An Irresistible Challenge – Lööf/Salminen är med

ARTEMIS RACING LAUNCHES ITS CHALLENGE FOR THE 35TH AMERICA’S CUP

STOCKHOLM, August 19, 2014 – Today, Artemis Racing officially launched its challenge to win the 35th America’s Cup at an inspirational event in Sweden’s capital. Guests were treated to a rare chance of seeing the America’s Cup trophy first hand at the Moderna Museet, on Skeppsholmen Island at the heart of Stockholm’s proud maritime history.

Torbjörn Törnqvist, Team Principal of Artemis Racing said: “Sailing is my passion, and I’m very proud to once again represent Sweden in the America’s Cup. Given our experience from the 34th America’s Cup, what the team went through and achieved, we have an incredibly strong culture, a belonging to the team. Building on our core group from the last campaign, we have been able to secure talent across all areas, and I strongly believe that Artemis Racing is a team capable of winning the 35th America’s Cup”.

Artemis Racing will again challenge alongside Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet (KSSS), the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, for what will be their second campaign together in the pursuit of winning the oldest competition in sport.

“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of international sailing. KSSS is proud to be a challenger once again through Torbjörn Törnqvist’s Artemis Racing team. We are also very excited by the prospect of involving Swedish sailors in various ways in the project. We want to extend our gratitude to Torbjörn Törnqvist for making this possible” commented Staffan Salén, KSSS Commodore.

New team members were announced, including Swedish Olympic champions, Fredrik Lööf and Max Salminen, as well as America’s Cup veteran Rod Davis.

Lööf is one of the most successful Swedish sailors of all times and a long-time friend and competitor of Team Manager Iain Percy. With a wealth of experience, he has participated in an incredible six Olympic campaigns, winning a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and bronze medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Star class, and at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the Finn class. Lööf’s career highlights also include three Finn World Championships, two Star World titles and a third place finish in the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race.

On joining the team Fredrik said “I’ve been fascinated by the way sailing has been evolving over the last few years, with these new foiling boats and incredible TV production. I was really inspired by Artemis’ last campaign and having a Swedish boat on the start line again, and being part of it this time, is very exciting. Winning the America’s Cup and bringing it to Sweden for the first time would be something very special”.

One of the most promising talents in Swedish sailing, Max Salminen, still just 24, struck gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Fredrik Lööf in the Star class.

Artemis Racing also welcomed Sailing Coach Rod Davis. In his extraordinary America’s Cup career –now his 9th campaign – Davis brings an unparalleled wealth of experience to the team, having covered a variety of roles from bowman to mainsail trimmer, skipper, and more recently coach of Emirates Team New Zealand. Rod won a gold medal in the Soling class at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, and Olympic silver in the Finn class in Barcelona 1992. His track record also includes winning the Admiral’s Cup and the Sardinia Cup several times, as well as seven World Champion titles.

The Team has already amassed an incredible 61 America’s Cup Campaigns between its members, including 14 victories. Team members (including two designers) have competed in 21 Olympic Games, winning 11 medals, including seven Gold medals.

“Where some teams may have one Olympic gold medallist, we have six of them, however the focus is very much on the team, and there is no individual bigger than the group. We are not only in this competition to win the 35th America’s Cup, but to dominate the America’s Cup arena for the next decade.” Said Team Manager and Tactician Iain Percy. “I’m also passionate that Artemis Racing is more than simply winning, it’s about producing a legacy and winning in a certain way”.

Harnessing fresh talent and inspiring younger team members is at the core of Artemis Racing’s new challenge, and the Team launched an internship programme which will give top Swedish students a chance to become directly involved in the key areas that make up a successful America’s Cup Team, spending up to 12 weeks working in the team base in Alameda, CA, USA, across different departments.

Artemis Racing also aspires to be the most sustainable and responsible team in the America’s Cup, announcing a number of initiatives including plans to ‘up-cycle’ or, ‘re-purpose’, their future base at the 35th America’s Cup venue.

