World Sailing

What is World Sailing?

World Sailing is the international federation for sailing. Its governance pages describe it as “the global governing body for the sport of sailing.”^[1] Its Constitution, in the edition updated with effect from 1 January 2021, describes the federation as “the controlling authority of the sport of sailing in all its forms throughout the world”.^[3]

Legally, the federation is a company. Article 1 of the Memorandum of Association states: “The name of the Company is ‘World Sailing Limited’”, and the Constitution constitutes it as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.^[3] Among the aims the Constitution lists is “to promote the sport of sailing in all its branches regardless of colour, gender, physical ability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.^[3]

The federation’s structure has three tiers: a General Assembly of the member national authorities, which meets each year at the Annual Conference; a Council of 42 members, described as “the main policy-making body of World Sailing”; and a Board of Directors made up of the President, seven Vice-Presidents and the chair of the Athletes’ Commission.^[1] Olympedia records Quanhai Li of China as president since 2020.^[2]

What does World Sailing govern or do?

Racing rules. World Sailing writes the Racing Rules of Sailing, which it states are “revised and published every four years by World Sailing”; “The current edition is the RRS 2025-2028.”^[4] Under the Constitution, the Council may pass a regulation “where the subject of the Regulation affects racing and the Racing Rules of Sailing”.^[3]

Olympic events and equipment. For LA28 the organising committee lists ten sailing events: men’s and women’s windsurfing, dinghy, skiff and kite, a mixed multihull and a mixed dinghy, sailed at Belmont Shore (windsurfing and kite) and the Port of Los Angeles (dinghy, skiff and multihull).^[8] See Olympic programme and equipment regulation.

Anti-doping. World Sailing states that it “is responsible for conducting all aspects of Doping Control in compliance with the World Sailing Anti-Doping Code, International Standards and the World Anti-Doping Code.”^[5] It has delegated results management to the International Testing Agency and adjudication to the CAS Anti-Doping Division; its anti-doping code sits in Appendix 2 of the World Sailing Regulations.^[5] See anti-doping.

Para sailing. Olympedia records that para sailing was introduced to the Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport in 1996, became an official Paralympic sport in 2000, and “was removed from the Paralympics programme after the 2016 Games”.^[2]

When was World Sailing founded and where is it based?

Founding. Olympedia records that the sport’s governing body “was formed on 14 October 1907, in Paris, France, as the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU)”.^[2] Its sailing sport page carries the same date and place: “Sailing is governed worldwide by World Sailing, founded as the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) on 14 October 1907, in Paris, France, and known as the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) from 1996 until 2015.”^[11] World Sailing’s own history page states that the body “was created in Paris in October 1907” and was “initially called the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) before the name was changed to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) on 5 August 1996 and then World Sailing in 2015.”^[13] The 2021 Constitution does not itself recite the founding or the former names.^[3]

Renamings. Two changes of name are recorded by Olympedia: to the International Sailing Federation on 5 August 1996, and a rebrand “to World Sailing (WS) in 2015”.^[2] The 1996 change accompanied a change in the sport’s own competitive name; Olympedia states that the federation changed it from yachting to sailing “in an attempt to limit the elitist connotation associated with the term ‘yachting’”, so that sailing “in effect, made its Olympic début at Sydney 2000.”^[11]

Seat. World Sailing gives its address as 4th Floor, 3 Shortlands, London W6 8DA, United Kingdom.^[12] Olympedia independently records that “World Sailing’s office is based in London, Great Britain”.^[2] The 2021 Constitution, as retrieved, names the company and its form but does not state the registered office.^[3]

How is World Sailing recognised?

IOC and the Olympic programme. Olympedia records that yachting “was first contested at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games” and, after 1908 in London, “has been on every Olympic Programme since that year.”^[11] World Sailing states that “The International Olympic Committee officially recognises World Sailing as the governing authority for sailing worldwide.”^[13] The date on which the IOC first recognised the IYRU could not be established from a retrieved primary source.

ASOIF. World Sailing is one of the 30 full members listed by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.^[6]

WADA. WADA’s list of Code signatories includes “World Sailing (WS)” among the international federations that are ASOIF members.^[7]

Paralympic movement. Although para sailing left the Paralympic programme after Rio 2016, Olympedia records that “the federation is still recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)”.^[2]

Youth Olympic Games. Olympedia records sailing on the programme of the Youth Olympic Games since Singapore 2010.^[2]

What does World Sailing organise?

World Sailing Championships. Olympedia records that the federation, then ISAF, “staged the first edition of the Sailing World Championships in 2003 (Cádiz, Spain)”.^[2] The Hague staged the 2023 edition, branded the Allianz Sailing World Championships.^[10]

The 2027 split format. On 27 March 2025 World Sailing announced that the 2027 championships would be divided between two hosts: the one-person events — men’s and women’s kite, windsurfing and dinghy, plus Para Inclusive events — “in the first quarter of 2027” in Fortaleza, Brazil, and the two-person events in Gdynia, Poland, “in the summer of 2027”.^[9] The federation’s president described it as “the first time we will use a split format for the World Sailing Championships”.^[9]

Olympic regatta. The next Olympic regatta is scheduled for LA28, with windsurfing and kite at Belmont Shore and the dinghy, skiff and multihull events at the Port of Los Angeles.^[8] See Olympic qualification.

Rankings. The federation’s site carries a Rankings section and a Find an Official directory alongside its World Sailing Academy; see world rankings.^[12]

Who are its members?

National authorities. World Sailing states that it represents “Member National Authorities (MNAs) from 140 countries”.^[1] Olympedia, independently, records that “As of January 2026, WS has 150 affiliated national federations”; the two figures are given here as each source states them.^[2] The Constitution defines a Member National Authority as “An organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, controlling the sport of yachting or sailing in any country or in any political entity granted status as an Olympic nation.”^[3]

Categories. Article 4 of the Constitution provides for Full Members (the national authorities), Associate Members, ICA Members (the international and recognised class associations), Affiliate Members, World Sailing Members and Honorary Members.^[3] The federation’s governance page lists MNAs, Associate Members, Continental Associations, Class Associations and Honorary Members among its membership categories.^[1]

How members take part. The MNAs meet in the General Assembly at the Annual Conference to vote on proposals and recommendations; the Council, chaired by the President, has 42 members, and officers, Council members and committee members retire every four years, when new representatives are elected.^[1]