View source for World Sailing

{{Short description|International sailing sports body}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox national sports federations
| assocname = World Sailing
| abbrev =
| logo = World Sailing logo local.svg
| logosize = 250px
| countryflag = 
| iocnation = 
| url = https://www.sailing.org/
| sport = [[Sailing (sport)|Sailing]]
| othersport1 = 
| othersport2 = 
| othersport3 = 
| othersport4 = 
| historytitle = 
| precedingorganisationsname = 
| yearfounded = {{Start date and years ago|14 October 1907}}
| formernames = International Yacht Racing Union;<br />International Sailing Federation
| yearclosed = 
| supersededby = 
| demographicstitle = 
| noofclubs = 
| noofaffclubs = 
| membershipsize = 144
| participationlevels = 
| affliationstitle = 
| ifed = 
| ifabbrev = WS
| ifurl = 
| ifyearjoined = 
| nationalolympiccom = 
| continentalassoc = 
| nocyearjoined = 
| nationalparalympiccom = 
| npcyearjoined = 
| regionalgames = 
| otheraff2 = [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]]
| otheraff3 = [[Association of Summer Olympic International Federations|ASOIF]]
| otheraff4 = [[International Maritime Organization|IMO]]
| otheraff5 = [[International Standards Organisation|ISO]]
| otheraff6 = [[World Anti-Doping Agency|WADA]]
| electedtitle = 
| patron = [[King Harald V of Norway]] <br /> 
| president = [[Quanhai Li]]
| board = Vice-presidents
| board1 = Özlem Akdurak
| board2 = Philip Baum
| board3 = Tomasz Chamera
| board4 = Sarah Kenny
| board5 = Yann Rocherieux
| board6 = Cory Sertl
| board7 = Marcus Spillane
| sectitle = Executive Office
| address1 = [[London]]
| address2 = 
| address3 = 
| address4 = 
| country = 
| chiefexec = 
| keystaff1position = Chief Executive
| keystaff1name = David Graham
| noofstaff = Approx. 30
| noofvol = 
| financetitle = 
| companystatus = 
| operatingincome = 
| regionstitle = Continental Association
| region1 = [[African Sailing Confederation|Africa]] (ASF)
| region2 = [[Asian Sailing Federation|Asia]] (ASCON)
| region3 = [[European Sailing Federation|Europe]] (EUROSAF)
| region4 = [[Oceania Sailing Federation|Oceania]] (OSAF)
| region5 = [[South American Sailing Confederation|South America]] (SASC)
| region6 = 
| region7 = 
| region8 = 
}}

'''World Sailing''' is the international [[sports governing body]] for [[sailing (sport)|sailing]]; it is recognized by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) and the [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC).

==History==
The creation of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) began in 1904, when Major Brooke Heckstall-Smith AINA, then Secretary of the Yacht Racing Association (now the [[Royal Yachting Association]]) wrote to the [[Yacht Club de France]], pointing out the desirability of holding a conference for the purpose of devising an International Rule of Measurement for Racing Yachts acceptable to all European countries. As a result, an International Conference of Yacht Measurement was held in London in January and June 1906, at which the Metre Rule was developed. This group went on to adopt a formal Constitution after a meeting at the Yacht Club de France in Paris on 14 October 1907 which is seen as the formation date of the International Yacht Racing Union.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/167.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221063853/http://www.sailing.org/167.php |archive-date=2015-12-21 |website=Sailing.org |title=A Short History of the International Sailing Federation}}</ref>

On 5 August 1996, the IYRU changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/about/history.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912012613/http://www.sailing.org/about/history.php |archive-date=2015-09-12 |website=Sailing.org |title=A Short History of the International Sailing Federation}}</ref>

On 14 November 2015, ISAF changed its name to World Sailing.<ref>[http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/MINAGM201511-%5B21462%5D.pdf Minutes from the Annual General Meeting of the International Sailing Federation], {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027061411/http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/MINAGM201511-%5B21462%5D.pdf |date=27 October 2017 }}, page 3, "5. Special Business – Change of Name". 40 voted in favour, 1 reject.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2015/12/08/isaf-changes-name-to-world-sailing/ |website=SailingScuttlebutt.com |title=ISAF Changes Name to World Sailing |date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

==Competition formats==
Competitive sailing regatta contain events which are defined by a combination of discipline, equipment, gender and sometimes categories. These criteria are defined by the race purpose.

