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). 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 1952 consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 20–28 July 1952 of the coast of Harmaja

Harmaja

Harmaja is an island and a lighthouse outside Helsinki, south of the Suomenlinna sea fortress. The island has been functioning as a landmark since the 16th century. A landmark structure was built on the island in the 18th century and a light house in 1883. The first lighthouse was only 7.3 m high...

.

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

Two course areas were created in front of Helsinki. One for the Finn just outside the island Liuskasaari. The Finn course was 5.4 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...

 long and triangular in shape. For the keelboats a course area near the Harmaja lighthouse was used. A 13.1 nm course was set for Star, Dragon, 5.5 & 6 Metre just over one nm South of the lighthouse.
Specially the keelboat course was situated in an area of fair sailing conditions. No currents or tidal movements, and no obstacles around the course that could create wind shadows. On the other hand the Finn course was set near sheltered islands and thus safe for this type of sailing. This course give the spectators also a nice view of the races.

The races were held from 20–23 and 26–28 July. In between the sailors could recover or made boat repairs.

Three yacht clubs were involved:

• Nyländska Jaktklubben
  Nyland Yacht Club
  Nyland Yacht Club is a yacht club in Helsinki, Finland.The club was founded on March 4, 1861 with the approval of its constitution by Tsar Alexander II. His brother, Admiral-General Grand Duke Konstantin, officiated at the inauguration ceremony. In the same year, NJK received its first yachting...
  
  
• Helsingfors Segelsällskap
  Helsingfors Segelsällskap
  Helsingfors Segelsällskap Yacht Club or HSS, is the second oldest yacht club in Helsinki, established in 1893. The yacht club is home harbor for 1300 members and 350 mainly sail boats. The club is located on Liuskasaari island in Helsinki...
  
  
• Merenkävijät Yachting Club (also for the prize giving ceremony)

Overview

Continents	Countries	Classes	Boats	Male	Female
6	29	5	93	227	3

Continents

• Africa
• Asia
• 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
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...	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	+	–	–	1952	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	4
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	2
5.5 Metre 5.5 Metre (keelboat) The International 5.5 Metre Class was created to yield a racing keel boat giving a sailing experience similar to that of the International 6 Metre Class, but at a lower cost....	Keelboat		3	0	+	+	+	1952	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	9

