The Artemis Offshore Academy is a UK training programme of excellence
for British short-handed sailors, providing a structure to bring
talented sailors up through the ranks. Designed to help them win major
offshore solo and short-handed races in the future, the ultimate goal is
to put a British sailor in a strong position to win the Vendée Globe in
2016 or 2020.
In order for this long term goal to be reached
the Academy will offer a unique Scholarship programme to race on the
Figaro circuit each year with a fully funded campaign. In a natural
progression to the top of the sailing world the sailors will then most
likely move into IMOCA 60 racing.
The Scholarship will be offered
to the sailor that has shown the most promise and talent in the
training programme. Awarded not only on sailing performance but also on
meeting other criteria that include but are not limited to, fitness
testing, meteorology, French language, media awareness, and the
Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. However alongside the Scholarship the
Development Squad will continue a full training and race programme on
the set of Academy Figaro’s.
The Academy has a Development Squad
of seven Development Squad sailors and two graduate sailors. The Development Squad
sailors are split into two groups; full-time and students. There are three full-time Development Squad sailors; Henry Bomby, Oliver Bond and Aaron Cooper. Then new for 2011 is the student programme of sailors; Lizzy Foreman, Robin Elsey, Sam Matson and Robert Gullen who train with the Academy alongside studying at university. The two graduate sailors are Sam Goodchild and Nick Cherry who joined the Development Squad in 2010 and graduated after a year of training with the Artemis Offshore Academy. The Development Squad are selected at the selections trials held once a year at the
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. The training winter programme is run from November to
April in La Grande Motte (France) at the prestigious Figaro training the
Centre D’Entrainment Méditerranéen (CEM), which is then followed by a season competing on the FIgaro circuit. In 2012 there will be three Artemis solo skippers competing in the Solitaire du Figaro; Sam Goodchild, Nick Cherry and one more skipper who is yet to be selected.
View the 2012 race programme here
The
Academy is sponsored by Artemis, the investment management company, who
has been backing British sailing since 2006. Official Partners include
Musto, Marlow and Pol Roger Champagne and Official Suppliers Spinlock
and Nautix also support the Artemis Offshore Academy.
Further information on the application criteria and how to apply can be found here.
