The partnership, which will be described as ‘TEAMORIGIN racing with Jaguar’ comes under the umbrella of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success.

The deal helps Jaguar strengthen its environmental credentials, not only through the associations of a wind-powered sport, but also through signing up to TEAMORIGIN’s ‘Race for Change’ which compels partners of the team to adhere to strict environmental goals monitored by the Carbon Trust.

Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal, TEAMORIGIN, commented:

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jaguar as our partner. There is a superb fit and alignment of purpose between TEAMORIGIN and Jaguar. Jaguar is clearly one of the most revered and iconic British brands and, just as Jaguar is now taking on and beating the best in the automotive world, so our mission is to take on and beat the best in the world on the water. The fit is further enhanced through our shared commitment to improve our environmental performance.”

Geoff Cousins, Managing Director, Jaguar UK commented:

“To partner with TEAMORIGIN is a fantastic opportunity for Jaguar. We are looking forward to the first appearance this summer at the 1851 Cup event, an exciting competition, which will see Britain’s best sailing talent compete against the current holders of The America’s Cup. It’s a mouth-watering prospect and one we are proud to support. This is a serious British endeavour, which fits perfectly with the recently launched Jaguar Academy of Sport, which is all about investing in the future of British Sporting talent.”

TEAMORIGIN’s newly branded livery will appear during Cowes Week and will feature striking Jaguar branding on both the hull and sails. The spinnaker will feature a Jaguar leaper in Union Jack Motif, the symbol of the Jaguar Academy of Sport.

Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman of TEAMORIGIN,commented:

“TEAMORIGIN’s goal is to win the America’s Cup for Great Britain, to achieve this we need to engage the support of like minded partners. In Jaguar, we can see great synergies where they share our passion for sport and competition at the highest level.”

More Automotive Sailing Sponsorship News…

Garry Lock, Managing Director Harken Australia said:

‘It is Harken’s commitment to assist the talents of up and coming sailors that led to the association with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Youth Sailing Academy. Harken, globally has a long tradition in encouraging and assisting further development of youth sailing, the future masters of the sport. On the local front, many promising young sailors have gone onto further their sailing careers after training at the CYCA YSA. We are pleased to continue our relationship with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia for a further two years.’

CYCA Commodore Garry Linacre said:

‘It is wonderful to have the support of a great sailing orientated company like Harken. This company was built by sailors, is managed by sailors and it is just wonderful to see Harken supporting young sailors in this way. Harken’s support in providing our Youth Sailing Academy equipment to world class standards is greatly appreciated. To Garry Lock and his team, we thank you for your past involvement and continuing commitment. Your efforts are appreciated and we look forward to your presence around the club to witness the product of your support.’

Harken Australia also sponsors the Harken Women’s International Match Racing Regatta, conducted annually by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

More Australian Sailing Business News…

White says:

“How cool is to be Wight Vodka’s Brand Czar for the next year? Very cool. Let’s face the facts! When Ritu and I worked together last year on the OSTAR, I knew we were onto something special. Wight Vodka has such a fabulous focus on the yachting lifestyle that I love so much, that the White and Wight partnership was destined to mature. This is just one more step in a long partnership together!”

The role will make Hannah the face of the brand in several activation campaigns throughout the year.

I’ll be marketing and promoting the Wight Vodka brand everywhere I travel. If you’re a bar or yacht club on the Atlantic or Pacific coast that I’ll be visiting over the coming year, you better have Wight Vodka on the top shelf! I’m also launching a news service to the yachting fraternity through a series of Podcasts over the coming 12 months, with a deeper insight into the sailor’s competitive and somewhat hectic lifestyle than previously seen. We’re calling these Vodcasts in recognition of Wight Vodka’s support. I’ll also be carrying the Wight Vodka branding on the boat and our kit.

Ritu Manocha, owner of 50 North, the company behind Wight Vodka says:

“This is a significant step forward for the White and Wight brand alliance. We knew from working with Hannah on her fabulous trans-Atlantic success in the 2009 OSTAR that we wanted to continue with our relationship. ‘White and Wight’ is such an obviously superb pairing. The hardest part of this relationship was figuring out what to call Hannah: Brand Ambassador? Emissary? Brand Agent (or Secret Agent)? Special Envoy? We went for Brand Czar because it sounded right with just a little edge to it!”

More Sailing Sponsorship News…

It’s a typical generation gap piece that sets up the stereotypes against each other, but it highlights the difficulty that sailing has positioning itself. While the PR people pitch the event as part of the ‘Summer Season’ and are quite happy to use celebrities like Zara Phillips to add glamour to the regatta, it seems that ‘well-heeled, hard drinking’ youth are not welcome, despite bringing a touch of F1 to sleepy Cowes.

