Artemis Ocean Racing Seeking British Victory in Transat Jacques Vabre
October 31, 2007 0 comments
Artemis Ocean Racing (AOR), the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company Artemis Investment Management, is only three days away from the start of the eighth edition of the biannual ‘Transat Jacques Vabre’ (TJV). The classic double-handed transatlantic race will see the Artemis boat competing against a fleet of 16 world-class IMOCA Open 60’s over 4,340 miles from Le Havre, France to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, commemorating the maritime coffee route.
Artemis Ocean Racing (AOR), the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company Artemis Investment Management, is only three days away from the start of the eighth edition of the biannual ‘Transat Jacques Vabre’ (TJV). The classic double-handed transatlantic race will see the Artemis boat competing against a fleet of 16 world-class IMOCA Open 60’s over 4,340 miles from Le Havre, France to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, commemorating the maritime coffee route.
Each IMOCA Open 60 will be crewed by just two sailors, with Graham ‘Gringo’ Tourell partnering skipper Jonny Malbon onboard Artemis Ocean Racing. The pair forms a talented and exciting young British attack that is packed with potential after extensive sailing time together and a great understanding of each others abilities, a challenge to the top names in the sport.
The British boat was accompanied into Le Havre last week by English 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood as he tasted his first offshore sailing experience. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the rugby star after a tough crossing, although his advice and experience on achieving the impossible will be invaluable to Jonny and Gringo in the final days of preparation.
Stepping ashore in Le Havre after a nine hour crossing from the team’s base in Southampton, Greenwood commented “the weather conditions and the rolling seas were like someone standing with a hose pipe about a yard in front of me and spraying me without stopping. It was relentless. Mentally it was as tough as anything I have done, in any sort of rugby session or in any rugby game. And knowing what Jonny and Gringo are going to do this week and what Jonny will do next year (the Vendee Globe) is just crazy. I wish them more than the best luck.’’
The build up to the TJV has seen a tremendous team effort from everyone involved with AOR. Speaking from the marina in Le Havre, Jonny Malbon remarked, ‘‘the whole season has been geared up to getting the boat ready for the race. A huge amount of work has gone on throughout the year, but most especially in the last six weeks. The boys have done an incredible job onboard, bringing Artemis back up to speed. It makes it all worthwhile to know that we will hit the start line next Saturday in the best possible shape.’’
AOR’s thorough preparation off the water has already started to reap rewards on the water, with the Artemis boat finishing an impressive sixth in the Prologue against a strong fleet of new generation boats and some of the leading names in offshore racing. However, the real test begins on Saturday when the formula one yachts cross the start line at 13:02 local time (12:02 GMT).
Following the start line just off Le Havre, the boats cross the Bay of Biscay as they head out into the Atlantic Ocean. Using the trade winds to their advantage to propel them across the Atlantic, competitors must avoid becoming trapped in the Doldrums where many often encounter violent thunderstorms in between huge patches of calm weather and constantly changing wind directions. Once the boats exit the Doldrums and get into the Southern Tropics again they will use the trade winds to their advantage on the way to Brazil.
The challenging race that is the TJV is the perfect training for the Vendee Globe taking place next year, with the cream of the IMOCA Open 60 fleet and some incredible new generation boats to chase down. It has been a very promising year for the Artemis team and they will be hoping to continue their success in the TJV. The race is notorious for dramatic and varied weather conditions throwing up many surprises, but if Artemis secures a result we can only imagine the team’s potential in their new IMOCA Open 60, set to be launched next year before the Artemis Transat in May and the infamous Vendee Globe in November.
