GRYPHON SOLO Gryphon Solo Campaign Sponsorship Proposal 2006-2008
1 WELCOME Welcome to Gryphon Solo, America s finest solo offshore racing team, ready to compete in the tough, international world of single-handed ocean racing. Welcome 1 Why Gryphon Solo? 2 Applauding Sponsors Say 3 The Campaign 4 The Skipper 5 The Team 6 The Yacht 7 Events 8 Branding Examples 11 What s the Deal? 12 Sponsor Benefits 13 Summary 15 GRYPHON SOLO WHY GRYPHON SOLO?
2 WHY GRYPHON SOLO? BRAND AWARENESS - Over the next three years, Gryphon Solo will compete in a series of premier international offshore races, all of which will receive extensive media coverage and high public interest. By sponsoring Gryphon Solo, your company will gain unique exposure through what is essentially a massive global billboard, reaching millions of people worldwide. CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT - With wide, spacious decks and a "thrill-ride" that s second to none, Gryphon Solo is the ideal platform for entertaining clients or hosting company VIPs. A day aboard is sure to leave a lasting impression. EMPLOYEE INSPIRATION - With its unique focus on self-reliance, determination and resilience, solo sailing is a natural fit for employee motivational programs and initiatives. Solo sailing proves that creativity and determination can make anything possible. CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING - Members of the Gryphon Solo team are available for motivational seminars or as keynote speakers at corporate functions. Employees are also invited to join the boat for informal racing sessions. APPLAUDING SPONSORS SAY
3 APPLAUDING SPONSORS SAY Due to its tremendous international exposure and the public s insatiable appetite for extreme sports, singlehanded offshore racing has rapidly become a popular sponsorship venue. Dozens of major corporations have committed marketing dollars to solo sailing with impressive results. Here s what a few of them had to say: "Our sponsorship of Brad Van Liew and Tommy Hilfiger- Freedom America has proven extremely successful. We were able to reach and connect with new customers around the world through the incredible press exposure we received on this sponsorship. Our partnership yielded tremendous results and exceeded our expectations in every way." "During the Transat Race our employees and clients were riveted to the hourly race updates and inspired by Joe s heroic efforts. After a sail on the boat, our clients come away glowing. We are very pleased with the sponsorship" "Pindar has sponsored Emma Richards for the last four years, each year increasing our involvement in her sailing activities. The publicity given to Pindar has been tremendous, and using the boat for corporate entertaining with Emma as a central motivating figure for our employees has been invaluable." Tommy Hilfiger Chairman Tommy Hilfiger Corporation Christopher J. Jordan Executive Vice President Wells Fargo & Company Andrew Pindar Chairman Pindar/Alphagraphics In the 2001 Vendee Globe race, Ellen MacArthur and the Kingfisher campaign generated media exposure with an Equivalent Advertising Value of $55 million USD over a three year period. Put your name on Gryphon Solo and earn your share. THE CAMPAIGN
4 THE CAMPAIGN The torch of American single-handed offshore sailing has been passed from recent Around Alone race winner Brad Van Liew to Joe Harris, an experienced offshore sailor with the right combination of skills, desire and resources to carry forward Van Liew s success in a sport traditionally dominated by Europeans. Harris will campaign in a series of Trans-Atlantic ocean races, culminating in the 2007 Global Ocean Challenge Race around the planet. This sport pits one man and one boat against nature s most isolated and formidable environment - the sea. Success, however, will require a team of professionals backing the skipper, as well as partnerships with sponsors and suppliers that showcase the very best of American creativity, enterprise and technology. The Gryphon Solo campaign has already taken bold steps toward winning the Global Ocean Challenge including: Purchased the fastest 50-foot sailboat in the world - Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America won the 2002/03 Around Alone race. Renamed Gryphon Solo, she holds the 24 hour speed record for Open 50 class. Assembled a formidable team - PR professional Talbot Wilson will provide extraordinary coverage for sponsors; Hugh