Outstanding opening keynote speakers for the Yacht Racing Forum 2026
by Yacht Racing Forum 10 Jul 05:34 PDT
19-20 November 2026
Yacht Racing Forum © Yacht Racing Forum
The Yacht Racing Forum is delighted to announce that Sam Watson, CEO of North Technology Group, and Marzio Perrelli, CEO of The America's Cup, will deliver the opening keynote addresses at the 2026 Yacht Racing Forum, on Thursday 19 November and Friday 20 November, respectively.
Sam Watson and Marzio Perrelli's participation once again confirms the Yacht Racing Forum's position as the leading international conference dedicated to the business of sailing and yacht racing, bringing together the sport's most influential decision-makers from around the world.
Looking ahead to the Forum, Sam Watson underlines the unique value of the event: "I'm excited to participate in the Yacht Racing Forum because it brings together a unique mix of sailors, event organizers, technology providers, and industry executives. As someone who approaches the sport through the lens of business and innovation, I'm looking forward to learning from others, sharing perspectives from across NTG's brands, and exploring how we can continue to grow and strengthen the sport for the future."
The 2026 edition will focus on the business of competitive sailing and one of its greatest challenges: making the sport more accessible to wider audiences. Over two days, delegates will discuss how sailing can continue to grow by connecting grassroots participation with the sport's most iconic properties, from the America's Cup to the IMOCA Class, Olympic sailing and many other leading international events.
Marzio Perrelli sees the Forum as an opportunity to discuss the evolution of sailing's premier events. "The America's Cup turns 175 years old this year, and it maintains its place at the pinnacle of our sport through innovation, technology, sporting endeavour, incredible dedication and excellence. It's a legacy that we are custodians of, but to maintain The Cup at the apex requires innovative thinking and execution from everyone involved. The sporting landscape is changing, sports media is evolving rapidly, and we have to move with it as legacy alone does not build a modern sports property. That is happening at pace in this cycle and will continue into the future. It's a privilege to be leading the America's Cup Partnership as CEO and bringing in every facet of my time working both in finance and sports media, and I very much look forward to listening, learning and canvassing opinion from key players at the Yacht Racing Forum in November."
Year after year, the Forum provides a unique platform where event organisers, teams, governing bodies, venues, yacht clubs, technology companies, commercial partners, designers, media representatives and industry leaders meet to exchange ideas, build relationships and shape the future of the sport.
For Bernard Schopfer, CEO and organiser of the Yacht Racing Forum, the announcement further strengthens the event's standing within the international sailing community: "We are delighted and proud to demonstrate once again that the Yacht Racing Forum is the place where the world's most influential personalities in competitive sailing come together. By welcoming Sam Watson and Marzio Perrelli, CEO's of the America's Cup and North Technology Group, the Yacht Racing Forum once again demonstrates its value as the leading platform for networking, knowledge sharing and business development among the key decision-makers shaping the future of our sport worldwide."
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