Updates to Sailor Categorization Code

The World Sailing Sailor Categorization system (formerly known as Sailor Classifications) provides events and classes with an international system that establishes the distinction between a participant’s professional and amateur status.

Within the system, this distinction is defined in section 2.1.1 (Group 1, amateur) and sections 2.1.2 and 2.1.3 (Group 3, professional). An update to the Code includes these changes:

• Wording to clarify the already existing position that sailors who receive support from their National Authority, National Olympic Committee or other government sources to train or compete are likely to be Group 3 sailors. This is because any coaching, strength and conditioning, psychology or physiotherapy services, or equipment provided by such organizations is effectively pay under the Code. This is clarified in 2.1.2(a) of the Code.

• A new provision that any sailor who has been paid for work that includes the coaching of any competitor, crew or team to prepare for or compete at an event conducted under the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) is now a Group 3 sailor. This is being paid to coach people to train for and compete in events under the RRS, not for general skills development in a learn-to-sail environment. This is added in 2.1.2(e) of the Code. Young coaches under 22 years of age who are only working part-time or casually may be able to apply for the exemption under 2.1.1(b)(ii) of the Code.

• The events that automatically categorize a sailor as Group 3 have been updated to include the Olympic Sailing Competition, the Ocean Race, the Vendee Globe, the America’s Cup Series (including America’s Cup Challenger Series, America’s Cup Defender Series, America’s Cup Match), SailGP and the World Match Racing Tour. This is in 2.1.3 of the Code.

• Changes that permit World Sailing to provide a sailor’s categorization application and other details to a protest committee if needed. This is in clause 2.2.10 of the Code.

• Wording to clarify the already existing position that the Categorization Commission has the authority to act under the Code. These actions may include reviewing a sailor’s categorization, deciding appeals, and in certain cases, changing, suspending or cancelling a sailor’s categorization. This is in clause 3.2 of the Code.

Additionally, World Sailing has made extensive changes to the database and website interface where sailors apply for categorization to make the system simpler and easier to use. For details, click here.

Source: World Sailing