WYRF transcript final v2 - The Daily Sail

CONCLUSION
Pat Lilley
Chairman, WYRF
Before I officially close the Forum,
I’d like to make a special mention
to somebody who over the last
two days has navigated us through
the individual debates and who’s
style and his enthusiasm and his
relaxed manner, I think has
created a nice really relaxed
atmosphere here in the hall. Don’t
be fooled… He put a lot of work
in each day. Meticulous
preparation. And I understand
why so many people and sailors
and the industry respect him so
much. So I’d like you all to put
your hands together and thank
Peter Montgomery. Thank you
very much.
Applause
Peter Montgomery: It has
been a delight and an honour and
a real privilege. I expected it to be
good, but not this good. It has
been quite outstanding, not only
the speakers, because session
after session has been so
simulating and so challenging with
so many bright and intelligent
people that are attracted to our
sport. That has been wonderful,
but also to catch up with so many
people. There’s Cam Lewis who
stayed at my house when he won
the Finn Gold Cup in 1980 when
he roll tacked 32 times against
John Bertrand in 35 knots on the
last beat to windward and I
haven’t seen him for years. And so
many other wonderful people to
catch up with. So I think the
networking has also been
wonderful.
Just congratulations to the group
that had the courage to have this
inaugural World Yacht Racing
Forum. It is a great idea and I do
hope it rings a bell to continue in
the future, because they deserve
to be congratulated, let alone, of
course, all the people who have
come from some many, many
127
places to be part of it and have
made it as well. It has been an
honour for me. Thank you.
Pat Lilley: I shouldn’t have done
that. He’s just taken 90% of what I
was going to say! As I mentioned
in my introduction at the yacht
club, most major sporting events,
can’t do without the help of
sponsorship. It is the backbone of
major events and the Forum is no
exception to that. So in closing I’d
like to make a special thanks to
our presenting sponsor, the Abu
Dhabi tourist board, two cosponsors
- Corus watches and
Oman Sail.
I’d also like to thank the Yacht
Club de Monaco for being our
hosts at the opening reception and
being our host club for the period.
The concept of the Forum was
conceived just over a year ago and
it was quite interesting
approaching various speakers.
One particular speaker when I
approached him said ‘good idea,
I’d like to go along, but I’d like to
come away with two new ideas or
concepts’. I hope over the last two
days, you’ve had an opportunity to
network and meet with different
people and pick up at least two
ideas and concepts based on the
individual topics we’ve had. I hope
from that original idea, that to a
great extent we have achieved our
objective.
I know the speakers have
stimulated certainly me. I hope
they have stimulated you.
Individually I know they have put a
lot of effort into preparing their
particular aspects.
I wanted to mention two people
who have done a lot of work in
the background and they are
James Pleasance and Chris
Trainor. So I’d like you all to give
them a quick round of applause.
Applause
This is the first meeting. I know it
won’t be the last and as I said at
one stage, we want it to be
interactive. So, we want the
feedback from you. We have to
develop the product as it stands
and we will be in touch with all of
you. I very much hope that you
have enjoyed the two days. It is
my great pleasure to close the
forum. To wish you all a safe
journey home, particularly those
who have travelled so far. I wish
you a Merry Christmas and a very
very peaceful and happy New
Year. Thank you very much to all
of you.
REGISTER NOW!
2009 WORLD YACHT
RACING FORUM
9-10 December, Monaco
To benefit from a 20%
Early-bird discount until 1
March, and for information
on sponsorship and
exhibit opportunities visit:
www.worldyachtracingforum.com
or contact:
James Pleasance
Event Director
tel: +44 20 8871 2354
fax: +44 20 8338 3097
mob: +44 7711 130886
james.pleasance@informayacht
group.com