sailor37 said...

Hi just wondering who people thought was the best sailor at the moment and also of all time.

Paul Elvstr?m retired from Olympic sailing more than 20 years ago. But he remains the most successful Olympic sailor in the sport and the person whose name is most often mentioned when the best sailors in the world are asked to name their heroes. He is a person who is held in the highest regard as a sportsman, a man of integrity and a man of great skill.
It began in 1948 when, aged just 20, Paul Elvstr?m won his first Olympic gold medal. It was the days when the Firefly was the Olympic single-handed class.

When the Finn was introduced, Elvstr?m made the top of the Olympic podium his own winning the Finn gold in 1952, 56 and 60. That record of four Golds has yet to be equalled and Elvstr?m remains one of just three Olympians across all sports to have won four consecutive gold medals in the same Olympic discipline.

And he went on to compete in a further four Olympics, just missing out on a Star medal in Acapulco 1968 and a Tornado medal in Los Angelos 1984 when sailing with his youngest daughter Trine.
He is still the only sailor in the world to win the world championship in five different classes.

But while Elvstr?m was and is still many peoples' pick for the greatest ever sailor, the Dane made an impact off the racecourse too. His series of books on the racing rules - with their wallet of small plastic boats - became the racing sailor's bible for several decades. And he applied his skill and intelligence on the racecourse to the design of components that bear his legend even today - the Elvstr?m self-bailer is still found on Olympic boats, and other grand prix boats at the leading edge of the sport. The Elvstr?m Lifejacket was also the first that was designed and produced for active sailors across the world.

Paul Elvstr?m pioneered techniques for hiking and ideas for training for sailing that paved the way for the modern athletic sport. And Elvstr?m sailmakers - founded in 1954 - are still winning races to this day.

In short Paul Elvstr?m is a not only one of the world's most talented sailors, but also a wholly rounded and intellectual sportsman who has achieved so much - not only in his career but with huge imprint on the sport which continues to exert an influence nearly 60 years after he first won gold.

"It has been a fantastic week of sailing and undoubtedly some of the best in my sailing career. Lake Garda isI truly a special place for sailing with the cliff faces and picturesque scenery. The lake has not lived up to its reputation of strong wind this week but all the sailors have had a great time. It’s still a fantastic feeling to win the Tornado Championships, its number 7 now. I think it may be quite a while till some one beats that. This year was different, no Olympic or funding pressures we just sailed because we love the boat and had a great time. This week has made it clear for me.. I can announce my Olympic retirement, multihulls is my scene and love sailing. The 49er just does not do it for me."

planesailing said...

Jessie Martin....least experienced person to do the most miles.