2009 Worlds Qualification System For

Senior Laser Worlds and Women’s Radial Worlds

Senior Worlds:

Basic Assumption: The North American Region will be allocated at least 12 berths to the 2009 Laser World Championship to be held in Canada in August, 2009. The Canadian Yachting Association and US Sailing will each be permitted to allocate one berth by March 1, 2009.

Overriding Rules:

1)   Competitors qualify for the 2009 Laser World Championship through the first berth for which they are eligible. For example, a competitor who wins the Laser Mid-winters East and is first in the Laser Grand Prix rankings qualifies through the Mid-winters East berth.

2)   In order to qualify for a berth at one of the ILCA-NA regattas listed below in Opportunity #1, the competitor must finish among the top-six ILCA-NA members, except that this rule will be relaxed to the top-nine for the North American Championship.

Qualification Opportunities:

1)       Berths will be awarded at the following ILCA-NA major regattas subject to overriding Rule #2 with the following ranking order: 

1. Two berths at the 2008 Laser North American Championship.

2. Two berths at the 2009 Laser Mid-winters East.

3. One berth at the 2008 Laser U.S. National Championship.

4. One berth at the 2008 Laser Canadian National Championship

5. One berth at the 2009 Rolex Miami OCR.

6. One berth at the 2008 CORK.

 (a) At the completion of each regatta, the first eligible competitor(s) will have 60 days or no later than March 1, 2009 in which to accept his/her spot at the Worlds.  If this, or subsequent competitors declines the spot, the class office will continue to contact eligible competitors. If no eligible competitor(s) accepts the spot(s), it (they) will be awarded at a later date according to opportunity #2.   

(b) If a competitor who has accepted the spot within the original 60-day period subsequently decides not to use their spot that spot will be awarded according to opportunity #2.  

(c) Competitors who decline a spot through either, scenario described in 1(a) and 1(b) may still qualify for the Worlds, but it must occur at an event after the date on which they notify the class office of their intent not to attend the Worlds.

2)       Any berths not allocated though Opportunity #1 and #2, and any additional berths awarded to the North American Region beyond the twelve mentioned in the Basic Assumption above, will be allocated using the 2008 Laser Grand Prix rankings as of December 31, 2008.  If necessary, these berths may be allocated to ensure that the ILCA-determined country quotas are satisfied.

Women’s Radial Worlds:

Basic Assumption: The North American Region will be allocated at least 6 berths to the 2009 Radial World Championship in Karatsu, Japan in August, 2009. The Canadian Yachting Association will allocate one berth and US SAILING will allocate one berth by February 15, 2009. Overriding Rules:

1)   Competitors qualify for the 2009 Women’s Radial World Championship through the first berth for which they are eligible.

 2)   In order to qualify for a berth at one of the ILCA-NA regattas listed below, the competitor must finish among the top-five female ILCA-NA members. 

Qualification Opportunities:

1)   Berths will be awarded at the following ILCA-NA major regattas subject to Overriding Rule #2 with the following ranking order:

1.       Two berths at the 2009 Women’s Radial North American Championship

2.       Two berths at the 2009 Miami OCR.

2)   Any berths beyond the six mentioned in the Basic Assumption above, not allocated through the Qualification Opportunities above, will be allocated using the 2008 Laser Grand Prix ranking as of December 31, 2008.  If necessary, these berths may be allocated to ensure that the ILCA-determined country quotas are satisfied.