The Port Douglas Yacht Club has announced their sponsors for the 2011 season of sailing.

Poseidon and Sailaway will will be major sponsor of the yacht club in 2011, and owners Peter Wright and Steve Edmondson said they were proud of the association which will create opportunities for their companies.

They welcomed all local yacht owners to support the club's sailing events.In addition, Exemplar Coaches and Limousines will once again be the major sponsor for the Exemplar Clipper Cup, the region's premier yacht racing regatta held in May.

Gordon and Cheryl Wellham, directors of Exemplar Coaches and Limousines said they were thrilled to be awarded the naming rights of the event for the second successive year and enjoyed providing for the community through corporate sponsorship.

Mick Gwilliams, Rear Commodore of the club, said he is very happy to have two major sponsors which have been the result of the club's recent sponsorship drive.

"2011 has an extensive calendar of club sailing events planned and the benefits of sponsorship will be a huge bonus for the club," he said.

"The Exemplar Clipper Cup is our main focus, but with two major sponsors for 2011 we now have a total prize pool for the year in excess of $10,000.

"This will enable us to increase the profile of the sport with prize money for the Exemplar Clipper Cup more than double this year's pool."

For the first time in the club's history, the Poseidon Sailaway Club Championship will also have a substantial purse in excess of $2,000.

"These are exciting times for the sport of yacht racing in the region and we now have a firm foundation to grow this exciting sport, and to make Port Douglas the focus of yacht racing in the far north," Mr Gwilliams said.