Frequently Asked Questions
This page is designed to help sailors and non sailors learn what is involved in an Olympic Campaign. Our hope is to help familiarize our supporters with the vocabulary used on the racing circuit. Please Email us if you have any other questions that are not answered here!
What is a 470?
The International 470 is a boat sailed by two people designed by Andre Cornu. It is 4.70m or 15.4 feet in length. It carries 3 sails, the mainsail (the large triangular sail), the jib (the small triangular sail) and a spinnaker (the balloon like sail.)
What is a Skipper?
The skipper steers the boat. Amanda is the skipper on Team GO SAIL 2008. She is responceble for making sure that the boat is going fast, and that they avoid other boats.
What is a Crew?
The crew is essential in making sure that the sails operate. Sarah is the crew on Team GO SAIL 2008, she sits towards the bow of the boat. Among many other jobs, relates information she sees on the race course back to Amanda and is a vital part of keeping the boat flat by trapizing (using a wire attached high on the mast to leverage out over the side of the boat, while standing on the rail of the boat.)
What courses do you sail?
We sail Trapezoidal courses. with one or two loops. These courses allow the race committee to run multiple flights at once without the flights running into each other.
How does the country qualify for the Olympics?
The country qualifies by earning a birth through the World Championships. 75% of the slots will come from the 2007 combined worlds, and 25% will come in the 2008 worlds. Teams from the host country and select developing countries are invited by the Olympic Committee to sail without having to qualify.
How do you make the Olympic Team?
By competing in the Olympic Trials. The Olympic Trials is a single event with 16 races held over 8 days of sailing. The winner of that event is then selected to compete in the Games.
How do you pay for all your sailing?
Our main support comes from individual donations. Funding from the Olympic Committee and US Sailing is unreliable, leaving the sailor responsible for raising the majority of their funds. We are constantly looking for sponsorship, running fund raisers and figuring out new avenues for possible funding.
How many countries have you visited?
Over 35 countries. Amanda Has sailed on all of the continents except Antarctica.
