Murphy & Nye Sponsor Australian Etchells.
Sail World reports that Murphy & Nye, the Italian sailing and crew wear company has signed a deal to be the major naming rights sponsor of the Etchells Australian Championships at the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club from the 11th – 16th January 2010.
Lake Macquarie Fleet Captain Mark Phillips said:
‘We are extremely excited about having a company with the yachting heritage and international status of Murphy & Nye take a leading role in sponsoring our National Championships. ‘Murphy & Nye are a perfect fit for the Etchells. They are well known overseas for the style and quality of their crew wear and on shore clothing. We’re looking forward to being a feature event for Murphy & Nye as they bring the brand to Australia and to working with them to make our event a major success.’
Peter Doyle, Director, Murphy & Nye Australia says:
‘The Etchells class is the premier one design fleet in Australia and a great fit with everything that the Murphy & Nye brand represents, on and off the water. Murphy & Nye’s commitment to the sport of sailing extends from juniors through fleet racing and leisure boating to the Americas Cup. We see the Etchells as representing some of the most competitive sailors and sailing in Australia so we are proud to be the title sponsor of the National Championships as part of our Australian launch program.’
Business Help for Australian Marine Industry.
Sometimes it’s hard to define industries, especially those that are relatively niche. Perhaps we have been brainwashed by some census maker or computer programmer who never thought of our industry and so we had to choose another, less descriptive box – like manufacturing.
Often, when listing this site in directories or databases, it is difficult to know where to put it. Sports & Leisure? Business? Web?
If you tick the box for Australian, Marine Industy, Manufacturer then help is here. The Australian International Marine Export Group (AIMEX) and Australian Marine Industries Federation (AMIF) have been awarded a grant by Enterprise Connect (DIISR), to host a total of 10 Seminars to be held nationally throughout April and May in 2009.
These seminars will assist marine industry manufacturing businesses to remain competitive, be innovative and develop appropriate business and manufacturing strategies to manage through the current economic downturn.
In these interactive seminars business experts from Madison Cross Corporate Advisory will provide an insight into many topics such as generating sales, diversification strategies, cost management, inventory management, export strategies and support, turnaround strategies and much more. Seminars will be held in capital cities and members who attend will gain a wealth of knowledge from industry experts and guest speakers.
AIMEX Chief Executive Officer MaryAnne Edwards said
‘Whilst most businesses would acknowledge they need additional knowledge and expertise in these areas most do not have the time to find it or cannot afford to pay for it. By running these workshops we hope to provide the knowledge and tools to allow the marine industry to be innovative, efficient and competitive and survive these difficult times.’
‘We also see these times as more important than ever to develop opportunities where the industry can meet together with their peers to discuss issues that are affecting everyone in this climate, this type of networking within a seminar environment can be invaluable support for individuals struggling to know the best strategy to take in this market.’
Seminars will be hosted in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Information will also be available on the AIMEX website www.aimex.asn.au or contact AIMEX on Tel: 61 3 9682 1255
University Sailing – the Lost Generation
A friend and I were discussing the relative merits of sports the other day over lunch. I was relaying the frustration I have with people in the sailing industry telling me that it is a ’small industry’ with ‘no money’.
We started thinking about other sports with relatviely low participation rates that drew big crowds and media attention. What is the difference between Rugby Union and Yacht Racing? How does one command national attention and the other wallow in relative obscurity?
On the face of it, Rugby Union and sailing are very similar. They have long history of competition, both are traditionally somewhat elitist, both are dominated by nations like the United Kingdom, France, Australia and New Zealand.
Why then, does Rugby command a larger fan base? One reason could be that Rugby is played as a competitve intercollegial sport. Rugby schools generate talent that is then selected for national selection.
The Oxford University Yacht Club “has long standing Men’s and Ladies Full-Blue status and therefore ranks alongside the likes of rowing and rugby in the universities most honoured sports,” yet in other parts of the world, sailing at a university level is stuggling.
An article in Sail World relates the story from Australia….
Many sailing clubs have observed a decline in the number of 18 to 30 year old sailors from their club events. For any young person, this time is associated with finishing school, leaving home, getting your first job or going on to higher education. Prior to this time, most young people’s participation in sailing is funded by committed parents willing to meet the costs, but once they leave home, sailing stops without support.
