Artemis Ocean Racing II hits the water
by Clare Macnaugton 7 Apr 2008 17:38 BST
7 April 2008
Today saw the latest cutting edge IMOCA Open 60 hit the water ahead of the Vendée Globe 2008. Artemis Ocean Racing II, the new all-British designed, built and sponsored hi-spec IMOCA Open 60 racing yacht, was officially unveiled at Ocean Village in Southampton. The boat has been two years in the planning, design and build and incorporates features which have, until now, been unavailable in this exciting class of monohull ocean racing.
The cutting edge racing yacht, which was officially launched with the pouring of a bottle of Champagne MUMM across its bow today, takes to the water just seven months ahead of the Vendée Globe. This greyhound of the seas will provide the ideal platform to harness and fulfill the potential of skipper Jonny Malbon who has been closely involved since inception, monitoring and analysing the build so that it is personally optimised.
Jonny Malbon, 33, is making his solo sailing debut this season in the Artemis Transat in May 2008, before tackling the Everest of solo ocean racing, the Vendée Globe. The young Brit cut his teeth preparing IMOCA Open 60 racing yachts for some of Britain’s most famous solo sailors, most notably Dame Ellen Macarthur, and now takes to the stage himself to take on the best in world, once his heroes and now his peers.
The Artemis skipper was joined by friends, family and supporters, as well as Artemis Investment Management CEO Mark Tyndall, to officially launch and name the latest generation yacht today. Speaking from onboard the vessel that will carry him around the world, Malbon commented,” It is a great day to see this beautiful craft in the water. There has been so much planning and development in the design and build of this yacht over the last two years. It is a great day for everyone involved in the Artemis Ocean Racing project and I can’t wait to get out onto the seas and she what she is capable of.”
“I would like to thank everyone at Artemis Investment Management, Rogers Yacht Design, Neville Hutton Boat Builders and all the people within Artemis Ocean Racing that have worked so hard for such a long time to reach this point. I hope we can go on to achieve fantastic success in 2008.”
Artemis Investment Management has given Malbon an unbelievable opportunity to make his name in the sport, challenging him to prove himself on the world stage and achieve an unprecedented British success in the enduring solo circumnavigation.
Speaking alongside Malbon, Artemis Investment Management CEO Mark Tyndall concluded,
“Artemis Investment Management is delighted to support Artemis Ocean Racing Team and Jonny Malbon, in this next stage of our partnership. We are going forward as a British company, backing a British skipper in a new, British designed and built boat. In Jonny we have an excellent ambassador, who we are sure will acquit himself extremely well, as he takes on some formidable new challenges.
“As a fund management business we are very used to succeeding or failing on the basis of the decisions that we make and the results that we achieve. There are clearly very strong parallels there, in the tough and unforgiving world of ocean racing. We wish Jonny every success.”
Jonny is supported by a handpicked British shorecrew. The Artemis IMOCA Open 60 will be the only British designed and built IMOCA Open 60 on the professional circuit. Last week in accordance with seafaring tradition to bring a vessel good luck the mast was stepped on top of a coin. Artemis purchased from The British Mint, a 2008 British Gold Sovereign which is now positioned at the very core of the Open 60 reinforcing once again that this is a truly British campaign.
For more information please visit www.artemisoceanracing.com