Dinghy Racing Associations

dinghy racing associations

Dinghy racing is organized and regulated by national level sailing associations which in turn supervised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The national level dinghy racing associations are responsible for leveling the playing field in their respective jurisdiction while the ISAF is responsible for overseeing that these associations are doing their job within the bounds of set international sailing standards. The world’s top two national level dinghy racing associations are the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA). Moreover, sailing clubs, provincial sailing associations, and class associations are certified by one or two national level sailing association.

The International Sailing Federation

world dinghy racing

Photo from http://www.sailing.org

Upon its conception in October 1907 in Paris, ISAF was called International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) then. The pioneering members’ aim then was to set uniform rules and racing yardstick to govern all international sailing competitions. This is so to avoid the confusion about which sailing club rules and regulations to apply during interclub racing, which dinghy racing is one of the pioneer events. On August 1996, the IYRU adopted a new name, the International Sailing Federation, which came to symbolize everything about sailing including the Summer Olympics Sailing Competition.

The Royal Yachting Association

UK sailing association

Photo from http://media.skandiateamgbr.com

The Royal Yachting Association was founded in November, 1875 with its original name, the Yacht Racing Association. Its original goal is to come up with a correction standard to level the playing field when different boats are in the competition. This set of rules later became the Portsmouth yardstick, which is the correction standard used internationally today. In 1953, the organization changed its name to Royal Yachting Association. Today, RYA is active in helping and certifying affiliated clubs and class associations to make them better at holding sailing races including dinghy racing.

The Canadian Yachting Association

canadian dinghy association

Photo from http://www.sailing.org

The Canadian Yachting Association the national government of Canada’s official body that governs the country’s sailing sport from dinghy racing to multihulled sailboats. Established in 1931, today the CYA oversees provincial sailing associations, member clubs, schools, and independent sailing competitions throughout Canada. The CYA is active in educating and certifying its member clubs and associations to become better trainer and race officiators themselves. And in a country where dinghy racing is a big sports event, the CYA makes sure that its member clubs and associations are congruent with the ISAF’s dinghy racing rules and regulations. Canada today is also one of the premier destinations for budding sailors who want to hone their skills in the art of sailing.

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