A summary of the daily reports published on the ISAF website – www.sailing.org
The ISAF Annual Conference brings together
figures from across the sailing world in
Looking ahead to the Conference the President commented, 'As always, I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging debate. Together with the MNAs, Classes, Clubs and sailors, we are the guardians of a very exciting, diverse, global, healthy, dynamic, innovative and lifetime’s sport. Through the many decisions ISAF will be taking during the ISAF Annual Conference, we must not only look at the best interests of our sport, but we must be aware of our competition – the other sports, other recreational interests for youth and the wider population. We have to be smart and think smart to ensure the ongoing success of sailing.'
In the first eight days of the Conference, the ISAF Committees, Sub-committees and Commissions will debate and discuss a total of well over 100 Submissions, made to change existing policies or introduce new ones, along with many other items on their respective Agendas.
Based on these discussions they will then make recommendations to the ISAF Council, which is the final decision making body of ISAF. The Conference concludes with three days of Council meetings which will see all the major decisions made which will affect sailing’s future. For a more detailed account of the workings of the ISAF Annual Conference and the decision making process CLICK HERE.
Nov.4th -Classes
Take Centre Stage
With 87 classes recognized by ISAF, today’s meeting of the ISAF Classes Committee represented the diversity of the sailing world. Along with Chairman Jeff MARTIN (GBR) and Vice-Chairman David SPRAGUE (CAN), there are five other elected figures on the Committee, along with a representative from each of the ISAF Classes.
Towards the start of the meeting, Ken KERSHAW (GBR) made a presentation on the In-House Certification programme, where he illustrated the steps made in its development since getting approval from the ISAF Council last November. Since then ISAF has launched the In-House Certification microsite at www.sailing.org/ihc and a host of classes have registered their interest in joining the programme, including the majority of the Olympic Classes.
Nov. 5th
-Boosting Participation
Participation and the spread of sailing around the world were the main topics on
day four of the ISAF Annual Conference. In a wide
ranging debate, the ISAF Youth and Development Committee looked at the
challenges facing sailing, whilst both the Windsurfing and the Match Racing
Committees were able to reflect on groundbreaking years.
The Youth and Development Committee Chair Ross ROBSON (RSA) led a debate focusing on the ISAF Strategic Plan’s objectives on Participation and Accessibility and Equipment. Key points that came out of the meeting were the desire to create 'start up' information and guidance for new MNAs and to improve the communications between the Committee and the classes and manufacturers. Another key topic was the creation of a simple set of sailing rules for youngsters, an item on the agenda of the Racing Rules Committee.
After a massive inaugural RS:X Worlds in Torbole, Italy just a few weeks ago, the main issues in the Windsurfing Committee unsurprisingly centred around the Olympic Games. The Committee supported a slightly amended version of Submission 064, to run a slalom course for the windsurfing Medal Races at the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition. The Submission will also be looked at by the Women’s Sailing Committee and Events Committee before a final decision is made by the ISAF Council. The Committee did not support Submission 075, recommending that the RS:X should be supplied equipment at the Olympic Games, with Acting Vice-Chairman Phil JONES (AUS) keen not to, 'move away from the principle of the level playing field.'
Nov. 6th -Race
Officials In The Limelight
On day five of the ISAF Annual Conference the ISAF Race Officials Committee were able to reflect on another year of vital work ensuring fair play on the water, whilst the Constitution Committee set to work maintaining the smooth running of the federation.
Put simply, without Race Officials, racing at the top level would not take place.
Amongst the key decisions in today’s meeting, the Race Officials Committee gave their support to Submission 117 on Performance Reporting. They also received feedback on the successful series of clinics and seminars this year,
Nov. 7th
-Equipment To The Fore
One of the key issues at the Equipment Committee were the applications for ISAF Recognized and International Class status. The Committee gave their support to applications for International status by the RS:X and RS Feva classes, and for the X-35 keelboat to become a Recognized Class. The Committee will now pass their recommendations onto the ISAF Council, who will make the final decision on the applications.
Looking towards the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Committee gave their approval to Submission 079 to delete Regulation 16.1.6, which currently limits the classes from which ISAF can choose the equipment for the Olympic Games and Regional Games.
Nov.8th - World
Cup© Receives Support
The Event Committee met today as the major topics of this year’s ISAF Annual Conference came under the spotlight. The debate centred around the Olympic Games and a potential World Cup© series for the Olympic Classes.
The report from the Format Working Party – covering feedback from sailors, coaches, race officials, event organizers and the media – brought broad agreement on the current Medal Race format. A major emphasize of the working party report was to improve the media coverage of the Medal Race, a focus which ran into the next big debate on Submission 073 on an ISAF World Cup© for the Olympic Classes.
