IMCO - International Mistral Class Organization

ISAF, the Olympic Classes and the Organizers of the multi-Olympic Class Grade 1 Olympic Class Events met in Bern, Switzerland on Sunday to discuss the introduction of an Olympic Classes "World Series" tour. As yet to have a final title, the "World Series" will be created to introduce a more consistent and professional circuit for Olympic sailors, and provide the mechanism to achieve greater exposure and visibility for sailing.

Representatives from the Olympic Classes and multi-Olympic Class Grade 1 Events, including Sail Melbourne, Semaine Olympique Francaise (Hyeres), SPA in Holland and Kiel Week in Germany, urged ISAF to take the lead and provide the vision by which the "World Series" could be formulated, and all present affirmed their desire as stakeholders in the sport to move forwards in the best interests of the future of sailing to create a more dynamic event program, which would maximize the sport and create a global circuit.

It was agreed that there should be a clear route of "World Series" tour events around the world. ISAF will further encourage the creation of a Continental Series in the country/ region of the "World Series" events, which in turn could be preceded by a National Series, thus creating a clear path of participation, which would also support the development of sailing in that region.

It is the intention to utilize the existing multi-Olympic Class Graded events within the "World Series", and to encourage new events particularly in Asia, Australasia and the America's to be part of the "World Series" tour. It was emphasized that the "World Series" would not be a closed box and events will be encouraged to become included on the tour.

Events within the "World Series" will be consistent in all aspects, from format issues to technical matters, and will be easily recognizable by the media as the premier tour for the Olympic sailors. In scheduling the series to synchronize with other Graded Olympic Class events, not only will a more
cohesive event calendar be created, but the costs to the sailors in traveling and shipping equipment will be reduced. Moving forwards, it was agreed that ISAF, the Olympic Classes and multi-Olympic Class Graded Event Organizers will prepare proposals, and consider the overriding principles and philosophy for the "World Series", focusing on the four key areas of: Sailors, Sport, Media and Event Quality.

It was agreed that the "World Series" proposals would be put to Council at the ISAF Mid-Year Meeting in June 2004, for final approval at the ISAF Annual Conference in November 2004. It was accepted that there will be proposals for the "World Series" on which some event organizers or classes will disagree, but that the success of the tour should not be compromised, and that they will ultimately support ISAF in enforcing the criteria of the "World Series".

Moving forwards, it was agreed that ISAF, the Olympic Classes and multi-Olympic Class Graded Event Organizers will prepare proposals, and consider the overriding principles and philosophy for the "World Series," focusing on the four key areas of: Sailors, Sport, Media and Event Quality.