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What is a Sailor Athlete?
Sailor Athletes are active racing sailors in the U.S., defined in three categories representing competitive levels: 10-Year, 10-Year+, and Actively Engaged.
10-Year & 10-Year Sailor Athletes
- A 10-Year Sailor Athlete is one who has competed in a qualifying competition during the last ten years (see below table) while also meeting the finish requirements. Sailors retain this status for ten years, at which point they will shift to 10-Year+ Athletes.
- A 10-Year+ Sailor Athlete is one who has competed in a qualifying competition and met the finish requirements (see table below) more than 10 years ago. The 10-Year+ designation does not expire.
- If you compete at another qualifying competition after already registering as a 10-Year athlete OR if you compete in another qualifying competition after your 10-Year designation has shifted to 10 Year+, you can update your registration to either extend or renew your 10 Year designation.
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10-Year and 10-Year+ Qualifying Competitions |
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| Competition Type |
Finish Requirement |
Effective Date |
| Olympic, Paralympic, or Pan American Games (“Delegation Events”) |
Any |
Any |
| World Championship in a Delegation Event Class* |
Finish in top 50% |
1985 to present |
| Domestic Trials for Delegation Events |
Finish in top 50% |
1985 to present |
| Delegation Event Class Race Weeks |
Finish in top 25% |
2001 to present |
| Delegation Event Class Continental Championship |
Finish in top 25% |
2001 to present |
| America’s Cup Sailors |
Any US Sailor |
1985 to present |
| Circumnavigation Races (ex: the Ocean Race) |
Any US Sailor |
1985 to present |
Offshore Races:
|
Finish in:
|
2001 to present |
| World Sailing Match Race or Team Race Worlds |
Finish in top 50% |
1985 to present |
| World Sailing International Equipment Class & Offshore World Championship** |
Finish in top 25% |
2001 to present |
| World Sailing Designated Events: SSL, Sail GP, Match Racing Tours, etc |
Finish in top 25% |
2001 to present |
| US Sailing (Adult) Championship |
Finish in top 20% |
2001 to present |
Notes:
*Delegation Classes are those classes selected for an Olympic, Paralympic, or Pan American Games. Qualifying Competitions are only valid for the years in which the equipment was used at a Delegation Event. For example, Finn events held before 2020 are valid because the equipment was used at the Olympic Games, but any Finn event held after 2020 Games no longer qualifies since the Finn is no longer an Olympic Class.
** Equipment Class must be recognized as a World Sailing Class
Actively Engaged Sailor Athletes
An Actively Engaged Sailor Athlete is an athlete who competes in any of the following competitions, regardless of finishing place. Actively Engaged Sailor Athletes retain this designation for two years from the date of the qualifying event.
- World Sailing Continental, National, or World Championship in any Equipment Class
- Any US National Championship Event
- Any US Sailing Regional Championship Event (in which at least 5 LSOs Participate)
- Compete in 20 or More Sanctioned Races in a Calendar Year
Register Today and Begin to Make a Difference
To register please have the following information:
- US Sailing Member ID
- Qualifying Event Name, Organizing Authority, Event Location, and Event Date
- Boat Class
- Fleet Size
- Finish Position
SAILOR ATHLETE REGISTRATION
Why is the Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) Important?
The Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) is the most direct representation active racers have at US Sailing. If you want to make a change or discuss a concern, the SAC is your hotline to US Sailing.
While much of the representation at US Sailing is organized around a class, a Regional Sailing Association, or a racing discipline (such as team or match racing), the SAC is the only vehicle for sailors to be heard as individuals rather than as members of an organization. For example, issues like World Sailing competitor classification affect individual athletes, not just as members of individual classes. US Sailing strongly supports the SAC’S mission to give voice to active racing sailors and wants the involvement of these active sailboat racers in managing our sport.
The elected members of SAC are your representatives at US Sailing. The US Sailing Board of Directors and certain designated Committees are comprised of at least 33.3% of 10-year & 10-year+ Sailor Athletes.
Click below to review the current member list:
SAILOR ATHLETE COUNCIL MEMBERS
The SAC is conducting elections for up to seven (7) 10-Yr. and 10-Yr.+ Sailor Athletes (SA) to serve from 2024 to 2026. (Please note: In the fall, nominations and elections for the 2025-2028 class will be open.) Any Sailor Athlete may nominate themselves or another qualifying SA.
SAILOR ATHLETE COUNCIL JOB DESCRIPTION
For any questions about Sailor Athletes or the Sailor Athlete Council, please email sailorathletecouncil@ussailing.org
Become a Sailor Athlete
US Sailing's Sailor Athlete Council (SAC) maintains an avenue for American sailor athletes to voice their opinions, providing a forum and opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the future and direction of our sport.
The USOPC and the Amateur Sports Act mandate that each sport's National Governing Body (NGB) must have 33.3% 10-Year and 10-Year+ athlete representation on its Board of Directors and certain designated committees. In addition, all other committees must be composed of 33.3% of Actively Engaged athletes. At US Sailing, the SAC represents the entire active racing community, and the athlete representatives are selected from the body of registered Sailor Athletes.
Who is Registered as a Sailor Athlete?
