Round Britain 2008

[Tony Davis]

So Sunseeker and Revenger are tight arsed, what's new in that.

Prior to the speed limit being brought in to Poole Harbour, me and a couple of pals decided to fight it with the aid of a "boat friendly" solicitor. At quite a considerable expense to ourselves, we managed to get the first proposal stopped, but we soon realised it was going to be very expensive, so started to raise funds from local marine businesses, together with collecting signatures for a petition!

Everyone was happy to sign, but chipping in to the fighting fund was not very popular. Several of the large companies managed £25.oo each, and one managed a paltry £5.oo. We gave up shortly after that, run out of money and enthusiasm.

Stick me down for a trophy, it'll be the cheapest advertising I've ever had!

[Mike Lloyd]

I didn't write that with a view to poncing Trophies off of everyone, just out of pure frustration and these companies short sightedness but thanks all the same. I will remember your generous offers. But why can't these companies see beyond the end of their noses? It's a lesson learned.

[grInch]

Originally Posted by OldMan

It will go ahead providing we get the sponsorship we need

When Bear Grylls was looking for sponsors for his Across the Atlantic expedition, he touted the idea around the corporate world looking for a main sponsor willing to shell out £250k. After hundreds of letters, and many corporate presentations, he didn't get a single bite.

What he did then was to divide the sponsorship up into £15000 bricks with the main sponsor brick at £50000. He sold all the bricks within a month.

Aligning the event with a main charity organisation (Princes Trust in this case) also helped in attracting sponsors.

[Mike Lloyd]

Originally Posted by grInch

When Bear Grylls was looking for sponsors for his Across the Atlantic expedition, he touted the idea around the corporate world looking for a main sponsor willing to shell out £250k. After hundreds of letters, and many corporate presentations, he didn't get a single bite.

What he did then was to divide the sponsorship up into £15000 bricks with the main sponsor brick at £50000. He sold all the bricks within a month.

Aligning the event with a main charity organisation (Princes Trust in this case) also helped in attracting sponsors.

I like that, we will look into it. Many thanks.
ML.

[the bandit]

Afew years ago there was car at le Mans that sold something like 2000 small ads stuck over the car for about £100 quid each. to raise the funds.

[Mike Lloyd]

Can anyone help me here. Have had an email from a guy who wants to take part but all I have is this : colin@morgan.fsnet.co.uk and my reply keeps bouncing back.
Anyone know who he is or have his contact details please?
ML.

[Jon Fuller]

That's 'Rockey' on this forum. AKA Colin Morgan.

[Matt]

There's goes Rockey's plans to keep a low profile!

[Rockey]

my beat pal has a 34 hawk twin 315 yanmars in 2008 i was going to 50/50
give the boat and me a diet see what it coud do. it will flat out do 45 knots gps but cruises well at 38 at the moment , if we can get it to do 40+ crusing ,won't be the fastest but when it get's rough who no's
it's only a idea at the moment


ps low profile

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by Matt

There's goes Rockey's plans to keep a low profile!

I spose he should'a thought of that when handing out an email that don't work!

I didn't deliberately 'expose' him! didn't know he was being a 'secret squirrel'.

[Rockey]

no
just did not want to say anything untill had done enough research
want to make sure the hawk would be allright for it



'expose'

[cfun]

As regards one of the well known makes that said no, this is the reason I would not say there name back in the summer, http://boatmad.com/forum/showthread....poole+bay+race just a Buzzi boat, all there after is your money I doubt if the guy in control is really that intrested in boats that much, large expensive yachts and a big land bank for future family generations yes, nothing wrong with that as long as the public realises there not a sporting brand, there hulls are not tested in a racing environment, and I hope no one compete's in one, so the parasite's cant advertise in any way kinell me rant is almost like a kinfast post

[verytricky]

Originally Posted by OldMan

Surprisingly they have refused on the basis that it would be a “conflict of interest”. In the 1984 Round Britain Race two of their boats came home in the top ten and they used that information in their sales brochures for years.

It would be very easy to officially not name the brand in all official press releases, website entrants lists etc. This would cost you nothing, and would be a poke in the eye with a sharp stick if they lost this publicity.

Another option would be to trademark or by some other method licence the use of the name of the race, so they can not use it for advertising. Much like the olimpics guys do - you cant use it unless you pay for the privalwge. Sign up some boat guys like TD to pay a £50 fee for the rights to be a manufacturing sponsor or something - and get the wording from the olimpic committee court cases that restricts the use of the event to official sponsors only.

Finally - the most likely hull from our manufacturer is likely to be the Buzzi hull - Call it that in all entrants and in all press releases.

[Mike Lloyd]

Originally Posted by verytricky

Finally - the most likely hull from our manufacturer is likely to be the Buzzi hull - Call it that in all entrants and in all press releases.

Thanks for that valuable advice, I will follow it through.

[verytricky]

Or someone from SS could read this forum and have a sudden change of heart. :UP:

[Jon Fuller]

Originally Posted by OldMan

Thanks for that valuable advice, I will follow it through.

And Don Shead design in the case of 'most' other boats from them.

[KINPACIFIST]

I got the impression that after last years Sunseekers wild card entry in the P1 at Cowes. They were going to race as a factory team in this years P1.

Am I totally wrong? (as usual I know)

If I'm wrong and they are not racing, its a shame. There boat was crewed by a couple of really nice guys. The SS Casino Royal boat is not fast enough for P1 in my opinion, however I think it would be a good boat for RGB, considering how well it went on the sunday in Cowes.

As for sponsorship....T Fibby has my thoughts and ideas re encouraging corporate sponsorship of this fantastic event. But another angle maybe to get Discovery Channel or National Goegraphic involved by the way off a reality
TV fly on the wall documentary following the preparations and dramas of some of the teams. You know something like American Choppers, but with boats and people who argue in english, and except that large scupltured moustaches became unfashionable with the birth of the jet engine!!

Just some uncontroversial thoughts.

Cheers & be safe all

P

[Mike Lloyd]

Originally Posted by KINPACIFIST

I got the impression that after last years Sunseekers wild card entry in the P1 at Cowes. They were going to race as a factory team in this years P1.

As for sponsorship....Just some uncontroversial thoughts.
Cheers & be safe all

Thanks for your input, it's all appreciated. I don't think I am breaking any confidences, well at least I hope not, by saying that particular boat actually entered this week for the RB but as a private entry and not a Sunseeker jobby and that will make 12 Class 1's right now!

As for sponsorship? getting you guys on board keen and eager to do this race seems to be the easy bit, We are working down two avenues right now on the sponsorship/TV but the problem is getting people round a table to thrash things through. There always seems to be another priority but we will keep banging away until we succeed.
December news coming out at the end of this week. I will be asking for help in some areas.
ML.

[the bandit]

He's Back:

[Mike Lloyd]

Originally Posted by the bandit

He's Back:

What DO you mean Bandit?