New Artemis Open 60 for Jonny Malbon

by Clare Macnaughton on 8 Apr 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 Monday. 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 mono hull 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.

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.'

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.

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.

For more information please visit www.artemisoceanracing.com

Artemis Investment Management

Established in 1997, Artemis is an owner-managed investment provider known for achieving superior returns through funds that regularly beat their benchmark and peers. Since the first funds were launched in 1998, Artemis has established a reputation for strong investment performance in up, as well as down markets.

Artemis Ocean Racing is a high successful British investment. Jonny Malbon is a British skipper, with a hand picked British shorecrew of the next generation of British sailors. His Open 60 will be the only British designed and built Open 60 on the circuit.