Breaking Barriers at Sea: Genoa Investor Gathering Unveils the OneOcean Project
On 17 September 2025, the Yacht Club Italiano will host a premium kick-off event that sets the tone for one of the most ambitious ocean racing initiatives of the decade. The Women’s Yacht Club, in collaboration with Yacht Club Italiano and powered by VNTR and Sangorgio Marine, will officially launch the OneOcean Project—a campaign to fund a cutting-edge IMOCA 60 and assemble a world-class, female-inclusive sailing team for global races.
The Women’s Yacht Club will also begin the selection process for female sailors, championing leadership, empowerment, and inclusion in one of the most demanding sports on the planet. Positioned just a day before the Salone Nautico Genova opens its gates, this event offers investors a privileged first look at premium pro racing, technological innovation, and high-impact opportunities.
The IMOCA 60 is not just a yacht—it is a laboratory on water. At 60 feet in length, with hydrofoils that lift the hull above the waves, these monohulls achieve bursts of 30+ knots, redefining speed, design, and endurance. They compete in the Vendée Globe, The Ocean Race, and Route du Rhum, pushing sailors and technology to their absolute limits.
But this is just one part of the vision. Alongside the Class40, a proving ground for the next generation of offshore sailors, and the pioneering Recycling Ocean Fifty, built with circular economy principles, funds are being raised for a new fleet that embodies innovation, sustainability, and the future of ocean racing.
"The IMOCA 60 is a platform for progress—technological, environmental, and human," says. With the OneOcean Project, we are not just racing; we are racing for a future where sailing drives change."
Jörg Riechers, one of Germany’s top ocean racers
WOMEN’S YACHT CLUB – A NEW WAVE OF LEADERSHIP
At the heart of this narrative is Josipa Filipović. Through the Women’s Yacht Club, she has built an organization that blends Mediterranean elegance with empowerment and social responsibility. Based in D-Marin Dalmatia, Croatia’s largest marina, the club encourages women to step into leadership, embrace adventure, and redefine yachting as a space of inclusion.
"Yachting has long been seen as an exclusive world. But through mentorship, education, and collaboration, we can transform it into a platform where women and men co-create solutions—not only for the sport but for society and our oceans."
Josipa Filipović, VNTR Chapter Director & Founder of the Women’s Yacht Club
Her dual role as VNTR Chapter Director bridges two worlds: the nautical and the entrepreneurial, linking the Women’s Yacht Club with a global ecosystem of investors and innovators, ensuring that the movement is about sails, seas, capital, influence, and sustainable growth.
VNTR is a global community of accomplished investors who share deal flow, co-invest with top-tier funds, and connect with world-class partners. Its mission: to build the world’s most influential investment network, accelerating access to leading tech startups and funds worldwide.
With a presence in 40+ countries, hosting 200+ events annually, VNTR has engaged more than 4,000 active decision-makers in just the past two years.
The Genoa Investor Gathering marks the official fundraising launch of the OneOcean Project. Early investors gain privileged access to a high-profile campaign, premium visibility, and direct entry into the global sailing and innovation ecosystem.
Backing OneOcean also unlocks rare VIP racing experiences — strictly limited to 20 seats per event:
- Ultime 24 – Lorient (24–26 Sept 2025): Step aboard as a Pro Race Skipper alongside the fastest ocean-racing crews.
- Le Havre Transat Café (25–26 Oct 2025): Go behind the scenes of the Transat Jacques Vabre, meeting world-class skippers, sailors, and campaign leaders.
SAILING WITH PURPOSE
With IMOCA boats integrating eco-friendly composites, renewable energy, and circular economy principles, OneOcean is a high-performance racing campaign with a conscience. Every race becomes both a sporting spectacle and a platform for ocean conservation and innovation advocacy.
THE HORIZON AHEAD
As the sailing world looks toward the Vendée Globe 2028 and The Ocean Race 2027–28, the stakes are higher than ever. The Women’s Yacht Club and VNTR stand at a critical intersection of luxury, responsibility, and global impact.
"Sailing teaches us the wind is never in our control," Filipović reflects. "What we can control is how we set our sails. With vision, partnerships, and courage, investors can help shape a future where yachting is more than a sport—it’s a movement."
Josipa Filipović, VNTR Chapter Director & Founder of the Women’s Yacht Club
Contact: josipa@vntr.vc
