ISAF has actively been pushing the Connect To Sailing concept for two years within its network of Member National Authorities. In turn, some of these Member National Authorities have already taken the initiative forwards themselves amongst their national network. Several have already established programmes, others are currently addressing their future strategy for sailing, and many other nations are setting off down this path.

When the Connect To Sailing concept was presented to the ISAF Council – the final decision making body of ISAF - in May 2003 and November 2003 – it received a unanimous vote of support.

The initiative needs global support to move forward and ISAF will actively engage with its 116 Member National Authorities and ensure that 'Connect to Sailing' is on the agenda of each nation. It is then the responsibility of each nation to identify its partners and move forwards together to identify the best strategy for the development of the sport in that individual nation.

What is ISAF's role and what can ISAF deliver?

• As the world governing body for the sport of sailing, ISAF is in a position of influence.
• ISAF has a community – its members – the 116 national sailing authorities around the world, who in turn link into their own national and regional networks.
• ISAF has the ability to communicate with the global sailing world – and to enable the sailing world to communicate with each other – to disseminate and share information.

ISAF’s sees its role as a broker, the catalyst, the instigator to bring Connect To Sailing to the attention of the stakeholders in each nation.

ISAF cannot create the solution for each individual nation and does not have a global answer, but ISAF can put experts in place – Connect to Sailing Ambassadors - to be the initial broker and encourage the partners in each nation to engage together and identify their solution for the 'development of sailing'.

ISAF has appointed Tim Coventry as Project Manager, working with Dan Jaspers - Training and Development Manager, together with the Connect to Sailing Ambassadors.

Sailing is a lifetime’s sport – and it is part of ISAF’s mandate to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to participate and benefit from the sport.