News - 2013

09:00 Monday 11 Nov 2013 Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Initiative Extended to Support 20 Crews in 2014

Since its introduction in 2012, the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy has proven to be a popular addition to one of the UK's longest running and most successful sailing events. Now in its third year, Aberdeen is delighted to announce that their support for young teams to compete at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014 will be extended even further.

Having funded 15 crews aged 25 or under to participate in the regatta in 2013, Aberdeen’s support of the youth sailing initiative is being increased to 20 crews in 2014. The first 20 crews to enter the event and confirm their entire team of under 25-year-olds will have their entry fees covered byAberdeen, as well as receiving team sailing kit and having the chance to compete for the prestigious Under 25 Trophy.

Jill Maxwell, Sponsorship and Events Manager at Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “The Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy is an initiative we are very proud of at Aberdeen, so we are pleased to announce that in 2014 we will be increasing our support to the first 20 crews to enter the regatta. We hope that backing the crews in this way encourages more young sailors to enter the regatta and compete for the title.

We are thrilled with how the initiative has grown in popularity and awareness since its inception and seeing the Under 25 crews wearing their Aberdeen kit around the regatta with pride this summer was very rewarding.”

Sailors Chris Taylor (19), Tim Gratton (18), Ben Gratton (20), Peter Alton (21), and Anna Masters (19) predominantly from Hayling Island Sailing Club in Hampshire, became the second crew to claim the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy by winning the 2013 regatta in their J/80, J.A.T.

J.A.T. skipper, Chris Taylor, said: “We were all so happy to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy in 2013. It was a brilliant week’s sailing with some tricky wind conditions pushing the crew to the best of their abilities. The Under 25 trophy is such a great way of encouraging youth teams to enter the regatta, it’s great to hear even more crews will be funded in 2014, as without this support from Aberdeen lots of younger crews wouldn’t be able to compete.”

StuartQuarrie, Sailing Director at Cowes Week Limited (CWL), added: “It’s fantastic that Aberdeen Asset Management is extending its support for young sailors at the 2014 regatta. We’ve already had several enquiries from young crews eager to capitalise on the opportunity and enter early for next year and the initiative is going from strength to strength.”

Entries are already being accepted for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014 here.