Junior match race training

Andy Shaw's British team uses Vizual Marine's Artemis 20 to prepare for 11 July Governor's Cup

The Artemis 20 fleet have been put through their paces recently as Andy Shaw and his British keelboat crew finished their training ahead of the Governor’s Cup, the US International Junior Match Racing Championships at Newport Beach, CA. Vizual Marine, the team behind the innovative six metre keelboats, were pleased to make some of the Artemis 20 fleet available to Shaw before the team heads out to the United States on 11 July to compete against the best junior keelboat racers in the world.

The Governor’s Cup is a prestigious international junior match racing event (ISAF Grade III). Held annually at the Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach, California, USA, it is the oldest junior international match race series and known as the “Pathway to Champions”. The Cup has launched the careers of many high profile sailors who have gone on to the America’s Cup, the Volvo Round the World Race, the international professional match race circuit, and the Olympic Games, featuring such well-known names as Paul Cayard, Mark Christensen, Gavin Brady and Terry Hutchinson in its 42 year history.

Shaw commented: “I contacted Vizual Marine to see if we could go out and do some match race training onboard the Artemis 20s. They are an ideal way for us to prepare for the Junior Match Racing Championships. I’m delighted to say that Vizual Marine set up some great days on the water. These boats are incredibly exciting – fast, intuitive and exciting in match racing conditions. I look forward to having another go when I’m back.”

Shaw will be leading the only British team in the competition, sponsored by Artemis Investment Management, and will be competing against eleven other teams from around the world in three man keel boats. Andy will take the helm, supported by close friends George Yeoman (main) and Daniel Schieber (bow).

Speaking on behalf of Vizual Marine, Dave Rutter concluded “We were very pleased to help Andy and his team. We are really developing the match racing capabilities of the Artemis 20 as there is an ever increasing demand for the boats to be used in the match racing circuit for universities and individual training as preparation for championships. Assisting us are elements of the RYA Keelboat squad under the guidance of Niall Myant who have been pushing the boats hard. We wish Andy all the best and hope the practice he has had with the boats puts him in good stead for the championships.”

The Artemis 20s, a high performance carbon fibre keelboat with America’s Cup characteristics, was designed to be sailed by both able and disabled sailors alike. The inspirational quadriplegic solo sailor Hilary Lister is currently undertaking her historic navigation of the British Isles onboard an Artemis 20. However, the impressive performance and level playing field of the one-class design has attracted attention from a number of keelboat match racing high flyers in the UK, who now see the boats as the ideal platform to test true sailing ability and prepare for competition.

The Artemis 20s will be appearing at the following events in 2008:
ACC Bank Cork Week: 12th - 18th July (TBC)
Skandia Cowes Week: 2nd - 9th August 2008
Sailability Multi-Class Regatta Rutland SC: 8th - 10th August
Falmouth Week: 9th - 16th August 2008 (TBC)
PSP Southampton Boat Show: 12th - 21st September 2008
Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show: 28th November - 7th December 2008