Sevenstar to Title Sponsor Cowes Round of Britain & Ireland Sailing Race

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) confirmed the leading Dutch specialist yacht transport company, Sevenstar as title sponsor of the 1,802 nautical mile non-stop race starting from Cowes, Isle of Wight on 10th August 2014.

Sevenstar sponsored the race in 2006 and 2010 when 30 yachts from nine different nations competed in a thrilling and world record breaking event. 

Richard Klabbers, Managing Director of Sevenstar who competed in the last two events and secured victory in IRC Two aboard Harry Heijst’s S&S 41, Winsome, explains the reason for their sponsorship:

“After beating upwind for 14 days non-stop in the now renowned 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race,I am hooked on this event! We are very proud to be the title sponsor once again and feel that the determination and tenacity this endurance race demands from competitors is in line with what Sevenstar stands for as the Global leader in Yacht Transport. Together with what the RORC stands for in terms of values, traditions and reliability, we are certain to be the right partner for the race and the RORC. We also believe that this race is attractive to the serious offshore racer and we will see an impressive fleet at the start line in 2014.”

Sevenstar also announced a significant new incentive for competitors in the race – a prize for the first boat under IRC rating will receive a US$20,000 voucher for yacht transport to their selected destination in the world.

“As organisers, The Royal Ocean Racing Club is delighted to secure this long term partnership with Sevenstar Yacht Transport who have now supported the race for the last three events,” says RORC CEO, Eddie Warden Owen. 

“I won’t forget the hair-raising sight as I watched the 2010 race explode into action under grey leaden skies and big breeze. It was a magnificent start, 25 knots from the southwest with gusts of up to 30 knots coming out of the Medina River. All the yachts made an impressive sight as they charged down the Solent! This race is much more challenging than an Atlantic crossing because the crews will face the vagaries of the tides and unpredictable weather; dodging oil rigs and container ships and constant sail changing as the course alters at each major headland.”

Volvo Ocean Race CEO, Knut Frostad confirmed their support for the 2014 edition which starts two months before the Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante: 

“The Volvo Ocean Race wholeheartedly support the 2014 Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race as it’s an ideal race for our teams to use as a warm up with the new one design VO65 fleet. The testing conditions round Britain and Ireland are perfect for an extreme shakedown and also offers the chance for teams to race up against each other for the first time before they head for Alicante and the start of the 2014 Volvo Ocean Race.”