Santander Worlds – already a spectator success

by Dan Ibsen on 15 Sep 2014 Sunday in Santander, Spain- The sun is shining, light winds and ten thousands of people are out and about watching the activities at Santander 2015. On the promenade, along the boat parks and at the city waterfront.

Sailors are certainly not used to a huge interest from the public, but here in Santander it’s clear that the city and its citizens really enjoy having this Sailing World Championship in their town.

Santander’s opening ceremony with more than 30.000 people attending, delivered it a fantastic day for the sailors. Sail-World has talked to a lot of sailors and team leaders, and they are amazed about the interest in Santander for the sailing event.

Both top sailors, talents and the younger sailors from the emerging nations program are all equally surprised. And ISAF has been taken by surprise, as this is already proving to the most popular spectator event in the history of the ISAF World Sailing Championships.

Team leader Ulfur Hjobjartsen from Iceland, who are here with a young sailors, a boy and girl having been through the emerging nations program, told us that this was the greatest experience yet in the two young sailor’s life, experiencing such a fantastic interest from the public. And being together with 1300 Olympic sailors from all over the world.

Both Saturday and Sunday there has been people all day walking with their families, looking at the boat park and the sailors and going to the 'Dune', which is the build-up arena for the spectators, where racing and medal races will be just outside during the week.

Walking to the Dune the public passes through in a 'gateway' among the 250 Lasers and Laser Radials – waiting for the wind to pick up - and the Danish sailors we talked to were amazed about the crowds of people passing during the whole day. None of them have had a similar experience earlier in their sailing career.

The city has done a lot to make the event attractive for the public, and along the waterfront promenade there are numerous tents where bars and restaurants in the city serve food, coffee, drinks during the whole day. This attracts a lot of people to do their 'Sunday or evening walk' here, and at the same time having a possibility to watch one of the world’s largest and most important sailing events.

There is no question that the sailors, coaches and team leaders really feel welcome in Santander – and this will something for future organisers of the ISAF Worlds to learn from in order to grow the interest for sailing and to build the interest from future host countries and cities, bidding for this great sailing event.