Friends on shore, rivals on the water, Artemis Racing Youth runs a slightly different program to the rest of the RC44 fleet. As little brother to Torbjorn Tornqvist’s Artemis Racing, the youth boys are the perpetual underdog that, this year, is breaking through the mid fleet.
We caught up with helm Gustaf Lidvall as he talks us through his love of sailing and their unusual team dynamic.
My first memory of being on a boat was sailing my optimist when I was about five. Initially it was my dad that taught me but as soon as I learnt to swim I went to sailing school.
There is no difference between me and the rest of the crew. Weather it is cruising with my family or racing with the Artemis boys I love it. I’m a sailor at heart, it’s in my bones, the only thing that pulls me away is work.
On board we are the young and the young at heart, it’s a good mix and great company. Every team member works hard individually but also supports one another, we’re slowly starting to see the team work and familiarity with the boat paying off in the results. Portsmouth was probably one of our best days racing but for me Bermuda has been the stand out regatta this season – it was just perfect racing.
The Artemis Youth boat offers young sailors a pathway into professional sailing which is something really special. It’s really important to support the next generation and the young guys we have on board are a fine example of how successful they can be given the chance. My youngest boy sails and is turning 17 soon, I hope when he decides on his path that similar opportunities and doors open for him.
The toughest challenge for me on the water is to stay cool and focused. Three races a day is a lot on these physical boats and to be on the helm when the fleet is this competitive you really need to be 100% focused. It’s top level racing, so you just can’t get distracted by results or the other teams - even when you can hear Vascotto shouting at the top of his lungs on the start line.
A bad day on the water is better than a good day in the office. Racing has taught me that it’s not over until it’s over, you can always come back. Especially in this fleet, one moment you can be a hero the next you are at the back of the pack, but regardless of the result at the end of each day when you sit down for a nice cup of coffee or perhaps a cold beer you know you can come back fighting tomorrow.