But as Pete Cumming, Trimmer and Team Manager says, winning on the water makes it easier to deliver the commercial objectives of Oman Sail.

Which is why the two Oman Sail Extreme 40 catamarans were out on the Solent last week, training for the first round of the Extreme Sailing Series Europe, which starts in Sète – France on the 27th-30th May.

In a one-design series, where there is no room for design wizards to give one team an advantage over another, winning comes down to the teams and their preparation. However the idea that money makes you go faster is still applicable in a one-design series. Cummings admits that having the resources to be able to train against another boat, share data and setup information and have access to an on-the-water coach gives Oman Sail an advantage.

Pete Cumming also believes in the mantra that a champion team will beat a team of champions, but nevertheless, Masirah, the boat that dominated and eventually won the Extreme Sailing Series Europe (formally known as the iShares Cup) in 2009 will have a few champions on board in 2010. Cumming will be joined by “Jedi Master” Loick Peyron. Also on board will be British Olympian, Mark Bulkeley, who will be responsible for the tactics and America’s Cup sailor David ‘Freddie’ Carr on the bow.

Despite his considerable multi hull experience, Loick Peyron says that he learns something everyday about sailing the Extreme 40. The Frenchman has had a varied sailing year already, helming the giant Alinghi 5 catamaran in the America’s Cup and being an ambassador for the new Nespresso Cup for Wally yachts. He is keen to keep the winning record of Masirah in tact, but is also happy to be part of the larger Oman Sail programme.

The livery of the boat has changed. Gone is the distinctive red with the Omani coat of arms, replaced by clean white and bold greens and blues. The next phase of the Oman Sail project – to promote the sultanate as a destination for marine tourism and generating awareness for Oman Air and its routes to sailing venues around Europe has begun.

The second boat, named Renaissance in 2009, has been rebranded as ‘The Wave, Muscat’ as it was in the Extreme Sailing Series Asia. Two times World Champion, Paul Campbell-James from Great Britain will take the helm. Alister Richardson, formerly number 2 in the world in the Olympic 49er class, and former helm of Team Basilica in the inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Europe, will call tactics on The Wave, Muscat, with Nick Hutton, a regular on the Extreme 40 circuits, as trimmer.

Omani squad member Khamis Al Anbouri, one of the stars of the Oman Sailing School and one of the original group of promising Omanis who were chosen to represent Oman in the international circuit, will join The Wave, Muscat on bow.

The Wave, Muscat is a property development where the Oman Sail project will be based. It is also the first development where non-Omanis will be able to buy property in the Sultanate. There are thousands of property developments around the world, yet the Extreme Sailing Series and Oman Sail generates an awareness level that would be extremely expensive to buy as traditional advertising.

The whole project is well considered and a great example of how having a long term vision changes the way you build and deliver a sports sponsorship campaign, but some things are always important. The more sponsorship you have, the more options you have – the more talent you can develop, the more you can train, the more chance you have of winning. The more times you win and stand on the podium, the more chances you get to wear the sponsor’s logos and generate exposure.

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Skipper of Rambler, Kenny Read said,

“The Rambler team is here for his family. We are all in a state of complete shock and were going to cancel the event but his wife Nicki has asked if the boat can sail in his honour. It may be the best thing for everyone but it is a hard decision – everyone wants to do it for Spike. I have known him for 20 years and have raced against and with him for what seems like a million miles. He was a true professional on and off the water.”

Doriean competed in many high profile offshore events including the Volvo Ocean Race. Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race sailed with Spike in the Volvo Ocean Race and the Sydney Hobart Race. He paid tribute yesterday saying:

“It was incredibly sad to wake up to the news that Peter Doriean had lost his life. We sailed together in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02 and won the Sydney-Hobart in 2000, so I know that sailing has lost a very talented sailor and big personality. We have all lost a good friend with a very big smile and a great sense of humour. Life can be so incredibly unfair, and our thoughts are with his family. The sailing scene is never going to be the same without him. He will be deeply missed.

