'Is the extent of a 'social media influencer's' sailing journey questionable?' - Nikki Henderson's statement
In the realm of competitive sailing, the winds of change are blowing in a new direction - social media. This digital tide is transforming the sport, bringing with it both opportunities and challenges for sailors navigating the complex waters of modern competition.
Social media platforms have become a vital hub for real-time updates, on-board videos, interviews, and race updates, enhancing engagement and situational awareness for teams and fans alike. Offshore performance sailing events, such as the Vendée Globe, now routinely share live content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, attracting a broader audience and fostering a sense of camaraderie among participants and spectators[1].
The digital revolution has also opened up new avenues for communication within the sailing community. Sailors and support teams use platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn to connect, share innovations, and maintain communication between athletes, executives, and the broader sailing community[2]. This connectivity can foster knowledge exchange and innovation in sailing tactics and management.
However, the integration of social media into sailing is not without its complications. The pressure to create better drama for social media could potentially lead to seamanlike choices being compromised. Sailors must filter social media input carefully to avoid distractions or impulsive decisions based on incomplete or misleading real-time information[3]. The traditional values of navigation, seamanship, and prudent judgment must be balanced with the speed and volume of social media communication.
One sailor who has mastered this delicate balance is Violette Dorange, who came 23rd in her first Vendée Globe. With a significant online following of 650,000 Instagram followers and 3.1 million TikTok likes, Dorange's digital presence has the potential to be a major advantage in her sailing career[4]. Her online following is significantly larger than that of race winner Charlie Dalin, demonstrating the power of social media to attract new audiences to sailing[5].
Another sailor who has leveraged social media to broaden his fan base is Cole Brauer, a US ocean racer with nearly half a million followers on Instagram. A significant portion of Brauer's followers are non-sailors, and many were not previously aware of his sailing career[6]. Many of these new followers are women and younger people, indicating a potential increase in diversity within the sailing community[7].
The Vendée Globe race now requires raw, unedited, and 'real' daily updates, adding a new layer of complexity to life at sea for sailing professionals[8]. This means that life on the high seas now includes live streaming daily life, documenting every moment of a sailing race, which is challenging and hard work[9].
In conclusion, social media serves as a powerful platform for real-time updates, community engagement, and strategy sharing in sailing. However, it demands careful management to ensure that seamanlike principles of safety, strategy, and judgment are upheld. Teams that successfully balance these factors can enhance both performance and the public profile of sailing competitions. As the digital tide continues to rise, it will be interesting to see how sailors adapt and navigate these changing waters.
- Amidst the Vendée Globe race, sailors are required to provide raw and unedited daily updates, showcasing the integration of social media in shaping modern sailing lifestyle.
- With a significant digital presence through platforms like Instagram and TikTok, sailor Violette Dorange has attracted a larger audience to sailing, demonstrating the impact of social media in promoting sustainable-living lifestyles.
- Orchestrating life at sea between competition, live streaming, and social media interaction presents unique challenges for sports professionals, blurring the boundaries between home-and-garden and sports-betting lifestyles.
- Social media platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn help foster a community within the sailing world, allowing the sharing of innovations and knowledge in support of sustainable-living and technological advancements in the sport.
