Yacht Racing Forum and World Sailing announce long term partnership

The Yacht Racing Forum is delighted to announce a long term partnership with the sport's governing body, World Sailing. The leading annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing will take place in Malta, on November 28-29, 2016.

London / Geneva, June 21, 2016 - World Sailing and the Yacht Racing Forum are delighted to announce a long term partnership. Involved alongside the Yacht Racing Forum since its debut in 2008 in Monaco, the sports' governing body recently embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy through to 2020. The new partnership with the Forum is part of this strategy, aimed at further strengthening the ties between World Sailing and all key stakeholders of the sport.

"The Yacht Racing Forum is important for the international yacht racing community and we are delighted to increase our involvement", said World Sailing CEO Andy Hunt. "The Forum is a perfect meeting point for the key people in sailing from all around the world. It gives us the opportunity to meet people and organisations such as event organisers, sponsors, pro sailors, designers and venues."

Held every year at the end of November, the Yacht Racing Forum is the leading annual conference for the global yacht racing industry. The two-day event gathers the sport's key personalities and industry experts to discuss the business of the sport and key issues such as sponsorship, television, media, sustainability issues, new markets, host cities and much more.

"We have been working hard at further developing the Yacht Racing Forum, with a new team of dedicated people, exciting venues, long term partners and an exciting programme", said Bernard Schopfer, the event's CEO. "We regard this support from World Sailing as a strong mark of confidence, which we are proud of."

Whilst keeping its editorial independence, the Yacht Racing Forum will benefit from World Sailing's network and prestige. The sports' governing body recently invited Host Cities to bid for the 2017 and 2018 editions of its annual conference, the most important gathering of World Sailing's decision makers. Whilst the venue for the Yacht Racing Forum 2016 and 2017 have already been disclosed (Malta in 2016, Aarhus, Denmark in 2017), the common objective of YRF and WS is to organise a joint conference in 2018 and onwards, with the Yacht Racing Forum opening up the seven days WS annual conference.

"This will bring an added value to everyone", says Andy Hunt. "Commercial partners will benefit from a better visibility, whilst attendance to both conferences will increase significantly. This joint-event will combine the institutional side of the sport with its business and commercial side. It will generate debates, networking and business ahead of World Sailing's decision making conference."

The Yacht Racing Forum 2016 will take place on November 28 - 29 in Malta; it will be co-hosted by Yachting Malta and Yachting / Events. The event will attract some 300 people, including a strong delegation from World Sailing, in one place at one time to do business and meet future clients: yacht clubs, athletes, sponsors, event organisers, designers, technical suppliers and anyone involved or just interested in yacht racing. On top of its institutional support, World Sailing will organise a pre-event informal welcome drink on Sunday night at the Hotel Excelsior.

Book now in order to benefit from our Early Bird rate, valid for the top 80 registrants. Save €100!

For more information and registration visit www.yachtracingforum.com