The Bahamas Sailing Association or BSA (formerly Bahamas Yachting Association)

The Bahamas Sailing Association is our national authority governing and controlling the sport of sailing in The Bahamas. Its objects and aims are basically the same as for the ISAF below but on the national level.

The Bahamas Sailing Association is a "member national authority" of the International Sailing Federation or ISAF. It is also a member of the Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA) and of the Pan American Sailing Federation (PASF).

The Bahamas Sailing Association was established in 1952. It is a non-profit organisation.

Individuals and institutional members such as yacht clubs, sailing clubs and boat class associations constitute the Bahamas Sailing Association.

Anyone or any entity interested in the sport of sailing and in developing the sport of sailing anywhere in The Bahamas should join the Bahamas Sailing Association!

Who's who at BSA? Please refer to the contact page.

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The International Sailing Federation or ISAF - for all details about ISAF, please visit the ISAF's Web site at www.sailing.org

The objects and aims for which the International Sailing Federation, as the controlling authority of the sport of sailing in all its forms throughout the world, is established are:

(a) to act as and carry out the functions and duties of such authority;

(b) to promote the sport of sailing in all its branches regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation;

(c) to establish, supervise, interpret and amend the rules regulating sailboat racing and to adjudicate disputes and take any appropriate disciplinary action (including the imposition of appropriate penalties);

(d) to act as the supervising organization for the sport of sailing, to grant and withdraw international or recognized status to or from classes of boats and to prescribe the relevant rules and measurement procedures;

(e) to act as the organizing authority of the Olympic Sailing Regatta;

(f) to control, organize, conduct, license or sanction other championships, sailing events or activities;

(g) to examine, study, investigate, consider and report on all matters affecting the sport of sailing and any persons interested therein or associated therewith and to collect, analyze and distribute information, statistics, opinions and reports thereon;

(h) to represent and protect the interests of any member of the Federation;

(i) to convene, arrange, organize and hold regattas, races and competitions of all sorts, to create and stimulate interest in and publicize the sport of sailing, to convene, arrange, organize and hold exhibitions, shows, displays, meetings, seminars, conferences and discussions, and to provide prizes, bursaries, grants and awards for competitors and others;

(j) to provide administrative services of any sort whatsoever for any association, union, society, club, committee, body or person interested in or associated with sailing in any of its forms.

Membership

Individuals and institutions such as yacht clubs, sailing clubs and fleets constitute the Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA)

We distinguish two categories of member:

Active Members with right to vote and hold elective office such as recognized yacht/sailing clubs and adult individuals

Associate Members with no right to vote or to hold office such as member of a yacht/sailing club that is a paid-up member of BSA (please refer to the list in the R/H column), junior and supporter individuals and classes.

A Bahamian or a Bahamian resident shall be either an Active or an Associate member of BSA to be eligible to compete in a sailing event organized/sanctioned by BSA and/or using the Racing Rules of Sailing from ISAF.