Well, after reading all of this, I have a little I'd like to add...
At the Steeplechase this year the Atlantic 1000 promoters told of the television production company that wants to cover the 2005 Atlantic 1000. That's great, but I think it'll only make it to air with sponsor's money, so the sailors need to make your favorite companies aware of this one. Sailboat manufactures and equipment companies are the first I think of, but what about the companies with the real money and promotion know how. Sports drinks and energy bar companies, electronics and optical manufactures, and your local "outdoor sports and recreation" dealers. These are the people that advertise on the outdoors/sports channels.
These viewers are a prime audience for new sailors. Someone that mountain bikes would be an easy convert. The same could be said for a whitewater kayaking or rafting. Plus the equipment tie-ins are there-GPS, Camelback, Performance Under/Outerwear, Optics, which brings me back to the people/companies that could do some great marketing for saiing, which helps everyone from the manufactures on down.