Open 60 Shuffle. Hugo Boss Racing Buys Pindar. Pindar Moves East.

In case your communications people haven’t told you yet, Twitter is emerging as the source for breaking news in sport. Some of it is rumour, some of it is pure misdirection, but some of it is genuine news that is faster than any other media. Yesterday, news that Hugo Boss Racing had bought the Open 60 Pindar, hit Twitter before most other places. It wasn’t on Alex Thomson’s own feed – that hasn’t been updated since the 29th of August, but increasingly, media and bloggers are beating the traditional media to the punch.

There are two stories here. One is the purchase of the boat by Hugo Boss Racing, and the second is Pindar’s change of direction – away from the Open 60 to concentrate on a ‘new project’ in the Middle East.

Hugo Boss Racing Buys the Open 60 – Pindar.

The Pindar IMOCA 60, which conforms to the new IMOCA regulations, is one of the most powerful in the IMOCA fleet. Alex Thomson said:

“I believe that power equals speed, and so it makes sense to buy the most powerful boat in the fleet. I believe that it will really suit my sailing style and that the true potential for this boat has yet to be achieved. I think I can push the boat to the limits that it was designed for. I am very excited to start sailing on her, and see what she and I are capable of over the next three years. The Barcelona World Race will be out first major race together and I will be hoping to go one better than last time!”

OC Group CEO, Mark Turner, who runs the Open60 programs for BT and Artemis said – via Twitter….

RT @PYL: Alex Thomson vend Hugo Boss et rachète Pindar http://tinyurl.com/nz7hwe. Alex needs more power? ***

The sale is perhaps not surprising, given the relationships involved. Sir Keith Mills has been a long time backer of Alex Thomson Racing and Mike Sanderson and Juan K (both key members of Mill’s TeamOrigin) were involved in designing the Pindar boat.

As a result of the purchase of Pindar, Alex Thomson Racing will sell it’s current IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss (built in 2007).

Pindar Focusses on the Middle East.

Following on from Pindar’s relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain, Team Pindar will now focus on a new sailing programme and in the next few weeks will ship two Volvo 60’s out to the Middle East, to embark on a corporate hospitality, team-building and boat charter initiative. Based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the boats will provide a platform for bespoke marketing opportunities at key locations throughout the Gulf and will be managed by Team Director, Nick Crabtree, who has developed extensive contacts in the region.

Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar OBE commented:

‘It is with mixed feelings that we are selling the Open 60. It has been an amazing journey and we are sad to see her go, but equally delighted she is going to a skipper (Alex) and team who will maximise her true potential. The opportunities in The Middle East offer a new direction for Team Pindar and sit well alongside our activity with Ian Williams on the World Match Racing Tour.’

Team Pindar’s Team Director, Nick Crabtree commented:

‘With Ras al-Khaimah set to host the America’s Cup next year, there is a tremendous feeling of excitement and intrigue about sailing in the region. We witnessed firsthand, in Bahrain, the enthusiasm generated by following Brian Thompson’s epic journey in the Vendée Globe and we are delighted about having a physical presence, which will enable us to develop unique sailing experiences throughout the Gulf.’

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ConocoPhillips Sponsoring Sailing in the Middle East.

International energy company ConocoPhillips has, for the second consecutive year, sponsored the Regatta Sailing Academy’s International Award youth expeditions from Qatar to Bahrain and the UAE, as well as the Bahrain International Regattas, corporate yachting and team building events.

Students from Doha College, Park House English School and the American School of Doha participated on the COP sponsored yacht, ‘The Office ‘ as it sailed three gold award runs to Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club helped facilitate the arrival of the students into the UAE.

‘The Office’ event is an extreme light displacement, distinctive ‘Mark’ logo high performance racing yachts with Kevlar hulls and carbon fibre spars. ConocoPhillips’ branding is clearly visible on the ultra lightweight spinnakers and moulded Kevlar sails.

ConocoPhillips’ also sponsored the bronze and silver Awards to Bahrain.

Mike Lawton, general manager of the Regatta Sailing Academy commented:

“We are fortunate to have ConocoPhillips’ support for our sailing programme. Sponsorship of such events permits sports to flourish and allows for the participation of many more students.”

