For Immediate Release:

June 24, 2003

 

 

CHICAGO YACHT CLUB ANNOUNCES LANDS’ END BUSINESS OUTFITTERS AS RACE TO MACKINAC PRESENTING SPONSOR

 

CHICAGO (June 24, 2003) – The Chicago Yacht Club today announced that Lands’ End Business Outfitters, a division of direct merchant Lands’ End, has signed on to be the 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presenting sponsor, a fitting tribute to the company’s

40th anniversary and its nautical roots.

 

Lands’ End Business Outfitters will produce the official race polos, skippers’ bags and other Lands’ End apparel and gear for the race. The gear will be available to skippers and crew members, as well as members of the Chicago Yacht Club’s staff supporting the race and related events.

 

On Saturday, July 12, 2003, nearly 300 yachts, and 3,000 crew members, will compete in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters.  This year’s event marks the Race’s 105th anniversary and its 97th running. The prestigious 333-mile race from Chicago to Mackinac Island on the northern end of Lake Michigan is expected to draw strong competition as skippers and their crews test their endurance, speed and agility, and attempt to surpass a new record finish time for monohull yachts of 23:30:24 set last year by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket. The Pyewacket record beat the long held finish time of 25:50:44 set in 1987 by Pied Piper, skippered by Dick Jennings.

 

“We’re proud to be the presenting sponsor of the 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, the world’s longest annual freshwater race – and one of the most prestigious regattas in the United States,” said Vincent Gallucci, vice president and general manager, Lands’ End Business Outfitters.  “We believe this sponsorship is a strong marriage between the Chicago Yacht Club’s tradition of yachting excellence and our tradition of customer service excellence, as well as a way to introduce more people to Lands’ End Business Outfitters, and a great way to celebrate Lands’ End’s 40th anniversary.”

 

Gallucci said the company traces its roots to the Lands’ End Yacht Store founded by Gary Comer on Chicago’s Elston Avenue alongside the Chicago River in 1963.  “We started out offering fittings for racing sailboats, and now we provide apparel and accessories to our customers around the world.” He added, “We’re proud of our sailing heritage.”

 

“Both Lands’ End and the Chicago Yacht Club enjoy rich traditions of excellence tied to the sailing community,” said Mike Bucklo, chair of the Mackinac Committee of the Chicago Yacht Club. “We welcome Lands’ End Business Outfitters aboard in presenting what promises to be a most challenging and exciting race this year.”

 

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Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters

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Lands’ End Business Outfitters is the division of Lands’ End that provides logo’d apparel and accessories to nine out of 10 Fortune 500® companies, and to other firms of all sizes, outfitting their employees and customers in quality merchandise while enhancing the strength of their respective brand.

 

Founded in 1875 with the goal of advancing the community’s knowledge, enjoyment and participation in boating and the nautical arts, the Chicago Yacht Club remains a valuable resource for its members and for the Chicago community.  The Club has been a leader for more than 75 years in teaching children and adults how to sail, and is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States.

 

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

 

Haley Pingree                                                                                       Chris Mordi

Public Communications, Inc.                                                                 Lands’ End

312.558.1770                                                                                      608.935.6542

hpingree@pcipr.com                                                                            chris.mordi@landsend.com

 

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