Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics

Lore & Background

The sailing events were held in Acapulco Bay, located on the Pacific coast in the state of Guerrero, 250 miles from Mexico City. The Club de Yates facilities were improved and modified, including 20,000 square metres of new docks with potable water, electricity, and telephones. Buoys bearing colored flags delineated three course areas, and technical control was assured by a staff of measurers who gauged all yachts before racing. The Olympic Village, housed in the Caleta Hotel, accommodated 503 total participants (including 311 competitors, trainers, and team managers) from 40 countries.

Notable competitors included HRH Crown Prince Harald of Norway in the 5.5 Metre class, future International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge of Belgium in the Finn, future International Sailing Federation presidents Peter Tallberg of Finland in the Star and Paul Henderson of Canada in the Finn, and future Silver Olympic Order holder George Andreadis of Greece in the Flying Dutchman. Danish sailor Paul Elvstrøm attempted to win his fifth gold medal in the Star class but finished fourth.

Rodney Pattison of Great Britain won his first Olympic gold medal in the Flying Dutchman class with his boat Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. His team's score—DSQ, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2—is considered a possible Olympic record for best score in sailing. In each of the five classes, there was a major difference in points between the gold and silver medalists.

Reader's Guide

The 1968 Olympic sailing regatta marked a significant moment in the sport's history, as it was the first time sailing was held in Mexico and on the Pacific coast. The event was gender independent but resulted in an all-male competition, which spurred the eventual introduction of gender-specific sailing events in 1988. The competition featured five classes, and the scoring of the Flying Dutchman team led by Rodney Pattison is noted as possibly the best Olympic score in sailing history. The participation of future sports leaders—Jacques Rogge, Peter Tallberg, and Paul Henderson—highlighted the regatta's role in shaping the administrative future of the Olympic movement and international sailing. The improvements to the Club de Yates facilities and the accommodation of 503 participants from 40 countries demonstrated the growing global reach of Olympic sailing.

Did You Know?

• Sailing has been an Olympic sport since the 1896 Olympics, with the exception of 1904 and the canceled 1916 Games.
• The 1968 sailing events were held off Acapulco on the Pacific coast, 250 miles from Mexico City.
• Rodney Pattison's Flying Dutchman team scored DSQ, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, possibly the best Olympic score in sailing.
• Future IOC president Jacques Rogge competed in the Finn class at these Games.