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World Sailing

World Sailing
WS
World sailing logo.png
Sport Sailing
Official website www.sailing.org
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)
Vice presidents
  •  Gary Jobson (USA)
  •  Quanhai Li (CHN)
  •  Scott Perry (URU)
  •  Jan Dawson (NZL)
  •  Torben Grael (BRA)
  •  Ana Sanchez (ESP)
  •  Nadine Stegenwalner (GER)
Executive Office
Address
Chief Executive Andy Hunt
Technical and Offshore Director Jason Smithwick
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
Continental Association

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 will be added for the first time.


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