Important news for Olympic sailors and their supporters-- Dear Finn sailors and coaches, Balazs and I are back from the ISAF Annual Conference in Oman. We had a very intense week, working hard for the sailors interest at all level. Balazs is the Vice-Chair of the Constitution Committee and is involved with ISAF regulations touching all part of our sport. I am the Chair of the Olympic classes sub-committee and member of Events committee. Piet-Jan Postma has been elected on the ISAF Athlete Commission which refers directly to the ISAF Executive Committee and is linked directly with all relevant committees. I am sure PJ will be in touch on occasion to seek feed-back from Finn sailors. Below is a summary of decisions taken last week and affecting you: The great news is that ISAF Council has voted to keep all current Olympic classes in the Olympic Games until Tokyo in 2020! This is now a great opportunity to plan long term and work on the development of the Finn in all continents. This will also provide a secure future for our junior fleet. Another important topic in the Conference was the introduction of a new circuit, focussed on the elite sailors in order to provide them with a more professional circuit with sponsors and prize money. In 2014, the SWC events will stay as they are but the top ten in the rankings will be invited to a Grand Final (around October). In 2015, the SWC events may cater for a restricted fleet (first thought was top 25 but not defined yet), and a grand final for top ten. New events may come in with the idea to make it global (1 per continent). I will not go into too many details as this is still a work in progress and surely ISAF will send relevant informations once they are confirmed. Regarding the Olympic qualifier, the ISAF Council has voted for the Class Worlds in 2015 as second Olympic qualifier and one place per continent in 2016 (at SWC event or Regional Games...). The bad news is that in order to accommodate the 49er FX and Nacra with 20 nations each, the fleet size of all other classes was reduced by 2. So we end up wit 23 entries at the 2016 Olympic Games. 12 places will be allocated to countries in Santander, 5 at the 2015 class Worlds, + 1 for each continent (6). The places not allocated either at a continental qualifier or taken by a federation, will go back to the class and will be allocated following the results of the 2015 class Worlds. This link will take you to the ISAF website 2014 ISAF Worlds qualification page with relevant explanations about qualification procedure and showing extra places allocated to countries after Tallinn, for Santander 2014, and how the next places will be allocated. sailing.org/2014-ISAF-Worlds.php Regarding our events calendar, it has been quite hard to plan for next year with a very busy calendar and some changes in the events. The European dates are confirmed from the 2nd to 10th of May in La Rochelle, these dates are the most suitable with the tides and should provide great racing. The problem was that it clashes with Riva. After some discussions trying to solve the problem, the Italian Federation considered to move the Eurosaf event in Garda to the week after the European to allow the Finns to participate. More info later. On friday I will have a confirmation from the host of the Silver Cup. After the cancellation of Blanes in Spain, it took some times to find a suitable venue at short notice. The dates should be early July, but more info soon as I know you are all waiting on this. We are also in discussion with Takapuna YC, the Auckland City Council, ISAF and the SWC organisers regarding best date option for the 2015 FGC. February 2015 as prefered by the AGM is proving difficult as we need to plan it around Miami, Sail Auckland but not too late to be able to get the boats back in Europe for Palma. At this stage, the host is proposing mid to end of November 2015. These later dates would enable sailors to train again properly after the first Olympic qualifier and worlds in Santander and prepare better for the second Olympic qualifier (5 nations) and could fit with Sail Melbourne as first 2016 SWC event and Continental qualification. Nothing is decided yet as we are considering the best option. We will let you know once confirmed. Also preparing for 2014, I am asking all the secretaries to send me their number of members, and change in their national Finn Association. Best regards to all, Corinne and Balazs
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:04:26 +0000
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