The extraordinary deal

Tracy Edwards announces £38 million sponsorship deal with Qatar

In what is probably the largest ever deal in sailing sponsorship, Tracy Edwards today announced a sponsorship deal with the Gulf State of Qatar, to be known as Maiden Ocean Racing Qatar.

The deal is worth an incredible £38 million over a four year period and includes not only sponsorship for Edwards' 110ft maxi-catamaran but also two new events.

The Oryx Cup, to be held in January 2005 will start and finish in the UK and will have a cash prize of $1 million. There will be a special prize for anyone breaking the Jules Verne Trophy during the Oryz Cup.

The Qatar Sports Global Challenge will start from Doha, Qatar in December 2006 and be so both monohulls and multihulls of more than 100ft. This event will include five stopovers in locations in the Far East and America. Once again there will be substantial prize money for this event. Prior to this event, in November 2006 will be a feeder race from the UK to Qatar called the Suez Parade. The boats presence in Qatar will coincide with the 15th Asian Games from 1-15 December.

"These two challenges include two of the most spectacular sailing events in the world," commented Edwards. "I am thrilled and excited about the future and hope that in some small way this agreement between us and the people of Qatar will raise the profile of both ocean racing and a country that I have come to love."

She added: "It has been a tough journey to get to this point and I can't thank enough those people who have believed in me and helped to keep the dream alive."

Commenting from Qatar, the Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said "Qatar is proud to be staging such a series of global challenges not seen before. We look forward to welcoming the world's finest ocean racers to our shores and showing what Qatar has to offer."

The deal came about when Doo Gurney, Managing Director of Tribe Management first introduced Edwards to Qatar in March. The deal was brokered by Perry Smith, International Relations and Marketing Director of Qatar Sports International, a company set up by the Qatari Crown Prince as a sports business portal for companies wishing to gain access to Qatar.

Meanwhile Tracy Edwards' maxi-catamaran will be refitted over the course of the next two months ready for an attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy in January-February, which she will sail under the name Qatar 2006. Much the same team is involved as sailed Maiden II to her 24 hour and Round Britain and Ireland records last year. Those named to date include co-skipper Brian Thompson, Helena Darvelid, Fraser Brown, Miranda Merron, Adrienne Cahalan, Greg Holman, Stan Delbarre, Herve Jan, Kiny Parade and Paul Larsen

"Tracy risked everything for us and when people told her she wouldn't succeed she just dug her heels in and worked harder," commented Thompson. "We are very much looking forward to the four year program with Qatar and feel along with the other multihull teams that the two events are going to secure the future of Maxi Multihull Sailing."