Greetings Friends of Gryphon Solo
The good ship Gryphon Solo has emerged from the shop and is tugging at her dock lines in anticipation of the upcoming Newport-Bermuda Race. The start of this race is scheduled for this Friday, June 16th in Newport and over 270 boats are signed up to participate in this 100th anniversary of this sailing classic (www.bermudarace.com). The excitement is building as crews assemble, tending to last-minute details on these highly tuned racing sleds. Stay tuned.
Team Gryphon Solo has had a busy spring season getting the boat back in the water and in sailing condition. Upon completion of the Transat Jacques Vabre race in December of last year, we sailed the boat back from Salvadore, Brazil and took the boat completely apart for a major re-fit after sailing a 15,000-mile circumnavigation of the Atlantic. GS is now in great shape, due to a lot of hard work from boat manager Hugh "Junior" Piggin, our ace kiwi jack-of-all-trades.
We will be sending daily email reports from the boat while offshore as we have during previous races, and you can also go to the Gryphon Solo web site @ www.gryphonsolo.com and go to the link for "I-boat track" to view fleet positions every 8 hours. It should be an exciting "thrash to the Onion Patch" and we look forward to everyone tuning in from home.
Everyone at Team GS, from PR pro Talbot Wilson, to communications specialist Blake Jackson to Hugh Piggin, is ready to sail fast and bring our message to potential sponsors. We are seeking sponsorship investment for the around-the-world Global Ocean Challenge race in 2007/8 and would appreciate any ideas or leads from our loyal friends. Additionally, Gryphon Solo is available this summer for corporate entertaining. To read more about the value that a Gryphon Solo sponsorship can bring to an organization, click here.
So come on down to Newport and watch the Centennial race start from the sunny hillside in front of the Castle Hill Inn at the mouth of the harbor. What better way to spend a Friday afternoon in June!
We look forward to a great sailing season and a great Bermuda Race. The boat will be in Boston Harbor for most of July and anyone wishing to come out for a sail should email me.
Fair winds and following seas to you all,
Joe
