World Sailing

World Sailing (WS) is the umbrella organization of all national sailing organizations globally. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, and administers all aspects of sailing sport internationally. 145 countries are affiliated with WS after six national federations were added at the 2008 WS Congress in Athens.

In the wake of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, WS suspended athletes from Russia and Belarus from competing at any World Sailing events, and suspended all officials from these countries from officiating at any event sanctioned by WS, as well as from attending or participating in any WS meetings, committees, and forums. In March 2023, the Russian Sailing Federation sent a letter addressing WS and urging them to reverse the decision and allow Russian athletes to compete in WS events. The RSF's statement included claims that the war was actually initiated by Ukraine and that 'Russia defends peace'. In May 2023, World Sailing reinstated Russian and Belarusian athletes, shortly after a Russian missile attack forced the cancellation of a sailing event in Ukraine.

Olympic

• 470 (Men's and Women's Two Person Dinghy - World Championships since 1970)
• 49er (Men's Skiff - World Championships since 2000)
• 49erFX (Women's Skiff - World Championships since 2013)
• Finn (Men’s One Person Dinghy Heavy - World Championships since 1956)
• Laser (Men's One Person Dinghy - World Championships since 1980)
• Laser Radial (Women's One Person Dinghy - World Championships since 1980)
• Nacra 17 (Mixed Multihull - World Championships since 2013)
• RS:X (Men's and Women's Windsurfer - World Championships since 2006)

Offshore and Oceanic

• Offshore Team Worlds
• Star Sailors League
• Volvo Ocean Race
• Clipper Round the World Race

Youth and Development

• 29er (High performance youth skiff - World Championships since 2000)
• 420 (Two Person Dinghy - World Championships since 1970)
• Optimist (Youth One Person Dinghy - World Championships since 1962)
• Techno 293 (Youth Windsurfer - World Championships since 2006)
• RS:X Youth Windsurfer

Para World Sailing

• 2.4mR (Single-Person Keelboat - World Championships since 1990)
• Hansa 303 (Two-Person Keelboat - World Championships since 2008)
• SKUD 18 (Two-Person Multihull - World Championships since 2008)

There are five continental associations affiliated with the World Sailing. These associations are responsible for organizing continental championships, providing support for their member federations, and communicating their interests at the World Sailing Board meetings.

• Asian Sailing Federation
• African Sailing Confederation
• European Sailing Federation
• Oceania Sailing Federation
• Pan American Sailing Federation

World Sailing Official Website: Overview of World Sailing, its mission, and tasks https://www.sailing.org/about

Russian Sailing Federation Official Statement: RSF's letter to World Sailing regarding the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes https://www.russiansailing.com/statement