The Bay of Aarhus offers ideal conditions for making the 2018 ISAF Worlds attractive and understandable for spectators and TV viewers. The medal races will take place just of the promenade of the event area and a grandstand will be put up, allowing the spectators to be as close as possible to the action in the finals. The experience will be improved by the extensive use of live video, 3D GPS tracking and live commentary – available through widescreens, handheld devices and loudspeakers – all along the 800-metre promenade.

A good example of Aarhus' experience with city centre stadium sailing features the medal races at the 2013 49er & 49erFX European Championship, where a tight 500 metres long by 200 metres wide course where laid perpendicular and within shouting distance of the the long promenade. Spectators and TV viewers loved this, and the sailors as well:

“It’s cool being close to the shore, it’s the first time we’ve done that in competition," New Zealand’s Peter Burling said after winning the 49er gold. Blair Tuke, his crew added: “I enjoyed it, it’s intense and to be so close to the spectators and to be able to broadcast it live on TV like that is really good for our sport."

Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and Marie Thusgaard Olsen, Denmark’s new golden girls, were understandably also thrilled after winning the 49erFX on the Bay they had first learned to sail on as 7-year-olds, 13 years before. “It was amazing, i´ve never raced with a crowd like that,” Nielsen said. “Every time you were rounding the marks you could hear people cheering." Their families were out supporting them, their friends were volunteering at the event and their victory showed what sailing means to the city.

During the medal races of the 49er & 49erFX over 2000 people gathered to watch their local heroes compete for the gold. With a massive event such as the ISAF Worlds 2018, a fully developed new city quarter in Aarhus Ø and walking distance to the city center, it will be reasonable to expect massive crowds gathering to enjoy the excitement of city centre stadium sailing during the Championship.

Facts about the venue:

- Medal Races viewable from the 800-metre promenade and spectators' grandstand

- Compact event area with perfect facilities for online media and TV production of the racing

- Event area in walking distance to downtown Aarhus

- Race village with entertainment area and fan zone open to the public