The Team also announced partnerships with Pelle P, as the official clothing supplier and Cosworth Group, as technical supplier.

Leadership Team

Torbjörn Törnqvist
Team Principal
SWE
A passionate sailor and successful businessman, the owner and founder of Artemis Racing, Torbjörn Törnqvist began one design racing in 2005 in the Swan 601 Class, before joining the highly competitive Transpac 52 Class in 2007 with the newly launched Artemis Racing. Sailing with Russell Coutts as tactician, the team won the MedCup and TP52 World Championships in 2007. At the helm of Artemis Racing, he won the RC44 World Championship in 2011. In 2010, Torbjörn felt that Artemis Racing was ready to undertake the ultimate challenge in the sailing world. His ambition is to win the America’s Cup and bring the oldest trophy in international sport to Sweden, his home country, for the first time.

Iain Percy
Team Manager/ Tactician
GBR
Iain Percy OBE, a double Olympic and multiple world champion, is one of the most talented and successful sailors in the world. Iain has a remarkable Olympic pedigree, winning gold in the Finn class at the Sydney Olympics; before teaming up with lifelong friend Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson to win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Iain had his first taste of America’s Cup action in 2005 as helmsman for +39 Challenge, and was part of Great Britain’s America’s Cup challenge, Team Origin. He joined Artemis Racing at the end of 2012 as tactician, following the London Olympics. After showing inspirational leadership qualities during the difficult final few months of the 34th America’s Cup campaign, he was appointed Team Manager in October 2013. Iain is now responsible for leading Artemis Racing’s challenge for the 35th America’s Cup.

Jacques Bonvin
Adviser to Team Principal and Legal Counsel
SUI
As adviser to Team Principal Torbjörn Törnqvist, and outside legal counsel to Artemis Racing, Jacques Bonvin looks into matters such as the team’s legal structure, business strategy, key issues regarding the team and legal aspects, as well as major agreements. Jacques Bonvin is a partner with Tavernier Tschanz, a leading Swiss law firm. His practice covers a wide range of corporate law matters, mainly international transactions (M&A, corporate finance and private equity), corporate and shareholding structuring issues and complex commercial agreements.

Sailing Team

Iain Percy
Team Manager/ Tactician
GBR
Iain Percy OBE, a double Olympic and multiple world champion, is one of the most talented and successful sailors in the world. Iain has a remarkable Olympic pedigree, winning gold in the Finn class at the Sydney Olympics; before teaming up with lifelong friend Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson to win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Iain had his first taste of America’s Cup action in 2005 as helmsman for +39 Challenge, and was part of Great Britain’s America’s Cup challenge, Team Origin. He joined Artemis Racing at the end of 2012 as tactician, following the London Olympics. After showing inspirational leadership qualities during the difficult final few months of the 34th America’s Cup campaign, he was appointed Team Manager in October 2013. Iain is now responsible for leading Artemis Racing’s challenge for the 35th America’s Cup.

Nathan Outteridge
Helmsman
AUS
Born in New South Wales, Australia, Nathan started sailing at the age of five. In 2008 he won his first World Championship title in the 49er class; a success he repeated in 2009, 2011 and 2012. In 2010 he won the International Moth Class Euro Championship and the following year he clinched the International Moth Class World title. He went on to win the World title for a second time earlier in 2014. Nathan won a gold medal at the London Olympics in the 49er class alongside teammate Iain Jensen. Shortly after his Olympic success he joined Artemis Racing as helmsman for the 34thAmerica’s Cup, aged just 27

Fredrik Lööf
Tactician
SWE
Fredrik Lööf is one of the most successful Swedish sailors of all time and a long-time friend and competitor of Team Manager Iain Percy. Lööf started sailing at the age of three and is a member of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS). He participated in six Olympic campaigns, winning a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the Star class. He also won a bronze medal in the Finn class at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Lööf’s career highlights include three Finn World Championships, two Star World titles, as well as a placed finish in the 2001-2002 Volvo Ocean Race. This is his first America’s Cup campaign.

