The Tall Ships Races

Sail Training International has appointed marketing and sponsorship specialist Purple Tangerine to source commercial partners for The Tall Ships Races, the world’s largest public attendance sports event, showcasing the glamour, the magic and the spectacle of historic sailing ships.

Held each Summer in European waters, The Tall Ships Races bring together a fleet of 70 - 100 vessels from 20 plus countries, including many of the big and glamorous square-rigged ships that look like they have just sailed off a Hollywood set.

Organised by the charity Sail Training International, the events are focused upon the development and education of young people aged 15 - 25 through the sail training experience, regardless of nationality, culture, religion, gender or social background.

The event has been described as the “Voyage Of A Lifetime” combining four days of activities in each port with racing or cruising-in-company between ports.

Nigel Jones, managing director of Purple Tangerine, says: “The Tall Ships Races are a great cause related marketing opportunity making a real difference to the lives of young people from all over the world.”

“The ships’ crews comprise mainly young people aged 15 - 25 - generally around 8,000 each year from around 40 countries - who volunteer to take part in this unique event and gain an understanding of the values and skills required for teamwork and leadership.”

Many superlatives are used to describe The Tall Ships Races including: the world’s biggest gathering of tall ships; and the largest participatory sailing event for young people. Overall, The Tall Ships Races make a real difference to young peoples lives through the sailing experience.

Sponsorship opportunities include Title naming rights as well as Official Partners and Official Supporters.

Gwyn Brown, Commercial Director at Sail Training International, says: “The Tall Ships Races are an ideal platform for companies to increase their brand awareness not only through advertising and PR coverage but through direct interaction with the world’s largest public attendance sports event. Sponsors can sample products and promote services at The Tall Ships Races events, which attract between 3 - 5 Million visitors based on 5 ports and 4 days in each port!”

Other Benefits

As well as branding and cause related marketing The Tall Ships Races offer numerous benefits including:

Hospitality & Networking – opportunity to host corporate guests on glamorous ships from informal receptions to discreet gourmet dinners

Corporate Social Responsibility - through sponsoring the participation of young people as race trainee crew
Environment - through association with wind power
Economic Impact - The Tall Ships Races have a massive economic impact for a country / city / port hosting a Tall Ships Race visit
Social Media - a massive opportunity to promote association through Facebook and Twitter and other social communities

For further information on commercial partnership and sponsorship opportunities see PDF Download and our video

The Tall Ships Races Facts

For each annual event, generally

8,000 participants from around 40 countries - the majority of which are 15 - 25
Each port spends around £200,000 - £600,000 on marketing
£1 - £1.5 million PR value on TV/Press/Radio
500,000+ web visits during event
400 hours of TV exposure; over 1,000 hours of radio broadcast coverage, up to 8,000+ column inches of international press coverage; several millions of column inches of regional and local press coverage
Media attendance at each port is between 80 - 300 media representatives or around 500 for a 5 x port event, typically from around 12 countries. In general, media coverage extends to: TV news; TV dedicated programming and TV highlight programming; Press (national & regional); and Radio (local) Internet

The Tall Ships Races 2012 – 2014

FRANCE; PORTUGAL; SPAIN; IRELAND
St Malo, France - 5 - 8 July Lisbon, Portugal - 19 - 22 July
Cadiz, Spain - 26 - 29 July A Coruna, Spain - 10 - 13 August
Dublin, Ireland - 23 - 26 August
Estimated public attendance 4 Million+ 70 vessels from, around 60 in each port, 20+ Countries

DENMARK; FINLAND; LATVIA; POLAND
Aarhus, Denmark - 4 - 7 July
Helsinki, Finland - 17 - 20 July
Riga, Latvia - 25 - 28 July
Szczecin, Poland 3 - 6 August
Estimated public attendance 4.5 Million+ 100 vessels in total, around 70 in each port, from 20+ countries

NETHERLANDS; NORWAY; NORWAY; DENMARK
Harlingen, The Netherlands - 3 - 6 July
Fredrikstad, Norway - 12 - 15 July
Bergen, Norway - 24 - 27 July
Esbjerg, Denmark - 2 - 5 August
Estimated public attendance 3 Million+ 100 vessels in total, around 70 in each port, from 20+ countries.