2024 World Sailing Elections – Presidents and Vice Presidents

As stipulated in the World Sailing Constitution, the President and seven Vice Presidents must be elected by the World Sailing Member National Authorities. Each term lasts four years and the President and Vice Presidents may only serve two consecutive terms.

All voting and campaigning will be strictly regulated by the World Sailing Election Rules and the Disciplinary Regulations, and all activities will be overseen by the World Sailing Election Committee, comprising four independent legal and regulatory professionals, to ensure the election process is transparent, fair and adheres to the guidelines stipulated in the World Sailing Constitution.

Who can stand for election?

In order to be eligible as a candidate for President or Vice President, a candidate must be nominated by one MNA. MNAs may only nominate one candidate for President and one candidate for Vice President. There is no requirement that the candidate is nominated by his/her own MNA, but they must be a member of the nominating MNA (or a member of an organisation affiliated to the MNA if the MNA does not have personal members).

Who can vote?

Voting will take place during the General Assembly on 9 November 2024. MNA Appointed representatives in attendance will be eligible to vote.

Gender parity

Under the terms of World Sailing’s new Constitution and as part of its Governance Reforms, taken together the President and seven Vice-Presidents must have an equal number of men and women

Changes since the last election

Several amendments to the election process were passed at the 2023 Annual General Meeting to ensure a fair and transparent election. These include:

The appointment of an Election Committee, in accordance with Article 75, whose members are:

• Margot Foster OLY (AUS) – Chair
• Phil Cotton (GBR)
• Jon Napier (GBR)
• Niels Lindholm (FRA)

The introduction of the new Rule 35.11 – Part J Elections, which establishes a new disciplinary offence relating to breached of the Election Rules.

A ‘Campaign Period’ has been introduced to ensure transparency. All candidates, or those intending to stand as a candidate, will be expected to comply with the Election Rules during this period. This will run from 1 June until the end of the AGM on the 9 November 2024.

Candidate Application Pack and Form

The Candidate Application Pack and Form can be downloaded here.

The deadline for receipt of Applications is 17 August 2024. Only completed Candidate Application Forms submitted by the closing date will be considered by the Election Committee.

Applications and supporting MNA letters should be submitted to elections@sailing.org

Candidates may at any time during the Campaign Period request guidance from the Election Committee and any such requests should be made to the Chief Executive Officer via legal@sailing.org.

Timeline

• 1 June 2024: Nomination period open
• 17 August 2024: Nomination period closes
• 19 August 2024: Confirmed list of candidates published
• 9 November 2024: Election at World Sailing Annual Conference.