December's must-attend event

Looking ahead at the World Yacht Racing Forum

Highlight of the run-up to Christmas is set to be the second World Yacht Racing Forum, being held down in Monaco at the Grimaldi Forum on 9-10 December. Outside of the annual ISAF Conference, the WYRF provides a rare gathering of the clans within our community and the opportunity to discuss current issues and trends with more of a marketing and commercial theme than the ISAF gathering.

The event runs simultaneously with the Motor Sport Business Forum and there is an opportunity for the two worlds to meet at the ‘Track and Ocean Party’ on the evening of the 9th.

There are several new features to the WYRF this year. Running alongside the WYRF is the Yacht Racing Design and Technology forum and less relevant to us, the Superyacht Coatings Conference.

The Yacht Racing Design and Technology forum is being Chaired by Volvo Ocean Race winning designer Juan Kouyoumdjian and the topics being presented on and then up for discussion include:

- Race Boat Design and Hydrodynamic Testing – What is the evaluation process?
The panel for this includes the Wolfson Unit’s Andy Claughton, Juan K, Pete Melvin (of Morrelli & Melvin), Dr Rodrigo Azcueta of Cape Horn Engineering SL and Yann Roux of K Epsilon.

- ISO Structural Standards – What are the implications and challenges for the Race Boat Industry?
The panellists for this are Andrea Avaldi of AB Structures Advanced Structural Design, Jason Smithwick – ISAF Head of Technical and Offshore Department, Julien Sellier, Project Manager, SP Systems (Gurit), Dr. John Nixon, Technical Manager, Advanced Composites Group and Simon Rogers (Rogers Yacht Design)

- Composite Rigging – What are the latest innovations in Rig Development? Panellist for this will include Scott Vogel, Head of Composite Rigging, Southern Spars, Franck de Ryvoire, Ryvoire Engineering, Eric Hall, CEO, Hall Spars, Ewan Mclellan, CEO, Future Fibres and Gert Jan Uijtdewilligen, CEO, Holmatro Marine

- Coatings Technology – The latest in innovations and international legislation. Panellists will include Ken Hickling, Awl Grip (Akzo Nobel), Remy Millot from Pinmar Yacht Painting Systems, and Geir Slettingdalen from Jotun

- Sail Technology – The latest Developments to Maximise Speed Advantage. Panellist will include: Laurent Delage from North Sails France, Dr Patrick Bott from the French Naval Institute, David Le Pelly of the Yacht Research Unit at the University of Auckland and Dr Sabrina Malpede or Smar Azure

- Hardware, Sheets & Electronics Technology. Panellists will include: Chris Hill from Spinlock, Simon Holloway from Cosworth, Pierre Asselin of Karver Systems, Luigi Maffioli of Gottifredi Maffioli and Marcel Alberts of DSM Dyneema

The organisers of the World Yacht Racing Forum have invited yachting associations and owner associations to attend the Yacht Racing Design and Technology, to provide their input. "A lot of owners are very passionate about their yachting, particularly at the high end. So here they can meet event organisers as well as the people who design and build their boats," says WYRF Event Director, James Pleasance, who adds that they are expecting around 100 delegates for this inaugural event.

Meanwhile at the World Yacht Racing Forum, the topics up for debate this year include more reflections on the some vital issues discussed last year, combined with many new items.

According to Pleasance this year they have attempted to theme each of the two days. As he puts it: “Day one is covering sailing’s position as a proposition in the world of sponsorship, looking at other sports, etc. Day two is going to focus more on the issues of the industry itself.”

The main WYRF is this year being chaired by Peter Gilmour, who aside from being one of the world’s most talented sailors, is also involved with event management having set up the Monsoon Cup match racing event and now effectively running the World Match Racing Tour for its new owners. Key note opening addresses are to be made on the first day by Tom Whidden, President North Marine Group and on day two by leading singlehanded offshore sailor, Michel Desjoyeaux, twice winner of the Vendee Globe.

