2018 Annual Conference coming to USA

World Sailing’s Annual Conference is the central meeting point where the strategy of sailing is reviewed, discussed and celebrated and brings together international delegates each year. The 2018 edition will be held from October 27 to November 4 in Sarasota, Florida.

The Hyatt Regency Hotel will host delegates where a wide ranging programme of meetings, events and forums are planned. Registration is now open.

Alongside World Sailing Commission, Working Party, Committee and Council meetings, the conference will host the inaugural eSailing World Championship Final, the World Sailing Awards, and two open Forums hosted by sailing broadcasters, Alec Wilkinson and Hannah White.

The eSailing World Championship will be held in front of a live crowd from 13:00 to 15:00 on October 30 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. The top four ranked women and top four men from the Play Off Round of the Championship will be invited on a full expenses paid trip to compete against the best eSailors in the world.

Later on that day, the venue will be transformed to host the World Sailing Awards. Alongside the prestigious awarding of the male and female Rolex World Sailors of the Year, the Beppe Croce Trophy, and the President’s Development Award will be presented.

Joining the list of accolades in 2018 will be a Sustainability Award, Team of the Year Award, and Boat of the Year Award.

Across the last two conferences World Sailing has hosted open forums at the beginning of the week with expert keynote speakers discussing items such as commercialism of the sport, sustainability, Para World Sailing, and women in sport.

The technical side of the sport will be discussed in 2018 with two new forums added to the agenda. A Safety in Sailing Forum will be held on Monday October 29 from 14:30 to 18:00 with a Future of Offshore & Keelboat Racing Forum following on Tuesday October 30 from 09:00 to 12:00.

Additional details – Registration

About World Sailing
World Sailing is the world governing body for the sport of sailing, officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). World Sailing is made up of 144 Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world and 117 World Sailing Class Associations.