Pindar rechristened

Brian Thompson's Open 60 named in Les Sables d'Olonne

The Bahrain Team Pindar Open 60 was officially named today in the presence of a number of leading Bahrain dignitaries, including His Excellency, the Minister of Labour, Dr. Majeed Bin Mushin Al Alawi and Bahrain’s Ambassador to France, His Excellency Dr Naser Al Belooshi.

With exactly one week until the start of the gruelling solo, non-stop round the world, yacht race, the Vendée Globe, the special guests flew in from the deserts of the Middle East to Les Sables d’Olonne to commemorate the launch of the team’s new partnership with the Kingdom of Bahrain. The ceremony took place at the forefront of the impressive display of Open 60s on the pontoon and was screened live to the vast crowds in the race village.

Eurosport’s sailing commentator, Loïc Le Bras, introduced the event in French and English before conducting interviews with Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar and record-breaking British skipper, Brian Thompson. In a break from the traditional champagne, the boat was blessed by the Bahrain Labour Minister with a bottle of carbonated rose-water, known as ‘ward’, which is also used at the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

The partnership, has been granted approval from the Bahrain Tourism Authority and will feature the Kingdom of Bahrain royal crest prominently on Team Pindar's state-of-the-art Open 60. In honour of The King of Bahrain, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the boat was also officially renamed King Hamad.

As one of the world's leading independent sailing teams, Bahrain Team Pindar's dual sailing programme on the Open 60 and World Match Racing circuits offers a global platform to promote Bahrain as a leading business centre and tourist destination.

Impressed by the visit to the home of the Vendée Globe, Dr Majeed Al Alawi commented: "We are delighted to be here in Les Sables d’Olonne and to experience firsthand the excitement and enormity of this fantastic event. We are very proud of our new association with Bahrain Team Pindar and wish Brian a safe and exciting voyage as he flies the flag for Bahrain.”

Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar commented: “Today marks the start of an exciting new relationship with the Kingdom of Bahrain as we look to develop a programme of exciting sailing initiatives in both Bahrain and to a wider international audience. We are deeply honoured to be joined by so many of the Kingdom’s leading politicians and businessmen, who have travelled far to attend today’s ceremony.”

Also present was the team’s World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams, who currently leads the 2008 World Match Racing Tour with just one event remaining in Malaysia in December. Williams has been nominated for the prestigious Rolex ISAF Sailor of the Year, which will be announced in Madrid on 11th November.

Skipper Brian Thompson, who is seeking to become the first non-French winner of the Vendee Globe was presented with a unique Rolex watch from the King and said: “Just reaching the start line of the Vendée Globe is a huge achievement in itself and this new partnership has given a boost to the whole team who have worked tirelessly over the past year. With just a week to the start I am eager to get underway and will sail with pride under the Kingdom of Bahrain’s royal crest, to guide me safely around the globe.”