LONDON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- With Photo

LONDON, July 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- British Icon to be 'Centre Stage' in Earls Court; Visitors to
Have First Hand Access and Opportunity to Win a Chance to Sail on Gipsy Moth
IV

Whyte and Mackay Earls Court Boat Show today announced it will sponsor
Gipsy Moth IV as a feature attraction of its December maritime event. The
historic yacht will be a central attraction within Earls Court for the
duration of the entire nine day event, enabling all visitors to see one of
Britain's great sailing treasures first-hand. In addition, several lucky
winners will be given an opportunity to sail on Gipsy Moth IV.

Gipsy Moth IV, a 54 foot yacht, was commissioned by Sir Francis
Chichester to sail single-handedly around the world in an attempt to beat the
times set by clipper ships in the 19th Century. The yacht made history
sailing around the globe in 1966-67 in 274 days. Later the yacht was seen by
many visitors in Greenwich until it was closed to the public due to
deterioration.

In 2003, a group led by Yachting Monthly's Editor Paul Gelder, restored
the yacht in order to make a second historic sail around the globe to
celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original conquest. Gipsy Moth IV
completed its second trip around the world and docked in Portsmouth on the
28th May 2007, just as she did exactly 40 years before. She was welcomed home
by Giles Chichester, son of Sir Francis. This historic treasure is now owned
and maintained by UKSA and used to teach disadvantaged youth the art of
sailing.

"We could not be more pleased to announce that a yacht with the history
and stature of Gipsy Moth IV will be featured in the Olympic Pool during our
show. I am excited for the opportunity our visitors will have to see and
interact with a timeless British icon. We are sponsoring this yacht's
presence as a commitment to our visitors to provide interaction on new and
historic boats they would not normally have the chance to experience. This is
also a way for us to take the boat show out of Earls Court and into the
community by offering a wider audience the chance to go sailing on such a
treasure," said James Brooke, Managing Director, Whyte & Mackay Earls Court
Boat Show.

"The Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show is a fitting place to feature
the tradition, achievement and majesty of Gipsy Moth IV. We are pleased to
accept the generous offer to make this historic boat a central feature of the
December show. The show provides a great opportunity to inspire a whole new
generation of sailors with the Gipsy Moth IV story, and to make a wider
audience more aware of the yacht's valuable work and contribution to the
sailing community in her new home on the Isle of Wight," said Ciaran Rogers,
Marketing Manager for UKSA.

Paul Gelder and UKSA will be at the show in December to welcome visitors
onboard Gipsy Moth IV.

About ECBS:

The Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show is a completely unique show,
designed with the visitor in mind. It's all about creating an emotional home
for the mariner by providing a mix of new product and innovation, headline
entertainment, interactivity and learning experiences, hospitality and the
opportunity to meet heroes and legends. For more information about the show,
please visit: www.earlscourtboatshow.com

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the 
PA Photowire. It can be viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or 
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