Photo: OC Gonzalez

The Superyacht Life Foundation – a non-profit dedicated to telling the positive stories of superyachting to both change public perceptions and grow the industry – is organising the first World Boating Day on the weekend of May 25-26 in what we hope will become an annual event. This global initiative is designed to help grow all levels of the industry and serve as a global celebration of the leisure side of water and the joy of being out on it.

The aim is for local, regional and national organisations and companies across the leisure boating, yachting and superyacht sectors to engage with and educate the public. We want all sectors to introduce what boating is, how accessible it can be, the positive impacts the industry can have, and the career opportunities it offers.

This unique experience will bring industry professionals and the public together on an unprecedented scale in a celebration of everything boating and everything that the industry behind it offers. Over the coming months, The Superyacht Life Foundation will be working with industry bodies and other professional organisations to encourage participation from all levels of the marine leisure industry.

So, whether you work for a shipyard or join forces as a leisure boating community, organising local events that make waves for a global cause.

WHY WORLD BOATING DAY?

The idea of creating an internationally coordinated event stems from simple but key aims. First, by educating people and getting them enthused about boating and being on the water, World Boating Day aims to open new channels for people to discover what recreational boating is all about. We want to build a pipeline of engagement and spark a passion in potential leisure boaters, potential yacht owners and potential industry employees.

Second, World Boating Day is an opportunity to showcase the extraordinary breadth of career opportunities and depth of talent that exists within the yacht and superyacht sectors. This can help attract the next generation of employees, from trades to engineering and all the other facets that go into designing, building and operating leisure sailing school, yacht club or yacht dealer, marina or a maritime organisation, World Boating Day presents an opportunity to boats and superyachts.

Lastly, it gives the boating industry as a whole and the superyacht industry in particular an opportunity to pull back the veil and to show the human and positive-impact sides of yachting and the industry behind it. In turn, this can help change perceptions of the industry and broaden its appeal through increased understanding.

At The Superyacht Life Foundation, we see the potential for this initiative to grow exponentially year-on-year, so people all over the world will be able to learn more about boating and the careers that the marine leisure industry and superyachting offer.

HOW TO TAKE PART

The concept for World Boating Day encompasses a broad range of potential activities, from invite only events, public open days, employee days and career days to try-a-boat initiatives, sample watersports lessons, interactive yard experiences and virtual tours.

This is our chance to show that boating and yachting can be for everyone, whether it’s sailing schools offering sessions on sailing dinghies or superyacht builders giving a behind-the-scenes peek at the extraordinary number of trades and craftspeople involved in the industry. The only limits are your own imagination on how you’d like to take part.

While the organising team encourages all boat, yacht and superyacht builders, yards and companies to open their doors, the event will also incorporate online activities and participation for those for whom live events are not practical.

The Superyacht Life Foundation is preparing advice, guidance and practical materials for participants that will include materials, ideas and overall PR management, while we can also help attract visitors through a central platform we’re creating.

To learn more about World Boating Day, please visit and register at www.worldboatingday.com

DILAN SARAC

Sarac is Executive Director of The Superyacht Life Foundation, a non-profit, commercially agnostic industry body that champions the positive people, places and projects surrounding the superyachting good life. The Foundation, together with its 27 partners from different sectors within the industry, uses its unbiased status to educate, inform and engage, opening the world of superyachts to new audiences and securing the long-term health of the superyacht industry.

d.sarac@thesuperyachtlife.com

http://www.thesuperyachtlife.com