The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

After the excitement and long debates yesterday over the key submissions relating to Olympic Classes and equipment for the 2016 Olympic Games and the future of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, much of the day was spent running through the 'housekeeping' submissions that improve the administration of the sport and amendments to the wording of the racing rules of sailing.

Council voted in favour of a member of the Athletes' Commission being on Council. Subject to ratification at the AGM next year, the Athletes Commission will appoint a member from their commission to sit on Council and it means the voice of the athletes will be included in the final decision making process of the sport.

The submission to allow outside assistance to recover a crew member from the water and to return the crew member to the boat before the boat continues in the race prompted much debate. Support was based on safety needs of not keeping sailors in cold water for unnecessarily long periods and to reduce risk in shark prone waters. The submission was also supported as an important safety feature in youth sailing. Council voted in favour of the submission and it now needs to go through the Racing Rules Committee.

Council approved the Equipment Committee recommendations to grant ISAF Class status to the Formula 16, International Maxi Association, Hobie Wildcat, Viper and Class 40 classes subject to them signing the ISAF Class agreement. Council deferred the decision on the 29erXX class. The Council also support the Committee's recommendation to remove the ISAF Class status of the 11 metre and X-99 classes, as they no longer meet ISAF Class requirements.

Turning to youth sailing, Council also approved the choice of Tavira, Portugal as the host venue for the 2014, which is now subject to contractual agreements and a successful site visit.

Over the couse of the week there has been a lot of positive progress for the sport of sailing and sharing of knowledge and ideas between member national authorities, classes and the wider ISAF family.

ISAF President Göran Petersson concluded the Council meeting by paying tribute to the host city Athens and presented the host Member National Authority, the Hellenic Sailing Federation, with a crystal decanter as a tribute and reminder of the 2010 ISAF Annual Conference.

Full details of all the decisions made at the ISAF Annual Conference will be published in the minutes of the meetings for the ISAF Council and all ISAF Committees, which will be published on the ISAF Meetings microsite at www.sailing.org/meetings in the coming weeks.