Sailing/Yachting

Sailing

Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...

 is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad

Olympiad

An Olympiad is a period of four years, associated with the Olympic Games of Classical Greece. In the Hellenistic period, beginning with Ephorus, Olympiads were used as calendar epoch....

 (1896 Olympics in Athens Greece

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

. With the exception of 1904

1904 Summer Olympics

The 1904 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the III Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States from 1 July 1904, to November 23, 1904, at what is now known as Francis Field on the campus of Washington University...

 and possible 1916

1916 Summer Olympics

The anticipated 1916 Summer Olympics, which were to be officially known as the Games of the VI Olympiad, were to have been held in Berlin, Germany. However, due to the outbreak of World War I, the games were cancelled.-History:...

 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program.
The Sailing program of 1948 consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 3–12 August 1948 Torquay

Torquay

Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...

/Torbay

Torbay

Torbay is an east-facing bay and natural harbour, at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south-west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Part of the ceremonial county of Devon, Torbay was made a unitary authority on 1 April 1998...

, on England's south coast.

The sailing was done on the triangular type Olympic courses. The start was made in the center of a set of 8 numbered marks that were places in a circle. During the starting procedure the sequence of the marks was communicated to the sailors. By picking the mark that was most upwind the start could always be made upwind. This system is, at least in certain certain German lakes, still in use.

Venue

As we quote from the official report: "Torquay was, perhaps, an inevitable choice as the venue. It is exposed only to easterly winds, which are rare in summer. Moreover, it is remarkably free from strong tides and currents and other navigational hazards, and thus there is nothing or next to nothing to be gained from the " local knowledge " which is so profitable in difficult waters."

The sailing event had, since the distance to the London area a, separate opening ceremony which took place in Torquay

Torquay

Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...

. The opening was made by IOC chairman: Mr. J. Sigfrid Edstrom

Sigfrid Edström

Johannes Sigfrid Edström was a Swedish industrialist, chairman of the Sweden-America Foundation, and an official with the International Olympic Committee.-Early life:...

.

A 14-nm

Nautical mile

The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...

 course was created for the Dragons and 6 Metres. The Star and Swallow sailed a little more inshore on a 10-nm course, while for the Firefly a 6-nm course was set close to the coast.

The closing ceremony was observed by 10,000 spectators. The medals were handed by Sir Ralph Gore, President of the International Yacht Racing Union.

Overview

Continents	Countries	Classes	Boats	Male	Female	Reserves
5	23	5	75	221	0	37

Continents

• Africa
• Australian continent
  Australia (continent)
  Australia is the world's smallest continent, comprising the mainland of Australia and proximate islands including Tasmania, New Guinea, the Aru Islands and Raja Ampat Islands...
  
  
• Europe
• North America
• South America

Countries

>

Classes (equipment)

Class	Type	Event	Sailors	Trapeze	Mainsail	Jib/Genoa	Spinnaker	First OG	Olympics so far
Firefly Firefly (dinghy) The Firefly is a two-sail, wooden or GRP sailing dinghy with no spinnaker, designed by Uffa Fox in 1938. Although designed as a double hander, it was selected as the single handed class for the 1948 Olympics but was subsequently replaced by the Finn class. The class then became popular as a double...	Dinghy Dinghy A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed for use as a ship's boat by a larger vessel. It is a loanword from either Bengali or Urdu. The term can also refer to small racing yachts or recreational open sailing boats. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor,...		1	0	+	+	–	1948	1
Star Star (sailboat) The International Star is a 6.9 m one-design racing keelboat for two people.The boat must weigh at least 671 kg with a maximum total sail area of 26.5 m . It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length...	Keelboat Keelboat Keelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...		2	0	+	+	–	1932	3
Swallow (Golondrina) Swallow (keelboat) The Swallow is a type of keelboat that was used as a two-man Olympic class for the 1948 Olympics.It was designed by Tom Thorneycroft as a potential replacement for the Star class still in use...	Keelboat		2	0	+	+	+	1948	1
Dragon Dragon (keelboat) thumbThe International Dragon is a one-design keelboat.The Dragon was designed by Norwegian Johan Anker in 1929. In 1948 the Dragon became an Olympic Class, a status it retained until the Munich Olympics in 1972...	Keelboat		3	0	+	+	+	1948	1
6 Metre 6 Metre (keelboat) The International Six Metre Class is a class of racing yachts. Six Metre boats are a construction class, meaning that the boats are not identical but are all designed to meet specific measurement formula, in this case International Rule...	Keelboat		5	0	+	+	+	1908	8

