A Message to our Friends and Supporters
Hello Friends,
The first and most important thing I want do is to thank all of you for your support in helping us to reach our goals over the past couple of years. Many people keep reminding me about all that we have accomplished over the last two years and I must admit that I tend not to dwell on the things that are behind us because we have so much ahead of us. That said, with your generous support since February 2007 we have accomplished a great deal:
* Purchase the boat.
* Purchasing all of the equipment to legally race offshore.
* Race the Bermuda Ocean Race and delivery/ practice trip back to the US.
* Complete the 1000nm Qualification (almost twice!)
* Almost 5000nm miles of sailing and practice.
One of the accomplishments that I am most proud of is bringing people together on a project that is more challenging than anything I have taken on in my life thus far. Rallying the community around the children at the Boys and Girls Club and working directly with those children has been especially rewarding. If we accomplish nothing else in this campaign, having had the chance to make new friends and work with such inspiring people would have made all of the hardship worth while.
That being said, the financial strain, both personally and to the campaign has been significant. To race the Mini Transat in 2009 would take a large infusion of cash. My estimates are that it would take in the neighbourhood of $20 000 to pay for transportation, logistics, race fees and replacement parts and equipment for the boat. At this time, it would be fiscally irresponsible to move ahead with competing in the Mini Transat this coming fall.
Given this situation, the team has decided to set our sites on the 2010 race. This will take a little pressure off us in terms of fund raising, and hopefully give our ailing economy a little time to recover so that corporate partners are again thinking about sponsoring amateur athletes like me. I also believe that the extra preparation time will allow me to refine both the boat and my sailing skills and manoeuvres.
Now that we have a bit more time, I am looking forward to the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with our sponsors and supporters. The sailing team has started many great relationships and I am looking forward to building those up and continuing the great work that we have started in the community.
We have so much more to give our community, our sponsors, and our individual supporters. I am really looking forward to showing people what we have to offer and to invite one and all to get on board this adventure that is bringing so much to our community, to our children and to individuals who dream of the sea and far off lands.
Your ongoing support and friendship are very important to me and to my team-mates. We will do our best to keep you up to date on what is happening and I am sure that we will be calling again for your help and support as we get closer and closer to reaching our goals. We want to engage you, excite you and involve you in a project that is bringing great things to our community.
I want to be a competitor in the Mini Transat, not just someone who is a good candidate to finish. I honestly believe that the boat and I will be a contender if we are properly funded and well prepared. I welcome the opportunity to find this funding and to further prepare both the boat and myself. While I am disappointed to not be headed to Europe this April, I am excited at the opportunity to be a real contender in one of offshore racing’s most gruelling tests. We: myself, the boat and the team, can be good enough to go and win this race. We will need your continued help and support.
So to finish, I am humbly asking that you keep up your support over the next year, so that we, all of us, can go to France and show the world what we hardy Canadian, Great Lakes, sailors are made of!
Many thanks for your ongoing support. We are stronger together and I am so excited to finish this with you. Let’s make it happen!
Nathan Baron, Skipper
Minimus Sailing Team
Direct: 613-453-0610
Email: nathan.baron@minimus-sailing-team.com
Skype: nathan.m.baron
www.minimus-sailing-team.com
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