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After lengthy discussions on the World Cup series yesterday, it was clear that a consensus around the Council table was strongly in favour that this was the way forward for sailing. This consensus echoed the words of ISAF President Göran PETERSSON (SWE) when he had made his opening address to the Council, 'We all know the sport has to develop a professional and widely recognized world tour.'

Today, the focus was on timing - when would a World Cup begin. As the President summarized, 'It is a matter of when and how and how we can.'

On Thursday the President had also told Council, 'You cannot have competition unless it is commercially viable and a strong commercial base is needed for our sport.' ISAF Vice-President Teo Ping LOW (SIN) echoed those statements today, 'ISAF has to become more business like.'

After lengthy debate including representations from the classes, event organizers and the MNAs, ISAF Vice-President David KELLETT (AUS) presented the Executive Committee proposal on the World Cup to Council which was approved by a massive majority.

World Cup Proposal

The proposal passed by Council is summarized below:

• ISAF will establish an ISAF World Cup© series for the Olympic Classes using the following events:
• • Sail Melbourne
  • Rolex Miami OCR
  • Princess Sofia Trophy
  • Semaine Olympique Française
  • Holland Regatta
  • Kiel Week
• The intention is to commence the ISAF World Cup© as soon as possible, and no later than 2008
• ISAF will work with the event organizers through 2007, in order to promote the 2008 ISAF World Cup©, and to consider the inclusion of the Olympic Class World Championships and a Grand Final event.
• The Executive Committee will report on progress and report to the Council at the Mid-Year Meeting in May 2007 with a more detailed outline of the ISAF World Cup© .

Working Party For 2012 Olympic Events

Early in the day several key decision were also made. Following on from an Executive Committee recommendation, a working party will be formed to look at and carry out research into evaluting the events which will be selected for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition by the Council in November 2007. The IOC has confirmed that at the 2012 Olympic Games, sailing will have 10 medals and 380 athletes. Having determined the ten Olympic events in November 2007, the equipment for these events will be selected at the Annual Conference in 2008. The South American Sailing Federation was also accepted as a Continental Member.

There was plenty of debate on the final day of Council meetings © ISAF

The Council also approved changes to the qualification system to the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships. Full details of the revised system will be published on www.sailing.org next week.

Submission 117 to introduce a form of performance reporting for ISAF Race Officials was approved with some amendments. This will provide a system to make positive reports on Race Officials, and also give a system for a formal reporting process on conduct and competence in respect of officials. In supporting the submission, Race Officials Chair John DOERR (GBR) pointed out that this will bring sailing into line with the common practice across the vast majority of other sports federations.

The Council also approved the recommendations for the 2008 ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship to be hosted in Auckland, New Zealand and the 2009 ISAF Team Racing World Championship to be hosted by Perth, Australia.

The Council meeting ended with the President thanking the hosts of the 2006 ISAF Annual Conference, the Finnish Sailing Federation.

About The ISAF Council

The ISAF Council is the final decision making body of ISAF. It is chaired by the ISAF President Göran PETERSSON (SWE), who was elected along with the seven Vice-Presidents for a four-year term in 2004. Along with the President and Vice-Presidents, the Council also includes the other members of the Executive Committee, Presidents of Honour HM King Harald V of Norway and HM King Constantine (both non-voting). There are also 28 appointed members (representing each of the regional groups of sailing nations), and representatives of the Offshore Committee, ISAF Classes Committee and a Women's Representative.

Meetings Microsite

The ISAF Meetings microsite - www.sailing.org - contains the Agendas, Supporting Papers and Submission from past meetings, 1997 to date. Via the online Minutes Archive you can access all past minutes of ISAF Committee Meetings from 1993 to date.

For all the news on the ISAF Annual Conference CLICK HERE.