Full Schedule at World Sailing 2016 Annual Conference

World Sailing’s 2016 Annual Conference, the central meeting point where the strategy of sailing is reviewed, discussed and celebrated, will be held November 5-13 in Barcelona, Spain.

For the 2016 Annual Conference, the dialogue and engagement will be centred on an overarching theme of, ‘Our Sustainable Future’. Sailing will be laying down plans for a healthy sustainable future for the sport, as well as the more specific subject of sustainability in the waters of the world.

Up to 700 delegates will attend the annual conference ranging from International Class Associations representatives, Member National Authorities officials and Committee Members to leading Sailors, Event Organizers, Boat Manufacturers and Observers.

Those following online will be able to do so via World Sailing’s Annual Conference Blog which will be go live on November 5.

World Sailing has received over 90 submissions that propose change to existing policies, regulations and rules as well as introducing new ones. These submissions will be discussed alongside an array of additional topics at Committee, Sub-committee and Commission meetings throughout the week.

From there, the expert committees will put their recommendations and opinions forward to Council, the final decision making body of World Sailing, where they will either be approved, rejected or deferred. The meeting of Council on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12, will be streamed live on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel.

Mixed in with the Committee meetings will be three open forums on sustainability, Para World Sailing and the commercial strategy of the sport where delegates will be able to engage with expert panels. Additionally, networking opportunities will be available throughout the week at designated sessions.

Hot topics of discussion at the 2016 Annual Conference include:

Meetings Program
World Sailing’s Events Committee will review the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition as well as look forward to the upcoming quadrennial. The Committee will discuss the IOC’s Agenda 2020 recommendations alongside debate around the events for Tokyo 2020, gender equity, innovation and the possibility of showcase events. World Sailing’s Council will further debate Agenda 2020 and World Sailing decisions for Tokyo 2020 but will not make any decisions at the 2016 Annual Conference.

The Equipment Committee will look into the evolution of Olympic equipment and receive an update on the developments of the Nacra 17 to a full foiling configuration. In addition, the Committee will review applications for World Sailing class status from the Viper 640, International One Design, Nacra 15 and the Neil Pryde CR:X.

The Racing Rules Committee will consider a number of submissions for future editions of the Rules Book whilst the Race Officials Committee will look into the strategy and development of international officials.

In total, there will be 13 Committee, 9 Sub-committee and 3 Commission meetings in advance of Council. All of the agendas are available to view here.

Sustainability, Para World Sailing and Commercial Forums
Three open forums will be streamed live and online during the Annual Conference on World Sailing’s YouTube Channel.

The Sustainability Forum will open proceedings on Monday November 7 followed by the Para World Sailing Forum on Tuesday with the Commercial Strategy for the Sport Forum on Wednesday November 9.

The Forums will feature world leading experts and panel discussions, providing the basis for debate and will include the launch of the new World Sailing Sustainability and Para World Sailing strategies

Election of Officers
The President and seven Vice-Presidents, two of which must be from each gender, will be elected at World Sailing’s General Assembly on Sunday 13 November.

All full World Sailing Member National Authorities (MNAs) are entitled to be represented at the General Assembly and to vote for the new President and the seven Vice-Presidents.

Full details of the eligible candidates, including biographies of each candidate, stated goals and nominating MNAs, are available to view here.

The Election of World Sailing Board of Directors is covered in Articles 73-76 of the World Sailing Constitution.

The voting system to elect the World Sailing Board of Directors is detailed in World Sailing Regulation 4.

2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards
Casa Llotja de Mar will host the 2016 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards on Tuesday 8 November. The winners will be decided by World Sailing’s Member National Authorities, attendees on the night and for the first time, the voting public. The public vote will go live at 12:00 UTC on Friday 4 November on sailing.org for 72 hours.

Vying for the male title are Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL), Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic (CRO), Santiago Lange (ARG), Giles Scott (GBR) and Damien Seguin (FRA). Aiming for the women’s honour will be Marit Bouwmeester (NED), Cecilia Carranza Saroli (ARG), Martine Grael and Kahena Kunze (BRA), Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (GBR) and Charline Picon (FRA).

Source: Daniel Smith – World Sailing