The Artemis Challenge proved to be a record breaking* race around the Island for the MOD70s Foncia and Musandam-OmanSail today. Race management yesterday made a last minute change to the sailing instructions to allow the MOD70s to race for the record, due to the strong weather forecast. Starting at 10:00 BST, on Ladies Day at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, it took Foncia only 2 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds to round the Isle of Wight, breaking the current record by over ten minutes. Close racing between the trimarans meant Musandam-OmanSail finished a mere 1 minute and 28 seconds behind their French competitor.
Foncia's legendary offshore skipper, Michel Desjoyeaux said post race, “That was good, the weather was sunny and also we had nice conditions with lots of wind all the way along. We had a few tacks to go to the Needles, which slowed us up, and Oman Sail were faster upwind, they tacked in front of us, but they missed their last tack so we were able to overtake, pick up speed and finish first. It's the first time I have raced around the Isle of Wight, the first but a good one!” he laughed.
Zara Phillips, Olympic silver medallist was on the water to watch the racing this morning while fellow Olympic Silver medallist windsurfer, Nick Dempsey joined the crew of Artemis Ocean Racing. Team one consisted of Musandam-OmanSail, skippered by Sidney Gavignet, who also had record setting sailors Brian Thompson and Dee Caffari onboard and Artemis Ocean Racing II, skippered by Team GB members Nick Dempsey and Lucy MacGregor. Team two saw Vendee Globe rivals Mike Golding, onboard his IMOCA 60 Gamesa and Michel Desjoyeaux with Sir Robin Knox Johnson and double silver medallist Ian Walker, pair up together.
It was also a battle up the line for the IMOCA 60s, with Mike Golding's IMOCA 60 Gamesa winning by just under two minutes at 14:46:56 BST.
The race was not only for the glory of winning and breaking records but also to raise money for worthy causes. The £12,000 prize fund charity was split this year, with the winning pair splitting £8000 and the fastest IMOCA 60 and MOD70 each winning £2000 for their charity.
Team two of Gamesa and Foncia also won the team prize as well as the individual prize, giving them a total of £6000 to donated to their chosen charities. Gamesa's skipper Mike Golding has been a supporter of Save the Children charity for many years and donated his well earned prize pot to them, while Michel Desjoyeaux donated to a charity close to his heart, cancer research charity Institut Curie.
A happy Golding said, "It has gone very well today, Foncia getting the record, and as a team we have raised £12,000 for charity. That’s a good day on the water!
“The conditions were testing, with a moderate 20 plus knot breeze at times and it was very gusty and slightly shifty, so all the trimmers had to be on their toes. It was hard work for the guys as a race. Thankfully it was quite mild as everyone got very wet at the back of the island. Artemis put on a strong fight, and we swapped the lead several times: they had us a bit worried at times! But by the end, we had a couple of minutes lead, which is all we needed to ensure we had a team win.
“It was great to have the Team GB Match Race girls, Annie Lush and Kate MacGregor onboard – they were great, trimming the spinnakers and calling the breeze. They have had so much pressure on them from the Olympics, so hopefully today, we gave them a bit of a rest and not have too responsibility on them!".
From : Artemis Challenge
Credit : Lloyd Images
Foncia's legendary offshore skipper, Michel Desjoyeaux said post race, “That was good, the weather was sunny and also we had nice conditions with lots of wind all the way along. We had a few tacks to go to the Needles, which slowed us up, and Oman Sail were faster upwind, they tacked in front of us, but they missed their last tack so we were able to overtake, pick up speed and finish first. It's the first time I have raced around the Isle of Wight, the first but a good one!” he laughed.
Zara Phillips, Olympic silver medallist was on the water to watch the racing this morning while fellow Olympic Silver medallist windsurfer, Nick Dempsey joined the crew of Artemis Ocean Racing. Team one consisted of Musandam-OmanSail, skippered by Sidney Gavignet, who also had record setting sailors Brian Thompson and Dee Caffari onboard and Artemis Ocean Racing II, skippered by Team GB members Nick Dempsey and Lucy MacGregor. Team two saw Vendee Globe rivals Mike Golding, onboard his IMOCA 60 Gamesa and Michel Desjoyeaux with Sir Robin Knox Johnson and double silver medallist Ian Walker, pair up together.
It was also a battle up the line for the IMOCA 60s, with Mike Golding's IMOCA 60 Gamesa winning by just under two minutes at 14:46:56 BST.
The race was not only for the glory of winning and breaking records but also to raise money for worthy causes. The £12,000 prize fund charity was split this year, with the winning pair splitting £8000 and the fastest IMOCA 60 and MOD70 each winning £2000 for their charity.
Team two of Gamesa and Foncia also won the team prize as well as the individual prize, giving them a total of £6000 to donated to their chosen charities. Gamesa's skipper Mike Golding has been a supporter of Save the Children charity for many years and donated his well earned prize pot to them, while Michel Desjoyeaux donated to a charity close to his heart, cancer research charity Institut Curie.
A happy Golding said, "It has gone very well today, Foncia getting the record, and as a team we have raised £12,000 for charity. That’s a good day on the water!
“The conditions were testing, with a moderate 20 plus knot breeze at times and it was very gusty and slightly shifty, so all the trimmers had to be on their toes. It was hard work for the guys as a race. Thankfully it was quite mild as everyone got very wet at the back of the island. Artemis put on a strong fight, and we swapped the lead several times: they had us a bit worried at times! But by the end, we had a couple of minutes lead, which is all we needed to ensure we had a team win.
“It was great to have the Team GB Match Race girls, Annie Lush and Kate MacGregor onboard – they were great, trimming the spinnakers and calling the breeze. They have had so much pressure on them from the Olympics, so hopefully today, we gave them a bit of a rest and not have too responsibility on them!".
From : Artemis Challenge
