KEY POINTS:
Yachting remains up there with New Zealand's most successful Olympic sports.
Their return of 16 medals, including seven golds, has them second only to athletics but a closer examination of results at the past seven Games (including Beijing) reveals some concerns.
From 1984, seven of the 14 medals have been won by the 12 boardsailors (in a sport first on the Olympic programme in Los Angeles) representing New Zealand. In that time, 94 yachtsmen and women (including boardsailors) in 59 crews have taken to the water. The other 47 crews or individuals have brought home just two golds, three silvers and two bronze medals.
The sport, heavily funded by Sparc _ more than $8 million between 2004 and 2008 _ will point to their top-10 finishes as justification for the money they have been handed.
In Barcelona in 1992 when boardsailor Barbara Kendall won New Zealand's only gold, they had all 10 crews (17 competitors) in the top 10 of their respective fleets but, again, that can be a little misleading as some classes attracted small fields.
After Barcelona the picture has been grim, given New Zealand is regarded as one of the world's more powerful yachting nations.
In 1996, with 10 crews, they had Kendall's silver as their only return and five top 10 finishes. In Sydney (2000) Kendall again picked up a medal (bronze) as did fellow boardsailor Aaron McIntosh. These were the sport's only medals but they could point to six other top 10 placings from their 11 crews.
There was a nil medal return in Athens four years ago but with five of eight crews in the top 10, including Kendall's fifth and Tom Ashley's 10th in his first Olympic outing.
Some will argue that 44 top 10 finishes by the 94 yachtsmen and women who have sailed for New Zealand at the past seven Olympics is a better than average return.
In handing out their not inconsiderable grants, Sparc said: "Up to 70 per cent of our investment is aimed at `results capable sports' competing in events that matter to New Zealanders."
While the interest in Ashley's medal-winning race in Beijing might well fit that criterion, there is also the feeling that the money poured into yachting per se, including the America's Cup, deserves a greater return.
Boardsailors, surely, cannot be expected to carry the hopes of New Zealand's large yachting fraternity forever. In London, other boats will have to win a medal _ something which has not happened since 1992.
