Artemis Launches Their AC72

If you thought the devastating loss of Team Oracle’s AC72 USA 17 meant you wouldn’t get to watch one of the monster cats plying the waters of San Francisco Bay for several months, then you obviously forgot about the Challenger of Record, Artemis Racing. Led by Bay Area golden boy Paul Cayard, the Swedish team is based in Alameda and launched the first of their two AC72s on Monday. 

Sweden’s Consul General Barbro Osher — who has also been dubbed the ‘Godmother of Artemis’ — christened the cat. "We are extremely excited to get out sailing with this first boat and the learning opportunity it represents," said designer Juan Kouyoumdjian. "Sailing here, in the realities of San Francisco Bay, makes the lessons hard, but extremely relevant."

Watch for the boat’s bright red hulls on the Bay next week. Training will be led by French multihull legend Loïck Peyron, who will sail with the team this month before continuing with France’s Energy Team for the AC World Series.