Merron on the startline

Hamble businesses rally to support local resident in Transat

A little over a fortnight ago, initiated by the pub The Bugle, the Hamble community called for local support from companies to sponsor Miranda Merron in her quest to reach the start-line of The Artemis Transat race. After suffering from a small brain haemorrhage last year, Miranda was unable to focus on the all-important sponsorship seeking and needed £10,000 to pay for the race entry fee and race equipment. All sponsors will have a degree of longitude named after them during the race - an idea introduced by the racing website The Daily Sail.

Soon after the news made the press, there was a staggering response and well over £8,000 has been raised to date. Donations came rolling in from friends and family, numerous companies based in or around Hamble, yacht clubs, French companies, other yacht race organisers, several media partners and even strangers who had read about Miranda's challenge on the web. Many companies such as Volvo Ocean Race, MT Waters, Esso, BP, Point Source, Batfish and Hamble River Sailing Club were exceedingly generous and gave well above the originally requested amount of £100.

Peter Harding of St James Place, who has lent Miranda his Class 40, '40 Degrees', for the race, has very kindly offered to make up any short fall, but the team is still hoping to reach the full amount. Either way, Miranda is now enjoying one last week on land before the race starts from Plymouth on Sunday 11th May.

"I can't thank everyone enough for their generosity", said Miranda. " I can't believe I'm getting all this support - it is very humbling and it will really help me get through the tough times in the race, knowing how many people I have behind me. We even had a pledge from a kind gentleman who runs a coffee shop at Clapham Junction train station - amazing! The start day is coming up very quickly, and I can't wait to get going. It is one of the ultimate solo races, a huge challenge, and while I am starting to feel mildly apprehensive, I am also very excited. I'm lucky to be able to take part in the Transat on a number of levels."

Miranda will race in the Class 40 fleet against 10 other competitors. The calibre of the fleet is extremely high, including solo round-the-world veterans Giovanni Soldini and Benoit Parnadeau, as well as fellow Brits, Simon Clarke and Alex Bennett. "I am under no illusions about the talent in fleet, and what I am up against! I will do my utmost to have a good race, and know that I did the best I could."

Companies that have sponsored Miranda to date:

MT Waters
Hamble River Authority
BP Shipping Limited
Audierne Maritime
Cuppa Cino
Champagne G.H. Mumm
Dubarry Shoes
Sail TV
Volvo Ocean Race
Ancasta
Grapefruit Graphics
GRIB US
The BP Oil Terminal
The Bugle
Skandia Team GBR
Southern Daily Echo
Health Unlimited
Hamble River Sailing Club
Bonne Bouche
GE Infra Aviation
DCP
St James Place
Sailing Logic Ltd
The Daily Sail
Meridian ITV
J-UK Yachts
Rivacom
Petit Navire
Royal Southern Yacht Club
Hamble Rage
Diverse Yacht Services
Activ
Esso
Owen Clarke Design
Point Source
Batfish