Paris 2024: Seeing the Olympic kite

Of the 10 sailing disciplines at the Paris 2024 Olympics, four events – Mixed Two Person Dinghy, Men’s Skiff, Women’s Skiff, and Mixed Multihull – take national pride to the next level.

For the 49er, 49erFX, Nacra 17, and 470, the only time athletes are granted spinnakers with flags is when they’re representing their country at an Olympic Games. Outside of the Olympics, these sails are a single color or have minimal markings.

“Seeing that American flag spinnaker in Marseille was an amazing experience,” noted 49er crew Hans Henken (USA). “I sailed with it once before as a training partner for Thomas Barrows and Joe Morris in Rio [USA 2016 49er team] and I remember wanting to have that experience again.

“It’s the feeling of all the hard work paying off. Seeing the Olympic kite is that special part of the process that comes during the final parts of the journey and it feels amazing. There’s so much pride for what we’ve accomplished up to that point and motivation for what’s right around the corner.”

Lara Dallman-Weiss (USA), 470 crew for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 agrees: “The first time you hoist that American spinnaker is the best feeling ever. You spend hours and hours visualizing what it would mean to fly that kite and see that American flag out in front of you, and when it becomes real it’s the best feeling.

“Then when other countries start hoisting their flags around you in the training leading up to the Games it sets in that the dream you’ve had for so many years has become a reality. It gives a little extra sharpness knowing I have to trim it precisely and make everyone proud back home.”

Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program:
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17

Venue: Marseille, France
Dates: July 28-August 9

Details:
• Paris website: https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-olympic-games-paris-2024/
• World Sailing microsite: https://paris2024.sailing.org/