Bouwe Bekking, who also sailed with Doriean said:

“Spike was the guy who was still smiling even when the winds reached gale force, he just loved the rough weather. The word fitness was a thing he was not very familiar with as he was already strong as an ox, but once he found out the extra benefits, you couldn’t get him out of the gym. There was one particular race he loved besides the Volvo and that was the Sydney-Hobart race, or the ‘Howie’ as he liked to call it. He must have done about 20 of them. Besides being a top sailor, Spike was an entertainer onboard, always ready to tell stories and to cheer the rest of the crew up.”

Spike is survived by his wife Nicki and two young children, Jemima aged 5 and Fox aged 3.

Spike was the sole provider for his young family, and his death along with the financial burden of bringing Spike home to Australia, has had a devastating impact on this young family. An appeal has been set up to assist them.

You can contribute at:  http://www.dorieanfamilyappeal.com/

The topics up for discussion are interesting, but the forum is just a conference, so it will be up to individual promoters to put into practise any outcomes. More often than not in recent times, promoters of the sport of sailing have acted in self interest rather than the good of the sport as a whole.

Like most conferences, the real business will be done in the lunch-breaks and cocktail parties. The real value of the event is a chance to network and do business without the distractions of any racing.

Yachtsponsorship will be there and if you can’t make it, then let us know your questions and we will ask them over the next few days. You can also follow along on Twitter at #WYRF

The American team’s manager Jonathan Vaughters said the deal will allow the team to reach its long-term goals.

“When Garmin first decided to partner with us, we said we believed that a new era of cycling was upon us,” he said. “Today, with this significant extension, we can now say – the era is here. Garmin’s commitment to innovation and integrity mirrors our own, and knowing that we have their partnership for the next four years means that we can continue to develop the next generation of cycling champions.”

The Garmin-Slipstream team, one of cycling’s most successful, achieved three stage wins in the Vuelta Espana this year, and team member Bradley Wiggins secured a fourth placing in this year’s Tour de France as well as the yellow jersey in the Australian Sun Tour.

Jon Cassat, Garmin’s vice president of communications said:

“The success of the team spans the globe and surpassed our expectations for the first year and a half of our title sponsorship, bringing Garmin’s reputation for quality, commitment, performance and productivity into countless households in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Our objectives were – and continue to be – to integrate our products on sports’ biggest stages and to build global brand awareness.

“Whether capturing victories around the world, winning national championships or working to develop future generations of talent, Team Garmin has helped us achieve those objectives and has made an impression on billions of potential customers.”

Source: Sports Pro Daily Deal

To kick things off, here is an example of a statement …

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the world governing body of the sport, and the Societe Nautique de Geneve (SNG), the trustee and holder of the America’s Cup, are pleased to announce that the 33rd America’s Cup Match will be conducted under the Deed of Gift provisions, the SNG rules, the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing and ISAF Regulations as required by the Deed of Gift.

Any changes to the ISAF Rules and Regulations not already covered by provisions within the ISAF Rules and Regulations will require sanction from ISAF.

The Principal Race Officer, International Jury members and International Umpires (if Appendix C is used), will be suitably qualified personnel and will be independently appointed by ISAF. The process of which has already begun.

Sir Humphrey Appleby is alive and well and teaching a class in PR it seems – here’s some lecture notes from his PR 101 class -

Any statement can represent one of six different levels of reality:

1. What happened.
2. What the writer believed happened.
3. What the writer would have liked to have happened.
4. What the writer wants to believe happened.
5. What the writer wants other people to believe happened.
6. What the writer wants other people to believe he believed happened.”

In this case, we think that one of Sir Humphrey”s other mantras should have been employed:

“As long as there is anything to be gained by saying nothing, it is always better to say nothing than anything.”

The team’s website says:

On Saturday 4 July, we are offering 10 people the chance to visit our base in Villeneuve. We will welcome you to our VIP area where you will be given an exclusive preview of the boat.

