Extreme Sailing Series and GAC Pindar extend logistics contract
by Extreme Sailing Series on 7 Aug 2014
Southampton-based GAC Pindar has been awarded a major three-year contract extension with the global Extreme Sailing Series, to manage the complex worldwide shipping of the Series’ Extreme 40 boats, equipment and support materials, further reinforcing GAC Pindar’s position as the leading go-to logistics provider for the marine sector.
In 2013, GAC Pindar clocked up over 23,000 miles to help deliver the Series, transporting the valuable cargo by road, sea and air, and rose to the challenges of delivering the world’s only truly global elite level sailing series, with a carefully choreographed plan.
The 2015 global tour will traverse three continents, with eight Host Venues starting in Singapore, 5-8 February, over 11 months with no room for error or delay. As official logistics partner to the Extreme Sailing Series, GAC Pindar will be responsible for the transportation of not only the Extreme 40 boats – including their own team entry - but also the bulk of the supporting infrastructure, including the shore side facilities, such as the TV production equipment, Race Village and VIP area – all of which are essential to delivering the elite level Stadium Racing competition to spectators on site and television viewers around the world.
GAC Pindar was created to meet this exact challenge, by combing the professional sailing experience of Team Pindar with the specialist logistics expertise of GAC Group, one of the world’s leading, shipping, logistics, and marine services providers. Andrew Pindar, Director of GAC Pindar, commented: 'Our business model of bringing together our knowledge, understanding and passion of sailing together with the strength and reach of GAC shipping and logistics has seen us become established as the provider of choice for an ever increasing range of sailing events since we started out four years ago. Securing a second three year term with OC Sport and the Land Rover partnered Extreme Sailing Series is fabulous validation that we continue to navigate a good course.'
Andy Tourell, Extreme Sailing Series Project Director added, 'The Series is a complex logistics puzzle, and over the last three years we have received fantastic support from the team at GAC Pindar, who have never failed to deliver. The first three Acts in 2014 took the fleet from Asia, to the Middle East and then to China – 10,000 miles in less than three months before breaking into a new territory for the Series, Saint Petersburg, Russia and GAC Pindar’s in-country local knowledge has ensured these time sensitive deliveries run to schedule. This is an exciting time for us as organisers, as the planning for the 2015 circuit comes to the fore with host venue, team and more partner announcements expected in the coming weeks with four Acts still to go in 2014.'
The next stop for the fleet of 11 Extreme 40s on the global tour is Cardiff - the only UK round in 2014 as part of the Cardiff Harbour festival, 22-25 August.
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