BOSTON,MA - Wells Fargo announced today that accomplished sailor Joe Harris will be at the helm of the Wells Fargo-American Pioneer in this summer's Transat race from Plymouth, England to Boston, Mass. The Transat is a brutal, 3,000-mile single-handed sailing race across the chilly North Atlantic. Harris will set sail on May 31 and expects to finish the race in mid-June.
"We are proud to sponsor Joe Harris and have him at the helm of the Wells Fargo-American Pioneer," said Douglas Novitch, vice president of Wells Fargo's Real Estate Group. "He has the spirit of an American pioneer - innovation, perseverance and courage - qualities that make him an excellent choice to navigate the Wells Fargo-American Pioneer."
The Wells Fargo companies sponsoring Joe Harris and his Open-50 racing yacht include Wells Fargo Real Estate Group, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Eastdil, Financial Risk Management, Wells Capital Management and US Corporate.
"I am honored by the support and enthusiasm that Wells Fargo has chosen to commit," said
Harris. "This is proof that the pioneering spirit of Wells Fargo from 1852 continues to be a priority in everything they do."
About Wells Fargo
The Wells Fargo Real Estate Group represents Wells Fargo on commercial real estate transactions and offers a wide array of commercial real estate loans and treasury management products. All products are originated through loan production offices located throughout the United States.
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, is a leading originator and servicer of residential mortgages. A subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), Wells Fargo Home Mortgage serves all 50 states through the leading mortgage lending network in the country, with a presence in more than 1,900 mortgage and Wells Fargo bank stores and on the Internet. Combines, its retail and wholesale lending operations provided funding for approximately one of every eight homes financed in the United States in 2003.*
Wells Fargo & Company is a diversified financial services company - providing banking, insurance, wealth management and estate planning, investments, mortgage and consumer finance from 5,900+ stores, the world's leading Internet banking site (wellsfargo.com), and other distribution channels across North America and elsewhere internationally.
About Joe Harris and Gryphon Solo
Joe Harris, 44, is an accomplished businessman and experienced sailor who has set his sites on competing in several professional offshore races including the grand task of 5-Oceans, a solo race around the globe previously known as Around Alone. Joe has founded his Gryphon Solo campaign in 2003 with the assistance of a strong team, which includes Whitbread veteran Brian Hancock, PR pro Wendie Demuth, shore support Brian Harris, solo sailor Brad Van Liew as offshore sailing coach and sponsorship consultant Meaghan Van Liew.
For daily updates and photos during The Transat race, go to www.gryphonsolo.com.
