St Helena : Tourism Information Release: Governor’s Cup Yacht Race 2010
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Public Relations Information Office) 08.10.2010 (Article Archived on 22.10.2010)
In the last five years yachtsmen have represented 11% of the Island’s total arrivals. Alongside the biennial Governor’s Cup, the yacht market is one that offers opportunity for growth and development in the tourism sector.
Tourism Information Release: Governor’s Cup Yacht Race 2010
In the last five years yachtsmen have represented 11% of the Island’s total arrivals. Alongside the biennial Governor’s Cup, the yacht market is one that offers opportunity for growth and development in the tourism sector.
Visiting yachtsmen have come and gone with lasting impressions of this tiny, yet beautiful island. Be it a one off recreational stop-over or the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race; an international, biennial race where entrants start a challenging, downwind race from Cape Town to St Helena Island.
The Governor’s Cup Yacht Race started in 1996, and has seen growth in participation from Saints, South Africans and participants from around the world alike.
The 1,700 mile Governor’s Cup Race takes place in December and is open for all yachts of any size. Friends and families along with serious yachters can enter. This year’s event starts from False Bay in Cape Town, South Africa on the 1st December giving entrants the added thrill of rounding the stunning but notoriously challenging, Cape Point. The race normally lasts from 8 to 14 days, with crews sailing into James Bay in St Helena to cross the finish line. Activities, functions and events will be organised in Simonstown, for the days preceding the start.
Entrants are taking the opportunity now to sign up for the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race 2010. To keep track, you can visit: http://www.thegovernorscup.co.za and to date, there are 18 entrants. As a result of this strong participation, accommodation bookings have increased on the island, which is extremely good news for the tourism sector.
This year’s programme of events for the visiting yachts will include the popular Sail Day. This event was very much enjoyed by all who were able to go aboard the yachts in 2008. This will then be followed up by the Public GYCR presentation on the same day. Over the next three months the St Helena Yacht Club (SHYC) will be holding further fund raising activities including a Quiz Night and sponsored walk. The Club also hopes to do a sweepstake on the Race which will give the public the chance to place their bets on whom they feel will be the GYCR 2010 winners.
The Museum of St Helena will be holding a special exhibition on the Governor’s Cup Yacht Race; past to present. The exhibition will run between October 2010 and January 2011; be sure to pay a visit.
The tourism short-term project has seen yachting-related infrastructure improvements put in place which includes hot shower facilities at the Wharf, provision of a truck trolley for yachtsmen to transport their gear from/to Jamestown and installation of 20 firm moorings. The project also funded a new yachting brochure which can be downloaded from http://www.sthelenatourism.com
Race publicity:
A company called Plan-C Productions, under the sanction of the race organising committee, False Bay Yacht Club has been discussing the possibility of producing a television production covering the Governors Cup Race 2010, the Island of St Helena and the RMS St Helena. After securing financial assistance for the production from St Helena Line and St Helena Tourism, Plan-C Productions and Super Sport International and are now in possession of an agreement to broadcast this production. The film documentary will be used as a 2 hour (2 episode) programme to be broadcast on SuperSport which covers the whole of Africa and beyond.
Billy Leisegang, owner and skipper of the yacht “Our Dianne” (a regular entrant into the race,) together with Marc Bow, a director from Plan-C and an obsessed sailor, have drafted a proposal designed to maximise exposure not just for the race itself but most importantly St Helena, its people and the RMS St Helena. Apart from the huge coverage of the Island on African TV, Marc will also be writing articles after the race for publication in prominent magazines such as Getaway. He also has other creative ideas for additional promotion of the Island through the race.
Saint participation:
‘Our Dianne’ as in the past, are very keen to have two Saints join their yacht. They would host them, including board and lodging at their home prior to the race. The SHYC would like to appeal to the general public in engaging two keen Saints to travel to Cape Town to take part in this event, arriving Cape Town on 12th November. If you are interested in becoming part of a GCYR crew then please contact the commodore of the Nicole Peters on 3702 for further information.
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