sponsorship

 Hi Sailor Girl,

You are obviously still at school.....  My advice would be to do a Degree in Marketing when you finish school and apply what you learn to finding a sponsor.  Also study up on big boats and when you finish, find a job in Marketing within the Marine industry.  You can use your contacts in the media to also help promote your campaign.

My crew is the Marketing manager for SeaWind Catamarans and his skills and contacts have come in quiet usefull.

Also when you get going you should prepare a

- Proposal, hard copy to initally send them

- Powerpoint presentation to show them when you meet with them  (bring own lap top).  Include a video in this.  And maybe give them a copy on disc.

Follow up with them after the meeting.

Important to remember that you should not make yourself look like a charaty.  Show them you have something to offer......  ie publicity.  You must convince them that investing in you campaign will increase their sales.

Should also as mentioned above...  send out press releases when ever you do something.  Both to them and the media.

Also can arange a corporate day where you can take you sponnsor out for a days sail (maybe a charter yacht and maybe cruising around one of your major regattas)

Wear their merchandise at regattas and sailing functions

Gifts for the sponnors such as a team T-shirt or a framed photo or video of you or your team in action.

Create a website and post up to date results, pics, what your calander is, and most important, your sponnsors logos and links to thier web sites.

Hope this is of some help.

Also check your Private Messages

i think sailor girl has that one cracked!!