Sunday, November 20, 7:00 PM
Pre-event informal welcome drink
Co-hosted by Yachting Malta and World Sailing
Venue: Hôtel Intercontinental, Malta
–> ‘Opal lounge’ – Level 7




DAY 1 - Monday, November 21
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8:15 Registration
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9:00 Opening Remarks
By Bernard Schopfer, Yacht Racing Forum organiser
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9:05 Introduction by Andy Rice
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09:10 Welcome message
Hon. Dr Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects.
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09:15 Opening keynote presentation by Knut Frostad
Former professional sailor and organiser of the Volvo Ocean Race, departing CEO and President at Navico
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09:35 Back on track? What is the state of our sport following a complete disruption of the organisation process ?
Sailing industry leaders discuss the present and future of yacht racing. With:
- Knut Frostad, President & CEO, Navico
- Gianguido Girotti, Groupe Beneteau’s Deputy CEO and Chief Executive Officer of its Boat division
- David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
- Johan Salén, CEO, The Ocean Race
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10:20 Coffee break
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Module 1 - THE SPORT OF SAILING IN A CHANGING WORLD
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10:50 LEGAL - Can (sailing) events be protected against cancellations for unforeseen reasons ?
Sarah Allan, partner, Penningtons Manches Cooper
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11:05 Are we unique? Differences and similarities between sailing and other sports.
Richard Moore, CEO – Alter Agency
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11:25 What yacht racing can learn from Formula 1
By Cyril Abiteboul, former managing director and team principal of Renault F1, now managing director of CDK Technologies.
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11:45 Launch of the Foiling Professional Association and update on the Foiling Youth World Series and Blue Economy Inclusivity Project.
By Luca Rizzotti, founder, the Foiling Week, with guests!
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12:15 Lunch Break
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Module 2 : SPORTS GOVERNANCE AND BUSINESS
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13:45 Yacht Racing sponsorship: How can we attract more brands? What revenue streams are available to organisers?
Panel discussion with:
- Nathalie Quéré, Founder, W-Consulting
- Cyril Abiteboul, former managing director and team principal of Renault F1, now managing director of CDK Technologies.
- Bruno Dubois, Team Manager, France SailGP Team
- Andrew Pindar, Director at Pindar Sailing Partners Limited
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14:30 Case study: Saudi Arabia. Developing a major events strategy to help build city brands and the role yachting can play
Session chaired by Richard Moore
With:
Samia Bagdady, CEO, Saudi Sailing Federation
Adrian Peet, VP Marine Development at Sela
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14:50 Continuing to move the inclusivity dial
Opening remarks by Victoria Low, with key stats from Participation Study and Census Study.
Followed by a panel moderated by Dee Caffari with:
- Alexandra Rickham, Head of Sustainability, World Sailing
- Victoria Evans, Women in Sport and World Record Holder
- Duncan Truswell, Strategic Lead Talent and Performance, Sport England
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15:35 Coffee break
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16:05 Imagining a low carbon future - with 11th Hour Racing Team
Panel discussion presented by Alexandra Rickam, sustainability manager at World Sailing
With:
- Imogen Dinham-Price, IMOCA sustainability manager
- Amy Munro, 11th Hour Racing Team / 1 Degree Sustainability Officer
- Bruno Giuntoli, SUMOTH / Foiling Week
- Kellie Covington, TOR Workshops / SMA
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16:50 Presenting the Sustainable Marine Alliance : Accelerator for change
Kellie Covington
Anne-Cecile Turner
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17:05 How can the yacht racing industry protect underwater fauna from collisions with sailing boats?
Renaud Bañuls, Founder, Bañulsdesign
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17:15 How can we increase participation in a declining market, and encourage the younger generation to join?
