New Sponsor - BLUEMAPIA

Glad to welcome the latest sponsor onboard.

A great new concept in yachting/social media. Bluemapia is an online community where like minded sailors can share their experiences on cruising. It is based on a Google map format onto which people can place information about a port or a trip they have made, then others can use the information for their own purposes. It is a bit like a Wiki page for cruising sailors.

Go have a look at their website and sign up to upload your own trips and helpful tips on ports you have been to.

As always it seems the simple ideas are the best - well done Marcello and everyone at Bluemapia for creating such an intuitive and brilliant site.

Olympic medalist sponsors People's Boat

The latest sponsor of the People's Boat campaign is none other than Olympic swimming medalist and BBC sport reporter, Steve Parry.

Steve won Bronze at the Olympic games in Athens in 2004 for 200m butterfly and was the first British swimmer to win a medal for 8 years. He has held several records and understands what it means to be committed to winning, much like we are.

He now runs a training company called Total Swimming which encourages people to get into the water and swimming. They currently have a program of touring schools and setting up a portable swimming pool in the school hall and having top swimmers, such as Steve, encouraging them.

'It's great to have someone like Steve in the campaign who understands top level performance'

Disney/Pixar appointment

Well what a great start to the year...

I have just been asked to be the 'sailing advisor' for a new Disney/Pixar film being made right now, called 'John Carter of Mars'

There is a scene which involves airships which 'sail' across Mars, so I will be working with an aviation adviser as well.

Life is never boring that's for sure. I'll keep you posted as to how it all goes.

Here's to a good year

Well with christmas and new year out of the way it is back to looking for a title sponsor. Cancer Research UK are busy working with a couple of potential sponsors, while I have been in touch with some other well know companies - watch this space.

New year was great for me. I was at a party on a friends house boat - huge amount of space and comfort, nothing like a Class 40! However it was nice to begin the new year again on a boat on the water (albeit connected to the shore).

PEOPLE'S BOAT DRAW - JANUARY RESULT

The lucky winner of this months draw for a day out on the race yacht is - SAILING FOR FUN. A small yacht charter company based in Cornwall. They have three pixels on the race yacht on the starboard quarter.

Other news; Ramsgate week is now filling up with corporate days now booked by Hornby, Scalextric and Vattenfall. Although not racing we will be sailing around entertaining the guests for the day and may even join in one or two of the longer races such as Round the Goodwins where we can stretch our legs and show what a Class 40 can really go like once let free.

All the very best to everyone who has supported us in these early stages and here's to a great 2010.