Malbon is raring to get his hands on his new IMOCA 60 having being forced to retire from the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre and, therefore, missed out on the solo B2B race back across the Atlantic - The Artemis Transat will be his and the boat's first real solo test. Class 40 sailor Phil Sharp will give his views on this burgeoning new class, yachting journalist Bob Fisher will recall some of the classic moments from the race's history and ! OC Events Mark Turner on the challenge of organising this solo classic. Come and hear what the sailors have to say about Britain's oldest solo race and why it holds such a unique place in the history of ocean racing.
There are now just four months to go until the start of The Artemis Transat, the oldest solo race in the history of ocean racing, which will start on Sunday, 11th May 2008 from Plymouth (UK). Up to 40 IMOCA 60 and Class 40 racing yachts are expected to gather at Sutton Harbour, Plymouth for the 13th edition of the race that will see the skippers face 2,800 miles of tough racing across the treacherous North Atlantic to Boston (USA).
The Entry date is 15th February but already some of the skippers have completed the official entry procedure for The Artemis Transat, and are throwing down the gauntlet early to their opponents.
Early entrants in the IMOCA Class include:
Mike Golding
Jonny Malbon
Dee Caffari
Jeremie Beyou
Sebastien Josse
In the Class 40, Italy's favourite sailor Giovanni Soldini (41) has officially entered Telecom Italia.
Louis Duc is only 24 years old - the youngest entry so far. 2007 was his first year in the Class 40 circuit and culminated in him participating (and finishing 22nd) in the Transat Jacques Vabre onboard Ocean Eleven, the same boat Duc will race in The Artemis Transat.
thetransat.com
This Friday, 11th January 2008 visitors to the Collins Stewart London Boat Show will get a sneak preview of The Artemis Transat 2008, ahead of the official launch on 20th February in London. The preview, hosted by Richard Simmonds, will take place on the new central stage in the North Hall at ExCel at 2.00pm and will feature Ecover skipper, Mike Golding, Brian Thompson, skipper of Pindar, IMOCA 60 Artemis designer Simon Rogers and Artemis Ocean Racing skipper Jonny Malbon (33), who will be talking about the launch of the new Artemis IMOCA 60.