Pindar wins The Artemis Challenge
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Article Date: 2008-08-05
View Count: 507
Team Pindar today won the
Artemis Challenge at Skandia Cowes Week, returning to competitive sailing in
spectacular style. Skippered by Vendée Globe entrant, Brian Thompson, the Pindar
Open 60 won the race comfortably, finishing five minutes ahead of second placed
BT and almost 10 minutes ahead of Ecover in third place.
Now
in its second year, the 2008
Artemis Challenge, attracts some of the world’s leading offshore sailors, who
were joined by a celebrity line up of TV and sport stars including Davina
McCall, Georgie Thompson, James Haskell and Dean Macey. The 50 mile race around
the
An
elated Brian Thompson said, ‘It is an amazing feeling to have won our first race
and vindicates all the hard work over the last year. The crew worked brilliantly
together and I think they all enjoyed seeing what the boat is capable of. We got
off to a great start and knew once we passed The Needles we’d be in with a good
chance of lifting the trophy. Winning this race will be a huge confidence boost
for the whole team as we continue to prepare for the Vendée.’
Despite
some challenging conditions during the race, including gusts of up to 20 knots,
Team Pindar lead from the outset and completed the race in 4 hours, 13 mins, 48
secs. In addition to winning the coveted trophy, Pindar will also donate the
£10,000 prize fund to nominated charity Earthwatch, a leading
environmental charity which funds scientists, researchers and volunteers to
undertake environmental, research and education
programmes.
Among the crew on board the
Open 60 were former Pindar ambassador and Team Origin Director, Mike Sanderson,
and injured soldiers Jono Lee and Chris Herbert, who have been taking part in a
new ‘Toe in the Water’ sailing initiative. The scheme aims to encourage
and motivate British servicemen and woman who have sustained traumatic injuries
and are currently being treated at
Twenty-year
old Chris Herbert commented: “We can’t thank Brian Thompson and Pindar enough
for their support. They, alongside Microlink have not only made it financially
possible for us to sail this week, but Brian has also spent time coaching us.
Today was the ultimate, where we got to race alongside him at the highest level
on the Pindar Open 60. It has been an unforgettable
experience.'
2006
ISAF Sailor of the Year, Mike Sanderson said after the race, ‘That was awesome,
it was great to experience Pindar at full throttle and to see her race alongside
the other Open 60’s. After today there is no doubt in my mind that Brian is
going to be a leading contender for the Vendée
later this year.’
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