Elies takes the lead

Update on the IMOCA World Championship standings after the Artemis Transat

French sailor Yann Elies has taken the lead of the IMOCA Ocean Racing World Championship after the first solo transatlantic race of the year: The Artemis Transat (yearly ranking is based on previous and current year's results). Team Generali has seen its continuous efforts bring some well deserved results, as they have never abandoned any race over the course of this period.

Yann Elies commented: "I am really happy to be leading the championship after The Artemis Transat. This position confirms the whole team have worked really hard to make the boat what it is today and we managed to finish every race we entered. As a consequence we are having good results on the water. I am statisfied for my team and my sponsor Generali. Obviously it gives us confidence for the Vendée Globe, although there is still some work to be done before the start of the race".

Taking second place is Marc Guillemot and Safran. Guillemot has had good results since his boat was launched in July 2007. He finished fourth in The Artemis Transat having sustained a serious rib injury on the first days of the race.

Third place goes to the winner of the 'Transat Anglaise': Loïck Peyron. The first woman is Samantha Davies and Roxy in 8th. There are four different nationalities within the top 11 - France, the UK, Switzerland and Spain.

Two exhibition races are in the IMOCA calendar for this summer:
- "Voiles de course" during Brest 2008 over 11-17 July where more than 100,000 people per day are expected.
- The Artemis Challenge in Cowes, Isle of Wight on 5 August 2008.

The boats will then continue their preparations for the biggest event of the IMOCA Ocean Racing World Championship: the non-stop, solo, round the world race: The Vendée Globe. 30 boats will be expected on the starting line in les Sables d'Olonne, France, on 9 November for what is already defined as the biggest round the world yacht race ever.

Championship standings:

Pos	Skipper	Nat	Tot
1	ELIES Yann	FRA	92
2	GUILLEMOT Marc	FRA	88
3	PEYRON Loïck	FRA	82
4	WAVRE Dominique	SUI	82
5	LE CLEAC'H Armel	FRA	81
6	THOMSON Alex	GBR	76
7	DICK Jean Pierre	FRA	72
8	DAVIES Samantha	GBR	68
9	STAMM Bernard	SUI	64
10	LE CAM Jean	FRA	60
11	SANSO Javier	ESP	57
12	DESJOYEAUX Michel	FRA	51
13	BOISSIERES Arnaud	FRA	50
14	BESTAVEN Yannick	FRA	47
15	ESCOFFIER Servane	FRA	40
16	GOLDING Mike	GBR	39
17	CAFFARI Dee	GBR	38
18	de PAVANT Kito	FRA	36
19	RIOU Vincent	FRA	36
20	BEYOU Jérémie	FRA	31
21	DEJEANTY Jean-Baptiste	FRA	29
22	WHITE Steve	GBR	26
23	MALBON Jonathan	GBR	12
24	BASURKO Unaï	ESP	9
25	WILSON Richard	USA	6
26	ALTADILL Guillermo	ESP	0
27	HATFIELD Derek	CAN	0
28	JOSSE Sébastien	FRA	0
29	JOURDAIN Roland	FRA	0
30	THOMPSON Brian	GBR	0