Yachting: Olympic dinghy change leaves Macky all at sea

By JULIE ASH

New Zealand sailor Sarah Macky says she will test the waters in the new Olympic women's single handed boat before deciding whether to pursue a spot in Beijing in 2008.

The International Sailing Federation has announced two major changes to the equipment to be used in 2008.

While there are still 11 classes, the Europe dinghy which Macky has sailed in the last two Olympics has been replaced by the Laser Radial as the women's single-handed boat and the men's and women's windsurfing classes have been revamped with new equipment to be designed by New Zealander Neil Pryde, now based in Hong Kong.

The Europe was a development class which means the boats are not identical, but the Laser Radial is a one design, with all boats the same, which contributed to its selection.

The windsurfing boards are now considerably shorter and fatter.

Yachting New Zealand's chief executive Simon Wickham said the changes were always in the pipeline.

"I think it will have a positive effect in women's sailing in developing countries.

"There seems to be a growing preference within various countries to lean towards boats which are more out of the box.

"They don't have all the design aspects and thereby decrease the cost of competition which I think ... sort of favours New Zealand as well, because there are a number of countries who are investing significantly more than New Zealand in yachting."

However, for Macky, who finished ninth in the Europe class in the 2000 Olympics and eighth in Athens, a change to the Laser Radial would mean she would have to put on close to 10kg to reach the ideal weight needed to be competitive.

"I think it is crazy," she said.

"I think the Europe was the most ideal class for women because in the top ten we had girls ranging from 55kg to 75kg at the world championships and that is huge for women because it is very hard to bulk up with muscle.

"Looking at the top three girls in Athens ... there is just no way they can compete in a Radial," said Macky, who won the youth world championships in the Laser Radial in 1997.

Macky said she would do a few regattas in the boat over the next six months and then decide whether to pursue an Olympic spot.

She is also doing some keelboat racing - "just trying to broaden my sailing abilities" - and has not entirely ruled out a move into the 470 class or even the Yngling.