The owners of Mahiki, will moor a £6 million Sunseeker yacht at the Yacht Haven, Cowes’ biggest marina. A cocktail bar and club will be set up in a marquee on the harbourside with room for up to 400 people, who will party until after midnight. According to the Telegraph, many guests will arrive by helicopter, landing at a temporary helipad in a nearby school, and be driven by chauffeurs to the bars a few minutes away. Mahiki will face competition from Raffles, a private-members club in the King’s Road, which will set up a marquee at Cowes’s second biggest marina, the Peppermint Shepards Wharf, and stay open until 2am.

While OC Events have announced a week long series of DJ sets at their Extreme Bar, they aren’t included in this piece that set up the ‘establishment’ as old fuddy duddy folk who don’t like loud noise. Anonymous sources that really do sound made up are quoted as saying:

“The social side is a very important part of Cowes week. But I’m not sure we want an invasion of the sort of people who are raucous and stagger out of nightclubs in the small hours. We have traditions at Cowes and they must be respected. Last year, we had John Prescott here. That was bad enough and now we’ve got to put up with this lot.”

If only they sailed it might be alright….

Jackie Head, the chief executive of the Royal Corinthians Yacht Club, said:

“We want to attract younger people. Most of our more serious sailors are in their 50s and 60s. But today’s teenagers seem happier to live in the cyberworld on their computers or go out partying than to get their hands wet and learn to sail.”

Leaving aside the massive generalisation about teenagers as being obsessed with screens that ignores the fact that the most popular sites in ‘cyberworld’ like Facebook are driven by real world interactions resulting in photo sharing and that sports are a huge driver of those interactions, this kind of statement just alienates new sailors. As if people go to the polo to ride horses or visit Henley to row.

Luckily, Cowes Week organisers are a bit more forward thinking. The mooring fees of a £6 million Sunseeker will be pretty substantial and there should be flow on benefits. Stuart Quarrie, the chief executive of Cowes Week Ltd, the organisers, said that Mahiki and Raffles were “positive additions” to the regatta.

“They are upmarket places and we don’t have any other cocktail bars,” he said. “They will bring something slightly different to Cowes.”

We’ll be at Cowes next week. Looking forward to it.

More Cowes Week News..

Mr Beazley said:

“Two of our main aims at Perth 2011 are to increase awareness of the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships and to raise the profile of the sport of sailing. The partnership with WAtoday.com.au will provide a significant boost to the Sailing World Championships with promotion of the Event and the sport, through local and national coverage via its sister sites – smh.com.au, theage.com.au and brisbanetimes.com.au – and through international readership opportunities.”

WAtoday.com.au Marketing Manager Nicola Brandon agreed that the collaboration was exciting saying:

“WAtoday.com.au is thrilled to come on board as the media partner for Perth 2011. This is a great event for sailing and for Perth. WAtoday.com.au delivers Western Australia with high quality breaking news and we look forward to sharing this Event with our visitors.”

The partnership should assist in driving traffic to the Perth 2011 website, however a quick search of the WAtoday.com.au website shows that the media outlet is a little light on sailing content, despite Perth being the home of some of Australia’s best sailors. While the portal reports on Belcher and Page winning the 470 World Championships last week, a search for Torvar Mirsky – who represents Western Australia in the World Match Racing Tour and is ranked 3rd in the world, returns zero search results.

More Olympic Sailing News…

One event that is trying to use the same model is the Barcelona Round the World Race. The event’s organising body, the FNOB (Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing), is trying to create a World Class event for professional offshore sailors, but also used the race to promote offshore yacht racing in Spain through the ‘Barcelona Ocean Sailing Base’; a structure that brings together industries, universities, logistical support and sponsor research to help foster new talent in the offshore sailing world. The initiative also supports the “Escuderia”, a sailing team that includes four IMOCA 60’s and gives a fantastic opportunity to some new and very talented sailors.

The World Yacht Racing Forum talks to Andor Serra, Director General of the FNOB in their latest newsletter. While it doesn’t touch on the calendar conflict between the Barcelona World Race and the VELUX 5 OCEANS Race – both for Open 60 yachts, the interview gives an insight into the goals of the project.

WYRF: What is your status of preparation towards the Barcelona World Race, six months ahead of the event?

Andor Serra: “We are on schedule! We have been organizing two big test events which took place over the Spring and last month (the New-York – Barcelona Transoceanic Sailing Record and the Vuelta Espana a Vela). This has helped us identify our weaknesses and correct them. We know precisely what we need to do before the race.”

WYRF: What are your current priorities?

