Press Release
14-02-2008: SailTime’s brand new Chatham base raises money for Sport Relief
Potential sailors visiting SailTime’s new Chatham base, which launches on Sunday 16 March, will be invited to get active on the River Medway in aid of Sport Relief, at the same time as sampling the benefits of sailing with the UK’s premier sailing membership company.
Base owner Nigel Rodliffe comments, “We decided to launch SailTime Medway with a programme of Open Days which will give potential Members the opportunity to sample our brand new 34ft yacht “Pippin”. We set the launch date for Sunday 16 March to coincide with Sport Relief and are encouraging any local residents wanting to experience the River Medway from the water to join us sailing from 10am on 16 March and hopefully sponsor us for the experience! The more people that commit to a sail, the more cash we can raise for Sport Relief.”
Book a time on the boat by emailing medway@sailtime.com or phoning 0844 800 5727, or just turn up on the hour. Those who can’t make it can still make a donation, visit: www.mysportrelief.com/sailtime_medway
SailTime already has a number of bases established along the UK south and east coast and the new base opening up at Chatham Maritime Marina, Kent provides easily accessible and affordable sailing. For a monthly fee – often less than the marina fees alone – Members can sail a brand new yacht at least seven times a month. Maintenance, insurance and marina fees are taken care of. All Members have to do is turn up and sail.
SailTime Medway is located at Chatham Maritime, in the heart of a multi-million pound leisure and retail waterfront development, and in a convenient location for people living in Kent, Essex and London.
It provides easy access to the Medway and neighbouring Swale, with a network of sheltered tidal waters for day sailing as well as a range of delightful destinations within easy sailing of the Marina for lunch or overnight stops.
Members of SailTime Medway will be able to sail a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 343. This 34ft boat is a very comfortable sailing boat, which can accommodate six people overnight and can be easily managed by two people.
The base will be run by Nigel and Kathy Rodliffe who met through a Yachtmaster course 20 years ago, joined SailTime as members in March 2007 and quickly realised that the SailTime franchise programme could not only change their life out of work, but also offered a viable new business opportunity for them.
Nigel comments, “This area has a fascinating and illustrious maritime heritage. The Medway and Swale are also of great conservation significance. There’s plenty of sailing options and we also intend to help our Members get a rich sailing experience through initiatives such as sharing the out and return legs of longer passages. Members can then have more time enjoying the beautiful cruising area of the East Coast, or for those wanting a longer passage, Northern France, Belgium and Holland are all within easy reach. All it needs is for Members to collaborate in planning the out and return legs to maximise the time spent exploring these destinations.”
Chatham is one of several bases opening in 2008 – in the UK SailTime also has bases in Hamble, Lymington, Ipswich, Gosport, Falmouth and Plymouth (opening April 2008). SailTime is well-established in the USA and the Netherlands and is also opening on the French Riviera in Antibes this Spring.
Notes to Editors:
• The monthly Membership fee for a brand new Bénéteau 323 Océanis Clipper is just £499 including vat. There are no other costs for Members - SailTime pays for all the marina fees, maintenance, insurance and running costs.
• SailTime members can utilise other SailTime bases in the USA, Caribbean, South of France and Netherlands
• Members are required to join for an initial 12 months, after which there is a rolling 90 day notice period.
• SailTime Members check on and off the yachts using the SailTime E-ttendant™, a handheld PDA which guides them through a series of safety and equipment checks.
• Members pay a £1,750 initiation and training fee for a two-day course which includes use of the online calendar and E-ttendant™, training on the specific yacht; navigation, electronics and general layout of the boat, and orientation day-sail.
• Members place £1,000 as a security deposit against any minor damage a Member causes to the boat. SailTime refund this £1,000 at the end of the membership.
• The yachts are available all year round, with the exception of a two week maintenance period between January and February when they are taken out of the water.
For more information about SailTime please visit www.sailtime.co.uk or contact Jonathan Duffy at SailTime UK: Tel +44 (0)2380 574727, Mob +44 (0)771 774 0257
More press information is available from Jane Adkins or Eloise Jakeman at ADPR: Tel +44 (0) 1460 241641 or Fax: +44 (0)1460 242719
or by email jane@adpr.co.uk or eloise@adpr.co.uk
February 2008 [PR94]