Commercialising Yacht Racing

This year’s packed yacht racing calendar perfectly illustrates the breadth and diversity of the sport. While the showpiece America’s Cup will be contested by the world’s finest crews and their billionaire backers in San Francisco next month, this summer also sees the latest edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht race, in which amateur crews embark on the experience of a lifetime, racing up to 40,000 miles in 12 identical boats. But a packed calendar also sees rights properties competing for eyeballs, commercial partners and host ports – often from the same, limited pool. Matt Cutler brought together four leading names in the business of sailing to get their take on various commercial issues facing the sport.