A town challenge
A challenge
A town with a maritime tradition takes up the challenge, and it benefits from a high-profile event for regional and national strategic investment; promotion of its nautical-construction industry and yacht sales; development of marine infrastructure, ports and moorings; as well as the growth of its nautical tourism.
A value
The race is created around a town, the mayor and its council. The port becomes a stadium. The public become supporters. A municipal team, supported by Cape Horn Race organisation, welcomes citizens, families, friends, local associations, VIPs, political partners and municipal personnel; it also welcomes school children and students to share the same passion onboard a yacht at sea with its racing crew. There are no negative reactions, neither internally, nor externally, since the values are the same.
A welcome
A town enhances its image by means of an innovating public event, by creating a race village and festivities. During the week prior to the race, a town attracts thousands of visitors to its activities attended by local celebrities, including concerts, sporting competitions, demonstrations and port activities. The race starts in close proximity to the coast and attracts thousands of spectators both ashore and afloat. The media, especially TV, promotes public awareness of a marine panorama, and in this manner a locality gives an extensive welcome to yachts, participants and press.
A participation
Town Council participation enhances regional and international promotion, and assures a return on investment proportional to the level of the event’s global television media coverage. Several £ million of economic proceeds for a town, a region and its commercial takings: hotels, restaurants, shops, yacht construction, tourist passenger-boats, and local companies, as well as benefiting a port and its yacht-clubs.
A reward
The investment however does not depend entirely on a financial outlay.
A thousand participants consisting of crew-members, partners, family and friends, contribute to a human story 24 hours a day over a period of 6 months. The emotion witnessed by a local team, battling against the elements at Cape Horn, is a proud example to all, and a town benefits directly from this media triumph, and extra tourists for many years to come.
© Copyright: author, Alec Honey
Cape Horn Race Organisation - Association Law 1901 - www.capehornrace.org - © 2009 - All rights reserved.
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