SPIRIT
Round Great Britain Record Attempt
Alan's aim to beat the record for sailing a beach catamaran around GB in June 2010 has been put on hold for a year due to the lack of sponsorship.
The 2010 sailing season will instead be used to work the boat up ready for next year. This will include an attempt at a smaller record to prove the boat and drum up publicity for next year's trip.
The Record: 28 days 9 hours 9 minutes and 48 seconds
Set by Mark Angell and Luke Yeates in June 2006
The Catamaran: An Eagle20 Ocean
Alan, a paraplegic catamaran sailor aims to beat the record together with an able bodied crew.
He is not viewing this as a record for a disabled sailor, rather than for a fast catamaran sailor. The project will promote integration.
The plan is to sail for 14 hours a day and sleep ashore in camper vans at night. Where the weather and tides permit, some sailing will happen at night to improve the chance of beating the record.
Boat's Name: Spirit.
Why Spirit? Because the record attempt represents the spirit of adventure, the spirit of integration, the spirit of endeavour
Alan has over ten years of experience sailing catamarans in long distance events (click here for details) as well as having sailed over 2000 miles offshore on a 10m trimaran called Paradox (including beating Dame Ellen Macarthur on the first leg of the Two Handed Round Britain and Ireland Race in 1998 - visit here for details). He has also been fortunate to sail with Darren Bundock (seven times Tornado world champion and twice Olympic silver medallist) in two long distance events.
The catamaran has been especially built for such a venture and will be further modified especially for this record attempt. Based on Alan's experience the main changes will be the addition of wings and helming seats, navigation equipment and safety gear.
To support Alan and his crew there will be a shore team of two people. They will drive two camper vans around GB, meeting the boat at every stopover. They will also be responsible for preparing the evening meal and breakfast as well as preparing food for Alan and Chris on the boat. Their other important role will be washing the crew kit!
What benefits are there for sponsors? It will be a great way to promote your company's corporate social responsibility and how it 'integrates' with society. For a computer company you can highlight how well your systems 'integrate'. You can be associated with an extreme sporting event, but one that pushes limits safely.
Sponsorship Costs: Alan has bought the boat, so the costs will be:
* providing safety equipment and navigation lights
* rental of the camper van and fuel for the trip
* branding the boat in corporate colours and purchase of corporate sailing clothing for the team
* the cost of food and drink, washing and other incidentals
* crew costs/expenses
* spare main sail, rudder and dagger board
* hire of the OC Tracker system
* daily website updates
This will come in at £15,000 in total, so the project represents a very small outlay for a large potential return in terms of media coverage. Alan will be happy to come into your company and do talks about the project. These talks can be motivational/inspirational and/or about planning and executing such a project.
Press: Over the years, Alan has been featured in many articles in Yachts and Yachting, Dinghy Sailor Magazine, Multihull International, Multicoques Magazine in France, and even China Yachting.
Follow the record attempt: it is intended to use OC Tracker so that the attempt can be followed live on the website
To get involved or simply to find out more, e-mail: alangrace (at) btinternet.com
Some photos of Alan in action:
Alan sailing with Darren Bundock (above); Alan sailing on an Extreme 40 (below)
© Mark Lloyd Images
Alan's boat in action with its previous owners:
Alan sailing offshore on the 10m trimaran Paradox:
