Groundbreaking 15th edition of the Yacht Racing Forum
by Yacht Racing Forum 25 Nov 2025 14:09 GMT
20-21 November 2025
The international yacht racing community gathered in force in Amsterdam on November 20-21, as the Yacht Racing Forum welcomed a full house of 250 delegates from 26 countries for two days of high-level debate, knowledge sharing, and business.
As the sport's premier B2B platform, the Forum once again proved to be the leading meeting point for brands, event organizers, teams, and suppliers seeking to generate new business leads and explore commercial development opportunities. Industry leaders, athletes, organizers, and innovators met to discuss the present and future of the sport, addressing both its challenges and its opportunities.
Sir Russell Coutts opened the conference on Friday with an inspiring keynote stressing that improving access—for youth, for women, and for new talent entering the technical and professional sectors—is essential for the growth of competitive sailing. The SailGP CEO also emphasized the importance of simple, enjoyable entry pathways for children and young sailors, through fun training programs and engaging activities. "We need to make young, aspiring sailors feel welcome and develop efficient pathways to the top of the sport. The Olympic classes also need to evolve and become more popular. For example, it should be an obligation for olympic classes to have regional championships."
David Graham, World Sailing's CEO, spoke candidly about the challenges facing the sport, particularly within the Olympic sphere. He also reiterated that one of the organisation's key priorities is restoring sailing to the Paralympic Games.
Many other stakeholders, including Andraz Michelin (Bénéteau) and Corinne Migraine, the new vice-president of World Sailing, noted that while sales of new boats are currently declining the number of active racing sailboats continues to grow. This trend, combined with a rapidly evolving commercial landscape, made the Forum an essential venue for companies seeking insights, market intelligence, and new strategic partnerships.
On Thursday, Bruno Dubois, CEO of France SailGP Team, took the stage alongside Kiwi sailor and champion Olivia Mackay, strategist for the Black Foils - New Zealand SailGP Team. He stressed the importance of making the sport more welcoming to women and under-represented groups. His presentation echoed one of the Forum's core themes: that diversity, accessibility, and sustainability must become pillars of the sport's future—an imperative that also presents major opportunities for brands, sponsors, and institutions seeking to align with meaningful, forward-looking initiatives.
Mackay shared her own journey and the challenges she faced as a woman in the sport before joining her current team and being simply recognised as what she is: an experienced and highly competent professional sailor.
Across two full days, specialists from around the world explored some of the industry's most pressing questions:
- How can artificial intelligence enhance performance, training, and race management?
- How can the sport expand its global audience and visibility?
- What role will technological and environmental innovation play in shaping tomorrow's yacht racing landscape?
The Yacht Racing Forum exhibition area and networking sessions created fertile ground for commercial exchanges, enabling suppliers, event organizers, and teams to meet potential clients and initiate business relationships.
Sustainability, gender equity, and innovation were central to many discussions, underscoring the Forum's leadership in driving not only sporting progress but also commercially viable growth across the entire industry.
Bernard Schopfer, the event's organizer, captured the spirit of the gathering: "The strength of our sport lies in its ability to evolve. When the community comes together with openness and ambition, as we have seen here in Amsterdam, yacht racing moves decisively forward. And when industry leaders meet in the right environment, new ideas and new business inevitably follow."
For more information about the Yacht Racing Forum, visit www.yachtracingforum.com