Wold Cup-An amended version of the submission was supported, which would mean the events listed below would get ISAF World Cup© status for 2007 and 2008, with an agreement to look towards further development and a 'Grand Final' event from 2009 onwards.
Chair Bjorn UNGER (SWE) explained that with the Medal Race format approved last year and the support for the World Cup© today, the Committee are moving on a tack that acknowledged that, 'the media is our biggest grandstand'.
Submission 064, as amended by the Windsurfing Committee, on a new Olympic windsurfing course with a slalom finish for the Medal Race was also supported
Nov. 9th
-President Sets The Challenges Ahead
The first of three days’ of meeting for the Council, the final decision making body of ISAF, began with the President’s Report, where he gave an honest assessment of the position of sailing today.
The President stressed the need to become a more dynamic sport and a more professional one. 'You cannot have competition unless it is commercially viable and a strong commercial base is needed for our sport,' he explained.
He went on to offer the first of several challenges to the Council, 'We have the many evolving and exciting disciplines of the sport – kite sailing and single-handed offshore sailing. How is ISAF going to support these areas?'
The Successes…
The President
highlighted areas where success has been achieved this year: a record breaking Youth Worlds with
attendance from 63 nations; China winning their first ever gold medal in the
Olympic Classes and hosting a very successful Olympic Test Event; the
ongoing success of the ISAF Race
Officials programme; and the achievements of Connect to Sailing. Women’s sailing is going from strength to
strength, with sailing one of the few sports to to
achieve the minimum IOC target of 35% women’s participation at the 2004 Olympic
Games.
…And The
Challenges
The President said that the IOC have confirmed that for 2012, sailing will have ten Olympic
medals and a maximum limit of 380 athletes. The Olympic Arena, 'the pinnacle of global sport', is
increasingly competitive. In the President's words, 'ISAF has to respond to the requirements of being an Olympic sport.'
The President emphasized the importance of participation and highlighted the need for action to reverse a trend that has seen the spread of sailing nations represented at the Olympic Games fall from 77 in 1996, to 69 in 2000 and then to 61 in 2004.
Nov.10th - New
Classes And Courses
The second day of ISAF Council brought the big issues of this year’s ISAF Annual Conference to the table. With over 100 Submissions to discuss, including new classes and new courses, there was plenty of opportunity for the Council members to stretch their debating muscles.
ISAF Vice-President and 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition
Technical Delegate David KELLETT
(AUS) also gave a presentation on this year’s Olympic Test Event in
Looking towards 2008, the Council approved Submission 064 (as amended by the Windsurfing Committee) to introduce a new media friendly Medal Race course with a slalom finish for the two windsurfer events. Submission
Submission 079 to delete Regulation 16.1.6, which currently limits the classes from which ISAF can choose the equipment for the Olympic Games and Regional Games, was deferred. This followed the recommendation of the Events Committee, who felt the proposed removal of the regulation would have undesirable affects of the Regional Games
One of the key topics was several applications for ISAF Class status. Two new classes were approved for ISAF Recognized status – the Musto Performance Skiff and the X-35 Keelboat. Both the RS:X and the RS Feva were approved for ISAF International Class status.
Nov. 11th -World
Cup Series Gets The Green Light
On the final day of ISAF Council meetings this year’s hot topic, an ISAF World Cup for the Olympic Classes was given the go ahead.
The proposal passed by Council is summarized below:
· ISAF will establish an ISAF World Cup© series for the Olympic Classes using the following events:
·
Sail
· Rolex Miami OCR
· Princess Sofia Trophy
· Semaine Olympique Française
·
·
· The intention is to commence the ISAF World Cup© as soon as possible, and no later than 2008
· ISAF will work with the event organizers through 2007, in order to promote the 2008 ISAF World Cup©, and to consider the inclusion of the Olympic Class World Championships and a Grand Final event.
· The Executive Committee will report on progress and report to the Council at the Mid-Year Meeting in May 2007 with a more detailed outline of the ISAF World Cup© .
Working Party For
2012 Olympic Events
Early in the day several key decision were also made. Following on from an Executive Committee recommendation, a working party will be formed to look at and carry out research into evaluting the events which will be selected for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition by the Council in November 2007. The IOC has confirmed that at the 2012 Olympic Games, sailing will have 10 medals and 380 athletes. Having determined the ten Olympic events in November 2007, the equipment for these events will be selected at the Annual Conference in 2008. The South American Sailing Federation was also accepted as a Continental Member.