World Match Racing Tour Announces 2010 Tour Card Holders.

Like many elite sports, there are very few spots for truly professional competitive sailors. In 2009, The World Match Racing Tour introduced a system of Tour Cards that allowed qualifying teams guaranteed entry to events.

This system allows teams on the tour to more effectively plan their season and give more security to sponsors. The tour card system should also give security to promoters by guaranteeing big name sailors will compete at the events, though in 2009, not all card holders competed in all events.  The Tour Card process has been changed slightly for 2010. Tour Card Holders will receive entry into 6 of the 9 events. Tour placings are determined by results in five races plus the Monsoon Cup. Teams can compete in all nine races if they gain wildcard entries.

With the America’s Cup looking like it will return to a more traditional monohull match racing format, the World Match Racing Tour will once again become the place where future America’s Cup helmsmen and Skippers are made.

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has announced the names of the nine Tour Card Holders for the 2010 season.  They are:

• Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch – ISAF Match Racing World Champion (2009)
• Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team – Finished 2nd in 2009
• Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin – Finished 3rd in 2009
• Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team Azzura
• Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
• Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team
• Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team
• Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
• Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar

Tour Director, Craig Mitchell said

“Last year, we had a great season. This year, we have received a tremendous response from the teams and believe that the 2010 series will be an even bigger and more significant series for the WMRT, the skippers and teams, as well as for everyone following the action on-site at the events or through the media,”

“We see the level of professionalism amongst the skippers and teams going up each year and 2010 will be no exception. We are looking forward to another great series of events and crowning a worthy champion. It is going to be fiercely competitive from the first race in France, in April, all the way through to the last race in Malaysia, in December,”

Ainslie’s Sponsorship Tip – The Personal Touch is Everything.

Raising sponsorship is a tough business. Even when times are good, sponsorship is often a misunderstood part of the marketing mix. There is perception by some, that sponsorship is just an excuse for excessive corporate hospitality – that is not a legitimate use of funds for a business. This has been underlined by American politicians developing regulations to stop companies spending government bailout money on sponsorship when they are still allowed to spend on traditional advertising.

Most sailors don’t go professional with the dream of becoming rich like perhaps a golfer or a football player. In fact most sailors are happy just to make ends meet, as they are participating in the thing they love.

Ben Ainslie has given some insights into how sponsorship fits into his sailing career. The comments on his blog come after renewing his relationship with J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Ainslie says:

“Sponsorship is a hugely significant element in being able to sustain a bid for success in any sport so I’m extremely grateful to J.P. Morgan Asset Management who have agreed to extend their title sponsorship of my Finn sailing campaign until 2012. They have supported me since 2007 and the importance of developing close relationships with key partners can’t be underestimated at whatever level you’re at because of the amount of flexibility it can give you in your campaign.”

Unfortunately, sailing, like some other sports is not a pure meritocracy. Good sailors with opportunity will always do better than good sailors without support and worse, average sailors with opportunity, (read money and connections) can do better than good sailors without such support.

Ainslie, now at the top of the sport, can point to results and show sponsors how backing him can deliver them exposure and help them achieve their communications goals, but positioning yourself as an up and coming competitor is a much harder sell. Ben’s insight is a valuable one – the sponsors are less interested in the data sheets, the boat specs and the rules, they are investing in a relationship with a person.

“When I was about 15, I started off, like most kids, writing what seemed like thousands of letters to people asking for sponsorship expecting the offers to come flooding in! I quickly realised in reality it doesn’t work like that and, particularly when you’re starting out, nothing beats working on the contacts you have like family and friends and pinpointing specific targets. The personal touch is everything and making people feel properly involved and valued makes all the difference.”

For a moden athlete, sponsorship comes with responsibility. While financial support brings flexibility and enables competitors to train harder and more efficiently, there are also media demands and time commitments for sponsors that many athletes never write into their proposals as a benefit.

