Artemis Ocean Racing ready for the Calais Round Britain Race
May 31, 2007 0 comments
Artemis Ocean Racing (AOR), the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company Artemis, has arrived in Calais ahead of the upcoming Calais Round Britain Race, due to start on Sunday June 3 at 14:30 local time (13:30 UK). The team, led by skipper Jonny Malbon and supported by co-skipper Graham “Gringo” Tourell, is making final preparations to AOR as the clock ticks down to start day and the first major challenge of 2007. The 1,850 mile course around Britain and Ireland will see a crew of five compete against some of the fastest yachts in the Open 60 class and a number of the world’s leading offshore sailors from Britain, France and Switzerland.
Artemis Ocean Racing (AOR), the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company Artemis, has arrived in Calais ahead of the upcoming Calais Round Britain Race, due to start on Sunday June 3 at 14:30 local time (13:30 UK). The team, led by skipper Jonny Malbon and supported by co-skipper Graham “Gringo” Tourell, is making final preparations to AOR as the clock ticks down to start day and the first major challenge of 2007. The 1,850 mile course around Britain and Ireland will see a crew of five compete against some of the fastest yachts in the Open 60 class and a number of the world’s leading offshore sailors from Britain, France and Switzerland.
Speaking from onboard AOR in Calais, Jonny commented, “When you look at the names in the fleet, you realize that this race has the potential to be a fantastic competition. We are feeling confident about the boat and our chances of a good result. Gringo and I have just completed a great transatlantic crossing together, where the boat performed really well and we got to know her and each other better. Although it won’t be just the two of us for this sprint round the British Isles, it is my first major race as skipper and a real test of the boat and our capabilities. I can’t wait for the start gun on Sunday.”
The race, which boasts eleven entries, will pit some of the top names in ocean racing against each other and AOR, including Dee Caffari, Sam Davies, Jeremie Beyou and Vincent Riou. It is the first major competition under the helm of British skipper Malbon, who is competing for the second time in the third edition of the race, and should prove an interesting battle ground for the high quality Open 60 fleet. Malbon and Tourell will be supported by Gareth Rowley, Fraser Brown and Paul Larsen. The high speed lap of the United Kingdom is expected take between six and nine days depending on the weather conditions. The Artemis crew expects four or five knots of westerly wind at the start in Calais, with the first few days of racing being quite light.
Mark Tyndall, CEO of Artemis Investment Management Limited, commented, “We wish Artemis Ocean Racing, Jonny and all the crew the best of luck for the Calais Round Britain Race. I know they are raring to go and are hoping to break some records, for both the whole race and the Dover to Calais sprint. This young team is really starting to bond and I believe there is huge potential for the future. This first challenge is the start of a busy summer for Jonny, Gringo and the crew and I’m sure they will do themselves proud. They have the support of everyone here at Artemis and we wish them fair winds.”
