Sailing at the 1956 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Contents

Sailing
at the Games of the XVI Olympiad
Venues Port Phillip Bay
DatesFirst race: 26 November 1956 (1956-11-26)
Last race: 5 December 1956 (1956-12-05)
Competitors154 from 28 nations
Boats71
  1952
1960  

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad (1896 Olympics in Greece. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1956 consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 26 November to 5 December 1956 at Port Phillip Bay. [1]

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.

Venue

Port Phillip Bay a natural bay of about 725 square miles (1,900 km2) of water, free of reefs a mere 8 miles (13 km) from the Main Stadium of the Olympics. One can enter the bay from the Southern Ocean a narrow gap of about 3 km. Therefore, the course areas are almost free of tidal streams. However, there is a 0.5 m tidal rise. The winds are ideal for sailing. The predominant southerlies generates light airs in the morning. It freshens in the afternoon to up to 18 knots (33 km/h), and then easing and backing south-east in the evening.

Three circular courses were planned for the northern end of Port Phillip Bay, each using the 1936 system with 8 fixed buoy's with the start in the middle of the circle. At Sandringham for the Finn a course length of approximately 6 nautical miles (11 km) was used. For the 12 square metres and Star the length was set to about 10 nautical miles (19 km). The Dragon and 5.5 Metre were using a course length of 14 nautical miles (26 km).

Competition

Overview

ContinentsCountriesClassesBoatsMaleFemale
5295711540

Continents

Countries

Countries that participated in the Sailing event of the 1956 Olympic Games.
Blue: Water
Gray: Never participated in OG
Dark Gray: Participated in earlier OG
Green: Country participated for the first time
Dark Blue: Country participated also on previous games
Red: Country boycotted the sailing event of the OG Sailingmap OG 1956.png
Countries that participated in the Sailing event of the 1956 Olympic Games.
Blue: Water
Gray: Never participated in OG
Dark Gray: Participated in earlier OG
Green: Country participated for the first time
Dark Blue: Country participated also on previous games
Red: Country boycotted the sailing event of the OG
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina  (ARG)Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)
Flag of the Bahamas (1953-1964).svg  Bahamas  (BAH)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)Flag of Bermuda (1910-1999).svg  Bermuda  (BER)
Flag of Burma (1948-1974).svg  Burma  (BIR)Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil  (BRA)Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada  (CAN)
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba  (CUB)Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)Flag of Fiji (1924-1970).svg  Fiji  (FIJ)
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Flag of Germany.svg  United Team of Germany  (EUA)Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Greece  (GRE)Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)Flag of Norway.svg  Norway  (NOR)Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal  (POR)Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa  (RSA)Flag of Singapore (1946-1959).svg  Singapore  (SIN)
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand  (THA)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)

Classes (equipment)

ClassTypeEventSailorsTrapezeMainsailJib/GenoaSpinnakerFirst OGOlympics so far
Finn Dinghy Cercle noir 100%25.svg 10+19522
12m2 Sharpie Dinghy Cercle noir 100%25.svg 20++19561
Star Keelboat Cercle noir 100%25.svg 20++19325
Dragon Keelboat Cercle noir 100%25.svg 30+++19483
5.5 Metre Keelboat Cercle noir 100%25.svg 30+++19522
Legend: Mars symbol.svg = Male, Venus symbol.svg = Female, Cercle noir 100%25.svg = Open

Medal summary

EventGoldSilverBronze
Finn insigna.png

1956: Finn
details

Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)
Paul Elvstrøm
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)
André Nelis
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)
John Marvin
12m2 Sharpie insigna.png

1956: 12m² Sharpie
details

Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)
Peter Mander
Jack Cropp
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
Rolland Tasker
John Scott
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Jasper Blackall
Terence Smith
NO Class insigna.png

1956: Star
details

US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)
Herbert Williams
Lawrence Low
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)
Agostino Straulino
Nicolò Rode
Flag of the Bahamas (1953-1964).png  Bahamas  (BAH)
Durward Knowles
Sloane Farrington
Dragon insigna.png

1956: Dragon
details

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)
Folke Bohlin
Bengt Palmquist
Leif Wikström
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)
Ole Berntsen
Cyril Andresen
Christian von Bülow
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Graham Mann
Ronald Backus
Jonathan Janson
5.5 Metre insigna blue.svg

1956: 5.5 Metre
details

Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)
Lars Thörn
Hjalmar Karlsson
Sture Stork
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)
Robert Perry
David Bowker
John Dillon
Neil Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick
Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)
Jock Sturrock
Douglas Buxton
Devereaux Mytton

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden  (SWE)2002
2Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark  (DEN)1102
3US flag 48 stars.svg  United States  (USA)1012
4Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)1001
5Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0123
6Flag of Australia.svg  Australia  (AUS)0112
7Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)0101
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy  (ITA)0101
9Flag of the Bahamas (1953-1964).svg  Bahamas  (BAH)0011
Totals (9 entries)55515

Remarks

Olympic boycott

1956 was the first time in history that several countries decided to boycott the Olympics. The boycott that influenced the sailing the most was probably that of The Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. They withdrew to protest against the Soviet Union invasion of Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and Soviet presence at the Games. At that time The Netherlands dominated at the International competition in the 12m2 Sharpie.

