Plymouth City Council has announced its support and promotion of what is likely to be the biggest sporting event of the year in Plymouth, the Transat.

As an official partner to this internationally renowned professional sailing event, the city is playing an important role in securing for Plymouth one of the most historic and famous of races.

The Transat 2004 single-handed transatlantic yacht race, will start from Plymouth at 1400 hours on 31 May.

In 1960, it was won by Sir Francis Chichester, in what was effectively the first ever ocean race. Until then, people had said it was impossible to cross the North Atlantic alone. The 2004 event will finish in Boston, USA.

Offshore Challenges, the sports marketing company owned by Mark Turner and Ellen MacArthur, MBE, acquired the event this summer and plans to elevate the status of the race, both in sporting terms and in economic and social value for Plymouth.

The race will be preceded by an Events Week on the Mount Batten peninsula running from 22 May, the date the race boats and competitors arrive in Plymouth.

As well as the spectacle of over 40 giant hi-tech 60-foot race boats, the Events Week will include Royal Navy displays, an arts programme as well as entertainment and hospitality events.

As an official partner, Plymouth City Council will provide PR and marketing support from now until the start of the race on 31 May 2004. It will also help ensure the infrastructure is in place on the Mount Batten peninsula to sustain a major sporting event, which is expected be attended by hundreds of international media and VIPs, as well as thousands of visitors.

'We are delighted to be working with Offshore Challenges on this race,' said Councillor Peter Smith, Portfolio Holder for Sport, Leisure and Culture.

'With their sports management expertise, I believe this event will bring major economic and social benefits to the city and the region. Staging the event provides a real opportunity for Plymouth to position itself as a great host of maritime and sporting events, as well as a destination tourist centre.'

Mark Turner, Chief Executive of Offshore Challenges said: "The support of Plymouth City Council is very important to the success of the race.

'However, we are looking forward to building a long-term relationship with Plymouth as the start venue for the Transat in future years as well. The city has a rich maritime heritage, and an almost unrivalled waterfront environment. We expect to be communicating this to a very wide international audience.'

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