2009 Event Sponsors and Exhibitors
Below is a list of all companies sponsoring the 2009 event.
Abu Dhabi, the Arabian Gulf emirate, in the largest of the seven states which make up the United Arab Emirates and home to the country's capital. Abu Dhabi has a strong maritime culture with an extensive coastline and 200 islands which lie off its mainland creating a leisure ground for residents and tourists alike. The development of signature destinations within Abu Dhabi emirate will increase the availability of world-class marinas and berths and further enhance its maritime leisure profile.
Swiss-born André Grossman is the founder of the watch trademark HORUS. After working for 10 years as a plane technician in the aeronautical field, the skills and expertise gave him the necessary skills to create innovating and atypical timepieces. It took 4 years of research and development in association with our partners, each leader in their particular fields to create a new watch concept, HORUS, where highly complex mechanisms are made to measure and personalized.
The Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona (FNOB) was created in 2005 with the aim of encouraging a culture for the sea and increasing the level of offshore sailing in Spain as fitting for a country with such a great maritime tradition. The creation of the FNOB was the result of the work of a platform created by the Barcelona City Council, the Fira de Barcelona, the Barcelona Port Authority, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, and the technical management of the Consorci EL FAR. The Fundació is based on three main strategies: sport, industry and technology and communication.
The creation and organisation of the Barcelona World Race, in association with OC Events, is a particularly noteworthy achievement - The first around the world sailing race of international scope to be organised in Spain. The first edition (November 2007 to March 2008) saw 18 of the best skippers in the world set sail from Barcelona on nine IMOCA class racing yachts. The Barcelona World Race, the first around the world race to be named after a city, was a huge sporting and media success. It has made an enormous difference to the FNOB objectives, and in the time leading up to the next edition of the race, which starts on 31st December 2010, a number of projects are being developed to encourage and promote activities related to high-level offshore sailing competition.
Among these projects are the 'Escudería' - for Racing Teams -, the conception and construction of a nautical base in Barcelona, as well as seminars and activities held at the university to promote the human, scientific, technological and communication values of offshore sailing. The FNOB has also taken the initiative in setting up an association with other governing bodies in the organization of races, such as the IMOCA Circuit, the Istanbul Europa Race in 2009 and the New York-Barcelona Transatlantic Sailing Record with the New York Sports Commission, in spring 2010.
In 1953, Prince Rainier III of Monaco founded the Yacht Club de Monaco. It was a natural evolution for the «Société des Régates», with the aim being "to develop, encourage, and serve the promotion of the Principality in the Yachting sector". That is still the case today, as it was in 1984, when HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco agreed to be its President. Today, the club's prestigious premises offer a convivial harbour for more than 800 members, comprising 44 nationalities.
The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's oldest and most prestigious offshore yacht race. The event's history and tradition reach back to 1973 as the ultimate test of individual courage, teamwork and technology in harness and in opposition with the full forces of nature. The next edition of the race will be from 2011-2012.
The World Match Racing Tour is the official world match racing championship series sanctioned by ISAF, the world governing body of sailing. The Tour currently features nine stages around the world including events in Malaysia, Korea, Sweden, Denmark, Bermuda, Germany, France, Switzerland and Portugal. The world's top sailing teams compete on the Tour including many of the America's Cup sailors and skippers. The World Match Racing Tour are sponsoring luncheon on Day 2 of the World Yacht Racing Forum this year.
Clipper Ventures Plc was founded by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1995. The organisation develops and promotes major marine events capable of attracting significant participation, media coverage and associated sponsorship revenue, including the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race for non-professional sailors and the VELUX 5 OCEANS, a professional solo round the world yacht race. The Clipper Race is a unique event and its seventh circumnavigation departed the UK in 2009 under the banner 'Raced by people like you'.
The crew profile from 41 nationalities, 230 different professions and ages ranging from 18 to 67 creates strong mass market engagement, delivering a significant return for its sponsors. The VELUX 5 OCEANS race delivers an affordable solo challenge that fully embraces the Corinthian spirit. It also attracts strong media attention thanks to the variety of competitors who take on the challenge. Clipper Ventures also has training and events divisions which operate year round. Clipper Training has now trained over 1,800 people who intend to race across the oceans and around the world as part of the Clipper Race. Clipper Events prides itself on being the UK's premier provider of sailing hospitality, fleet racing, experiential management training and team development events.
Mirabaud & Cie, banquiers privés was founded in Geneva in 1819. Originally a bank operating solely in Switzerland, Mirabaud has since developed its brand on three continents. As a wealth and asset manager for international clients, Mirabaud offers tailor-made services in private banking, institutional asset management and fund management, and has more than 30 years' experience in alternative investment management, brokerage, corporate finance and custody.
Mirabaud has a very strong relationship with sailing and is pleased to be partner of the Yacht Racing Images 2009. Mirabaud is also, among others, title sponsor of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud and was a partner of the Olympic winner of the Yinglinggirls in Beijing. Mirabaud is also the owner of the Open 60 MIRABAUD based in Valencia, which won the BOC Challenge with Christophe Auguin, the English Transat with Yves Parlier or the Québec-St Malo with Xavier Lecoeur.
Assets under management: € 15,5 bn (September 2009)
No. of employees: 526 (338 in Switzerland)
Offices: 10 (Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Paris, Monaco, London, Montreal, Nassau, Hong Kong, Dubai)
Canon Europe is a subsidiary of Canon Inc. of Japan, a world-leading innovator and provider of imaging solutions for individuals and businesses. The main business focus for Canon Europe is in two clearly defined markets: Business Solutions (developing IT products, solutions and services for the office and professional print environments) and Consumer Imaging (photo, video, printers, scanners, fax machines and multifunction devices). Canon Europe also provides Industrial Products including broadcast lenses, semiconductor and medical equipment. Canon Europe employs over 11,000 people across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
