Minutes 2025-11-06
Present:
Joseph Pla (VP WS)
Matt Allen – Chair (AUS)
Corinne Migraine – Vice-Chair (FRA)
Bruno Finzi (ITA)
Charlie Enright (USA)
Damian Foxall (IRL)
Denise Caffari (GBR)
Jennifer Hall (CAN) – absent
Johan Tuvstedt (SWE)
Katrin Adloff (GER)
Lee Pilsung (KOR) – absent
Mariana Douka (GRE) – absent
Orhan Ref K Gorbon (TUR) – absent
Tatiana Almeida (BRA)
Thomas Nilsson (NOR)
Yasutaka Funazawa (JPN) – absent
Intro
Matt held a short intro and handed over to VP Joseph Pla
Joseph’s intro emphasized WS 5 prioritized areas
- Focus on revenue and happy with Rolex as sponsor
- Paralympics is a large priority
37 sports are applying for 22 slots.
Olympics is of course a priority
Minutes of 8:th October OK
Chairman’s Report
- Matt reported about the large percentage of sailors that are offshore sailors.
- Important ODHWC event handled with great success.
- Offshore Special Regs – work closing in on new version of rules.
- Keel working group and new standards set.
- Successful Admirals Cup was noted, congrats to RORC
- New initiative, Offshore Organizers Forum
Look up report on line and add…
Executive Office Update
– Note that the X-35 class has lost its WS status
a. Navigating Offshore – World Sailing’s plan to support offshore racing
Katrina went through the report on a high level;
Katrina was complimented for the fantastic work.
Q was raised by Henrietta, an athlete, about what and how World Sailing does to enable Offshore possibilities for sailors with varied abilities.
Q about ODH-Olympics and Brisbane 2032
Response is that the OOC is working on the communication and promotion of the sport but an actual bid is still under discussion
Sustainability
- An update on World Sailing Sustainability Agenda 2030
- Marine Megafauna Guidance
International Regulations Commission
An update from the International Regulations Commission
Navdat replaces Navtex
Autonomous vessels are threatening yachting, new regulations with safety in focus are being developed
Questions and answer around Sea hazards like lost containers and the data flow over such reports that should be available to navigators.
In the particular case of lost containers the drill should be:
Report from ship to:
1. Nearest coastguard
2. Ship flag state
Involving position, current/drift etc.
Safety
An update from the Safety Commission.
Report on the successful rescue of professional yachtsman during Sydney Hobart 2024
Glen Stanaway reported also on two other issues covered by the SRSC meeting yesterday.
Question was raised by Bruno Finzi about the incident in the Aegean 600 2024 if it was reported to World Sailing? Response was probably no and Katrina regretted the lack of data.
Reports from Rating Systems
Reports from World Sailing International / Recognised Rating Systems:
a. ORC International and ORC Club
Bruno reported in generally the same as during the ORC Congress
b. IRC Rating Rule
Jason Smithwick reported about the progress for IRC during 2025 including the Admirals Cup in the Solent 2025. Also it was highlighted the new chairman Andrew McIrvine of IRC.
Question from Paddy Boyd, previous member of OOC, if WS is really providing the best service to the sailors when WS recognizes 2 international rating systems.
Corinne spoke her opinion that one rule would never work and complimented both systems for their work. Both systems’ representatives were agreeing that they should focus on better collaboration rather than trying from trying to steal “certificates” from each other.
8. 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championship
a. A report on the 2025 Offshore Double Handed World Championships
– Katrina reported on ODHWC and the great turnout by 21 teams from 14 MNAs and 5 continents.
The sustainability of the event in terms of environmental and financial terms is key to a continuation.
An update on the plans for future editions
– Plan to run the same format but with 17 boats and maximum 32 invitations 2026.
– Entry Fee will be €5000 per team 2026, timing similar to 2025, 23 September to 1 October
2027+ plans according to WS recommendation
9. Proposals
a. CO-2025-008 – Glen Stanaway made a little
10. Special Regulations Sub-Committee
a. To note the Minutes of the meeting on 6 October 2025.
b. To consider recommendations from the Special Regulations
Sub-Committee on proposed changes to the Offshore Special Regulations. Please note all proposals can be viewed and tracked on the World Sailing website.
- OOC-2025-009
- Deferred, due to wording not mandating hull
- OOC-2025-010
- Approved
- OOC-2025-012
- Approved – SWE voted against due to the fact that
- OOC-2025-013
Approved
11. Offshore Event Organisers Forum
Matt Allen aired the Agenda and held a little inspirational talk on the benefits of participating.
12. World Sailing Speed Record Council
A report from the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
Damian Foxall highlighted that the W->E Atlantic Record Route should not anymore be used due to Marine megafauna presence.
13. Sailor Categorisation Code
A report from the Chair of the Categorisation Commission.
Categorization software at WS has big problems leading to the lack of classifications in due time for events.
The problems with sailors blatantly lying to uphold their Cat 1 status is evident.
14. Work Plan
a. To review the work plan
b. To receive updates from the working groups:
iii. Offshore Advisory Group / Double Handed Working
Dee reported about the outside view to the recent championships and it was noted that Johan Tuvstedt as well as another GBR/AUS very experience indicated that they were happy to volunteer to be part of the DH Working Group.
- Technology
Input to be taken from the Offshore Forum to which questions to focus on.
- Oceanic Panel
Corinne absent, Matt reported quickly..
15. AOB
Next meeting 24 November 10:00 CET
New members (related to Governance reform) might be added.
James Dadd from SRSC and members from Rules committee and other committee