DAY 1 - Wednesday, November 20
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13:00 Registration
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13:30 - PLENARY SESSION Introduction by conference chair
Shirley Robertson
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13:35 Opening keynote presentation by Olympic champion Marit Bouwmeester, the sports’ most decorated female sailor of all times
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Module 1 - A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
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13:55 Panel discussion: How can the yacht racing industry benefit from the latest developments in artificial intelligence?
Marcus Warrelmann, CEO, Sea.ai
Mickael Brossard, Partner, QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey
Christian Dumard, CEO, Marine Weather Intelligence
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14:40 Panel discussion: America’s Cup 2024: What have we learnt and what will be the event's trickle down benefits on mainstream sailing and yacht racing?
Terry Hutchinson, President of Sailing Operations / Skipper, American Magic
Bruno Dubois, CEO, Orient Express Sailing Team
Mark Sommerville, General Manager, Persico Marine
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15:25 Coffee break & Networking time
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16:05 Live link with Vendée Globe sailor Conrad Colman somewhere in the Atlantic
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16:15 Sailing Valley: Discover the recipes of the successful Brittany model
Arnaud Cacquevel, Marketing & Communication Manager, Bretagne Développement Innovation
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16:35 Being a woman and a professional sailor in a male dominated world: the testimony of Rosalin Kuiper
Rosalin Kuiper, Professional Offshore Sailor
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16:55 Panel discussion on inclusivity - Driving Change: The Power of Small Steps.
Panel discussion chaired by Victoria Low, Project Lead – Women in Sailing Strategic Review, World Sailing Trust
Session presentations by Amy Munro (UpWind by MerConcept) and Meg Reilly (The Magenta Project)
Panelists:
Annamarie Phelps, CBE, Chair, IWG Women in Sport
Karen Webb-Moss, Chair & Strategic Advisor, More than Equal
Radha Balani, Managing Partner, Think Beyond
Soco Nuñez de Cela, Chair, The Magenta Project
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17:45 Panel discussion: How to combine sustainability and performance?
Session chaired by Anne-Cécile Turner, Co-founder, bloomUp
With:
Jeremy Pochman, CEO, 11th Hour Racing
Joe lynch, CEO, ICOMIA
Imogen Dinham-Price, Sustainability Manager, IMOCA Class
Damian Foxall, Coordinator, Marine Mammal Advisory Group
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18:30 Day 1 closing remarks
Shirley Robertson
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Welcome drinks reception provided by World Sailing & METSTRADE
DAY 1 - Wednesday, November 20
-
13:00 Registration
-
13:30 - PLENARY SESSION Introduction by conference chair
Shirley Robertson
-
13:35 Opening keynote presentation by Olympic champion Marit Bouwmeester, the sports’ most decorated female sailor of all times
-
Module 1 - A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
-
13:55 Panel discussion: How can the yacht racing industry benefit from the latest developments in artificial intelligence?
Marcus Warrelmann, CEO, Sea.ai
Mickael Brossard, Partner, QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey
Christian Dumard, CEO, Marine Weather Intelligence
-
14:40 Panel discussion: America’s Cup 2024: What have we learnt and what will be the event's trickle down benefits on mainstream sailing and yacht racing?
Terry Hutchinson, President of Sailing Operations / Skipper, American Magic
Bruno Dubois, CEO, Orient Express Sailing Team
Mark Sommerville, General Manager, Persico Marine
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15:25 Coffee break & Networking time
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Start of the DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM, presented by North Sails
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16:05 State of the nation: Where did we leave it and how do we move up from there?
