Of particular significance to our own geographical region is the news that two prominent officials from Oceania have been appointed to the most senior leadership positions within this new body. The decision to appoint representatives from our area highlights the extensive expertise and high regard in which our technical officials are held on the global stage. These appointments ensure that the Oceania Sailing Federation will have a strong and influential voice in the development of classification rules and procedures for the foreseeable future.

With regards to the leadership of the new body, Helen McKenzie from Aotearoa has been formally designated as the Chair of the Classification Sub-Committee and she will direct its strategic operations. Her role will involve guiding the implementation of new classification standards and ensuring that the committee meets its objectives of fairness and transparency for all competitors. Helen McKenzie brings a wealth of experience to this position and her leadership will be instrumental in implementing regulatory changes that are currently being introduced by the International Paralympic Committee.

In addition to this appointment, Sarah Ross from Australia has been named as the Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee which further solidifies the influence of our region at the highest level of administration. Her appointment creates great momentum for Para Sailing as both the Chair and Vice-Chair of a major World Sailing governance body hail from the Oceania region.

To complete the representation from our region, Stephen Wilson who is also from Australia has been appointed as a voting member of the Sub-Committee to assist in its work. His inclusion means that three officials from Oceania will be directly involved in the decision-making processes that determine the eligibility and sporting classes for Para Sailors worldwide. The combined experience of these three individuals will provide an invaluable resource for the sport as it undergoes a period of significant transformation and modernisation.

Regarding the specific objectives of the committee, the group is tasked with the responsibility of developing and maintaining the rules that govern how athletes are grouped for competition. This work is essential because it ensures that the winner of a sailing event is determined by skill and tactical ability rather than the nature or degree of their impairment. The Sub-Committee will collaborate closely with Member National Authorities to standardise the certification of classifiers and the application of rules at national and international levels.

As a fundamental principle the new body will focus on expanding participation by creating a classification system that accommodates the broadest possible range of physical and sensory impairments. The strategic goal is to build a framework that allows more sailors to compete in more events while maintaining the confidence of all participants in the fairness of the results. This approach directly supports the wider mission of World Sailing to grow the sport and make it accessible to a larger demographic of athletes.

In light of these developments, the 2026 season has been officially designated as the Year of Classification to mark the increased emphasis on this aspect of sailing administration. This thematic focus is intended to draw attention to the rollout of new initiatives and to educate the sailing community about the importance of rigorous classification procedures. The designated year will see the introduction of updated resources and training materials designed to support classifiers and organisers in the delivery of events.

In strict accordance with international standards, World Sailing is currently aligning its regulations with the 2025 International Paralympic Committee Classification Code which recently came into force. This updated Code introduces a set of mandatory requirements that are designed to harmonise classification processes across all Para sports and ensure they remain athlete-centred. The new Sub-Committee will be responsible for ensuring that the sailing-specific rules are fully compliant with these overarching international obligations.

Consequently, the World Sailing Para Sailing Rules are being updated to include significant modifications that reflect the separation of eligibility and sport-specific classification. This distinction is a key requirement of the new International Paralympic Committee Code and it aims to provide greater clarity for athletes regarding their status. The separation of these two elements ensures that an athlete's eligibility to compete is determined separately from the specific sport class they are allocated for racing.

With the intention of improving the administration of these records World Sailing is launching a new digital platform known as the Globocol classification database. This sophisticated software solution is designed to provide a secure and centralised system for managing the classification history of every registered Para Sailor. The introduction of this database will replace older manual systems and provide a more efficient method for tracking athlete data and certification status.

As a result of this technology, sailors and Member National Authorities will benefit from a more transparent and accessible system that reduces the administrative burden on volunteers and staff. The Globocol system will allow for better communication between international classifiers and national federations regarding the status of athletes and upcoming review dates. This modernisation effort is a key component of the strategy to professionalise the management of Para Inclusive Sailing data.

In reference to specific impairments World Sailing is working closely with the International Paralympic Committee to centralise the classification of athletes with a Visual Impairment. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the assessment of visual acuity and field of vision is consistent across all sports that include athletes with visual impairments. The move towards centralised classification for this group will provide greater confidence in the accuracy of the sporting classes allocated to blind and visually impaired sailors.

Regarding cognitive categories, the federation is advancing its work on Intellectual Impairment classification through the development of evidence-based research and testing protocols. This initiative involves scientific studies to determine the impact of cognitive impairment on the specific skills required for sailing such as steering and tactical decision-making. The goal is to establish a credible and robust system for classifying athletes with intellectual impairments that stands up to scientific scrutiny.

In support of these changes World Sailing President Quanhai Li has stated that classification serves as the backbone of the sport and that the new body will support stronger governance. He noted that the establishment of the Sub-Committee will enable the delivery of a system that permits more athletes to compete in more competitions and evolves as the sport develops. The President expressed his confidence that the new leadership team would drive the sport forward and ensure it meets the highest standards of integrity.

Therefore we strongly encourage all our Oceania Member National Authorities to engage proactively with the new Classification Sub-Committee and to support the implementation of these changes in their territories. It is important that national federations stay informed about the updates to the rules and the introduction of the Globocol database to ensure their athletes are properly registered. The Oceania Sailing Federation is happy about these new developments and looks forward to working with Helen McKenzie and Sarah Ross to promote the interests of our region and to ensure that our sailors continue to thrive on the international stage.