International Sailing Federation
Encyclopedia
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee
as the world governing body for the sport of sailing.
Sailing is a very diverse primarily because it is equipment based sport with boats built for a wide range of purposes. Competitive sailing takes place in many different types of boats including dinghies
, windsurfers
, multihull
s, yacht
s, kitesurfing
and radio controlled sailing boats
as equipment. It then has disciplines of fleet racing, match racing
and team racing
together with speed records managed by World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)
an independent body recognised by ISAF.
in Paris on October 14, 1907. On August 5, 1996, the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The ISAF original background is more linked to handicap, rating systems and class rules used to allow boats to compete on equal terms with the organisation being responsible for the development of the rules of the metre classes used for the early Olympic Regatta
and the America's Cup
.
(RRS) which is the international standard
used to control the rules of competition and the framework within which racing is conducted.
The key documents under control of ISAF are the
. Sailing has been part of all bar one of the modern summer Olympic games. See http://www.olympic.org/sailing and http://www.sailing.org/olympics
To help encourage high level international competition in the Classes used for the Olympic Games ISAF arrange the following events:
" that is sponsored by ROLEX in the following categories:
When a crew of 1, 2 or 3 people is nominate the awarded is present to the entire crew however when larger crews win the award normally only the skipper is recognised. Information on the previous winners can be found at http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor
See http://www.sailing.org/halloffame/
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
as the world governing body for the sport of sailing.
Sailing is a very diverse primarily because it is equipment based sport with boats built for a wide range of purposes. Competitive sailing takes place in many different types of boats including dinghies
Dinghy sailing
Dinghy sailing is the activity of sailing small boats by using five essential controls:* the sails* the foils ....
, windsurfers
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, multihull
Multihull
A multihull is a ship, vessel, craft or boat with more than one hull.-Description:Multihulls include: Proas, which have two differently shaped or sized hulls with lateral symmetry; catamarans, which have two hulls with longitudinal symmetry; and trimarans, which have a main hull in the center and...
s, yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
s, kitesurfing
Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing or Kiteboarding is an adventure surface water sport that has been described as combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one extreme sport. Kitesurfing harnesses the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small surfboard or a...
and radio controlled sailing boats
Radio-controlled boat
- Fun Sport :Electric Sport boats are the most common type of boat amongst casual hobbyists. Hobby quality boat speed generally start at around 20MPH and go up from there, and can be just as fast or faster than their internal combustion counterparts, with the latest in Lithium Polymer and Brushless...
as equipment. It then has disciplines of fleet racing, match racing
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
and team racing
Team racing
Team racing, also known as teams racing, is a popular form of yacht racing. As opposed to fleet racing where boats are scored on an individual basis, in team racing teams consisting of 2, 3 or 4 boats compete together. As in fleet racing the low point scoring system is used. A boat is awarded...
together with speed records managed by World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC)
World Sailing Speed Record Council
The World Sailing Speed Record Council, founded in 1972, is the body authorized by the International Sailing Federation to confirm speed records of sailing crafts on water . In the early years the council only dealt with claims of speed records on a one-way leg of 500 metres...
an independent body recognised by ISAF.
History
As a brief history the IYRU was formed after a meeting at the Yacht Club de FranceYacht Club de France
The Yacht Club de France is one of the most important yacht clubs in France. It was established in 1867, during the Second French Empire. This club was bestowed Royal Patronage by HRH Emperor Napoleon III and its first president was Admiral Rigault de Genouilly.In 1891, a new club was founded, the...
in Paris on October 14, 1907. On August 5, 1996, the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The ISAF original background is more linked to handicap, rating systems and class rules used to allow boats to compete on equal terms with the organisation being responsible for the development of the rules of the metre classes used for the early Olympic Regatta
Sailing at the Summer Olympics
Sailing has been one of the Olympic sports since the Games of the I Olympiad, held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Despite being scheduled in the first Olympic program, the races were canceled due to severe weather conditions...
and the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
.
Rules and Regulations
ISAF is now most familiar to sailors for defining the Racing Rules of SailingRacing Rules of Sailing
The Racing Rules of Sailing govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind...
(RRS) which is the international standard
International standard
International standards are standards developed by international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use, worldwide...
used to control the rules of competition and the framework within which racing is conducted.
The key documents under control of ISAF are the
- Racing Rules of SailingRacing Rules of SailingThe Racing Rules of Sailing govern the conduct of yacht racing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, model boat racing, dinghy racing and virtually any other form of racing around a course with more than one vessel while powered by the wind...
