2024 World Sailing Elections – Committees and Commissions

The 2024 World Sailing nominations process will see existing committee and commission members leave their post after serving the sport for several years. This creates the opportunity for new members to channel their enthusiasm for sailing into making a real difference for thousands of sailors around the world. 

Which Committees and Commissions

Committees

Classes Committee	Equipment Committee
Equipment Rules Sub-committee	Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Events Committee	Governance Committee
Growth of Sailing Committee	International Judges Sub-committee
International Measurers Sub-committee	International Umpires Sub-committee
Match Racing Committee	Oceanic & Offshore Committee
Para Sailing Committee	Race Management Sub-committee
Race Officials Committee	Racing Rules Committee
Regional Games Committee	Special Regulations Sub-committee
Specialist Sailing Committee	Team Racing Committee
Youth Events Committee

 

Commissions

Coaches Commission	International Regulations Commission
Medical Commission	Safety Commission
Sailor Categorization Commission	Sustainability Commission

 

Judicial Positions

Disciplinary Tribunal	Investigations Panel
Ombudsman

 

Who can sit on Committees and Commissions?

Under the new Governance Reform measures there are now maximum terms of office and a strong commitment to gender parity on the Committees and Commissions. Stakeholders are asked to consider this carefully when submitting nominations. When making its decisions the Board will consider constitutional requirements to ensure that: 

• Each Committee has a maximum of 15 members  
• Each Sub-committee has a maximum of 10 members  
• All members have relevant skills, expertise and experience for the subject matter of the Committee or Sub-committee; 
• There is at least one member from each Region appointed (provided that the nominations received allow for this); 
• There is no more than one member from the same country (except in exceptional circumstances where the Board may recommend two members from the same country); 
• At least 30% of the chairs and vice-chairs, taken together, are from each gender (but the Board must use its best endeavours to ensure 50% are from each gender); 
• At least 30% of the Committee and Sub-committee members, taken together, are from each gender (but the Board must use its best endeavours to ensure 50% are from each gender). 

Who can nominate?

Nominations to any Committee or Sub-committee can be made by any Member National Authority (MNA), World Sailing Class Association – with the written consent of a person’s MNA may nominate persons to the Equipment Committee, Equipment Rules Sub-committee, Growth of Sailing Committee, International Measurers Sub-committee, Oceanic & Offshore Committee, Para Sailing Committee, Regional Games Committee and Youth Events Committee.

Existing members of the World Sailing Classes Committee and any Commission may also nominate persons to any committee or sub-committee – with written consent from that person’s MNA.

For the purposes of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, individuals may nominate themselves directly to World Sailing without the consent of their MNA and World Sailing Classes may nominate without the consent of the MNA.

For the Specialist Sailing Committee, any body which has been granted World Sailing Special Event status may nominate a person without the consent of that person’s MNA (subject to pending Constitutional amendments).

For World Sailing Classes Committee each World Sailing Class Association in good standing shall nominate a member. Such nomination does not require MNA support. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Classes Committee are elected by and from the members of the Committee.  The election is to be held at the meeting of the Committee held immediately prior to the 2024 General Assembly. The Chief Executive Officer shall conduct the election.

Commissions are appointed by the World Sailing Board. It is not necessary to be nominated by another body and individuals can submit their own application direct to World Sailing.

Judicial positions, Investigations Panel, Disciplinary Tribunal and Ombudsman are appointed by a separate process, but individuals are welcome to submit expressions of interest, if they wish to be considered for appointment to these roles. It is not necessary to be nominated by another body and individuals can submit their own expressions of interest direct to World Sailing.

The chairs, vice-chairs, and members of Committees and Sub-committees will be appointed by Council on the recommendation of the Board. Commissions are appointed by the World Sailing Board.  

It is anticipated that all appointments will be communicated on or before 20 January 2025 after the new Board and Council have made their decisions on the appointments.