Sailing at the 1932 Summer Olympics
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Sailing/Yachting is an
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starting from the Games of the 1st
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(
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in Athens
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). With the exception of
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and the canceled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 1932 consisted of a total of four sailing classes (disciplines). For each class races were scheduled from 5–12 August directly off the Los Angeles Harbor on the Pacific Ocean.


Venue

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Los Angeles Harbor


Sea breeze

Due to the predicted
Sea breeze A sea breeze or onshore breeze is any wind that blows from a large body of water toward or onto a landmass; it develops due to differences in air pressure created by the differing heat capacities of water and dry land. As such, sea breezes ar ...
in Los Angeles Harbor it was decided to race the
Snowbird Snowbird is a common name for the dark-eyed junco (''Junco hyemalis''). Snowbird may also refer to: Places *Snowbird, Utah, an unincorporated area and associated ski resort *Snowbird Lake, a lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada *Snowbird ...
s in the lighter morning breezes. However, during the mornings there was virtually no wind at all. Therefore, some races of the Snowbird were sailed in the afternoon in heavy conditions. Luckily no
capsizing Capsizing or keeling over occurs when a boat or ship is rolled on its side or further by wave action, instability or wind force beyond the angle of positive static stability or it is upside down in the water. The act of recovering a vessel fr ...
took place. It also gave issues for those sailors who were competing not only in the Snowbird but also in one of the other classes.


Course areas

The courses had been well prepared. The marks were laid by the
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in the form of large Government buoys, and kelp beds under the lee of Point Fermin were marked by the
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as restricted area. Visiting yachts were kept at a safe distance from the racing boats by the
US Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
. Tows were arranged by the US Navy to and from Los Angeles Harbor to the race area's. On the Pacific side of the San Pedro Breakwater the Star, 6 Metre and 8 Metre yachts had their races. Those classes had to pass the Angels Gate light in order to reach the course area. The Snowbird stayed inside the breakwater to protect them from the
ocean swell A swell, also sometimes referred to as ground swell, in the context of an ocean, sea or lake, is a series of mechanical waves that propagate along the interface between water and air under the predominating influence of gravity, and thus are ofte ...
.


Competition

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Overview

* However all events were gender independent it turned out to be a male only event.


Continents


Countries

* This time no new countries participated in the Sailing event of this Olympic.


Classes (equipment)


Race schedule

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Medal summary

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Medal table

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Notes


Star

The 1932 Olympics featured for the first time the Star as Olympic discipline. This turned out to be so far the longest run for a sailing discipline in the Olympics. The Star was an Olympic class from 1932 to
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with the exception of
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.


Snowbird

The USOC proposed to discontinue the 12' Dinghy in favor of a small V-bottom Catboat locally known as the
Snowbird Snowbird is a common name for the dark-eyed junco (''Junco hyemalis''). Snowbird may also refer to: Places *Snowbird, Utah, an unincorporated area and associated ski resort *Snowbird Lake, a lake in the Northwest Territories, Canada *Snowbird ...
as the single handed one design class. This proposal was approved by the
IYRU World Sailing (WS) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). History The creation of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) be ...
and
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. The locally available Snowbirds were equipped with new masts, sails and rigging.


Medical assistance

For medical incidents during the Yachting events a
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
boat and a
US Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...
boat were on duty during the races. This boats were equipped with an inhalator and crew furnished by the
Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD or LA City Fire) provides emergency medical services, Fire investigation, fire cause determination, fire prevention, Firefighting, fire suppression, Dangerous goods, hazardous materials mitigation, and Resc ...
. Seven local physicians provided voluntary service (in alphabetical order): * Edward G. Eisen, M.D., Head Physician * Stanley Boller, M.D. * J. Park Dougall, M.D. * K. E. Kretzschmar, M.D. * G. A. Laubersheimer, M.D. * Wayland A. Morrison, M.D. * Ewald Werner, M.D.


Other information


Sailors in multiple disciplines

Three sailors attempted to sail in the Snownbird and the Star. This was a challenge since the schedule of the Snowbird was modified due to the light air weather conditions in the mornings of the regattas. * * *


Sailing

During the Sailing regattas at the 1932 Summer Olympics among others the following persons were competing in the various classes: * , Jacques Lebrun, French boat designer and technical director of the French national association * , Bob Maas, Dutch long time Star sailor * , United States yachtsman and American industrialist Donald Wills Douglas, Jr. in the 6 Metre * , United States yachting legend and inventor of the
Swimfin Swimfins, swim fins, diving fins, or flippers are finlike accessories worn on the feet, legs or hands and made from rubber, plastic, carbon fiber or combinations of these materials, to aid movement through the water in water sports activities ...
, Owen Churchill in the 8 Metre


Further reading

*


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sailing At The 1932 Summer Olympics 1932 Summer Olympics events
1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort to assassinate Emperor Hiro ...
1932 in sailing