Artemis Racing, the Swedish sailing team, announced Friday that it will be entering the SailGP Championship in 2026.

Artemis SailGP will be the team name and it will be headed by British Olympic Gold medalist Iain Percy. This is the 13th international team in the league.

Percy stated in a press release that he was "proud to lead Artemis SailGP" as the team returns to the global stage.

"We are proud to have Sweden in this elite championship and we will compete at the highest level, pushing the boundaries on and off water."

Nathan Outteridge won Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games for Australia. He has now been confirmed as driver for Artemis SailGP. The rest of the team will be announced over the next few weeks.

Artemis Racing, founded in 2006 by Swedish billionaire Torbjorn Tornqvist and sailor Torbjorn Tornqvist.

SailGP CEO Russell Coutts stated that the team will be a serious contender for the first race in the 2026 season. "They bring a depth of talent and experience which will elevate the competitiveness of this league," he said.

SailGP, an international sailing competition, features high-speed races on identical F50 foiling catsamarans capable of speeds exceeding 100 km/h. The league pits teams of national sailors against one another in a series regattas that take place at iconic locations around the world.

SailGP's sixth season will begin in Perth, Australia, in January.

On Saturday, the current season will resume with its first event at Lake Geneva. The Switzerland Sail Grand Prix is spread over two days. Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare, Bengaluru. Editing by Peter Rutherford

(source: Reuters)