World Yacht Racing Forum 2014: One month to go

November 11, 2014 – The seventh edition of the World Yacht Racing Forum will take place next month in Barcelona, on December 10 – 11, with the support of FNOB (Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona), the organizer of the Barcelona World Race.

The World Yacht Racing Forum 2014 will be centered around the theme “Growing the Business Of Yacht Racing.” The event facilitates business development through providing quality networking opportunities with decision makers from all areas within the industry. Over 200 delegates and more than 50 speakers are expected.

Subjects debated will include the diversification of the sport, yacht racing in emerging markets, sponsorship, sailing class management and much more. The list of speakers includes some of todays’ greatest actors from within the yacht racing industry: Rob Weiland, Sir Keith Mills, Bryan Winning, Pepe Ribes, Julien Goupil, Michelle Warner, David Brabis, Dirk Kramers and many more (cf speakers details below).

Co-located with the Forum, the Yacht Racing Design & Technology Symposium will once again bring an important technical counterpoint to the commercial discussions that occur in the Forum. It will focus on the latest developments issued from the Volvo Ocean Race, IMOCA or the America’s Cup, foils and flying boats, rigid sails and new materials. On day two, the YRDTS will combine itself with the WYRF to conduct round-table discussions based on topics of interest for both yacht racing technicians and marketers.

The Mirabaud Yacht Racing Image 2014 will be announced and celebrated during the Forum, on Thursday, December 11. Whilst the international Jury has already chosen the Image of the Year, the delegates from the Forum and the Symposium will be asked to vote to select the winner of the public award.

Key personalities involved in the World Yacht Racing Forum 2014 include:

Rob Weiland, TP 52 Class manager
Sir Keith Mills, President – Open Sports Management & Founder Shareholder Ben Ainslie Racing
Bryan Winning, Director Business Development – Oman Sail
Pepe Ribes, Co Skipper – Hugo Boss
Herve Favre, Director Of Sailing – OC Group
Julien Goupil, Director Of Media – ASO
Guillaume Semblat, Managing Director – Le Telegramme Development
Felix Weidling, Sailing Manager – Kiel Week
Michelle Warner, Sales & Marketing Director – Cowes Week
Randy Draftz, Event Director – Charleston Race Week
David Brabis, CEO – Vendee Globe
Stuart Hosford, CEO – Team Hugo Boss and Alex Thomson Racing
Dirk Kramers, Design Team – Ben Ainslie Racing
and many more.

The World Yacht Racing Forum will take place on 10-11 December in Barcelona.

Please visit www.worldyachtracingforum.com for further information.

About the World Yacht Racing Forum:
Now in its 7th year, the World Yacht Racing Forum is the leading yacht racing industry conference, and is the only occasion in the year where key players from yacht racing event organizers, teams, sponsors, agencies and sailors gather together and help shape the future of the yacht racing industry, discussing topical debates. The WYRF brings together over 300 decision makers in one place at one time to do business and meet future clients.

Running parallel to the Forum, the Yacht Racing Design & Technology Symposium focuses on the latest developments issued form the America’s Cup, foils and flying boats, rigid sails and new materials. The Symposium brings an important technical counterpoint to the commercial discussions that occur in the Forum.