ISAF Annual Conference headed for Dun Laoghaire

by ISAF on 26 Oct 2012 The 2012 ISAF Annual Conference will take place from first-11th November in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. ISAF Committee, Sub-committee and Commission members will travel from around the globe to Dun Laoghaire where they will be joined by ISAF Member National Authorities (MNAs), Class Associations, sailors, event organisers, boat manufacturers and many more. Those in attendance will discuss, debate, make recommendations and decisions on the issues and policies that will take sailing forward into 2013.

Over 130 submissions have been sent to ISAF proposing changes to existing policies, regulations or rules as well as looking to introduce new ones. This year will see key discussions on the selection of equipment and events for the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Sailing Competitions, and, following the release of the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016, the ISAF Case and Call Books will be finalised to be available early 2013.

During the first week all submissions will be discussed at committee meetings ranging from Audit to Oceanic and Offshore. Committees will also consider other areas relevant to them, such as venue selection for future ISAF events and reports on recent events through to Race Official appointments. The recommendations and opinions of these expert committees come together at the meeting of the Council, the final policy decision making body of ISAF. The Council will approve, reject or defer the submissions and other feedback from the committees.

The 2012 ISAF Annual Conference will see current ISAF President Göran Petersson retire along with the seven ISAF Vice Presidents and Council members. They will make way for new ISAF Officers who will be voted in at the ISAF General Assembly on 10 November.

ISAF Officers are voted for by MNAs who represent the nations within ISAF. Officers are elected for a four-year term which will start on 11 November 2012 and end at the next General Assembly, to be held in November 2016.

Away from the meeting rooms, the ISAF Annual Conference offers the chance for delegates to share ideas, stories and to discuss the future of sailing.

The MNA forum on Tuesday 6 November provides a chance for MNAs to build networks with ISAF Connect to Sailing Partners, Class Associations, boat manufacturers, other MNAs and race officials.

Ireland will also play host to the 2012 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards on Tuesday 6 November, celebrating the successes of the best male and female sailors in the world. Making up the females nominees are Támara Echegoyen, Ángela Pumariega and Sofia Toro (ESP), Helena Lucas (GBR), Saskia Sills (GBR) and Lijia Xu (CHN). The Men’s category includes Ben Ainslie (GBR), Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS), Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS), Loick Peyron (FRA) and Tom Slingsby (AUS).

All will be vying for the coveted and prestigious ISAF website