Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race - Naming sponsor announced

by G2LHI Media on 13 Dec 2013 For the 40th Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race Mount Gay Rum has taken up the naming rights sponsorship, the Gosford Sailing Club is pleased to announce.

After brief negotiations between the club and brands management at Suntory Australia Ltd (distributors of Mount Gay Rum), it was agreed that the event and brand are a great match.

Mount Gay has a tradition of supporting yacht races and regattas all around the world and the red caps have long been a symbol of accomplishment in the sailing community.

The G2LHI Race has received great support over the years from a number of sponsors, but would seem more fitting than Mount Gay Rum.

2014 Race Director Geoff Jollow says that the Race Committee and GSC management are rapt over the new union, which is hoped to develop into a long term association.

'With the changes made last year to improve the event, we feel like we have a better product than in past years and the addition of Mount Gay as our major sponsor gives the race further stature'.

Meanwhile, early competitor interest for the 2014 race set to start in Broken Bay on April 5th suggests that the Lord Howe will again see strong competition from a quality fleet.

Jollow says that the club has received interests from many debutants as well as regular competitors this year, which is testimony to the changes made to the event in 2013.

Limited mooring numbers on the island will again restrict the race entry numbers and at this stage there are just a few who can be assured entry. Last year’s overall race winner Frantic is eligible for an automatic entry providing they qualify as do the two mooring sponsors VO 70 Southern Excellence II and the DK 46 Exile. The Gosford Club has also offered a special dispensation to the syndicate of the Kerr 40 Midnight Rambler fronted by Ed Psaltis. The former Hobart and Lord Howe winners will be en route to Auckland in their latest conveyance for the Fiji race in June and Lord Howe Island provides a great stepping stone to the Shaky Isles.

The G2LHI Race committee will also be watching the upcoming Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race with interest as most of the starters for the April blue water classic will likely come from this fleet.

If any owners or skippers are interested in participating in the 2014 Mount Gay Gosford to Lord Howe Island Yacht Race, please forward your details to G2LHIPromotions@gmail.com

Now that a sponsor has been secured, the NoR will be released later this month.