The decline of university sailing over the past 10 years has not helped sailing for young adults. Many universities once had clubs that provided both an entry point for students into the sport as well as the means for participation in class and university competitions. The universities and clubs also provided support for competitive sailors who represented their states and Australia. While some universities still provide financial assistance for competitive sailors, this is not done through a university club.
The University of Sydney remains as the last university with a surviving club in NSW and one of only a few active university clubs in Australia.
The experiences of 2008 by The Sydney Uni Club have proven that there is a need for university sailing to support the sport and maintain sustainability.
With the collapse of the other university clubs, the true number of sailors in universities is unknown. To remedy this, Yachting NSW is supporting a national database that allows for the registration of university sailors. The database allows event information to be easily distributed and can provide the bases for the establishment of new university clubs around the country.
To register send an email to andrew.cribb(at)nsw.yachting.org.au with your contact details including Name, Address, Phone Number, Email address and University.
The club is also seeking university sailor alumni to re-register at www.usydsailing.com
Hatfield Hopes Rescues Continue.
Derek Hatfield has commented on the high attrition rate of Vendee Globe Boats in the current edition of the race and hopes that governments of countries close to the dangerous Southern Ocean continue to mount costly and potentially dangerous rescue operations.
Hatfield said that Round-the-world yachting races would end if the countries called upon to rescue sailors in trouble deemed them too risky.
The 56-year-old solo sailor had spent the past week sailing his vessel some 1,600km to Tasmania with a badly damaged sail and little fuel.
Hatfield, who had been determined to reach land without assistance, said competitors in the Vendee Globe were aware of the controversy caused when a sailor needed to be rescued.
Last month French yachtsman Yann Elies was rescued by an Australian naval frigate after he broke his leg in a fall and was unable to move. Rescuers said he would have died at sea without help.
Hatfield, who said possibly only 10 of the 30 yachts that began the endurance race in France in November would complete it, said skippers would always try to get to shore safely on their own.
“We are always conscious of putting other people at risk,”
“If Australia, New Zealand, Chile – any of those countries that we pass by – if any one of them said: ‘We think this is not right, it’s too costly or too dangerous for the rescue services’, if they said ‘No’, then that would be it”
Hatfield told national news agency AAP.
“If they said we don’t think that this should happen then it would not happen because sponsors would not be a part of it and it requires huge sponsorship dollars.”
Hatfield said in cases like Elies, in which the Frenchman was unable to move, even to give himself food or pain killers, there was no option but to ask for help.
Only 15 yachts remain in the Vendee Globe race, which began on November 9 at the French port of Les Sables d’Olonne, heading down to the Cape of Good Hope before crossing the Indian and Southern Oceans south of Australia.
Hatfield said he had not decided whether he would compete in the race again.
“These races are all about the human endeavor and mental preparation – it’s a big thing”
Audi Promote ‘Mental’ Side of Sailing through Etchells
Audi will sponsor the Etchells Worlds 2009, with many of the top sailors competing. Here is an insight into why Audi, put sponsorship dollars against sailing in Australia.
Audi, is keen to see as many big names as possible in Melbourne at the event to raise awareness of the competitive sport of sailing.
Managing Director of Audi Australia, Joerg Hofmann, says that the company welcomes these top-level sailors to a sport where skill and strategy is paramount.
‘Sailing is a highly-strategic sport. As well as being fit and talented, the top level sailors need the will to win and a good strategy to out-manoeuvre the competition. It is difficult to repeat these World Championship wins, but top-class sailors have a certain mental edge that helps them to win. It’s about leadership and a clear focus on the right end result.’
‘As a luxury carmaker in a growing market like Australia, we understand this need to focus to stay ahead,’ Mr Hofmann said.
Audi Australia dominates sponsorship in sailing today and is no stranger to the Etchells Worlds, having sponsored the 2006 event in Perth.
A manufacturer of exquisite cars; sophisticated machines that embody technological perfection, Audi’s success is built on its core values of creativity, commitment and enthusiasm. The company strives to lead the way through constant innovation, setting new standards that define Vorsprung durch Technik.
Auid also sponsor the Med Cup for TP52s in Europe, though they have recently withdrawn funding for the Team Germany Americas Cup campaign and their TP52, Platoon.
