AAM Cowes Week - Artemis Challenge attracts biggest names in sailing

by Artemis Challenge on 2 Jul 2015 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, Artemis Challenge – The biggest names in sailing line up to race around the Isle of Wight for £10,000 charity prize fund on Thursday August 13th.

Welcoming an impressive fleet of IMOCA 60s, Volvo 65s and powerful multihulls, the 2015 edition of the celebrated annual charity race around the Isle of Wight looks set to be the largest in its nine-year history. The Artemis Challenge at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week has once again attracted the biggest names in sailing and as the precursor to the Rolex Fastnet it looks set to be another magnificent spectacle of big boat racing in British waters. The annual 50-mile sprint, which follows the original America’s Cup route west around the Isle of Wight, has become one of the pinnacle events at the world’s largest sailing regatta.

The Artemis Challenge, sponsored by Artemis investment Management, one of the UK’s leading investment companies and the largest British sponsor in offshore sailing has welcomed some of the most celebrated sailors over the years. Following in the footsteps of the great names like Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Michel Desjoyeaux and Ian Walker, 2015 looks on course to set a new standard as a number of world’s most decorated offshore racers will take on the Artemis Challenge 2015.

Confirmed entries so far include:

IMOCA 60
Boat name/Skipper/Nationality

Artemis Ocean Racing/Skipper TBC
Hugo Boss/Alex Thomson/(GBR)
Banque Populaire/Armel Le Cléac’h/(FRA)
Groupe Quéguiner/Yann Eliès/(FRA)
PRB/Vincent Riou/(FRA)
Safran/Morgan Lagravière/(FRA)
SMA/Paul Meilhat/(FRA)
Initatives Coeur/Tanguy de la Motte/(FRA)

Volvo Ocean 65
Boat name/Skipper/Nationality

Dongfeng Race Team/Charles Caudrelier/(FRA)
Team SCA/Sam Davies/(GBR)

ULTIM Multihull
Boat name/Skipper/Nationality

OMAN Mod70/Sidney Gavignet/(FRA)
Concise 10/Ned Collier-Wakefield/(GBR)
Pheado3/Brian Thompson/(GBR)
Prince de Bretagne/Lionel Lemonchois/(FRA)

Amongst the skippers, there are no less than eight solo circumnavigations combined with 15 crewed circumnavigations of the planet. Within the IMOCA fleet, three boats have been launched within the last 12 months and also includes the winning boat (SMA, formally Macif) from the last Vendée Globe in 2012. Further entries may be announced in the coming weeks.

The celebrity guests for the 2015 Artemis Challenge at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week are expected to match the impressive fleet and will be announced in the coming weeks. Teams competing in the race in the past have included sports stars Zara Phillips, Amy Williams, Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall and James Haskell, as well as other stars from the world of entertainment, including Davina McCall, Bryan Adams and James and Oliver Phelps, the Weasley Twins from the Harry Potter movies.

Starting at 1000 BST on the Royal Yacht Squadron Line on Thursday August 13th, the fastest IMOCA 60 to complete the course around the Isle of Wight (weather permitting) will win £10,000 for the charity of their choice.