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Skandia Cowes Week

Brian Thompson wins The Artemis Challenge

mardi 5 août 2008 – Redaction SSS [Source RP]

A number of stars from the world of sport, politics and television all took to The Solent today for The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week. The British summer delivered rain and gusty winds as eight 60 foot yachts charged around the Isle of Wight in a 50 mile sprint to battle it out for a £10,000 charity prize fund. The high-speed ocean racing yachts hosted a number of celebrity guests, including Alastair Campbell, Davina McCall, Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Dean Macey and England rugby star, James Haskell. However, it was British skipper Brian Thompson who claimed the first prize onboard Pindar, donating the winning prize to Earthwatch.


Alastair Campbell concluded, “It was a brilliant day and absolutely fabulous experience. The weather was horrendous but I loved every second of it. We didn’t win sadly onboard Artemis Ocean Racing I but the racing was close and exhilarating throughout.”

The fleet of boats, skippered by the Britain’s best solo racing professionals, set off at 10:00, with Pindar crossing the finish line at 14:14 after 4 hours 14 minutes on the water ; a welcome victory for Pindar who in this race last year dismasted. The west about circumnavigation was exceptionally fast, coming close to the Round the Island Record of 4 hours 8 minutes held by the 100 foot Maxi Yacht ICAP Leopard¸ suggesting a newrecord for the IMOCA Class around the Isle of Wight. Seven of the new generation Open 60s finished the course within 40 minutes of each other. The conditions for the celebrities were wet and wild at the start and made for some dramatic action as they competed to claim the charitable prize, which included a ripped foresail for Aviva just before the Needles.

England rugby star and the Wasps Champion James Haskell, racing onboard Artemis Ocean Racing II, decided to support Britain’s wounded soldiers with British skipper Jonny Malbon. Despite not winning the prize for Help for Heroes, Haskell wanted to show his support for Britain’s fighting services and made a £2,000 donation to Help for Heroes from his Young Guns Academy, which supports youth rugby development (www.ygacademy.com). The donation was accepted on behalf of Help for Heroes by soldiers from the MOD rehabilitation centre Headley Court, who had been racing onboard the winning Pindar yacht.

Haskell commented, “I am exhausted ! I now have a real appreciation of how tough it is sailing as a team, let alone on your own which Jonny will be doing onboard Artemis Ocean Racing II in the Vendee Globe in November. Help for Heroes is a fantastic charity and a great cause. You talk about heroes on the rugby pitch but the real heroes are there in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Press info Tim Kelly / www.skandiacowesweek.co.uk

Results of The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week

– Pindar, Brian Thompson (GBR) finished at 14:13:48
– BT, Seb Josse (FRA) finished at 14:18:43
– Ecover 3, Mike Golding (GBR) finished at 14:23:08
– Hugo Boss, Alex Thomson (GBR) finished at 14:23:54
– Aviva, Dee Caffari (GBR) finished at 14:30:20
– Artemis Ocean Racing I, Simon Clay (GBR) finished at 14:47:58
– Artemis Ocean Racing II, Jonny Malbon (GBR) finished at 14:53:18
– Spirit of Weymouth, Steve White (GBR) – TBC

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