Yacht Racing Forum programme highlights

YRF is open to all, while bringing together leaders in yacht racing. Pictured here are CEOs from SailGP, World Sailing, The Ocean Race, IMOCA, Oakcliff, YCCS, 11th Hour Racing, NYYC, ICOMIA, Henri-Lloyd, The Magenta Project, AMAALA YC, Barcolana and more © Sebastiaan Zoomers

The Yacht Racing Forum will return to Amsterdam on 19-20 November, bringing together the people who shape the sport of sailing and yacht racing.

Over two days, leading figures from the marine industry, events, sport, technology and media will share their expertise, debate the challenges facing our sport and explore the opportunities ahead.

Discover below some of the highlights of the next edition:

State of the Industry

Where does the sailing industry stand today, and how are geopolitical and economic developments affecting our sport and business?

Chaired by Shirley Robertson, this opening panel will bring together Philip Easthill, Secretary General, European Boating Industry, Sam Watson, CEO, North Technology Group, Joe Lynch, CEO, ICOMIA, Victoria Low, CEO, The Magenta Project and Jeremy Pochman, CEO, 11th Hour Racing to discuss the broader global context, the challenges ahead and the opportunities for sailing and its industry to grow.

In the SailGP Tech Base, no fewer than 300,000 data points per second are streamed directly from the racecourse. With the help of AI, this vast amount of data is processed in real time, enabling live monitoring, analysis and visualisation - photo © Christophe Favreau

AI is already transforming sailing

Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from theory to practical application. But what does it really mean for sailing? "The Future is Now: How AI Will Reshape Sailing" will explore the impact of AI on yacht design, performance, race strategy, communication and fan engagement - as well as the opportunities and questions it raises for the future of our sport.

Yacht Racing Forum programme highlights - photo © Madeleine Lithvall

How can we make sailing more attractive and appealing?

From traditional offshore racing to short, spectacular formats designed for modern audiences, yacht racing continues to evolve. This session will ask a fundamental question: How can sailing become more accessible, more fun and better adapted to modern audiences without losing its identity?

Yacht Racing Forum programme highlights - photo © Vincent Olivaud

Sponsorship in a challenging economic environment

Securing commercial partnerships has never been easy, and the current economic environment is making the challenge even greater. "How to Convince Partners in a Challenging Economic Environment" will bring together rights holders, sponsors and experts to examine what brands expect today, how properties can demonstrate greater value and how sailing can build stronger and more sustainable commercial partnerships.

Mach 50 Palanad 4, Ferrari Hypersail and Raven: three outstanding yachts based on radically different concepts, presented in detail by the people who conceived them - photo © Yacht Racing Forum

Some of the world's coolest new race boats

One of the Forum's most eagerly anticipated sessions returns with a look at some of the most exciting new racing yachts.

Hosted by Matthew Sheahan, the session will feature Ferrari Hypersail, a groundbreaking 100-foot ocean-racing monohull prototype designed to fly stably; Baltic Yachts' spectacular foiling superyacht RAVEN; and Sam Manuard's radical Mach 50 Palanad 4.

Together, these projects will provide a fascinating insight into the ideas, technologies and engineering solutions driving the next generation of high-performance yachts.

From concept to reality: In 2026, more than 115 large commercial ships are already operating with wind-propulsion systems - photo © Yacht Racing Forum

From yacht racing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport

Maritime transport is undergoing a transition towards decarbonisation, drawing in part on the expertise of designers and engineers, as well as technologies developed in the yacht racing industry. A dedicated panel will explore how expertise developed in rigging, wind sensing, aerodynamics, composites or data analysis is being transferred to commercial shipping. It will highlight how designers and engineers working across both sectors can accelerate innovation and create new opportunities for the wider marine industry.

And much more...

Other YRF sessions will explore the future of The Ocean Race and the IMOCA Class, race formats, sustainable cleaning products, opportunities for Host Venues, and much more.

Coffee breaks, lunches and informal discussions are also an integral part of the event, providing countless opportunities to reconnect with existing contacts and meet new people.

And on Thursday evening, the Sailors' Night will bring everyone together in a relaxed and informal atmosphere - because some of the best conversations, ideas and opportunities happen outside the conference room.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Conference program

For more information and registration: www.yachtracingforum.com