Venture Cup 2016 - Page 6

Mrs Smillie · 17-05-2016, 02:35 PM

Well from what i've heard from a VERY reliable source its off but would like to be proved wrong but then again with who's running the shots not surprised really

Ciao · 17-05-2016, 02:56 PM

This has been sent to me by numerous people.

Mods - Time to close this thread and draw the curtain on another total mess?

Venture Cup is Cancelled

It is with enormous regret that we must advise you that the 2016 Venture Cup has been cancelled.

Delivering an event of this scale was always going to present challenges, but we felt we had the team and support to make it happen. However, we began suffering acute cash-flow problems at the end of March. Regardless of the funding commitment to the overall event, without positive cash-flow we were being strangled. Right across the month and into May we actively sought to source solutions. Only a week ago we had a potential answer on the table which not only resolved the issue but secured the event into the future. Unfortunately this, and other avenues, have failed to materialise and we have reached a point where we can no longer proceed in good faith.

We would like to both thank, and apologise to, the teams, stakeholders, authorities, communities and individuals who’ve put so much faith into this plan over the past year. We can assure you that we left no stone unturned in our attempts to resolve this issue, but we must now act prudently and that means cancelling the event when we are unable to guarantee that we can continue to operate.

For those teams who have paid their entry-fees, these are currently in the process of being returned.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely
The Venture Cup Team.

Jon Holmes · 17-05-2016, 03:01 PM

No surprise really but it has helped to keep Boatmad alive a little longer I suppose!

Well done to all those who have put their time and effort into attempting to put this event on and best wishes for the future.

Captain Chaos · 17-05-2016, 03:22 PM

It'd be really nice to have been able to receive a specific response rather than one that speaks in very large sweeping "general terms".

Who promise what and when ............... then failed to? etc etc etc

Ciao · 17-05-2016, 03:34 PM

1. Our plans for 2016 are fully-funded
2. We have permissions in place from all ports and venues
3. It will be run as a formal race
4. There will be international television
5. There will be commercial supports for teams
6. The dates for next year's race are: Sunday June 12th to Sunday June 19th
7. The race will run with an opening weekend in Cork, a closing weekend in Dublin and the Wild Atlantic Coast of Ireland in the intervening week.
8. We've been closely informing our relevant UIM national authority about our plans, including full details of how the event is now financially underwritten.
9. Entry fees are NOT necessary to ensure the race goes ahead.

When you read the above points (posted last September on here) 'Our plans for 2016 are fully-funded' and 'the event is now financially underwritten', expectation and enthusiasm was on a high.

With the cancellation apology nearly 8 months later, 'suffering acute cash-flow problems at the end of March', it is fairly clear, once again, that Blimp 'Over Promises and Under Delivers'.

He continues with, 'without positive cash-flow we were being strangled'.
Fortunately, potential Venture Cup competitors are far too decent to strangle the Event Organisers' neck and will no doubt move on and race at Event's that they can trust.

Red-Leader · 17-05-2016, 03:45 PM

Who would be brave enough to try again.
At least someone was prepared to have a go ! God knows where the sport goes from here.
One race a year is hardly worth all the cost and up keep these boats require, let alone the licence fees.
Ah well move on.

Ciao · 17-05-2016, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Leader

Who would be brave enough to try again.
At least someone was prepared to have a go !

1. Our plans for 2016 are fully-funded

Shouldn't have been too difficult.

chundercat · 17-05-2016, 03:59 PM

Shame really, had some time taken off work and hotels booked now the wife will just be surprised at a random trip to various ports of Ireland for a week

.

while I'm sure there are valid reasons its a disappointment we wont get to see the race never mind for those who were running in it .

Dar

p.s Not sure but I would suggest that a funded event and operational costs are distinct here and that funding extended to the event only but who knows.

TomLinley · 17-05-2016, 04:17 PM

Confirmed on their Facebook page that the event is cancelled. Shame. I understand the huge amount of effort invested by Aidan and his team, just feel a few vital components where missed, for example the information stream to public and teams which would have given sponsors confidence rather than silence and focus on logistics like Fuel suppliers rather than trips to Miami.

