Gryphon Solo CampaignSponsorship Proposal

2006-2008

GRYPHONS O L O

1

WHY GRYPHON SOLO?

WELCOME

Welcome to Gryphon Solo, America’s finest solo offshore racing team, readyto compete in the tough, international world of single-handed ocean racing.

Welcome 1Why Gryphon Solo? 2 Applauding

Sponsors Say… 3 The Campaign 4 The Skipper 5 The Team 6 The Yacht 7 Events 8Branding Examples 11What’s the Deal? 12Sponsor Benefits 13 Summary 15

GRYPHONS O L O

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APPLAUDING SPONSORS SAY…

WHY GRYPHON SOLO?� BRAND AWARENESS - Over the next three years, Gryphon Solo

will compete in a series of premier international offshore races, all ofwhich will receive extensive media coverage and high public interest.By sponsoring Gryphon Solo, your company will gain uniqueexposure through what is essentially a massive global billboard,reaching millions of people worldwide.

� CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT - With wide, spacious decks anda "thrill-ride" that’s second to none, Gryphon Solo is the idealplatform for entertaining clients or hosting company VIPs. A dayaboard is sure to leave a lasting impression.

� EMPLOYEE INSPIRATION - With its unique focus on self-reliance,determination and resilience, solo sailing is a natural fit for employeemotivational programs and initiatives. Solo sailing proves thatcreativity and determination can make anything possible.

� CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING - Members of the Gryphon Soloteam are available for motivational seminars or as keynote speakersat corporate functions. Employees are also invited to join the boatfor informal racing sessions.

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THE CAMPAIGN

APPLAUDING SPONSORS SAY…

Tommy HilfigerChairman

Tommy Hilfiger Corporation

Christopher J. JordanExecutive Vice PresidentWells Fargo & Company

Andrew PindarChairman

Pindar/Alphagraphics

Due to its tremendous international exposure and the public’s insatiable appetite for extreme sports, single-handed offshore racing has rapidly become a popular sponsorship venue. Dozens of major corporations havecommitted marketing dollars to solo sailing with impressive results. Here’s what a few of them had to say:

In the 2001 Vendee Globe race, Ellen MacArthur and the Kingfisher campaign generated media exposure with an EquivalentAdvertising Value of $55 million USD over a three year period. Put your name on Gryphon Solo and earn your share.

"Our sponsorship of Brad Van Liew and Tommy Hilfiger-Freedom America has proven

extremely successful. Wewere able to reach and

connect with new customersaround the world through the

incredible press exposure wereceived on this sponsorship.

Our partnership yieldedtremendous results and exceeded our

expectations in every way."

"During the Transat Race ouremployees and clients were

riveted to the hourly raceupdates and inspired by Joe’sheroic efforts. After a sail onthe boat, our clients comeaway glowing. We are very

pleased with the sponsorship"

"Pindar has sponsored Emma Richards for the last

four years, each yearincreasing our involvement in

her sailing activities. Thepublicity given to Pindar hasbeen tremendous, and using

the boat for corporateentertaining with Emma as acentral motivating figure for

our employees has beeninvaluable."

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SKIPPER & CAMPAIGN MANAGER

THE CAMPAIGN

� Purchased the fastest 50-foot sailboat in the world - Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America won the 2002/03 AroundAlone race. Renamed Gryphon Solo, she holds the 24 hourspeed record for Open 50 class.

� Assembled a formidable team - PR professional Talbot Wilsonwill provide extraordinary coverage for sponsors; Hugh Piggin, aKiwi sailor with vast ocean racing experience and a broadboatbuilding skill set is Gryphon Solo’s boat manager; BlakeJackson, internet guru, manages the GS web site andcommunications.

� Sailed to second place finish in the solo 2004 Transat Racefrom Plymouth, England to Boston, MA - Joe sailed acrossthe Atlantic twice in the Spring of 2004 and took a secondplace finish in the 50' monohull class of the Transat Race in atime of 16 days.

� Sailed to a first place finish in the 2005 Transat JacquesVabre race - Joe sailed from LaHavre France to a victorycelebration in Salvadore, Brazil in a time of 19 days.

