Artemis announce new Open 60

Simon Rogers to design new racer for Jonny Malbon

Artemis Ocean Racing, the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company, Artemis, today announced their plans and schedule for 2007. The team, skippered by Jonny Malbon has an extensive programme planned for the year, culminating in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race in November.

The schedule will include sailing at Antigua Race Week in the Caribbean where the boat is currently undergoing a mini re-fit. The boat will then be delivered back to the UK where it will compete in the Calais Round Britain Race, Round the Island Race, Cowes-Dinard-St Malo Race, Skandia Cowes Week and the Fastnet Race.  Artemis Ocean Racing will then participate in the Transat Jacques Vabre, the biennial doublehanded race from Le Havre to Brazil.

Jonny Malbon, will be skippering Artemis Ocean Racing while his co-skipper for the doublehanded events will be announced in due course. It has been confirmed that the Artemis Ocean Racing team will also this year be building a new Open 60, designed by Rogers Yacht Design Ltd.

The plans for the new boat, which is being built to compete in the 2008 Vendée Globe, are currently well underway. The ‘philosophy’ of the boat has been established and an extensive tank testing session is due to start shortly. The results will then be analysed alongside CFD and weather routing data. The new Open 60 is scheduled to be launched in early January 2008.

Jonny Malbon, skipper of Artemis Ocean Racing commented: "We have a lot going on this year with preparation for an intensive racing programme and with the build of the new boat.  We have a fantastic team working on the boat over here in the Caribbean and in the UK working on the new build, which is progressing really well. It is a very exiting time for Artemis Ocean Racing and I can’t wait to get out there and start racing."

Mark Tyndall, Chief Executive of Artemis commented: "As we enter our second year of sponsorship in sailing we are all greatly looking forward to what lies ahead. The team has an exciting and challenging schedule but we believe that they are well positioned to achieve great things.  We wish them all the very best and will be following their progress avidly."