What a busy time the crews in the Solidaire du Chocolat have had. (http://www.lasolidaireduchocolat.com/en). Certainly not the pleasant downwind sailing they were hoping for, instead they have had a week of boat breaking storms and the fleet is now down to 17 boats. Gives you an idea of what life is like on the edge.

As far as the People's Boat goes, things have been ticking along. We have some funky new designs for shirts and a new logo from graphic designer Chad Lethbridge (http://www.chadlethbridge.com/). The new logo is cleaver mix of sailing and people, shown above.

I will be at an event in Reading on the 12th November to promote the campaign, but before that I am off to a meeting with Cancer Research to finalise the agreement between us, then it's full steam ahead to find a major sponsor.

Busy Busy - mind you I would rather be out sailing :-)

Solidaire Du Chocolat

After another difficult night racing, the fleet is now down to 20 boats with 5 retirements.http://www.lasolidaireduchocolat.com/en
Nicko and Tim are coping well on Palanad II and are currently tracking the leading bunch in 8th place. Soon the winds will ease as the fleet head for the trade winds which will scoot them towards the equator and the doldrums. Hopefully they will keep clear of the Canary islands which put paid to our last trans Atlantic race from Portsmouth to Buenos Aires. The islands create a huge wind shadow and we dropped from the leading trio to 9th place in 24 hours, only to recover one more place before Buenos Aires - a costly error. Lets hope Nicko and Tim have learned from it!

Once in the trades these boats fly. Here is some video footage from the Azores race Nicko and I did in August. Enjoy

More entries

With 2 new entries in the Global Ocean race, things are hotting up and it's still 2 years away! Every time I read something about the race I just get more and more excited.

Here is an extract from the Organizers website www.globaloceanrace.com

"Shortly before the start of the double-handed transatlantic La Solidaire du Chocolat race for Class40s, President of the Class40 Association, Jacques Fournier, announced that he is entering the Global Ocean Race 2011-12, the official Class40 round the world race. His co-skipper for the current transatlantic race, Treasurer of the Class40 Association, Jean-Edouard Criquioche, will be joining Fournier for the 33,000 mile circumnavigation in two years time. The pair have co-owned and co-skippered their current Pogo 1 Class40 for some time already.

Having secured a three-year sponsorship deal with energy supplier, Groupe Picoty, Fournier and Criquioche have a well-funded campaign for the Global Ocean Race. “It is the dream of every sailor to race around the world,” said 39 year-old Criquioche on Sunday morning as he boarded Groupe Picoty for final, prestart preparation for La Solidaire du Chocolat. “We are very pleased and proud to have contracted with Josh Hall and his team to organise what will be a fantastic event for Class40.”

The French duo’s campaign for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 is already well advanced with a Pogo Version3 on order. Fournier and Criquioche will compete against each other in the single-handed Route du Rhum next year, both under the Groupe Picoty sponsorship, with Criquioche racing the current boat and Fournier the new one.

“The Groupe Picoty entry is a very exciting one for us,” said Josh Hall. “A two-boat campaign in preparation for the Global Ocean Race with two prominent members of the Class40 Association onboard is amazing – we extend a warm welcome to Jacques, Jean-Edouard and Groupe Picoty and we will be following their project with great interest.”

Fournier and Criquioche have now ensured their place on the start line and will join the seven international entries already signed-up for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12: Adrian Kuttel from South Africa; Patrice Carpentier from France; the Dutch solo sailor Nico Budel; British yachtsman Alex Alley; Belgian Yachtsman of the Year, Michel Kleinjans, and two entries from the USA and UK who wish to remain anonymous while their projects develop."

Website

I have to thank Peta at PR Works UK who pointed out that I don't have a link to my campaign website.

Well here it is:

People's Boat

Thanks again Peta for pointing that out. Guess thats why you work in PR and I don't.

Wild Group

Well I have just had a count up and see I have 197 pixels covered on the boat now.

The latest addition is the Wild Group based in Southampton and the Hamble. They are a graphics company who specialise in marine. They are also the company who will supply the hull graphic for the boat, so they have a vested interest in the project too.

Have a look at their website www.wildgroup.co.uk and see if they can help with anything. As well as clothing they do all sorts of other branding.

Wow
I just found myself on a couple of other websites I didn't even know about. It's a wierd feeling finding other people posting things about you.

http://www.puresail.com/2009/09/21/global-ocean-race-alex-alley-sixth-confirmed-entry-for-2011-12-event/
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=60853

Sponsorship

This is my first ever blog, so i hope it all goes ok!

Well, the people's Boat website is live and working, with people starting to populate it with their pictures and links. Many thanks to those that have.

My entry is in and I am confirmed as the second British entry.

Next job is to finalize the contract with Cancer Research UK as the campaign charity, then find a major sponsor for the campaign.

Other jobs include announcing the co skipper. I have 2 potentials with huge experience, either of them would be great to sail with.

On going is the push to get pixels sold and the hull populated, arrange a press launch, keep sailing.

I think thats it for now, but please do have a look at the website, www.peoplesboat.com, and get your picture or company logo on the boat.

A