===Disciplines===
The following are the main disciplines:
* Fleet racing – The most common form of competitive sailing involving boats racing around a course.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/fleet-racing.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Fleet Racing}}</ref>
* Match racing – Two identical boats race against each other. This one-on-one duel requires strategy and tactics. The first to cross the finish line wins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/match-racing.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Match Racing}}</ref>
* Team racing – Two teams each of normally three boats compete against each other. Fast-paced racing depends on excellent boat handling skills and rapid tactical decision making.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/team-racing.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Team Racing}}</ref>
* Offshore/oceanic – Any offshore race over 800 miles, including races around the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/offshore-and-oceanic.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Offshore & Oceanic Sailing}}</ref>
* Speed sailing - Is managed by [[World Sailing Speed Record Council]]
* Wave riding is common to board sports
* Both [[windsurfing]] and [[kiteboarding]] are experimenting with new formats.
* Cruising – Can be a coastal day sail or a longer distance international journey, it is the most commonly enjoyed sailing discipline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/cruising.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Cruising}}</ref>

===Equipment===
Common categories of equipment include the following: [[Dinghy sailing|dinghies]], [[multihull]]s, [[keelboat]]s, [[sailing yacht]], [[Windsurfing|windsurfers]], [[kitesurfing|kiteboarding]] and [[Radio-controlled boat|radio-controlled sailboats]]. Within these categories normally specific [[:category:Classes of World Sailing|class]] or rating system are used.

===Gender===

The Olympic Games included Women’s Classes of Sailing at the games of 1988. That was the same year that Olympic Boardsailing was added, for men only. The Barcelona Games of 1992 included Women’s Olympic Boardsailing at the Olympic Sailing Regatta on the Med Sea. The University Games of 1999 was the first Olympic Games that began with Women’s Olympic Classes and Men’s Olympic Classes from the inclusion of the Sport of Sailing. This Olympic Games Sailing regatta was from Palma de Mallorca, ESP. University Games are IOC sanctioned. These Games include students currently enrolled in full time studies that year, who also have Olympic Class status.

Sometimes the significance of women’s classes are understated as less important, because they let some women on men’s boats before the official inclusion. This focus tends to mixed events before acknowledging women specific classes. For the 2016 Olympics, compulsory mixed gender in the event was added for the first time.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

===Sailor categories===
In addition the following categories are sometimes applied to events:
* Age
* Nationality
* Disabled classification
* Sailor classification

==Rules and regulations==
World Sailing is now most familiar to sailors for defining the [[Racing Rules of Sailing]] (RRS), the [[international standard]] used to define competition rules and the framework within which racing is conducted.

Para sailing regattas for para sailors likewise follow the World Sailing rulebook with a minor change to permit things like powered adaptations. Strict classification requirements are enforced in the Paralympic Games for fair competition in Paralympic-class keelboats.

The key documents under control of World Sailing are:
* [[Racing Rules of Sailing]] (RRS)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/rrs |title=Racing Rules |website=Sailing.org}}</ref> – The RRS Rulebook is updated on every Olympic year.
* [[Equipment Rules of Sailing]] (ERS)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/ers |title=Equipment Rules Index |website=Sailing.org}}</ref>
* [[Offshore Special Regulations]] (OSR)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/specialregs |title=Offshore Special Regs Index |website=Sailing.org}}</ref>
* World Sailing Regulations and Constitution

==Membership==

===National members===
{{Further|:Category:National members of World Sailing}}
Like all sports federations, World Sailing is composed of "Member National Authorities" (MNAs) from over 140 countries all of whom have the right to make submissions to determine World Sailing's policies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/mna |website=Sailing.org |title=Member National Authorities}}</ref>

Persons with a physical impairment who are interested to learn to sail are encouraged<ref name="Para World Sailing">{{cite web |url=http://members.sailing.org/new-to-sailing/disabled-sailing.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Para World Sailing}}</ref> to locate their national World Sailing Member National Authority (MNA), Disabled Sports Organization, or visit the local sailing club, as World Sailing seeks to people with disabilities into the sport.

