On Sunday 18 of February, the Shaw and Partners Australian Ocean Racing Series (AORS) kicked off in Sydney with the Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach event. Since 2017, Shaw and Partners has been honoured to serve as the principal sponsor of AORS, a prestigious national ocean racing series attracting competitors across various disciplines.

This year, over 350 paddlers lined up in the early hours beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, embarking on a paddling journey past the Sydney Opera House and along the northern shores of Sydney Harbour, culminating at Manly Wharf.

In the women's category, Shaw and Partners brand ambassador Jemma Smith secured the victory with a time of 48:38, outpacing Roisin Cahill and Vivianna Miritis. In the men's category, Pierre Vilella led the field, finishing ahead of Oscar Jones and Hector Henot.

Shaw and Partners reaffirmed its commitment this year by pledging to match every dollar donated to the Fragile X Association of Australia (up to $5,000) during the Bridge to Beach event. Thanks to the generous contributions from participants and supporters, a total of $29,000 was raised for Fragile X, including the $5,000 contribution by the Shaw and Partners Foundation.

The Fragile X Association of Australia is a national not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals affected by Fragile X, offering support to them and their families. Fragile X is a genetic condition that leads to intellectual disability, behavioural and learning challenges, and various physical characteristics. For more information, visit https://fragilex.org.au.