Sailing at the 1960 Summer Olympics

Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad (1896 Olympics in Athens  Greece). With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program. The Sailing program of 1960 consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 29 August 1960 to 7 September 1960 of the coast of Naples at the Gulf of Naples.

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

In the Gulf of Naples, in the zone overlooking Santa Lucia, three ports were used for launching and mooring of the Olympic classes:

• Mergellina, for Finn (Sea Garden) and Flying Dutchman (Posillipo)
• Borgo Marinari, for Dragons
• Molosiglio, for Star and 5.5 Metre

Three course areas were used:

Competition

Overview

Continents

• Africa
• Asia
• Australian continent
• Europe
• North America
• South America

Countries

Classes (equipment)

= Male,  = Female,  = Open

Medal summary

Medal tables

Sailing 1960

Sailing 1896–1960

Remarks

Measurement

Measurement at the Olympics became more and more professional.

Sailing

• Again 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.
• Since the distance between Rome and Naples a separate organization was created for the Sailing events. The name of this organization was Solo Mio.
• The Italian Navy was responsible for the courses and the towing in and out of the yachts. According to the official report this was done on a very prompt manner. and we quote:

The only accident to occur, which resulted in the loss of the Lebanese Flying Dutchman, cannot be imputed to the method employed by the rescue crew after the boat had overturned, but to the incompetence of the Lebanese F.D. crew who attached the tow cable around a belaying cleat fixed to the deck.

• According to current standards a huge amount of sails was allowed for use during the Olympics (not every boat measured in the maximum number):
  • Finn, 1 sail (for the whole Finn fleet a total of 25 sails were available as spare.)
  • Flying Dutchman, 4 sets of sails (12)
  • Star, 6 sets of sails (12)
  • Dragon 6 sets of sails (18)
  • 5.5 Metre 6 sets of sails (18)
• 106 journalists of 52 countries were reporting the sailing event.
• Many former Olympiers acted in the race committee, the International jury or measurement committee. Examples are: Peter Scott, Beppe Croce, Eddy Stutterheim, Jean-Jacques Herbulot and Edgar Beyn.

Sailors

During the Sailing regatta's at the 1960 Summer Olympics among others the following persons were competing in the various classes:

•  Denmark (DEN), Paul Elvstrøm winning his fourth consecutive Gold medal, this time in the Finn
•  Thailand (THA), Prince of Thailand, Prinz Bhanubanda Bira in the Star
•  Finland (FIN), Past president International Sailing Federation, Peter Tallberg in the 5.5 Metre

Notes

References

• The Organizing Committee of the Games of the XVII Olympiad (1960) (pdf). The Games of the XVII Olympiad Rome 1960, The Official Report of the Organizing Committee Volume One. http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1960/OR1960v1.pdf. 
• The Organizing Committee of the Games of the XVII Olympiad (1960) (pdf). The Games of the XVII Olympiad Rome 1960, The Official Report of the Organizing Committee Volume Two (a). http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1960/OR1960v2pt1.pdf. 
• The Organizing Committee of the Games of the XVII Olympiad (1960) (pdf). The Games of the XVII Olympiad Rome 1960, The Official Report of the Organizing Committee Volume Two (b). http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1960/OR1960v2pt2.pdf. 
• Hugh Drake & Paul Henderson (2009). Canada's Olympic Sailing Legacy, Paris 1924 – Beijing 2008. Toronto: CYA. 
• "Rome 1960". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. http://www.olympic.org/en/content/Olympic-Games/All-Past-Olympic-Games/Summer/Rome-1960.