It's off to the hunt, at least that's what the team name Artemis is supposed to suggest. Led by all-round sailing pro Paul Cayard, the campaign aims to challenge the defending champions BMW Oracle Racing in 2013.
Two large AC-72 catamarans are to be built, and the team also wants to sail the entire preparatory series. Team boss is Paul Cayard, chairman of the campaign is the Swedish oil billionaire (Gunvar) Torbjörn Törnqvist. The syndicate works together with the Swedish association in order to achieve an impact on the youth sector.
"We started focussing the team on Cup participation more than a year ago," said Cayard at the presentation in Stockholm today. "Now that a lot is known about the new Cup and we can start early, we have a great opportunity to put together a winning campaign."
American Terry Hutchinson, tactician for Team New Zealand in the 2007 Cup and Stars & Stripes in 2003, has been named as helmsman, while Argentinian Juan Kouyoumdjian, who designed the winning boat in the last Volvo Ocean Race, will be the designer.
Artemis Racing has so far participated in the Louis Vuitton Trophy, the Audi Medcup with a TP 52, the RC-44 Championship and will take part in the Extreme 40 Series and the Americas Cup World Series in 2011.
Lars Bolle
Chief Editor Digital
