Conference gets underway in Ireland

The 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference is set for November 1-8 in the historic maritime town of Dún Laoghaire, bringing together over 400 international delegates to Ireland for the key issues shaping the sport.

The conference brings together the sport’s key stakeholders — including Member National Authorities (MNAs), Class Associations, sailors, event organizers, and marine industry representatives — for a crucial week of meetings culminating in the World Sailing Council meeting and the General Assembly.

This year’s conference is pivotal, with a packed agenda focused on innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Key decisions will be made on the strategic direction of sailing, including Olympic sailing, advancements in the Para Inclusive Strategy, and the progression of the Sustainability Agenda 2030.

“The Annual Conference is the most important week in our calendar, where the global sailing family comes together to collectively steer the future of our sport,” said David Graham, CEO of World Sailing. “This is a special occasion to champion our successes, speak openly about challenges, and create new opportunities for growth.”

A significant outcome of this year’s conference will be the election of two new Vice Presidents to the World Sailing Board. These elections are set to achieve a major milestone for the federation, resulting in a 50/50 gender split on the Board with four male and four female Vice Presidents.

Hosted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Irish Sailing, the event returns to the Irish town which last hosted the conference in 2012.

The schedule also features the World Sailing Awards presentation (Nov. 5) and will conclude with the 2025 Development Symposium.

Open sessions of the conference will be streamed live on the World Sailing YouTube channel, allowing the global sailing community to follow the discussions.

Source: World Sailing