Dame Ellen McArthur to Archipelago Raid 2008

In Formula 18 catamarans the Raid pushes the teams of two to the edge, both mentally and physically, as they navigate round the 100,000 islands that make up the Swedish, Aland and Finnish Archipelagos.

For six days the teams will battle through some of the most challenging and beautiful landscapes in the world, with uncharted rocks and changing weather conditions, stopping only for a brief ‘overnight’ rest.

This year’s edition takes place just before midsummer, when the almost non existent Scandinavian summer nights demands even more of the competitors as one can more or less sail throughout the night.

Almost 20 teams from nine nationalities have already signed up. Impressive personalities like Dame Ellen McArthur belong to the line up. Ellen McArthur competed in the Archipelago Raid already in 2003 but had to withdraw early in the race after an unfortunate leg injury. After sailing around the world solo non stop in monohull and multihull, (Vendee Globe, Solo Round the World and Jules Verne records) McArthur stopped sailing for two years. Now she is back with a new project and has chosen the challenging Archipelago Raid as a part of her comeback. She will team up with Greg Homann from Australia.

Raid Archipelago Course: Start and finish in Stockholm City, by Djurgården.
Course Stockholm, Åland and Finnish archipelagos with the following main Head Quarters: Stockholm archipelago, 13 June Lappo in the Åland archipelago, 14 June
Nagu Muncipality in the Finnish archipelago, 15 June
Rödhamn - ÅSS, the Yacht Club in the Åland archipelago, 16 June
Seglarhotellet Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago,
17 June Finish in Stockholm 18 June Yacht clubs: ÅSS, Åland Island Yacht Club LSS, Lidingö Yacht Club

Preliminary list of entries/ 18 Teams:
Berotec - Paul Rosenquist & Sten Hellberg - Swe
BT - Ellen Mc Arthur & Greg Homann - GBR/Aus
HH Marin - Thomas Ekefalk & Carl Johan Söder Swe
N-Group - Matti Nieminen & Mikko Nieminen - Fin
RBSC - Patrick Demesmaeker & Michel Proot
Bel Stelacon - Lars Linder & Karl Petersson – Swe
Sundsvalls Bygg - Frederik Eckman & Gustav Templeman - Swe
SWE 558 - Ola Person & Tomas Westergren - Swe
Team Blue 1 - Conrad Humphries & Ryan Crawford - UK
Team Thule - Martin Strandberg & Johan Örtendahl - Swe
ÅBIT - Ronny Haals & Jonathan Barck - Åland William Sunnucks & Simon Farren - UK
Karin Almquist & Karin Berg - Swe
Eric Proust & Romain Motteau - Fra
Thommy Sundström & Markus Lagerqvist - Swe
Martin Hållsten & Malcom Hanes - Swe
Thierry Andre & Alessandro Vercio – Bel/Ital
Olof Berenson & Magnus Wadstein - Swe