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…

Nevertheless, the project to make the next America’s Cup a televisual feast has begun and sceptics are hopeful that something good will come out of the investment. Popular sailing blog, Valencia Sailing said:

If this is not a genuine, open and open-minded attempt at making the America’s Cup and sailing much more accessible to the media then I’ll be damned! As you’ll see in the photos there are plenty of cameras, cameramen and photographers, some of them in the most unusual places. Some of the ideas will certainly turn out to be useless, impractical or even stupid. However, I’m sure that some others will give us great footage. Unless you try all of them, you’ll never know if they work or not.

16 cameras captured over four hours of sailing in a combined 60 hours of video as Russell Coutts and James Spithill of BMW ORACLE Racing tested two RC44 monohulls side by side in a series of close-proximity maneuvers.

Three onboard cameramen (two on one boat) augmented the fixed and remote control cameras, and upwards of 25 microphones, including surround-sound microphones, captured the crews’ voices and ambient noise.

Russell Coutts said:

“I thought we certainly achieved what we set out at the beginning of the day, which was to get baseline viewing angles for comparison later in the weekend when we try to alter the racecourse and carry out similar exercises in X40 multihulls. “This evaluation process is all about testing new ideas, and we did that.”

Filming the action is one thing, but there is also a sense that the rules might have to be changed to force sailors to break habits. The official statement from yesterday’s sailing gives some clues to some of the ideas that organisers have for more exciting sailing:

The action became intense when the start box was limited to five boatlengths in width and depth. Required to stay inside the box, the two crews circled around each other for three minutes before breaking off to head to the start line.

The aim is to have the footage available to view on the blog of the official America’s Cup web site so that the public can comment, but even with the technological grunt of ORACLE behind the project, getting 60 hours of Video onto the internet is a challenge. The HD footage is still being ‘ingested’.

More America’s Cup 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 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…

I’m a 40 yo ex NAVY helicopter rescue swimmer, avid catamaran sailor and current Photographer, video director and producer. I have some great ideas that will go unheard with this (age) limitation.

“All three represented a nice mix of shot composition, artistry and effects to make them appealing to watch.”

Combining multiple forms of complimentary entertainment is used widely in sports where the focus is the spectator rather than the competitor and in 2010, OC Events, the organisers of the Extreme Sailing Series Europe will push the boundaries of sailing as an entertainment product under a new brand – “Sailing Rocks“.

Normally rocks are the last thing that sailors want to think about, but an eclectic mix of on-the-water action will be followed every evening by BBC Radio 1 / Bestival star Rob da Bank’s top choices of island-based DJs. On the 5th of August, the event will culminate with a set by Rob himself. He says:

‘Weirdly sailing and DJing are two of my favourite things in the world… so I’m very excited about getting back to Cowes to help kick start the party for the locals and the Extreme 40 crews. I’ve never sailed on such an exciting boat in my life and really believe sailing could be opened up to a lot more young people, which is kind of what I want to do with music and DJing. See you at the bar!’

While Cowes Week organisers have to cater to a broad audience in the Yacht Haven, the positioning of the Extreme Sailing Series allows OC Events to aggressively go after a different crowd. As well as the music, the Extreme end of town will add demonstrations in the art of ‘on the water flying’ by a line-up of talent including Simon Payne, the Moth World Champion and a team of pro windsurfers.

It’s a shake up that should showcase sailing as something different to those who are there to watch, and hopefully the balance can be kept between sport and travelling circus.

More Cowes Week News…