Governance Reform

Governance Reform – AGM November 2024

Documents for approval.

Phase 2 – Regulations

As World Sailing moves towards the adoption of the new governance structure in November this year, the Governance Working Party has now concluded the drafting for the New Regulations and Policy Register in Phase 2.

These documents were unanimously approved at the May 2024 Council Meeting.

Phase 2 – Policy Register

The Policy Register covers seven areas:

• Policy A – General
• Policy D – Equipment
• Policy E – Events
• Policy J – Oceanic & Offshore
• Policy K – Para Sailing
• Policy L – Race Officials
• Policy N – Regional Games

Governance Reform – AGM November 2023

Governance Reform documents approved at the Annual General Meeting in November 2023 will take effect in November 2024.

Governance Reform

At the Annual General Meeting on 29 October 2022, World Sailing voted overwhelmingly with a 93.85% majority to approve changes to its governance structure which will enable the federation to be more efficient and increase transparency in line with the requirements of a modern global sporting body.

World Sailing’s Board, Council and Committees will now begin the process of changing the structure and processes, and establishing the additional elements stipulated in the new constitution.

The first documents in the reform process were approved at the 2023 Annual Conference and are available at the top of this page.

The changes will be fully implemented from the 2024 AGM.

Key elements of the new World Sailing governance structure

These are the changes, approved by the 2022 World Sailing Annual General Meeting, which will be fully implemented from the 2024 AGM: 

• General Assembly 

The General Assembly will meet once a year. It is the annual general meeting of the company. As such, it will continue to have the powers set out in the Constitution and under Isle of Man law, as amended by the new proposals. 

• Council 

Council will be responsible for relevant decisions arising from the new submissions process and deciding World Sailing policy. It is expected to meet up to four times a year, at a minimum once in person. There will be an emphasis on Council debating and deciding policy to give effect to World Sailing’s strategy. 

• Board 

The Board will continue in a non-executive capacity providing oversight and monitoring of World Sailing activities especially that of management. It will continue to comprise nine directors including the President, seven elected directors and the Chair of the Athletes’ Commission. There will be gender equality amongst the elected directors. The President will be elected first (from either gender) and then the seven elected directors will be elected in a manner ensuring gender equality. 

• Chief Executive Officer 

The Chief Executive Officer leads the staff and executive management team of World Sailing. The relationship between the Chief Executive Officer and the Board is governed by the Board Charter. The Board may delegate its authority to make certain operational/management decisions to the Chief Executive Officer and, through the CEO, to the staff. 

• Growth and Development Committee 

It is intended that an enhanced Regional Development Committee suitably resourced will focus on the growth of the sport across the globe but especially in emerging nations. 

•  Specialist Sailing Committee 

A new Specialist Sailing Committee will promote greater co-operation between the sport’s major events (including World Sailing Special Events) such as the America’s Cup, SailGP, SSL Gold Cup and other forms of top-level sailing. The group will provide expert input into the development of World Sailing’s strategy, particularly with regards to the promotion of the sport, as well as advise Council on non-Olympic top-level events. 

• Committees and Working Groups 

All existing Committees, Sub-committees and Commissions will be carried over into the new structure, albeit with a change of name and broadening of remit in some cases. 

•  Integrity and Disciplinary 

A new independent Disciplinary Tribunal replaces the existing Judicial Board and Ethics Commission. Panels of the Tribunal will hear, decide and impose sanctions for all breaches of the revised Code of Ethics, or breaches of any rule or regulation. All the various conduct rules will be consolidated into one Code of Ethics to set out the standards of conduct required of all World Sailing participants, officials and other representatives. The independent Investigations Panel will receive complaints directly (including those from whistle blowers), facilitate any resolution by agreement, investigate whether or not there is a breach of the new Code of Ethics or any other rule and decide whether to charge and prosecute a person before the Disciplinary Tribunal. 

Background

At a General Assembly held on 30 October 2021, in an overwhelming vote of support, 92% of MNAs voted in favour of the Board continuing its work on Governance Reform.

The Board had proposed doing so in full consultation with all World Sailing Stakeholders on the available options. The focus of the reforms is narrowly targeted at ensuring ‘Decision Making’ at World Sailing is more effective.

Six plenary sessions were held in order to gather information, feedback and help to shape the dialogue moving forward. The concept and summary notes on each session are easily accessible via the documents on this page.

In Phase 2, the Governance Sub-Committee and the Board will take into account the feedback from the Plenary meetings with Stakeholders. Following this review, the Board made amendments and made new proposals where required.

A simple majority vote (50% + 1) of the membership in General Meeting in support of these proposals will kick off Phase 3.

The required formal amendments to the Constitution and Regulations will then be prepared and put forward for approval at a General Meeting.

World Sailing held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 18 July 2022 where the report from the Board on Governance Reform was approved unanimously.

The detailed drafting was then submitted to the Annual General Meeting at the Annual Conference in October 2022 for final approval.

The first stage in the governance reform process has been to prepare initial documents which are essential in the lead up to the 2024 implementation date. These documents will be presented to the World Sailing Council in November 2023.