ISAF World Match Racing - 250% increase in fans for stage one

Christian Scherrer, President of the Organising Committee St Moritz Match Race (c) St Moritz Match Race © St Moritz Match Race

With Stage one completed in Marseille, France during April, producing a massive 250% increase in onsite fans from 2009 to 2010. Stage two is fast approaching in Langenargen, Germany and St Moritz Match Race having just announced a lucrative sponsorship with ‘Volvo Cars Switzerland’ the Tour is set to produce excellent ongoing match race action for fans and competitors.

Each of the venues involved with the Tour have excellent internal organisation with extremely accomplished and experienced teams working to produce top-level racing both for the sailors, sponsors and fans.

The ISAF World Match Racing Tour work with a full spectrum of regional event organisers, promoters and venue sponsors and seek to satisfy all of their expectations regarding the Tour. Each venue looks to develop their event year on year with added on-shore activities, promotion, event logistics and sponsor opportunities. St Moritz Match Race has recently signed a sponsorship deal with Volvo to be involved in Stage six of the 2010 Tour, which will help propel the Swiss event further into the minds of fans.

10/03/2009 - Marseille (FRA, 13) - Marseille International Match Race 2009 (World Match racing Tour 2009) - Dimitri Deruelle ()***10/03/2009 - Marseille (FRA, 13) - Marseille International Match Race 2009 - (World Match racing Tour 2009) - Dimitri Deruelle () © Gilles Martin-Raget http://www.martin-raget.com/

Christian Scherrer, President of the Organising Committee for St Moritz Match Race, commented, “the involvement of Volvo with Stage six of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour is very positive, it will bring Volvo closer to their customers. They will be running a national newspaper competition for one lucky fan to win an all expenses paid trip to St Moritz Match Race. We hope this new sponsorship will increase our spectator figures, 2009 saw 5,000 visitors attend the event and we are expecting a significant percentage increase this year.”

Volvo has been involved in the sport of sailing for over a decade through offshore yacht racing challenges and youth dinghy class development. The association for WMRT with this heavy weight sailing sponsor is a logical extension of the Tour brand into developing a media worthy sailing discipline which annually attracts on site spectators as well as online virtual fans. It is through the dedication of Christian Scherrer that this positive new deal has come to fruition.

In only two years, the Match Race France Team has produced an event that has been hailed as ‘the Mediterranean’s top match racing event’. The French event made some fundamental and hugely successful changes to the event this year, mainly moving the event close to the shore which attracted large volumes of non-specialist spectators and ultimately expanding the fan base.

Eberhard Magg, Director, Match Race Germany (c) Tati © Tati

During the racing at Match Race France, yachts came as close to five metres away from the beach, which proved exhilarating for the spectators. Demitri Deruelle, Event Director commented, “while in the past only sailors and sailing fans went to watch the races, this year ‘Mr and Mrs Everybody’ were there watching, particularly when Mathieu Richard won the trophy in a Formula one style presentation.”

This new dedication to the supporter has seen a massive rise in onsite fans from 2,000 in 2009 to 5,000 in 2010, equating to a 250 percent increase.

Staging an ISAF World Match Racing Tour event does not only boost the profile of a venue through public relations and advertising, it also promotes tourism to the associated region and sporting leisure pursuits to the local inhabitants. Peter Gilmour, Acting President WMRT said, “sports tourism is one of the fastest growing areas of the global travel and tourism industry. There is a strong link between hospitality, leisure, sports and tourism, all of these important elements compliment each other.”

One of the longest standing events of the Tour, Match Race Germany, starts shortly in May running 19 – 24, this event also has a committed long term team managing on site proceedings. Eberhard Magg, Director of Match Race Germany, is delighted to have Match Race Germany as one the prestigious ISAF World Match Racing Tour events, “I have seen the world wide recognition of the Tour develop and increase in profile, as well as the Match Race Germany brand evolve and deepen.”

Peter Gilmour realises the importance that the WMRT brand brings to the individual events, “every time a global event is held, a country’s image, reputation and economy is raised. I believe that the ISAF World Match Racing Tour is helping the various countries and regions boost their tourism and related industries.”

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Event 1 of 10)