DAY 1 - Thursday, November 20
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8:00 am Registration
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9:00 am Introduction by conference chair Shirley Robertson
Shirley Robertson
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9:05 am Welcome address by Rosanna Chopra, Executive Director Red Sea Global
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9:15 am Opening keynote presentation by Bruno Dubois, Team Manager France sailGP Team, Orient Express America's Cup Team
Bruno Dubois’ extraordinary career began with the Mini Transat in 1983. After racing major events like Québec–Saint-Malo and the Whitbread, he spent 25 years at North Sails, working with the world’s top offshore and America’s Cup teams. Since 2014, he has managed elite crews including Dongfeng (winners of the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race), Groupama Team France, and SailGP, and in 2023 rejoined the America’s Cup with Stéphane Kandler.
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YOUTH SAILING AND SPORTS GOVERNANCE
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9:35 am Youth Sailing: Securing the Future of our Sport and Industry
What are the pathways to the yacht racing industry and to the professional sport? How can youngsters build a professional career in sailing? This session will be split into two parts:
1) Commercial – What are the pathways into the yacht racing industry? How can young people build a professional career in sailing? With ICOMIA CEO Joe Lynch, Simon Keijzer, Ana Čalić
2) Sportive – How can we bridge the gap between youth and Olympic sailing and the highest levels of the sport, such as SailGP, the IMOCA class, or the America’s Cup?
With Laura Hampton – Youth & Women’s Development Manager, SailGP, Bruno Dubois, Team Manager, France SailGP Team, Phil Kennard, CEO, NorthStar SailGP Team
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10:25 am Coffee break & Networking time
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11:00 am Keynote presentation by World Sailing CEO David Graham: One sport? Sailing, Inclusion and the Paralympics.
By David Graham, World Sailing CEO
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11:15 am Concrete and successful actions aimed at promoting parasailing.
By David Graham and his guests
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11:35 Panel discussion: What Future for the Sport of Sailing ?
Statistics indicate that sailing boat sales are decreasing, and so is youth participation. Who does what about it? And what can WE do about it?
Industry leaders share their thoughts in this panel discussion chaired by Dan Jaspers.
With:
Pip Woods, Director, Royal Yachting AssociationAndraz Mihelin, Beneteau / Seascape
Richard Moore, CEO, Alter-Agency
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12:20 Lunch Break & Networking time
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EVENT MANAGEMENT AND HOST VENUES
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1:45 pm Successful Event Management: Case Studies and Tangible Outcomes.
How can we enhance the appeal of sailing events, attract more media and sponsors? How can we improve the inclusivity and sustainability of sailing events? What are the recipes for success?
With:
Jeremy Wilton, CEO, RORC, organiser of the Admiral’s Cup
Ferran Muniesa, CEO, Trofeo Princesa Sofia (ES)
Alexandra Rickham, Director of Sustainability, World Sailing
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2:30 PM What Makes a Winning Host? How Venues Can Attract and Organise Major Sporting Events
What are the challenges and opportunities for countries, cities, MNA’s, yacht clubs, event organisers?
Meg Reilley, Caribbean Sailing Association
AMAALA Yacht Club
James Pleasance, Executive Director, World Match Racing Tour
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3:15 PM Coffee break & Networking time
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MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
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3:50 PM Topical presentation: How can sailing do better in the media?
Jörg Müller-Dünow, Managing Partner, markenzeichen GmbH, analyses precise statistics and compares the sport of sailing with other disciplines such as Formula 1, cycling or skiing.
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4:10 PM Media Review - Who won the Print, TV and Clicks race in 2025, How and Why
Leading journalists and media specialists discuss who did well and not so well this year, in the social media as well as print and TV.
With:
Helen Fretter, Editor, Yachting WorldJulia Castro, Social media expert and professional kitesurfer
Mark Jardine, Managing Editor, Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com
Matt Sheahan, producer, PlanetSail
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SOME TECHNOLOGY – SHARP YET ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
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4:55 PM Probably the coolest boat launched in 2025: discover the secrets behind Magic Carpet ᵉ
Ed Bell, Project Manager, Magic Carpet ᵉ, and Mark Somerville, CTO & Marine Race Director at Persico, share the Hidden Technology Beneath one of the World’s Most Advanced Maxi Yachts.