- Jonquil Hackenberg, Chair of The Magenta Project
- Alastair Fox, Chief of Events, World Sailing
- Clare Harrington, Rear Commodore, The New York Yacht Club
- Charlotte Kirk Elkjær, Chief Advisor at the City of Aarhus
- Gordon Ritchie, managing Director, GRM
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18:00 Closing remarks - End of Day 1
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19:15 Transfer to the evening reception by coach - meeting in front of the hotel
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19:30 Evening reception & Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award Prize Giving Ceremony at the Malta National Aquarium
DAY 1 - Monday, November 21
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8.15 Registration
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9.00 Opening Remarks
By Bernard Schopfer, Yacht Racing Forum organiser
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9.05 Introduction by Andy Rice
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9.10 Welcome message
Hon. Dr Aaron Farrugia, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects.
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9:15 Opening keynote presentation by Knut Frostad
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09:35 Back on track? What is the state of our sport following a complete disruption of the organisation process ?
Sailing industry leaders discuss the present and future of yacht racing. With:
- Knut Frostad, President & CEO, Navico
- David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
- Gianguido Girotti, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Groupe Beneteau
- Johan Salén, CEO, The Ocean Race
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10:20 Coffee break
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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, Presented by B&G
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10:55 Latest technological developments from the America’s Cup
America’s Cup designers, engineers and technology developers discuss the latest technological developments from the Cup.
Julien Pilate, Alinghi Red Bull Racing aero model analyst and sail designer
Giovanni Cariboni, founder and CEO of Cariboni
Nat Shaver, Hull and Foils Concept Design Engineer, INEOS Britannia
Mark Somerville, Chief Operating Officer, Persico Marine
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11:40 What are the key technical drivers of change in sailmaking?
Mike Sanderson, CEO, Doyle Sails
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12:00 Future Fibres - the latest aero and load monitoring gains in grand prix race yachts
Jonathan Duval
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12:20 Lunch Break
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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM - afternoon session
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13:45 Latest foiling technologies and advances in foiling
Session chaired by Luca Rizzotti
With:
Nat Shaver, Hull and Foils Concept Design Engineer, INEOS Britannia
Jean-François Cuzon, CEO, Pixel sur Mer
Gianni Cariboni, Founder and CEO of Cariboni
Mario Caponnetto, Co-founder, CTO and foil design expert of Caponnetto Hueber
Mark Somerville, Chief Operating Officer, Persico Marine
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14:30 VPLP Simulator – Applying the latest design innovation to the new Gunboat 80
With the incorporation of multihulls into more major sailing events, we illustrate how the VPLP simulator is applied to the design of these new maxi catamarans as well as why the big boat sailors are converting to them. With:
Vincent Lauriot-Prévost (co-founder, VPLP)
Benoît Lebizay, Managing Partner, Gunboat
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14:50 Sustainability in the development and construction of racing yachts
With:
Erwan Faoucher, Groupe Beneteau Research & Innovation Director
Imogen Dinham-Price, Sustainability Manager, IMOCA Class
Nico Voorzee, Marine Sector Lead, STRUCTeam
Gary Owen, Lineat Composites/Carbon Fibre Recycling Alliance
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15:35 Coffee break
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16:05 North Sails' latest technologies
Jeremy Elliott, Head of North Design Services
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16:25 The new wingsail and its future impact on the expansion of sailing
Hugues de Turckheim, Engineer/Inventor, ACCWing
Philippe Marcovich, President, ACCWing -
16:40 Foiling multihull design tool chain review from Ultime to foiling ferry
Simon Watin, Project Lead, VPLP design
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17:00 Latest evolution of high performance protective polymers for racing yachts
Pietro Parmeggiani, CEO, Protect Tapes
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17:20 IMOCA, imagining the future.Thomas Tison, Founder, Thomas Tison Yacht Design & Engineering
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17:35 What is the impact of the new Ocean Race on IMOCA design and engineering?
Quentin Lucet, Naval Architect, VPLP
Mike Sanderson, past winner of the Volvo Ocean Race and CEO, Doyle sails
Julien Pilate, Alinghi Red Bull Racing aero model analyst and sail designer
Ben Hazeldine, Cyclops Marine
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18:15 Closing remarks - End of Day 1
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19:15 Transfer to the evening reception by coach - meeting in front of the hotel
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19:30 Evening reception & Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image award Prize Giving Ceremony at the Malta National Aquarium


DAY 2 - Tuesday, November 22
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8.30 Registration
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9.00 Introduction by Andy Rice
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9.05 Welcome message by Jonathan Borg, Chairman, Yachting Malta
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9:10 Keynote presentation by David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
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Module 3: Marketing & Media
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09:30 Latest trends in communication and marketing, and how can these be applied to our sport?