By Design & Technology Symposium Chair Matthew Sheahan
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16:10 Panel discussion: Offshore racing, a testing ground for composite materials
Erwan Faoucher, Sustainability, Research & Innovation Director, Groupe Beneteau
Hendrik Plate, Chief Operating Officer, GREENBOATS Technologies
Dr. Pierre-Yves Mechin, Composites R&D Director, Dassault Systèmes
Mark Sommerville, General Manager, Persico Marine
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16:55 Topical presentation by NL Comp, subject tbc
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17:15 Can we trust the data? - Mechanical vs solid state wind instruments in offshore racing
How to measure the wind precisely ? Case study by FT Technologies comparing data gathered in IMOCA racing and wind tunnel testing, by acoustic resonance and mechanical wind sensors
By Dr. Phil Richardson, Senior Applications Engineer, FT Wind Sensors
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17:35 Lithium Batteries in Racing Yachts: Powering Performance and Ensuring Safety
Carlos Freire Trigo, Li-Ion batteries and e-systems consultant.
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17:55 From Racers to Cruisers: Expanding Clientele Through High-Tech Innovation
Benoît Lebizay, Managing Partner, Gunboat
Loïck Peyron, pro sailor
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Welcome drinks reception provided by World Sailing & METSTRADE
DAY 2 - Thursday, November 21
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9:15 Registration and Networking Breakfast at the METSTRADE Theatre
The METSTRADE Theatre is located above the main entrance, up the staircase on the left as you walk in. It is also called Elicium.
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9:45 Exclusive guided tour of METSTRADE with special guests, exclusive informations and surprises
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12:00 Lunch Break & Networking time
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13:30 - PLENARY SESSION Yacht Racing Image Award Winners Announcement
Celebrating the worlds’ best sailing photographers and yacht racing images taken in 2024.
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13:45 Opening keynote presentation by David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
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Module 2 : SPORTS GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
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14:05 Panel discussion: The importance of private owners for the development of the sport
Håkan Svensson, Chairman, Aston Harald AB, founder M32 class, passionate sailor
Rob Weiland, Maxi 72 and TP 52 Class Manager
François Bopp, President, United Orthopedic Corporation, owner Chocolate Racing Team
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14:50 Strategies and approaches for optimizing sponsor engagement and ROI
Joseph Bizard, General Manager, Group OC Sport
Thomas Gaveriaux, CEO, TR Racing
Rowan Gyde, Director, Kaha Marine
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15:35 Coffee break & Networking time
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16:15 Topical presentation: Latest trends and efficient social media strategies
Julia Castro, social media expert and professional waterwoman (kitesurfer)
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16:35 Panel discussion: Concrete solutions for events and teams aiming to optimize their press, PR, and marketing budget
What do you want to achieve? What is your target audience? What is your budget? How will you measure your success?
Panel discussion with:
Will Carson, Communication Manager, British Sailing Team
Scott Dougal, Director of Communications and Digital, World Sailing
Ian Sollors, Sunset + Vine
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17:20 Topical presentation: Clipper Race Case Study
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17:40 Panel discussion: The future of race management
What methodologies and technologies are available to race organisers, and how can they help to increase participation and provide a better return for partners?
With:
Matthew Morin, co-founder, MarkSetBot
Emmanuel Versace, owner, Versace Sailing Management, organiser of the Ocean Fifty Series, Mini Transat and PURU Transgascogne Mini6.50
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18:25 Day 2 closing remarks
Shirley Robertson
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18:45 YRF Evening reception at Strand Zuid, provided by the Yacht Racing Forum with the support of GAC Pindar
DAY 2 - Thursday, November 21
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9:15 Registration and Networking Breakfast at the METSTRADE Theatre
The METSTRADE Theatre is located above the main entrance, up the staircase on the left as you walk in. It is also called Elicium.
-
9:45 Exclusive guided tour of METSTRADE with special guests, exclusive informations and surprises
-
12:00 Lunch Break & Networking time
-
13:30 - PLENARY SESSION Yacht Racing Image Award Winners Announcement
Celebrating the worlds’ best sailing photographers and yacht racing images taken in 2024.