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5:25 PM Trust the numbers: How can you rely on your instruments when your boat is heeling and pounding through waves?
Chris Trodden, Head of Business Development. FT Technologies
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5:40 PM Composite Materials in Yacht Racing: Can Sustainability and Performance Coexist?
Panel discussion chaired by Andy Rice, with:
- Paolo Manganelli, Head of Engineering, Gurit
- Katia Merle, Naval Engineer, VPLP Design
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6:25 Day 1 closing remarks by conference chair Shirley Robertson
Shirley Robertson
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6:30 PM at Harbour 8 PARTY TIME: SAILORS' NIGHT
DAY 2 - Friday, November 21
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8:00 Welcome coffee & croissants
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8:30 am - PLENARY SESSION Introduction by conference chair
Shirley Robertson
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8:40 am Opening keynote presentation by Sir Russell Coutts, CEO, SailGP
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TOP OF THE SPORT
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9:10 SailGP Success Story
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9:55 Insights into SailGP’s latest and future technological developments
Russell Coutts, SailGP CEO
Alex Reid, Director of Performance Engineering, SailGP -
10:15 Photo opp with the sports' leading personalities from all over the world
Antoine Mermod, CEO IMOCA
David Graham, CEO World Sailing
Jeremy Pochman, CEO 11th Hour Racing
Knut Frostad, CEO, Henri Lloyd
Russell Coutts, CEO SailGP
Rosanna Chopra, Executive Director, Red Sea Global
Antonio Alquézar, CEO, Spain SailGP Team
Cécile Andrieu, Co-Director, MerConcept
Richard Moore, CEO, Alter Agency
Victoria Low, CEO, The Magenta Project
Joe Lynch, CEO, ICOMIA
Bernard Schopfer, CEO Yacht Racing Forum
Niels Klarenbeek, CEO, Metstrade
Phil Kennard, CEO, NorthStar SailGP Team
Adrian Peet, CEO, Amaala Yacht Club
James Pleasance, Executive Director, World Match Racing Tour
Bruno Dubois, CEO, France SailGP Team+ All CEOs of companies active in yacht racing with 10+ employees
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10:20 am Inside AI: Cutting-Edge Advances and What Lies Ahead
How AI can be used in the yacht racing industry, what the benefits and risks are, what the sport of sailing is doing well and where it could improve.
Martina Reche Vilanova, Naval Architect and Maritime Engineer
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11:00 pm THE YACHT RACING FORUM FRIDAY BRUNCH
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12:00 am Pantaenius Yacht Racing Image Award Winners Announcement
Celebrating the worlds’ best sailing photographers and yacht racing images taken in 2025.
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12:15 pm Fireside chat: Sport and Industry Leaders discuss Sustainability and Inclusivity with no borders or barriers, aiming to set clear, concrete and achievable goals for the industry.
With:
Jeremy Pochman, CEO and co-founder, 11th Hour Racing
Holly Cova, Team Manager, Team Malizia
David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
Victoria Low, CEO, The Magenta Project
Knut Frostad, CEO & Board Member, Henri-Lloyd
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1:10 pm How can inclusive, gender-neutral boat design be improved to better accommodate users of all genders?
With:
Laura Marimon Giovannetti, Senior Researcher at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) and member of the Equipment Committee and Weight Athlete at World Sailing
Emily Nagel, Pro Sailor and Performance Data Analyst
Rosalin Kuiper, Pro Sailor, skipper of Team Holcim-PRB
VPLP, name tbc
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IMOCA
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1:55 pm The Ocean Race Europe debrief + presentation of the Atlantic Race
With:
Richard Brisius, CEO, The Ocean Race
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2:10 pm Learnings from the IMOCA Global Series, Vendée Globe, fully crewed events and the future of the IMOCA Class
With:
Antoine Mermod, CEO, IMOCA
Holly Cova, Team Manager, Team Malizia
Richard Brisius, CEO, The Ocean Race
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2:55 pm Closing remarks and end of the conference
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2:55 pm FAREWELL COFFEE