“…I’ve always tried to build strong relationships with my sponsors as I want them to feel like they’ve been part of any success I’ve had. Also, it’s important they understand that especially in a sport like sailing where there are so many disciplines and challenges, you may not always be concentrating on the discipline they are supporting you in. J.P. Morgan Asset Management have been great in that way as they completely respect my commitment to Britain’s America’s Cup cause and know their sponsorship allows me to as good as leave my Finn campaign in the hands of my coach David Howlett, who is cracking on with making sure we’re getting together all the equipment we want and are as prepared as possible for when I get back in the boat full-time.”

The full blog can be read at www.benainslie.com

J.P Morgan Asset Management Renew Sailing Sponsorships.

One of the UK’s largest participatory sporting events, the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race has announced that the title sponsorship is secure for another 3 years. The annual race provides a huge economic benefit to Cowes and the surrounding area, with over 8000 competitors taking part. During the recent London Boat Show, the Island Sailing Club who organise the race announced that J.P. Morgan Asset Management would continue to support the event in 2010.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management also announced their continued sponsorship of Ben Ainslie, Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor of all time. The company has been Ben’s title sponsor since 2007 and backed his gold medal campaign at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Despite the sponsorship giving the event an impractically long name (try and fit J.P Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race 2010 into a tweet with space left over), the renewed sponsorships are good news for UK sailing. With many of the country’s top competitors and the traditional cornerstone of yacht racing, Cowes Week, looking for commercial support, it’s great to see deals being done.

Jasper Berens, Head of UK Sales, J.P. Morgan Asset Management said:

“J.P. Morgan Asset Management thought it was exactly the right time to extend both sponsorships. We are now entering our sixth year sponsoring the Round the Island Race and have committed to sponsoring the event for a further 3 years, It’s been a very tough economic climate not just for banks and asset managers but for everyone, however over the last 5 years it has become clear to us that the Round the Island race sponsorship works incredibly well for J.P. Morgan Asset Management both in a brand and in a corporate hospitality perspective – we looked very closely at the sponsorship and the exact right thing for us to do was continue the sponsorship. One of the key aspects for us is the is the charitable fundraising, more than £350,000 has been raised over the last three years and we hope the total can reach £500,000 in 2010.”

Ben Ainslie is one of the most recognised sailors in the world and therefore a great ambassador for a brand like J.P. Morgan Asset Management. For a sailor, sponsorship gives the ability to concentrate on sailing rather than wondering how to fund being a ‘pro’. Those with secure deals are able to train harder and prepare better, increasing the chances of winning on the water. The Triple Olympic gold and silver medallist said:

“The J.P. Morgan Asset Management sponsorship enables me to go about my Olympic campaign in the right manner to be successful. For example I can now start working full time with my coach David Howlett enabling me to test technical equipment and hopefully have my sailing program in place well in advance of the qualifying events for London 2012., having David’s support is very important as my other sailing commitments will take up much of my time this year.”

Ainslie also understands that the key to successful sponsorships is giving back to the brand and organisation. Many sailors still have a mindset that corporate partners will write a cheque and not expect anything more than to see their decal on the side of the boat or sewn into a crew-shirt. Despite sponsor responsibilities taking time away from sailing, they are fundamental to creating long lasting commercial relationships. Ben continues:

“The other important part of the J.P. Morgan Asset Management partnership is the support I have received from their internal staff, since Beijing I have been involved with a number of staff and client activities, it was great how they make me feel part of the brand. I now look forward to celebrate continued success together”

Online Entries for this year’s J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will be open from Thursday 21st January. The Notice of Race and Entry Form go live on the updated Race website at http://www.roundtheisland.org.uk

Henri Lloyd Join TEAMORIGIN’s Race for Change.

More sailing clothing sponsorship news, Henri Lloyd will be the Official Clothing Partner of TEAMORIGIN, the UK based ’superteam’ in 2010. The team will compete in Louis Vuitton Trophy races as well as the Audi Med Cup and the World Match Racing Tour.

