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MainSail

SHOW #38

International Sailing Federation

This month MainSail presenter Shirley Robertson, competes at the International Sailing Federation’s World Championships. This event at Cascais in Portugal, will decide 75 per cent of places for the Beijing Olympics and Robertson is aiming to qualify in the yngling class, a 3 person keelboat, which she helms. But this year’s World Championships are also the focus for ISAF’s centenary celebrations.

ISAF 1907-2007

ISAF, as the International Sailing Federation is known, is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the governing authority for sailing world-wide.  ISAF’s primary goal is to ensure as many people as possible go sailing - it handles promotion of the sport internationally, manages sailing at the Olympic Games and develops the International Yacht Racing Rules and Regulations.  Mainsail interviews top officials and the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, a former sailor himself, about 100 years of the organization.

ISAF ROLEX WORLD SAILOR OF THE YEAR

Every year ISAF chooses a male and female world sailor of the year.  Shirley Robertson won the award in 2000 and the list of recipients is like a who’s who of sailing, including Ellen MacArthur, Russell Coutts and Mike Sanderson. Sponsored by Rolex since 2001, they are recognized as the top award a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements by the world of sailing.

OLYMPIC SELECTION

Shirley Robertson has a tough fight on her hands to qualify for the Olympics even though she has a superb track record of winning two Olympic sailing gold medals. But there are two other British yngling teams vying for just one place – each country is allowed only one representative in each class. Even if a country has the world number one and number two in its ranks, only one can compete in Beijing.  This will mean some of the world’s top sailors will not be at the Olympics.  Robertson discusses this situation with other Olympians, such as Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, who may be affected.

ISAF BEHIND THE SCENES

ISAF was formed originally to develop the International Yacht Racing Rules and Regulations for all sailing competitions and the training of judges, umpires and other administrators. Mainsail goes behind the scenes with a judge who is at the sharp end of decision-making.

ISAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A round-up of the best of the action from the ISAF World Sailing Championships, where 75 per cent of places for Beijing will be decided. In particular, we follow the progress of Shirley, as she aims to qualify in the yngling class.