Big brother?

Peter Bentley takes a critical look at ISAF's new on-line sailor classification system

An attempt at global dominance, an infringements of sailors' rights to privacy, or just a simple attempt to keep the sailing public well informed and up to date? Such are the questions that come to mind on first viewing the new ISAF Sailor webpages.

According to ISAF President, Paul Henderson (pictured left), ISAF Sailor is a great service to sailors, events, MNAs, classes and the media. "ISAF is the conduit for the dissemination of information," he says. But ISAF Sailor is more than just a means to disseminate information, it is also a means by which ISAF collects and collates information.

At first sight the concept seems innocent enough. According to the opening paragraph of the ISAF Sailor webpage, "It is aimed at sailors across the spectrum from top international sailors to local club sailors to anyone who is interested in sailing and wishes to receive information from the world governing body. The aim of ISAF Sailor is to provide an evolving range of online services to the benefit of the sport."

Henderson goes beyond this to provide a vision of a centralised network with data flowing backwards and forward between event organisers, ISAF, the Class Associations and National Authorities (MNAs), all routed via ISAF Sailor. "In the future major international events such as SPA, Hyeres, CORK, Key West would completely communicate, Notice of Race, Entries and Results online through ISAF's facility," he says.

Using his own personal ID CANPFH as an example, Henderson suggests that all communication from regatta entry to results will be handled electronically via ISAF and their database. "If I want to enter SPA in my 2.4M here is what happens. SPA sends me by e-mail their NOR. I enter CANPFH and automatically all the data that you usually have to fill out is entered. All names are spelt correctly. SPA can now easily send any Notice of Race updates to the sailors. You can also pay the entry fee online securely. This is a great saving to SPA."

And that is not all. According to Henderson, Paul Pascoe, the developer of ISAF Sailor, is now working on a universal scoring system. "SPA enters the race results pushes a button and the results are automatically tabulated and sent to all those who want them including the press who also have access to the sailors biographies." The new system is also reputed to be able to output 'what if' scenarios giving a sailors projected ranking if they finish the regatta in their current position. A direct link to the ISAF ranking lists is also promised. While some of the classes may not agree, a return to a unified scoring system for every event and every class would be a great step forwqard.

So far so good but one can not help but wonder if there are more sinister motives behind the scenes.

There is no doubt that a centralised system will ultimately speed the flow of information. There must however be concerns about what ISAF is proposing to do with the data they gather. The terms and conditions published on the ISAF Sailor web pages are far from clear. Henderson initially says, "All sailors who register with ISAF will have their data made available to their MNA only." Later he says,"the Classes can access these registered sailors who show interest in their class through ISAF." He further complicates the situation by adding, "There are many other uses of ISAF's database which is totally secure and will never be sold or allowed to used by anyone." The inconsistency is not entirely confidence inspiring. For their sake and ours, let's hope that ISAF's lawyers have taken a good look at the British data protection laws.

In some instances at least event organisers may not be too willing to share their competitor data or change the way they work. As has so often proved the case in the past, ISAF's efforts to lead the sport of sailing forward may well be seen by many as an attempt to force them into working practices they are not entirely comfortable with.

Hidden not very far below the surface there also lurks an element of compulsion.

Continued on page 2...