Damian Foxall to Join World Sailing Offshore Forum in Dublin 2025

30th October 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Damien Foxall to join expert panel at World Sailing’s 2025 Offshore Forum in Dublin, focusing on offshore racing, technology and ocean protection

Ireland’s round-the-world sailor and sustainability advocate Damian Foxall will join the World Sailing Offshore Event Organisers Forum when it comes to Dún Laoghaire next week.

The forum runs during the World Sailing Annual Conference on 7 November 2025 from 1500 to 1800 UTC.

The session is aimed at national authorities, class bodies and offshore racing organisers. World Sailing says the objective is to “support the growth of offshore racing” and encourage collaboration across the sport.

The panel will be chaired by Matt Allen, chair of World Sailing’s Oceanic and Offshore Committee.

Confirmed speakers include Katrina Ham, James Dadd, Stan Honey, Richard Slater, Dee Caffari MBE, Foxall, and Alexandra Rickham.

Topics will include the Offshore Special Regulations, autonomous and onboard technology, outside assistance rules and the rising importance of megafauna protection in ocean racing.

Writing in SailWorld, Allen said the discussion would tackle “crucial and intricate subjects” shaping offshore sailing’s future, including whether rapid automation risks “our sport becoming a non-human endeavour”.

The programme also plans to examine autopilot performance, remote routing, vessel design trends such as working-deck configurations, and protocols for whale and marine-life interactions.

Registration is open for both official delegates and observers, who can attend in person or online.

Published in World Sailing, Marine Wildlife

Published in World Sailing

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World Sailing Information

World Sailing is the world governing body for the sport of sailing, officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Founded in 1907, World Sailing's vision is for a world in which millions more people fall in love with sailing; inspired by the unique relationship between sport, technology and the forces of nature; we all work to protect the waters of the world.

World Sailing is made up of 144 Member National Authorities, the national governing bodies for sailing around the world and 117 World Sailing Class Associations.