One month to go to the Yacht Racing Forum in Amsterdam
The international yacht racing community will meet in the Netherlands on November 20-22 for three days of conferences, networking, business and an exciting social calendar.
22 October 2024 - Members of the yacht racing community and sailing industry from all over the world can look forward to an exceptional edition of the Yacht Racing Forum / Design & Technology Symposium on November 20-22 in Amsterdam, partially alongside METSTRADE, the world’s largest exhibition for the leisure marine industry.
The event will reassemble 200 + delegates including some of the sports’ key personalities for conferences, debates and business, not to mention an attractive social calendar.
The conference programme and speakers list are available online.
Last commercial and speaking opportunities available
There are a couple of speaking and commercial opportunities left. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details! The Yacht Racing Forum is a unique opportunity to present or showcase a product, technology or service to a targeted audience focused on yacht racing. If competitive sailing is your field, the Forum is your place!
For sponsorship opportunities and partnership, please contact: Inna Maltseva M/+41793278931
Discover some of our speakers :
No fewer than 56 industry leaders have confirmed their participation as speakers in the next Yacht Racing Forum. You can find out more about them online. Here are some of the latest confirmed speakers:
Bobby Kleinschmit, Principal naval architect, Emirates Team New Zealand
Bobby Kleinschmit has been with ETNZ since 2010. He was the lead hull designer of the AC37 defender and the AC36 winner and the lead foil designer for Team NZ for the past three America’s Cup campaigns. He also designed the AC40 and has consulted on other foiling projects from IMOCAs to commercial ferries.
Rosalin Kuiper, professional sailor
Rosalin Kuiper, 29, is the co-skipper of Team Holcim-PRB. She has competed in numerous prestigious races including Sydney - Hobart, The Fastnet Race and The Ocean Race. With a background in psychology and a passion for ocean protection and sustainability, Rosalin is now focused on building her own team, which she will lead as skipper at The Ocean Race Europe 2025.
Keith Williams, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Capgemini
Keith Williams is the mastermind behind Capgemini’s engineering solution to reveal a new dimension of yacht racing by making the wind visible into the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup. One of the greatest recent innovations, that he will present to the Yacht Racing Forum delegates.
YRF 24: Programme at a glance & highlights
The Yacht Racing Forum will begin on Wednesday 20 November at 1:30 pm and will conclude on Friday 22 November at 2:00 pm (after a final networking lunch), allowing participants to head home for the weekend.
Some conferences of general interest will take place in plenary mode, while the audience will be split in two on Wednesday mid-afternoon and Thursday afternoon with the Design & Technology Symposium on one side and the Business & Marketing Conference on the other.
Shirley Robertson will chair the Yacht Racing Forum, while Matthew Sheahan will coordinate the Design & Technology Symposium.
On Thursday morning, all delegates are invited to a guided tour of METSTRADE with a special focus on the Foiling Pavilion, North Sails and the French Pavilion, with special guests and surprises.
Three leading figures will give keynote presentations :
Wednesday at 1:30 pm: Marit Bouwmeester, the sports’ most decorated Olympic female sailor of all times.
Thursday at 1:30 pm: World Sailing CEO David Graham
Friday at 9:00 am: Groupe Beneteau's Deputy CEO Gianguido Girotti
Social events, drinks receptions and parties:
All the coffee breaks and lunch breaks will be taken together.
On Wednesday evening (6:00 pm), YRF participants are invited to a welcome drinks reception provided by World Sailing and METSTRADE.
Thursday evening's reception will take place at Strandzuid, a charming little secret spot located just 200 metres from the conference venue.
Finally, delegates are invited to a farewell lunch on Friday at noon.
