ISAF Annual Conference - November 8 summary

by ISAF on 9 Nov 2015 The 2015 ISAF Annual Conference got into full swing on Sunday 8th November with a string of committee meetings of the world controlling body for sailing taking place in Sanya, China.

Disabled Sailing Committee

The final part of the IFDS merger within ISAF was completed as the IFDS Annual General Meeting saw the dissolution of the IFDS Foundation. With the necessities complete, the Disabled Sailing Committee then voted in favour of adopting a new name - the Para World Sailing Committee.

This name will need to be approved by the ISAF Council, but it falls in line with the recent name change of the Para World Sailing Championships that will take place out of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia in a few weeks' time.

The 2015 Para Worlds act as the final qualification regatta for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and more than 140 sailors from 31 nations will be on the start lines across the 2.4mR, SKUD18 and Sonar. In terms of Rio 2016 spots, seven are up for grabs in the 2.4mR, five in the SKUD18 and six in the Sonar. Brian Todd, Technical Delegate for the 2015 Para Worlds as well as a DSC member, gave an update on the championships and preparations are shaping up nicely.

The 2016 Para World Sailing Championships will head to Medemblik, the Netherlands and an update was received. With Medemblik's history of hosting large scale events such as the Delta Lloyd Regatta it will make for a well run event.

With the countdown to Rio 2016 well and truly on, David Staley, a DSC member as well as Technical Delegate for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gave an update on the competition. Bernard Destrube, a member of the DSC as well as a member of ISAF's Medical Commission gave the committee an update on the report that was completed by Dr. Nebojsa Nikolic during the Aquece Rio - International Sailing Regatta 2015.

Paralympic Sailing was excluded from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games program earlier on this year and was the hot topic for discussion amongst the committee.

There is a slim chance for sailing to be reinstated for Tokyo 2020 as there is a submission on the table at the upcoming International Paralympic Committee's General Assembly in Mexico City, Mexico.

A motion has been submitted to the IPC General Assembly by one of their members, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA). Their motion states, 'The General Assembly recommends that the Governing Board fills the 23rd slot on the Tokyo 2020 sport programme.'

The General Assembly takes place from 14-15 November and DSC Member Brian Todd will be in attendance.

Moving forward, the DSC spoke about getting sailing back into the Paralympic program for 2024.

ISAF Classes Committee

Within ISAF there are 108 Class Associations that represent the wide spread of options within sailing. From radio controlled sailing boats, one metre in length, moving up to Open 60 and International Maxi Association, they are all within the ISAF family of classes.

Check out the ISAF Classes here.

At the Annual Conference the classes are all allowed representation through the ISAF Classes Committee and in total, 23 have made the trip to Sanya. There is representation of all Olympic classes, some of the Youth Worlds classes, the Maxi and Kiteboarding. The spread is vast.

The Committee worked their way through a number of submissions throughout the day.

International Measurers / Judges / Race Management Sub-committee

The International Measurers, Judges and Race Management Sub-committees reviewed the Race Officials applications throughout their meetings. Stay tuned to the ISAF website over the coming days to find out the renewals and new appointments of Race Officials.

Youth Worlds Sub-committee

The Youth Worlds Sub-committee met throughout the day to discuss a string of topics relevant to the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship.

The Sub-committee usually meet to review the championship held earlier on in the year, however, the 2015 edition takes place at the end of December in Malaysia so the committee were able to receive an update and see the final plans.

Held in Langkawi it is set to be a record year for the Youth Worlds with 80 nations attracted to the event which surpasses the previous record of 67. Further updates were received from future events in 2016, to be held in Oman, 2017 which will head to Israel and the 2018 edition in the USA.

In previous years, the Youth Worlds Sub-committee has received bids for the Youth World Championship that takes place four years on from the meeting. A new bidding process will be implemented for the selection of the 2019 ISAF Youth Worlds venue and a panel will be appointed to review the bids. The deadline for bids is 1st December 2015 and prospective venues will then present to the panel in February 2016 in Southampton, Great Britain.

For the Annual Conference meeting schedule, papers and further information click here.