Meet the community
Get to know sailors, teams, clubs, event organisers, brands and other people working across international sailing.
SAILING INDIA / INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONIndia at
India at
Yacht Racing
Forum.
We are organising a Sailing India delegation to Amsterdam — to meet the international sailing community, exchange ideas and learn from the people developing the sport around the world.
WHEN–
WHEREAmsterdam, Netherlands
VENUERAI Amsterdam
ABOUT THE FORUMThe business of sailing,
The business of sailing,
in one place.
Event background and participant information from the Yacht Racing Forum 2026 brochure.
Yacht Racing Forum is an annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing. Held at the end of the international sailing season, it brings together people from across the sport to meet, network, discuss industry challenges and develop new relationships.
The two-day event takes place alongside Metstrade, the marine equipment trade show. The brochure describes this shared setting as an opportunity for greater participation, industry exposure and audience engagement, with benefits for travel efficiency and the event’s environmental footprint.
2 daysConference discussions and networking
300+Industry decision-makers described in the brochure
32,000+Visitors to Metstrade, the adjacent trade show — not the Forum’s audience
Audience figures are those stated in the organiser’s brochure, rather than guaranteed attendance for this edition.
Who is it for?
- Professional and amateur sailors, and sailing teams
- Sponsors and investors
- Event organisers and host venues
- Boat builders and designers
- Technical and solution providers
- Yacht clubs and federations
- Government and regulatory bodies
- Media and content creators
- Recreational sailors and boaters
- Anyone involved in, or interested in, yacht racing
WHY WE ARE GOING
Meet. Exchange. Learn.
Building connections between Indian sailing and the wider international community.
Exchange experience
Listen to the discussions, ask questions and learn from different approaches to growing, communicating and supporting the sport.
Explore collaboration
Share perspectives from India, build relationships and explore opportunities for future projects and partnerships.
19–20 NOVEMBER 2026
Latest official programme The two-day programme.
The overview below reproduces the structure of the conference schedule in the supplied 2026 brochure. All times are local to Amsterdam.
19 November
- 09:00Official opening
The start of the first conference day.
- MorningKeynote presentation
Followed by a plenary session.
- MiddayLunch & networking
Time for conversations with other participants.
- AfternoonPlenary session
Conference discussions continue.
- EveningSailor’s Night
The forum’s social and networking evening.
20 November
- 09:00Official opening
The start of the second conference day.
- MorningKeynote presentation
Followed by a plenary session.
- MiddayBrunch
A further opportunity to meet and exchange ideas.
- AfternoonPlenary session
The final conference discussions.
- 15:30*Conference ends
End time shown in the brochure.
*Schedule update: the current online draft lists closing remarks at 14:50 and farewell coffee at 15:00 on Friday. Check the official programme before making travel arrangements.
Topics in the current online draft +
Alongside the brochure’s outline, the online draft includes industry trends; growing participation; race formats; event management; host venues; sponsorship; yacht and rig design; the America’s Cup; AI in sailing; The Ocean Race; IMOCA; sustainability and decarbonisation; marine wildlife collision risk; and sailing photography.
This is a summary, not a fixed agenda. Session details and speakers may change.
BEYOND THE CONFERENCE ROOMTime to meet the people
Time to meet the people
behind the sport.
Social events and workshops are part of the forum’s networking setting. Lunch, brunch and the evening Sailor’s Night create time for conversations beyond the conference sessions.
The brochure highlights opportunities to meet future clients, discuss projects and connect with sailors, venues, commercial partners, designers, engineers and technical suppliers in the same environment.
For media & content creators
Journalists can meet people working across the sport, organise interviews and discover new projects. For sailing professionals, it is also a setting to build relationships with specialist journalists outside the immediate pressures of a competition.
Watch the Yacht Racing Forum 2025 video
PEOPLE & INDUSTRY VOICES
A meeting point across sailing.
The current 2026 listing is shown separately from the brochure’s historical examples. Names in the brochure lists are not a confirmed 2026 speaker or attendee list.
2026 speakers currently listed by the organisers +
Official website listing checked on 17 October 2026. This list may change; follow the official speaker page for updates.
- Matteo Lanzavecchia
- Annie Lush
- Sam Davies
- Sam Watson
- Marzio Perrelli
- Luisa Bambozzi
- Jeremy Pochman
- Andrew Preece
- Giorgio Benussi
- Dawn Riley
- Sam Manuard
- Stephan Kandler
- Richard Brisius
- Marialuisa Francia
- Mattias Svenlin
- Chantal Ferrero
- David Pino
- Emma Hendy
- Philip Easthill
- Richard Moore
- Alison Sly-Adams
- Marialisa Panu
- Shirley Robertson
- Luca Manzoni
- Matthew Sheahan
- Simon Watin
- David Graham
- Adrian Peet
- Glyn Davies
- Antoine Mermod
- Dan Jaspers
- Andraž Mihelin
- Victoria Low
- Jon Holt
- Chris Trodden
- Jörg Müller-Dünow
- Joe Lynch
- Uli Sommerlatt
- Michael Mifsud
- Antoine Magré
- Fabrizio Pirina
- Meg Reilly
- Andrew Lamb
- Damian Foxall
- Randy Draftz
Sailors, managers & designers named in the brochure +
- Russell Coutts
- François Gabart
- Ben Ainslie
- Marit Bouwmeester
- Charles Caudrelier
- Quentin Lucet
- Terry Hutchinson
- Sam Davies
- Guillaume Verdier
- Richard Brisius
- Juan Kouyoumdjian
- Ken Read
- Bobby Kleinschmit
- Stan Honey
- Ian Walker
- Laura Marimon Giovannetti
- Simon Watin
- Rosalin Kuiper
- Marcus Warrelmann
- Yann Penfornis
- Mickael Brossard
- Mark Somerville
Industry voices & decision-makers named in the brochure +
- David Graham
- Clare Harrington
- Laura Ayres
- Knut Frostad
- Holly Cova
- Shirley Robertson
- Andy Rice
- Andrew Pindar
- Richard Moore
- Hervé Favre
- Rob Weyland
- Yann Penfornis
- Dee Caffari
- Antoine Mermod
- Gianguido Girrotti
- Alexandra Rickham
- Jeremy Pochman
- Mark Somerville
- Soco Nunez de Cela
- Francesca Capodanno
- Imogen Dinham-Price
- Matt Sheahan
- Benoît Lebizay
- Bruno Dubois
Ideas that have shaped the sport
The brochure recalls sustainability discussions beginning as early as 2011 and debates on risk management and safety in 2015. It also cites the launch of ISAF’s “World Sailing” identity at the forum and the forum’s role in the early development of the VO65 used in the Volvo Ocean Race.