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13:45 Opening keynote presentation by World Sailing CEO David Graham
David Graham, CEO, World Sailing
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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM
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14:10 Sustainability in boats and rigs construction
Session chaired by Damian Foxall
With:
Imogen Dinham-Price, IMOCA sustainability manager
Erwan Faoucher, Sustainability, Research & Innovation Director at Groupe Beneteau
Quentin Lucet, naval architect, partner VPLP
Jonathan Duval, General Manager, Future Fibres
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14:55 Topical presentation by North Sails: Sailmaking developments in the IMOCA and Ultime classes
Hugues Destremau
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15:15 Latest developments in autopilots
Pia Mathias, engineer, Madintec
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15:35 Coffee break & Networking time
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16:15 Topical presentation by Dassault Systems / 3DS
Dr. Pierre-Yves Mechin, Composites R&D Director, Dassault Systèmes
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16:35 Topical presentation by Future Fibres, subject tbc
Jonathan Duval, General Manager, Future Fibres
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16:55 Topical presentation, subject tbc
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17:25 Where is foiling heading to? Latest developments and technologies
Session coordinated and chaired by Luca Rizzotti, speakers tba
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18:45 YRF Evening reception at Strand Zuid, provided by the Yacht Racing Forum with the support of GAC Pindar
DAY 3 - Friday, November 22
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8:30 Registration, welcome coffee & networking time
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9:00 - PLENARY SESSION Opening Remarks
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9:05 Opening keynote presentation by Gianguido Girotti, Deputy CEO and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Beneteau
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Module 3 : TOP OF THE SPORT
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9:25 World Sailing’s vision for the future of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
By David Graham, World Sailing CEO
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9:40 Panel discussion: Olympic Games review
With:
Ian Walker, double Silver Olympic medallist (1996, 2000) and North Sails UK General Manager
Pinar Cošcuner Genç, Olympic PRO in charge of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
Andy Rice, journalist and TV commentator, Sailjuice
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10:25 Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest - behind the scenes of the world’s fastest race around the world.
Hervé Favre, CEO, OC Sport
Cyril Dardashti, General Manager, Gitana Team
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10:45 Coffee break
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11:20 Topical presentation: What future for The Ocean Race?
Richard Brisius, CEO, The Ocean Race
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11:40 Panel discussion: Latest technologies and sailors' well being in the IMOCA Class - the impact of ``indoor sailing``
IMOCA Class representative
Thomas Gaveriaux, CEO, TR Racing
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12:25 YRF closing remarks
Shirley Robertson
Bernard Schopfer, organiser, Yacht Racing Forum
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12:30 Farewell lunch and networking time
DAY 3 - Friday, November 22
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8:30 Registration, welcome coffee & networking time
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9:00 - PLENARY SESSION Opening Remarks
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9:05 Opening keynote presentation by Gianguido Girotti, Deputy CEO and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Beneteau
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Module 3 : TOP OF THE SPORT
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9:25 World Sailing’s vision for the future of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
By David Graham, World Sailing CEO
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9:40 Panel discussion: Olympic Games review
Ian Walker, double Silver Olympic medallist (1996, 2000) and North Sails UK General Manager
Pinar Cošcuner Genç, Olympic PRO in charge of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris.
Andy Rice, journalist and TV commentator, Sailjuice
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10:25 Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest - behind the scenes of the world’s fastest race around the world.
Hervé Favre, CEO, OC Sport
Cyril Dardashti, General Manager, Gitana Team
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10:45 Coffee break
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11:20 Topical presentation: What future for The Ocean Race?
Richard Brisius, CEO, The Ocean Race
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11:40 Panel discussion: Latest technologies and sailors' well being in the IMOCA Class - the impact of ``indoor sailing``
IMOCA Class representative
Thomas Gaveriaux, CEO, TR Racing
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12:25 YRF closing remarks
Shirley Robertson
Bernard Schopfer, organiser, Yacht Racing Forum
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12:30 Farewell lunch and networking time
