From the very beginning, Star Sailors League has set out to deliver sailing media at the highest professional level. The first SSL live broadcast took place 13 years ago. The inaugural live production featuring professional commentary, tracking, finish-line graphics, and interviews was aired from the Bahamas on December 4, 2013.
In its early years, SSL focused on the Star Class fleet. For nearly a decade, legendary sailors such as Paul Cayard, Robert Scheidt, and Mateusz Kusznierewicz shaped the history of the league in two-person crews. As the broadcasts evolved, SSL began introducing live press conferences, on-site journalist segments, and onboard interviews. At the time, this approach was groundbreaking in the sailing world, and the audience grew steadily with every new transmission. The journey began with approximately 10,000 viewers.
Live coverage of SSL Finals quickly became a cornerstone of the organization’s media strategy. Soon, SSL expanded beyond its flagship events to cover other major sailing competitions, including the Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship in 2014 and the Star World Championship. SSL also delivered live broadcasts from the ISCYRA European Championship and the Bacardi Cup in 2016.
With each event, the global audience expanded. Regatta after regatta, thousands of new viewers joined the broadcasts, confirming the growing appetite for high-quality sailing coverage.
Production standards improved year by year. Cameras on the water, drone footage, and high-quality onboard audio significantly enhanced the viewing experience. Commentary teams gained better tools to explain race dynamics in real time, making the sport more accessible to fans. SSL broadcasts were successfully distributed through international television networks, further strengthening the league’s global presence.
In 2021, a new chapter began. The first Test Event on the new SSL Gold boats was held at the training center in Switzerland. Following the successful test, qualification events were launched on the same waters. The momentum culminated in 2023 with the first-ever SSL Gold Cup in Gran Canaria, which delivered outstanding media results.TV news and highlights reached over 3.7 million viewers, with distribution spanning 132 countries. PR and press exposure generated more than 6.81 million Opportunity To See (OTS), while live coverage attracted over 3 million live views.
SSL has its own broadcast setup, equipment, and team, allowing us to produce live coverage independently. Star Sailors League is happy to support other organizations by sharing these capabilities and helping promote sailing to audiences around the world.
These numbers confirmed that SSL Live Broadcast had become one of the most powerful media platforms in professional sailing.