Blue Sheets has been promoting the RNLI for the last two years by providing free advertising in our publication but an idea at the Southampton Boat Show has brought more interest than expected.

As James Stone, owner of Blue Sheets explains “We’ve always realised the importance of the work the RNLI carries out and came up with an idea of sending our RNLI bear, George, on a worldwide adventure to raise awareness for such a good cause”.

A few phone calls later and George had been given a place on Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss open 60 yacht for the first leg of the Velux Five Oceans race which will transport him from Bilbao, Spain to Sydney, Australia.

From there it is up to Alex to pass George onto a willing volunteer who will decide where he will travel next.  Each time George is passed on, pictures will be emailed back and broadcast on Georges weblog www.bluesheets.co.uk/wheresgeorge

Hopefully, George will return to the UK at some point where he will be auctioned, along with his logbook to raise money for the RNLI.  

You can view Georges send off at www.bluesheets.co.uk/wheresgeorgefilm.wmv

You can have your own George bear by becoming an offshore member of the RNLI.  For more details visit: www.rnli.org.uk/membership

The Future of Cowes Week

The Cowes Week Working Party (representing Cowes Combined Clubs and Cowes Week Sponsorship Limited), tasked with reviewing the current arrangements for the regatta and planning for the future, is grateful for the large response it has had to the on line questionnaire and for all other correspondence and information received from competitors, class associations and other interested parties.
 
An analysis of this material indicates no clear mandate to change the format of the regatta to a two week event. Accordingly the working party will be recommending that the event stay as one week.
 
The Working Party will undertake further analysis of the information provided to produce a number of detailed options for the continued improvement of a one week regatta, taking account of a number of the very useful suggestions which have been submitted. All race management issues will be considered further by Cowes Combined Clubs in the next few months; nevertheless we are publishing our conclusion in respect of this critical issue today because of the concern expressed by a number of interested parties and also to assist those planning other arrangements dependant on the outcome of our deliberations.
Peter Ralls QC, Chairman
 

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