Iain Jensen
Wing Trimmer
AUS
Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen started sailing in his hometown of Wangi Wangi when he was five years old. At the age of 16, he represented Australia for the first time, winning the 420 Youth World Championships. In 2009 Jensen teamed up with Artemis Racing teammate Nathan Outteridge. The pair immediately stamped their mark on the sport, winning the 49er World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy. Two years later, the duo took their second world title in Perth, Australia, and in 2012 they won gold at the London Olympic Games. Iain joined Artemis Racing shortly after the Olympics as wing trimmer for the 34th America’s Cup. At 26, this is his second America’s Cup campaign.

Christian Kamp
Trimmer
DEN
Christian was part of Luna Rossa Challenge for the 32nd America’s Cup in 2005 before joining British challenge, Team Origin, in 2007. For three years he campaigned with Iain Percy in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, TP52 and the World Match Racing Tour, winning the World title in 2010. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the title of Danish Sailor of the Year in 2010. Kamp’s career highlights include three world championships, one European and three national titles; as well as more than 20 Grade 1 Level wins in match racing. More recently he sailed on board Team Aqua as trimmer in the RC44 circuit, winning the last three consecutive seasons.

Chris Brittle
Grinder
GBR
Known for his un-paralleled strength and endurance, Chris has raced in a number of classes and international circuits including the America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race and the Audi MedCup. As part of the British Sailing Team from 1999 to 2005, Brittle was Ben Ainslie’s training partner through the 2004 Olympics, and coach to Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson during their successful Olympic campaign in 2008. His first America’s Cup campaign was during AC32, when he joined +39 Challenge as grinder. After racing in the AudiMed Cup with the Portuguese TP52 Team, Chris joined Team Origin where he sailed once again with teammate Iain Percy. Brittle impressed onboard Team Korea’s AC45 in the inaugural America’s Cup World Series in 2011 before lending his wealth of experience to Artemis Racing in 2012. This is his second campaign with the team.

Max Salminen
Grinder
SWE
Max Salminen is one of the most promising talents in Swedish sailing. Aged just 23, he struck gold at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Fredrik Lööf in the Star class. He started sailing at the age of seven in the Optimist class, before stepping up to the Laser, Finn, and then the Star Class. Max joins Artemis Racing in his first America’s Cup campaign.

Rod Davis
Sailing Coach
USA
Rod Davis has a vast amount of experience in the America’s Cup, competing for the first time in
Fremantle in 1987, and having taken part in almost every edition since then. His roles have been
varied, from bowman to mainsail trimmer, skipper, and more recently coach of Emirates Team New
Zealand. This will be his 9th campaign. Davis has had an extraordinarily varied career in yachting: he
won a gold medal in the Soling class at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984, and Olympic silver
in the Star class in Barcelona 1992. Davis’ track record also includes winning the Admiral’s Cup and
the Sardinia Cup several times. Formerly ranked World No 1 in match racing, he clinched seven
World Champion titles. In 2004 Rod was head coach for the Danish Olympic sailing team and in 2005
was appointed Yachting New Zealand’s Olympic Director.

Design Team

Adam May
Design Coordinator
GBR
Adam competed for Great Britain at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the Tornado class, before turning to coaching with Skandia Team GBR. He worked with the 2.4 Paralympic class, a number of the Olympic squad teams, and closely with Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson during their successful 2008 and 2012 Olympic Star campaigns. Adam was part of the 32nd America’s Cup Victory Challenge team, and then a technical coach for Team Origin before joining Artemis Racing for the 34th America’s Cup. With a Masters degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Adam has also worked for Airbus UK in their wind tunnel and design office. He has always taken a keen interest in cutting edge high performance boats, being one of the first to hydrofoil a Moth. This experience has become invaluable in this new America’s Cup area of foiling wing sailed catamarans.