(RRS) See http://www.sailing.org/rrs - Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS) See http://www.sailing.org/ers
- Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) See http://www.sailing.org/specialregs
- ISAF Regulations and Constitution
National Members
Like all sports federations ISAF is composed of "Member National Authorities" (MNA's) from over 120 countries all of who have the rights to make submission to determine ISAF's policies. See http://www.sailing.org/mnaClass Associations
The federation recognizes over 80 classes which are each entitled to hold world championships See http://www.sailing.org/classesAffiliated Members
- IFDS International Association for Disabled SailingInternational Association for Disabled SailingThe International Association for Disabled Sailing is an affiliate member of the International Sailing Federation and is responsible for coordinating the paralympic sailing competition with the International Paralympic Committee...
See http://www.sailing.org/disabled - ORC Offshore Racing CongressOffshore Racing CongressThe Offshore Racing Congress is an international body for the sport of competitive sailing and is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of rating and classification standards used to define offshore, that is marine as opposed to inland, yacht racing handicap categories.-Ratings and...
See http://www.orc.org/ - World Sailing Speed Record Council See http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/
- International Radio Sailing AssociationInternational Radio Sailing AssociationThe International Radio Sailing Association formerly the ISAF Radio Sailing Division is an affiliate member of the International Sailing Federation It is authorised to conduct up to three official World Championships each year.-Classes:...
See http://www.radiosailing.org/
Sailing and the Olympics
ISAF is responsible for administration of the Olympic Sailing RegattaSailing at the Summer Olympics
Sailing has been one of the Olympic sports since the Games of the I Olympiad, held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Despite being scheduled in the first Olympic program, the races were canceled due to severe weather conditions...
. Sailing has been part of all bar one of the modern summer Olympic games. See http://www.olympic.org/sailing and http://www.sailing.org/olympics
To help encourage high level international competition in the Classes used for the Olympic Games ISAF arrange the following events:
- ISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsISAF Sailing World ChampionshipsThe ISAF Sailing World Championships are held every four years since 2003 and are used as the primary event to qualify countries for the Sailing at the Summer Olympics...
this is held every four years and is the combined World Championships for the Olympic classes and used as part of the Olympic Quaifying procedure - ISAF Sailing World CupISAF Sailing World CupThe ISAF Sailing World Cup is a series of sailing regattas. The World Cup came in to existence during the 2008–2009 Season. The series features boats which feature at the Olympics and Paralympics.-2008–2009:...
and annual global sailing tour
ISAF Classes World Championships
Each ISAF classes is entitiled to hold a world championshipISAF Initiated World Championships
The following World Championships are held:- ISAF Youth Sailing World ChampionshipsISAF Youth Sailing World ChampionshipsThe ISAF Youth Sailing World Championhips was first held in Sweden in 1971 it has been held ever year since. It is one of the key events of the federation to help promote top level youth participation.-Venues:-Links:*...
See http://www.isafyouthworlds.com - ISAF Team Racing World ChampionshipISAF Team Racing World ChampionshipThe ISAF Team Racing World Championship is an team racing event conducted in dinghies run by the International Sailing Federation.-Venues:...
See http://www.sailing.org/teamworlds.php - ISAF Offshore Team Racing World ChampionshipISAF Offshore Team Racing World ChampionshipThe ISAF Offshore Team World Championship are bi-annually since 2004 held by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Sardinia Italy and are run in cooperation with the Offshore Racing Congress.-Links:* *...
See http://www.sailing.org/sailors/otwc.php - ISAF Women's Match World ChampionshipISAF Women's Match World ChampionshipThe ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship is arranged by the International Sailing Federation. With female match racing included in the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition for the first time this section of the sport is groeing in popularity.-2011:...
See http://www.sailing.org/womensmatchworlds.php - ISAF Open Match Racing World ChampionshipISAF Open Match Racing World ChampionshipA ISAF Open Match Racing World Champion has been named annually since 1988. Since 2006 the World Match Racing Tour Champion has been named ISAF Match Racing World Champion.-World Champions:For 2005 onwards please click here...
(Presently awarded to the overall winner of the World Match Racing TourWorld Match Racing TourThe World Match Racing Tour is a professional sailing series, featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation with “Special Event” status...
) - IYRU Women's World Championships (now not held)
ISAF Recognised World Championships
- Offshore Racing CongressOffshore Racing CongressThe Offshore Racing Congress is an international body for the sport of competitive sailing and is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of rating and classification standards used to define offshore, that is marine as opposed to inland, yacht racing handicap categories.-Ratings and...
- International Association for Disabled SailingInternational Association for Disabled SailingThe International Association for Disabled Sailing is an affiliate member of the International Sailing Federation and is responsible for coordinating the paralympic sailing competition with the International Paralympic Committee...
(IFDS) - International Radio Sailing AssociationInternational Radio Sailing AssociationThe International Radio Sailing Association formerly the ISAF Radio Sailing Division is an affiliate member of the International Sailing Federation It is authorised to conduct up to three official World Championships each year.-Classes:...
