About the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA)
Headquartered in Cyprus, the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) is an international non-governmental organisation committed to offering opportunities worldwide for people who dream of learning sailing. ISSA helps those looking to start their sailing education in schools and also provides an international career pathway for sailing and windsurfing instructors to teach in different countries.
As a non-profit international association, ISSA sets common standards for quality and safety in sailing and windsurfing schools globally. These standards apply universally, ensuring consistent certification for students completing courses at all levels.ISSA ensures that all its sailing and windsurfing instructors are trained to the same high standards.
Our Mission and Vision
Promote Yachting in the regions, areas and among people where it is not popular yet. This is an excellent activity for individuals and families. Helps to develop respect to other people and nature.
Educate those who decided to occupy themselves with water sports. Water sport activities
provide a lot of fun, but we need to obtain some preparation to enjoy it to a full extent.
Standardise training worldwide. We are committed to assist the ISSA schools to maintain
the highest and most modern standards of education. We are also open to help those who
are not associated. With safety being the main priority.
Exchange Cultural Experiences between various countries. As an organisation present on
most of the continents we aim to contribute to mutual understanding of people originating
from different cultures.
Leadership Team
The ISSA is managed by a committee elected from its member sailing and windsurfing schools, ensuring effective oversight and representing the diverse perspectives and interests of its member institutions while upholding ISSA's commitment to excellence and safety in sailing and windsurfing education worldwide.
Europe
- Germany – Jarosław Wistuba
- Greece – Alexander Shehu
East Asia
- China (Guangdong Province) – Chunshan Bai
West Asia
- Israel – Erez Vardi
- Persian Gulf Area – Tarek Hassan
South East Asia
- Singapore – Andrew Chua
- Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore - Mike Downard
- Chief Instructor Trainer – Jakub Elsahen
- Chief Trainer for Inland Training – Tomasz Szczegielniak
- Chief Trainer for Power Training – Tarek Hassan
- Chief Trainer for Inclusive Sailing – Anita Marszalek
- Chief Project Consultant – Michal Stronka
- Executive Assistant to The President – Weiding Zhang
- Head of Office Administration – Elvira Sarkhanova
- Maritime Authorities Relations – Erez Vardi
- News Room Officer – Ramil Bayramov
- Professional Training Development – Assaad Rayess
- Assaad Rayess
- Bogdan Brodowski
- Erez Vardi
- Irina Fedorowa
- Konstantin Zhukov
- Orjan Jansson
- Piotr Stańczak
- Silvia Guerra
History
ISSA was created in 1969 in London by:
- Les Glenans FRA
- Polish Yachting Association POL
- Yacht Club de Morges SUI
- Casa di Vela Caprera ITA
- National Schools Sailing Association GBR
- Centro Internacional de Navigacion de Arousa ESP
ISSA was founded in 1969 in Paris on the initiative of the national sailing associations of England, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Poland.
ISSA remains a public organisation with the Administrative Council setting and controls the standards of yachting training in the schools-members of the Association and controlling yachting training standards.
Past AGMs
- 1969 – London, the UK
- 1973 – Finales, Italo
- 1974 – Enkhuizen, Holland
- 1975 – Brest, France
- 1976 – Neufachtel, Switzerland
- 1977 – Warsaw, Poland
- 1978 – Wien, Austria
- 1979 – Quiberon, France
- 1980 – Largs, Scotland
- 1981 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- 1982 – Tetouan, Marocco
- 1983 – Cowes, England
- 1984 – Bombannes, France
- 1985 – Helsinki, Finland
- 1986 – Montreal, Canada
- 1987 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- 1988 – Alger, Algeria
- 1989 – La Rochelle, France
- 1990 – Tumendorf, Germany
- 1991 – Gols, Austria
- 1992 – Caprera Sardaigne, Italy
- 1995 – Hamburg, Germany
- 1996 – Brigthon, England
- 1997 – Marstrand, Sweden
- 1998 – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- 1999 – Athens, Greece
- 2000 – Edinburgh, Scotland
- 2001 – Paris, France
- 2002 – Rome, Italy
- 2003 – Dublin, Ireland
- 2004 – Paris, France
- 2005 – Singapure, Singapure
- 2006 – Helsinki, Finland
- 2007 – Barcelona, Spain
- 2008 – Wien, Austria
- 2009 – Midlands, England
- 2010 – Istambul, Turkey
- 2011 – Poznań, Poland
- 2012 – Łódź, Poland
- 2013 – Berlin, Germany
- 2014 – Marmaris, Turkey
- 2016 – Dusseldorf, Germany
- 2017 – Dusseldorf, Germany
- 2019 – Kamień Pomorski, Poland
- 2023 – Beijing, China
Previous Publications
Logbooks
American Sailing Association logbook issued by the American Sailing Association at the end of 1980ties
Association of German Sailing SchoolsSailing Certificate issued by Association of German Sailing Schools (Verband Deutscher Segelschulen)
AustriaSailor’s ID logbook issued in Austria (VOS)
Beglium Yachting Associationlogbook issued by Beglium Yachting Association (Landelijke Bond van Watersport Verenigingen in Belgie)
Belgium logbook issued by regional Belgium yachting organization (Ligue Regionale du Yachting Belge)
Canadian Yachting Associationlogbook issued by Canadian Yachting Association at the beginning of 1990ties
Dutch Sailing Schools Federationlogbook issued by Dutch Sailing Schools Federation (Vereniging van Zeilscholen Nederland) – 1983
Finnish Yachting AssociationFinnish logbook issued by Finnish Yachting Association (Suomen Purjehtijaliitto ry.] at the end of 1980ties
French Sailing Federation 80tiesLogbook issued by French Sailing Federation (Federation Francaise de Voile) at the end of 80ties
French Sailing Federation 90tiesLogbook issued by French Sailing Federation (Federation Francaise de Voile) at the end of 90ties
ISSA 2002Logbook issued by ISSA in 2002 – in Arabic, English and French
Polish Sailing Associationcertificate of windsurfing instructor issued by Polish Sailing Association
Polish Yachting Associationlogbook issued by Polish Yachting Association (Polski Związek Żeglarski)
Spanish Sailing Federationlogbook issed by Spanish Sailing Federation (Federation Espanola de Vela)
Join the ISSA, Open a school
Thinking of opening a sailing shcool? Find out about Accreditation.
SWIFT Payment Details
Beneficiary:
ISSA International Sailing Schools Association LTD.
Address:
Prodromou, 51, 2nd floor, Strovolos, 2063 Nicosia, Cyprus, HE 378372
SWIFT/BIC:
BCYPCY2N
IBAN:
CY91002001950000357027921111