Tall ship race - How to get sponsorship?

[out_to_sea]

Hi all, I've the opportunity of participating in the Tall Ship Race in July 09 for 2 months sailing:

Hartlepool to Gdynia, Poland
Gdynia to St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg to Turku, Finland
Turku to Klaipeda, Lithuania
Klaipeda to Hartlepool

I need to raise £2000 of sponsorship (plus any costs of sponsorship clothing) and wondered if anyone had any suggestions or advice on how to go about this? (or offers of sponsorship /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )

Should I seek one sponsor or several small ones? Do you think I'll be able to find a sponsor at this short notice? Where do I look? Who do I contact?

I'm new to sailing this year and thought this would be a wonderful experience to be captured and used by the right sponsor.

We can fly company flags from the boat while in port and partcipate in what ever photoshoots your require.

The boat is the Black Diamond of Durham, a 45 foot Bowman Corsair Ocean Racer.

I'm just sounding out options at the moment so any feedback would be appreciated. Or if anyone knows of any other ships entering the tall ship race which has full sponsorship already in place I have the time available to do all the legs.

Thanks Andy

 

[Bajansailor]

Just a suggestion - have a look at the Tall Ships Youth Trust website at www.tallships.org - they have a fair bit of info there for young people seeking sponsorship to sail on their vessels.

 

[tmh900]

[ QUOTE ]

The boat is the Black Diamond of Durham, a 45 foot Bowman Corsair Ocean Racer.


[/ QUOTE ]
Not quite what some might picture as a 'tall ship'. Is the £2K paying for the ride, or is that going to charity?

 

[out_to_sea]

Its not square rigged, I'm not altergether sure of how these boats are classified, other then I know there is a minimum length. I'd prefer to be on a more traditional square rigged boat and anyone with details of alternative ships entering I'd be happy to hear about, but happy to just take part.

I really don't know what the money goes to, I presumed it was charity, but yes its to pay for the passage but not sure if this goes to charity or just to the boat owners. I will ask the question (its actually 3K but I have been offered £1k of sponsorship already if I do the full 2 months but this was offered through the boat owners sponsors (who I don't know)

In terms of sponsorship I was more thinking of an organisation who supports a specific cause or charity and wanted to raise awareness through publicity. I'm happy to attend / speak at fundraisers pre and post event.

Perhaps this isn't something companies would be interested in, but then thats the point of sounding out my fellow YBW members /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'd be interested to hear from other people who have taken part about their own experiences too.

Cheers Andy

 

[snowleopard]

Not an easy thing to find. Long-distance sailors have great difficulty getting sponsorship and in the present economic climate it's getting worse.

The pros offer an advertising benefit e.g. Day Mellon and B&Q. Joe public doesn't give a damn about your trip so you can't offer that as an incentive. The best you can hope for is small donations from companies in your area, done more out of goodwill that in expectation of a return.

You need to get away from the perception that they will be paying for you to go for a 2-month jolly. One approach is to help a disadvantaged group such as disabled people, hospice children etc.

We have a group of 18 going on a voyage on the STS Lord Nelson next week. They are receiving funding to help with the fees from local groups but that is because they are disabled.

 

[Bajansailor]

The TSYT brig does not appear to be taking part in the Tall Ships Races this summer (I wonder why?) according to their Schedule at http://www.tallships.org/document.asp?cat=539&doc=6597
If they were, I would commend them highly, especially as you say you would prefer to be on a square rigger rather than a yacht.

However the Jubilee Sailing Trust barque 'Lord Nelson' is taking part - their schedule is here at http://www.jst.org.uk/events/default.aspx?t=voyages&loc=Tall%20Ships%27%20Races

Rather than trying to raise GBP 3,000 in order to sail all the legs on your 45' yacht, it might be worth considering doing one (or perhaps 2) of the legs on Lord Nelson with the funds you already have (and are likely to obtain) - ??

 

[exfinnsailor]

Think you would have to come up with a convincing arguement to get someone to pay for your holiday .. Its not as though you finish up with a qualification at the end of it .. How much does the charity get from your contribution or is it to fund other places on bord .. Pay for the skipper .. Why do you have to buy sponsors clothing .. Think you may have to put your plans on hold .. You dont have that long .. Suppose you could always talk to your Bank but then you have to pay it back your self .. The letters we have had in the past have all ended in the bin ......... If you have the time to do this then perhaps you should be working to earn the money .. Then you can go next year .. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[out_to_sea]

Yes I've thought about doing the first 2 legs still considering that... that would be just a holiday

Well I guess you could argue that anyone doing any charitable event such as this is doing it for a free holiday. My hope was to find a good cause to raise awareness for at the same time, I'm sure people don't organise these events to make people just plain misreable, my contribution is taking 2 months unpaid off work to do the event, if I wanted sponsorship to cover my time it would be a substancial amount more then 3K

Perhaps I have this wrong, but if a sponsor wants to emblazen your clothes with their logo, surely they pay for the costs of the clothes or at least putting the logos on them? I'm not bad with a needle and thread /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm just sounding out ideas really and appreciate all your views and comments.

Cheers Andy

 

[quaver]

I did 1 leg (London to Hamberg) of the tall ship race several years ago, a holiday it was not.... But it was very character building hence why the company I worked for paid for me. Great fun but very hard work!! Have you asked your employers??

 

[out_to_sea]

There is no problem with me paying for a leg or two, other then using up my holidays and the Mrs will want a holiday to match /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Just thought I could do some good, have a good time and experience something new.

Not sure how my employer will react if I ask for 2 months off... I suspect I'll be made to walk the plank!

Cheers Andy