June
8 , 2001
News
Flash!
TEAM
US CHALLENGE CLINCHES MINI-TRANSAT BERTH!
After
completing the 300-mile Select 650 Race and the light air-plagued
700-mile Mini Pavois Race, Gale is now assured a spot on the starting
line for the 2001 Mini-Transat. Of the 25 slots for Gale's Open
6.5 Prototype class sloops, only four remain so it was key that
Gale competed in these early events. Interestingly, the Frenchman
who won both races, Ronen Guerin, has not yet qualified nor have
several other top finishers including the Canadian hopeful, Damian
De Pas.
Gale
is one of only four women who have qualified. Samantha Davis of
England, sailing Aberdeen Asset Management—named for her
sponsor—is a 1999 Whitbread competitor. Karen Liebovici of
France, sailing Karen Liquide—the boat that won the 1999
Mini-Transat, and sponsored by Elle Magazine—has several
years of Mini experience while Jeanne Gregoire, another French
woman, sailing Reglisse—a 95 Rolland design—raced Minis
all last season and finished first in the 2000 Concarneau Race.
URGENT
NEED FOR A SPONSOR--CAN YOU HELP FIND ONE?
Gale's
biggest hurdle now is finding a sponsor and/or patrons. The boat
needs a new set of sails--the main is shot, the chutes are old,
there's no #3, and we need another Code Zero. Also, a new mast
must be ordered as the patch over the dimple where it inverted
last year cannot be trusted for the ocean passage. The running
rigging must be replaced and spares purchased, the gen set needs
upgrading, additional safety equipment is required, and the list
goes on. Gale needs more time in France for training and conditioning
and would like to hire a sailing coach to sharpen her racing skills.
We want to win this race!
We
estimate a minimum of $50,000 is needed. If anyone has contacts
to corporate decisionmakers or can otherwise help locating a corporate
sponsor please let us know. The sponsor gets to name the boat
& design the graphics with the company name on sails &
hull. Plus, the sponsor is featured on all Team US Challenge communications
& gear and has rights to Gale & the boat's images for
promotional use.
Or,
if you know of any individuals who might be interested in becoming
patrons for the only American woman to take on the challenge of
doing a single-handed transatlantic crossing please contact them.
Patronage is tax deductible through the EYC Foundation.
We
have a very nice informational package in full color that is available.
Let us know if you would like one to make a presentation to any
potential sponsors/patrons.
RACING
SCHEDULE
Gale
had scheduled the Mini-Fastnet Race, 815 miles from St. Quay to
Fastnet Rock and back to Douanenez, France, this June 10 to be
sailed as a double-handed event with Albert Bargues, the former
owner of the boat. However, at this time it appears that participation
may be cancelled because of the sail inventory limitations described
above.
Gale
is still hoping to participate in several races in July &
August—the Demi Cle and Transgascogne in particular. These
are held in the stormy Bay of Biscay and will provide important
local knowledge for the first half of the Mini-Transat leg from
La Rochelle to Lanzerote. The new, UK-sponsored 810-mile Mini
Challenge Triangle in July sends the Mini racers across the Solent
and English Channel from Portsmouth to St. Malo and return to
Portsmouth via Crosshaven. This is a double-handed race. Any top
racers out there up for a ride on a Mini?
LONG
TERM GOALS
The
2001 Mini-Transat is the first stage of Gale's five-year solo
racing program that will culminate in the 2006 Around Alone Race,
the well known single-handed around the world race.
After
the finish of the Mini-Transat, Team U.S. Challenge will start
an Open 50 racing program in 2002. Gale will compete in international
short-handed races such as the Route de Rhum, Transat Jaques Fabre,
and Europe 1 Man Star.
In
2004, we will commission an Open 60 for a venue of short-handed
& Grand Prix events to complete Gale's training for the 2006
Around Alone.
TRAVEL
PACKAGES
Gale's
niece, Tara, and her employer, Global Travel, present the following
suggested travel packages for our Team and Gale's supporters:
La
Rochelle September 2001
Packages
from $1800 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare
from Baltimore to Paris round trip, 10 days compact rental car,
3 nights hotel in Paris, 3 nights hotel in Bordeaux, and 3 nights
in La Rochelle.
Madrid/Lanzerote
October 2001
Packages
from $1700 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare
from Baltimore to Madrid and then on to Lanzerote round trip,
3 nights hotel in Madrid, 4 day compact car rental in Madrid,
and 4 nights hotel in Lanzerote.
Rio/Salvador
da Bahia November 2001
Packages
from $2500 per person double occupancy. Packages include airfare
from Baltimore to Rio round trip, Brazil air pass, 3 nights
hotel in Rio, 3 nights hotel in Salvador and 2 nights in the
Amazon. [Ed. note: I visited Brazil in 1997 for the Penguin
Internationals in Rio. Fabulous! Great beaches, food, music,
shops! Salvador was the colonial capital of Brazil, like Annapolis—very
historic—with restoration of old buildings, neat yacht
harbor, beaches & shops. Adding the side trip to the Amazon...this
package sounds like a winner!]
All
these packages can also be customized for individual preferences.
Also, the La Rochelle In-the-Water Boat Show is the week before
the start of the Mini-Transat for those interested.
Contact
Tara at Global Travel, 208 387-1000 ext. 2101, 208 338-6042
fax for specifics.
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
Gale's
team, Team U.S. Challenge, needs some helping hands. We need help
to run the team gear sales program, the yacht club outreach program,
our public appearance & promotional program, and to coordinate
our mailing program. In addition, we will need consultants, outfitters,
and support staff for the Open 50 and 60 campaigns. If you can
contribute your time & skills, please contact Kathy Weber,
410 263-5983.
PARTNERSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
As
noted above, we are urgently seeking Title and Supporting Partners.
These will be the primary corporate entities linked to Team U.S.
Challenge's campaigns and will receive exclusive promotional packages
featuring boat graphics & signage and exposure through all
campaign efforts and events.
They
will also receive exclusive rights to use Gale & the boats'
images and to feature Gale at public appearances.
We
have developed a variety of partnership opportunities at varying
levels of financial commitment. Anyone interested in a high exposure,
multi-national advertising and publicity opportunity, can contact
Cheryl Jersey, 410 268-5475, for details of the partnership program.
We
also want to thank Nancy Noyes for her work on our press releases
and other media communications, Elvia Thompson for her website
design and maintenance work, and Jeff Borland for website hosting.
DONATIONS
Tax
deductible donations can be made to Gale's campaign. Make checks
payable to the EYC Foundation, (a 501(c)(3) organization), Attn:
Women's Sailing, and mail/deliver to Eastport Yacht Club, 317
First St., Annapolis, MD 21403. Check out the EYC
Foundation web page for news about their projects and their
mission statement.
YACHT
CLUBS
Eastport
Yacht Club, Annapolis, Maryland, is the lead yacht club supporting
Gale's historic campaign. We invite other clubs who would like
to meet Gale and have her give a presentation about her boat and
the Mini-Transat race to contact us.
Cheers,
