YuuZoo, Big Boat Racing Team & Tourism Tasmania enter partnership

by Tasmanian Government Communications Unit on 16 Dec 2009
The Tasmanian Minister for Tourism and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, today announced an exciting partnership with the high-profile Big Boat Racing Team for the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. The partnership will give Tasmania a valuable digital presence and association with some of the biggest names in the online world.

The Big Boat Racing Team is one of the most successful maxi yacht-racing teams in the world, and is headed up by well-known yachting identity, Ludde Ingvall, a previous Sydney to Hobart race winner on two occasions.

'This exciting partnership will harness the incredible national and international interest in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, and allow Tasmania to promote itself as a vibrant and exhilarating destination to a global audience,' Ms O’Byrne said.

'Tasmania will have prominent online exposure through logo placement and direct links to Tourism Tasmania’s website from BigBoatRacing.com – the website that will show the live feed from Big Boat Racing Team’s yacht YuuZoo – and via other social media and networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Blogger that will carry live text feeds from the crew.

'As part of the partnership, Tourism Tasmania will be giving a young Tasmanian yachtsperson the experience of a lifetime, securing them a berth aboard YuuZoo to take part in the 2009 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. They will be blogging during the race, providing insights about Tasmania as well as what it’s like to race in one of the best-known yacht races around the world.

'We have also secured a place on board for award-winning international photo journalist, David Liscio, whose credits include National Geographic, Sail and Sailing magazines, newspaper USA Today, and AP and Reuters news services.

'David will also be blogging for discovertasmania.com and will be using his experience aboard YuuZoo and his knowledge of Tasmania to generate future editorial about the State,' Ms O’Byrne said.

Through its website discovertasmania.com, Tourism Tasmania will be running an exciting competition, with a trip to Tasmania as the main prize.

'The digital opportunity this partnership presents for Tasmania is significant and fits very well with our digital marketing strategy for 2010,' Ms O'Byrne said.

'Social media interaction is a key component of our digital strategy, and for our industry it is vital that we have a channel to provide direct access to information and online bookings for travel to the state, and this partnership delivers that.

'Tasmanians are incredibly proud of this event and its connection to our State’s rich maritime and yachting heritage.

'The prominent placement of the striking Tasmania brand mark on the main sail of YuuZoo looks great, and will also contribute to the overall value of this exciting and very different partnership,' said Ms O’Byrne.

The name sponsor of the Big Boat Racing Team entry for the 2009 event is YuuZoo, one of the world’s fastest growing mobile media, payment and advertising companies.

Working with YouTube, and supported by co-sponsors such as Dell, HTC and Logitech, the YuuZoo boat will set a new benchmark for interactive sports and the use of digital media to enable online and mobile users worldwide to follow the event as if they were on board the yacht.

www.media.tas.gov.au