IMOCA Trying to Stay the ‘Most Successful Ocean Racing Class”.

The strapline on the top of the official IMOCA website claims it to be “The Most Successful Ocean Racing Class”. There’s no asterisk or footnote or link to any substantiating evidence for this claim, but success can be whatever you define it to be – so why not boast about it.

Whether or not the class will continue to be successful depends on whether budgets can be kept under control and whether sailors outside of France can convince sponsors that the activation opportunities outside the Vendee Globe are enough to justify the investment. IMOCA has released an update that reports a “sizeable fleet for the end of 2010″.  9 boats are set to compete in the Rhum and at least ten for the Barcelona World Race. This compares with 30 boats starting the most recent Vendee Globe.

New Open 60 Projects

While UK IMOCA sailors struggle to raise money for new boat campaigns, across the channel, four major projects are underway. Vincent Riou’s new PRB has been on the water since the spring, and Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac – Paprec 3), is moored up in Lorient. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) is completing a race against the clock so as to make the start of the Route du Rhum, before gearing up for the Barcelona World Race. The three sailors have all opted for a Verdier – VPLP design, acknowledging the respective performances of Safran and Groupe Bel. Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) is continuing with the construction of his Kouyoumdjian designed boat at the Decision yard in Switzerland.

Other Happenings in IMOCA Sailing Class

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) has traded in his Lombard design for the Farr designed boat (Ex-BT) previously skippered by Sébastien Josse during the last Vendée Globe. Bilou’s aim is to defend his title during the next Route du Rhum. Roland will once again be competing against Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel), who is continuing to optimise his monohull, as well as Marc Guillemot (Safran), who is keen to repeat his performance from the last Transat Jacques Vabre.

For this year’s Route du Rhum, Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) is now in possession of a boat which once belonged to Vincent Riou, while Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air), winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, will be racing on his Finot designed boat again.

Looking ahead to the Barcelona World Race, Dominique Wavre and his new partner Mirabaud will be at the start; while Dee Caffari will be teaming up with Anna Corbella (GAES Centros Auditivos). Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) will also be at the start of the race, aboard a boat previously skippered by Brian Thompson (Pindar).

The Barcelona World Race has had significant investment from Spanish organisers to allow skippers to be on the start-line. IMOCA say that by aligning themselves with the Barcelona World Race for the next 3 editions, the class is gambling on internationalisation. The choice of 2-handed non-stop racing is at the expense of the Clipper Ventures backed single handed stopping Velux 5 Oceans Race.

While the development of the ECO 60 class should be seen as a welcome compliment to offshore racing, it seems that the two organisations are not ready to talk to each other about being stronger in partnership.

The short term goal for IMOCA is to make the Barcelona World Race look like a successful event. When the reputation of a city is on the line, budgets can be found to ensure start-line images with lots of sails. So the Spanish will be out in force. Alex Pella is teaming up with Pepe Ribes (Estrella Damm) on Loïck Peyron’s former Farr design; Pachi Rivero is partnering Tonio Piris (W Hotels Nova Bocana) on Jean-Pierre Dick’s former boat, while Iker Martinez and Xabi Fernandez (Movistar) are benefiting from the advice of Michel Desjoyeaux after purchasing the winning boat from the last Vendée Globe.

IMOCA allude to the deals being done between BWR organisers and skippers by saying in their statement: ”A few other projects will also be taking part in the next Barcelona World Race and they are discreetly being finalised.”

