Artemis and Thompson split

Open 60 team promote Malbon to skipper for 2007

Following a very successful first year in Ocean Racing including sponsoring an Open 60, breaking the Round Britain and Ireland record and competing in the Route Du Rhum, Artemis and Brian Thompson have announced that Brian will be leaving the team.

Artemis stated that they would like to thank Brian for the experience and expertise he has brought to the team over this first year and wish him all the best in the future both on and off the water.

Brian Thompson comments “Artemis is a great company with a fresh and real passion for the sport and I wish them success in the next phase of their involvement in sailing. Artemis has been a great partner in my goal to complete the Route du Rhum this year. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in such a professional and high performance team.”

Jonny Malbon, 32, will replace Brian Thompson who skippered Artemis Ocean Racing in 2006. Malbon has been Boat Captain since Artemis commenced their Open 60 campaign and has over the last year proved his racing pedigree, skippering the boat to break the Round Britain and Ireland race record.

No stranger to round-the-world racing campaigns, Jonny also managed the refit and was boat captain of the race winning Maxi-Cat, Doha 2006, during the non-stop round-the-world race, the Oryx Quest in 2005. Malbon also boat captained Ellen MacArthur’s Route du Rhum winning Open 60 Kingfisher in 2002, before going on to successfully co-skipper the Open 60 under the Team888 flag. He has also raced extensively aboard Peter Harrison’s superyacht Sojana, and has been part of the highly successful Chernikeef 2 team.

Mark Tyndall, Chief Executive, Artemis commented: “We at Artemis are very glad to welcome Jonny as our new Artemis Ocean Racing Skipper. Whilst we are sorry to see Brian leave us after a great first year on the Open 60 circuit, we are really pleased to be able to nurture the strong and growing talent that we have within our team. All of us at Artemis greatly look forward to the 2007 season.”

Artemis Ocean Racing Team is currently in the Caribbean where the boat is undergoing a mini re-fit. With Jonny Malbon as skipper, the Open 60 will compete in a number of sailing events in the Caribbean including Antigua Race week. The full sailing schedule for 2007 will be confirmed in late January.

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