= Male, = Female, = Open

Medal summary

Firefly:
Star:	Hilary Smart Hilary Smart Hilary Smart is an American sailor and Olympic champion.He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received a gold medal in the star class with the boat Hilarius, together with his father, Paul Smart.... Paul Smart Paul Smart (sailor) Paul Smart was an American sailor and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received a gold medal in the star class with the boat Hilarius, together with Hilary Smart....	Carlos de Cardenas Culmell Carlos de Cardenas Pla	Adriaan Maas Adriaan Maas Adrianus Lambertus Joseph "Bob" Maas was a Dutch sailor and Olympic medalist. He competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where he received a silver medal in the monotype class. He received bronze medals in the star class in 1936 and 1948.-External links:*... Edward Stutterheim Edward Stutterheim Edward Stutterheim was a Dutch competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a bronze medal in the Star class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, together with Adriaan Maas.-References:...
Swallow:	Stewart Morris Stewart Morris Stewart Morris, OBE, was a British sailor, born in Bromley, Kent. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and won a gold medal in the Swallow class with David Bond.... David Bond David Bond (sailor) David Bond is a British sailor and Olympic Champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and won a gold medal in the Swallow class with Stewart Morris.-References:...	Duarte de Almeida Bello Duarte de Almeida Bello Duarte Manuel Pinto Coelho de Almeida Bello was a Portuguese competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the Swallow class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, together with his brother Fernando Pinto Coelho Bello.-References:... Fernando Pinto Coelho Bello Fernando Pinto Coelho Bello Fernando Pinto Coelho de Almeida Bello was a Portuguese competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the Swallow class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, together with his brother Duarte de Almeida Bello.-References:...	Lockwood Pirie Lockwood Pirie Lockwood Pirie was an American competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a bronze medal in the Swallow class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, together with Owen Torrey.-References:... Owen Torrey Owen Torrey Owen Torrey was an American competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a bronze medal in the Swallow class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, together with Lockwood Pirie.-References:...
Dragon:	Thor Thorvaldsen Thor Thorvaldsen Thor Thorvaldsen was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Bamble and died in Bærum... Sigve Lie Sigve Lie Sigve Lie was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received a gold medal in the dragon class as crew member on the boat Pan.... Haakon Barfod Haakon Barfod Hakon Barfod is a Norwegian sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Oslo. He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he received a gold medal in the dragon class as crew member on the boat Pan....	Folke Bohlin Hugo Johnson Hugo Johnson Viktor Hugo Johnson was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.In 1948 he won the silver medal as a crew member of the Swedish boat Slaghöken in the Dragon class.-External links:*... Gösta Brodin Gösta Brodin Frans Gösta Brodin was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.In 1948 he won the silver medal as a crew member of the Swedish boat Slaghöken in the Dragon class.-External links:*...	William Berntsen William Berntsen William Berntsen was a Danish competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the 5.5 Metre class at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, together with Søren Hancke and Steen Christensen.-References:... Ole Berntsen Ole Berntsen Ole Valdemar Berntsen was a Danish sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Hellerup and died in Gentofte.... Klaus Baess
6 Metre:	Herman Whiton Herman Whiton Herman Frasch Whiton was an American sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Cleveland the grandson of inventor Herman Frasch and died in New York.... Alfred Loomis Alfred Loomis (sailor) Alfred L. Loomis, Jr. was a pioneering investment banker and an American sailor and Olympic champion. He won the Bermuda race twice... James Weekes James Weekes James Weekes was an American sailor and Olympic champion.He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won a gold medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Uanoria, together with Herman Whiton, James Smith, Alfred Loomis and Michael Mooney.-External links:*... James Smith James Smith (sailor) James Smith was an American sailor and Olympic champion.He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won a gold medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Uanoria.-External links:*... Michael Mooney Michael Mooney (sailor) Michael Mooney is an American sailor and Olympic champion.He competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he won a gold medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Uanoria, together with Herman Whiton, James Smith, Alfred Loomis and James Weekes.-References:...	Enrique Sieburger, Sr. Enrique Sieburger, Sr. Enrique Conrado Sieburger, Sr. was an Argentine sailor and Olympic medalist. He competed at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.... Emilio Homps Emilio Homps Emilio Carlos Homps is an Argentine former Olympic sailor who competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. He won a silver medal in the 6 metre class event, alongside teammates Enrique Sieburger, Sr., Rufino Rodríguez de la Torre, Rodolfo Rivademar, Julio Sieburger, and Enrique Sieburger, Jr.... Rufino Rodríguez de la Torre Rufino Rodríguez de la Torre Rufino Rodríguez de la Torre is a Argentinan sailor. He won a silver medal in the 6 metre class at the 1948 Summer Olympics.-References:* at sports-reference.com... Rodolfo Rivademar Rodolfo Rivademar Rodolfo Rivademar is an Argentine sailor and Olympic medalist.He was a member of the Argentine crew on Djinn that received a silver medal in the 6 metre class at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.-References:... Enrique Sieburger, Jr. Enrique Sieburger, Jr. Enrique Conrado Sieburger, Jr. was an Argentinian sailor. He was born in Vicente López, Buenos Aires Province. He competed at the 1960 Olympics.... Julio Sieburger Julio Sieburger Julio Christian Sieburger was an Argentine sailor and Olympic medalist. He competed at the 1936 and 1948 Olympics....	Tore Holm Tore Holm Tore Anton Holm was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1920, 1928, 1932, 1936 and in the 1948 Summer Olympics.... Torsten Lord Torsten Lord Torsten Hjalmar Lord was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, in the 1948 Summer Olympics, and in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Nacka and died in Lidingö.... Martin Hindorff Martin Hindorff Martin Leonard Hindorff was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics, in the 1936 Summer Olympics, in the 1948 Summer Olympics, and in the 1952 Summer Olympics... Carl Robert Ameln Carl Robert Ameln Carl Robert Ameln was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Stockholm.... Gösta Salén Gösta Salén Gösta Antenor Salén was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics.In 1948 he won the bronze medal as a crew member of the Swedish boat Ali Baba II in the 6 metre class.-External links:*...

