World Boating Day, a collective celebration of leisure boating launched last spring, is scheduled to return this May 24 with events planned at dozens of shipyards, marinas, yacht clubs, sailing schools, and other sites across 20 countries and three continents.

While the official day is May 25, it includes any event being held from May 18 to 25. The aim is to make the leisure boat and yachting industry more accessible and engaging by showcasing the people behind the scenes.

The umbrella theme for the activities is the Superyacht Life Foundation’s concept, but the local events span every kind of watercraft and vessel. The Foundation invites any organization or business of any size involved with boating and yachting to register their event on the World Boating Day website where the public can see everything going on.

It could be something organized specifically for WBD or one already in your calendar. Getting your event registered and listed is free.

Click »» here to add your event.

Click »» here for an up to date list of everything that is going on.

Australia

The Coral Sea Marina team near Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is launching their Better Boating Guide, a guide for greener recreational boating, at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show May 22 – 25: “Australia’s biggest celebration of lifestyles that are exotic and aquatic.”

USA In Florida, The Atlantic Marine Store is organizing a World Boating day on-water rendezvous and raft-up at the famous Haulover Sand Bar in Miami, Florida. In Fort Myers, MarineMax is having their annual Summer Dayaway with the MarineMax team leading a flotilla on an exciting journey to Redfish Pass for a day of boating, sandcastles, playing beach volleyball, or simply relaxing with a cold drink in hand. And in New Smyrna Beach Mark The Boat Coach will have a four hour boat tour recanting the area’s colourful history intertwined with a murder mystery.

France

The European Committee for Professional Yachting (ECPY) is an association of yachting professionals that brings together all the industry’s activities (yacht brokers, central agents, yacht owners, shipyards, suppliers, insurers, craftsmen etc.) They are inviting children aged 3-5 years old on board superyachts at l’École du Port in France.

Turkiye

The Bilgin Sailing Club in Turkey is hosting a special World Boating Day Regatta.

Switzerland

Furniture Designer Eva Mechler is presenting a seminar in Zurich for other designers about the types of artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating on-board furniture.

Sweden

Shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen, who build everything from research vessels to arctic cruise ships, are having an introductory day and tour of the shipyard for new trainees, their parents, and siblings. Other shipyards with tours, open houses or other activites include Benetti, Oceanco, Royal Huisman and others.

Finland

World Boating Day coincides with the opening of the Naantali Boat Show, a collaborative effort between the entire Finnish boating industry and local stakeholders that marks the start of the boating season in the Archipelago Sea each spring.

USA

Rhode Island’s IYRS (School of Technology & Trades) is a non-profit, post-secondary marine trades and modern manufacturing school. It offers education & training programs for people with a passion for thinking and working through their hands, and is celebrating the graduation and launch of their Boatbuilding & Restoration students’ boats for the first time.

Italy In Tuscany and Castiglioncello, the second stage of the VELA Cup takes place on World Boating Day. The Cup series is a competition between boats of all sizes, open to everyone with a very simple formula: an easy and accessible sailing competition without the effort and bureaucracy that usually accompany regattas. It has more participants than any other sailing event in Italy. On WBC there will also be a presentation of the Sailor of the Year award, the Oscar of Italian sailing. 

Antibes

Port Vauban will be running workshops for schoolchildren to meet professionals, find out about sustainable development initiatives in the port and discover the port in an educational and fun way. The Société des Régates d’Antibes is also organizing a day at sea for person with disabilities to offer a first contact with the sea to people who have difficulty accessing it.

Global

In an innovative global/local event, the Soundings Trade Only Media Group, Metstrade, British Marine, and Marine Industry News are launching the Global Women’s Walk 2025 to honour, support, and elevate the powerhouse women shaping the marine industry. From May 11–18, they invite you to walk 5Km (3.2 miles) wherever you are, with whomever you choose. The walk is open to all genders. As part of the walk, participants and their families/friends are encouraged to donate to Room to Read, a global nonprofit dedicated to learning, literacy and gender equality.

There are dozens more events in the World Boating Day calendar with information about location, dates and times.

“Boating isn’t just a hobby – it’s a lifestyle, a heritage and a thriving industry,” says Dilan Saraç, executive director of the Superyacht Life Foundation. “World Boating Day invites the world to step aboard and discover the passion and the people behind it all.”

World Boating Day Events  World Boating Day Registration

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