The IFA needs your views.

The International Secretary urgently needs our views on two proposed rule changes:

1) To unify the Junior age group to Under 23, in line with other Olympic sports & other Olympic classes.

There has been lots of discussion at World Sailing (ISAF) and among some Federations and National Olympic committees to unify with other Olympic sports at U23. The argument is to have a same pathway as for other sports, with the same age, which would make it more clear for the media. For a Finn sailor 23 can seem slightly too late as sailors are now starting at a younger age, however our numbers at Junior event has not increased much despite raising from 21  to U22. As you may know, in order to be allowed to run a Junior Worlds we need a minimum of 30 sailors. In other classes, the 470, 49er and FX have moved to U23. The Nacra is still at U24 but is considering a change. Lasers and RS:X, because of their target have a much younger age with Youth at U19 and Junior at U21. The IFA Executive Committee asks the National Finn Associations to vote for an age increase to U23 for Junior to be applied at this year event in Aarhus.

2) The second issue concerns a request from sailors to abandon, at World and European championships, the race for 11^th onwards – or what they call ‘the losers race’. The solution the IFA Executive would like to propose is that on the last day of racing a final race for ALL sailors will be scheduled in the morning. The medal race would then be held shortly after. All sailors would be asked to remain on site until the completion of the Medal race and the prize giving ceremony. This will be trialed at the next Europeans in Barcelona and if successful will be recommended for a vote at the next AGM for implementation from the 2017 Europeans. It will not be used at the 2016 Finn Gold Cup.

Please add your comments to the Forum thread and let the Committee know if your support the IFA proposed changes – thank you.