Andor Serra: “We are developing some technological projects aimed at increasing the coverage of the race. Our biggest project is Barcelona World Race Television; it will help us to produce and distribute high quality footage of the event, and will increase our visibility.”

WYRF: So your main objective is the same as the America’s Cup’s?

Andor Serra: “There must be a good reason for this… The sport of sailing always struggles to be on television and it is essential for event organizers to invest in order to increase their return through television.”

WYRF: You are organizing an event on one hand and promoting offshore yacht racing on another, through (amongst others) a sailing team that comprises four boats. How do both projects relate to one another?

Andor Serra: “The two projects compliment each other; they are also independent from each other. We needed to create this structure in Spain because there was no culture of short-handed offshore racing in our country. We have therefore developed a structure that brings together industries, universities, logistical support, sponsor research etc. Its ultimate purpose is to generate value.”

WYRF: Can this concept be replicated? Perhaps it would be a good model for other countries…

Andor Serra: “Well, every country is different and has different needs. Our culture is very close to the French one and our model is the training centre in Port La Forêt. It is a very efficient model that can surely be replicated; however, before you create a structure in a country, you need to be sure you have enough candidates…”

More World Yacht Racing Forum News…

Offshore solo racing is a fantastic R&D lab and allows the brand to make claims of functionality and comfort. As Van Liew’s Technical Clothing Sponsor, Gill’s broad line of wicking shirts, pants, fleeces, hats, jackets and foul weather gear will be an important factor in Van Liew’s safety, comfort and competitive goals.

Brad said:

“Gill makes products that work. They are constantly doing the research and development necessary to offer superior options for inshore and offshore sailing. I trust them to provide products that are durable, light, and breathable for the extreme environment I will face offshore.”

During offshore training sessions this summer and the Transatlantic sail from the U.S. to the start of the race in France this fall, Van Liew and his crew will sport Gill’s OS1 Atlantic foul weather gear constructed using a 5 Dot™, 3-layer highly breathable waterproof fabric. Van Liew calls it tough and functional. Gill’s Race Collection, which offers a UV protection factor of 50+, will be used for some of the lighter conditions offshore and during inshore sails devoted to final boat preparations and sponsors.

In warmer conditions Gill’s technical t-shirts will wick moisture away from the skin and dry quickly. The fact that they are made from100% recycled material pleases Van Liew as he has some clear objectives for sustainable living during the race. He will attempt to sail the entire 9 months without using any fossil fuels whatsoever, assisted by hydrogenerators and solar panels. The ECO 60 boat he will be racing is in fact recycled as well, built in 1998 and raced in dozens of events since then.

David Pritchard, President of Gill North America says:

“Gill is proud to align our brand with Brad and Team Lazarus. Brad has the experience and spirit to win that make for great racing and I trust we will all enjoy watching the action throughout the event.”

More Sailing Clothing and Apparel News…

Rolex has been the naming rights sponsor of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race since 2002.

Outgoing Commodore Matt Allen said:

“As one of my final duties as Commodore of this great club I am pleased to announce that Rolex will continue to sponsor one of the greatest ocean races in the world – the Rolex Sydney Hobart, for a further five years. Their commitment to the sport and to the Rolex Sydney Hobart greatly assists the international reputation of the race. From the time of Rolex’s involvement we have seen an increasing level of international interest combined with a strong Australian fleet from the smallest yachts at just over 30ft to the larger maxis at 100ft.”

“The CYCA has had a close collaboration with Rolex since it first entered into the sponsorship of the blue water classic. Their association with us has greatly enhanced the Rolex Sydney Hobart and lead up Rolex Trophy Series for the competitors and the interested followers of these events. The CYCA is delighted to make this announcement and thanks Rolex for its ongoing involvement and support.”

Seven Network to be exclusive TV broadcaster through 2015.

The CYCA have also granted an extension of the exclusive rights to broadcast the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race from 2011 to 2015 to Seven Network.  The new agreement takes effective from the 2011 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and will continue up until the end of the 2015 race.

The Seven Network will produce and broadcast nationally a 90 minute live program of the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht race, with commentary provided by CYCA member Gordon Bray, who has hosted the last three start broadcast programs. The broadcast will be supervised by Saul Shtein, Seven Network’s Head of Sport, and a former competitive sailor. Having managed the live broadcasts for the last five years Shtein knows the intricacies and technical challenges of covering yacht races and has a great idea of what the public wants.

Further, the CYCA has granted the Seven Network, through its online affiliate Yahoo!7, the exclusive worldwide internet/online rights to webstream the live 90 minute broadcast of the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2010 and the regular in race updates.