Topics up for discussion this year are:

- The Commercial Case for Sailing Sponsorship with panellists - Richard Moore of Capitalize, Richard Brisius of Atlant Racing and Karin Bäcklund, Director of Global Sponsorship and Brand Partnership at Volvo Car Corporation

- How Can Sailing deliver Economic, Financial and Branding Benefits for Host Cities and Ports?
Panelists include Maria Moynihan Lee, Festival Director City of Galway, Christian Feichtinger, of PROFS, Daniel Calero, Manager, Puerto Calero – Canaries, Jose Antonio Muñoz, Manager of the Andalucia Sports Bureau, Ministry for Tourism, Trade & Sports of Andalucia and William Ward, CEO of Clipper Ventures

- Leveraging the Sponsorship Deal – How to maximise the Investment with panellists including Daniel Miles, Group Head Marketing at Puma, Henrik Sund, MD of Grow AB, Michael Rasmussen, CMO of Velux and Nathalie Quéré, Head of Global Sponsorship at BT Global Services

- Tapping into new Media audiences - The Future of Sailing on the Web, in Gaming and Television with panellists Ian Taylor, CEO, Virtual Eye, Richard Simmonds, MD, Sunset & Vine, Marijn Harinck, Founder of United Games, Jean-Dominique Lauwerins CEO of Be Tomorrow and Philippe Guigné, CEO, Many Players.

- Cutting Racing Costs – How to reduce costs to meet the challenges of today's economic climate?
Panellists on this will be Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, Ignacio Triay, Director of the Audi MedCup Circuit, Josh Hall, CEO of the Global Ocean Race, Dominique Wavre, President of IMOCA and Riccardo Simoneschi, CEO of B Plan Marketing

- Governing the Sport of Yacht Racing - What Can Sailing Learn from other Sports in improving its commercial offering?
Panellists will include Scott Macleod, Senior Vice President New Business Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, Jerome Pels, Secretary General of ISAF, Mark Turner, CEO of OC Group, Nick Fry, Chief Executive of Brawn GP and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman of Clipper Ventures

- What is the Future of Multihull Racing? Panellists will include Cam Lewis, Franck David, Project Manager of the MOD 70, Mitch Booth, Tornado Olympic Gold Medallist and Michel Desjoyeaux, Vendee Globe winner and former ORMA 60 skipper

- The America’s Cup debate is being left until last with presentation from both Russell Coutts, CEO and skipper of BMW Oracle Racing and Brad Butterworth, Skipper and Vice-President of Alinghi. The debate will focus on the future of the event after the 33rd America’s Cup and in addition to Coutts and Butterworth will include panellists Paul Cayard, Stephan Kandler, CEO of ALL4One, Magnus Holmberg, skipper of Victory Challenge, Sotoris Buseas, CEO of Greek Challenge, Marcus Hutchinson, Director of Team Origin and Nicolo Bastianini, Vice Chairman and legal advisor of Green Comm Challenge

Following on from the popularity of his presentation last year, there will also be an address on the subject of 'Measuring Success – Using Practical tools to evaluate and measure Event and Sponsorship Returns' by Ulrich Lacher, Managing Director of IFM Sports. This will cover the thorny topic of evaluating the impact and value of a sponsorship or event to determine its success and return.

While we’re particularly looking forward to the America’s Cup debate, the ‘Governing the Sport of Yacht Racing’ is going to be an interesting one which is certain to see Jerome Pels returning to Southampton with his notebook full. However this time the organisers have taken on board the feedback from last year’s event that the event needs more speakers from outside our sport and thus Nick Fry, Chief Executive of Brawn GP will provide some fascinating comparisons with Formula 1 (he came down to the iShares Cup in Cowes this year) while Scott Macleod, after years managing the World Match Racing Tour, is now full time on the commercial side of the Women’s Tennis Association.

James Pleasance reckons that this year there will be 300 delegates to the WYRF, up on last year, “which is very positive given it has been a difficult year for the yachting industry in general. The increase in participation in the forum demonstrates that everyone is keen to further the sport and increase its value.

Read more about the World Yacht Racing Forum here