Sailing action from the London 2012 test event. Mastering the
power of the wind in open water is the challenge facing sailing
competitors at London 2012. To win the Olympic title, sailors
must adapt quickly to the ever-changing conditions, while an
understanding of meteorology and nerves of steel are also
important skills. With all sailing events based on strict one-
design classes, where all boats have the same weights and
measurements, the emphasis is on a sailor to use their skill and
judgement to steer the right line. Sailing, known as yachting at
the Olympics until Sydney 2000, has been part of the Games since
Paris 1900. It had been scheduled to appear at Athens 1896 only
for poor weather to force the event to be cancelled and that,
along with 1904, is one of only two occasions where the sport
has not appeared on the Games programme, although the classes
and the boats used have changed significantly over the years.
Originally, the event consisted of 10 classes ranging from boats
weighing less than 500kg