The torch of American single-handed offshore sailing has been passed from recent Around Alone racewinner Brad Van Liew to Joe Harris, an experienced offshore sailor with the right combination of skills, desireand resources to carry forward Van Liew’s success in a sport traditionally dominated by Europeans. Harris willcampaign in a series of Trans-Atlantic ocean races, culminating in the 2007 Global Ocean Challenge Racearound the planet. This sport pits one man and one boat against nature’s most isolated and formidableenvironment - the sea.

Success, however, will require a team of professionals backing the skipper, as well as partnerships withsponsors and suppliers that showcase the very best of American creativity, enterprise and technology. The Gryphon Solo campaign has already taken bold steps toward winning the Global Ocean Challengeincluding:

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THE TEAM

SKIPPER & CAMPAIGN MANAGERLIFELONG SAILOR - Born and raised in Greenwich, CT, Joe Harrisgrew up sailing on Long Island Sound. He was mentored by his father- anoffshore racer with 18 Newport-Bermuda Races to his credit - and hisgrandfather, a veteran of five Trans-Atlantic voyages.

COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN AND BOAT BUILDER - After graduatingfrom Brown University in 1981, Joe spent his summers working as acommercial fisherman in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and his winters as a boat-builder in New England.

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE - In his thirties, Joe receivedan MBA from Babson College and embarked on a career in real estatefinance. He advanced rapidly to his current position as CFO of NewBoston Fund, Inc., a $1.5 billion real estate investment anddevelopment company.

EXPERIENCED OFFSHORE RACER - Joe has owned andcampaigned a series of boats over the last 15 years, competing in everymajor East Coast regatta and offshore race, including eight Newport-Bermuda, four Marblehead-Halifax, two Bermuda One/Two races, the2004 Transat Single-handed TransAtlantic Race, the 2005 TransatJacques Vabre race. Joe has sailed over 40,000 offshore miles.

RIGHT FOR YOUR BRAND - Joe will project an image that is right foryour business. He is a sailor and a business executive. Joe is aprofessional and will represent the sponsor’s brand with integrity anda highly positive image.

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THE YACHT

THE TEAM

Public Relations Manager - Talbot Wilson: A PR professional, a sailor, and owner of TalbotWilson & Associates, Talbot has managed media centers and PR for match races, oceanraces and individual sailors. He was a manager of the US Admiral’s Cup teams four timesfrom 1989-1999. Talbot has been the Press officer for the Newport Bermuda Race since1989 and Bermuda’s King Edward VII Gold Cup since 2004. His role is to acquire sponsorshipand tell the story of the Gryphon Solo adventure.

Communications Manager - Blake Jackson: After a career in electrical engineering, his focus oninternet development formally began at iXL, previously a global internet consulting firm, and then atPerformix Technologies. Since 2002, Blake has run an internet consultancy, and developed the webmanagement software platform on which this site runs. With 10 years of experience, Blake offers arare balance of creative and technical problem solving skills.

Boat Manager - Hugh Piggin: Hugh was born and raised in New Zealand and has been a sailorfrom an early age. Hugh began big boat sailing with the famed “Kialoa” program and went on tobecome involved with the French trimaran program of Yvan Bourgnon, the Team Adventurecatamaran program, and then a series of maxi monohulls called “Harrier” in the U.S.. Hugh is aworld class bow man and an expert rigger.

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EVENTS

THE YACHTDubbed the world’s fastest 50-footer in 2003, Gryphon Solo won Class II of the Around Alone Race byan unprecedented 21-day margin. The boat, then named “Tommy Hilfiger-Freedom America,” also holdsthe 24-hour speed record for a 50’ yacht, having covered an astounding 345 miles in 24 hours. Designed byGroup Finot and built without compromise by JMV Industries in France, Gryphon Solo is a thoroughbredracing machine. The boat is capable of speeds in excess of 20 knots while remaining stable and under control.

Gryphon Solo is built entirely of carbon fiber and uses a hydraulically operated canting keel for added stability. Theboat has twin daggerboards and twin rudders to provide added ”lift” to windward. The combination of voluminoussail area, stability and light construction gives the boat tremendous power and acceleration. Moreover, theyacht carries the latest high-tech electronics and communications equipment, allowing the skipper to not onlysail competitively, but also to stay in touch with sponsors and the media from anywhere on earth.

