Agreement to expand eSailing

Following the success of the first two eSailing World Championship seasons, World Sailing, the world governing body of the sport, and Virtual Regatta, the leading digital sailing platform, have extended and expanded their relationship through to 2028.

The agreement will see an expansion of the scope of works between World Sailing and Virtual Regatta with a focus on both the Inshore and Offshore platforms, an evolution on the previous agreement that only covered the Inshore platform.

Participation in the 2019 eSailing World Championship increased from the inaugural season, with the number of eSailors globally across both platforms growing to 1.4 million unique players.

World Sailing and Virtual Regatta will continue to work to deliver the eSailing World Championship on an annual basis and promote the Virtual Racing Rules of Sailing, an evolution of the real-life Racing Rules of Sailing that governs all eSailing Games and events.

In addition, an official ranking system for eSailing will be created, and World Sailing and Virtual Regatta will work collaboratively to widen the audience for both real and virtual sailing to young participants in new nations and regions.

In 2019, National eSailing World Championships were held in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, and the eSailGP was launched at the final event of the inaugural SailGP season in Marseille, France.

Alongside expanding the total number of National Championships and engagement with World Sailing Special Events, areas of further collaboration, such as an offshore eSailing World Championship, will be explored.

Scott Over, Commercial Director at World Sailing, commented, “The partnership between World Sailing and Virtual Regatta for the eSailing World Championship has enabled both parties to grow the game worldwide and bring thousands of new sailors and non-sailors into the virtual space.”

Philippe Guigne, Founder and CEO of Virtual Regatta, said, “eSailing is growing fast. The increase in involvement of players, clubs and major sailing events from all around the world for both fun and tactical practice has exceeded our expectations.

“Extending our exclusive agreement up to 2028 with World Sailing will give us the tools the achieve our shared vision and mission – to develop our sport, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.”

An announcement on the format of the 2020 eSailing World Championship will be made in the coming months.

For more details on the eSailing World Championship: https://esailing-wc.com

Source: World Sailing