Sailing 1948

1		2	1	1	4
2		1	0	1	2
3		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
5		0	1	1	2
6		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
9		0	0	2	2
Total		5	5	5	15

Sailing 1896–1948

1		13	7	1	21
2		11	3	3	17
3		5	7	7	19
4		5	6	5	16
5	USA	4	2	2	8
6		3	3	4	10
7		2	2	1	5
8		1	3	1	5
9		1	2	1	4
10		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
13		0	1	4	5
14		0	1	1	2
15		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
		0	1	0	1
18		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
Total	20	48	40	33	121

Sailing

• Modern techniques like cold moulded plywood and Aluminum mast and booms made their enterence in the Firefly.
• This Olympic sailing event was gender independent, but tuned out to be a Mens only event. This was one of the triggers to create gender specific events. This however had to wait until 1988
  Sailing at the 1988 Summer Olympics
  Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
  
  .
• The series were scheduled over the two Olympic weeks. race 1–4 in each class were sailed from 3–6 August. race 5–7 took place on 10–12 August. This was done so that boats could be overhauled after the first set of races.
• The best feature of this Olympic was the scoring system. Quote from the officiel report: – "The number of points awarded to each other competitor diminishes under a given formula, according to the placing of his boat at the finish." – This system was invented by an Austrian sailor. Advantages of this system are:
  • Winning races is well awarded, so sailors are likely to fight till the end of the race for each place
  • Less ties than with the point for place system
  • The score of the winner reflects the number of entries
• Together with the scoring system it was introduced that each team could discard its worst result
• The courses were laid and patrolled by vessels of the Royal Navy
  Royal Navy
  The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
  
  
• The two major Axis powers
  Axis Powers
  The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
  
   of World War II, Germany and Japan, were not invited to the Games.

Sailors

During the Sailing regatta's at the 1948 Summer Olympics among others the following persons were competing in the various classes:, The future designer of the Finn

Finn (dinghy)

The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki...

, in the Firefly, The future designer of the Vaurien

Vaurien

The Vaurien is a dinghy designed by Jean-Jacques Herbulot in 1951, and presented in the Boat show in Paris in 1952. It was meant as a reasonable alternative for a boat with a crew of two, as much for its low cost, as for its simplicity to sail. The first units, sold in the mentioned Boat show, had...

, in the Firefly. He also designed the "Herbulot"-spinnaker. (A spinnaker with large circulair holes. This makes large spinnakers more stable and faster. This type of spinnaker is now in most classes prohibited)., Between 1949 and 1956 he won eight consecutive European championships in the starboat class, here also in the Star, Oldest of the Sieburger-Salas "clan". A family that in total had 20 entries in the Olympic Sailing competition, in the 6 Metre, Two times Gold and twice Silver medalist since 1920, in the 6 Metre, Spanned the longest periode in Olympic sailing (1908–1948), in the 6 Metre, Although he did not finish the first race he won his first, out of four consecutive, Gold medals. This one in the Firefly.