Sailing

Sailors

During the sailing regattas at the 1956 Summer Olympics among others the following persons were competing in the various classes:

Notes

  1. "Sailing at the 1956 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 2 June 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yacht racing</span> Sport involving sailing yachts and larger sailboats

Yacht racing is a sailing sport involving sailing yachts and larger sailboats, as distinguished from dinghy racing, which involves open boats. It is composed of multiple yachts, in direct competition, racing around a course marked by buoys or other fixed navigational devices or racing longer distances across open water from point-to-point. It can involve a series of races with buoy racing or multiple legs when point-to-point racing.

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of the 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1908 was open for a total of five sailing classes (disciplines), but actually only four Sailing events were contested. The planned venue of all races, named matches, was Ryde, Isle of Wight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iceboat</span> Sailing craft for ice

An iceboat is a recreational or competition sailing craft supported on metal runners for traveling over ice. One of the runners is steerable. Originally, such craft were boats with a support structure, riding on the runners and steered with a rear blade, as with a conventional rudder. As iceboats evolved, the structure became a frame with a seat or cockpit for the iceboat sailor, resting on runners. Steering was shifted to the front.

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad in Athens, Greece. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1968 consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 14 October 1968 to 21 October 1968 off the coast of Acapulco in the Bay of Acapulco. The sailing was done on the triangular type Olympic courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharpie (boat)</span>

Sharpies are a type of hard chined sailboat with a flat bottom, extremely shallow draft, centreboards and straight, flaring sides. They are believed to have originated in the New Haven, Connecticut region of Long Island Sound, United States. They were traditional fishing boats used for oystering, and later appeared in other areas. With centerboards and shallow balanced rudders they are well suited to sailing in shallow tidal waters.

The Australian Sharpie is a 3-person sailing dinghy which has evolved from the 12-square-metre class sailed in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Australian Sharpies are 19 feet, 11+34 inches long, with a planing hull and a single mast. Sharpies race with a fully battened mainsail, a jib and a spinnaker. They are sailed competitively in all six Australian states. The Australian Sharpie National Titles is run as a carnival each year rotating from state to state. A National Conference is held each year during this event by officials from the Australian Sharpie Sailing Association (ASSA).

The 6 Metre was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics program in Ryde. Three races were scheduled. Each nation could enter up to 2 boats. 15 sailors, on 5 boats, from 4 nation competed.

The 7 Metre was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics program in Ryde. Three races were scheduled. Each nation could enter up to 2 boats. 5 sailors, on 2 boats, from 1 nation registered for competition.

The 8 Metre was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics program in Ryde. Three races were scheduled. Each nation could enter up to 2 boats. 26 sailors, on 5 boats, from 3 nation competed.

The 12 Metre was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics program in Hunters Quay. Three races were scheduled. Each nation could enter up to 2 boats. 20 sailors, on 2 boats, from 1 nation competed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

Sailing at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class, seven races were scheduled from 3‍–‍12 August 1948 Torquay/Torbay, on England's south coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1912 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1912 consisted of a total of four sailing classes (disciplines). For each class two races were scheduled from 19 July 1912 to 22 July 1912 off the coast of Nynäshamn at the Baltic Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1952 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of the 1952 Summer Olympics consisted of a total of five sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 20 to 28 July 1952 of the coast of Harmaja.

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1964 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

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 the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1964 consisted of a total of five sailing classes. For each class, seven races were scheduled; these took place from 12 to 23 October 1964 off the coast of Enoshima in Sagami Bay. The sailing was done on the triangular type Olympic courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics</span> Sailing at the Olympics

Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1972 consisted of a total of six sailing classes (disciplines). For each class seven races were scheduled from 29 August 1972 to 8 September 1972 of the coast of Kiel-Schilksee in the Bay of Kiel. Kiel hosted the Olympic sailing competitions for the second time, having previously done so during the 1936 Summer Olympics. The sailing was done on the triangular type Olympic courses.

The Launceston to Hobart yacht race is a 285 nautical mile race, commencing at Beauty Point on the Tamar River, with competitors sailing out of the Tamar River, east along the northern coast of Tasmania, through Banks Strait and south down Tasmania's East Coast, through Mercury Passage between mainland Tasmania and Maria Island, across Storm Bay, to a finish line in the Derwent River. The race departs on 27 December each year. The race is known as the L2H race despite the race commencing at Beauty Point, some 45 kilometers north of Launceston.

12 m<sup>2</sup> Sharpie

The 12 m2 Sharpie was a type of Sharpie designed in 1931 by the Kröger Brothers in Warnemünde, Germany. The peak of the class was in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. To this day, the original design has been preserved, and the class is sailed competitively in the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal. The European Championships are rotated between these four countries every year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing at the 1956 Summer Olympics – 12m² Sharpie</span> Sailing at the Olympics

The 12m² Sharpie was a sailing event in the sailing program of the 1956 Summer Olympics, held on Port Phillip. Seven races were scheduled. Twenty-six sailors, on 13 boats, from 13 nations competed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Cadet Australian Championship</span>

The International Cadet Australian Championship is an annual series of championship races held in Australia as the top racing event for the Cadet class sailing dinghy in the country. Generally held as a qualifier for the world cup, the championship will reach its 50th event in 2011 when it will be held at Lake Macquarie in New South Wales from 27 December 2011 to 4 January 2012.

References