PHILIPSBURG--The newly-named Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) has announced that its annual conference will take place in St. Maarten, October 23-25.
The CSA’s annual conference will bring together key stakeholders in sailing throughout the Caribbean and provide a unique opportunity for measurers, race officers, member national authorities, regatta organisers, yacht clubs and other interested parties to network.
With the inclusion of industry representatives, participants will receive updates on all the critical issues affecting the sport and hear from industry professionals about everything from marketing to the latest rating rules, sponsorship, regatta management and all the latest developments in yacht racing.
The event has been held in Puerto Rico and Antigua over the last two years and returns to St. Maarten this year. CSA said the central location within the region would assist representatives of as many islands as possible to attend the conference.
“The event started as a regatta organisers’ conference some years ago and latterly included the annual general meeting. In 2015, the event expanded with the addition of a measurers’ meeting and a session on youth sailing development. The new format will continue into 2015 and the venue and programme are currently being finalised, with detailed announcements coming soon,” CSA’s announcement stated.
CSA President Peter Holmberg said he hoped all interested parties would attend. “The Caribbean has become a premier destination on the international race circuit, and our sailors a true powerhouse in the sailing world. I encourage everyone dedicated to the region or the sport of sailing to attend and help shape the course of this organisation and the sport of sailing.”
The conference will run from Friday through Sunday, with the annual general meeting (AGM) on the morning of October 23. The Regatta Organisers Conference starts late afternoon on the same day and continues through October 24 and 25.
The Measurers’ Meeting will be held on October 24 and 25, with an agenda coordinated with the conference to enable participants of all groups to attend the relevant sections.
A conference package is being created to offer delegates a discounted fee to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks as well as the conference facilities. For those who cannot attend all three days, a daily rate will be offered so that delegates can target particular events on the agenda.
Attendance is open to CSA members, including member national authorities, yacht clubs, sailing associations, measurers, regatta organisers and individual (corporate) members, as well as any other yachting stakeholders who are interested in finding out more about the CSA. Limited corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available.
CSA added that a dedicated website would be launched soon with complete conference details.
CSA, previously called Caribbean Yachting Association and prior to that the West Indies Yachting Association, is a federation of territories and sailing clubs of the Caribbean that initially associated to promote sailing activities practically in the Eastern Caribbean. It has broadened since then to cover the entire Caribbean region.
It operates in parallel with the world body of sailing, the International Sailing Federation (ISF).
CSA’s mission is to promote sailing within the region and Caribbean sailing to the world.
