September 12, 2013
joehall
Two great events completed; Swan European Regatta and the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Activate has had a busy summer, preparing two impressive shoreside programmes for the prestigious Nautor’s Swan European Regatta, sponsored by Gazprom and the Rolex Fastnet Race 2013.
Following a competitive pitch, Activate was delighted to win the event management contract for the Swan European Regatta, in Cowes. The company designed an attractive village, featuring a timber decked courtyard, with giant parasols and integrated seating, ClubSwan Vip lounge, overlooking the marina, Gaastra shop, crew bar and screen and stage.
The objective was to create an attractive area for competitors and crew to relax in, both before and after racing, as well as a venue large enough to cope with 500 guests for the Wednesday night Crew Party.
The event was blessed with mediterranean-like sailing conditions, which meant that the Race Village was an even more vital part of the infrastructure as crews and guests waited for the wind to fill-in, during the morning. In the afternoon, live entertainment was provided by a number of local artists,as well as Oomph, an eight piece Soul Band who rocked the stage at the Crew Party on Wednesday night.
Almost immediately after this event, Activate’s team headed down to Plymouth to begin building the Rolex Fastnet Race Village and Crew Bar.
Working for the Royal Ocean Racing Club, Activate were employed to develop the shoreside programme, identify the venues, design and plan the layout of the Race Village, Crew Bar, Showers and Loos. Secure contractors for tentage, power, Security, AV, showers etc and co-ordinate the whole install, operation and extraction, after the event. In addition, Activate setup and managed the operation of the 24 hour Crew Bar, which was located a short walk from the Race Village.
The Race Village was open and ready to receive visitors from 1100hrs Sunday 11th August, although with light conditions, boats did not really start to arrive until Tuesday. The heart of the fleet started to arrive on Wedensday afternoon and from then on the Village, Showers and Crew Bar, ran day and night until 2300hrs Friday night; making for one very long shift!
The event culminated with the final Prize-Giving on Mount Batten Green and with the back drop of brilliant clear skies, Plymouth Ho and the Citadel, the crowd were entertained to a private air display, by the Aerostars, before the awards ceremony took place.
Activate was delighted with both events; securing the contracts ahead of other considerably larger mainland agencies and secondly, delivering top drawer projects for global brands, using a professional and experienced Isle of Wight team. We welcome the opportunity to do more projects of this nature and recommend that event organisers at least approach us for our initial ideas and outline costs, by way of comparison.