The marine industry has no shortage of challenges to discuss. The harder question is where those discussions can translate into meaningful change.
Last year’s Yacht Racing Forum at Metstrade showed the value of putting industry leaders, athletes, governing bodies and commercial decision-makers in the same room. Discussions around demographics and inclusion exposed some uncomfortable gaps.
This year’s Yacht Racing Forum in Amsterdam on 19–20 November is an opportunity for people working across yacht racing and the wider marine sector to contribute to discussions about where the industry goes next. Registration is open.
Last year’s debate showed what is at stake
One of the strongest messages from the 2025 forum was that the industry’s traditional customer and talent base cannot be taken for granted.
Knut Frostad, executive chairman of Henri-Lloyd, warned that the industry’s existing customer population is getting smaller, while ICOMIA president and NMMA CEO Frank Hugelmeyer argued that marine businesses need to become more consumer-focused as a new generation of consumers emerges.
The discussion went beyond attracting new customers.
Victoria Low, CEO of The Magenta Project, highlighted concerns about whether women and underrepresented minorities feel welcome within yacht clubs. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts discussed the need to develop younger athletes and increase the number of women entering performance sailing.
The forum also exposed a fundamental industry challenge: recognising a problem is not the same as solving it.
Shirley Robertson pointed out that many of the people in the room were rule-makers who had the ability to make changes themselves. That is precisely what makes the event valuable.
The people in the room can influence what happens next
For businesses operating in yacht racing, the value of attending is not simply listening to keynote speakers or collecting industry predictions. It’s being part of the conversation and in the arena to test ideas with people from different parts of the industry, challenge assumptions and understand how other stakeholders see the same problems.
For companies dealing with recruitment, technology, sponsorship or commercial development, those conversations can have consequences well beyond the two days in Amsterdam.
This year’s discussions will shape the next set of questions
The 2026 programme is set to address issues including sponsorship, event management, artificial intelligence, race formats, technology, inclusivity, host venues and the future of major international competitions.
These are not abstract subjects as they affect how events are funded, how teams operate, how technology is adopted and how yacht racing competes for attention and talent.
Last year’s demographic debate demonstrated that the most important conversations are often those where there is no easy answer. The industry needs businesses and individuals prepared to challenge existing thinking, bring different perspectives to the table and discuss what practical change could look like.
Registration is open for this year’s event.
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