IMOCA Sailors in Coming events

Those taking part in the Route du Rhum – La Banque Postale

• Arnaud Boissières – Akena Vérandas
• Armel Le Cléac’h – Brit Air
• Christopher Pratt – DCNS 1000
• Michel Desjoyeaux – FONCIA
• Kito de Pavant – Groupe Bel
• Vincent Riou – PRB
• Marc Guillemot – Safran
• Roland Jourdain – Veolia Environnement
• Jean-Pierre Dick – Virbac Paprec 3

Those taking part in the Barcelona World Race

• Jean-Pierre Dick – Loïck Peyron, Virbac – Paprec 3
• Michel Desjoyeaux – François Gabart, Foncia
• Dominique Wavre – Michèle Paret, Mirabaud
• Anna Corbella – Dee Caffari, GAES Centros Auditivos
• Alex Pella – Pepe Ribes, Estrella Damm
• Pachi Ribero – Tonio Piris, W Hotels Nova Bocana
• Iker Martinez – Xabi Fernandez, Movistar
• Alex Thomson – ?, Hugo Boss
• Juan Mederiz – Fran Palacio, Central Lechera Asturiana
• Boris Herman – Ryan Breymaier – (VE1)

Artemis Challenge Part of Sponsorship Drive for Dee Caffari.

Cowes Week 2010 featured several special events. Along with the 1851 Cup exhibition regatta for old America’s Cup boats and the Extreme Sailing Series, the Artemis Challenge returned to the regatta to showcase the powerful IMOCA 60 offshore sailing yachts and to raise money for charity by involving some celebrities in a special ’round the island race’. Yachtsponsorship.com ‘s David Fuller was aboard Dee Caffari’s boat for the event.

On Tuesday morning, the Artemis hospitality tents at Cowes Week were full of offshore racing talent. The Artemis Challenge is one of the only events where fans of British offshore sailors can see them competing in home waters, even if the race is for publicity and charity. There is something that Dee Caffari, Sam Davies, Brian Thompson, Mike Golding, and Steve White all have in common – they are all looking for sponsorship to allow them to compete in the next Vendee Globe.

Each skipper has a slightly different story to sell to potential promotional partners and each has different strategies for raising the required money to compete at the highest level. Like all sport, it is not always the most talented athletes who do well, but those who can attract the financial backing to put together winning campaigns. Talent and financial backing is the best combination.

The Artemis Challenge is as much about raising sponsorship as it is about raising money for worthy causes. The whole of Cowes Week is an opportunity to sail the 60 foot racing billboards that are the IMOCA 60s in front of thousands of people and really show guests what sponsoring a 60 foot ocean going race yacht is all about.

Dee Caffari has benefited from a five year relationship with Aviva. The company has supported Dee to three world records including becoming the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world in both directions. Indeed Aviva’s activation of Dee’s most recent Vendee Globe campaign spanned business press, newspapers and school curricula and their involvement in the Round Britain record generated a huge return on investment (ROI).

But marketing strategies change, and the insurance and investment brand has shifted its promotional budgets to other sports like athletics and more recently rugby. In July, Aviva announced a £20 million deal to replace Guinness as sponsor of premiership rugby in the UK.

As Founding Partner, Aviva will remain a member of the team behind Dee Caffari’s 2012/13 Vendée Globe campaign, but to mount a challenge that could see Caffari become the first British Winner of a Solo Round the world offshore race since Sir Robin Knox Johnston in 1969, new sponsors will need to be found.

Before that Dee will be taking part in the Barcelona World Race with sponsorship from GAES Centros Auditivos brought to the team by her co-skipper for the race Anna Corbella. The organisers of the Barcelona World Race have helped many of the competitors secure budget for the race to ensure the host city gets its required return on investment. As a result, Caffari is working hard to keep her goal of an entry in the next Vendee Globe afloat.

The Artemis Challenge is an important part of Dee’s role as an ambassador for the Toe in the Water charity. The race offers a £10,000 prize for the chosen charity of the winning Skipper. Joined for the race by former England rugby international Martin Bayfield, ‘GAES Centros Auditivos’ came in fourth on the day.

Martin Bayfield commented:

“It was great fun, great people and a great experience and I absolutely loved it. Dee was very gentle and very kind, and very polite about my steering.”

Dee said:

‘We had a great sail to the Needles and after our hand break turn back into the Solent we hoisted the spinnaker. The strong winds and good boat speed made for some exciting sailing to the finish, all of which helped hook Martin into a new sport. We are sad that we didn’t win a pot of money for Toe in the Water but everyone onboard had a great time out on the water which is what Cowes Week is all about.’

