MacArthur embarks on catamaran 'Raid'

Through the Swedish Archipelago in an 18ft racing catamaran. Sounds like a doddle? Far from it....

Tomorrow, Tuesday 8 July, at 10.00am local time (09.00 GMT) the start gun will go for the 14 brave teams taking on the challenge of the four day long Archipelago Raid. The start is in Gustavsberg outside Stockholm and will take the teams out to the vast archipelagos of Stockholm and Åland. The first day the teams will pass five checkpoints on a southerly course towards the southern part of the Stockholm archipelago.

The formula of the race and its mix of competitors create a unique event. Professionals and amateurs, big boat sailors, dinghy specialists, ocean and solo racers compete against persistent adventurers. All are in it for a tough challenge in the world’s longest sailing orienteering.

The British superstar of solo ocean racing, Ellen MacArthur, is in Scandinavia for the first time and will skipper the 18ft Hobie Tiger Omega with her Australian companion Nick Moloney. MacArthur and Moloney admit their lack of form in this new field. "We have less experience than most of the other teams and our goal is simply to finish! We have never been in these archipelagos and neither of us have sailed 18 foot catamarans before,” said Ellen MacArthur, who has spent the weekend in Sweden to train on the boat and get familiar with the area. "These last three days we have seen enough of the archipelago to see how hard it is going to be. But we will be lost in one of the most beautiful places in the world," said MacArthur with a laugh earlier today, enjoying the unique landscape of the Swedish archipelago.

Formula 18 catamarans are fast and physically demanding small boats. The crew of two does not have one spare second as the boat has to be worked on every single moment during the four days at sea. The sailors are constantly wet and there is only time for a brief rest at the check points. This is what makes the Archipelago Raid an extreme challenge in the world of sailing.

Last year’s edition of the Archipelago Raid had some difficult conditions which provided the toughest of challenges even for the most experienced sailors. "The days are long, the competition is tight, the seascape can be tough, conditions are extreme," was ocean racer Neal McDonald’s comment after finishing third last year. The McDonald couple enjoyed the challenge and are back with the goal for a higher step on the podium. According to Neal the most difficult part is the complicated navigation through the thousands of small rocks and islands.

One of the winners from last year’s edition, Magnus Woxén, will defend his position together with New Zealander Rodney Ardern, as Woxén’s crew mate from last year Klabbe Nylöf is ill (he is believed to have a case of pneumonia. Ardern is unfamiliar with the small catamarans but has a vast experience of big boat sailing: three round the world races and four America’s Cup, latest as crew on the winning team Alinghi.

The weather predictions say light winds for the first two days increasing to stronger winds the following two days.

Teams:
Omega Ellen MacArthur (UK) and Nick Moloney (AUS)
ASSA ABLOY Neal McDonald (GB) and Lisa McDonald (USA) – 3rd 2002
Sogeti Rodney Ardern (NZ) and Magnus Woxén (SWE) – Woxén 1st 2002 with Klas Nylöf
Jobman Workwear Björn Hansen (Åland) and Björn Österberg (SWE)
Playground Petter Åström (SWE) and Jonas Engstedt (SWE)
Nokia / Adilstam Fredrik Adilstam (SWE) and Tomas Marimon (SWE) – 2nd 2002
Macfreeze Anders Tengbom (SWE) and Fred Wikström (SWE)
Addicom Mikael Leksell (SWE) and Pontus Johansson (SWE)
Tidermans Anders Lewander (SWE) and Calle Hennix (SWE)
Nokia / Kempff Joakim Kempff (SWE) and Magnus Nordström (SWE)
Realsailing Fredrik Hansen (SWE) and Christopher Ringhagen (USA/SWE)
GB Glace Bengt Jacobson (SWE) and Jan Schiratzki (SWE)
Suunto Stefan Engstrand (SWE) and Björn Scherrer (S)
Nynäs Havsbad Thomas Östergren (S) and Tore Lewander (S)


The race
The Archipelago Raid is organised in the spirit of a Raid, demanding an extreme performance in sailing respecting nature in an adventurous spirit. The course can vary between 400 and 500 nautical miles depending on weather conditions. The start is at the marina of Gustavsberg outside Stockholm on 8 July and the arrival is on 11 July in Gustavsberg.