July 15, 2022
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World Sailing to hold Extraordinary General Meeting to vote on Governance Reform proposals
World Sailing will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 18 July 2022 to discuss and vote on proposals for Governance Reform. The meeting will be held virtually and is open to representatives of all Member National Authorities (MNAs).
The proposed changes to World Sailing’s governance aim to equip the governing body for the sport of sailing globally with accountable, efficient decision-making processes in order to better support sailors, volunteers and MNAs
The proposals require a simple majority of 50%+1 to pass. The purpose is to express support for the concepts that have been developed in extensive debate, particularly over the past seven months. Should the concepts be approved, detailed drafting will be undertaken for amendments to the World Sailing Constitution. These will then be put to the Annual Conference in October 2022 for approval by the requisite 75% majority.
Philip Baum, World Sailing Vice-President and Chair of the Board Governance Sub-Committee, said: “As part of World Sailing’s democratic process, it is vital that our Members are encouraged to exercise their right to vote on the future of the sport. World Sailing has undergone a thorough audit of current governance practices and designed a robust structure based on the feedback of all stakeholders during a series of Plenary sessions.
“This vote is extremely important for the sport. It is the next stage in adopting a structure which is fit for purpose and provides the framework for collaboration. This should enable sailing to expand, attract investment and increase participation around the world.”
Governance Reform has been under discussion since 2017. Although a majority voted for change at the 2019 Annual Conference the result fell short of the 75% needed to amend the Constitution. Revisiting the topic in 2021, 92% of MNAs voted in favour of the Board continuing its work to modernise the governance structure.
Should the proposal achieve a simple majority at the July EGM, the required formal amendments to the Constitution and Regulations will then be drafted and submitted for approval at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. Nothing changes unless and until the required 75% approval is achieved in October.
The EGM will be available via livestream on World Sailing’s YouTube channel.
For more information on the background of World Sailing’s Governance Reform and to view or download the proposal, please visit the World Sailing website.