ISAF Annual Conference comes to a close in Dun Laoghaire

by ISAF on 11 Nov 2012 After three days of meetings, the ISAF Annual Conference came to a close today as the final decisions affecting the sport moving forward were made. Hosted in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, hundreds of delegates gathered from 1st November 2012 to discuss sailing across the world.

The Olympic events and equipment was high on the agenda of the ISAF Council and after hearing the reports from the 2012 ISAF events and the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition, business moved on to discussing submissions.

23 submissions relating to the events and equipment for Rio 2016 were received by ISAF in advance of the Conference. In accordance with the ISAF Regulations, before the detail of any of these particular submissions could be discussed, Council were required to vote on a motion to re-open the debate on the subject. The Regulations specify that 75% of members must agree to the motion.

The submissions were presented as six proposals and Council asked to vote on them in terms of the specific changes they proposed. The first proposal grouped together the submissions that only dealt with men's kiteboarding and women's kiteboarding (020-12, 025-12, 027-12, 050-12, 051-12, 052-12, 053-12, 054-12, 055-12, 056-12, 057-12, 058-12 and 062-12). 26 Council members voted in favour and 12 were against.

Proposal 2, which featured Submission 063-12, related to Men's Kiteboarding, Women's Kiteboarding and second One Person Dinghy - Finn. 14 Council members voted in favour and 23 were against and one abstained.

Proposals 3, 4, 5 and 6 relating to Submissions 064-12, 065-12, 071-12 and 094-12 respectively did not receive the required proposer and seconder around the table so were not considered.

With 38 possible votes, the 75% requirement was not achieved on either proposal so the events and equipment as approved in May 2012 remain for Rio 2016.

However, at the ISAF General Assembly part of the business for the 106 Member National Authorities (MNAs) who were present was to review any regulations made or amended in any substantive way by Council since the last Ordinary Meeting which was in November 2011.

ISAF had been notified of three amendments proposed by MNAs which concerned the first two lines of Regulation 23.1.4 (Men's and Women's Kiteboarding).

As defined in the Articles of ISAF, decisions at the General Assembly shall be taken by a simple majority of votes of those present and entitled to vote. There were 114 possible voters, including the ISAF President and Vice-Presidents.

After a lengthy debate the MNAs approved the first proposal which reinstated Men’s and Women’s Boards – RS:X.

ISAF Regulation 23.1.4 now reads:

Men's Board - RS:X
Women's Board - RS:X
Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Men's second One Person Dinghy - Finn
Men's Skiff - 49er
Women's Skiff – 49erFX
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 17

All other changes to the ISAF Regulations were approved.

In accordance with ISAF Regulation 23.1.5, ISAF approved four core events and their equipment for the 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition - The Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser, Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial, Men's Skiff - 49er and Women's Skiff - 49erFX.

In order to bring some of the best young match racing talent around the world to one place, ISAF Council approved a new ISAF Youth Match Racing World Championship to become part of the ISAF family of events.

The ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship will head to Al Musannah Sports City, Oman in 2016 after ISAF Council voted in favour of the venue, subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual arrangements. Cork, Ireland was approved to host the 2014 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship subject to a successful site visit and satisfactory contractual arrangements.

London 2012 Olympic Sailing Manager Rob Andrews was awarded the ISAF Presidents Development Award in recognition of his tireless work to move the sport forward. From creating an official spectator venue to on water management, sports presentation and television production Rob was at the heart of a hugely successful sailing event which set a new standard for the future.

ISAF Class status was awarded to the J/111, Melges 20, RS100 and Swan 60 subject to them signing the ISAF Class agreement and satisfactory building specification.

Recommendations from the Racing Rules Committee on changes to the ISAF Case and Call Books were approved. These will be available early 2013.

ISAF President Göran Petersson concluded the Council meeting by paying tribute to the host town Dun Laoghaire and presented Irish Sailing Association President Niamh McCutcheon with an ISAF ships clock.

The 2013 ISAF Annual Conference will head to Muscat, Oman from 7-16 November.

Full details of all the decisions made at the ISAF Annual Conference will be published in the minutes of the meetings for the ISAF Council and all ISAF Committees, which will be published on the ISAF Meetings microsite in the coming ISAF website