AAM Cowes Week - Under 25 Trophy entry numbers increased

by Phoebe Eaton on 28 Jan 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management extend their support of the Under 25 Trophy to 25 crews, along with a range of benefits being offered by event partners to young crews taking part in 2015.

For the last three years Cowes Week title sponsor, Aberdeen Asset Management, has supported youth sailing by introducing the Under 25 initiative and the fiercely contested Under 25 Trophy. Now in its fourth year, Aberdeen is delighted to announce that the opportunity for young teams to compete in the Under 25 Trophy at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2015 will be extended even further.

Having helped to increase the numbers of young people taking part in the regatta by almost 10 per cent, Aberdeen’s support of the youth sailing initiative is being increased from 20 to 25 crews in 2015. The first 25 crews to enter the event and confirm their entire team of under 25-year-olds will have their entry fees covered by Aberdeen, as well as receiving team sailing kit and having the chance to compete for the prestigious Under 25 Trophy.

Jill Maxwell, Head of Sponsorship and Corporate Events at Aberdeen Asset Management, said: 'Our commitment to youth sailing at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week has been long-running and we are pleased to announce that for the fourth year in a row we will be increasing our support of the Under 25 trophy, which this year will allow the first 25 crews to enter the regatta for free. At Aberdeen we want to encourage youth participation in the event and look forward to seeing the Under 25 crews wearing their Aberdeen kit with pride around the regatta this summer'.

Last year, the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy was more competitive than ever with crews from across a wide variety of classes racing for the award. The crew of Jugador in the J/70 class fought off competition from Shoreham Youth Team in the Sonar class to take the Trophy home, with Jugador skipper, Jack Davies, also taking the Young Skipper’s Trophy.

Jugador skipper, Jack Davies, said: 'I was absolutely thrilled to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy in 2014. It was a huge milestone for the team, as well as one of my personal aims in sailing. To win the competition at such an iconic regatta and in such a strong field of entries was really special for us'.

'The support of Aberdeen Asset Management makes an enormous difference. Without their support, the opportunity to race at Cowes Week would be less affordable for many of the younger sailing teams out there. They give us a great opportunity to be part of a superb regatta, and some nice kit alongside'.

Stuart Quarrie, Sailing Director at Cowes Week Limited (CWL), added: 'It’s fantastic that Aberdeen Asset Management is extending its support for young sailors at the 2015 regatta. As organisers of the event it’s extremely important for us to package-up an attractive range of benefits that make taking part in the regatta more cost effective for the next generation. Often, these young people are at a stage in their lives when they have less available cash so we are really grateful for the support from Aberdeen Asset Management'.

'In addition to this, CWL is delighted to confirm that once all 25 Under 25 entries have been received as fully funded entries by Aberdeen, CWL will offer a 50% discount off the entry fee on any subsequent entries received with a full crew of under 25 year olds'.

Young crews looking to make the most of the initiative will have to act fast with fourteen Under 25 crews having already entered into the 2015 regatta. In addition to Aberdeen’s support, through its network of event partners CWL has been working hard on packaging up a range of benefits that provide further support for eligible young sailors, including:

· A 50% discount on berthing for boats up to 10m LOA at East Cowes Marina. Bookings will be accepted for the discounted berthing fee once the entry has been confirmed with CWL.
· A 15% discount on Sunsail charter bookings for the full week as well as single day charters.
· Discounted tickets on the Red Funnel Red Jet service if pre-booked in advance of the regatta through the Regatta Office.

Further cementing the regatta’s commitment to youth sailing, 2015 will also be the second year for Cowes-based youth charity, UKSA, as the official charity of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Last year, UKSA raised enough funds to give every Year 6 child on the Isle of Wight a session on the water. Further details on 2015 fundraising plans will be announced soon.

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week takes place from 8-15 August, 2015. For more information and to enter, please visit here.