===Class associations===
{{Further|:Category:Classes of World Sailing}}
The federation recognizes over 80 classes which are each entitled to hold world championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/classes |title=Classes & Equipment Index |website=Sailing.org}}</ref>

===Affiliated members===
* [[Offshore Racing Congress]] (ORC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orc.org/ |website=ORC.org |title=Offshore Racing Congress}}</ref>
* [[World Sailing Speed Record Council]] (WSSRC)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/ |website=SailSpeedRecords.com |title=World Sailing Speed Record Council}}</ref>
* [[International Radio Sailing Association]] (IRSA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiosailing.org/ |website=RadioSailing.org |title=International Radio Sailing Association}}</ref>
* [[International Monohull Open Classes Association]]

==Events==

===Sailing and the Olympics===
{{See also|Sailing at the Summer Olympics}}
World Sailing is responsible for administration of the [[Sailing at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Sailing Regatta]]. Sailing (called yachting in the early years) has been a mainstay of the modern summer Olympic games since 1896, omitted only from the 1904 summer games in St. Louis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.olympic.org/sailing |website=Olympic.org |title=Sailing|date=2018-10-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/olympics |website=Sailing.org |title=Olympics}}</ref>

To help encourage high level international competition in the Classes used for the Olympic Games, World Sailing arrange the following events:
* [[ISAF Sailing World Championships|Sailing World Championships]] this is held every four years and is the combined World Championships for the Olympic classes and used as part of the Olympic Qualifying procedure
* [[Sailing World Cup Series|Sailing World Cup]], an annual global sailing tour

===Sailing in the Paralympic Games===
{{See also|Sailing at the Summer Paralympics}}
Sailing as an equipment based sports allows one of the largest ranges of paralympians to compete under equal terms. Sailing was included for the first time in the Atlanta [[1996 Paralympic Games]] program as a demonstration event. It became a full [[medal sport]] at the [[Sailing at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games]] up to 2020 were IPC removed sailing from the paralympic program. Work continues to get sailing reinstated for the 2028 Paralympics.

===World Sailing classes world championships===
{{See also|World Championships in Sailing}}
Each World Sailing class is entitled to hold a world championship

=== World Sailing initiated world championships and events ===
The following World Championships are held:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/news/24153.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607141316/http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/news/24153.php |archive-date=2013-06-07 |website=Sailing.org |title= Sailing World Cup Series Set To Launch For 2008-2009 |date=29 June 2008}}</ref>

* [[Sailing World Championships]]
* [[Sailing World Cup Series]]
* [[Youth Sailing World Championships]]
* [[Team Racing World Championship]]
* [[Offshore Team Racing World Championship]]
* [[Women's Match World Championship]]
* [[Open Match Racing World Championship]] (Presently awarded to the overall winner of the [[World Match Racing Tour]])
* [[eSailing World Championship]] (2018 Onwards)
* Mixed Two Person Offshore Keelboat World Championship (2019 Onwards)
* [[Nations Cup (sailing)|Nations Cup]] match racing
* IYRU Women's World Championships (from 1978 to 1992)

===World Sailing recognised world championships===
* [[Offshore Racing Congress]]
* [[International Association for Disabled Sailing]] (IFDS)
* [[International Radio Sailing Association]]

