Southern Wind Joins Genoa Sailing Superyacht Forum

The second Sailing Super Yacht Forum is scheduled for 27 November 2026 at the Magazzini del Cotone conference centre in Genoa's Porto Antico, with Southern Wind representative Andrea Micheli among the first confirmed participants. Organiser Super Yacht 24 has outlined an industry programme focused on new sailing-superyacht designs, advanced materials, technical operations and the needs of owners and captains.

The event is titled 'Sailing Forward' and follows the forum's inaugural sailing edition in December 2025. The programme and named participants were first announced in September and remain subject to the organiser's subsequent updates; no statements should be attributed to participants before the discussions have actually taken place.

A forum dedicated to large sailing yachts

The Genoa meeting is intended to bring together shipyards, designers, suppliers, captains and owners whose work is directly connected to the construction and operation of large sailing yachts. The organiser describes it as a business-to-business event rather than a public display of new vessels.

Large sailing projects combine the hotel and safety demands of a superyacht with rigging, sails and deck systems that require specialist knowledge. Discussions involving builders and working captains can expose the difference between attractive early design proposals and arrangements that function reliably at sea.

The Southern Wind contribution

Andrea Micheli of Southern Wind is among the individuals named as having accepted invitations to the round-table programme. The shipyard's experience with larger performance-cruising sailing yachts places it close to questions about practical deck layouts, lightweight construction and the balance between race performance and life aboard.

The announcement does not specify an individual speech or guarantee that particular design details will be revealed. It confirms participation in an industry discussion, and readers should wait for the programme or post-event reporting before drawing conclusions about new contracts or products.

Advanced sails, rigging and structures

The first main discussion is expected to examine new sailing-superyacht designs, technologies, materials and shipboard systems. These subjects are closely connected: sail plans, rig loads and structural reinforcement all influence the displacement, accommodation and stability margins available to designers.

Engineering decisions also shape maintenance requirements over the yacht's life. Materials chosen for low weight may demand specialist inspection, while complex sailing systems rely on hydraulic, electrical and mechanical components that must remain accessible to crew under working conditions.

The owner and captain perspective

A second panel is planned around priorities and challenges on board and at the quayside. The organiser intends to place owners, captains and suppliers in the same conversation, enabling practical questions about port operations, equipment serviceability and crew training to be discussed alongside design ambitions.

Owner preferences vary enormously between racing-oriented vessels and yachts intended for family passages. A useful industry discussion must therefore distinguish equipment that maximises performance from arrangements that simplify handling and reduce the workload involved in a prolonged voyage.

A refit case study on Grillo Parlante

The programme includes a special focus on the completed refit of the Southern Wind SW100RS sailing yacht GRILLO PARLANTE. The shipyard and owner perspective can provide a concrete example of decisions involved in retaining a sailing yacht's identity while modernising technical or onboard arrangements.

Refits commonly involve trade-offs between access, available space, construction methods and project budgets. An event case study offers an opportunity to explore those trade-offs, though the final details of the 2026 presentation have not yet been reported and should not be invented in advance.

Other names on the programme

The event organiser also lists Edoardo Bianchi of San Giorgio Marine, Emanuele Cecchini of Harken and Giorgio Gallo of RINA among accepted participants. Their respective fields connect boatbuilding, deck hardware and classification or certification, reflecting the technical range needed to support larger sailing yachts.

Participation in a panel does not imply that any organisation has approved a new product or changed a regulation. Shipyards and owners should treat discussion outcomes as industry insight unless followed by separate, formally published technical standards or official announcements.

Genoa as a large-yacht services centre

The forum is planned for the Porto Antico conference complex, placing discussions close to Genoa's established marine service and refit community. That setting is relevant to owners of large sailing yachts whose regular operational needs extend from rig surveys and equipment upgrades to berthing arrangements and crew support.

The organiser identifies scheduled maintenance, digital shipboard systems, alternative propulsion and sustainable construction among its topics. These are ongoing questions rather than promises of immediate solutions; each project will require its own technical assessment and appropriate professional advice.

Programme dates and the next steps

The published provisional timetable begins with morning registration and technical discussions, followed by two panels and a networking lunch. Prospective attendees should obtain the current programme and registration details directly from Super Yacht 24 before making travel arrangements or assuming that all named speakers remain unchanged.

The verified news is the preparation of a second Genoa sailing-superyacht forum on 27 November with Southern Wind's participation among the early confirmations. An official photograph from the previous 2025 edition illustrates the event; it is not presented as a photograph of the still-upcoming gathering.