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From November 2000, ISAF gave authority to the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) to be responsible for all aspects of disabled sailing. This includes sailing for people with physically disabilities, blindness, deafness and learning difficulties and covers all aspects of sailing including recreation, training and racing.

As a result from November 2000, it was agreed by ISAF, with the support of the IFDS, that the ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee be disbanded.

In future, ISAF and IFDS will work in closer partnership and in the interests of co-ordination and shared resources, the ISAF Secretariat will provide the administration for the IFDS and disabled sailing. The responsible ISAF Secretariat staff members will be Luissa Smith - Development and Information Manager, and Emma Little - Disabled Sailing Secretary, who has recently been employed to provide full-time support for disabled sailing. The incorporation of the administration for IFDS within the ISAF Secretariat will provide many benefits, including the opportunity to utilise the considerable resources, to take advantage of the ISAF network to promote the sport, as well as the provision of a full-time staff resource.

With immediate effect, we would ask that all correspondence regarding disabled sailing now be directed to the:

IFDS, c/o ISAF Secretariat, Ariadne House, Town Quay, Southampton, Hampshire, Great Britain, SO14 2AQ

Tel:+44 23 80 635111, Fax:+44 23 80 635789
Email: ifds@isaf.co.uk
Web: http://www.sailing.org/disabled

In order for the IFDS to continue to be represented within ISAF, it has been confirmed that IFDS will have the representation on the following ISAF committees:

Keelboat Committee
Youth Sailing, Training and Development Committee
Women's Sailing Committee
Medical Commission

It is also proposed that ISAF Classes with disabled sailing activities will be allowed to appoint a second representative to the ISAF Classes Committee, who will be specifically responsible for disabled sailing matters in that class. However, as this is a change to the current ISAF Regulations it will require approval by the ISAF Council.

In addition, IFDS will be invited to make a presentation at the Council meeting each November during which Disabled Sailing can be presented and promoted to as wide as possible an international audience. The IFDS will be able to make recommendations to Council via the committees on which the IFDS are represented or through the Executive Committee.

ISAF and the IFDS are very excited about the future relationship and look forward to continuing to service and support disabled sailing together.