FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Portsmouth, RI (USA) February 15, 2012 – Maclaren the pre-eminent lifestyle brand for parenting announced today that it will be the exclusive global sponsor for LaserPerformance athletes, events and products from 2012 to 2016. This commitment is the largest ever in dinghy sailing.

“We are extraordinarily pleased to be announcing this partnership,” said Maclaren Director of PR Bevin Gove. “Our support brings together two iconic brands equally committed to performance and community. It will help to grow the Maclaren brand and expand the sport of sailing at the grassroots level all around the world.”

The Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme aims to motivate, connect and support the global dinghy sailing population. It includes a variety of support ranging from funds for training and racing to community initiatives and more. Sponsorship funding will support boat purchase or charter, fleet finance, entertainment services, logistical support and press and media support.

Sailing organisations and individual sailors can immediately begin submitting applications to the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme. Organisation applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with a 90-day processing time. Individual applications will be accepted and reviewed with quarterly submission deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to apply early in each quarter as Maclaren may respond on a rolling basis.

This sponsorship is an expansion of Maclaren’s commitment to sailing worldwide. Most recently, Maclaren has sponsored Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vandemoer and Debbie Capozzi “Team Maclaren” for their Olympic Women’s Match Racing campaign. “Maclaren embodies the same values of performance, quality, empowerment and safety that we sail by every day,” said Tunnicliffe, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist and Team Maclaren skipper.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maclaren as our exclusive global sponsor,” adds LaserPerformance Chairman Bill Crane. “Like Maclaren, the sport of sailing encompasses a complete lifestyle with a longstanding heritage. In an effort to spread the positive impact of sailing, the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme has been designed to encourage sailing participation and connect sailing enthusiasts worldwide.”

Sponsorship applications and more information about the Maclaren Sailing Sponsorship Programme may be found at LaserPerformance.com or by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About Maclaren – Maclaren is the pre-eminent lifestyle brand for parenting. For nearly 50 years Maclaren has stood for excellence, empowerment and innovation, and is best known for the creation of the first umbrella buggy which revolutionised baby transport. For more information, please visit www.maclarenbaby.com.

About LaserPerformance – LaserPerformance is the world’s largest producer of small sailboats. LaserPerformance boats are designed and built to meet the needs and requests of all sailors. LaserPerformance proudly makes the following sailboats: Sunfish, Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Laser Pico, Laser SB3, Club FJ, Club 420, Vanguard 15, Laser Vago, Laser 2000, Laser Bahia, Bug, Funboat, Laser Stratos Keel, Dart 16 and Vapor Optimist. For more information, visit: www.laserperformance.com.

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CONTACT:

Bevin Gove
PR Director, Maclaren
T: 203-663-4587
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rebecca Dellenbaugh
PR Executive, LaserPerformance
T: 203-663-4567
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The attached photo is of (l to r) Greg MacAllansmith, Rod Jones & Glenn Bourke.
Please credit the attached image: Cube Images | Brian Carlin

Master helmsman Glenn Bourke and crew of Sunshine Coast sailors Rod Jones and Greg MacAllansmith overcame a relative short preparation to finish fourth in the recent Zhik World Laser SB3 championship in England.

Before the series began they were understandably ranked as a possible chance to finish with a top 20 result but they expressed their class to overcome the considerable handicap of limited big fleet racing with their chartered SB3 Club Marine.

Glenn Bourke a former Australian Olympian and multiple World Champion had a distinct purpose in mind when he elected to join the dual Audi Australian IRC class ocean racing champions Rod Jones and Greg MacAllansmith for the World championship.

Rogers, who was invited by the Australian fleet founder Rod Jones of Mooloolaba to contest the Wild Oats trophy series at Hamilton Island in a chartered boat in August, is among three World champions who have signed up to gain class racing experience before a high standard fleet compete for the World championship at Hamilton Island in December 2012.

Beijing Olympian Nathan Outtridge and seven times World champion Glenn Bourke, winner of three consecutive Laser dinghy championships plus the distinction of representing Australia at the 1992 Olympics, have joined the SB3 fleet in recent weeks.