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Apr 21, 2011, 10:25 AM
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Tommy Bahama Announces Collaboration with Transpac Yacht Race
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It’s the ultimate in synergy: Tommy Bahama, the lifestyle brand steeped in island attitude, has set sail on a special collaboration with Transpacific Yacht Club for a sportswear collection in honor of the Transpac Yacht Race. The collection --which includes a special ‘Collector’s Edition’ shirt, a technical sailing shoe and select sportswear pieces-- will be available in June. The 46th running of the Transpac, one of the most venerable races in the world of yachting, begins on July 4, 2011.
“We are very excited about our association with Transpac” said Terry Pillow, CEO of Tommy Bahama. “Tommy Bahama’s life is one long weekend philosophy and its celebration of life dovetails perfectly with the spirit of camaraderie and adventure inherent in the Transpac.”
For both competitive and weekend sailors, Transpac holds a certain mystique, and draws monohull and multihull yachts from around the globe. The race begins in Long Beach, CA and concludes off Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu. At 2,225 nautical miles, it is one of the longest ocean races in the world, and one of the oldest as well. Transpac is famous for fast downwind sailing under spinnaker in trade winds, a fact celebrated by the race’s ‘downwind to paradise’ tagline.
Tradition plays a big role in the race: Before entering the harbor in Honolulu to receive their ‘aloha greeting’, sailors don aloha shirts to finish the contest in style. Roy P. Disney, a long-time participant in Transpac and member of the Transpacific Yacht Club’s board of the directors approached Tommy Bahama to create a shirt for this year’s race. He had admired the Collector’s Edition shirts Tommy Bahama produces for Major League Baseball and thought they could do the same for Transpac. “As a long time fan of the brand, I thought Tommy Bahama and Transpac would be the perfect match,” said Mr. Disney. “Both celebrate a love of the sun and the sea, and stand for that ‘downwind to paradise’ lifestyle which we all want to live.”
The Transpac ‘Collector’s Edition’ shirt is the centerpiece of a collection of comfortable, sea-inspired pieces for both sailors and landlubbers. The classic camp shirt features a multi-layered silkscreen and embroidered graphic on the back, which combines the Transpac and Tommy Bahama logos over a scene of boats in full sail across a blue sea. On the front pocket, Transpac 2011 and race details (length, race number) are printed in a classic maritime-style stencil. Only a limited number of these Collector’s Edition shirts will be produced, each one is numbered and accompanied by a Tommy Bahama Collector’s Certificate. The shirts retail for $250 each.
Tommy Bahama has also developed a technical sailing shoe aptly named the ‘Transpac’ that features a high performance wave siped outsole with water drainage ports for ultimate traction on deck. Made of waterproof nubuck and breathable mesh uppers, the lace toggle and adjustable pull cord system make for quick fit adjustments. The Transpac shoe, which looks as cool on the water as off, is available in three colors, red/white, white/white and navy/white. The rest of the tightly focused collection features casual sportswear pieces: long and short sleeve T-shirts in pima cotton with the Transpac logo and ‘Downwind to Paradise’ tagline, a half zip pullover in French rib, cotton canvas cargo shorts and logo cap.
Special packaging has been designed for the Tommy Bahama/Transpac Collection, from hangtags and belly bands to a shoe box and tissue paper printed with nautical maps. The entire collection will be available in June at select Tommy Bahama stores and at tommybahama.com. Also available on the company’s website: live updates on the race and blog posts from Mr. Disney on the ‘Live the Life’ section at tommybahama.com.
Transpacific Yacht Club Commodore Bill Lee, race boat designer/ builder and former Transpac record holder says of the collaboration: “It’s a perfect fit, no pun intended. Transpac is all about yachting, but it’s not blue-blazer yachting. This is the race that takes you roaring down the trade winds to Hawaii and a big Aloha! When the welcoming party—and I do mean party—slips one flowered lei over your head, and then another, you want to be, shall we say, casually correct. Did I mention that Tommy Bahama is a perfect fit?”
Tommy Bahama’s relationship with the Transpacific Yacht Club and its resulting co-branded collection of sportswear is a natural. Like the Tommy Bahama customer, participants in Transpac work hard, play hard, and revel in celebrating life to its fullest. This newest member of the Tommy Bahama family of lifestyle products epitomizes the company’s life is one long weekend philosophy and the desire to set sail for paradise!
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About Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama is owned by Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM). Established in August 1992, with corporate headquarters in Seattle, Tommy Bahama is a lifestyle company that defines elegant island living with men’s and women’s sportswear, denim, swimwear, accessories and a complete home furnishings collection. Tommy Bahama is available at the country’s finest retailers, including Nordstrom, as well as high profile resort locations around the world. There are eighty-nine Tommy Bahama’s retail locations across the country, thirteen of which include a Tommy Bahama’s restaurant & bar. Additional stores will be opening this year. For more information, please visit www.tommybahama.com.
About Transpacific Yacht Race
Transpac, the Transpacific Yacht Race, pioneered the sport of ocean racing in 1906 and remains a leader in the sport. Transpac has driven the evolution from heavy wood schooners to high-tech hot rods that cross oceans at speeds fast enough to pull a water skier. The 2,225-mile course from California to Hawaii is home to legends. Late in the 20th century California designers developed lightweight boats, and introduced ‘big-boat surfing’ to ocean racing. Transpac is run by the Transpacific Yacht Club, which also conducts races to Papeete, Tahiti and is open to all sailors who have successfully completed a TPYC race to Hawaii or Tahiti. For more information, please visit www.transpacrace.com.
Press Contact: Orsi Public Relations: Janet Orsi or Sara Pollock (323) 874-4073
janet@orsipr.com or sara@orsipr.com
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