Eight local sailing clubs in Aarhus to pair with the eight SailGP teams leading up to the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix on August 20-21 RS Sailing partnership continues with refurbishment of RS Feva boats at two local Danish clubs
Aarhus, DENMARK - August 10, 2021 - SailGP Season 2 continues to forge new paths in each event city on its global championship schedule. As excitement builds for the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix, anticipation within eight local Danish sailing clubs, situated in and around Aarhus, also grows as they become paired with each of the national SailGP teams through its Adopt-a-Club community outreach program.
As the sailing capital of Denmark, Aarhus’ sailing clubs are known to be the ideal hubs to support the development of aspiring sailors. Success stories such as that of Danish sailor and newly minted Olympic gold-medalist, Anne-Marie Rindom; and Denmark SailGP Team’s Nicolai Sehested - one of the league’s youngest drivers - epitomize SailGP’s goals to race for a better future.
Sehested said: "We're delighted to be bringing SailGP to Denmark for the first time ever this month with the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix, and I know that the local sailing and sports communities will turn out to welcome the event in style in Aarhus.
"SailGP's Adopt-A-Club program is a fantastic initiative that connects us to passionate sailors old and young as we move around the planet racing in some iconic venues, and I know that it will be really popular in Denmark."
"As Danes, being in nature and on the water is in our DNA, so I'm sure the local sailing clubs in Aarhus will do us proud and give the teams a Grand Prix to remember!"
SailGP’s Adopt-a-Club program creates a bridge between the world-class athletes, their teams and the local youth sailors to provide insights through tech tours, virtual discussions, and to create strong bonds with long-term connections to the sport.
Each of the local clubs will nominate 2 young sailing stars of the future, based on merit and being the shining stars of their respective clubs. These nominees will then receive a weekend of training on the RS Feva, as well as racing in front of the F50s during the event weekend before heading out to watch the racing afloat.
SailGP Youth Program Manager, Tom Herbert-Evans said: “As a global racing championship, each SailGP event focuses on two days of world class racing. Relationships built through the Adopt-a-Club program, integrating SailGP teams with local sailing clubs, is a great way to inspire local youth and connect with the local sailing community. Exposure to the professional athletes and behind-the-scenes access to the tech base area, for many, a once in a lifetime experience which aims to encourage involvement in the sport for years to come.”
Aarhus sailing clubs have been paired with SailGP teams as follows:
Marselisborg Sejlklub with Australia SailGP Team, Aarhus Sejlklub with Denmark SailGP Team, Horsens Sejlklub with Spain SailGP Team, Århus Windsurfing Klub with France SailGP Team, Kaløvig Bådelaug with Great Britain SailGP Team, Egå Sejlklub with Japan SailGP Team, Sejlklubben Bugten Århus with New Zealand SailGP Team, and Hou Sejlklubwith United States SailGP Team.
For this fourth installment of the community engagement program, two of the local sailing clubs - Aarhus Sejlklub, and Hou Sejlklub, will have the opportunity to utilize their own RS Feva boats - being refurbished by RS Sailing - during the race weekend.
Herbert-Evans adds: “RS Sailing are making big strides in boat development, where some of their lineup now includes boats made from recycled plastics and also bio-resin which aligns the partnership with SailGP’s purpose-driven sustainability goals. Specifically through the SailGP Adopt-a-Club program, RS will seek to replenish existing fleets and bring them up to a great sailing standard.
“In Plymouth our community engagement initiative left eight boats with local clubs looking better than new in a SailGP country livery. It's a small touch that also gets kids excited about sailing them. The RS Feva is the only junior class that offers asymmetric sailing for youngsters. It's a fantastic platform for learning and growing racing skills, and we hope that the club engagement will motivate more youth to take up sailing after the SailGP event in Denmark has concluded.
“We are also incredibly thankful to the support received by Doyle Sails who power the RS Feva fleet in creating 24 sails for the program and supporting our SailGP event legacy.”
Adrenaline-fueled action kicks off in Aarhus on Friday, August 20, and Saturday, August 21 for the ROCKWOOL Denmark Sail Grand Prix. Limited numbers of tickets are still available for purchase. Fans unable to attend the event can follow the broadcast across 175 territories including TV2 in Denmark, and live on SailGP’s YouTube channel. The award-winning SailGP APP can be downloaded - App Store and Google Play - giving the ultimate viewing experience with full customization, access to data, and live commentary. To buy tickets and access full event details, visit SailGP.com/Denmark.