What kind of sailor are YOU?

Dobbs Davies examines the first outing of ISAF's new Competitor Classification system

The code in practice

The beauty of the system was demonstrated last week at the Swan European Regatta in Cowes, where at stake was the Nautor's Swan Challenge Trophy, open to amateur-only crews in the 61-boat event. Event organizers specified that those entries wishing to be eligible for the trophy log into and verify their status with ISAF, so the system received its first valuable battle-test.

With panel members present to assist, three laptop computers were made available for sailors to log on, create their profiles, answer the questions, and receive immediate ratings from the system. With panel members present, non-obvious cases could be reviewed on-site, though in remote mode the system promises ratings to be issued within 7-14 days, depending on the response of panel members and applicants.

As with any new system, problems still exist in the scheme, some technical, and some pedagogic. On the technical, there have been some glitches in the programme that have appeared now and then, but Pascoe and Mitchell have been diligently on the case to get them ironed out. As reviewers familiarise themselves with the system, protocols are being developed that are increasingly sensitive and responsive to applicants.

Since the system has been devised as a service to event organizers, it is they, not ISAF, that will have to deal with enforcement issues. At the Swan Europeans last week, for example, since crew lists were not posted as was hoped, it was unclear who was actually eligible to be in the amateur division - a glance at the entry list on the website showed boats entered in that division which clearly had non-Group 1 sailors on board.

And additional panel members from non-English speaking countries will help bridge cultural divides which may now exist in sailors' understanding of the spirit of the code. So far sailors from 49 countries have already used the code within its first month of use!

Even though all international events which restrict participation will be required to use this system by November 2002, the Code's next big test will be at the America's Cup 150th Jubilee in Cowes in mid-August. Here there will be certain classes that will restrict helmsmen to be Group 1 amateurs, as defined in the ISAF code.


In the spirit of using a thief to catch a thief, US-based professional sailor Dobbs Davis serves on the ISAF Classification Committee ferreting out non-amateurs.