Sailing at the 1960 Summer Olympics

Updated on Dec 25, 2023

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Venues Gulf of Naples Boats 138 2 02 ! 0 03 !		Sailors 287 from 46 countries 1 01 ! 2 02 !
Dates First race: 29 August 1960 (1960-08-29) (Meulan) Last race: 7 September 1960 (1960-09-07)

Sailing/Yachting is an 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 off 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 German lakes, still in use.

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.

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:

Continents

Africa

Asia

Oceania

Europe

Americas

Classes (equipment)

= Male, = Female, = Open

Measurement

Measurement at the Olympics became more and more professional.

Sailing

Again this Olympic sailing event was gender independent, but turned out to be a Men 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:

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.