More Rolex Sailing News…

The new entity will employ over 350 staff, and will be better equipped to compete on the world stage, supplying a comprehensive range of high quality carbon fibre masts, booms and carbon rigging to meet the demands of all market sectors. Taking effect from 19 July 2010, the merger is a timely combination of two highly regarded mast companies that have operated in different geographic and market sectors.

David Glen, Group General Manager, comments:

“At Southern Spars we have been looking for some time to both increase our presence and commitment to the European market, and expand our product offering in carbon masts and carbon rigging. Southern Spars is a market leader with innovative mast and carbon rigging concepts for the grand prix race, ocean racing, and performance superyacht markets. We now will have the opportunity to collaborate with the team at Nordic Mast who have considerable experience and presence in the European smaller race boat, performance cruiser, and production cruiser markets.”

Southern Spars has strong design technology and tools developed through its involvement in America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and other international race boat programmes. Glen continues:

“Southern’s design software, Rig Calc, has the added advantage of integrating into the North Sails design software to produce an optimum rig /sail package, and this technology will now be available and of benefit to all customers of yachts from the foiling Moth and Olympic classes through to production cruising yachts, race boats, grand prix race boats and superyachts.”

Nordic Mast also has extensive experience in manufacturing quality carbon masts for comparatively smaller race boats, performance cruisers, and cruising yachts in Europe. The existing Nordic Mast premises and all staff will be retained, and the operation will continue to be managed by Lars Netterstrøm, who will also assume a wider Group role.

Nordic Mast’s Lars Netterstrøm comments

“We are proud to have the opportunity to join with Southern Spars and to expand our business, ultimately bringing even better carbon masts and booms to our clients in Europe. The expansion into carbon rigging products will also be new for Nordic. It is very exciting for our team at Nordic Mast to become part of a truly global sparmaking and rigging group, and benefit from all the design and technological resources available within Southern Spars.”

More Marine Business News…

The Artemis Challenge

The annual IMOCA 60 sprint round the Isle of Wight, has this year attracted an impressive line up of entries from across Europe. The event will combine celebrity guests with some of the biggest names in ocean racing to compete for a £10,000 charity prize fund.

Artemis still own their Open 60, despite it being phased out of their sailing portfolio and ‘Artemis Ocean Racing’ will be helmed by double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks. Steve White, who has announced an ambitious round the world record attempt will compete aboard ‘Toe in the Water’ and Dee Caffari will compete in ‘Gaes Centros Auditivos’ having recently joined the Spanish-based team.

Up against the British contingent will be Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environment, Arnaud Boissières skippering Akena Verandas and Ryan Breymaier and Boris Herrmann, who will later this year compete in the Barcelona World Race aboard VE1.

The event, now in its fourth year, will take place on Tuesday 3rd August. It provides weekend and semi-pro sailors the chance to see these incredible professional machines and their skippers up close in UK waters.

The Artemis Even Keel Challenge

A fleet of six Simon Rogers-designed Artemis 20 keelboats, helmed by qualified UKSA skippers and crewed by 12 novice sailors from a mixed background of disability or disadvantage, will compete for the inaugural Artemis Even Keel Challenge Trophy over two days at Cowes Week. The race winners from Day 1 will then be joined by some of the leading names in sailing for what is set to be a highly competitive Pro-Am finale on Day 2. Each celebrity sailor will guest helm on the final race.

This new series is the brainchild of the Even Keel Project and its partners UKSA and is being mounted with the full backing and support of its primary sponsor Artemis Investment Management. The Artemis Even Keel Challenge has been put in place to help promote sailing as a ‘sport for all’ to Cowes Week’s massive audience of sailors, media and spectators.

The Challenge series kicks off on Sunday 1st August at 5.30pm over a set course off Princes Green, between the Royal Yacht Squadron and Egypt Point. They will race under the official rules of racing and the watchful eye of a Race Officer and each race will last around 30 minutes. The top three sailors from each race qualify for the final on Day 2, Monday 2nd August at 5.30pm. Spectators will then enjoy watching a host of top-flight sailors and their crew fighting it out to win the inaugural Even Keel Challenge Trophy that will be presented by a VIP guest at a prize giving ceremony after racing is completed.

Speaking on behalf of The Even Keel Project, Managing Director Dave Rutter said:

“Since the start of the Artemis Even Keel Project at UKSA, it has been both humbling and invigorating to see so many people sign up to use the project from such a wide range of disabilities and backgrounds many of whom had never sailed before. Watching them signing up for more sailing having caught the bug is simply fantastic. To now have the support of some of the world’s best sailors is quite simply adding icing on the cake.”

More Cowes Week News…