The Artemis Challenge @ Skandia Cowes Week, will see celebrities from the worlds of sport, politics and television join the best British sailors for a 50-mile sprint round the Isle of Wight in a fleet of Open 60 ocean racing yachts.

Organised under IMOCA rules, the challenge features some of the biggest names on the IMOCA circuit.  The Open 60 yachts will race against each other to compete for a generous £10,000 prize fund that will be donated to the winning team’s charity of choice, with the skipper taking home the Artemis Challenge Trophy.

Artemis Ocean Racing I, skippered by Jonny Malbon (pictured), will have England rugby star James Haskell on board, while Simon Clay’s Artemis Ocean Racing II will host political spin doctor Alastair Campbell for the day. Commonwealth gold medalist Dean Macey will join Dee Caffari aboard Aviva, while TV presenter Georgie Thompson will sail on BT with Seb Josse.

Davina McCall joins Alex Thomson aboard Hugo Boss, while Brian Thompson on Pindar has drawn a personality with well-proven sailing talent in the form of Mike Sanderson, winner of the last Volvo Ocean Race. Meanwhile, Steve White on Spirit of Weymouth will be host to TV presenters Jonny Ball and Simon Thomas. Mike Golding’s Ecover will also join these eight boats for the race.

The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week was introduced in order to promote the IMOCA Open 60 class in British waters - and where better to do that than at Skandia Cowes Week? Artemis Investment Management has an established business relationship with title sponsor Skandia, and is equally passionate about performance both on and off the water.

Last year saw Guillermo Altadill of Spain claim victory onboard the new Estrella Damm, pipping Sam Davies on Roxy to the finish line off the Royal Yacht Squadron. The charity “Africa Viva” was the lucky recipient of £10,000 from Altadill, who was aided and abetted by rugby world cup winner, Will Greenwood, MBE. 2007’s event saw a dramatic first race for the Pindar Open 60, who dis-masted with Volvo Ocean Race-winning skipper Mike Sanderson and his wife, solo round the world yachtswoman, Emma Richards, onboard.

Luckily nobody was hurt and the conditions were ideal for a comfortable tow back to the South Coast. Artemis Ocean Racing, skippered by rising British star Jonny Malbon, finished fourth, enjoying the day out with Royalty as Lady Gabriella Windsor took to the helm.

Artemis Investment Management CEO Mark Tyndall commented,

“We want to celebrate the presence of the Open 60 Class at Skandia Cowes Week and provide a spectacle for the viewing public. The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week in 2008, we look forward to welcoming a world-class fleet of yachts, promoting the sport and making a donation to charity. Let’s hope for similar conditions to last year, with glorious sunshine and strong winds. I believe we can make the event into one of the most admired and fun days out within the IMOCA circuit.”

The Artemis Challenge will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line at 10:00 on Tuesday August 5th, the winning crew will receive a donation for £10,000 from Artemis for the charity of their choice.

Artemis Ocean Racing