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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
36 In 1987 CitizenWatches was having difficulty finding sufficient advertising dollars to cover the ever-growing costs of its International Match Racing events.They were reluctantly given permission to find 10 sub-sponsors to help bear the cost.The StewartAssociation invited NutraSweet to the party and their management came to an agreement with Citizen to be one of the sub-sponsors. After the event, NutraSweet were extremely disappointed with the very limited exposure they received during the Citizen Series, and decided to withdraw their sponsorship of yachting altogether. This backfired on the Stewart Class as NutraSweet would no longer be their sponsor for their own championship series. WayneBobergonceagaincametotherescueandinnotimehadarrangedwithMartinJaguschof CanonNewZealandtotakeoveras primarysponsorof theStewart34Classin1990.Thiswasthebeginningof asuccessfullong-termrelationship. For17years,thebold redCanonlogowasconspicuouslydisplayedonthemainsailsof the30-strongStewartfleet. Overtheyears,millionsof eyeshavebeen caught by the bright red logo as the Stewart 34’s sail individually or as a racing fleet onAuckland waters,not to mention the beautiful photos of the boats that appear on the walls of Auckland International Airport, the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, in-flight magazines and other publications and web sites worldwide. Some people actually thought of them as“the Canon boats”rather than Stewart 34’s. This sponsorship relationship between Canon New Zealand and the Stewarts was one of the longest running in New Zealand sport. The Stewart Association feels this is probably because of the fact that neither party was greedy.The Stewarts did their part by displayingtheCanonlogoeverytimethemainsailwasraised,whetherracingorcruising. Thelogoalsoappearedinmanyotherplaces, such as boom covers and on crewmembers regular sailing gear. Additionally, Stewart owners offered the boats and skippers to take Canonstaff onnumerous“corporateregattas”throughouttheyear. Canon,fortheirpart,wasalwayscooperativewiththeAssociation, providing generous funding for appearance and prize monies. Until a change in Canon’s marketing strategies, it was felt that it was a win-win relationship,and the Stewarts look forward to similar successful relationships going forward. In recent years John Collinson, who chartered and raced Princess for a season has also been very generous. He funds the cost of two post-championship race days consisting of up to six races, known as the Collinson Forex Series, with the winner being awarded the Collinson Cup. The StewartAssociation is most grateful for his continued support. InNovember2007theStewartAssociationwelcomedthegeneroussupportof itspresentsponsor,HyundaiNewZealandandlooks forwardtoanotherlongandmutuallybeneficialrelationship. Tothatendandintheinterestof providingvaluetothesponsor,weasked Tom Ruddenklau,Hyundai’s National Sales Manager,what’s in it for you? Ruddenklauresponded“HyundaiNewZealandisaprivatelyowneddistributorforHyundaicarsinNewZealand. Thisdistribution agreement with Hyundai Korea has been in place for 27 years,one of the longest serving agreements worldwide. Sponsorship is an integral part of the Hyundai marketing mix and is a true test of the integration of the Hyundai brand and the community. Hyundai runs a sponsorship scorecard for all its sponsorships and all agreements entered into are unashamedly commercial in the return required. In short, a successful sponsorship relationship results in the sale of Hyundai products! The Stewart 34 sponsorship ticks all the scorecard boxes and has enabled the team at Hyundai New Zealand to engage with the wider sailing community. The class itself is unique in that, like Hyundai in New Zealand, it is here for the long haul and has, can and will weather the seasonal economic storms that one can face in business cycles. Hyundai New Zealand is proud to be a part of the long history of the Stewart 34 class and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship.” The Stewart 34 Owners Association wishes to thank Hyundai New Zealand,Canon New Zealand,Nutra Sweet,Collinson-Forex, the Citizen Watch Company, and the various sub-sponsors of the Citizen Watch Match Racing Series. Their generous support has greatly contributed to the success of the Stewart class for the past 30 years. 7 - Stewarts and the Squadron The Stewart 34 Owners Association has had a long, and occasionally turbulent, relationship with the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The Stewart owners who regularly race have always been characterized as highly competitive and fiercely