More support for Ellen

One of the newest and most successful sail racing management companies grows to meet demand.

From small beginnings of two mini-Transat campaigns back in 1997, Offshore Challenges, the company behind sailing superstar Ellen MacArthur MBE, has expanded its team to meet the demand for media information and services, sponsorship management and technological development for their high profile campaigns.

Lou Newlands joins the Cowes based team from APP Broadcast to take responsibility for the media relations campaigns for Ellen’s Kingfisher sponsored projects and new crowned round the world speed king, Nick Moleney’s Vendée Globe 2004 attempt.

A large part of Ellen’s immense media profile was due to the emphasis on honest, direct communications from the oceans during the last Vendée.

Mike Gumm formerly with World Sport Group also joins the team, working alongside Managing Director Turner on sponsor relations and management. The two met when Turner was skipper of a boat in the 1996 Teacher's Round Britain Challenge - an event Gumm was involved in setting up.

Charles Derbyshire has been appointed as Technology Manager for the sailing team projects. His task is to maximise the exploitation of the latest technological advances, onboard as well as on land, getting new content back from the middle of the ocean in the most efficient way, and then out to hundreds of thousands of 'viewers' by the variety and ever-changing list of devices. Offshore Challenges, with its technical partners such as BT, led the way during MacArthur's round the world race in bringing content back from 'Kingfisher' at the extremes of the earth, to people's screens.

Meanwhile, the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team itself continues to develop, with a third European sailor expected to join the team in the next few months, alongside MacArthur and Moloney.