On St George’s Day 2012 the British American Business Council will be hosting the Best of British Launch party – a double celebration of California’s relationship with the UK.
It’s the start of an epic journey for the OAR (Olympic Atlantic Row) boat and crew as they set off across North America ahead of their mission to row the 2000 miles from Canada to England in time for the start of the London 2012 Olympics.
We will also be toasting the opening night of BritWeek, an action-packed two-week celebration of creativity and innovation between Britain and California.
On Monday 23rd April, we’ll be smashing a bottle of bubbly to say farewell to Bojangles on behalf of the city of San Francisco– the two-person ocean rowing boat has been on display at the Park since her record-breaking maiden voyage across the Pacific in 2009.
The British Consul General, Priya Guha, will be attending, as well as representatives from the City of San Francisco including, Mark Chandler, Director of the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of International Trade and Commerce, and the crew of Bojangles, Roz Savage and Andrew Morris.
Roz and Andrew will be the first mixed gender team to row the Atlantic and the first to attempt this challenging route between Newfoundland and Bristol, completing the final stretch of the journey to London along England’s inland waterways.
Roz Savage, OAR crew member, said:“San Francisco has been the home of the OAR Project over the last five months while we’ve refitted Bojangles ready for her forthcoming adventure to the start of the Olympics. We’ve had an incredible welcome from people here, and without their support this journey would not have been possible.”
Colin Brown, President of the British American Business Council Northern California, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be putting on this fabulous event. We’re really excited about launching Bojangles – it’s going to be quite a sight to see the launch of an ocean–going rowing boat in the center of the city and we want to give her a really great send off from the city of San Francisco ahead of the London Olympics.
“It’s especially appropriate that this is happening on St George’s Day – there’s a real buzz building up around Britweek and we’re very much looking forward to kicking it off in style.”
Stuart Bagshaw, Chairman of the 2012 SF BritWeek organizing committee, said:
“BritWeek first came to San Francisco in 2010, and has been growing from strength to strength every year. This year’s festival is putting on a diverse range of exciting events between April 23 and May 7, from the Great British Film Night, to the British/American Pub Quiz, a Great British Design event with Timothy Oulton, a Recruitment Networking Evening, Family Sports Day, and the Taste of Britain, a celebration of great British food available in the Bay Area.”
The Best of British Launch is being held on Monday April 23 2012 between 6-8pm at the Citigroup Building Atrium, 1 Sansome Street, San Francisco. Tickets are $30 and are only available in advance. Registration is available online at www.babcsf.org or by calling (+1) 415.296.8645.
—–ENDS——
For interview requests or a press pass to the event please contact Amanda Akass, Communications Associate at BABC Northern California via email at aakass@babcsf.org or by telephone at (+1) 415.296.8645, or Naomi Coe, OAR Project manager, via email at info@olympicatlanticrow.co.uk or by telephone at (+1) 415.361.0801.
Notes for Editors
- The British American Business Council of Northern California was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization aiming to foster commerce, friendship and economic growth between Northern California and the United Kingdom. We offer our members practical business expansion opportunities by delivering high-caliber networking and marketing opportunities, top-quality business intelligence, regulatory advice, and the opportunity to achieve real business from the personal relationships they develop through their membership. Find out more on our website, www.babcsf.org
- The OAR Project (Olympic Atlantic Row). In May 2012, entrepreneur Andrew Morris and adventurer and environmental campaigner, Roz Savage will be setting off to row across the North Atlantic Ocean, aiming to arrive in time for the start of the 2012 London Olympic Games. This is the world’s first attempt to row the North Atlantic from Newfoundland to Bristol, and then on to London via the UK’s inland waterways. The pair will also be the first mixed gender team to cross the North Atlantic. Find out more on our website, http
- BritWeek was formed in Los Angeles in 2007, with the aim of educating the general public about the contributions of the British to California in particular and the United States in general, and to do other and various good works. Britweek launched in San Francisco in 2010 and hosts a diverse range of events each spring. This year’s festival is from April 23 to May 7 2012. Find out more on our website, http://britweek.org/2012/SF_events.html
Many thanks to our event sponsors, Mumm Napa and 20/20 Productions.
With thanks also OAR Sponsors, Conceptua, DHL and Weather Underground.