The organisation has invited candidates for the top job to come forward, with anyone who throws their hat into the ring challenging incumbent Carlo Croce.

Italian Croce, who became President of the then-called International Sailing Federation in 2012, announced in May that he will be standing for re-election.

The 70-year-old said he was seeking a second and final four-year term as he has "unfinished business".

The election will take place at the World Sailing General Assembly at the Hotel Renaissance in Barcelona on November 13, when seven vice-presidents will also be elected.

Two of these must be from each gender with candidates for both roles needing to be endorsed by at least five World Sailing national authorities.

Nominations must be made by September 17.

Whoever is successfully elected will be in office through to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Croce, who defeated Eric Tulla of Puerto Rico in the 2012 race to replace Sweden's Göran Petersson, is only the seventh President of the organisation since 1946.

He said that better governance, Olympic development and the Sailing World Cup would be priorities should he be voted back in.

The return of sailing to the Paralympic programme following its removal for Tokyo 2020 is another key aim.

"We need to modernise and become much more efficient and effective as a Federation," Croce said in May.

"Change is underway and I can help deliver that change over the next four years." 

Croce himself competed for Italy at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games.