Sport unites at Annual Conference

The 2017 World Sailing Annual Conference will be held November 4-12 in Puerto Vallarta, México. More than 500 delegates, representing event organisers, class associations, Member National Authorities, key influencers and industry professionals, will be in attendance.

Throughout the week delegates will review the strategy of sport, discuss positive change and make decisions that impact professional and recreational sailors.

This year, the Conference will be focused on an overarching theme of, ‘Uniting Our Sport’. Sailing’s stakeholders will be working together to grow and develop the sport to ensure millions more people fall in love with sailing.

The Annual Conference includes two open forums, a full agenda of Committee, Sub-Committee and Commission meetings as well as the meeting of World Sailing’s Council, the final decision making body of World Sailing.

The Conference can be followed live on World Sailing’s Annual Conference Blog which become available November 5. In addition, key sessions will be streamed live (see below).

What’s on at the 2017 Annual Conference:

Keynote speakers to present Council Symposium
On Saturday November 11, the first Council Symposium will be held during the meeting of World Sailing’s Council, the final decision making body of World Sailing. Keynote speakers will present to Council on developments and evolution of the sport to ensure it has an innovative and sustainable future:

• Tom Herbert Evans, Community Sailing Manager for the 35th America’s Cup (AC35), will give an overview of the America’s Cup Endeavour Program, a scheme that enabled hundreds of youngsters to get into sailing before, during and after AC35.

• The America’s Cup focus will continue with Stan Honey, technical innovator within sport, and Richard Slater, AC35 Chief Umpire, presenting on tracking, telemetry and electronic umpiring of the event in Bermuda.

• Matthew Mason, a former America’s Cup winner, round the world sailor and talented boat builder and designer, will conclude the Council Symposium by showcasing the design of a new development that can be installed on an Optimist boat to evolve the equipment.

The meeting of World Sailing’s Council will be streamed live (details below) and followers will be able to engage in the conversation and pose questions using #UnitingOurSport.

Forums that will shape the future

Two open forums will be held in Mexico and streamed across the World Sailing Network.

Balancing the Boat: Growing female participation and developing pathways in competition sailing, will be held on Monday November 6. The Forum will welcome leading influencers who will discuss solutions to ensure more women take up sailing and remain within the sport. Watch.

Sustainability Forum: World Sailing will launch Sustainability Agenda 2030 on Tuesday November 7which sets out sailing’s contribution to global sustainability. Priorities and where the sport aims to be in 2030 will be outlined by Mike Golding, World Sailing Sustainability Commission Chairman, and complemented by perspectives from a range of sport and industry experts. Watch.

What’s on the Committee agendas for 2017 and decision making processes

From amendments to the Racing Rules of Sailing, to decisions made on offshore safety and the formats and qualification events for the Olympic Games, the topics discussed and decisions made at the Annual Conference directly impact professional and recreational sailors.

In advance of the Annual Conference, World Sailing received more than 150 submissions that propose change to World Sailing’s regulations, policies and rules.

Across the week, four Commissions, ten Sub-Committees and ten Committees will discuss the submissions. They will then put their recommendation and opinions forward to Council; the final decision making body of World Sailing.

On Friday and Saturday, November 10 and 11, Council will either approve, reject or defer what’s been put forward and from there, the decisions made will be implemented and will flow down to elite and grassroots levels of the sport.

2017 World Sailing Awards

On Tuesday November 7, the inaugural World Sailing Awards evening will be held at Club Regina in Puerto Vallarta. The 2017 World Sailing Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of the world’s leading sailors and recognises the exceptional contributions made by those who have devoted their time and effort to further the sport.

The highlight of the evening will be presentation of the ultimate recognition of excellence – the 2017 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award. The evening will also feature the presentation of the Beppe Croce Trophy and President’s Development Trophy.

To view the Conference schedule, submissions, and agendas… click here.

The Conference can be followed live on World Sailing’s Annual Conference Blog which become available November 5. Also, live streaming will be available for the following:

• Balancing the Boat Forum – Monday November 6
URL – https://youtu.be/WlyX2ozjgoQ

• Sustainability Forum – Tuesday November 7
URL – https://youtu.be/ChLA7Rq8L9E

• Council including Council Symposium – Friday November 10
URL – https://youtu.be/XbVLiaqVppI

• Council – Saturday November 11
URL – https://youtu.be/jW0okGYWzBQ

• Annual General Meeting – Sunday November 12
URL – https://youtu.be/Sh1qcYY2fm4

Source: World Sailing