October 31, 2025
2 minutes reading time
2025 World Sailing Annual Conference gets underway in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland
The 2025 World Sailing Annual Conference kicks off on Sunday in the historic maritime town of Dún Laoghaire, bringing together over 400 international delegates to discuss, debate, and decide on the key issues shaping the sport.
The conference brings together the sport’s key stakeholders — including Member National Authorities (MNAs), Class Associations, sailors, event organisers, and marine industry representatives — for a crucial week of meetings culminating in the World Sailing Council meeting and the General Assembly on 8 November.
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.
David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, said, “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. This is a special occasion to champion our successes, speak openly about challenges, and create new opportunities for growth. We are thrilled to be back in Dún Laoghaire, a town with a rich sailing heritage, to make the critical decisions that will impact sailing at every level.”
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.
Councillor Jim Gildea, An Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said, “We are proud to welcome the global sailing community back to Dún Laoghaire. This conference reflects our town’s enduring connection to the sea and our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity in sport.”
The event is run by World Sailing, hosted by a team of volunteers from local Dun Laoghaire sailing clubs and supported by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Failte Ireland and Irish Sailing, who are the World Sailing, Member National Authority for the sport of sailing in Ireland.
The week will also feature the prestigious World Sailing Awards 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.