ISAF confirms new strategy for ISAF Sailing World Cup

Untitled - ISAF Confirms New Strategy - For the ISAF Sailing World Cup ISAF

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ISAF Sailing World Cup
The ISAF Sailing World Cup is the annual circuit of Olympic sailing for elite and professional sailors. Its centre-piece is the ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final.

The Grand Final will bring together the top 20 boats in each Olympic event at a four day regatta, providing them with an annual challenge to compete against the best of the best for the crown of ISAF Sailing World Cup Champion and the ISAF Sailing World Cup prize purse.

The ISAF Sailing World Cup gives ISAF, MNAs, sailors and sponsors the benefits of a high-profile annual regatta series, culminating in the live finale at the Grand Final.

Presentation, media services and facilities for sponsors are central to the ISAF Sailing World Cup as well as providing the very best in race management and services for athletes.

Head of ISAF Sailing World Cup
In order to implement ISAFs commercial strategy for the ISAF Sailing World Cup and the Grand Final, ISAF has appointed John Craig to a new role as Head of the ISAF Sailing World Cup. Craig, a renowned International Race Officer joined the ISAF Secretariat on 1 April 2014.

2014 Grand Final
The first ISAF Sailing World Cup Grand Final will take place in December 2014 in the Middle East.

Qualification for the 2014 Grand Final will be based on results at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Qingdao and the ISAF World Sailing Rankings released on 22 September 2014.

The number of boats in each event will be either 15 or 20. Prize money and shipping support will be provided by the organizers.

Further information will be available during April 2014.

The Future ISAF Sailing World Cup and Grand Final
Full implementation of the new ISAF Sailing World Cup will begin in December 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. The 2015 Grand Final is scheduled for October.

The regatta venues will be selected by ISAF and will be required to meet ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta specifications.

Qualification to the Grand Final is through performance at other graded regattas in the year (starting December of the previous year). The following will qualify in each Olympic Event:
• Winner at each 200-point ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta;
• Top continental crew (based on performance at 'home' SWC regatta);
• Top three crews at the Class World Championships;
• Top 6 on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings;
• ISAF invitation wild cards.
Where this results in a fleet of less than 20, additional sailors will be taken from the ISAF World Sailing Rankings.

The top continental crew place guarantees every continent at least one place in each fleet at the Grand Final, and reflects the Olympic continental qualification that ISAF introduced for Rio 2016.

ISAF Sailing World Cup - Questions and Answers

ISAF regatta structure and pathway to the Olympic Games

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Q1: How many ISAF SWC regattas will there be in 2015? Do you already know the dates and venues?

A1: There are five regattas planned for the ISAF Sailing World Cup 2015, plus the Grand Final:
- One regatta in Melbourne, Australia, from 6 to 14 December 2014.
- One regatta in Miami, USA, from 24 to 31 January 2015.
- Two regattas in Europe, between April and June.
- One regatta in Asia.
- Grand Final, October 2015

All remaining venues, and specific dates, will be announced by end July 2014.

Q2: Do I need to attend all the ISAF SWC regattas to qualify to the 2015 Grand Final?

A2: No. Qualification to the Grand Final is through the following:
- Winner at each 200-point ISAF Sailing World Cup regatta;
- Top continental crew (based on performance at 'home' SWC regatta);
- Top three crews at the Class World Championships;
- Top 6 on the ISAF World Sailing Rankings;
- ISAF invitation wild cards.

Where this results in a fleet of less than 20, additional sailors will be taken from the ISAF World Sailing Rankings. Click here for more details on the ISAF Ranking system and calculation system.

Q3: Will ISAF SWC Qingdao in October 2014 be a qualifier to the 2014 Grand Final?

A3: Yes; In addition to the Santander 2014 results and the ISAF World Sailing Rankings, the winner of ISAF SWC Qingdao and the top continental crew from each fleet at Qingdao will qualify to the Grand Final.

Q4: And for the Grand Final in 2015? Will 2014 SWC Qingdao be used?

A4: No. For the 2015 ISAF SWC Grand Final, the Asian round will be the qualifier.

Q5: Will kite-boarding be scheduled for the ISAF SWC?

A5: Yes, kite-boarding will be included at the Grand Final (starting from 2014) and the new European and Asian rounds. However, for Melbourne and Miami, as ISAF has existing contracts in place, this is something that has to be approved by the organizers. ISAF and the IKA are currently discussing appropriate qualification and ranking systems.

Q6: Will the Paralympic events still be part of the ISAF SWC?

A6: The integration of Paralympic events into the ISAF Sailing World Cup is under review by ISAF and IFDS.

Q7: What does 'home' SWC mean?

A7: Every MNA will be allocated a 'home' SWC which is the ISAF SWC regatta in their continent (if there are two regattas in the same continent each MNA will be allocated to one of them), or, if a continent does not have an SWC round, the closest convenient SWC round.

ISAF will use the IOC allocation of countries to continents, except that the IOC continent of America will be divided into North and South in the same way as it is for the Youth Olympic Games and Rio 2016 qualification.

Q8: How does an Organising Authority apply to become an ISAF SWC Regatta?

A8: ISAF will provide information on this as soon as it has been finalised; ISAF expects this to be in April or early May 2014.

Q9: Will there always be 5 Rounds and a Grand Final?

A9: Not necessarily. Five ISAF SWC rounds is a decision for 2015. As the implementation progresses, the number and locations of the regattas will be continually reviewed.

Q10: Will the ISAF SWC be used as Olympic Qualification?

A10: The ISAF SWC is already the preferred event for the continental qualification to Rio 2016.
Likewise it is expected that this will continue for qualification to Tokyo 2020, but decisions cannot be made until the IOC publishes its qualification guidelines for 2020.