The organisers present the event as a place to introduce projects, discuss the sport’s direction and meet potential collaborators across design, engineering, technology and competition.
BRANDS, TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA
An industry-wide setting.
The brochure describes a focused setting for conversations about products, events, venues and technologies. It brings the sporting and commercial sides of yacht racing into contact, with specialist media also part of the community.
Brands and organisations illustrated in the brochure +
Examples of involvement in past editions. This is not a confirmed 2026 partner list or a list of Sailing India partners.
- World Sailing
- Beneteau
- Bretagne Sailing Valley
- AMAALA Yacht Club
- Gunboat
- Gurit
- Musto
- QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey
- North Sails
- Rolex SailGP
- Pindar by GAC
- MerConcept
- Future Fibres
- 11th Hour Racing
- FT Technologies
- OC Sport
- B&G
- Metstrade
- 1080 Media TV
- Dassault Systèmes
- Pantaenius
- The Ocean Race
- Robline
- Spinlock
International media illustrated in the brochure +
The brochure’s media panel includes sailing titles, specialist trade publications, broadcasters and general-interest outlets. Their inclusion illustrates the forum’s media network; it does not confirm attendance or coverage in 2026.
- Bådmagasinet
- Sunset+Vine
- CNN
- Barcos a Vela
- Eurosail News
- SAIL
- Seahorse Magazine
- Search Magazine
- Skippers
- Yacht Style
- Baltic Sailing News
- SportBusiness
- SportsPro
- The Guardian
- Yachting World
- Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
- Navegar
- Sail TV
- marina.ch
- Tip & Shaft
VOICES FROM THE FORUM
What participants have said.
Testimonials about Yacht Racing Forum reproduced from the brochure. Names and roles are as presented in that document; these are not endorsements of Sailing India.
“The Yacht Racing Forum is unique! You have the who’s who of the industry in one room. That’s where the ideas come from; the content is fantastic.”
“It’s good to get people together once in a year. There are excellent speakers, excellent thought provoking topics. This event is really valuable for us.”
“We have proved consistently over the years that the Yacht Racing Forum brings value to its partners and participants. It has truly become a must attend event for any organisation willing to play a role in the development of the sport.”
“It is a super high quality event. All of the industry leaders are here, and the content is great.”
PAST EDITIONS
A history across sailing destinations.
Venues listed in the brochure, from the first Monaco editions to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Metstrade
Malta
Hotel InterContinental
Bilbao, Spain
Euskalduna Conference Centre
Lorient, France
Palais des Congrès
Aarhus, Denmark
Hotel Radisson
Valletta, Malta
Grand Hotel Excelsior
Geneva, Switzerland
Hotel InterContinental
Barcelona, Spain
Hotel Hesperia Tower
Gothenburg, Sweden
Clarion Post Hotel
Cascais, Portugal
Estoril Congress Centre
Monaco
Grimaldi Forum
TAKE PART WITH SAILING INDIA
Join the conversation.
Join us in Amsterdam
Come as a conference participant to attend discussions, network and exchange experience alongside the Sailing India delegation.
We welcome expressions of interest from sailors, clubs, event and tourism professionals, brands, media and others interested in developing sailing connections with India.
Enquire about joiningShare your perspective
Interested in contributing to a panel? Get in touch with your background, experience and the subject you would like to discuss.
We can discuss your proposal and coordinate a speaking enquiry with the forum organisers. Panel availability, topic and final participation are subject to their confirmation.
Discuss a speaking opportunityPRACTICAL INFORMATION
Plan your participation.
Venue & location
RAI Amsterdam
Europaplein, 1078 GZ
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The forum takes place alongside Metstrade, making it possible to explore both events. Check the respective registration arrangements.
Official venue information ↗︎Conference participation
Contact Sailing India to discuss joining the delegation and your goals for the trip. Conference registration, travel and delegation arrangements should be confirmed individually.
Official forum registration ↗︎Watch the 2025 forum video ↗︎
Official event management contacts +
MaxComm Communication
Chemin des Hutins 3B
1247 Anières, Switzerland
Bernard Schopfer
Event Manager & CEO
+41 79 332 11 76bernard.schopfer@maxcomm.chInna Maltseva
Partners Manager
+41 79 327 89 31inna.maltseva@maxcomm.chNEXT STEPLet’s talk about
Let’s talk about
your participation.
Tell us who you are, what you would like to get from the forum, and whether you are interested in attending or speaking. Contact us to discuss delegation arrangements, conference registration and travel details.
DELEGATION CONTACT