The sixth edition of the Artemis Challenge at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week will see two MOD 70 foot multihulls and two IMOCA Open 60 monohulls race around the Isle of Wight on Thursday, 16th August, and all for a good cause. Some of the biggest names in offshore racing will compete in this unique charity race alongside some of Britain’s best Olympic sailors and a few ‘famous faces’ to claim £12,000 for their nominated charities.
The multihull teams will consist of French offshore legend Michel Desjoyeaux onboard his MOD 70 Foncia and Musandam-Oman Sail, with fellow French sailing star Sidney Gavignet. The IMOCA Open 60 teams will see two Olympic British sailors sharing the helm of Artemis Ocean Racing II. British Vendée Globe hero Mike Golding will line-up on the Royal Yacht Squadron start line on board his IMOCA 60 Gamesa, assisted by two more British Olympic sailing personalitites.
Mike Golding won the 2010 edition of the Artemis Challenge securing £10,000 prize money for the RNLI, while this year he will be supporting Save the Children. First time Artemis Challenge competitor Michel Desjoyeaux and team Foncia has nominated Institut Curie cancer research as their chosen charity, whilst Oman Sail’s Musandam is supporting the anti addiction charity Al Hayat Association and Artemis Ocean Racing II will again be racing on behalf of Toe in the Water that supports injured servicemen and women. For more on the Teams chosen charities for 2012, click here.
The Artemis Challenge has a new format for 2012, which will see each IMOCA 60 and MOD 70 pairing up into teams. The two classes will then race 50-miles around the Isle of Wight in opposite directions with a total of £12,000 being donated to charity. The £12,000 is divided between the fastest IMOCA60/MOD70 team, and the fastest single time for an IMOCA 60 and MOD 70.
The teams :
ARTEMIS OCEAN RACING Nick Dempsey and Lucy Macgregor
Artemis Ocean Racing has been participating in the Artemis Challenge since its inception in 2007, helmed by a talented list of skippers including Sam Davies, Simon Clay, Johnny Malbon, double Olympic medalist Simon Hiscocks and three-time solo circumnavigator, Dee Caffari MBE. Fresh from the London 2012 Olympics, Team GB windsurfing World no.1 Nick Dempsey and match racing girl Lucy Macgregor will share responsibilities at the helm this year in this 55 mile sprint around the Isle of Wight on the 16th August. Charity: Toe in the Water
MUSANDAM Sidney Gavignet
Oman Sail’s MOD70 trimaran ‘Musandam’ is skippered by French sailor, Sidney Gavignet. A man who has raced round the world four times, racing non-stop around the Isle of Wight should be well within his capabilities!
Charity: Al Hayat Association
GAMESA Mike Golding
Mike Golding is one of the world’s most accomplished and successful offshore sailors with over 250,000 sailing miles and podium success in many of the world’s toughest and most extreme yacht racing events. He will helm his IMOCA 60 Gamesa for a third time in the Artemis Challenge – an event he won in 2010, donating the £10,000 charity prize to the RNLI, and was 3rd on the podium in 2008.
Charity: Save the Children
FONCIA Michel Desjoyeaux
France’s Michel Desjoyeaux is highly regarded as one of the World’s finest solo offshore sailors and is, perhaps, most infamously associated with the ultimate solo, round the world race, the Vendée Globe. He became the first and only sailor to win the race twice in 2000-01 (when a certain young British girl named Ellen MacArthur finished in 2nd) and again in 2008-09. Despite all the ocean miles and accolades, this will be Michel’s first Artemis Challenge!
Charity: Institut Curie
From : Artemis Challenge
The multihull teams will consist of French offshore legend Michel Desjoyeaux onboard his MOD 70 Foncia and Musandam-Oman Sail, with fellow French sailing star Sidney Gavignet. The IMOCA Open 60 teams will see two Olympic British sailors sharing the helm of Artemis Ocean Racing II. British Vendée Globe hero Mike Golding will line-up on the Royal Yacht Squadron start line on board his IMOCA 60 Gamesa, assisted by two more British Olympic sailing personalitites.
Mike Golding won the 2010 edition of the Artemis Challenge securing £10,000 prize money for the RNLI, while this year he will be supporting Save the Children. First time Artemis Challenge competitor Michel Desjoyeaux and team Foncia has nominated Institut Curie cancer research as their chosen charity, whilst Oman Sail’s Musandam is supporting the anti addiction charity Al Hayat Association and Artemis Ocean Racing II will again be racing on behalf of Toe in the Water that supports injured servicemen and women. For more on the Teams chosen charities for 2012, click here.
The Artemis Challenge has a new format for 2012, which will see each IMOCA 60 and MOD 70 pairing up into teams. The two classes will then race 50-miles around the Isle of Wight in opposite directions with a total of £12,000 being donated to charity. The £12,000 is divided between the fastest IMOCA60/MOD70 team, and the fastest single time for an IMOCA 60 and MOD 70.
The teams :
ARTEMIS OCEAN RACING Nick Dempsey and Lucy Macgregor
Artemis Ocean Racing has been participating in the Artemis Challenge since its inception in 2007, helmed by a talented list of skippers including Sam Davies, Simon Clay, Johnny Malbon, double Olympic medalist Simon Hiscocks and three-time solo circumnavigator, Dee Caffari MBE. Fresh from the London 2012 Olympics, Team GB windsurfing World no.1 Nick Dempsey and match racing girl Lucy Macgregor will share responsibilities at the helm this year in this 55 mile sprint around the Isle of Wight on the 16th August. Charity: Toe in the Water
MUSANDAM Sidney Gavignet
Oman Sail’s MOD70 trimaran ‘Musandam’ is skippered by French sailor, Sidney Gavignet. A man who has raced round the world four times, racing non-stop around the Isle of Wight should be well within his capabilities!
Charity: Al Hayat Association
GAMESA Mike Golding
Mike Golding is one of the world’s most accomplished and successful offshore sailors with over 250,000 sailing miles and podium success in many of the world’s toughest and most extreme yacht racing events. He will helm his IMOCA 60 Gamesa for a third time in the Artemis Challenge – an event he won in 2010, donating the £10,000 charity prize to the RNLI, and was 3rd on the podium in 2008.
Charity: Save the Children
FONCIA Michel Desjoyeaux
France’s Michel Desjoyeaux is highly regarded as one of the World’s finest solo offshore sailors and is, perhaps, most infamously associated with the ultimate solo, round the world race, the Vendée Globe. He became the first and only sailor to win the race twice in 2000-01 (when a certain young British girl named Ellen MacArthur finished in 2nd) and again in 2008-09. Despite all the ocean miles and accolades, this will be Michel’s first Artemis Challenge!
Charity: Institut Curie
From : Artemis Challenge
