Unprecedented turnout at the Yacht Racing Forum in Lorient, France

More than 430 delegates and experts from around the world gathered in Lorient, the spiritual home of French offshore sailing, to make business, network and discuss some of the sport’s biggest opportunities and challenges at the 11th edition of the Yacht Racing Forum.

Sailing history oozes out of Lorient, where Eric Tabarly (above) is feted as a hero alongside living legends such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Loïck Peyron and Alain Gautier, all of them present at the Yacht Racing Forum.

Peyron shared his passion for cruising and racing on day one of the Forum. “When I’m racing, I’m dreaming about cruising. When I’m cruising, I don’t like to be inefficient. That’s why many of our innovations from racing are useful for cruising.” Technology trickledown was a big part of the discussion, with experts from some of the world’s most successful boatbuilders and sailmakers explaining the application of America’s Cup and offshore innovations to the rest of the sailing scene.

Networking, business and the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the sport’s big decision makers is another reason for attending the two-day Forum. The high point of the social calendar was Monday gala evening reception provided by North Sails and Bretagne Sailing Valley at the spectacular waterside museum, the Cite de la Voile Eric Tabarly.

Double Olympian and six-time Volvo Ocean Race veteran Chris Nicholson used his keynote speech to call on World Sailing to embrace innovation, and for the rest of the world to take notice of the vibrant and healthy professional racing scene in France. Charles Caudrelier, winning skipper of the Volvo Ocean Race and Bruno Dubois, former team manager of Dongfeng Race Team, explained the strength of the French system and laid out a blueprint for other countries to emulate its success.

www.yachtracingforum.com/forum/