Piggin, a Kiwi sailor with vast ocean racing experience and a broad boatbuilding skill set is Gryphon Solo s boat manager; Blake Jackson, internet guru, manages the GS web site and communications. Sailed to second place finish in the solo 2004 Transat Race from Plymouth, England to Boston, MA - Joe sailed across the Atlantic twice in the Spring of 2004 and took a second place finish in the 50' monohull class of the Transat Race in a time of 16 days. Sailed to a first place finish in the 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre race - Joe sailed from LaHavre France to a victory celebration in Salvadore, Brazil in a time of 19 days. SKIPPER & CAMPAIGN MANAGER
5 SKIPPER & CAMPAIGN MANAGER LIFELONG SAILOR - Born and raised in Greenwich, CT, Joe Harris grew up sailing on Long Island Sound. He was mentored by his father- an offshore racer with 18 Newport-Bermuda Races to his credit - and his grandfather, a veteran of five Trans-Atlantic voyages. COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN AND BOAT BUILDER - After graduating from Brown University in 1981, Joe spent his summers working as a commercial fisherman in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and his winters as a boatbuilder in New England. SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE - In his thirties, Joe received an MBA from Babson College and embarked on a career in real estate finance. He advanced rapidly to his current position as CFO of New Boston Fund, Inc., a $1.5 billion real estate investment and development company. EXPERIENCED OFFSHORE RACER - Joe has owned and campaigned a series of boats over the last 15 years, competing in every major East Coast regatta and offshore race, including eight Newport- Bermuda, four Marblehead-Halifax, two Bermuda One/Two races, the 2004 Transat Single-handed TransAtlantic Race, the 2005 Transat Jacques Vabre race. Joe has sailed over 40,000 offshore miles. RIGHT FOR YOUR BRAND - Joe will project an image that is right for your business. He is a sailor and a business executive. Joe is a professional and will represent the sponsor s brand with integrity and a highly positive image. THE TEAM
6 THE TEAM Boat Manager - Hugh Piggin: Hugh was born and raised in New Zealand and has been a sailor from an early age. Hugh began big boat sailing with the famed Kialoa program and went on to become involved with the French trimaran program of Yvan Bourgnon, the Team Adventure catamaran program, and then a series of maxi monohulls called Harrier in the U.S.. Hugh is a world class bow man and an expert rigger. Public Relations Manager - Talbot Wilson: A PR professional, a sailor, and owner of Talbot Wilson & Associates, Talbot has managed media centers and PR for match races, ocean races and individual sailors. He was a manager of the US Admiral s Cup teams four times from 1989-1999. Talbot has been the Press officer for the Newport Bermuda Race since 1989 and Bermuda s King Edward VII Gold Cup since 2004. His role is to acquire sponsorship and tell the story of the Gryphon Solo adventure. Communications Manager - Blake Jackson: After a career in electrical engineering, his focus on internet development formally began at ixl, previously a global internet consulting firm, and then at Performix Technologies. Since 2002, Blake has run an internet consultancy, and developed the web management software platform on which this site runs. With 10 years of experience, Blake offers a rare balance of creative and technical problem solving skills. THE YACHT
7 THE YACHT D ubbed the world s fastest 50-footer in 2003, Gryphon Solo won Class II of the Around Alone Race by an unprecedented 21-day margin. The boat, then named Tommy Hilfiger-Freedom America, also holds the 24-hour speed record for a 50 yacht, having covered an astounding 345 miles in 24 hours. Designed by Group Finot and built without compromise by JMV Industries in France, Gryphon Solo is a thoroughbred racing machine. The boat is capable of speeds in excess of 20 knots while remaining stable and under control. Gryphon Solo is built entirely of carbon fiber and uses a hydraulically operated canting keel for added stability. The boat has twin daggerboards and twin rudders to provide added lift to windward. The combination of voluminous sail area, stability and light construction gives the boat tremendous power and acceleration. Moreover, the yacht carries the latest high-tech electronics and communications equipment, allowing the skipper to not only sail competitively, but also to stay in touch with sponsors and the media from anywhere on earth. EVENTS
