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The location enabled the delegates to have a first hand look at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Centre which will host the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition in less than 100 days, with a tour of the venue on Sunday morning. The visit coincided with the first race day of the IFDS Qingdao International Regatta, which is being treated as the 'unofficial' test event for the Paralympic Games.

Back to the meeting room and Qu CHUN (CHN), Competition Manager for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, reported on the final preparations for the Olympic Games. Having just visited the venue, the ISAF Council were suitably impressed by all arrangements as emphasised by ISAF President Göran PETERSSON, who commented, 'The city of Qingdao and the people of Qingdao have embraced the sport of sailing. I am totally confident that Qingdao will host a spectacular Olympic Sailing Competition.'

Deliberations then returned to the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition (click here to read the report from Saturday on the Council's decision on the Olympic events). The ISAF Regulations require Council to make a list of equipment for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition at this meeting. It is from this list that in November 2008 Council will select the equipment for the 2012 Games. The regulations require that the list shall include all equipment proposed through a valid submission, whether or not there is an event on the programme suitable for the equipment proposed. Having reaffirmed at Saturday's opening meeting that the multihull would not be on the programme for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition, Council wished to ensure this requirement to make a list was not misleading in the context of the multihull event. Therefore, whilst submissions were received proposing multihull equipment for the dinghy events and multihull equipment is included on the following list, Council added the proviso that 'the selection of equipment for dinghy events for the 2012 Olympic Sailing Competition will not be open to multihulls*'.

The equipment list is:

29er XX	International Moth
470	Laser
49er	Laser Radial
Byte CII	Laser SB3 (M)
Capricorn*	Musto Performance Skiff
Europe	Nacra F18*
F18*	RS: X
Formula One Design	Sonar
Finn	Star
Hobie Tiger*	Tornado*
J/22	Ultimate 20
J/24	Yngling
J/80

In addition submissions have been received for 'Sport boat', new ISAF Match Racing Design and Match Racing Equipment proposed by the 2012 Olympic Games organizer.

Council went on to approve the recommendation from the Events Committee on the voting procedure Council will use to decide the equipment in November 2008. Each event will be voted for individually, with a simple majority determining the equipment selected. If there is a tied vote, a 'run off' will be held between those two securing the highest number of votes. In the event of being unable to break a tie, the President will have the casting vote.

The ISAF Advertising Code (ISAF Regulation 20 - www.sailing.org/regulations) has been reviewed over the past year by a working party including representatives from Member National Authorities, classes, sailors and event organizers. Whilst the fundamental principles will remain, the aim of the review has been to reword the existing Code in a format that is easier to understand, ensure the appropriate balance of advertising 'space' for each party, review the default advertising for classes and improve and broaden the advertising opportunities.

To ensure extensive consultation, the proposed changes will soon be published on the ISAF website for feedback by 30 June 2008. The final proposals will be submitted to the 2008 ISAF Annual Conference, with the new Advertising Code scheduled for implementation from 1 January 2009, to coincide with the next Olympic quadrennial.

At their meeting on Monday, the Executive Committee established a Multihull Commission who will work directly with the Executive Committee. 'It is essential the multihull community is represented directly within ISAF and the Executive Committee looks forward to working together to support the future of multihull sailing at all levels,' commented the ISAF President.

In closing the 2008 ISAF Mid-Year Meeting, the ISAF expressed thanks to the Chinese Yachting Association, Qingdao Municipal Government, Sports Bureau of Qingdao and the Sailing Sub-Committee of Qingdao.

Click here to read more on the ISAF Beppe Croce Trophy, presented at a gala dinner hosted by Sanpellegrino during the Mid-Year Meetings.

For more on the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting, including schedules, papers and the latest news, visit www.sailing.org/meetings.