Vendee Globe 2008/09

Sunday 2 November
Bahrain Team Pindar on the crest of a wave
Dignitaries visit Les Sables d'Olonne for naming ceremony

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.

Taufe der Bahrein-Pindar in Les Sables
Foto: Mark Lloyd

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 60's 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 reindexing 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 this mammoth event, known as the 'Everest' of sailing, was presented with a unique Rolex watch from the King, 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."

A record 30 boats will take place in the 2008 edition of the Vendée Globe, which gets underway on November 9 at 13.02 (local time). For more information and to follow Bahrain Team Pindar 's progress in the race, please visit: www.teampindar.com

Picture credit: Mark Lloyd
Press contact:
Jo Gawith/ Kate Brewer - Performance PR T: +44 (0)20 8541 3434 M: +44 (0)7968 723054 / M: +44 (0)7500 832532 E: jo@performancepr.com / kate@performancepr.com To download rights free broadcast footage please visit: ftp.sunsetvineapp.com > User name: appftp Password: broad_cast Folder: SVTVNews Subfolder: Pindar title: Bahrain Pindar Launch VNR.mov

Pindar and sailing
Since the company's first ever sports sponsorship of The North Sea Yacht Race in 1980, Pindar has become one of the most established names in sailing.

Best known for its sponsorship of Emma Sanderson (née Richards) in the 2002-03 Around Alone Race, Pindar has supported sailing campaigns across every level, ranging from grass roots and local community projects through to match racing and global offshore events at the very pinnacle of the sport.

In 2007, Pindar launched its first new-build Open 60 racing yacht and also offers yacht charters and corporate hospitality on board its Volvo 60 yacht.
www.teampindar.com

About the Kingdom of Bahrain
The Kingdom of Bahrain is steeped in heritage and tradition yet has emerged as a modern and sophisticated country balancing its 4,000 history with modernity. It has a population of one million with approximately one third of that being expatriate. Bahrain was the first Middle Eastern country to find oil in 1932 and since then has prospered to become the financial hub of the Middle East. More traditional trades which are still prominent in the country are the Pearl Industry and Gold merchants.

In 1971 Bahrain gained its independence from Great Britain and in 2000 Bahrain was formally announced as a Kingdom and King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa the country's ruler.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is continually at the forefront of development. In 2004 it became the first Arab Country to host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship; the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Youth, culture and sport are of enormous importance to the Kingdom and through various government bodies and private investments the country strives to develop interests at grass root levels.

The island Kingdom of Bahrain indextains the balance of tradition, heritage, culture and future making it one of the leading tourist's destinations in the Middle East.
www.info.gov.bh