A revised version follows. What say you team?
Dear Sir Richard and Mr Ridgeway,
Challenge for the Virgin Atlantic Regatta
I write as the representing of V-Flyer.Com - the leading independent guide to all things Virgin Atlantic.
As you will be aware our membership is largely drawn from Virgin Frequent Flyers - over 22% of our membership being Gold with several other V-50s (See http://www.v-flyer.com/advertising.asp) for demographics). Because of this we've had the chance to experience your hospitality on numerous occasions. Now we'd like to turn the tables.
In a spirit of friendship and sportsmanship, the members of v-flyer.com challenge Virgin Atlantic Airways to a yacht racing regatta (subject to the enclosed challenge terms), the winner of which will take away the prize.
We have negotiated the use of two 68Õ racing yachts for the event, and two training days beforehand, with Sir Robin Knox Johnston (Chairman, Clipper Ventures Plc). The yachts recently returned from a round the world race and are currently being refitted ready for the 2007 season. Interestingly, the yachts were built in Shanghai and the project team used Virgin flights for their trips to visit the yard!
Clipper Ventures will also provide fully qualified and experienced skippers so that the safety of the people taking part will be assured.
I appreciate that you'll need time to think about this but I would respectfully request that you give due consideration to this proposal and respond expeditiously. Obviously Jeremy and I are available to answer any outstanding questions you may have.
I await your reply with interest
Kind Regards
Pete Shaw
Terms of the challenge
1) The regatta will be conducted on a date to be agreed between the competitors in 2007. It will be staged in the Solent, UK.
2) Virgin Atlantic Airways will nominate one person in their team to act as the point of contact. V-flyer.com nominates Jeremy Knight as their point of contact.
3) Each team will be made up of between 12 and 14 sailors (not including the skipper).
4) Each of the competitor teams will have the opportunity for 2 days sail and race training prior to the event, one of which will be the day before the event. In the interests of safety, at least 10 of the final team members must have completed the training.
5) The regatta, and training days, will be conducted in 2 one-design 68Õ racing yachts owned by Clipper Ventures Plc. Clipper Ventures will provide a professionally qualified and experienced skipper for each team.
6) Apart from the provided skipper, only 1 member of each team may have more than 1000 miles of yacht racing experience. The members of the teams must be made up of employees of Virgin Atlantic or members of v-flyer.com respectively. The teams are encouraged to field as many newcomers to the sport of yacht racing as is possible.
7) Racing will be conducted under ISAF rules, modified where relevant by the agreement of the teams and skippers.
8) V-flyer.com will provide a (TBC - Prize thread) magnum of champagne as a prize.
Dear Sir Richard and Mr Ridgeway,
Challenge for the Virgin Atlantic Regatta
I write as the representing of V-Flyer.Com - the leading independent guide to all things Virgin Atlantic.
As you will be aware our membership is largely drawn from Virgin Frequent Flyers - over 22% of our membership being Gold with several other V-50s (See http://www.v-flyer.com/advertising.asp) for demographics). Because of this we've had the chance to experience your hospitality on numerous occasions. Now we'd like to turn the tables.
In a spirit of friendship and sportsmanship, the members of v-flyer.com challenge Virgin Atlantic Airways to a yacht racing regatta (subject to the enclosed challenge terms), the winner of which will take away the prize.
We have negotiated the use of two 68Õ racing yachts for the event, and two training days beforehand, with Sir Robin Knox Johnston (Chairman, Clipper Ventures Plc). The yachts recently returned from a round the world race and are currently being refitted ready for the 2007 season. Interestingly, the yachts were built in Shanghai and the project team used Virgin flights for their trips to visit the yard!
Clipper Ventures will also provide fully qualified and experienced skippers so that the safety of the people taking part will be assured.
I appreciate that you'll need time to think about this but I would respectfully request that you give due consideration to this proposal and respond expeditiously. Obviously Jeremy and I are available to answer any outstanding questions you may have.
I await your reply with interest
Kind Regards
Pete Shaw
Terms of the challenge
1) The regatta will be conducted on a date to be agreed between the competitors in 2007. It will be staged in the Solent, UK.
2) Virgin Atlantic Airways will nominate one person in their team to act as the point of contact. V-flyer.com nominates Jeremy Knight as their point of contact.
3) Each team will be made up of between 12 and 14 sailors (not including the skipper).
4) Each of the competitor teams will have the opportunity for 2 days sail and race training prior to the event, one of which will be the day before the event. In the interests of safety, at least 10 of the final team members must have completed the training.
5) The regatta, and training days, will be conducted in 2 one-design 68Õ racing yachts owned by Clipper Ventures Plc. Clipper Ventures will provide a professionally qualified and experienced skipper for each team.
6) Apart from the provided skipper, only 1 member of each team may have more than 1000 miles of yacht racing experience. The members of the teams must be made up of employees of Virgin Atlantic or members of v-flyer.com respectively. The teams are encouraged to field as many newcomers to the sport of yacht racing as is possible.
7) Racing will be conducted under ISAF rules, modified where relevant by the agreement of the teams and skippers.
8) V-flyer.com will provide a (TBC - Prize thread) magnum of champagne as a prize.