ILCA is delighted to announce the formation of the ILCA Athlete Panel. Formation of this group was approved by the ILCA World Council in late November 2025.
Purpose of the Athlete Panel
The role of the ILCA Athlete Panel is to act as a link between sailors and the World Council. While the focus is initially on Olympic-level sailors, panel members are expected to represent the interests of both Olympic and non-Olympic sailors, encourage open communication, and provide structured feedback to the World Council. The panel will operate in an advisory capacity.
Panel Composition
Mária Érdi and Pavlos Kontides, the current elected ILCA representatives on the World Sailing Athlete Committee, have both agreed to join as founding members.
The Panel will consist of:
- Six sailors in total
- Equal representation of ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 sailors
- Mária and Pavlos plus four additional sailors to be elected, at least two of which must be non-European.
Eligibility Criteria
Mária and Pavlos, working with ILCA President, Mark Lyttle, and ILCA World Council member, Virginia Kravarioti, have agreed that the panel should be open to sailors who:
- Are active campaigners for the LA 2028 Olympics, and
- Have competed in at least one of the two most recent ILCA Senior World Championships, or
- Have entered the 2026 Princesa Sofía Regatta
Nominations and Voting Process
We are now looking for nominations with a deadline of 1 March. Please send your name and how you meet the criteria to athletepanel@ilcasailing.org
Once nominations are received, an online vote will be organised.
Voting eligibility will be restricted to sailors who meet the participation criteria outlined above. Voting to close by the end of the 2026 Princesa Sofía Regatta.
Terms of Reference
These will be refined over 2026 with the possibility of adding coaches to the Panel. However, it was felt important to get the Panel up and running as quickly as possible.
ILCA President, Mark Lyttle, and ILCA World Council member, Virginia Kravarioti.