Patrice Carpentier reports on the rash of new Open 60s that have been commissioned for September s Around Alone race and for the subsequent Vend e Globe. It is a cruel irony that the disasters of the last Vend e, have, as widely predicted apparently eased the path of many of those now trying to attract sponsorship for similar events.
Adventure sells and danger sells even better.
With this in mind it is encouraging that some of the current Whitbread entries are working hard to cooperate with the race organisers in bringing the race into the homes of TV viewers. Sailing Whitbread 60s in heavy air, in either hemisphere, is captivating stuff, capable of finding space on the schedules of many broadcasters around the world. Make no mistake, this race, and its media effectiveness, has the potential to be really significant for sailing, for its popularity with sponsors and the public alike. With this in mind, it should be no surprise how hard most of the crews are working to help those trying to broadcast their exploits to those following from the shore. Some of the crews in this race will become significantly more marketable as a result of their greater commitment to communication - even though it may sometimes be very inconvenient.