Everything I do, I do for Artemis

Bryan Adams (seriously) to sail the Artemis Challenge during Cowes Week

Music legend Bryan Adams has been announced as one of the high-profile ‘celebrity sailors’ to be teaming up with a professional crew in this year’s Artemis Challenge at Cowes Week. The race, which is sponsored by Artemis Investment Management, sees many of the world’s best IMOCA 60s competing in a 50 mile high-speed sprint around the Isle of Wight, with the winning skipper scooping £10,000 for their chosen charity.

Adams will race on ‘Artemis The Profit Hunter’, skippered by Simon Clay. The crew’s nominated charity is The Bryan Adams Foundation, a charity set up in 2006 with the aim of improving the quality of lives across the world. It hopes to advance the lives of children through education and to support those in need in a variety of ways via the distribution of grants.

Also competing will be Steve White, in the yacht that took him around the world non-stop in the last Vendée Globe, Toe In The Water. If he wins, Steve will split the £10,000 equally between RNLI, the lifeboat charity dedicated to saving lives at sea and the official charity of Cowes Week, and Toe in The Water, the armed forces rehabilitation programme after which his boat is named. Fittingly his crew will comprise sailors from the scheme that uses competitive sailing to re-inspire. White will also be joined by popular British television actress Denise Black, famed for her role in ITV’s Coronation Street along with many other dramas.

Sailing legend, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who this year celebrates the 40 year anniversary of his historic solo-circumnavigation of the world in 1969, will be taking part onboard his Eco 60 ‘Grey Power’. The 70 year-old icon of the sailing world, shows no signs of letting up and will be keen to show the youngsters how its done in order to benefit the Trinity Sailing Trust. The Trust focuses on traditional sailing vessels that it restores and preserves, and uses in offshore racing to assist the personal development of disadvantaged and disabled young people. Sir Robin will be joined by Hannah Jenner, the young British skipper hoping to compete in the next edition of The Ultimate Solo Challenge, due to start October 2010.

The Artemis Challenge perfectly celebrates IMOCA 60 racing in British waters and is considered an ideal warm-up for the Rolex Fastnet Race. With more celebrity names soon to be announced and a line-up of skippers including many of the biggest names on the offshore racing circuit, the third annual Artemis Challenge is set once again to be a highlight of Cowes Week.