Artemis is Challenger of Record

Swedish Billionaire Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing has taken over the reins as the new Challenger of Record for the 34th America’s Cup. Yesterday’s announcement followed on the heels of last week’s withdrawal of Vincenzo Onorato’s Mascalzone Latino team and its hailing yacht club, the Club Nautico di Roma. Artemis Racing, whose team CEO is none other than the Bay Area’s Paul Cayard, will be sailing under the burgee of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, known in its native tongue as Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet.

“We welcome KSSS and their team Artemis Racing into this role,” said AC34 Regatta Director Iain Murray. “We also thank CNR and their team Mascalzone Latino for their efforts in the important start-up phase of the 34th America’s Cup. While we are disappointed to lose a great Italian contender in Mascalzone Latino and CNR, we are confident in the leadership we anticipate from the KSSS and Artemis Racing.”

Artemis Racing was the second challenger to enter and, according to a statement released by the America’s Cup Race Management, "under America’s Cup rules, automatically succeeds as Challenger of Record."

While we’re not sure which rules they were referring to, it’s unlikely that a potential rogue challenger could successfully employ the Cup’s Deed of Gift to hijack the proceedings. Among other things, KSSS is a legitimate yacht club that predates the Cup itself and counts 6,000 members. And while "Kungliga Svenska Segel Sällskapet" is certainly more of a mouthful than "Club Nautico di Roma," by the time this over, we may even be able to pronounce it.