International Sailing Federation
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The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the world governing body for the sport of sailing and is in charge of the Olympic Regatta, the sailing events held as part of the Summer Olympics.
ISAF is now most familiar to sailors for the publishing the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) which is the international standard used to control the rights of way of boats and the framework to which racing is conducted.
Sailing is a very diverse primarily because it is equipment based sport with boats built for a wide range of purposes. Sailing encompasses to name a few dinghy, windsurfing, multihulls, yachts, kitesurfing and radio sailing racing as equipment. It then has disciplines of fleet, match and team racing together with speed records managed by WSSRC World Speed Record Council and independent body recognised by ISAF.
The federation recognizes over 80 classes which are each entitled to hold world championships together with a number of discipline based ISAF initiated world championships. Like all sports federations ISAF is composed of "Member National Authorities" (MNA's) from over 120 countries all of who have the rights to make submission to determine ISAF's policies.
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[edit] History
As a brief history the IYRU was formed after a meeting at the Yacht Club de France in Paris on October 14 1907. In 1996, the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) changed its name to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). ISAF original background is more linked to handicap, rating systems and class rules used to allow boats to compete on equile terms with the organisation being responsible for the development of the metre classes used for the early Olympic Regattas and the America's Cup.
The key documents under control of ISAF are the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), Equipment Rules of Sailing (ERS), Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) and its own regulations and constitution.
[edit] President
From 1906 to 1946 a chairman was elected from time to time to orchestrate the annual meetings.
- 1946 - 1955 Sir Ralph Gore was elected the first President
- 1955 - 1969 Sir Peter Scott (GBR)
- 1969 - 1986 Beppe Croce (ITA)
- 1986 - 1994 Peter Tallberg (FIN)
- 1994 - 2004 Paul Henderson (CAN)
- 2004 - Göran Petersson (SWE)
[edit] Presidents of Honour
- HM King Constantine II of Greece[1] (GRE)
- HM King Harald V of Norway (NOR)
[edit] Official Awards
The International Sailing Federation also holds annual awards in the following categories:
- Male World Sailor of the Year
- Female World Sailor of the Year
Both awards can be shared amongst a crew. For example, if the crew of a yacht or boat is awarded a prize, then all crew members hold the title of male or female "World Sailor of the Year".
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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