In 2009 and 2010, key people in the sailing industry were listed alphabetically in the directory. As well as contact details like email address and mobile phone numbers, the Dark Blue Book contained short sailing CV and bio details for yacht racing’s decision makers.

In 2011, with the co-operation of leading rights holders, the Dark Blue Book will offer a ‘book within a book’ format that will allow multi-team or multi-venue events to consolidate the important contact information of competing teams, sponsors and partners and host ports together with series personnel.

While these chapters will exist in the 2011 Dark Blue Book, the option will also exist for the section to be printed separately as a resource for participants, media and VIP partners.

David Fuller, CEO of Pilote Media and Editor of the Dark Blue Book said:

We are getting better every year. The Dark Blue Book provides a really useful resource for people in the business of yacht racing but its even more useful for those who are learning the market. Organisations like the Volvo Ocean Race and World Match Racing Tour are hiring professionals from other sports and those executives are used to having directories like this at their disposal.

It doesn’t matter if you are an agency that is looking into sailing for a potential sponsor, a journalist who is researching the sport with a view to upcoming events or someone who has been in the business for a while who is looking to keep tabs on old contacts, this directory is designed to be useful.

Pilote Media will once again be attending the annual World Yacht Racing Forum in December. Rights owners or organisations who are interested in partnering with the Dark Blue Book for 2011 are invited to meet with the publishers in Estoril on the 13th, 14th and 15th of December.

The first ever ‘Who’s Who’ of yacht racing contains contact details for some of the most influential people in the sport from team principals to sponsors, journalists and event organisers.

Now the operators of sailing websites and blogs have the opportunity to make money by reffering people to buy the directory. For every book sold as a result of a refferal, Pilote will pay a £10 commission.

Editor of the DARK BLUE BOOK and Pilote CEO David Fuller says:

We know that many people run sailing blogs and websites on a part time basis and don’t get a lot of reward for it. This is an oppoortunity to promote a relevant product and make some cash. Semi-pro sailors who run their own websites can also raise money this way – everybody wins.

Those who missed out on being included in the 2009 edition can also now submit their entries for the next book. Online entry forms are now live on the DARK BLUE BOOK website.

• Buy the 2009 edition: http://www.darkbluebook.com/buy-the-book
• Sign up for the affiliate scheme : http://www.darkbluebook.com/about/dark-blue-book-affiliate-scheme/
• Submit 2010 entry : http://www.darkbluebook.com/2010-entry-form/

David Fuller, Editor of the directory says:

“If you have sent in your forms, then our researchers and designers are currently adding you into the book, but if you haven’t, then you have two ways of making the first edition. You can advertise, or you can pay a small fee to cover the extra work we have to do to get you included.”

The directory has recieved fantastic support from the yacht racing community, with high profile people spreading the word to friends, business partners and even fellow competitors.

“Those who have embraced the concept will get the best results from the book,” says David. “It makes sense if you are a competitive team to list your key people, your press partners, the company that built your website, the guys you get your kit from.”

The project was concieved in late 2008, based on similar directories that exist for other professional sports.

“It’s the first edition, so we are going to miss some people out. We’ve tried to contact as many people as possible and we are grateful to those who have spread the word to include individuals that we hadn’t considered. We still want people to be included, but we have to close the door and go to print at a point. That’s why we are offering this one last chance.”

The DARK BLUE BOOK will give be a great resource for all aspects of professional yacht racing including competing teams in America’s Cup, World Match Racing Tour, Audi Med Cup, iShares Cup and big offshore races. It features sponsors, journalists, photographers, designers and other suppliers.

For your last chance to be included amongst the Who’s Who of Yacht Racing, see http://www.darkbluebook.com/submission-form/