In an effort to promote the IMOCA Open 60 class in British waters Artemis Investment Management Limited will host an Open 60 race around the Isle of Wight as part of the Class 0 Big Boat Series at this year’s Skandia Cowes Week.

This event will form part of the Skandia Cowes Week IRC Class 0 Big Boat Series, racing around the Isle of Wight on Wednesday, 8 August. The race is scheduled to be a 50-mile sprint around the Island (subject to conditions) and will start at 1000 from the Royal Yacht Squadron line, with Dame Ellen MacArthur on the start line to set the fleet on its way.

The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week comprises an IMOCA Open 60 fleet competing for a generous prize fund of £10,000 that will be donated to the winning team’s charity of choice. In addition, the winning entry picks up the Artemis Challenge Trophy.

Artemis CEO Mark Tyndall commented, “We wanted to celebrate the presence of the Open 60 Class at Skandia Cowes Week and provide a spectacle for the viewing public. The Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week has the potential to be an enjoyable day for everyone involved and a real crowd-pleaser. We look forward to welcoming a world-class fleet of yachts, promoting the sport and making a sizeable donation to charity. Let’s hope for sunshine and strong winds.”

The winner is expected to cross the finish line in the late afternoon, depending on the weather conditions.

The current line-up of entries already boasts some of the fastest Open 60s in the world, with leading offshore sailors at the helm:

Jonny Malbon on Artemis Ocean Racing, competing for the Ocean Youth Trust charity
Sam Davies on Roxy, charity TBC
Guillermo Altadill on Estrella Damm, competing for the charity ‘Africa Viva’
Arnaud Boissières on Akena Verandas, competing for the charity ‘A chacun son Everest’
Steve White on Spirit of Weymouth, competing for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

Additional entries from around the world should be confirmed in the coming weeks to create a fleet of up to 10 yachts.