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EVENTS

EVENTS

Huge crowds are a part of Open class events

COMPLETED

COMPLETED

The principal objective of the Gryphon Solocampaign is to win the 2007/2008 Global OceanChallenge Race (GOC). Gryphon Solo will alsocompete in a number of other high-profile oceanracing events leading up to the GOC start inSeptember 0f 2007.

June 2004 - Transat 2004: From Plymouth, Englandto Boston, MA. Joe sailed Gryphon Solo to a secondplace finish in the 50' Monohull Class with a solotrans-atlantic passage time of 16 days. Joeexperienced continuous cold, fog and headwinds,making the race a true test of endurance as well assailing skill.

July 2005 - Marblehead to Halifax race: GryphonSolo raced in the double-handed class of this bi-annual New England classic. This race is anavigational challenge as the twenty-foot tides ofthe Bay of Fundy make rounding Cape Sable at thesouthern tip of Nova Scotia tricky. Fog is pervasiveand the finish in Halifax is generally an “instruments-only” landing! Gryphon Solo took first in class.

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EVENTS

EVENTS

The Transat Jacques Vabre - 4,500 miles from Le Havre, France to Salvador, Brazil

COMPLETEDNovember 2005 - Transat Jacques Vabre: This double-handed race is one of Europe’s preeminent sailingevents. In France, where sailing stars are nationalheroes, the Transat Jacques Vabre is one of the mostprestigious events on the calendar. It is held every twoyears and the course is a tough 4,500 miles from LeHavre on the north coast of France to Salvador, Brazil.This event is open only to the world’s best Open classtrimarans and 50-and 60-foot monohulls. Joe and co-skipper Josh Hall took first in class in a time of 19 days.

FUTURE EVENTSJune 2006 - Newport-Bermuda Race: Along with theTranspac, Sydney-Hobart and Fastnet races, theNewport-Bermuda biennial classic is the fourth of thesailing world’s "Grand Slam" of crewed offshore yachtraces. Media coverage is very strong, providingsponsors with excellent opportunities for exposure.Gryphon Solo will compete in the DemonstrationDivision for cant keel yachts in this prestigious event.

June 2007 - Bermuda One/Two: Boats race single-handed from Newport to Bermuda then double-handed on the return to Newport, with the bestaggregate time determining the winner. This race wasthe breeding ground for three previous American solosailors that went on to sail the Around Alone race.

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BRANDING EXAMPLES

EVENTSSeptember 2007 - April 2008 – the Global OceanChallenge (GOC)

One Man, One Boat, Around the World – Alone.This race is arguably the toughest endurance test of anysporting event on the planet.

The Global Ocean Challenge will be open to 40' and 50'monohulls, with the 50' class only for solo sailors and the40' class having a single and a double-handed division.The fleet is expected to be about 20 boats, from at leastfive different countries. The GOC will begin in Europe,with the fleet heading southeast across the North Atlanticand then south towards the first stop-over port inCapetown, South Africa. From there, the fleet will sailacross the Indian Ocean to the port city of Tauranga,New Zealand. From NZ, the racers will cross thenotorious Southern Ocean, where cold temperaturescombine with high winds and seas to make this one ofthe most dangerous ocean passages the world. Afterrounding the iconic Cape Horn, the fleet will head northto a port on the coast of South America. Afterrecuperating from the Southern Ocean and repairing theirboats, the sailors will depart for Charleston, SouthCarolina, where American hospitality should be abundant.After Charleston, the fleet will re-cross the Atlantic to afinish in Europe. All told, the race will take about sevenmonths and will test every aspect of the sailor’s skills inpreparing and sailing their boats alone for nearly 30,000miles across the toughest waters in the world. This raceis arguably the toughest endurance test of any sportingevent on the planet.

One ManOne Boat

Around the WorldAlone

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WHAT’S THE DEAL?

BRANDING EXAMPLES

Pindar/Alphagraphics - International Printing & Graphics HSBC - International Banking Kingfisher - British Home Improvement Superstores

Tiscali - European Internet Leader Wells Fargo & Co. Fourth Largest U.S Bank Tommy Hiliger - American Clothing and Fashion

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WHAT’S THE DEAL?