Before you get excited, the fine print makes it clear that this is not a day out with one of the best funded teams in sailing. This is an hour long factory tour. Of course no filming or photography is allowed and there is also the non-trivial detail of having to make your own travel plans.

…you will need to make your own travel and, if necessary, accommodation arrangements.

We’d enter, but Match Cup Sweden conflicts with the designated day. If you can get there, and care enough check out:

http://www.alinghi.com/en/news/news/index.php?idIndex=1045&idContent=19671

In today’s day and age sponsors are difficult to come by, but when an event such as the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race shows in the calendar, the enthusiasm shown by potential sponsors is outstanding.

Ross O’Reilly from O’Reilly’s Real Estate is once again extremely proud to be a sponsor of the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Yacht Race in 2009.

‘After the tremendous success of last year’s event and the great fun had by all, we are sure this year will be even more successful,’ said Ross.

‘This sponsorship presents a unique opportunity for our business to assist in bringing new people to our region to showcase its many outstanding attributes that we are proud and passionate about. Our boating and fishing playground around the beautiful Keppel Islands is second to none with the Keppel Bay Marina also a world class facility.’

The other sponsors to come onboard for this years race is the Rockhampton Regional Council, Capricorn Tourism, Budget Rental Cars, Rosslyn Bay Inn, Angove Wines and of course Club Marine as the naming rights sponsor. Clothing suppliers SLAM are also back on board to provide competitors and supporters official B2K race merchandise.

Host club Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in conjunction with Keppel Bay Marine will welcome the sailors to Keppel Bay as they cross the finish line in the tropical Capricorn region.

‘We look forward to watching all participants arrive in the Marina safely and joining in the race festivities,’ said Ross.

Fore more information on the Club Marine Brisbane to Keppel Tropical Yacht Race log onto www.brisbanetokeppel.com

The Marine Media Alliance, which promotes itself as “Bringing Sailing into the Media Spotlight” is organising “The first ever Celebrity Media Regatta” in San Francisco. Those who have seen Lewis Hamilton and various other celebrities in the UK’s Round the Island Race might take issue with the claim, but nevertheless, the principle is sound. Get a bunch of people who can spread the message together in conjunction with a baseball game and get some exposure.

The event will also aid BAADS (Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors).

It’s a super cool idea that should get people fired up about sailing. A great location, some media friendly set-ups but given that Silicon Valley is just down the road, someone could have come up with a better website. Perhaps it doesn’t matter. Perhaps once the video is shot and the photos are taken and the celebrities gush about how cool the experience was, the day will have served its purpose.

But what if it works? What if people are inspired to go sailing, where do they go for more information? The obvious choice seems to be http://www.gosailingsf.org/ – but this site is unlikely to inspire.

Why are we being so down on people who are well meaning and giving their time and energy to make the sport more popular? We believe that with just a tad more professionalism, sailing can be exciting and inspirational. Using cheap, even free, tools sailing can use the web and digital media to deliver photography, video and great stories to a new audience.

Maybe we are being too harsh. Maybe we not living in the real world. Maybe we are biting the hand that feeds – if so – tell us.

The webpage for The Summer Sailstice Celebrity Media Regatta is at http://www.gosailingsf.org/celebritymediaregatta.html

Even if you are sailing around the cans, you probably have stakeholders – your crew, the corner store that gives you a discount on sandwiches or potential charter customers.

We want to know what you do to promote yourselves…

Don’t forget, you can follow Yachtsponsorship.com in a variety of ways.. CLICK HERE for more.

Want more information about any of the communication and activation methods in this poll? Contact Pilote Media

Podcast 1. Why Change the Rules?

In this, the first of three racing rules of sailing podcasts, Bryan Willis talks about how he got involved with the racing scene, how and why the rules get updated and the main changes for the recent 2009-2012 revision.

Click here to listen to the podcast

Podcast 3. Umpiring and Protests

In the last of the three racing rules podcasts, expert author Bryan Willis talks about the advantages of on the water umpiring, offers his own advice on making the most of the protest process and how to present strong evidence to the committee.
Click here to listen to the podcast