Sailing future
The World Sailing Conference concluded with the decisions made on a future Offshore World Championship, and the format of the 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition.
14 November 2017
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The 2017 World Sailing Annual Conference was held from the 4 to the 12 of November in Puerto Vallarta, México. More than 500 delegates, representing event organizers, class associations, Member National Authorities, key influencers and industry professionals, were in attendance.
This year, the Conference was focused on an overarching theme of ‘Uniting Our Sport’. Sailing’s stakeholders were working together to grow and develop the sport to ensure millions more people fall in love with sailing.
World Sailing’s Council made key decisions on November 10 and 11 ranging from the approval of an eSailing World Championships, an Offshore World Championships and Keelboat World Championships, through to approval of the format of the 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition. It was also decided that from 2022 onwards, the Para World Sailing Championships will be held alongside the Sailing World Championships.
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World Sailing will hold an Offshore World Championship in the future, and will include the best results from the joint ORC/IRC Offshore World Championship as well as a separate long distance offshore component selected from existing major events.
The Offshore Worlds will be held in One Design boats to help promote and raise the profile of Offshore Sailing, which represents a significant element of the sport.
Selection of equipment, dates and venue as well as arrangements of the Worlds will be decided by World Sailing’s Board of Directors in consultation with the Oceanic and Offshore Committee.
The racing format for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was decided. The Men’s and Women’s 470, Finn, Laser and Laser Radial will all sail an opening series which will be followed by a double point Medal Race.
The qualification system for Tokyo 2020 was also approved by World Sailing’s Council. The Aarhus 2018 Sailing World Championships will be the principal qualification event. Places will be available at the 2018 Asian Games, 2019 Pan-Am Games and 2019 World Championships. Further places will be available at continental events.
The next meetings of World Sailing will be held from 12-15 May 2018 in London, Great Britain. Sarasota, USA will host the Annual Conference from 27 October to 4 November 2018.
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