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BT supports Gipsy Moth's Atlantic crossing - 17th November 2005
Global telecommunications organisation BT is sponsoring the transatlantic leg of Gipsy Moth IV’s round the world trip. Their involvement in the project has provided the equipment and technical support to provide a window on the world via Gipsy Moth TV which can be viewed at www.gipsymoth.org
BT have provided the ground-breaking educational sailing project with a multi-media communications centre which is used for editing and uploading video footage from the yacht to the website via satellite and performing live tele-conferences with schools around the world. BT’s involvement in the project is an excellent showcase of communications technology in action and has added a high-tech dimension to the classic yacht’s global tour. The educational nature of the project coupled with the communications technology and the work with young people mirrors BT’s values as a business and for this reason they felt it fitting to support the project.
For sponsoring a leg, the Gipsy Moth Project Team has created a micro-site (www.gipsymoth.org/bt) especially for BT so that employees can to keep updated with the yacht’s progress as she crosses the Atlantic. As well as containing Gipsy Moth TV and information about the history of the project, which can be found on the main site, the micro-site includes video interviews with BT Directors, a history of BT’s involvement with sailing, a dedicated chat forum, links to educational material and in-depth information about the technology media centre onboard Gipsy Moth IV.
The three young people onboard Gipsy Moth IV for the Transatlantic leg are all from Portsmouth and were selected by The Pompey Study Centre, an organisation based in the city that offers young people a place to do extra curricular studies to support their school work. Anthony Palmer, Kimberley Morris and Kirsty Gibbons, all aged 15 attended a training session at the UK Sailing Academy prior to departing for Tenerife last week. During their time at the Centre they expressed their excitement and apprehension about the voyage whilst receiving training to prepare them for their three-week ocean passage. All three young people have faced challenges growing up and consider the opportunity to sail aboard Gipsy Moth life-changing.
David Green, CEO at the UKSA said, “The communications technology provided by BT demonstrates that the world is becoming an increasingly smaller place and who would have thought that we could travel on a boat that is almost 40 years old and communicate with everybody virtually all the time as we travel around the globe. We are calling for people to log on to the website, get involved in the forum and participate in what is going to be an absolute voyage of a lifetime. Thank you BT.”
Jerry Thompson, Director of Portfolio Convergence at BT said, “The things we really like about the project are the two dimensions that have been added to the boat. One is the media centre communications hub and the other is the communications across from the young adults on the boat to education, to their friends and to their families. Those are really our values as a business and I would encourage any other sponsor to get involved in this because it is gathering huge momentum.”
If your company would like to sponsor a leg of Gipsy Moth IV’s global voyage for £15,000, please contact the Project Team on 01983 203017. To sign up for free sms text message updates or to make a donation to the project please visit www.gipsymoth.org or call +44 (0) 1983 203017 for more information.
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NOTE TO MEDIA
For further press information, please contact:
Anna Symcox
PR Manager & PA to the CEO
United Kingdom Sailing Academy
Tel: +44 (0) 1983 203016
Fax: +44 (0) 1983 295938
Mob: +44 (0) 7709 485674
Email: anna.symcox@uksa.org
Web: www.uksa.org |
Susan Preston Davis
Global Media Co-ordinator
Tel: +44 (0) 1489 789111
Mobile: + 44(0) 7771 732007
Email: susan@mpr.eclipse.co.uk |
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United Kingdom Sailing Academy
UKSA is recognized as the world's leading Sailing Academy. It is a registered charity and non - profit making organization supported by the Lister Trust. Based in West Cowes on the Isle of Wight it has superb, modern facilities with residential accommodation and operates a fleet of over 300 craft. UKSA provide a wide range of courses aimed at adults, young people and the disabled. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal is Patron to the Academy and Ellen MacArthur is their Ambassador.
Yachting Monthly
Gipsy Moth IV's second world voyage celebrates the 100th birthday of leading marine publication Yachting Monthly magazine and the 40th anniversary of Sir Francis' celebrated single-handed voyage.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Economic Partnership is the economic development agency for the Isle of Wight. Their unique position allows them to bridge the gap between the public and private sectors and ensure a coordinated approach in improving the Island's economy.
Corum Swiss Timepieces are the official time keeper for the Gipsy Moth IV Project
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