Since being back from my world record setting sail around Australia, things have been rather busy. One of the reasons I wanted to sail around Australia was to open up some options in a sailing career and they have certainly come about. First of all I am setting up a tour of Australian Yacht Clubs and Primary Schools for Sept – December this year. I have also set up Save Our Seas Australia which will soon be non profit organisation. And I have set up a sailing calendar where people can come and join me for racing in major offshore events. All the details are below:
SAVE OUR SEAS AUSTRALIA
My campaign to rid the world of plastic bags is continuing and to further the campaign I have been setting up a Save Our Seas Australia which will hopefully soon be non profit (Up to the government to decide if we comply) So rather than trading under SOS Ocean Racing, soon we will be operating under Save Our Seas Australia. The campaign will be about the 3A’s.
Awareness – We will continue to raise awareness of the damage plastic bags and plastic do to our environment. We will sail in major regattas. We will be talking to schools and yacht clubs and doing presentations to any group we can access.
Alternatives – We will be promoting alternatives to plastic bags and plastics.
Action – We will be taking action to teach people, especially our next generation, working with those who help clean up the problem and campaigning our governments.
In the long run I would like to see the marine industry get behind this campaign. It is our backyard we are talking about, the oceans and rivers of Australia. We must take care of them to continue to enjoy them.
DARE TO DREAM TOUR
Departing after Hamilton Island race week, I am touring Australia by car this time. My goal is to talk to as many primary schools as possible and I will also be speaking at yacht clubs over dinners. The tour will also be the launching of my book “Dare to Dream” which is a book based on going for your dreams in life and is sailing biased. It is not the same as the usual “Post Circumnavigation” book written by most sailors, this is about setting yourself dreams and going after them and tells stories of many sailors I know and my own story of how we have chased our dreams.
Yacht Clubs – Several yacht clubs have already taken up the opportunity to host me for an evening. Quite simply we are asking any group that is interested, even if it isn’t at your club, to host a dinner and I will speak in between meals. All we ask is that you add $25 per head to the cost of the evening and that money will go to Save Our Seas Australia to continue the work they are doing. Already I have several clubs lined up but am looking for more. The more I can get my message out the better. I am also keen to speak to youth sailing programs as well.
Primary Schools – Having announce the tour of the yacht clubs I then got contacted by several primary schools so I have included the primary schools in the tour. 1/2 day talks to each school will give me a chance to speak to the next generation about our environmental issues. We have asked for a small $300 fee which will once again go to the Save Our Seas Australia organisation.
For more details on the tour visit www.sosoceanracing.com/tour.htm
If you have a contact at a school or yacht club, please tell them about this tour, I am looking to fill my calendar.
SAILING ON BOARD SOS OCEAN RACING
SOS Ocean Racing will soon be run under the Save Our Seas Australia banner and the schedule is very busy. Focusing on major offshore races we have now set up the program the anyone can join us onboard our vessels for major races as long as they bring sponsors to the program. By sailing in these major races we can create a lot of awareness but the main thing is to raise funds for the Save Our Seas Australia organisation so they can continue their work.
You may realise above that I have said “vessels”. It is plural as we will soon be using 2 boats for our campaign. We have grand plans for the rest of the year and next year and we are currently negotiating with several big boat owners to use their boats to continue our campaign. We are only looking at boats over 60ft for this, from Volvo 60’s right through to 100 footers and soon we will be able to announce the boat. However in the meantime this is the schedule.
Airlie Beach Race Week – (Welbourn 12m) Bring $2,000 worth of sponsorship to the campaign and you can join us for Airlie Beach Race Week. It is always a great week full of fun and awesome race courses around the Whitsundays.
Hamilton Island Race Week – (Welbourn 12m) Bring $3,000 worth of Sponsorship to the campaign and you can join us for Hamilton Island Race Week. With almost 200 boats entering yearly, this is a favorite regatta for many a sailor, especially those down south. So if you can’t get your boat here, join us for a week of shorts and t-shirt racing.
