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.

Happy Christmas

It's odd to think that two years from now, I will (hopefully) be in or near Wellington, New Zealand having blasted through the Southern Ocean again.

This year has been difficult finding sponsorship, but there seem to be three potential major sponsors in the mix right now, all making promising noises, so fingers crossed in January.

The boat we are looking to get is still in south America and due to be shipped back soon.

We have meetings with North sails Uk to discuss the sail wardrobe for the campaign.

January I will be at the London Boat show trying to drum up support for People's Boat and have a PR photo shoot arranged for the Wednesday (if you see me walking around do come and say Hi).

August we will be in Ramsgate, sailing dignitaries around, and I have been asked to hand out some of the prizes for Ramsgate Week regatta.

So for now Have a happy Christmas and here's to a great 2010.

Cheers

People's Boat Limited

With thanks to Mark Hendy, we have now filed the 'new company' application with Companies House to make People's Boat a limited company.

We have decided to do this for two reasons;

Firstly we wanted to portray a professional image to potential sponsors and make the campaign more bona fide,

Secondly we wanted to open up a completely separate business bank account for the People's Boat, again we want to show that we are a serious, professional campaign.

I'll keep you up to date with how this progresses and let everyone know the new bank details in case you want to BACS sponsorship rather than use Paypal.

Tenth entry announced

There are now 10 confirmed entries in the 2011/12 Global Ocean race with the addition of South African Lenjohn van der Wel.

The competition is hotting up now and the race organisers have announced that the race will be for 2 handed entries only - there will be no singlehanded division.

The hunt is now on for a COMPETITIVE class 40 boat and there are several on the shopping list.

Will let you all know as soon as something comes along.

And the winner is.......

Congratulations to 'Jen and Chalky' (Colin Rotchell) as the first winners of the day out on the People's Boat. Now they have to decide which one of them is going to go sailing.

Both have been RNLI crew on the Thames so know their way around a boat and I look forward to a day out on the yacht with either one of them, let's just hope we don't need the services of their colleagues.

We will be having a draw on the first of the month for the next 5 months and we will then have a day out with the six lucky winners. By sponsoring the People's Boat you will automatically be entered into the draw as well as helping the campaign and Cancer Research.