Education for Umpires
World Sailing seminars and clinics for Umpires are intended to improve the standard of umpiring and to provide theoretical and practical training to people who wish to become an International Umpire. As an International Umpire, you will have achieved the highest standard of rules knowledge and decision making and will be a valuable member of the umpire team at the highest level of Sailing competition.
To achieve this, World Sailing offers two kinds of course. These are known as clinics and seminars respectively. Both are hosted by Member National Authorities. Information about hosting a World Sailing Seminar and Clinic is available in the International Umpire Resource Centre.
Information about hosting a World Sailing Seminar and Clinic is available in the International Umpire Resource Centre.
- Chris Atkins (GBR)
- Damien Boldyrew (AUS)
- Philippe Gomez (FRA)
- Chris Lindsay (IRL)
- David Pyron (USA)
- Jan Stage (DEN)
- Bill O’Hara (IRL)
- Sofia Truchanowicz (POL)
World Sailing International Umpire Seminars
An IU seminar is an advanced course which is aimed at those who are already umpiring at a National level. Candidates who wish to attend an IU seminar should therefore either have a current appointment as a National Umpire, have attended a World Sailing Clinic or have experience of umpiring at national level.
A seminar must be held in conjunction with a Match, Team, or Umpired Fleet Racing event. The Seminar must include a minimum of two days classroom, followed by a minimum of two days on-the-water umpiring at an event, where participants may undertake a formal Performance Assessment.
The seminar may also include an online element delivered in advance of the in-person classroom sessions to deliver extra content and aid with preparation.
The IU written test is now available online and is therefore no longer a formal part of the IU seminar. IU candidates may take the test at a time which is convenient to them before application.
The event should normally be a Grade 2 or 3 event for Match Racing (never a Grade WC or a Grade 1 event) or a similar level for Team and Fleet Racing.
Although the minimum number of days on the water is three it is recommended to extend this to three or four days as this gives the attendees better possibilities to complete a successful performance assessment.
The seminar must be open to attendees from other nations than the hosting national authority.
World Sailing Match Racing / Team Racing / Fleet Racing Clinics
The World Sailing Clinics are intended to introduce these disciplines to areas where there is little experience of these kinds of sailing. The Clinics teach umpiring to sailors who have knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing but have little or no knowledge of umpiring.
The World Sailing Match, Fleet and Team Racing Clinics last for two / three days with one day in the classroom and two/three days on the water. The focus in a clinic is on training and there is no formal assessment or exam.
It is recognised that many MNAs have their own National Umpire programme and will therefore have no need for a WS clinic.
World Sailing Match Racing / Team Racing / Fleet Racing Workshops
A World Sailing workshop provides international umpire (IU) candidates with an opportunity to pass the performance assessment that is required for appointment as an IU. A workshop is held at an event with focus on umpiring on the water. Workshops can be organised through the Race Officials Executive, who will appoint an assessor to attend an event.
World Sailing will provide an instructor/performance assessor who will work with the delegates at the event and carry out a formal performance assessment if requested. Delegates must previously have participated in an IU seminar and failed the performance assessment. A fixed number of places will be announced, and it will typically be quite low. If more applicants sign up, they will be selected by the IUSC based on their performance at the seminar(s) they have participated in.
Written Test Procedure
One of the requirements for first appointment and reappointment as an International Umpire is to pass the written rules test. The test is available in match racing, team racing and umpired fleet racing (Appendix MR) formats, which are all of equal length and difficulty.
The tests contain 50 questions to be answered in 60 minutes for native English speakers and 90 minutes for non-native English speakers. A passing mark is 76% or higher.
The test can be proctored by an approved WS IU Test administrator. A list of those umpires who are approved to administrate the test is below. This can be arranged either in person or remotely, and candidates who wish to sit the test can contact an administrator directly or through the Race Officials Executive.
IU Test Administrators
| Miguel Allen (POR) | Philippe Gomez (FRA) | Flavio Naveira (ARG) |
| Neven Baran (CRO) | Charlotte Greppe (SWE) | Bill O’Hara (IRL) |
| Mats Bjorklund (FIN) | Juuso Leivonen (FIN) | David Pyron (USA) |
| Damien Boldyrew (AUS) | Sungchul Jeong (KOR) | Richard Slater (AUS) |
| Kirk Brown (USA) | Kathy Lindgren (USA) | Jan Stage (DEN) |
| Sally Burnett (GBR) | Chris Lindsay (IRL) | Sofia Truchanowicz (POL) |
| Brad Dellenbaugh (USA) | Jon Napier (GBR) |
Performance Assessment Procedure
A Performance Assessment is a detailed on-the-water assessment of your umpiring ability conducted by an approved IU Assessor, which is a requirement for first appointment. Only candidates who have attended a World Sailing Umpiring Seminar may request a Performance Assessment. This defers from a ‘reference’, another requirement for first appointment, as a reference can be provided by any International Umpire.
Assessments can be undertaken at an IU seminar or arranged at an event where an authorized Performance Assessor will be in attendance. Candidates who would like to arrange an assessment should contact the Race Officials Executive via email.
IUs Authorised to Conduct Match Racing Performance Assessments:
- Damien Boldyrew (AUS)
- Philippe Gomez (FRA)
- Bill O’Hara (IRL)
- Flavio Naveiro (ARG)
- David Pyron (USA)
- Jan Stage (DEN)
- Sofia Truchanowicz (POL)
IUs Authorised to Conduct Team Racing Umpire Performance Assessments:
- Chris Atkins (GBR)
- Chris Lindsay (IRL)
- Jon Napier (GBR)
- David Pyron (USA)
- Jan Stage (DEN)
- Flavio Naveiro (ARG)
IUs Authorised to Conduct Fleet Racing Umpire Performance Assessments:
- Chris Atkins (GBR)
- Damien Boldyrew (AUS)
- Sally Burnett (GBR)
- Philippe Gomez (FRA)
- Kathy Lindgren (USA)
- Chris Lindsay (IRL)
- Bill O’Hara (IRL)
- Jan Stage (DEN)
- Sofia Truchanowicz (POL)
Trainee performance assessors
- David Fan (HKG)
- Kevin Hawkins (USA)
These lists are subject to review annually at the World Sailing conference.