|
The
Rolex Transatlantic Challenge
Starts 21 May 2005
Celebrating
a century old racing record
The
Rolex Transatlantic Challenge 2005 will see the world's
finest yachts race from New York Harbour to Great Britain,
across 3,000 miles of the northern Atlantic Ocean.
The
event's significance is both historic and sentimental, as
it recreates The Great Ocean Race of 1905 in which Charlie
Barr steered the 56-metre (185ft.) three masted schooner
Atlantic to victory and a race record that is yet to be
broken a full century later.
The
record awaits anyone in the race who can beat Barr's time
- 12 days, four hours, one minute and 19 seconds from Sandy
Hook Point to the Lizard. But Glory also will come to all
those who simply compete in this adventure, as it will be
an adventure of a lifetime.
The Rolex Transatlantic Challenge 2005 (RTC) is organised
by The New York Yacht Club with the co-operation of the
Royal Yacht Squadron, and is considered to be the world's
finest yacht race.
The Challenge
An event steeped in tradition, 2005 will mark the 100th
anniversary of the yacht Atlantic's 1905 transatlantic racing
record, which has not been matched since. Resurrected by
the New York Yacht Club, the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge
is the only race recognised by the World Sailing Speed Record
Council (WSSRC) in which the record can be broken.
Consequently, the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge is being
competed in by the largest and most prestigious yachts in
the world.
The
Boats
With a minimum length requirement of 70ft, the race has
attracted both classic and modern superyachts from around
the globe, including Peter Harrison's Sojana, Mike Slade's
Leopard, and Robert Miller's 141'Mari-Cha IV, which holds
the transatlantic-passage record and 24-hour distance record
for monohull yachts.
The
Race
The race starts in New York on 21 May 2005. From there the
22 yachts in 3 divisions will begin their 3000 mile journey
across the northern Atlantic Ocean, to the Lizard in Cornwall,
where Barr finished his record in 1905. An official time
will be taken at the Lizard by the World Sailing Speed Record
Council, for the transatlantic racing record. The boats
will then carry on racing to the original official finish
point of the Needles on the Isle of Wight, where line honours
will be taken.
Trophies
As well as the prospect of breaking the world record, the
New York Yacht Club is allocating four of its most significant
trophies to serve as symbols for the overall transatlantic-race
record and for the elapsed "line honours" times
for each of the three divisions: classic, performance and
grand-prix.
Press
Sojana has already generated huge interest from the yachting
press, Yachting World and Boat International being just
two of the publications to have featured her. The scale
of the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge and the sheer wealth
associated with this fleet of superyachts will ensure coverage
of the entire race in the international press and on television.
Schedule
Although the start gun fires on the 21st, celebrations for
the RTC will commence earlier. Pre-race social events will
take place in the week prior to the start, hosted by the
New York Yacht Club and aboard the aircraft carrier US Intrepid
in central Manhatten.
It will
be a testing race and the fleet will expect to encounter
fog, icebergs and gale force winds during the 3,000 mile
course, before the first yachts arrive in England in the
first few days of June.
They
will be welcomed by the Royal Yacht Squadron and entertained
at the Castle in Cowes. This co-incides with the 200th anniversary
celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar, and will culminate
in an exlusive Round the Island race on June 13th, following
the course of the original "America's Cup" race
of 1851.
SOJANA
The 115ft
Sojana is one of the world's finest superyachts on which
to race, entertain, excite and captivate your guests. Designed
by leading raceboat designers, Farr Yacht Design, Sojana
blends the speed and power of a racing yacht with the opulence
of the finest superyachts.
Below
decks, her panelled mahogany interior and silk furnishings
suggest the ambiance of a former age. Guests dine from the
finest china, silver and crystal in air conditioned comfort.
On deck,
sails are raised on the slender carbon fibre spars, and
Sojana's race pedigree is revealled. Offshore, Sojana has
logged speeds ofup to 28 knots, but we expect to sail more
sedately as you view the Manhatten skyline and the Statue
of Liberty from the deck of this unique yacht.
The
sponsorship and charter aggreement can be tailored to suit
your requirements, however we would expect to include the
following:
- Sailing
and hospitality days both in New York harbour prior to
the race and in the Solent after the finish
- Branding
rights to Sojana, her sails and crew clothing
- Input
and cooperation of the crew in maximising your media exposure
- Branded
crew clothing and gift packs for all guests
- Receptions
onboard Sojana in New York and Cowes
This
is a unique opportunity to sponsor one of the world's finest
superyachts in yachting's most prestigious race.
For the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge Sojana will be sailed
by a professional crew of 12, with some of the world's best
sailors from the America's Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race.
This
team, combined with Sojana's massive sail area, and a predominantly
reaching course, makes Sojana the hot favourite to win the
performance cruiser "superyacht" class. Since
her maiden voyage in December 2003, Sojana has crossed the
Atlantic three times, twice within the yacht "Atlantic"'s
record time, her fastest crossing being nine days and ten
hours. She won the prize for fastest yacht at the 2004 Antigua
Mega Yacht Challenge, and she continues to stagger the superyacht
world with high recorded boatspeeds.
With
corporate sailing in both the USA and the UK, exclusive
receptions at the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht
Squadron, and the excitement of this prestigious event,
sponsorship of Sojana represents the perfect balance for
both branding and entertainment.
Sponsorship
Package
The sponsorship package is priced at 150,000 euros and includes:
- 3
days corporate sailing in New York harbour before the
race
- Receptions
on board Sojana in New York
- 3
days corporate sailing in the Solent after the race
- Receptions
on board Sojana in Cowes
- Branded
clothing and gift packs for all guests
- Branding
rights to the yacht for the race, including branding on
hull, mainsail, spinnaker and clothing.
|