Paul Strzelecki, Joint Chief Executive, Henri Lloyd, said:

“We have had a close relationship with TEAMORIGIN since their first announcement in 2007, and we are delighted to be able to show our support to TEAMORIGIN for 2010. Henri Lloyd have made their first important step in a long journey to become a more environmentally friendly company and look forward to working with TEAMORIGIN and the Carbon Trust to make a difference to the future of our precious environment”

For 2010, Henri Lloyd and TEAMORIGIN will be working together to promote Race for Change, the exciting new platform to promote a collaboration between sport and the environment, as launched by TEAMORIGIN with their environmental partner, Carbon Trust in September 2009. Through the partnership Henri Lloyd are looking to further develop their DAME Award winning Blue Eco range, Henri Lloyd’s new wave of intelligent innovation and the showcase products in Henri Lloyd’s mission to become a greener manufacturing company.

Mike Sanderson , Team Director for TEAMORIGIN, commented “Henri Lloyd have been an incredibly loyal and vital partner to our team since our start back in 2007. Their technical clothing plays a key role in our team performance and together we test and develop a range of garments and technologies that aim to push the boundaries. Our team brand image is also very important for our future and the clothing again plays a key role in presenting a unique, dynamic and professional presence to the outside world.”

Henri Lloyd have had a long relationship with TEAMORIGIN Skipper Ben Ainslie and in 2009, Henri Lloyd were the official clothing partner of F1 championship winning team Brawn GP.

Sunskeeker Australia to Sponsor Mirsky ‘Home Game’ in Perth.

Sunseeker Australia will sponsor the return of the Australia Cup. The event will be run in Perth from the 26-29 of November after an 8 year break.

Though not currently a World Match Racing Tour event, the Sunseeker Australia Cup will give current tour leader, Torvar Mirsky and his team a nice home-game test before the final round – the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia.

Sunseeker Australia’s Troy Barbagallo sees the partnership as a perfect fit saying:

“As the leading luxury brand in the Australian marine market it is fitting that we support the leading match racing event in Australia. We are excited to be part of such a special event.”

Competing in Foundation 36 One Design yachts. The world’s who’s who of elite sailing will contest the Sunseeker Australia Cup including:

• Triple gold and silver Olympic medalist, Ben Ainslie from Great Britain.
• Perth Based current leader of the tour, Torvar Mirsky.
• Reigning double World Match Racing Tour champion, Ian Williams.
• 2nd ranked skipper, Adam Minoprio from New Zealand.
• 3rd ranked skipper Mathieu Richard from France.

Double World Champion skipper Ian Williams said it was fantastic to see the Sunseeker Australia Cup back on the match racing circuit.

“The Sunseeker Australia Cup has a proud history where some of the world’s greatest skippers and crew have won as a lead up to the America’s Cup. The event provides critical match racing practice against the world’s best skippers. Racing in Perth is always exciting, the weather, location and organising team always create a fantastic event and that is why the world’s best like coming back to Perth.”

Officially launching the Sunseeker Australia Cup and supporting partner for the event, City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said having the world’s best yacht racing right on the city’s doorstep will provide spectators with the opportunity to see a mini America’s Cup on Perth waters.

“We are incredibly excited to be part of this exciting event attracting the best skippers and their crew from around the world. Yet another event that places the City of Perth on the world stage of sailing!”

Royal Perth Yacht Club (RPYC) Vice Commodore, Mike Kilcullen said the Australia Cup was first held in January 1982 at RPYC to provide the best skippers from various countries the opportunity to build their match racing skills:

“The Sunseeker Australia Cup is a prestigious match race in the sport of sailing and we are proud to once again have the best of the best to return to Perth. The inaugural Australia Cup winner John Bertrand went on to win the 1983 America’s Cup in Newport, Rhode Island onboard Australia II, breaking the longest winning streak which was 132 years in sporting history. The Australia Cup was a vital step in this historic victory.”

Given the recent changes in ownership of the World Match Racing Tour, and 2 Perth sailors (Gilmour and Mirsky) in contention for the world ranking, it would not be surprising to see the Sunskeeker Australia Cup as an official World Match Racing Tour event in 2010.

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