The SSL is the global inshore sailing circuit launched by Olympic athletes in 2012. Supported by the greatest sailing stars like Loïck Peyron and Dennis Conner, the SSL is recognized as “special event” by World Sailing since 2017. Its main philosophy considers the athletes as the “Stars” and its goals are:
Showcase the annual global sailing championship with its 15’000 regattas on the example of the Calcio of football in Italy
Promote the inshore regattas to the global audience
SSL CIRCUIT The three main components of the SSL Circuit:
SSL RANKING: Every Tuesday, the SSL updates and publishes the ranking of the 100,000 leading athletes of the SSL Circuit, thus highlighting the world’s top inshore sailors.
SSL FINALS: Every year around November-December, on the model of the yearly play-off in ice-hockey, the SSL organizes the annual final of the SSL Circuit among the 20 best athletes of the ranking, to crown the champion of the season
SSL GOLD CUP: Every two years, on the model of the football World Cup, the SSL organizes the “ultimate” championship of the circuit among the 56 first nations of the ranking, to crown the best sailing nation
Ranking events
Rankings
The SSL Ranking is divided into two separate lists and is computed using a mathematical rule which takes into account each competitor's six highest valid results over a period of two years. In 2012 the SSL has ranked 162 races. At the end of each event, all participants are awarded a number of SSL points based on their final classification. The number of points allocated to each individual ranking is determined by the “Table of SSL Points”. The Table shows the distribution in accordance with the mathematical model inspired by the ATP World Tour. The SSL Ranking of Skippers constitutes the benchmark classification for selecting skippers to participate in the "SSL Finals". At the end of a competition, the allocated SSL points can be recorded in the ranking at 100% for 52 weeks. From the 53rd week, and up until the 104th week which follows the competition, the SSL points allocated to all categories of regattas can be recorded with a value which corresponds to 50% of their initial value. From the 105th week which follows the end of a competition, no SSL points can be recorded for this competition. So, the SSL Ranking is not resetat the beginning of each year but is a continuous computer-based process of entering, downgrading and dropping events. The SSL Ranking is valid 7 days and is updated each week.
