905 million US dollars is the value of today's e-sports industry, an increase of 38 per cent compared to 2007. If this trend continues, it could be worth around 1.4 billion US dollars by 2020. In 2018, an audience of 380 million people was reached.
Although sailing is still a long way from these figures, organisers and game manufacturers are already securing a slice of the cake. Virtual regattas are being organised in parallel with major events such as the Vendée Globe, the Volvo Ocean Race, the Jules Verne Trophy and the Route du Rhum. 94,000 e-skippers registered for the last Jules Verne Trophy.
The World Sailing Federation is now also backing e-athletes and organised the first official world championship in this new discipline in 2018 - with fantastic success. 169,000 e-sailors from 74 countries competed for the first World Championship title over six months. Prize money of USD 10,000 was also awarded for the first time in 2019. The best eight of the preceding multi-stage qualifying series, which have just begun, will be invited to Bermuda to compete in the final, which can be watched live. Anyone interested can still enter this qualifier.
The German Sailing Association has also announced a German E-Sailing Championship for the first time in 2019.
These championships are held using the free Virtual Regatta simulation software, which has become the market leader in the sailing sector and is used by almost all other organisers. It can be played on Windows and Mac computers as well as smartphones and tablets with Android or iOS operating systems, i.e. on virtually all end devices. Virtual Regatta is based on two main levels: the offshore and inshore areas - and is very easy to learn.
