European Sailing Federation
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World Sailing WS |
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|---|---|
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| Sport | Sailing |
| Official website | www |
| Year of formation | 14 October 1907 |
| Former names | International Yacht Racing Union; International Sailing Federation |
| Membership size | 144 |
| Other affiliation(s) | |
| Patron |
King Harald V of Norway Constantine II of Greece |
| President |
 Kim Andersen (DEN)
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| Vice presidents |
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| Executive Office | |
| Address | |
| Chief Executive | Andy Hunt |
| Events Director | Alastair Fox |
| Chief Commercial Officer | Hugh Chambers |
| Business Operations Director | Helen Fry |
| Legal Affairs & Governance Director | Jon Napier |
| Number of staff | Approx. 30 |
| Sponsors | Rolex, SAP, Volvo |
| Continental Association | |
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World Sailing (WS) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
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.
On 5 August 1996, the IYRU changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).
On 14 November 2015, ISAF changed its name to World Sailing.
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.
The following are the main disciplines:
Common categories of equipment include the following: dinghies, multihulls, keelboats, sailing yacht, windsurfers, kiteboarding and radio-controlled sailboats. Within these categories normally specific class or rating system are used.
The majority of sailing events are "open" events in which males and females compete together on equal terms either as individuals or part of team. Sailing has had female only World Championships since the 1970s to encourage participation and now host more than 30 such World Championship titles each year. For the 2016 Olympics, compulsory mixed gender in the event was added for the first time.
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