===World Sailing Special Events===
[[File:World Sailing Special Event.png|thumb|]]
* [[America's Cup]]
* [[SailGP]]
* [[Star Sailors League]]
* [[The Ocean Race]]
* [[World Match Racing Tour]]
* PWA World Windsurfing Tour{{refn|group=Note|[http://pwaworldtour.com Professional Windsurfers Association]}}
* GKA Kite World Tour{{refn|group=Note|[http://gkakiteworldtour.com GKA Kite World Tour]}}
* Foiling Week{{refn|group=Note|[http://foilingweek.com Foiling Week]}}

==Disabled sailing==
Sailing is a versatile sport that can accommodate many types of disability primarily because it is equipment based. Sailing is one of the few sports where disabled sailors compete on equal terms to able body sailors in a large section of the sport. Almost any boat can be sailed though some are more suitable for larger ranges of disabilities or specific categories of impairment.

World Sailing is also responsible for disabled sailing worldwide under the guidance of its own brand Para World Sailing.<ref name="Para World Sailing" /> This is since the merger of [[International Association for Disabled Sailing]] (IFDS) in November 2014, and re-forming of the World Sailing Committee later rebrand Para World Sailing. The rational was given as follows: "The creation of a single governing body for Member National Authorities (MNAs) and sailors will better serve the needs and interests of sailors with disabilities, and provide consistency within the sport, from relationships with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to technical support and operational efficiencies."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anderson |first1=Gary |title=ISAF and IFDS announce plans for merger at Annual Conference at Muscat |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1016998/isaf-and-ifds-announce-plans-for-merger-at-annual-conference-in-muscat |website=Inside the games |access-date=31 July 2019 |date=16 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailysail.com/dinghy/14/67336/0/isaf-conference-2014 |website=TheDailySail.com |title=ISAF Conference 2014}}</ref>

The IFDS Foundation was dissolved during the 2015 Annual Conference in Sanya, China. The Disabled Sailing Committee then re-branded as the Para World Sailing Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/news/41421.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112002335/http://www.sailing.org/news/41421.php  |archive-date=2015-11-12 |website=Sailing.org |title=2015 Annual Conference - 8 November Summary |date=8 November 2015}}</ref>

==People==

===Presidents===
From 1906 to 1946 a chairman was elected from time to time to orchestrate the annual meetings.
* 1946–1955: Sir [[Ralph Gore (sailor)|Ralph Gore]] was elected the first President
* 1955–1969: Sir [[Peter Scott]]
* 1969–1986: {{flagathlete|[[Beppe Croce]]|ITA}}
* 1986–1994: {{flagathlete|[[Peter Tallberg]]|FIN}}
* 1994–2004: {{flagathlete|[[Paul Henderson (sailor)|Paul Henderson]]|CAN}}
* 2004–2012: {{flagathlete|[[Göran Petersson]]|SWE}}
* 2012–2016: {{flagathlete|[[Carlo Croce (sailor)|Carlo Croce]]|ITA}}
* 2016–2020: {{flagathlete|[[Kim Andersen (sailing)|Kim Andersen]]|DEN}}
* 2020–present: {{flagathlete|[[Quanhai Li]]|CHN}}

===Vice presidents===
Vice presidents have been elected since 1955.
* 1998–2008: {{flagathlete|David Kellett|AUS}}
* 1988–1994: {{flagathlete|[[:es:Arturo Delgado de Almeida|Arturo Delgado]]|ESP}}
* 1994–2000: {{flagathlete|Fernando Bolín|ESP}}
* 2004–2012: {{flagathlete|David Irish|USA}}, Teresa Lara, {{flagathlete|Teo Ping Low|SIN}}
* 2008–2012: {{flagathlete|Alberto Predieri|ITA}}, Eric Tulla, Tomasz Holc
* 2008–2016: {{flagathlete|Nazli Imre|TUR}}
* 2012–2016: {{flagathlete|[[George Andreadis (sailor)|George Andreadis]]|GRE}}, {{flagathlete|Chris Atkins|GBR}}, Adrienne Greenwood
* 2010–2020: {{flagathlete|[[Gary Jobson]]|USA}}, {{flagathlete|Quanhai Li|CHN}}, {{flagathlete|Scott Perry|URU}}
* 2016–2020: {{flagathlete|Jan Dawson|NZL}}, {{flagathlete|[[Torben Grael]]|BRA}}, {{flagathlete|Ana Sanchez|ESP}}, {{flagathlete|Nadine Stegenwalner|GER}}
* 2020–present: {{flagathlete|Duriye Özlem Akdurak|TUR}}, {{flagathlete|Philip Baum|RSA}}, {{flagathlete|Tomasz Chamera|POL}}, {{flagathlete|Sarah Kenny|AUS}}, {{flagathlete|Cory Sertl|USA}}, {{flagathlete|Marcus Spillane|IRL}}, [[Jo Aleh]] (Athlete commission)