- Nic Douglass, founder & Director, Adventures of a Sailor Girl
- Emily Caroe, Director, Mallory Group
- Francesca Capodanno, head of communication, Barcolana
- Clifford Webb, CEO, 1080 Media
- Richard Moore, CEO – Alter Agency
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10:15 Social media in 2022: dos and dont’s
Meg Reilley, Brand & Marketing Consultant
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10:35 Coffee break
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11:05 Yacht Racing photography, a technical and a commercial challenge
Rod Harris, yacht racing photographer
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11:20 Extreme and spectacular: is the professional side of the sport promoting - or harming - the business of the sport?
Luca Rizzotti, founder, The Foiling Week
Laurence Mead, Cowes Week Regatta Director
Laura Ayres, Managing Director, Clipper Ventures
Matt Sheahan, Producer & founder PlanetSail
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12:05 Why should yacht racing embrace blockchain strategy?
By Lingling Liu, Founder Sports DAO
Dr Lingling will talk about Fan Token, fundraising for charity purposes (since numerous sailing projects have charity projects) and what metaverse marketing is.
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12:30 Lunch Break
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TOP OF THE SPORT
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13:50 Has SailGP come of age?
By Bruno Dubois, Team Manager, France SailGP Team
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14:10 Concrete case study: can a SailGP team be financially viable? The Canadian model.
Ian Wooden, General Partner, Canada SailGP Team
Jean-Sébastien Chénier Proteau, CEO, Canada SailGP Team
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14:30 Presentation of the SSL Global Circuit 2023-2028
Mateusz Kusznierewicz, Director, SSL Gold Cup
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14:45 What is so good about double-handed racing and why is it growing?
Session chaired by Matthew Sheahan
With:
Kate Cope, Director UK Doublehanded Series
Dee Caffari, Pro Sailor
Ian Walker, UK General Manager, North Sails and past winner of the Volvo Ocean Race
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15:05 Coffee break
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15:35 On the menu: Eight round-the-world sailing races!
Can the public, media, sailors… handle so many round the world events? Is it good for our sport or counter-productive?
Johan Salén, The Ocean Race
Don Mc Intyre, Golden Globe Race
Ian Walker, North Sails UK manager and past winner of the Volvo Ocean Race
Dee Caffari, pro sailor
Conrad Humphreys, Managing Director of Sport Environment (and former VG skipper)
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16:20 The Famous Project - a female team led by Alexia Barrier to sail the Jules Verne Trophy
Alexia Barrier
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16:35 World Match Racing Tour: Where does it fit in the world of sailing nowadays?
James Pleasance, CEO, World Match Racing Tour
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16:50 What impact will the America's Cup new format have on mainstream sailing?
Quentin Lucet, naval architect, VPLPdesign
Clare Harrington, Rear Commodore, The New York Yacht Club
Nic Douglass, founder & Director, Adventures of a Sailor Girl
Julien Pilate, aero model analyst and sail designer, Alinghi Red Bull Racing
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17:30 IMOCA and the Ocean Race: Two months to go!
Mike Sanderson, past winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, CEO, Doyle Sails
Johan Salén, CEO, The Ocean Race
Ian Walker, North Sails UK manager and past winner of the Volvo Ocean Race
Dee Caffari, sextuple round the world sailor including two VOR
Bruno Dubois, Past Director, Dongfeng Race Team 2014/15 and 2017/18 (winner)
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19:30 Post event drinks reception provided by GAC Pindar at Level 22, Malta
Level 22, Malta
Portomaso Business Tower, Portomaso San Ġiljan, STJ 4011, Malta
Tel : +356 2310 2222
