According to World Sailing, the review, implemented in November last year "is to ensure there is fair and open competition at regular intervals for the equipment for an Olympic event.

"This ensures that sailors, member national authorities and Olympic teams are receiving a high-quality service and products from manufacturers at competitive market prices.

"Together with World Sailing's new enhanced Olympic Classes Contract, these measures strengthen World Sailing's compliance with EU competition law."

The organisation also claim that all aspects of equipment, including Olympic sustainability, will be examined during the review to ensure that manufacturers do not become complacent and to stop monopolies from developing.

The current equipment for men’s and women’s windsurfing was originally selected in 2005 and has not changed since whilst the equipment for men’s and women’s one person dinghy stretches from even further back with no changes since its introduction in 1974.

World Sailing also believe that the mechanisms governing the evolution of the current equipment are in need of review.

The criteria for re-evaluation will be published by World Sailing in May with the final outcome of the review set to be decided in November.