2nd November 2007
Pindar announces environmental partnership with Earthwatch
All-female Pindar 40 set for Transat Jacques Vabre start tomorrow
Pindar , the leading British print and electronic media company and prolific supporter of British sailing, today announced an innovative partnership with Earthwatch, one of the world's leading environmental organisations. The partnership will see Earthwatch working with Pindar to improve the company's environmental performance, as part of a far-reaching change management programme benefiting its employees, customers and suppliers across the world. Pindar will also provide specific support of Earthwatch's pioneering 'Sustainable Oceans Programme', linking the partnership to its ocean racing activities under the new banner of Team Pindar Earthwatch.
The announcement of the partnership comes as Jo Royle and Alexia Barrier, the co-skippers of Pindar 40, the Class 40 yacht sponsored by Pindar, prepare for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre. The iconic transatlantic race kicks off at 13.02 CET in Le Havre, France, tomorrow. The only all-female duo in their class, the pair have been fine tuning the boat in Le Havre this week, after months of preparation in the Solent and a successful 1000 mile qualifying sail in the English Channel and the Northern Atlantic. The girls, with their shore crew, have spent time this week packing food and supplies for the crossing, as well as making final weight-saving adjustments to the boat. In the incredibly close and competitive 31 boat Class 40 fleet, attention to detail in terms of boat preparation is crucial. Following the dismasting of Pindar's Open 60, the girls now have a large team behind them, with mentors Brian Thompson and Will Oxley (the Open 60 skippers) working closely with Jo and Alexia in the run up to the start.
Jo Royle, 28, from Lancashire, UK, skipper of Pindar 40 commented: "Alexia and I can't wait to cross the start line and get going across the Atlantic now. After a great Prologue Race last Saturday, we are confident in our boat, and can't wait to get out on the race course on our own. I'd like to thank our shore team for all of their tireless help this week, and after the sad dismasting of the Pindar Open 60, skippers Brian and Will, and their shore team, have been a great support to us."
Andrew Pindar, Chairman of the Pindar Group commented: "Jo and Alexia, our young female duo, strike me as rising stars of the future. I wish them the very best of luck in the Transat Jacques Vabre Race, and look forward to welcoming them in to Brazil in a couple of weeks time."
Regarding the Earthwatch partnership, Andrew Pindar commented: "Good environmental management is already an integral part of how we do business. However, we wanted to move to the next level and were keen to link up with an organisation that will challenge our thinking and help us to engage with a range of important stakeholders. The world's oceans are a precious resource and our long association with sailing means we have a natural affinity with projects linked to the sea and climate change. Our commitment to sustainable practices will facilitate an opportunity for employees, customers and suppliers to participate, whether in the Arctic, Latin America or closer to home."
Edward Wilson, President and CEO of Earthwatch commented: "The overall health of our planet is dependent on the health of our oceans. Therefore, through our Sustainable Oceans Programme, we are currently conducting research in 37 diverse locations worldwide. The benefit of our partnership with Pindar is two-fold: it helps Earthwatch expand and enhance this vital ocean research and provides Pindar with a way to add value to its commercial operations. For sustainability to be achieved, organizations like Earthwatch must seek to partner with progressive businesses to maximize impact and effect change."
The 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre Race starts on the 3rd November from Le Havre, France, and the Class 40 fleet will finish in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, approximately two and a half weeks later. This year's eighth edition of the race has a specific environmental focus, with an emphasis on sustainable development at its core. Pindar 40 is the fourth yacht sponsored by Pindar to enter the TJV, having previously raced boats in the 1999, 2001 and 2003 editions of the race.
For more information and to follow the girls' progress throughout the race, with blogs and updates from the boat, please visit: www.pindar.com/teampindar
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For all press enquiries regarding Pindar, including interview requests and images, please contact:
Kate Fairclough - Pitch PR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7494 1616
Mob: +44 (0)7789 268814
e-mail : kate@pitchpr.co.uk
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