===Presidents of Honour===
* 1958–1991: [[King Olav V of Norway]]
* 1994–2023: [[King Constantine II of Greece]]
* 1994–present: [[King Harald V of Norway]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/26220.php |website=Sailing.org |title=Submission 124-12}}</ref>

===Race officials===
There are four types of race officials used to conduct sailing events recognised by World Sailing as follows:
* [[International Judge of Sailing|International Judge]]
* [[International Measurer of Sailing|International Measurer]]
* [[International Race Officer of Sailing|International Race Officer]]
* [[International Umpire of Sailing|International Umpire]]

==Official awards==
World Sailing hold the following awards together with service medals.

===Rolex World Sailor of the Year===
{{Main article|ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards}}
The main annual award the "[[ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards|Rolex World Sailor of the Year]]" that is sponsored by ROLEX in the following categories:
* Male World Sailor of the Year
* Female World Sailor of the Year

When a crew of two or three people is nominated, the awarded is presented to the entire crew. When larger crews win the award, normally only the skipper is recognised.

===Hall of Fame===
{{Main article|ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame}}

On 5 November 2007 in [[Estoril]], Portugal, the International Sailing Federation announced the first six inductees for the ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/halloffame/inductees.php |title=Inductees |work=ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame}}</ref><ref name="Hall of Fame">{{cite web |url=http://www.sailing.org/news/41428.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034034/http://www.sailing.org/news/41428.php |archive-date=2015-11-17 |title=Seven Sailors inducted into World Sailing's Hall of Fame |website=Sailing.org |date=13 November 2015}}</ref>
* [[Olin Stephens]] (USA)
* Dame [[Ellen MacArthur]] (GBR)
* [[Paul Elvstrøm]] (DEN)
* [[Barbara Kendall]] (NZL)
* [[Eric Tabarly]] (FRA)
* Sir [[Robin Knox-Johnston]] (GBR)

At the 2015 annual conference in [[Sanya]], China, there were seven further inductees.<ref name="Hall of Fame" />
* [[Dennis Conner]] (USA)
* [[Alessandra Sensini]] (ITA)
* [[Harold Stirling Vanderbilt|Harold Vanderbilt]] (USA)
* Sir [[Peter Blake (sailor)|Peter Blake]] (NZL)
* [[Buddy Melges]] (USA)
* [[Valentin Mankin]] (UKR)
* [[Torben Grael]] (BRA)

===Beppe Croce Trophy===
The [[Beppe Croce]] Trophy is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing. The roll of honour is an impressive one, including multiple Olympic medallists, rules gurus and designers, and all have dedicated an outstanding amount of time to the sport of sailing. Recipients are presented with a replica trophy.

==See also==
* [[:Category:Classes of World Sailing]]
* [[International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea]] (COLREGS)

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|https://www.sailing.org/}}

{{World Sailing navbox}}
{{International sailing}}
{{National members of World Sailing}}
{{Classes of World Sailing}}
{{International Sports Federations}}

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:World Sailing| ]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1907]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in France]]
[[Category:International organisations based in London]]
[[Category:Association of Summer Olympic International Federations|sailing]]
[[Category:Sailing governing bodies|*]]
[[Category:Organisations based in the City of Westminster]]