Loïck Peyron
Designer
FRA
Loïck is one of the most experienced and successful multihull sailors in history, having crossed the Atlantic 48 times including eighteen single-handedly. He has an outstanding record of achievement: five ORMA champion titles, sixteen Grand Prix victories, three Single-handed Transatlantic Race victories and two victories in the Transat Jacques Vabre, in 1999 and in 2005. In 2011 he won the Barcelona World Race in a monohull, and went on to win the Trophée SNSM and then set the Round Britain and Ireland record aboard the Banque Populair V maxi-trimaran. On the 6th January 2012, he won the Jules Verne Trophy setting the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world in just 45 days with Banque Populaire V. Loïck was co-skipper of Swiss challenge, Alinghi, the for the 33rdAmerica’s Cup, before joining Artemis Racing for the 34th America’s Cup. The 35th America’s Cup will be his third campaign.

Michel Kermarec
Hydrodynamic Design and Performance Prediction Specialist
FRA
Michel Kermarec joins Artemis Racing for the 35th America’s Cup after he served as Lead Designer for ORACLE TEAM USA during their 33rd (2010) and 34th (2013) America’s Cup victories. Established as one of the leading names in the performance prediction of racing yachts, Michel earned a PhD in hydrodynamics and led early research in France working on unsteady flows around helicopter blades. Michel is also a very talented sailor, and represented France in the Soling class at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Vincent Lauriot-Prévost
Naval Architect
FRA
Vincent Lauriot-Prévost is a naval architect and co-founder of VPLP Design based in France. During his career Lauriot-Prévost has contributed to some of the most advanced racing prototype projects, including the design of the last six winners of La Route du Rhum, the record holders of the transatlantic (New York – Lizard) and round the world (Jules Verne Trophy) races, as well as BMW ORACLE Racing’s trimaran USA 17, winner of the 33rd America’s Cup. Along with team member Simon Watin, he was part of the 34th America’s Cup Race Management design and research team, established to create an initial design package for the high-tech wing-sailed AC72 catamarans.

Hervé Devaux
Structural Engineer
FRA
Hervé Devaux, has an incredible America’s Cup pedigree. He is the founder of Brest-based HDS, a long-established company specialised in design, calculation and structural engineering for sailing boats. HDS has collaborated with America’s Cup teams since 1987. A top level structural engineer, Hervé was involved in the America’s Cup Race Management design and research team, established to create an initial AC72 design package at the beginning of the 34th America’s Cup. This is Hervé’s second campaign with the team.

Michel Kermarec
Hydrodynamic Design and Performance Prediction Specialist
FRA
Michel Kermarec joins Artemis Racing for the 35th America’s Cup after he served as Lead Designer for ORACLE TEAM USA during their 33rd (2010) and 34th (2013) America’s Cup victories. Established as one of the leading names in the performance prediction of racing yachts, Michel earned a PhD in hydrodynamics and led early research in France working on unsteady flows around helicopter blades. Michel is also a very talented sailor, and represented France in the Soling class at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Vincent Lauriot-Prévost
Naval Architect
FRA
Vincent Lauriot-Prévost is a naval architect and co-founder of VPLP Design based in France. During his career Lauriot-Prévost has contributed to some of the most advanced racing prototype projects, including the design of the last six winners of La Route du Rhum, the record holders of the transatlantic (New York – Lizard) and round the world (Jules Verne Trophy) races, as well as BMW ORACLE Racing’s trimaran USA 17, winner of the 33rd America’s Cup. Along with team member Simon Watin, he was part of the 34th America’s Cup Race Management design and research team, established to create an initial design package for the high-tech wing-sailed AC72 catamarans.

Hervé Devaux
Structural Engineer
FRA
Hervé Devaux, has an incredible America’s Cup pedigree. He is the founder of Brest-based HDS, a long-established company specialised in design, calculation and structural engineering for sailing boats. HDS has collaborated with America’s Cup teams since 1987. A top level structural engineer, Hervé was involved in the America’s Cup Race Management design and research team, established to create an initial AC72 design package at the beginning of the 34th America’s Cup. This is Hervé’s second campaign with the team.

