1. Beyond Limits – Where History Meets the Horizon, Opening Words – Mikael Stelander, Commodore Helsingfors Segelsällskap

Mikael Stelander has been the commodore of HSS since 2019, He is and avid classic yachtsman and the owner of 8mR Ilderim and SK22 Fragancia, He and his extended 8 metre crew jumped onboard 12mR Vanity V and took part in the Worlds in Helsinki in 2021, finishing 5th. In 2022 Mikke handed Ilderim over to his two daughters and their friends. Consequently one of the youngest crews in the history of 8 metres participated in their first 8 metre Worlds last summer in Genova.

2. Hamish Ross – What makes the America’s Cup? – Bending the rules for 174 years

Hamish has been a legal counsel for four different AC syndicates and Cup orgainising authorities in six campaigns, . He is the world’s foremost legal expert on the America’s Cup and its Deed of Gift, the only sailing trophy with the New York Courts as its final arbiter. When it comes to controversy in the Cup, he’s seen it all. Hamish will share a very rare insight into that fascinating and complex world where he maneuvered between friends and foes, protest rooms, juries, arbiters, and finally the New York Courts. The inside story is about how rulings can make or break a campaign.

3. Dawn Riley – How to win the Cup and How to Run a Syndicate

Dawn is a true icon of our sport. She won the America’s Cup in 1992 as pit on Dennis Conner’s America3 and went on to be team captain on America3 in 1995 and captain on Mighty Mary, captain on America True in 2000 and general manager of Areva K-Challenge from 2004 until 2007. For 15 years she played key roles in the Cup, no woman in the history of our sport can match that record. She raced two Whitbread’s and won multiple world championships. She is among the world’s true experts in big boat and match racing. She currently runs the renowned Oakcliff Sailing Centre on Oyster Bay, New York and serves as the skipper of the 12mR Courageous. She is a pioneer in providing community access to sailing and so much more! Dawn will talk us through the modern America’s Cup, her personal story from 1992 until the current 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona.

5. John Lammerts van Bueren – Woodland Alchemy: Crafting a Yacht from the Heart of the Forest

John is a yacht historian who has been a regular speaker at the Symposium since 2011 and, following the passing of the symposium founder Esko Kilpi, the co-chair since 2020. He is former president of the Int. 8-Metre Association, multiple world champion, afterguard on schooners Eleonora and Atlantic and race crew on the 23mR Cambria. John is involved in all aspects of international classic yachting. He owns a sawmill for Sitka spruce in Northern Canada. John will take us on a journey to the remote world of the Pacific Northwest. It is a journey from a tree to the boat yard, how a tree is converted to boat and spar lumber. It is a story of the forest, logistics, the decisions and science behind reasons why some things work and others just don’t. A rare insight in a far away and remote world shape the boats we love.

6.The Olympic Sailing Team heading for Paris

The Finnish Olympic Sailing Team is heading for the Summer Olympics i Paris 2024. The recent ILCA 7 2024 European Champion Valtteri Uusitalo and Olympic nominee Oskari Muhonen, both representing Sailing Team Finland, will talk about ”Charting a course to Olympic success against powerhouse nations.” The discussion is moderated by Johan Ekblom from the Finnish Sailing and Boating federation.

7. Paul Spooner – naval architect, restorer of Shamrock V

Paul has been working as a Naval Architect and designer with projects ranging from from square rigged sailing ships to the restoration of the oldest America’s Cup contender still afloat – The magnificent Shamrock V. It was the first British yacht to be built to the new J-Class rule. She was commissioned by Sir Thomas Lipton for his fifth America’s Cup challenge. Although refitted several times, Shamrock is the only original J-class never to have fallen into dereliction. Paul is going to tell her story.

9. Hamish Ross: Classic Yachting in New Zealand

Hamish Ross is also the leading yacht historian in New Zealand, an avid classic yacht lover, restorer, and sailor. He is a founder of the New Zealand Classic Yacht Association almost 30 years ago and is it’s current Patron. He now owns ”Rainbow,” an  Logan Bros a 36-Linear Rater (LOA 60′) gaff cutter built in 1898 in partnership with Brad Butterworth, Chris Bouzaid and David Glen. No fleet of classic yachts is more orginal or further away from Finland, but in so many ways, it is so much closer than most. In his second session, Hamish will present the stunning classic yachts of his hometown, Auckland.

10. Beyond Limits – Pecha Kucha