International Race Officer

A Race Officer has an overview of what is happening around the entire race course and should make decisions such as necessary course changes and postponements.

World Sailing Race Officials Administration is governed by Section 3 of the World Sailing Regulations.

First Time Applications

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

• have served as a Race Officer responsible for the management of the races in four principal events and at least four other events;
• have a letter of recommendation from a Class Association or organising authority of a principal event at which the candidate was a race officer;
• have attended a World Sailing Race Managment Seminar and have passed the IRO written test within the past four years;
• have obtained three completed RMSC reference forms.

The procedure to apply for re-appointment for World Sailing Race Officials is detailed in Section 3 of the World Sailing Regulations. Candidates must complete the official application form and send it directly to World Sailing by 1 September and continue to meet the required qualification standards.

The basic requirements for a candidate applying to renew their status as an International Race Officer are the same as for new appointments with the exception that they do not need to have attended a Race Management Seminar, re-take the written test or have obtained the three completed RMSC reference forms.

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.

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 an World Sailing Race 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 Reguation 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.

2022 Events

The nomination/consultation process for all 2021-2022 events is currently underway with classes and organising authorities. This information is provisional and may be subject to change.