Pete, ISAF 'own' the sailing part of the Olympics as well as some of the major Ocean racing events. If they decide that you're not elegible to sail then you're not elegible to sail, end of. Generally speaking, sailors don't and haven't rocked the boat very much with them. Lately though there seems to be more questioning of what entitles ISAF to police sailing the way they do.

ISAF have a very strong voice and very powerful persons on board, they are involved in discussions at the highest levels all over the world. As networking goes ISAF is one of the finest tuned and most powerful.