George Findling, Acting President, ConocoPhillips’ Qatar stated:

“We are very happy to be sponsoring the 2009 International Awards. ConocoPhillips’ wants to see sports education flourish in Qatar amongst its youth. “

Bahrain Pindar Deal a Gift to the Kingdom

The Gulf Daily News reports Andrew Pindar as saying that flying the Bahrain flag on Team Pindar’s Vendee Globe entry, was his gift to the country in return for all Labour Minister Dr Al Alawi had done for him over the years.

Skippered by Brian Thompson, the yacht that features the Bahrain’s national crest on its sails was named after His Majesty King Hamad during a ceremony in France last week.

Speaking at an event to mark the start of the race, Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi called for Bahrain’s private sector to take more of an interest in events that help promote the country abroad.

He said businessmen, the tourism sector and the Information Ministry should do more to support activities that draw in foreign investment and help to put the island on the map.

Dr Al Alawi made the comments during a Press conference at the Labour Ministry headquarters in Isa Town, attended by public relations head Subah Salem Al Dossari and the head of his office Fawzia Shehab.

“The Vendee Globe is held every four years and today the boats race from Les Sables d’Olonne in France and all the 30 yachts will race around the globe for three months,” he said.

“Bahrain has had the chance to be promoted by having one of the yachts promoting the country.”

Dr Al Alawi and Bahrain’s Ambassador to France Dr Nasser Al Balooshi attended the event to mark the naming of the vessel in Les Sables d’Olonne.

The yacht is backed by the UK-based Pindar Group, whose chairman Andrew Pindar is a long-standing friend of the minister.

“The initiative comes from Team Pindar and there is no money being given in return for it is based on my personal relationship with Mr Pindar,” said Dr Alawi.

“The race will be viewed by more than 500 million people worldwide and this is the first time Bahrain will be presented at the event.”

“Team Pindar also has plans to develop the shipping manufacturing and open a sailing school for youth in the kingdom.”

Airlines Lead Middle East Sponsorship Growth

The UAE is spending big to achieve regional dominance and sport is benefiting. Recent high profile sailing sponsorships from the region include Team Oman’s eXtreme 40 campaign, the Kindom of Bahrain’s backing of Pindar Vendee Globe and match racing efforts and Emirates continued support for New Zealand’s Americas Cup team. 

As the national carriers, airlines like Emirates and Etihad understand the connection between high profile professional sport and marketing. In an article in The National, Peter Baugartner, the Executive Vice President of Marketing for Ethihad says “Sponorship is a substantial amount of Etihad’s marketing budget, and that has a reason. Especially when you are a young brand, a sponsorship can help you to really accelerate your brand awareness.”

Abu Dhabi is sponsoring the innaugural World Yacht Racing Forum in Monaco in December. 

He points to the company’s sponsorships with international brands such as Formula One, Ferrari and Chelsea football club as examples of opportunities for the growing airline to communicate to a global audience.

The airline also targets sports such as All-Ireland Hurling, that may not be well known abroad, but are intensely popular in a market where Etihad has an important connection. “It’s something that is part of their culture, that’s very close to their heart,” he says. “We immediately built emotional loyalty that normally in the value chain comes at the very end… It gave us overnight fame in Ireland.”

Bahrain Team Pindar Renamed for Partnership

Bahrain Team Pindar Open 60 was officially named ‘King Hamed’ yesterday in the presence of a number of leading Bahrain dignitaries, including His Excellency, the Minister of Labour, Dr. Majeed Bin Mushin Al Alawi and Bahrain’s Ambassador to France, His Excellency Dr Naser Al Belooshi.

Bahrain Team Pindar will utilise the dual sailing platforms of the IMOCA Open 60 and also the World Match Racing circuit, supporting World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams.

Dr Majeed Al Alawi, Bahrain’s Minister of Labour commented,

It is so interesting to see the thousands of people who come to see this event, and to see this magnificent boat with the Kingdom of Bahrain name and carrying the royal crest. We have had a lot of interest at home in this project and so I think the next three months will be followed day by day by many, many people.

Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar commented:

Today marks the start of an exciting new relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain as we look to develop a programme of exciting sailing initiatives in both Bahrain and to a wider international audience. We are deeply honoured to be joined by so many of the Kingdom’s leading politicians and businessmen, who have travelled far to attend today’s ceremony.

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