The Island Sailing Club (ISC) in Cowes, organisers of the prestigious annual Round the Island Race off the Isle of Wight, has appointed Catalyst Consultants to act as its commercial partnerships agency. It's a move that provides an insight into how Irish events and regattas might need to look to attract high level sponsorship into the future.
The firm Catalyst is working with the ISC developing the commercial programme for the 2017 race onwards. Catalyst is undertaking a commercial review of how the Round the Island Race is structured as a brand partnerships platform and developing a new commercial programme and brand proposition to take the race forward, not only as one of the great sailing events and yacht racing spectacles but as a major mass participation sports brand
Speaking about the appointment on behalf of the Island Sailing Club, Dave Atkinson said: "Of all the agencies and commercial rights specialists that we talked to, Catalyst demonstrated not only fresh thinking and creativity but also a real empathy with where the club and the race is now and where it could go in the future. They bring to the project their wide experience and a great set of skills, and also go about things in a mature, sensitive way. We're delighted to be working with them."
Joe Bruce, Catalyst Director and co-founder commented: "There is significant opportunity to build on the enormous heritage, popularity and profile that the Round the Island Race has achieved in its 80 year history. As the biggest race of its type anywhere in the world and one of the top four mass participation sports events in the UK, there is a great potential to grow the Round the Island proposition and to create a brand and consumer engagement platform that is genuinely differentiated and powerful."
