International 2.4 Metre Open World Championships - Sponsors announced

by Karenza Morton on 12 May 2013 2013 International 2.4 Metre Open World Championships are being hosted by The Poole Yacht Club this September. Dorset companies, Powerboat Training UK and Mar-Key Group, are today unveiled as the first event sponsors.

This event is the first time The Poole YC, situated between the Port of Poole and Hamworthy Park, has ever staged a World Championship event and organisers are delighted that local companies have been so keen to get on board with their support.

Britain’s London 2012 Paralympic champion, Helena Lucas, will be among up to 120 boats racing for the coveted World Championship trophy in Poole Harbour every day between Tuesday 10 September and Friday 13 September. The event is unique in that it brings able-bodied and disabled sailors together to race on a level playing – everyone is equal.

Powerboat Training UK, located at Cobbs Quay Marina, is a professional RYA Training Centre which as well as running fun, safe and inspiring training from its main base in Poole also trains people on their own boats throughout the UK, Europe, America, the Caribbean and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, based at Bournemouth International Airport, The Mar-Key Group is one of the UK's leading suppliers of temporary structures and marquee hire equipment, catering for all types of events from private events to corporate hospitality, festivals, exhibition and shows.

Paul Glatzel, Director, Powerboat Training UK, said: 'As an organisation that uses Poole Harbour daily we are delighted to proactively support The Poole YC in bringing this prestigious event to Poole. We were actively involved in the London 2012 Olympics in Weymouth and Portland, providing training, boats and people, and the 2.4mR Worlds will bring some of the magic of that event to Poole. Poole is a magnificent boating location and the more we can all do to bring these events to Poole the more everyone benefits.'

Ben Scroggie, Managing Director, Mar-Key Group, said: 'We are very pleased to be able to support such a prestigious event in our local area in this way. It’s not every day Paralympic, able-bodied and disabled World Champions and Rio 2016 hopefuls congregate in Poole so we are delighted to be providing the shoreside facility for them to be able to gather and chat before they go racing and refuel and rehydrate as soon as they come off the water each day. Poole Harbour is a stunning location for this event and we look forward to being part of it.'

John Yonwin, The Poole YC’s event manager, added: 'The International 2.4 Metre Open World Championships are a really significant event not just for the club but the whole town so we are thrilled to have received such positive backing from companies in our local area to make a statement about what hosting this event in Poole means. We thank Powerboat Training UK and The Mar-Key Group for their support and it is fantastic to be working with them.'