Virtual Reality drives fresh momentum in Sailing Development

World Sailing’s recent Virtual Reality (VR) activity marked an important step in exploring how digital tools can support development across the sport. The programme combined a testing day on 29 April with two webinar sessions delivered on the 28 and 30 April, creating both a practical trial environment and a wider platform for discussion with the sailing community.

At the heart of the programme was MarineVerse, the Virtual Reality Meta sailing platform being explored as part of World Sailing’s wider approach to innovation and development. The testing day was designed as a controlled session to assess how VR could work as an access, development and pathway tool, with a particular focus on accessibility, usability and how effectively sailing skills translate into a virtual environment. The session also created an opportunity to consider how VR could support training and engagement, particularly for sailors with limited access to water time.

The webinar programme then extended that conversation to a broader international audience. Delivered across two time zones, the sessions introduced general VR development, demonstrated how MarineVerse works in practice, and gave participants the chance to hear directly from the platform developer. Fifty administrators, coaches, and athletes came to listen, demonstrating the scale of interest in this technology.

The focus was clear: this is not technology for technology’s sake, but a serious exploration of how digital tools can widen access and strengthen learning.

What made the software especially valuable was its clear development focus. The aim was not to present VR as a replacement for on-water experience, but to test where it could add genuine value; helping reduce barriers to entry, support learning and build confidence for people who do not yet have regular access to boats, venues or training environments.

Hannah Stodel, Para World Sailing Manager, said: “This week has shown how Virtual Reality can become a genuinely valuable tool for sailing development. Not as a substitute for on-water experience, but as a way to widen access, build confidence and support learning across the sport, including in Para Inclusive Sailing, where alternative routes into training and engagement can be especially important.”

This work also sits naturally alongside World Sailing’s wider investment in digital innovation. Such as the World Sailing Academy, which offers online learning through self-paced courses, progress tracking, certifications and mobile-friendly access designed to help learners improve anytime and anywhere.

Taken together, the testing day and webinar series provided a strong example of how World Sailing is approaching innovation: practically, openly and with development at the centre. They showed that Virtual Reality already has real potential as a complementary tool; one that can help more people engage with sailing, learn core concepts and build confidence, wherever they are in the world.