= Male, = Female, = Open

Medal summary

Finn:
Star:	Agostino Straulino Agostino Straulino Agostino Straulino was an Italian sailor and sailboat racer, who won one Olympic gold medal and one silver medal in the Star class, and eight consecutive European championships and two world championships in this class and was world champion in the 5.5m-class.-Biography:Straulino was born in Mali... Nicolò Rode Nicolò Rode Nicolò Rode is an Italian sailor and Olympic Champion. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and won a gold medal in the Star class with skipper Agostino Straulino on Merope...	John Price John Price (sailor) John Price was an American competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the Star class at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with John Reid.-References:... John Reid John Reid (sailor) John Reid is an American competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the Star class at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with John Price.-References:...	Joaquim Mascarenhas de Fiúza Joaquim Fiúza Joaquim Mascarenhas de Fiúza was a Portuguese sailor who competed in three Olympic games in 1936, 1948 and 1952. He was born in São Domingos de Benfica. At the Berlin Games he was placed 10th in the men's Star class sailing competition, alongside António Guedes de Herédia... Francisco de Andrade Francisco de Andrade Francisco de Andrade is a Portuguese competitive sailor and Olympic medalist. He won a bronze medal in the Star class at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Joaquim Fiúza.-References:...
Dragon:	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.... Thor Thorvaldsen Thor Thorvaldsen Thor Thorvaldsen was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Bamble and died in Bærum...	Per Gedda Per Gedda Per Olof Gedda was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics... Sidney Boldt-Christmas Sidney Boldt-Christmas Leif William Sidney "Nenne" Boldt-Christmas is a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Göteborg.In 1952 he won the silver medal as crew member of the Swedish boat Tornado in the Dragon class.... Erland Almqvist Erland Almqvist Erland H. L. Almqvist was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Stockholm....	Theodor Thomsen Theodor Thomsen Theodor Thomsen was a German sailor. He won a bronze medal in the Dragon Class with Erich Natusch and Georg Nowka at the 1952 Summer Olympics.-References:* at sports-reference.com... Erich Natusch Erich Natusch Erich Natusch was a German sailor. He won a bronze medal in the Dragon Class with Theodor Thomsen and Georg Nowka at the 1952 Summer Olympics.-References:* at sports-reference.com... Georg Nowka Georg Nowka Georg Nowka was a German sailor. He won a bronze medal in the Dragon Class with Theodor Thomsen and Erich Natusch at the 1952 Summer Olympics.-References:* at sports-reference.com...
5.5 Metre:	Britton Chance Britton Chance Britton Chance was the Eldridge Reeves Johnson University Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Biophysics, as well as Professor Emeritus of Physical Chemistry and Radiological Physics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.At the 1952 Summer Olympics, Chance won a gold medal in... Sumner White Sumner White Sumner Wheeler White III was an American sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in New York and died in Summit. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where, contrary to expectation, he won a gold medal in the 5.5 metre class with the boat Complex II, together with Britton Chance... Edgar White Edgar White Edgar White is an American sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in New York. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he won a gold medal in the 5.5 metre class with the boat Complex II, together with Britton Chance and Sumner White.-References:... Michael Schoettle Michael Schoettle Michael Schoettle is an American sailor and Olympic Champion. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki and won a gold medal in the 5.5 metre class, with the boat Complex II....	Peder Lunde Peder Lunde Peder Eugen Lunde was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born in Nordstrand and represented the Royal Norwegian Yacht Club.... Vibeke Lunde Vibeke Lunde Vibeke "Babben" Lunde was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. She was born and died in Oslo.She received a silver medal in the 5.5 metre class with the boat Encore at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with her husband Peder Lunde and Børre Falkum-Hansen.-References:... Børre Falkum-Hansen Børre Falkum-Hansen Børre Erik Falkum-Hansen was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born and died in Oslo....	Folke Wassén Folke Wassén Folke Viktor Wassén was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Göteborg and died in Västra Frölunda.... Carl-Erik Ohlson Carl-Erik Ohlson Carl-Erik Ohlson was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Morlanda.In 1952 he won the bronze medal as crew member of the Swedish boat Hojwa in the 5.5 metre class event.-External links:... Magnus Wassén Magnus Wassén Sten-Magnus Wassén was a Swedish sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He was born in Partille.In 1952 he won the bronze medal as crew member of the Swedish boat Hojwa in the 5.5 metre class event....
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.... Eric Ridder Eric Ridder Eric Ridder was an American sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Hewlett and died in Locust Valley.... Julian Roosevelt Julian Roosevelt Julian Kean Roosevelt was an American banker and Olympic yachtsman. A member of the Roosevelt family and a first cousin twice removed of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, he was the son of George Emlen Roosevelt. He attended Harvard University, where he participated in crew... John Morgan John Morgan (sailor) John Morgan is an American sailor and Olympic champion. He was born in Oyster Bay. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he won a gold medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Uanoria.-References:... Everard Endt Everard Endt Everard Endt is an American sailor and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he won a gold medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Llanoria.-References:... Emelyn Whiton Emelyn Whiton Emelyn Thatcher Whiton was a female American sailor who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics....	Finn Ferner Finn Ferner Finn Ferner was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born in Oslo and died in Nesøya. He received a silver medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Elisabeth X at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Johan Ferner, Erik Heiberg, Tor Arneberg and Carl Mortensen.Finn Ferner... Johan Ferner Johan Ferner Johan Martin Ferner is a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born in Asker. He received a silver medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Elisabeth X at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Finn Ferner, Erik Heiberg, Tor Arneberg and Carl Mortensen... Erik Heiberg Erik Heiberg Erik Heiberg is a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born and died in Oslo. He received a silver medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Elisabeth X at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Johan Ferner, Finn Ferner, Tor Arneberg and Carl Mortensen.-References:... Carl Mortensen Carl Mortensen (sailor) Carl Lauritz Mortensen was a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born and died in Oslo. He received a silver medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Elisabeth X at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Johan Ferner, Erik Heiberg, Tor Arneberg and Finn Ferner.-References:... Tor Arneberg Tor Arneberg Tor Birger Arneberg is a Norwegian sailor and Olympic medalist. He was born in Oslo. He received a silver medal in the 6 metre class with the boat Elisabeth X at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, together with Johan Ferner, Erik Heiberg, Finn Ferner and Carl Mortensen.He was an all-American...	Ernst Westerlund Paul Sjöberg Ragnar Jansson Jonas Konto Rolf Turkka

Sailing 1952

1		2	1	0	3
2		1	2	0	3
3		1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
5		0	1	2	3
6		0	1	0	1
7		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
		0	0	1	1
Total		5	5	5	15

Sailing 1896–1952

1	Norway	14	9	1	24
2	United Kingdom	11	4	3	18
3	USA	6	3	2	11
4	Early Modern France	5	7	7	19
5	Sweden	5	7	7	19
6	Netherlands	3	3	4	10
7	Denmark	2	3	1	6
8	Belgium	2	2	1	5
9	Italy	2	0	0	2
10	Germany	1	2	2	5
11	Switzerland	1	0	0	1
		1	0	0	1
13	Finland	0	1	5	6
14	Canada	0	1	1	2
	Portugal	0	1	1	2
16	Argentina	0	1	0	1
	Cuba	0	1	0	1
18	Spain	0	0	1	1
	Estonia	0	0	1	1
	Russia	0	0	1	1
Total	20	53	45	38	136

Remarks

• Sailors from abroad were housed in the homes of Finnish yachtsmen
• Two motor launches accommodated pressmen on the yacht race courses
• Only the Yachting officials wore a different official uniform, blue coat and grey trousers
• The Danish shipyard of Borresens Baadebygger was the builder of all Finn dinghies, since then till the beginning of the 21st century closely committed to Olympic Sailing.

Sailors

During the Sailing regatta's at the 1952 Summer Olympics among others the following persons were competing in the various classes:, Paul Elvstrøm in the Finn won his second consecutive Gold medal, Finn sailor Rickard Sarby, also designer of the Finn, injured his right hand during however he took the third place, Jock Sturrock

Jock Sturrock

Alexander Stuart "Jock" Sturrock MBE was a noted Australian yachtsman who won over four hundred national and state championship yachting races....

 the first Australian to represent his country in sailing, became later honoured with the Lindy Award for sportsmanship, Australian yachtsman of the year and ultimately Australian of the year

Australian of the Year

Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...

.