-windsurfing-at.html
That's great news for the RSX. Congratulations to all those involved to help overturn this decision. I feel sorry for the Kiters though and hope that some how they can be included as a demonstration sport at Rio.
Good news for the estimated seven to eight thousand kids who actively race techno293. The class should continue to grow and if it hasnt already it will soon overtake optimist to be the largest youth fleet in the world.
Fantastic news and congratulations to those who put in the effort to lobby for the change, also hats off to the officials who saw logic and turned their decision around. It would be nice if both windsurfing and kitesurfing could both be at Rio but this can be decided in the future. The challenge now will be for the Rio hopefuls to put this all behind them and reignight their focus for gold.
Lost to Olympics anyway as kite surfing could be also very interesting to view.
Maybe better dump something else instead ?
Like drug cycling or synchronized swimming ?
It would be good if they invite the Kites, to do a demonstration event in Rio. Rio is not a very windy place (like many Olympic venues), to see how it works in practice.