ISAF Special Events
- Volvo Ocean RaceVolvo Ocean RaceThe Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
- World Match Racing TourWorld Match Racing TourThe World Match Racing Tour is a professional sailing series, featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation with “Special Event” status...
- America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
- Extreme 40 Sailing SeriesExtreme 40The Extreme 40 is a class of sailing catamaran created by TornadoSport and designed by Yves Loday. 40 feet long and constructed of carbon fibre. They have a top speed of about 40 knots and can sail at about 35 knots in 20-25 knots of wind. The first extreme 40 was launched in 2005. They are...
- PWA Tour
President
From 1906 to 1946 a chairman was elected from time to time to orchestrate the annual meetings.- 1946 - 1955 Sir Ralph Gore was elected the first President
- 1955 - 1969 Sir Peter ScottPeter ScottSir Peter Markham Scott, CH, CBE, DSC and Bar, MID, FRS, FZS, was a British ornithologist, conservationist, painter, naval officer and sportsman....
(GBR) - 1969 - 1986 Beppe CroceBeppe CroceGiuseppe "Beppe" Croce was an Italian sailor. From 1969 - 1986 he was the president of the International Sailing Federation. Croce competed in the 6 metre class at the 1948 Summer Olympics.- References :*...
(ITA) - 1986 - 1994 Peter Tallberg (FIN)
- 1994 - 2004 Paul HendersonPaul Henderson (sailor)1964 Enoshima 12 th Flying Dutchman1968 Acapulco 20 th FinnPaul Franklin Henderson , Toronto is a former president of the International Sailing Federation.- Sailing career :...
(CAN) - 2004 - Göran PeterssonGöran PeterssonGöran Petersson, born 1942, is a Swedish lawyer, sailor and sports official.Petersson got his law degree from Lund University in 1967, and has been a lawyer since 1977. He works at Advokatfirman Vinge in Gothenburg....
(SWE)
Presidents of Honour
- HM King Constantine II of GreeceConstantine II of Greece|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
(GRE) - HM King Harald V of NorwayHarald V of NorwayHarald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
(NOR)
Race Officials
There are four types of race officials used to conduct sailing events recognised by ISAF as follows:- International JudgeInternational Judge of SailingJudges are a type of race official used during in the running of sailing races run under the Racing Rules of Sailing. Their role is primarily linked to being on a protest committee which is a panel of judges. In sailing unlike many sports due to the practical considerations involved means on the...
- International MeasurerInternational Measurer of SailingMeasurers are a type of race official who have two principal functions in the sport of sailing: certification control and regatta equipment inspection....
- International Race OfficerInternational Race Officer of SailingRace Officer are a type of race official used during in the running of sailing races run under the Racing Rules of Sailing. Their role is primarily linked to on the water race management issues. Primarily they are responsible for laying the course and starting and finishing the races...
- International UmpireInternational Umpire of SailingUmpires are a type of race official used during in the running of sailing races run under the Racing Rules of Sailing. Their role is primarily linked to making on the water decisions about rule infringements during match racing events or rule 42 calls during fleet racing...
Official Awards
The International Sailing Federation hold the following awards together with service medals.ISAF World Sailor of the Year
The main annual award the "ISAF World Sailor of the YearISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards
-Background:The ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards were launched in 1994 by the International Sailing Federation. The awards are recognised as the pinnacle award a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements by the world of sailing....
" 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 1, 2 or 3 people is nominate the awarded is present to the entire crew however when larger crews win the award normally only the skipper is recognised. Information on the previous winners can be found at http://www.sailing.org/worldsailor
ISAF Hall of Fame
On Monday 5 November 2007 in Estoril, Portugal, the International Sailing Federation announced the first six inductees for the ISAF Sailing Hall of Fame it is unclear at present when the next awards will be but the original intent was every 4 years. Present inductees are:- Paul Elvström
- Barbara KendallBarbara KendallBarbara Kendall, MBE is a boardsailor from New Zealand. Kendall was raised at Bucklands Beach and attended Macleans College...
- Sir Robin Knox-JohnstonRobin Knox-JohnstonSir William Robert Patrick "Robin" Knox-Johnston, CBE, RD and bar is an English sailor. He was the first man to perform a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe and was the second winner of the Jules Verne Trophy . For this he was awarded with Blake the ISAF Yachtsman of the Year award...
- Dame Ellen MacArthurEllen MacArthurDame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, DBE is an English sailor, up until 2009, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo...
- Olin StephensOlin StephensOlin James Stephens II was an American yacht designer of the 20th century. Stephens was born in New York, but spent his summers with his brother Rod, learning to sail on the New England coast. He also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a term.Stephens' name had a long history...
- Eric TabarlyÉric TabarlyÉric Tabarly was a notable French yachtsman.A former officer in the French navy who is often considered the father of French yachting....
See http://www.sailing.org/halloffame/