King of Shaves

18 year old OSTAR competitor receives backing

Oscar Mead, 18 years old and about to set off as the youngest ever entrant in this year's 3,000 mile OSTAR, is delighted to announce that he has secured sponsorship from the men’s shaving and grooming brand, King of Shaves.

This announcement sets Team Oscar Mead firmly on the path to competing in the OSTAR but as Oscar says “It’s no good being the youngest entrant to start the OSTAR - it will only mean something if I finish as the youngest ever finisher!”

Oscar has been proactively looking for a sponsorship partner for sometime and is obviously very pleased to have secured a relationship with King of Shaves, founded in 1993 by UK entrepreneur Will King. In fact it’s not the first time Oscar has sailed with King of Shaves logos on his boat, as he was an entrant in Cowes Dinghy Week three years ago in his 49er dinghy, an event King of Shaves has close ties with, and a history of supporting. A fortuitous email exchange with Will King personally led to the new relationship.

Announcing the sponsorship Will King said: "We have supported many sailing teams and sailors in the past and we continually support a number of talented young athletes through our 'Young Blades' mentoring scheme. It’s great to be able to bring these elements together and support Oscar in his endeavors. I gather he has been voted 2nd favourite to win his class by fellow competitors and after his 2-handed successes last year we are excited to be backing a winner who has a lot of potential for future success”

Oscar said of the sponsorship, ” I am delighted to be able to carry the King of Shaves logo on my boat and in particular to have the brand new AZOR System Razor logo adorning my mainsail. I am excited by the prospect of working with the grooming brand and who knows, we may still be together when I compete in the Open 60 in a few years time!!!”

Alongside the title sponsorship package, Team Oscar Mead is delighted to announce that Mike Golding, Britain’s top solo sailor and one of the worlds leading exponents of the art has been providing technical assistance to Team Oscar Mead and already Mike's input has led to a lot of small changes to the J/105 yacht that Oscar will sail in the race.

Mike Golding said: “I have known Oscar for a few years and watched his great results last year on the 2-handed circuit in the UK. He has the potential to be a good singlehanded sailor, but the OSTAR will be a whole new test for him. It’s a long race, tough and demanding and it will be wet on his low freeboard boat, but we think he’s pretty ready”

Mike Golding is one of the very few solo sailors in the world who can get on a boat and drive it at race winning pace through the intimidating Southern Ocean and working with Mike will allow Oscar to learn from a proven master. Mike is a past OSTAR racer as well.