8 EVENTS The principal objective of the Gryphon Solo campaign is to win the 2007/2008 Global Ocean Challenge Race (GOC). Gryphon Solo will also compete in a number of other high-profile ocean racing events leading up to the GOC start in September 0f 2007. June 2004 - Transat 2004: From Plymouth, England to Boston, MA. Joe sailed Gryphon Solo to a second place finish in the 50' Monohull Class with a solo trans-atlantic passage time of 16 days. Joe experienced continuous cold, fog and headwinds, making the race a true test of endurance as well as sailing skill. COMPLETED July 2005 - Marblehead to Halifax race: Gryphon Solo raced in the double-handed class of this bi-annual New England classic. This race is a navigational challenge as the twenty-foot tides of the Bay of Fundy make rounding Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia tricky. Fog is pervasive and the finish in Halifax is generally an instrumentsonly landing! Gryphon Solo took first in class. COMPLETED Huge crowds are a part of Open class events EVENTS
9 EVENTS November 2005 - Transat Jacques Vabre: This doublehanded race is one of Europe s preeminent sailing events. In France, where sailing stars are national heroes, the Transat Jacques Vabre is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. It is held every two years and the course is a tough 4,500 miles from Le Havre on the north coast of France to Salvador, Brazil. This event is open only to the world s best Open class trimarans and 50-and 60-foot monohulls. Joe and coskipper Josh Hall took first in class in a time of 19 days. COMPLETED FUTURE EVENTS June 2006 - Newport-Bermuda Race: Along with the Transpac, Sydney-Hobart and Fastnet races, the Newport-Bermuda biennial classic is the fourth of the sailing world s "Grand Slam" of crewed offshore yacht races. Media coverage is very strong, providing sponsors with excellent opportunities for exposure. Gryphon Solo will compete in the Demonstration Division for cant keel yachts in this prestigious event. June 2007 - Bermuda One/Two: Boats race singlehanded from Newport to Bermuda then doublehanded on the return to Newport, with the best aggregate time determining the winner. This race was the breeding ground for three previous American solo sailors that went on to sail the Around Alone race. The Transat Jacques Vabre - 4,500 miles from Le Havre, France to Salvador, Brazil EVENTS
10 EVENTS September 2007 - April 2008 the Global Ocean Challenge (GOC) One Man, One Boat, Around the World Alone. This race is arguably the toughest endurance test of any sporting event on the planet. The Global Ocean Challenge will be open to 40' and 50' monohulls, with the 50' class only for solo sailors and the 40' class having a single and a double-handed division. The fleet is expected to be about 20 boats, from at least five different countries. The GOC will begin in Europe, with the fleet heading southeast across the North Atlantic and then south towards the first stop-over port in Capetown, South Africa. From there, the fleet will sail across the Indian Ocean to the port city of Tauranga, New Zealand. From NZ, the racers will cross the notorious Southern Ocean, where cold temperatures combine with high winds and seas to make this one of the most dangerous ocean passages the world. After rounding the iconic Cape Horn, the fleet will head north to a port on the coast of South America. After recuperating from the Southern Ocean and repairing their boats, the sailors will depart for Charleston, South Carolina, where American hospitality should be abundant. After Charleston, the fleet will re-cross the Atlantic to a finish in Europe. All told, the race will take about seven months and will test every aspect of the sailor s skills in preparing and sailing their boats alone for nearly 30,000 miles across the toughest waters in the world. This race is arguably the toughest endurance test of any sporting event on the planet. One Man One Boat Around the World Alone BRANDING EXAMPLES
11 BRANDING EXAMPLES Pindar/Alphagraphics - International Printing & Graphics HSBC - International Banking Kingfisher - British Home Improvement Superstores Tiscali - European Internet Leader Wells Fargo & Co. Fourth Largest U.S Bank Tommy Hiliger - American Clothing and Fashion WHAT S THE DEAL?
