Tourell jumps ship

Mike Golding's technical manager joins Artemis Open 60 campaign

Artemis Ocean Racing, the sailing team sponsored by leading UK investment company, Artemis, today announced Graham Tourell as the latest addition to their team. Graham, known to everyone on the circuit as 'Gringo', will be boat captain and Jonny Malbon’s co-skipper aboard the Artemis Open 60.

Tourell, 30, who is originally from Nottingham, Midlands and now resides in Southampton has worked for Mike Golding as Project Manager on the Ecover Open 60 for many years. His technical knowledge and experience is second to none. Gringo has ensured that Ecover gained a reputation within the IMOCA circuit for being one of the best-prepared boats on the start line. His expertise, from the build of a new boat in New Zealand to the management of every aspect of the boat’s campaign preparation, also included being Golding’s primary contact during his solo races including the last two Vendée Globes.

Over the past few years, Tourell has also gained a great range of sailing experience as both skipper on deliveries and competing on board Ecover in fully crewed races including the EDS Atlantic Challenge in 2001, the Calais 1000 Mile Race in 2004, the Fastnet 2005 and the Calais Round Britain race in 2003 and 2005. His team has enjoyed great success achieving podium positions in almost every race they competed in.

Tourell and skipper Jonny Malbon met over 10 years ago at the UK Sailing Academy on the Isle of Wight and have been close friends ever since. Tourell joins Malbon and the rest of the Artemis team in the Caribbean where they are currently preparing to compete in Antigua Race Week in April. The pair plan to sail back to the UK doublehanded, then on the Calais Round Britain Race (June) before competing together in the Fastnet 2007 (August). They will then prepare for their first major doublehanded race, the pinnacle event of the year starting from France in November, the Transat Jacques Vabre.

The knowledge Tourell brings to the Artemis Ocean Racing Team is hugely advantageous and will add an important dimension to the races the team competes in this year, as well as to the development of the new boat for the Vendee Globe 2008.
He commented: "I gained invaluable experience working for Mike Golding’s campaign and have had a great time with the team. I am looking forward to this next challenge, joining the young and motivated Artemis Ocean Racing team. I also really can’t wait to start sailing with Jonny - we are both extremely competitive and driven as well as being good friends, so it is going to be a great experience."

Malbon added: "To say that we are all really excited about having Gringo join us would be an understatement!! There’s no doubt that he’ll be an integral part of the team and will raise the level of performance within our team and give those racing against us an extra headache. I’m really looking forward to getting on the boat together and getting stuck in."