Para-Classification

What is Para-Classification?

Para-Classification is undertaken to define who is eligible to compete in Para World Sailing Events and group athletes into sport classes which aim to ensure that the impact of impairment is minimised, and that sporting excellence rather than the level of disability determines which athlete or team is victorious.

The Para-Classification Rules of World Sailing apply to all athletes and athlete support personnel who participate in any events or competitions organised, authorised or recognised as a Para Sailing Event.

How do I get a Para-Classification?

Para-Classification is usually available just prior to the annual Australian Para Sailing Championships and at Para World Sailing Championships. 

Athletes may be accompanied when attending an evaluation session and must be accompanied if they are a minor. The athlete must attend the evaluation session with any relevant sports attire or adaptive equipment and must disclose the use of any medication and/or medical device or implant to the classification panel.

You may be requested to provide medical documentation relevant to the eligible impairment and may be required to be observed in competition before being allocating a Sport Class and Sport Class Status.

Note that Para-Classification is sports assessment and not a medical assessment. There are strict regulations dealing with maintaining the privacy of classification information and who can access the documents.

• Sailors with Physical Disabilities – are required to be assessed by a Classification Panel to obtain an International or National Para-Classification and be eligible for Para Sailing events.
• Sailors with Sensory Disabilities – Athletes who are Blind or Vision Impaired are required to provide an IBSA Classification Form completed by a qualified Ophthalmologist and be assessed by a Classification Panel.  Athletes who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired are not currently eligible under the Para-Classification Rules of World Sailing although Deaflympics eligibility is required for the Deaf Sailing World Championships.  Eligibility is defined as a hearing loss of at least 55dB pure tone average (PTA) in the better ear (three-tone pure tone average at 500, 1000 and 2000 Hertz, air conduction, ISO 1969 Standard).
• Sailors with Intellectual Disabilities - Athletes who have an Intellectual Disability are not currently eligible under the Para-Classification Rules of World Sailing).  However, current registration on the INAS Master List or being a current registered Special Olympics Athlete fulfils the disability eligibility requirements for the Australian Para Sailing Championships.  Registration on the INAS Master List may qualify for future Para World Sailing Championships for this athlete group.

Sailors with Multiple Disabilities - are required to be assessed by a Classification Panel to obtain an International or National Para-Classification and be eligible for Para Sailing events. 

Classifier Contacts

To be put in contact with an accredited Para-Classifier, email parasailing@sailing.org.au

Para-Classification Rules

To download the Para-Classification Rules of World Sailing – click here

Para-Classification Form

To complete the Australian Sailing Para-Classification Form – click here

Score sheets for the Para Classification assessment can be found by scrolling down this page to the 'files available for download' section.

For information about how to become a Sailing Para-Classifier please email parasailing@sailing.org.au