Artemis Investment Management support sailing from grass roots to the highest level, here’s how their involvement began…
Investment Management company Artemis’ relationship with sailing began back in early 2006, when the company decided they wanted to raise their profile.
“The key for us was to increase awareness of the name ‘Artemis’, so we thought that sports sponsorship might be a way of doing that,” recalls Mark Tyndall. A period of analysis highlighted opportunities in competitive sailing, particularly the world of short-handed offshore racing. “The UK component within the Open 60 world was growing in profile, not just as adventurous individuals going off and doing brave things, but as a competitive sport where we had top quality participants,” explains Mark.
A high profile campaign was developed around an Open 60 offshore racing team. This team, Artemis Ocean Racing, would compete in a number of challenges, including transatlantic races and solo round-the-world marathons. In addition, Artemis wanted to actively support British sailing through backing British sailors and where possible, in British waters.
Officially launched in London in July 2006, the newly branded Artemis Ocean Racing Open 60 soon set off on her first race, the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race in August 2006, taking line honours with Jonny Malbon as skipper.
After this impressive start, Artemis Ocean Racing went on to complete a 1,500 mile qualifier for the Route du Rhum, setting out from Southampton before sailing deep into the North Atlantic and back to Edinburgh. On arriving in the Scottish capital – home and corporate head office of Artemis – the boat had qualified for the singlehanded Route du Rhum, a classic transatlantic race which follows traditional trade routes from France to Guadeloupe.
At the end of October 2006, Artemis Ocean Racing lined up against a competitive Route du Rhum fleet, with record-breaking skipper Brian Thompson at the helm, coming home in a creditable sixth place after 13 days and 17 hours at sea. Then in June 2007, Artemis Ocean Racing, skippered by Jonny Malbon, competed in the Calais Round Britain Race and again finished sixth, as the first of the older generation Open 60s to cross the line.
New events
Meanwhile, a new area of Artemis’ sponsorship strategy was developing with the creation of a brand new event. Staged at the world-famous Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight, the Artemis Challenge saw the Open 60s racing on British waters in the middle of the largest regatta on the planet. The inaugural event was held on August 8th, 2007. Under glorious blue skies Guillermo Altadill of Spain claimed victory on board Estrella Damm. Artemis Ocean Racing came home in fourth place, and the Open 60s geared up for the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race immediately after Cowes Week. It wasn’t to be Artemis’ year in the Fastnet, however, and she had to retire with a ripped mainsail south-west of Plymouth after battling terrible conditions which saw threequarters of the fleet withdraw from the race.
The second transatlantic race of the campaign was the Transat Jacques-Vabre in November 2007. This double-handed race from La Havre, France to South America is one of the most fiercely contested races on the Open 60 circuit. However, once again lady luck was not looking kindly on Artemis as on the fourth day of the race Artemis Ocean Racing dismasted. Pushing hard, Jonny Malbon and Graham Tourell were sailing in 25-28 knots of wind and big seas when, unannounced, the mast collapsed – fortunately both were unhurt but their race was ended.
Artemis’ sailing event portfolio increased yet further with the advent of The Artemis Transat. This historic transatlantic race running from Plymouth, UK to Boston, USA every four years attracted a large fleet and huge crowds as the city of Plymouth cheered off the 13 solo sailors in glorious May sunshine as they made their way across the North Atlantic to the Eastern seaboard of the USA.
…and a brand new boat
Meanwhile, back in the UK, a brand new Open 60 boat was in production in Lymington, Hampshire. Promoting the best of British, the new Artemis Ocean Racing was designed by Simon Rogers and built by Neville Hutton boat builders.
Launched in 2008, its first competitive outing was fittingly at the Artemis Challenge at Cowes Week. Jonny Malbon was joined on board by England rugby player James Haskell, whilst Davina McCall teamed up with Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss and former Labour party spin-doctor Alistair Campbell joined Simon Clay on Artemis, The Profit Hunter, formerly AOR. Overcast and blustery conditions made for a fast race, with Pindar skippered by Brian Thompson coming home first in just over four hours.
The new Artemis Ocean Racing next had to complete a gruelling qualifying passage in order to be eligible for the forthcoming Vendée Globe. Heading towards Newfoundland, Jonny Malbon faced difficult conditions as he battled his way across the North Atlantic alone before returning home to Southampton. Once the qualifier was completed attention quickly turned to the Vendèe Globe and getting ready for the greatest solo ocean race of them all. Starting from the small fishing town of Les Sables d’Olonne in the Vendée region of France, the Vendée Globe is widely regarded as the ultimate test of sailing skill and endurance. Solo, non-stop around the world, the Vendée Globe was to be the first competitive outing for the new Artemis Ocean Racing II, skippered by Jonny Malbon.
After a solid start, surviving a huge storm in the notorious Bay of Biscay that put paid to a number of teams’ chances; Artemis Ocean Racing struck a whale in the South Atlantic that caused major damage to the starboard daggerboard. Whilst the damage was not race-ending at this stage it meant that on the return leg back up the Atlantic Jonny would be much slower and at a disadvantage.
However, fate intervened once more as midway across the Southern Ocean the mainsail on AOR began de-laminating – literally peeling apart. Just south of New Zealand, Jonny and the team made the difficult decision to end the race on the grounds that it would be dangerous to continue.
New challenges
A new year brought new plans, and a new determination. Offshore Challenges were appointed to project manage the campaign bringing over 10 years of experience in the sport. The radical and innovative Artemis Ocean Racing (read more page 10) was shipped back from New Zealand and given a weight-saving re-fit in time for the new season. Meanwhile Jonny Malbon also embarked on a new challenge, joining the highly competitive Solitaire du Figaro fleet in France. A one-design class that attracts the elite of offshore sailors, the Figaro is often seen as the ultimate training ground for solo racing.
There were other new projects too – back in 2006 Artemis had joined forces with a new marne company in creating a 20-foot keelboat class for disabled sailors to compete on an equal platform with able-bodied crews. Through Artemis’ sponsorship, the boats became Artemis 20s and one is currently being used by record-breaking quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister as she bids to sail around Britain alone.
Building on this concept of competitive sailing for all, the Even Keel project was born in 2008 with the Artemis 20s at the heart of the programme. As recently as June 2009 the first Even Keel site was set up at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy in Cowes, Isle of Wight, sponsored by Artemis. The story looks set to continue…