Matt Davis
Electronics Engineer
GBR
Matthew Davis studied electrical and instrumentation engineering in Southampton. He has sailed as navigator, engineer and crew member in multiple maxi yacht races including the Rolex Transatlantic Yacht Race and Maxi Worlds. In 2009 he received the Navigator’s Award for 1st in class for LA to Hawaii Transpac Race. Matthew was Team Telefónica’s instrument engineer for both the 2008 and 2011 Volvo Ocean Races. The 35th America’s Cup will be his third campaign following the 32nd with Victory Challenge and the 34th with Artemis Racing.

Juan Garay
Sail Designer
ARG
Juan Garay has over 20 years of experience in sail design with North Sails South America, and has been involved in a variety of classes and circuits since 1990. Juan started designing sails for the British Sailing Team in 2006 and worked with Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson and Ben Ainslie on multiple Olympic campaigns including Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He was the sail designer for Team Origin and +39 Challenge, and the 35th America’s Cup will be his second campaign with Artemis Racing, leading the development of the aero programme.

Shore Team

Chay McIntosh
Shore Team Manager
NZL
Chay’s career started at Marten Marine building the New Zealand Challenge yachts for the 1992 America’s Cup. He went on to join the Shore Team for Team New Zealand’s successful challenge of the America’s Cup in San Diego and stayed with them for their defence in 2000. From there he joined the newly formed Oracle Racing team, working as a boat builder for 5 years, before going on to win the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race as Boat Captain & Shore Team Manager for Ericsson Racing. Chay was the Shore Team Manager for Artemis Racing’s challenge for the 34th America’s Cup and will continue in this role for the next Challenge.

Mark Allanson
Build Manager
AUS
As Build Manager, Mark brings to the team 20+ years of experience in the Marine and Composite industry. Prior to joining Artemis Racing for the 34th America’s Cup, Mark was the Construction Manager for Alinghi during their successful defence of the 32nd America’s Cup in 2007 and the following Campaign in 2010. Mark was also the construction manager for the Puma Ocean Race Volvo 70, in the 2011-2012 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Richard Kent
Electronics Manager
GBR
Kent is no stranger to the America’s Cup having competed in the last four editions, winning the 33rdedition with BMW ORACLE Racing in 2010 and successfully defending in San Francisco last summer. Richard also ran the electronics departments for winning Volvo Ocean Race teams ABN AMRO (2006/2007) and Ericsson Racing (2008/2009). He joins Artemis Racing as Electronics Manager.

Tony Settelmeyer
Hydraulics Engineer
USA
An expert in hydraulics and marine engineering, Tony started his career as technician at PWS Motion Control, a leading hydraulic power unit systems supplier, where for over 12 years he specialised in hydro-electric projects for the marine industry. He moved on to the sailing world in 2002 with the Swiss syndicate Alinghi, winning the 31st and the 32nd editions of the America’s Cup. Having joined Artemis Racing in 2011, this will be his fifth America’s Cup campaign.

Edoardo Donati
Rigging Manager
ITA
Passionate about the marine industry, Edoardo studied at the Nautical Technical Institute at Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, and then acquired extensive experience working for local leading companies in the sector. His first America’s Cup campaign goes back to 1997, when he joined Luna Rossa Challenge as rigger, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup in 2000. He was part of BMW ORACLE Racing’s successful 33rd America’s Cup win in 2010. He joined Artemis Racing in 2011 and this is his second campaign with the team.

Andrew Ham
Sailmaker
NZL
Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, Andrew brings over 17 years of experience in sail making. Ham started working in 1997 at North Sail New Zealand as junior sailmaker and over the years was involved in high profile projects including teams racing in the America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race, TP52, Open 60, RC44 and several super yachts. In 2008 he moved on to the shore crew of the TP52 team Mean Machine, and then joined Ericsson Racing Team as senior sailmaker for the 2008/2009 Volvo Ocean race. After serving in the Team Origin shore crew for a year, he moved to New Zealand employed by world class sail manufacturer Evolution Sails. This is Andrew’s second America’s Cup campaign with Artemis Racing