RYA appoints Corbis to secure British Sailing Team title partner

Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth at the Santander ISAF Sailing World Championships © Richard Langdon / British Sailing Team

The Royal Yachting Association, the UK's national governing body for sailing and windsurfing, has appointed Corbis as its commercial agency to work on securing a title partner for the British Sailing Team in the Olympic and Paralympic Classes.

Sailing is one of Great Britain's Olympic and Paralympic success stories, with a World Class Programme which consistently delivers podium results at World and European Championship level, and at the pinnacle Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The British Sailing Team's preparations towards sustaining this success at Rio 2016 are already well underway, with 2014 seeing the first official Olympic Test Event held on Rio's Olympic waters, and the team qualifying its maximum number of country quota spots for the Olympic and Paralympic Games at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander (ESP), and the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships in Halifax (CAN).

The team is seeking commercial partners to provide investment towards its ambitious medal-winning plans, according to RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park OBE.

"London 2012 had a major role in showcasing Olympic sailing to a huge global audience, comprising both sailors and non-sailors. The sport continues to increase its profile and remains a very attractive proposition for corporate parties that have marketing aims which match the sport – whether those be brand awareness, or exclusive B2B networking and hospitality opportunities.

Park continued: "These are exciting times for the world of Olympic sailing, which present commercial opportunities for companies looking to associate their names with an innovative, engaging and accessible sport which can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

"From a British Sailing Team perspective, we're actively seeking partners to join us on our journey and are pleased to have Corbis on board with us to help us achieve commercial success as well as medal success.

"Through the investment and support of a partner who shares our values and goals, and who we can work with to support and achieve theirs, we can add vital supporting touches to our medal-winning plans and turn fourth or fifth places into podium finishes, or bronze medals into gold ones."

Corbis has experience and success both in the National Governing Body sector and the sailing industry working with brands such as Aberdeen Asset Management with their sponsorship of Cowes Week, as well as securing England Hockey a partnership with Now Pensions, and pairing British Fencing with Beazley Insurance.

Andrew White at Corbis commented: "We're delighted to be working with the British Sailing Team – a hugely attractive property and one of the stand-out performers in British Olympic and Paralympic sporting circles, with a proven track record in delivering success both on the water and for its commercial partners."

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