Different nations do things differently. It is as true of the management of sailing events as it is in the political field. Living, as I do, in a country renowned for its independence and leadership, I would probably go along with the Eurosceptics, those who believe we have no place in a Common Europe. We certainly do not conform to the rest of the European Union's ideas regarding the conduct of world championships. While that may be hard to stomach, it was conclusively proven to the other Europeans at Weymouth recently.

Doubts about British sanity were brought to a head by the disqualification of probably the best sailor at the regatta (a British hope for a gold medal in Sydney) for three OCS in five starts, one of which was subsequently proven, with video evidence, to have been a bad call by the race committee. If one was bad, argued the sailor, what about the others. He is certainly not known in the class as a person who breaks the line and his coach said, "It is the first time I have known him over early, and that is why I am doubtful in all three cases." Coach and sailor went back to the International Jury with fresh evidence, but still could not change a mind to give the sailor the benefit of the doubt. We, who are brought up in the ethos of cricket, where the umpires always give the player the benefit of the doubt, were amazed, but the other Europeans smiled because they felt it should not have been an issue in the first place.

Continental sailors were amused by the the fact that the British sailor was called over in any case. "If this world championship had been in my country," said one of the very top sailors at the regatta, "there is not the slightest chance that my number would be among those on the board at the end of the beat." Sailors from other nations agreed, and thought the British sense of fair play was being carried too far, even though it gave them a better chance by eliminating the home team.

The only answer lies in an electronic tagging of all the boats. This would show the race committee which boats were over early, but also register in the boat, after the starting gun has fired and not before, to give the competitors an even chance of redressing their situation. The technology already exists and should be used, particularly at the major regattas, like this world championship and the Olympic Games, in order that a degree of fairness exists. We have been promised this development for some years now and this recent case of dubious calling highlights the need for immediate action. Other sports resort to the video action replay, it is high time that sailing moved into the 20th century before it closes at the end of this year.