Li Quanhai, 58, served two terms as Vice-President of World Sailing before he was elected President

China’s Li Quanhai has been elected as World Sailing President after beating incumbent Kim Andersen of Denmark in the second round of voting at World Sailing’s Virtual General Assembly. Li, 58, is a regular fixture in Yacht Style’s Asia’s Top Yachting Personalities list, which will next appear in Issue 57 (Jan/Feb 2021).

Four Presidential candidates were up for election in the first round and no candidate received more than 50 per cent of votes. After a second round of voting was required between the top two candidates, Li received 68 votes to Andersen’s 60.

Li and the rest of the newly appointed Board of Directors will serve a four-year term up until the 2024 General Assembly.

Li has been a Vice-President of World Sailing since 2013, having been an International Judge (1998-2012) and Council Member (2006-12). He was Secretary General of the Chinese Yachting Association for eight years before becoming Vice-President from 2005-18, during which he was heavily involved in the 2008 Olympics competition in Qingdao.

The top seven in the Vice-Presidential elections, who will join Li on the Board of Directors, were Tomasz Chamera (Poland), Sarah Kenny (Australia), Philip Baum (South Africa), Yann Rocherieux (France), Duriye Özlem Akdurak (Turkey), Marcus Spillane (Ireland) and Cory Sertl (USA).

India’s Malav Shroff just missed out on re-election, while Hong Kong’s Tong Yui-shing also fell short in his bid to become a Vice-President.

David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, said: “I warmly welcome Mr Quanhai Li as President of World Sailing. It is a great advantage having already served for eight years on the Board. Our new President is joined by a very strong set of Vice-Presidents who have a wealth of experience as former Council and Committee members.

“The future of World Sailing is in very capable hands and I look forward to working with our new Board. World Sailing’s elected Board work incredibly hard and I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing members for their huge efforts over their term.”

The Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission will join the Board of Directors as a permanent voting member. In addition, the World Sailing Presidents of Honour – His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and His Majesty King Constantine – are entitled to attend and participate in Board of Directors meetings, but do not hold a vote.

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