While Dee didn’t win the race at Cowes, the sister-ship belonging to Mike Golding did. The result shows that the boat is still competitive and will continue to deliver Aviva and Gaes value. Dee herself will also continue to deliver value to her sponsors, because unlike some of the offshore sailors, who are most at home alone at sea and reluctant media performers, Caffari is a media savvy brand ambassador who can engage audiences from boardrooms to classrooms.

Yacht Racing Business Thoughts For 2010-08-08

• Seems that this new Twitter ‘Who you should follow feature’ is delivering us a lot of new followers – Welcome! #
• I uploaded a YouTube video — Dee Caffari At the 2010 Artemis Challenge at Cowes Week http://youtu.be/q7FPmbwSwG8?a #
• I uploaded a YouTube video — Extreme 40 Sailing Series – Cowes Week 2010 http://youtu.be/lcXaXvs882M?a #

New Web Presence for ECO 60 Class

If you want to be anything in the year 2010 you need to have a web presence. This week, the Eco 60 Class of ocean racing yachts today launched its own dedicated website.

The new class – which currently makes use of Open 60 yachts launched before 2003 – was created as an ecological, sustainable and affordable ocean racing yacht still capable of fast speeds and top performance, with a proven track record of reliability and safety.

The Eco 60 Class website has detailed information about the yachts and the background to the class, as well as a section devoted to Eco 60s for sale.

The class is a really great idea. It allows enthusiastic sailors without the budget for a new Open 60 to compete in the world of ocean racing and taking advantage of the large market of third generation Open 60 yachts for sale, recycles them back into the world they were built for – solo ocean racing.

As the ever increasing costs of the new Open 60s puts them beyond the reach of all but the few very big sponsors, there is a need to produce a class that is affordable to more sailors with the spirit of adventure and keep around the world solo sailing accessible. These tried and tested racing machines, proven in the toughest oceans around the world with a pedigree of success, are lying unused. However, their potential remains and can be harnessed as Eco 60s.

Race rules will set limitations on the number of sails, the size of shore crews and the extent of refit work permitted in order to further reduce budgets. But it’s not just about money – the Eco 60 Class will also be governed by a framework designed to improve the ecological and environmental impact on the planet. This includes a limit on the use of fossil fuels to encourage sailors to use more sustainable methods such as wind, solar and hydro power.

VELUX 5 OCEANS chairman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has been a pioneer of the Eco 60 Class after sailing one to glory in the 2007 edition of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. He said:

“In ocean racing, to finish first you first have to finish. For my 2006/07 VELUX 5 OCEANS campaign I chose an older boat, strong and well tested. Of seven starters, four of us finished. In the 2008 Vendée Globe, only five out of the twenty one new generation yachts completed the course, compared to six out of the nine ‘Eco 60’ yachts which successfully returned to Les Sables D’Olonne after circumnavigating the planet.”

“The 28-year history of the VELUX 5 OCEANS is peppered with stories of unknown sailors of limited means who emerged to make their mark on ocean racing. Some became famous; others simply achieved their life’s dream of a solo circumnavigation. The Eco 60 Class continues that tradition.”

Of course a website is not enough these days – you have to be on Social Media. The Eco 60 Facebook page already has 65 Fans, but the Eco 60 Twitter feed is so far looking a bit unloved.

More ..Open 60 News.

World Yacht Racing Forum Talks to Andor Serra About the Barcelona World Race.

There is absolutely no doubt that if you can create a sporting event that includes the name of the venue and establish that event over time, the value is enormous. Think about Le Mans or Monaco and then think of a sporting event. Think about the Vendee Globe, or the Indianapolis 500 or Cowes Week and then think about which airport is the closest. The links between sport and tourism are growing all the time, but can new events generate the same kind of returns that have been established over hundreds of years?

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…

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