British yachtswoman Dee Caffari, the first woman to have sailed solo non-stop round the world in both directions, will take part in the sixth edition of the Artemis Challenge at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week tomorrow.

In a change to the normal line up, the Artemis Challenge 2012 will see teams of monohull IMOCA 60’s and multihull MOD 70’s lining up to compete in this 55 mile sprint around the Isle of Wight. Caffari has been invited by French skipper Sidney Gavignet to join his crew on board Oman Sail’s trimaran, 'Musandam', one of the latest generation MOD 70s.

Fresh from London 2012, Olympians Annie Lush, Kate MacGregor and Lucy MacGregor who competed in the women’s Elliott 6m Match Racing Class and windsurfing silver medallist Nick Dempsey will be on board the two IMOCA 60’s, while TV presenter Dan Snow and his wife, Edwina, will join Caffari and the Oman Sail 'Musandum' crew.

Each MOD 70 and IMOCA 60 will be paired up, drawn at random on the morning of 16 August, and will then race, in opposite directions, round the Isle of Wight. The winning team, on combined time, will claim an £8,000 prize pot, to be shared between the two boats’ nominated charities, plus an additional £2,000 for the winning boat in each class.

Caffari is also looking forward to sailing once again with fellow British sailor, Brian Thompson, who takes on the role of navigator within the 'Musandum' crew. Speaking ahead of the race, Caffari said:

“I sailed on board the MOD 70, 'Race for Water', in the Fastnet Race last year so I know what these boats are capable of and we are in for an exciting blast around the island. Between them, Sidney and Brian have raced round the world eight times and, having clocked up a few laps of the planet myself, the Isle of Wight should be well within our capabilities tomorrow.”

“Brian and I often sail together in our capacity as ambassadors for the tri service initiative Toe in the Water. However, tomorrow we will be racing to win funds for the Al Hayat Association, the chosen charity of Oman Sail.”

Joining the start line for IMOCA 60s will be Mike Golding on 'Gamesa' and Simon Clay on 'Artemis Ocean Racing II'. Representing the multihulls alongside Oman Sail’s 'Musandum' will be legendary French skipper Michel Desjoyeaux skippering 'Foncia'.

The Artemis Challenge, which also falls on Ladies Day this year,  is recognised as one of the key events of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and is a magnificent spectacle showcasing the best of offshore racing within easy reach of spectators. The race will start at 1000hrs on the Royal Yacht Squadron Line.

See Cowes Week images

The entries for the Artemis Challenge at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2012 are:

1. IMOCA 60     Artemis Ocean Racing II            Skipper: Simon Clay

2. IMOCA 60     Gamesa:                                  Skipper: Mike Golding

3. MOD 70        Oman Sail Musandum   Skipper: Sidney Gavignet

4. MOD 70        Foncia                         Skipper:  Michel Desjoyeaux

To follow the race, please visit www.artemischallenge.com

Joanna Uffendell

About Dee Caffari MBE

In 2006 British yachtswoman Dee Caffari MBE became the first woman to sail solo, non stop, around the world against the prevailing winds and currents. In 2009, Dee’s 6th place finish in the notorious Vendée Globe race secured her a double world record as she became the first woman to sail solo, non-stop around the globe in both directions. Completion of the Barcelona World Race in April 2011 thrust Dee into the record books for a third time as the woman that has sailed non-stop around the planet more times than any other in history.

About the Al Hayat Association

Al Hayat Association is a non-profit organization that has been established to help those in Oman that are recovering addicts and those that truly want to kick the habit. They are dedicated to the cause of raising drug awareness, prevention of drug use and helping the victims of drug abuse in Oman.  Al Hayat Association’s main goal is to help create a more compassionate society willing to work together to preserve and improve human life through numerous planned projects and programs. As a preventative measure, provide drug education to schools and colleges, offer effective drug awareness training courses and workshops to members of the community involved in supporting their cause. Provide a wide range of cost effective mental, physical and spiritual support to addicts who truly want to quit and the recovering addicts through psychiatric treatment, self–development skills and sports.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 August 2012 )