Jonny Malbon, boat skipper of Brian Thompson’s Open 60 Artemis Ocean Racing, will take the helm during the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race which starts in Cowes this afternoon.

Malbon was selected to lead the team when Thompson decided to stay at home to support his grieving wife and family following the death of his mother-in-law last Thursday.

The RORC-organised 1,789 non-stop race open to IRC, IRM, Open 60s and multihulls which starts at 1700 this afternoon from Cowes will take the 25-strong fleet on a westerly course round Ireland up to most northerly point of the British Isles, and then down the east coast back to Cowes.

The aim for Team Artemis Ocean Racing is, depending on the weather, to complete the course in less than eight days.

List of entries

Alice 2 GBR2045R UK Farr 45
Aquis Granus GER1375 Germany Lutra 52
Artemis GBR10 UK Open 60
Changeling IRL8331 Ireland Sigma 38
Cutting Edge on Venom BER2000 UK Volvo 60
Formidable 3 NED56 Netherlands Lutra 56
Global Yacht Racing EH01 GBR4778R UK First 47.7
Global Yacht Racing Incisor GBR8248 UK Corby 45
Ilex of Upnor GBR7253T UK X 332
Jaguar Logic GBR7382R UK Reflex 38
Jeu d’Esprit GBR1601R UK J/160
Kingspan – Chieftain IRL5005 Ireland Cookson 50
Magnum II GBR39R UK IMX 40
Minnie the Moocher GBR1105L UK Ker 11.3
MoonraKer of Cowes GBR1111L UK Ker 11.3
Mostly Harmless GBR1381 UK Prima 38
needasponsor.co.uk 4 UK Pogo 40
Night Owl GBR6506N UK Prima 38
Noonmark VI 1998 UK Swan 56
Norddeutsche Vermogen Hamburg GER5500 Germany Andrews 56
Predator of Wight GBR9640R UK Murray 41
Puma Logic GBR7383R UK Reflex 38
Sidney GBR6942R UK Bavaria Match 42
Solune FRA9 France Nacira 60
Talisman GBR6504N UK Prima 38
Team Eberspacher 30 UK Raider 302
Unlimited Sailing – John Merricks GBR5955T UK Farr 45
Winsome NED118 Netherlands S & S 41