Sperry Top-Sider® Partners with the New York Yacht Club®

Lexington, MA and New York, NY (PRWEB) March 10, 2009 -- Sperry Top-Sider®, an iconic American brand best known for inventing the first performance boat shoe, and the New York Yacht Club®, one of the pre-eminent yacht clubs in the world, today announced a multi-year partnership to celebrate their shared passion for the sea and commitment to promoting the sport and lifestyle of sailing. Through the new alliance, Sperry Top-Sider will serve as the exclusive footwear sponsor of the inaugural and much anticipated New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup to be held September 15-19, 2009, in Newport, R.I., as well as be involved in additional New York Yacht Club events.

The New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup will feature competitive, world-class, Corinthian sailing among 21 teams representing premier yacht clubs from around the globe, and will be sailed on Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound. On these same waters, the New York Yacht Club hosted the America's Cup - a trophy it first won in 1851 - from 1930-1983, or from its 14th Defense in 1930 to the 25th Defense in 1983. The sailing is expected to be tough and demanding, while the on-land activities will celebrate the camaraderie so revered in the sport.

"Sperry Top-Sider has been creating footwear for people with a passion for the sea since 1935, and our brand has become an integral part of the sailing lifestyle both on and off the water," said Craig Reingold, president, Sperry Top-Sider. "As the official footwear sponsor of the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup, we're thrilled to begin a long-term relationship with this iconic institution, which shares our same commitment to and love for the sport. The Invitational Cup is the perfect platform to promote the purity and universal appeal of sailing to a global audience."

Sperry Top-Sider invented the first performance boat shoe for sailors in 1935, and since then has consistently brought innovation to the sport. The New York Yacht Club, founded in 1844, is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in America.

"Uniting their efforts, Sperry Top-Sider and the New York Yacht Club will promote their common passion for sailing worldwide," said John Mendez, chair of the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. "Both organizations share a long and vital history in sailing and a common interest and goal to promote and enhance the sport of sailing."

For more information on Sperry Top-Sider please visit www.sperrytopsider.com and for additional details on the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup please visit www.nyyc.org/worldinvitationalcup.

About Sperry Top-Sider

Since 1935, Sperry Top-Sider has been the leading brand of footwear for those with a Passion for the Sea. From its introduction of the world's first siped rubber outsole for non-marking traction, to advanced technical fabrication to combat the elements, Sperry Top-Sider remains the vanguard of high-performance amphibious footwear. Available through independent, marine, outdoor and department stores, Sperry Top-Sider is the official footwear of US SAILING, National Safe Boating Council and sponsor of several US Sailing team athletes. Based in historic Lexington, Massachusetts, Sperry Top-Sider supports a wide-range of water-related activities through its sponsorships, including ACURA Key West Race Week, Sperry Top-Sider NOOD Regattas and the Salt Water Sportsman seminar series. Sperry Top-Sider is a division of The Stride Rite Corporation, a subsidiary of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE:PSS). For more information, please visit www.sperrytopsider.com.

About Collective Brands, Inc.

Collective Brands, Inc. is a leader in bringing compelling lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic units as well as multiple price points and selling channels. Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its more than 4,500-store retail chain; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with its brands including Stride Rite®, Keds®, Sperry Top-Sider®, Robeez®, and Saucony®, among others; and Collective Licensing International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit. Information about each of the Collective Brand's units can be found at www.collectivebrands.com.

Media seeking further information on the New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup should contact Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l, 401-849-0220 barby.macgowan@mediapronewport.com; Michael Levitt, New York Yacht Club, 401-648-6912 communications@nyyc.org; or Tess Morton, Sperry Top-Sider, 617-248.0680 x30 tmorton@cerconebrown.com.

###

Comment on "Sperry Top-Sider® Partners with the New York Yacht Club®"