Roland Gaebler: Pushing forward for Multis

Roland Gabler (current Tornado Class President) listened carefully to Larry Ellison’s interview on multis for AC 34 in San Francisco (link below site header) Then he realized the Multihull community should grab these comments and help LE fullfiling his project. There´s no doubt multis are the most spectacular option for an AC, no need to explain much here, and beyond lack of close racing at the final legs the last Cup was a blast. If next edition is being held in 60 foot Multis, we’ll have an even greater show.
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By Roland Gaebler, Tornado Class President and CEO of Roland Gaebler Sailing Events.

“Dear Sailing Friends,
It is time to stand up and push our sport forward. Never before there is so much discussion going around in which direction sailing should go. The best example are the words from Larry Ellison on ABC. A man who sailed for centuries on Monohulls is on fire for Multihulls. I am very interested if the group of Challengers (LVT Auckland) want sail also on Multihull in the Future AC?

The Traditionalists against the Futurists. Larry Ellison said it: With Multihulls in the Amphitheatre of San Fransisco.
This is the action our sport needs. Please go for it!
Besides that, we must also re-fresh our small boat events around the world.
Also in the Olympics.
Without an restrictions we should future and innovate our sport to make it
more attractive for sailors, spectators, media and sponsors.
But also the youth needs motivation to start sailing. With Multihulls we have the best products. We just need to load up the action in a Sailing
Arena.

The Speedsailing Arena Concept
If you have watched the Vancouver Olympics, you may saw some new and very dynamic sport disciplines. Like Ski-Cross or Speed-Skating. 4-6 Persons on a downhill or oval racecourse. Very spectacular and emotional. The crowds got crazy. On top of this. Red Bull re-fresh traditional sports into new era https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMPBPHv4HLk

On this video you see a river of ice trough the crowds. We have rivers with water and many other natural race tracks close to public areas and natural amphitheaters. This video is just a creative example what is possible if you re-think traditional sport disciplines. I think it is time to do the same for sailing.
We call it “Speedsailing”. You can call it Sailcross, Xsail, Sail-X-Games or Powersailing. It’s radical. It’s Emotional. It is the “best of” sailing packed and compressed in a Sailing Arena.

SPEEDSAILING……..a new Sailing Discipline for the Olympic Games?
– Racecourse extremely close to public area (promenade/pier/Beach/inside Harbors/City).
– Sprint-Races. 8-10mins per Race.
– 2-3 laps. 20+ Races/Flights per Day. 2-6 Day Events.
– Starting exact on time between 1 and 35 knots of Wind. This is a MUST for TV and spectators.
– On 4-6 identical High Quality One Design Tornados in the Race supplied from builder/sailors.
– Round Robin Relay and Knock out System with a Grand Final at Prime Time.
– All course figurations allowed. Upwind or Reaching Starts. Just accelerate and go for speed!
– Very very small Race-Area. Complete overview for spectators and media.
– Extreme Compression of Race-Area creates action and emotions.
– Races are commentated and music animated.
– 10+ Camera Positions. Off-/Onboard. From Ribs, Marks, Shore etc…
– Live Web TV via HD Webcams from high buildings, towers and cranes. No Helicopter needed.
– 16-48+ Teams can enter with 4-6 boat flights. More supplied boats, more entries possible.
– Only one Umpire/Judge on course with small and agile Jet-Rib follow the race.
– The Teams pay the Entry + Charter Fee. Fly in and sail the races.
– Event/Regional Sponsors Labels on complete Hulls outside/inside. Team-Sponsors on Sails.
– Sailors from all Nations can enter. Man, Woman and Mixed Teams in all sizes and weights are welcome. No one is excluded!
– Sit-In Racing Marks for Spectators, Media and Sponsors. Tribunes optional installed.
– Most CO2 friendly Sailing Event on the planet. No Coach boats or starting vessel needed.
– Most ecological Logistic Concept in sailing sports. 10 Boats in a 40 Foot Container/Trailer.
– No individual boat transports/container-logistics needed. Just fly in and go sail racing.
– Shopping/Merchandising, Party and Music around the Sailing Arena. Extra income!
– Top price/performance ratio for Investors. Top Media Value. Thousands of Spectators.
– Great turnover for regions, associated companies and partners.
– Maximum Sailing Action for Sailors, Spectators, Media and Sponsors.

THE TORNADO…..… the Olympic Comeback with new race format?
An ultra light 6meter long and 3meter wide 20-Foot Tornado with Double Trapeze, Gennacker and oversized Sails is the perfect boat for such a “new styled” Event. Tornado is a well-known Brand and called the “Formula-1 of Sailing”.
These One Design boats presents speed, spectacular actions and emotions. From 1-35 knots of Wind they fly a hull. Man, Woman and Mixed Teams in every size and weights can sail these light boats.

The Tornado and 49er got also an IOC Award for the best media coverage at Olympics 2008. No one will forget the action loaded Tornado and 49er Medal Race in Qingdao. The Tornados delivers highest Media Value for Sailing Events.
On top of this it is possibility to use this wide Tornado boat for guest sailing (sponsors, media, politicians, kids, celebrities….) for CMR and B2B Business.

The Concept is proven. We want expand it worldwide. In Partnership with sailors, national/regional boat builder/dealer, the clubs, the sailing schools, Tourist Board and regional Governments.

FINAL STATEMENT
We are not re-inventing the wheel. We just tune up our sport and combined the most attractive elements of sailing into a water sport arena. Very short races on radical courses in a very compressive race area. Just in front of the spectators and media. Like a Rugby Game. But with the Formula-1 of Sailing in the stadium.
You may ask. What is new on this?

The Extreme Series and the Tornados with the Champions Race are well established. But in the “Speedsailing Arena Concept” we go with supplied/chartered Boats. Payable and affordable for all Nations and Teams. It is a “open” Event for Man, Woman and Mixed Teams. For young and old sailors. We not exclude sailors. We welcome sailors from all Generations and Nations!
Like a Olympic Skicross Race. We sail closer to the spectators than any other sailing event. We are connecting sailing in Entertainment and Party life. We deliver more action than ever for Sailors, Spectators, Media and Sponsors.
We need such a new “style” of event to attract the youth. Only if sailing is action loaded, visible and understandable, we get the youth.

And do not forget. In Television all boats have the same size. But the ultra light and fast Tornado with double Trapeze and Gennacker delivers most artistic action. Just Sail and Fly!
I forwarded this Concept already to the ISAF and national Sailing Feds. And we got very positive feedbacks.
We realizing such speedsaling events in a “Sailing Arena” here in northern and southern Germany. In 2011 all over the World. If you are interested and like too watch, you are very welcome. We will send you more details and invitation soon. We are also very open to discuss and to cooperate with other Multihull- and Monohull Classes.”

Let’s move sailing to the next level.
Best regards,

Roland Gaebler
www.teamgaebler.de
President of the Int. Tornado Class.