The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has teamed up with production company Sunset+Vine to create a new global television series called World Sailing.
The monthly series will be spearheaded by Matthew Sheahan, the former racing and technical editor of Yachting World Magazine who has been appointed as series editor. The series of 26-minute programmes will begin in January 2016.
The series will focus on the build-up to the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the latest action, personality features and background stories. The series will be distributed by the Sunset+Vine International division of the production company, with at least 50 broadcasters expected to sign up by early 2016.
Earlier this year, the ISAF awarded Sunset+Vine a contract to produce live host broadcast coverage and international news at three 2015 Sailing World Cup regattas, while in 2016 the live output will include World Cup events in Miami, Hyères and Weymouth/Portland.
Andrew Preece, managing director of Sunset+Vine, said: "The launch of World Sailing is a significant development for both the ISAF and Sunset+Vine as we seek to provide an international platform for the world governing body on television and on digital channels and social media networks. As we move towards the Rio Olympics part of that commitment will be to providing a platform for Olympic classes coverage and personalities in the build-up.”