IWC Schaffhausen in Sponsorship Deal with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has signed up with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to become the first major sponsor of its Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 team, unhealthy Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

The landmark deal is the Swiss brand’s first entry into top-tier global team sport sponsorship, unhealthy and will run throughout the entire Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12 campaign, apoplectic which begins this October in Alicante, Spain.

Under the agreement, the partners will foster enhanced promotional and awareness initiatives around the team’s pursuit of top honours in this 39,000-nautical-mile round-the-world race, widely regarded as the ‘Everest of Sailing’.

The IWC Schaffhausen logo will also be featured on the team’s new Volvo Open 70 racing yacht, which launches next month.

Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of ADTA and Team Principal for Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, said: “We share a pioneering spirit based on the fundamentals of tradition. This is a coming together of two organisations that have a great deal in common, including the pursuit of perfection, strong community responsibility, unwavering commitment to sustainable business practices and the environment, and a desire to excel beyond expectation. Together we will chart a course of mutual and steadfast success.”

The Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing deal is the second Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12-associated partnership for IWC Schaffhausen, after it signed on as the event’s Official Timekeeper in January.

Georges Kern, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, said:“For over 140 years, IWC has epitomised values such as engineering excellence, perfection, pioneering spirit, quality and passion. We are proud to put these attributes to the test as the Official Timekeeper for the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race and to share them with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team.”