12 WHAT S THE DEAL? NAME THE BOAT Title sponsorship will include the right to name and emblazon the boat with the sponsor s logo in the most visible places. Title sponsorship total cost is $950,000. Naming rights means that every mention of the boat in the media will be a media hit for the title sponsor. Additional sponsorship levels are available to non-conflicting brands or businesses and will have display and media rights as well. All told, more than 20,000 square feet of space on the sails, hull and deck is available for branding although brand exclusivity can be negotiated. Sponsorship period: June 2006 June 2008 Including the Newport-Bermuda race in June 2006, the Bermuda One/Two race in June of 2007 and the Global Ocean Challenge from September 2007 through April 2008. Post-GOC sponsor events will be arranged to meet sponsor requirements. The sailing vessel Gryphon Solo will be available for corporate entertaining on an agreed-upon schedule and Captain Joe Harris will be available for public speaking and appearances. WHAT S THE DEAL?
13 SPONSOR BENEFITS Media Coverage: Sponsors can expect outstanding coverage of each event from newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the Internet. The recent Around Alone campaign sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger garnered over 1,000 articles, including coverage from the N.Y. Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Outside Magazine and Men s Journal Magazine. TV exposure included features on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS, The Early Show, the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and ESPN, as well as coverage from many regional affiliates over the course of the race. The Gryphon Solo campaign Web site will feature your logo, as well as a link to your company s site for on-line promotional opportunities. The web program can be designed to fit your specific needs. In the 2001 Vendee Globe race, Ellen MacArthur and the Kingfisher campaign generated media exposure with an Equivalent Advertising Value of $55 million USD over a three year period. Put your name on Gryphon Solo and earn your share. Brand Promotion: In waterfront markets such as Boston and New York, millions will see the boat as they drive to work, look out their windows, walk the marina and hit the beach. As a result, she can be viewed as a mobile billboard displaying the name, slogan or logo of your company. Each part of the boat is assigned a value for placement of logos, ranging from a title sponsor s name in prominent positions on the sails, to the names and logos of gear providers in other locations. Corporate Entertaining: Gryphon Solo is an ideal platform for corporate entertaining before and after major events. Guests may opt for a relaxed harbor cruise or a more intense sailing experience. Each stop will also provide a race village where sponsors can display and promote their products. Employee Inspiration: With its unique focus on self-reliance, determination and resilience, solo sailing is a natural fit for employee motivational programs and initiatives. MORE REASONS
14 SPONSOR BENEFITS Corporate Team Building. Members of the Gryphon Solo team can be available for motivational seminars or as keynote speakers at corporate functions. Employees can also join the boat for informal racing, a great way to build trust and teamwork outside of an office environment. Educational Program. The basic structure and modules of an education program were developed by HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank) for the last race and can be further refined to reflect input from potential sponsors. The skipper will be able to communicate with students as the boat races around the world, sending images, video, and emails during each leg and helping students learn geography, culture, oceanography, meteorology and much more. Environmental Message. A clean, environmental-friendly image is important for any corporation and few sports are as closely linked to the environment as sailing. The Gryphon Solo campaign can work with established environmental agencies to develop an eco-message that resonates with your company s public image. SUMMARY
15 SUMMARY Sponsorship of the Gryphon Solo campaign can benefit many constituencies within your company, including employees, shareholders and clients. Media coverage, skipper interviews, and satellite communications while underway afford constant branding opportunities and exposure. All of which provides a return on investment that exceeds any advertising campaign, for significantly fewer dollars. We look forward to working with you to evaluate and quantify the value of this unique sponsorship opportunity for your company. For campaign information: Joe Harris 617-878-7759 joe@gryphonsolo.com For PR information: Talbot Wilson 850-217-7138 talbot@talbotwilson.com
The number of people who have climbed Mt. Everest: 1,500 The number of people who have flown in outer space: 560 The number of people who have sailed around the world alone: 256 One Man, One Boat, Around the World Alone
GRYPHON SOLO