TomLinley · 17-05-2016, 04:23 PM

At least any boats that were thinking of entering can now focus on making Cowes Torquay an epic event with lots of entries into a historic and proven race on delivering a great day.

Probably best if this whole thread was deleted soon so it didn't damage the sport further and can move on and focus on September.

I for one am very excited to enter with a great team and look forward to some quality racing.

Mikko Oikari · 17-05-2016, 04:55 PM

Skagerak Across!!!!!!!!!! July 10th.
Wonderful place and lot of nice people,

Mrs Smillie · 17-05-2016, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikko Oikari

Skagerak Across!!!!!!!!!! July 10th.
Wonderful place and lot of nice people,

Tell Boss Team about this then we could come and support them there instead

Mike Lloyd · 17-05-2016, 05:37 PM

From what I saw last Saturday @ Torquay, what the sport needs is another Bob McCarthy - This is the view of David Sewell of Raceboat International.

KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR COULD BE THE SAVIOUR OF UK OFFSHORE

"Rob McCarthy might have his critics, but those folks were made to eat their words when twenty boats arrived in Torquay for OCRDA’s opening race of 2016. Not surprisingly no-one from the RYA turned up to witness the occasion but it’s becoming clear, Mr McCarthy does not need their support as he proved hard, work and gentle persuasion can work wonders".

And he's right.

ML.
.

Carl · 17-05-2016, 06:02 PM

makes me wonder where the money has come to fund the event so far,and how they feel now its cancelled

Ciao · 17-05-2016, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl

makes me wonder where the money has come to fund the event so far,and how they feel now its cancelled

With the trail of debt left from the 'Prologue' / Venture Offshore Cup Ltd, even I was surprised to see that they had found seed money, let alone a 'fully-funded' Event.

hunton69 · 17-05-2016, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red-Leader

Who would be brave enough to try again.
At least someone was prepared to have a go ! God knows where the sport goes from here.
One race a year is hardly worth all the cost and up keep these boats require, let alone the licence fees.
Ah well move on.

So all the ports from here to Monte Carlo are pissed off and now he's shit on his own door step. Where next?

I think many on her knew months ago it was off.

The only think that got up dated on the website was the clock.

Jon Holmes · 17-05-2016, 08:28 PM

Lol.

Childsy · 17-05-2016, 09:53 PM

Oh well guys, never mind... nobody has died
I'm sure this guy really DID want this event to happen only for whatever reason was unable to pull through in the end.
Myself and you lot (Spectators) are a tad gutted for sure but hey ho... here's to an epic weekend in Cowes on the 1st weekend in September...!

hunton69 · 18-05-2016, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Childsy

Oh well guys, never mind... nobody has died
I'm sure this guy really DID want this event to happen only for whatever reason was unable to pull through in the end.
Myself and you lot (Spectators) are a tad gutted for sure but hey ho... here's to an epic weekend in Cowes on the 1st weekend in September...!

Love your attitude.

Just a thought they did get funding of 500,000 Euros that they seem to of spent and I'm not sure (but may be wrong) that those people may not of got value for money.

There is a huge difference between wanting to make it happen and being capable of making it happen.

What has died is the possibility of anyone else trying to organise a race of that magnitude in the future.

May be blimp would like to post a summary of what went wrong, what they actually did and who they can blame.

DoubleSix · 18-05-2016, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunton69

Love your attitude.

Just a thought they did get funding of 500,000 Euros that they seem to of spent and I'm not sure (but may be wrong) that those people may not of got value for money.

There is a huge difference between wanting to make it happen and being capable of making it happen.

What has died is the possibility of anyone else trying to organise a race of that magnitude in the future.

May be blimp would like to post a summary of what went wrong, what they actually did and who they can blame.

Good plan, but not too sure on the last bit.

Yeh! a Witch Hunt, although airing the dirty linen in public never ends well. Just let readers make their own minds up based on facts: it should keep this thread going for a good while longer.

A great shame for the sport.