Strongest line-up ever

29 teams from 11 countries to compete in Archipelago Raid

On Monday 30 July 2007 the seventh Archipelago Raid will start close to Stockholm, Sweden. 29 very strong teams from 11 countries have confirmed their entry. The deadline for this has passed but the organisation still holds a number of wild cards to allow late entries by top teams.

For five intense days and nights the teams will navigate the labyrinth of thousands of islands and rocks in the Swedish-Finnish archipelago on board Formula 18 catamarans. Along the way they have to pass almost 30 checkpoints located on beaches, pontoons, boats and lighthouses.

The teams will gather from all over the world for this unique endurance test through one of the world's most attractive sailing grounds. Some of the strongest and experienced teams are entered from France, Sweden, England, Australia and the USA, making the event more international than ever attracting a new breed of talented teams. For the first time more foreign team than Swedish ones will be competing.

Half of the teams will take part for the first time. It is unlikely that they will win the event but it is not impossible. Otherwise they will be up for the Rooky award, an idea borrowed from the Figaro class.

From France come season F18 duo Christophe Mourniac and Frank Citeau, along with Yvan Bourgnon who will have Belgian Olivier Gagliani as his crew. Bourgnon is not new to the event competing for the fourth time. Why? "To win," says the 60ft trimaran skipper. "This is the hardest race in the world for small cats for sure. When you arrive you feel like you have crossed the Atlantic and the scenery is just amazing."

Another rookie comes from Great Britain in the form of Matt Eeles and Jamie Butterworth of Team Blue.

Yamaha sponsors three teams in this competition. One mixed team with American David Scully (USA) and partner Clare Bailey (UK). Yamaha also supports Dutch catamaran specialist Micha Heemskerk with the young talented crew Bastiian Tentji and another strong French team with Billy Besson and Tornado Olympic sailor Yann Guichard. They have been on the podium at most of the regattas they have competed in this year.

Two past winners return. Swede Anders Lewander won in 2004 and has since been appointed skipper of the Scandinavian Ericsson entry in the forthcoming Volvo Ocean Race. His brother Tore will sail with France's Thibault Vauchel who won the event in 2005

Hobie Cat Nissan enters four teams in the Archipelago Raid 2007. A German, Swedish, French and Finnish team.
J. Christophe Mourniac / Frank Citeau FRA
Kalle Kjerstadius / Johan Templeman SWE
Jorg Gösche / Arne Gösche GER
Patrik Neuhaus / Sampo Koskenohi FIN

Father and son Gösche from Germany are a unique duo. Jorg Gösche (50) has won Kiel Week three times and was a European Champion Hobie Cat Tiger in 2003. His son Arne (23) was the youngest national champion ever in the F18.

"For some years now the Archipelago Raid is for us one of the races we really wanted to do but we didn’t find the time for it. Now we are very pleased to start in this years edition,” said Jorg.

Entries:

Acando (Fahlén/Ahlden)
Arc'Teryx (Hållsten/Ekefalk)
Catella Racing Team (Johanson/Gahmberg)
GB Glace (Nissar/Schiratzki)
Hobicat Nissan GER (Gosche/Gosche)
Hobicat Nissan SWE (Kjerstadius/Tempelman)
Hobiecat Nissan FIN (Neuhaus/Koskenohi
Hobiecat Nissan FRA (Mourniac/Citeau)
John/Wolf
Karlberg Media AB (Karlberg/Brunnberg)
Karlsson/Groth
Karto/Öhman
KTH(Söder/Rutberg)
RBSC (Demesmaeker/Thery)
St Jude Medical (Grape/Gnosspelius)
Sundvalls Bygg AB (Ekman/Tempelman)
Team BEP Marine (Flynn/Middleweek)
Team Blue (Eeles/Butterworth)
Team class 40 NOR(Aasberg/Thoresen)
Team Musto Australia (Pellew/Macpherson)
Team Ocean (Bourgnon/Gagliani)
Team Proustsailing.com (Proust/Motteau)
Tidermans (Lewander/Thornslund)
Vauchel/Lewander
Voltaren(Westergren/Singman)
Westergren/Westergren
Yamaha Blue (Scully/Bailey)
Yamaha Red (Heemskerk/Tentji)
Yamaha Silver (Besson/Guichard)