WHAT’S THE DEAL?NAME THE BOAT

Title sponsorship will include the right to nameand emblazon the boat with the sponsor’s logoin the most visible places. Title sponsorshiptotal cost is $950,000. Naming rights meansthat every mention of the boat in the mediawill be a media hit for the title sponsor.Additional sponsorship levels are available tonon-conflicting brands or businesses and willhave display and media rights as well. All told,more than 20,000 square feet of space on thesails, hull and deck is available for brandingalthough “brand exclusivity” can benegotiated.

Sponsorship period: June 2006 – June 2008Including the Newport-Bermuda race in June 2006,the Bermuda One/Two race in June of 2007 and theGlobal Ocean Challenge from September 2007through April 2008. Post-GOC sponsor events willbe arranged to meet sponsor requirements. Thesailing vessel Gryphon Solo will be available forcorporate entertaining on an agreed-upon scheduleand Captain Joe Harris will be available for publicspeaking and appearances.

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MORE REASONS

SPONSOR BENEFITSMedia Coverage: Sponsors can expect outstanding coverage of each event from newspapers, magazines,television, radio and the Internet. The recent Around Alone campaign sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger garnered over1,000 articles, including coverage from the N.Y. Times, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Outside Magazine andMen’s Journal Magazine. TV exposure included features on the NBC Nightly News, CNN, PBS, The Early Show,the Outdoor Life Network (OLN) and ESPN, as well as coverage from many regional affiliates over the courseof the race.

The Gryphon Solo campaign Web site will feature your logo, as well as a link to your company’s site for on-line promotional opportunities. The web program can be designed to fit your specific needs.

In the 2001 Vendee Globe race, Ellen MacArthur and the Kingfisher campaign generated media exposure with an EquivalentAdvertising Value of $55 million USD over a three year period. Put your name on Gryphon Solo and earn your share.

Brand Promotion: In waterfront markets such as Boston and New York, millions will see theboat as they drive to work, look out their windows, walk the marina and hit the beach. As aresult, she can be viewed as a mobile billboard displaying the name, slogan or logo of yourcompany. Each part of the boat is assigned a value for placement of logos, ranging from atitle sponsor’s name in prominent positions on the sails, to the names and logos of gearproviders in other locations.

Corporate Entertaining: Gryphon Solo is an ideal platform for corporate entertaining beforeand after major events. Guests may opt for a relaxed harbor cruise or a more intense sailingexperience. Each stop will also provide a race village where sponsors can display andpromote their products.

Employee Inspiration: With its unique focus on self-reliance, determination and resilience,solo sailing is a natural fit for employee motivational programs and initiatives.

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SUMMARY

SPONSOR BENEFITS

Corporate Team Building. Members of the Gryphon Solo team can beavailable for motivational seminars or as keynote speakers at corporatefunctions. Employees can also join the boat for informal racing, a great way tobuild trust and teamwork outside of an office environment.

Educational Program. The basic structure and modules of an educationprogram were developed by HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank) for thelast race and can be further refined to reflect input from potential sponsors.The skipper will be able to communicate with students as the boat racesaround the world, sending images, video, and emails during each leg andhelping students learn geography, culture, oceanography, meteorology andmuch more.

Environmental Message. A clean, environmental-friendly image isimportant for any corporation and few sports are as closely linked to theenvironment as sailing. The Gryphon Solo campaign can work withestablished environmental agencies to develop an eco-message thatresonates with your company’s public image.

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SUMMARY

Sponsorship of the Gryphon Solo campaign can benefit many constituencies within yourcompany, including employees, shareholders and clients. Media coverage, skipper interviews,and satellite communications while underway afford constant branding opportunities andexposure. All of which provides a return on investment that exceeds any advertisingcampaign, for significantly fewer dollars.

We look forward to working with you to evaluate and quantify the value of this uniquesponsorship opportunity for your company.

For campaign information: Joe Harris617-878-7759joe@gryphonsolo.com

For PR information: Talbot Wilson850-217-7138talbot@talbotwilson.com

The number of people who have climbed

Mt. Everest: 1,500

The number of people who have flown in outer space: 560

The number of people who have sailedaround the world alone: 256

One Man, One Boat, Around the World – Alone

GRYPHONS O L O