Sydney to Hobart – The first of our events planned for the 2nd boat. This is the ultimate event and the dream of so many. It is not often you get a chance to ride on a thoroughbred like you will with us with a start alongside the maxi yachts but this is your chance. Bring $10,000 sponsorship to the campaign and you will fulfill a dream.
Pittwater to Coffs – (Welbourn 12m) Bring $2,500 worth of sponsorship and you can join in the 30th running of this race that heads to beautiful Coffs Harbour. With our boat being a downwind flyer, this is the ideal race for her so we hope to be pushing the big boats for overall victory whilst racing at the front.
Coffs to Paradise – (Welbourn 12m) Bring $2,000 worth of sponsorship and you join us for this overnight sprint to the Gold Coast. It ran for the first year last year and proved popular so we are looking forward to joining in on the festivities this time.
Brisbane to Gladstone – (Welbourn 12m) Bring $3,000 worth of sponsorship and you can join us on what is my favorite race all year. After 7 years running I can’t get enough of this Easter tradition. Last year racing solo I finished in 32 hours and only 3 hours behind the Farr 40’s so with a full crew I hope to be right at the front of the fleet battling for the podium.
Around Australia Record Attempt (Including Brisbane to Gladstone) – Yes I want to go around again, but this time I’m taking my mates. It will be on the big boat so we will be taking plenty of people, up to 22 in fact. Where else in the world can you get a chance to sail around Australia non stop, to possibly break a world record and on board a purpose built offshore racing vessel. Well this is your opportunity. You need to bring $15,000 worth of sponsors to the campaign but for your efforts in bringing us sponsors you will get an experience you will never forget, in fact it will probably be life changing. Last years solo record changed my life forever. I am not going to tell you it was easy and we don’t want people joining us who are not ready for the ultimate extreme challenge. However for those up for the challenge this is going to be an amazing experience.
Like last year we will use the Brisbane to Gladstone as a warm up and then sail up to Airlie for final preparations. Then in May we will set off to try and break through 30 days. We have to beat 37 days to break the world record and the World Sailing Speed Record Council will be out to ratify our attempt.
For all the events listed you need to bring sponsors to the campaign to sail with us. You can get your own business or businesses you know to sponsor you and you will become their personal representative onboard the vessel. You can bring as many sponsors as you like and the amounts are a minimum. Every race will be with Ian Thomson as skipper apart from the Welbourn 12m in the Brisbane to Gladstone where Ian will be onboard the bigger vessel so you will be sailing with a world record holder. We will teach you everything you need to know and you will train with Ian to get the most out of the vessel and out of yourself. These are experiences you will remember forever and you will also be helping a worth campaign to rid our oceans of the plastic debris which is killing our wildlife. Just send us your sailing resume or call for more information on what we can do for your sponsors. Sponsorships can also be raised through your club or business with fund raising events. Or maybe you just want to fund it yourself, it doesn’t matter, this is about supporting a worthy cause.
It may not be you who wants to sail these events so pass this onto people you think might be interested. Maybe you have a talented youth member of your club you can support.
We are also seeking a founding sponsor of our Save Our Seas Australia. If you know any companies that might be interested in supporting our cause, then we will offer major coverage on both of our yachts for their sponsorship as well as throughout my tour around Australia and any other event we run. So put them in touch.
DARE TO DREAM – THE BOOK
In September I will be releasing my book “Dare to Dream” Initially it will only be for sale at the talks I give at yacht clubs or through our website. After the tour we will be distributing through book stores world wide. This is not just for the sailor. Whilst it has a sailing bias, this is about encouraging people to create dreams and go after them. Without taking the risk I did, I would not have achieved my dream of sailing around Australia. Sometimes you have to take the extra step to get there. So stay tuned.
Well thank you for your time and I hope to see you all on my tour or here in Airlie soon.
Kind regards,
Ian Thomson
“Onwards and Upwards”
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SOS Ocean Racing
www.sosoceanracing.com
SAVE OUR SEAS
Mobile: 0412 932 808
Skype: sosoceanracing