South Australia’s premier ocean racing event has just secured a new sponsor, which is expected to help the famous regional fishing town of Port Lincoln promote its marquee event to an even wider audience.
The Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race and Lincoln Week Regatta has been a significant event on the calendars of South Australian yachties for many years – and now it has a very bright future ahead after a five-year sponsorship deal with local businessman Peter Teakle was finalised.
Teakle said the new sponsorship deal would add more “local flavour” to the newly named ‘Teakle Classic’ and would also help the event showcase Port Lincoln and the Eyre Peninsula to a much wider audience.
Although Lincoln Week has been popular with the South Australian keel boat scene for decades, it has only ever been able to bring in a small number of interstate entries. However, those interstate sailors that do make the trip across always say it’s something they’re going to come back to.
Boats racing on Boston Bay in the Lincoln Week Regatta. Photo: Take 2 Photography.
Some of the more iconic interstate boats that have made it to Lincoln Week include Rob Date’s Scarlet Runner, which has since been sold, and Gordon Ketelbey’s Zen, which won the regatta on IRC in 2014.
Mr Teakle, who owns two Sydney 32s racing in the Port Lincoln Yacht Club keel boat program this season, said he had always been passionate about local sailing in Port Lincoln and wanted to do what he could to help the event, the region and the sport grow.
“When I was 20 years old, I built a boat in my father’s billiard room and sailed it to Kangaroo Island,” he said.
“My dream was one day to own a keel boat, learn to sail and compete in the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Yacht Race.
“It is now my pleasure to be involved in this iconic, offshore yacht race as the key sponsor for the next five years.”
The famous Meggas BBQ event is held on the Wednesday of Lincoln Week each year at Spalding Cove. Photo: Take 2 Photography
The new sponsorship deal will help bring the event and the region to a wider audience through trips to Adelaide and Melbourne showcasing local produce and firming up race and regatta entries.
Port Lincoln sailors and committee members will travel to Adelaide’s Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia this weekend for the IRC States and also to Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne in the coming weeks to encourage more boats to enter and show off some of the famous seafood.
Regatta chairman Andy Dyer said the new sponsorship deal gave the event a strong foundation for growth throughout the next five years.
“The Port Lincoln Yacht Club is looking forward to a long-term relationship with a local sponsor like Peter,” Dyer said.
“We hope there is a long-term benefit to both parties as we look forward to growing both the event and the Teakle brand.
“Peter’s commitment shows confidence in our regatta and we are sure that exposure during the event will increase throughout the sponsorship term.”
Mr Teakle’s two 32-foot yachts, Lincoln Mentor and Born to Mentor, will compete in next year’s Teakle Classic and are put on the water to help bring new people into the sport of ocean racing.
“It is a passion of mine to see young, aspiring sailors continue with their passion – but not everyone has the opportunity to gain access to larger yachts,” he said.
“Lincoln Mentor and Born to Mentor will add to the local sailing scene and hopefully give a few yachts a run for their money.
“The spectacle of the fleet out in Boston Bay, spinnakers up and people loving being in our great waters is something very special – I am so proud that for the next five years we will be involved.”
