International Judge

The role of a Judge is to ensure fair competition. A Judge is required to determine disputes between competitors, assist in areas of race management and make decisions on the fairness of competition.

World Sailing Race Officials Administration is governed by Section 3 of the World Sailing Regulations with specific critera outlined with the document ‘Race Official Roles, Qualifications and Competences’.

Become and International Judge - First Time Applications

The basic requirements for a candidate applying to become an International Judge are:

  • attended a WS International Judges Seminar, with good participation and positive references from the IJ Instructors;
  • sat and passed the WS examination for the discipline in accordance with 1.4 of the RQC document;
  • served in-person as a member of an on-site protest committee for at least four L1 fleet racing principal events. At two of these events the candidate shall have been a member of an international jury (not umpired fleet racing events). One of these four event shall have been outside the candidate’s Group (Groups A-H) or Member National Authority (Groups I-Q); and
  • obtained at least three complete reference forms from the International Judge who is the chairman of the protest committee or international jury, with performance confirmed at IJ Standard. Each reference form shall be from a different International Judge. A reference form from an event without any protest or request for redress hearings is not a complete reference form. Any item marked on the reference form other than IJ Standard means that the overall assessment is not IJ Standard, regardless of what is marked as the overall assessment. Only one reference form per event within the same time period will be accepted. A reference form completed more than one month after an event and from an event a candidate attended virtually cannot be considered for an application.

All candidates must ensure they have read the relevant Regulations in full in order to understand the complete qualifcations required to become an International Judge. (Regulation 31).

To use the application platform to begin collecting references for a future application, please use Event Reference Manual, found in the Judges Resource Centre here.

Renewing Your Status

A candidate for re-appointment as an International Judge shall follow the requirements of the Race Officials Roles, Qualifications and Competencies Document, either complying with the requirements of System 1, except for item (d) and (f) or with the requirements of System 2.

System 2 requires the passing of the World Sailing re-examination for the discipline:

  • All information regarding the test including help for lost password and guidance for the practise test can be accessed at the e-Learning Portal
  • The test can be taken at the IJ Test Portal

If you have any queries regarding the test, please email wsjudgestest@worldsailing.online

Applying to be an International Judge

All candidates must ensure they have read the relevant sections within the Race Officials Roles, Qualifications and Competences document and World Sailing Regulations in full in order to understand the complete qualifcations required to become an International Officer.

The World Sailing International Race Officials Application Portal opens on 1 March each year, for applicants to begin preparing a first time or renewal application to submit by 1 September.

To begin an application all officials must have a valid World Sailing ID.

World Sailing Education for International Judges

World Sailing Seminars and Clinics for Judges are intended to improve the standard of regional/group judging and to assist people who wish to become an International Judge.

Both are hosted by Member National Authorities.

New Appointments & Renewals

Following the World Sailing Annual Conference in November each year, World Sailing publishes details of the candidates who successfully completed the application procedure to become a World Sailing Official for the first time and those who have had their status renewed.

The appointment and/or approval of World Sailing Race Officials to international events is defined in World Sailing Regulation 25. World Sailing has the right to appoint race officials for events in order to ensure that they are fully trained and qualified.

The document 2023 World Sailing Race Official Appointments found below details the names, nationalities and the term of appointment.

2023 World Sailing Race Official Appointments