Avon Tyres Unfurls Backing of Sevenstar Competitor

Motorsport and football sponsorship is commonplace these days, but few tyre makers weigh anchor and take to the seas. Avon Tyres is proving itself no landlubber, however, and is backing an entry in an event many consider to be one of the toughest and most challenging endurance tests in ocean racing, the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race. Charles Ivill, the managing director of ETB (Exhaust Tyres and Batteries Ltd), and his crew of ten are taking on the challenge, which commences on August 23. Ivill and crew will be pitting their nautical talents against an international fleet of 30 yachts.

The boat, a Grand Soleil 54 named John B, will have to negotiate the vagaries of the tides and notoriously fickle weather during the nonstop, high speed voyage over the 1,802 nautical mile course. The race, organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, is estimated to take up to 11 days to complete.

On the prospect of competing for the first time in this event, Charles Ivill said, “the Sevenstar Race is going to be a huge challenge for all competing and we’re delighted to be backed by Avon Tyres. Among the 30 odd yachts involved, some of these are world class boats, crewed by international standard sailors. We’ll have our work cut out for us, but having achieved a recent class win, we hope to be in the mix.

“We are raising money for the Ellen MacArthur Trust, whose aim is to empower children suffering from cancer or leukaemia by introducing them to the joys of sailing on the sea. It’s an excellent and thoroughly deserving cause,” Ivill added. To keep abreast of how the John B and the rest of the field fare during the race, visit www.sevenstar.rorc.org.