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Up to 3,000 categories of sailboats reportedly exist around the world, each class with its own set of rules and specifications. At the Olympics, 11 events are contested in nine different types of boats. Boats compete in fleet races, with each regatta lasting a series of days.
Of the 11 events at the Olympics, men compete in seven and women compete in four. Crew sizes range from single-handed to three-person boats. Each class is a different size and shape, requiring certain skills of the sailors in order to operate it successfully. Below are all the Olympic classes:
|
Event |
Type |
|
Men's Star |
Two-person keelboat |
|
Men's 470 |
Two-person boat |
|
Women's 470 |
Two-person boat |
|
Men's Finn |
Single-handed dinghy |
|
Men's RS:X |
Single-person boardsailing |
|
Women's RS:X |
Single-person boardsailing |
|
Women's Yngling |
Three-person keelboat |
|
Men's Laser |
Single-handed dinghy |
|
Women's Laser Radial |
Single-handed dinghy |
|
Men's Tornado |
Two-person catamaran |
|
Men's 49er |
Two-person high-performance dinghy |
