Volvo Ocean Race takes balls

There is a connection between sailing and golf. Maybe it’s the clubhouses. Maybe it’s the courses. Maybe it’s the fashions. Whatever the reason, it’s there.

While the rest of us aspire to be as good in sailing as Dave Ullman, or Mark Reynolds, or Russell Coutts, they are aspiring for greatness on the golf course. Heck, even the Scuttlebutt editor was gripping and ripping this past weekend.

So with that in mind, and with our attention turning to the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, we must give credit to the most novel sponsorship concept that has come across our desk…

Golf Ocean Racing supports Doctors Without Borders
Golf Ocean Racing sells Titleist logo golf balls to finance a Volvo Ocean Race Campaign 2014/15 and also supports Doctors Without Borders.

This campaign aims to bring a team to the next Volvo Ocean Race by selling Titleist logo golf balls with the Golf Ocean Racing campaign logo on them. The proceeds will fund the participation of the team in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15.

After the race the yacht will be sold and the proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders. In this way the campaign has a charitable purpose. Should the campaign not get fully financed the proceeds from the campaign will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

In addition the name of every supporter who bought golf balls will be written onto the hull of the racing yacht. Due to this she / he will become a part of the team.

Click here for additional details. At $100 a dozen, that’s a lot of balls to fund a seven digit campaign.