Emerging Nations Programme nominations due September 20th

World Sailing has opened applications for the Emerging Nations Programme (ENP), a support pathway for sailors from developing sailing nations towards qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games. Member National Authorities submit their own nominations, and World Sailing closes applications on Sunday September 20. OSAF asks its members to identify their strongest sailors and put a name forward. World Sailing will select 30 sailors in total.

What World Sailing supplies

World Sailing will take up to 10 ILCA 6 sailors, 10 ILCA 7 sailors, 5 iQFOiL women and 5 iQFOiL men into the programme at the 2027 World Sailing Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil. The organisers will stage a training clinic there January 11-14, 2027 and supply coaching through the Championships. Selected sailors receive the following:

• World Sailing Championship entry fees
• ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 charter boats, including hull, spars and foils
• A contribution towards the journey for iQFOiL sailors bringing their own equipment
• Shared accommodation with three meals per day at the Marina Park Hotel
• Expert class-specific coaching

After the Championships, top-ranked Emerging Nation sailors may enter the new High-Performance Accelerator (HPA) Programme. World Sailing will supply HPA sailors with remote coaching and event support at continental qualification events and at the 2028 Last Chance Regatta.

Oceania and the LA28 calendar

At Paris 2024, 26 sailors from 18 Emerging Nations qualified for the Olympic Games. World Sailing has reserved an Emerging Nations quota place in the Men's Dinghy, Women's Dinghy, Men's Windsurfer and Women's Windsurfer events for LA28. The 2028 Last Chance Regatta will award them.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry addressed the 46th ONOC Annual General Assembly in Auckland on May 23, 2026 and told delegates that the region would light up the Olympic Movement in the years to come. Within six years the region sends teams to LA28 and hosts the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti and the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

For example, an ILCA 6 or ILCA 7 sailor from Oceania who is selected in January 2027 races the World Championships in Fortaleza under expert coaching, then competes at the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti later that year with HPA support continuing into the 2028 Last Chance Regatta. Clauses 3.2 and 3.4 of the OSAF Constitution commit the Federation to assisting the development of sailing across the region and to promoting competition among its member countries and territories.

A Member National Authority sending sailors to Melbourne and to Fortaleza plans around two January dates. ILCA 4 Youth Solidarity recipients sail the championship at Sandringham Yacht Club January 1-8, 2027. World Sailing starts the ENP clinic in Fortaleza on January 11.

How to apply

Member National Authorities apply directly to World Sailing. World Sailing hosts the ILCA application form and the iQFOiL application form on Microsoft Forms.

World Sailing publishes the Emerging Nations definition too. The IOC publishes the full LA28 Olympic Qualification System. World Sailing will not consider an application submitted after Sunday September 20.

Related. World Sailing awarded 10 places on its 2026 Performance Coach Scholarship in July.