#rio – Although a decision isn't expected this summer, attention from the event has led to speculation the former Star class sailboats will be reinstated for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
The Star class' governing body is stating the earlier news of the event's reinstatement in the 2016 Olympics is "still just a rumour." Star class sailing was removed from the 2016 Olympics line-up in May 2011.
International Star Class Yacht Racing Association president Bill Allen said in a statement that Brazil's Olympic committee "may request an 11th medal for sailing" but no decision was made and probably won't be until this summer at the earliest. He will keep Star class members informed of new developments, Allen said.
The source of the speculation might be that Brazil's Robert Scheidt won the 2011 and 2012 World Championships in the Star class along with the silver medal at 2008's Beijing Olympics and the bronze medal at 2012's London Olympics.
The reports on various U.S. websites state International Olympic Committee regulations allow the host country to add one event of its choosing if the country itself picks up the tab. However, Allen says that is not accurate.
Since it debuted at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, the Star class has been absent from only one Olympics, Montreal in 1976. It was dropped prior to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney but then reinstated.
The Star class often is called "the fleet of champions" because many Olympic and world championship sailors finish their careers in that class of boat.
The inaugural CNM Estates UK Star Championships was held 18-20 January in cold and snowy conditions. Xavier Rohart of France and Serge Pulfer of Switzerland took the gold medal with 17 points.
The winners were presented with the Royal Thames Yacht Club "Fine Art Sails Regatta" by Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.
The team of Max Treacy and Anthony Shanks of Ireland finished second with 35 points while Andrew Simpson and Iain Percy of Great Britain totalled 37 points for third place in the event, held in the waters of the Royal Victoria Docks outside London's ExCeL exhibition centre.
Other cities that have expressed interest in holding their own Fine Art Sails event are Moscow, San Francisco, Auckland, Stockholm and Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan and largest city on the Caspian Sea.
The event attracted top international sailors, including many European and World title holders. They included triple Olympic medallist Iain Percy, double Olympic medallist Andrew Simpson, Beijing gold medallist Pippa Wilson, London silver medallists Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, and Athens bronze medallist Xavier Rohart.
The mainsails were unique pieces of art created by internationally famous artists such as: Julian Opie, EINE, Jaime Gili, INSA, Eley Kishimoto, Wendy Taylor, Christian Furr, David Begbie, Pam Glew and Goldie.
"This is a totally new venue for artists to display their work. It's an opportunity to show off their artwork to the public and reach an audience they haven't reached before," Ross said.
