大象传媒

Some of the world's greatest solo yachtsmen gather in Plymouth in May for the start of the Artemis Transat - the oldest solo ocean race.

The single-handed sprint across the North Atlantic is a daunting prospect for any sailor with the inherent risk of huge storms, icebergs and dense fog.

The Transat has remained one of the ultimate ocean racing challenges since it was created more than 48 years ago.

IMOCA 60 yachts in the 2007 Fastnet Race

The first race, held in 1960, was co-founded by Devon sailor Sir Francis Chichester, who was the first to reach New York after 40 days.

It now takes the modern-day IMOCA 60 racing craft a little over 10 days to cross the 2,800 mile course to Boston.

With 13 IMOCA Open 60 and 12 Class 40 monohulls entered, the 2008 Artemis Transat boasts an impressive line-up.

The fleet includes the 2004 overall winner, Michel Desjoyeaux, making his big comeback on the monohull scene. He'll be sailing Foncia, one of the latest generation IMOCA 60 yachts.

Desjoyeaux is the only man to have won the three most prestigious single-handed events -听 the Vend茅e Globe, the Route du Rhum and the Transat.

Coming back to Plymouth wearing a double crown is multihull legend Lo茂ck Peyron, whose name is very closely associated with the Transat.

Double Transat winner Lo茂ck Peyron

Having won twice in 1992 and 1996, Lo茂ck equaled Eric Tabarly's double record (winner in 1964 and 1976).

Also coming from the world of multihulls is Marc Guillemot, former holder of the North Atlantic record, on his new generation IMOCA 60 yacht Safran.

The second Vend茅e Globe winner in the line-up is Vincent Riou, whose IMOCA 60 boat PRB, won an impressive number of events in 2007.

Having been forced to retire from the Barcelona World Race due to a broken mast, Vincent will be up against former crewmate S茅bastien Josse in the Artemis Transat.

Josse has three circumnavigations under his belt and held the outright round-the-world record, the famous Jules Verne Trophy. He'll be skippering the IMOCA 60 yacht BT.

The French contingent will have to face strong British opposition including Jonny Malbon and Dee Caffari, both skippering brand new boats, and Samantha Davies.

Davies is at the helm of Roxy, formerly known as PRB, and the only boat to have ever won two editions of the Vend茅e Globe.

Devon's sole entrant Alex Bennett

Britain's Mike Golding, who won the IMOCA 60 class in 2004, won't be defending his title after he was forced to pull out with keel problems.

Also out of the race is Brian Thompson on Pindar, due to delays fitting a new mast.

Devon's sole entrant is Alex Bennett, who will be racing Fujifilm in the smaller Class 40 fleet.

Bennett carries the hopes of the host city Plymouth on his shoulders. He will be racing against 12 other Class 40 skippers including Italian maestro Giovanni Soldini.

As winner of the 1998 Around Alone race, Soldini is one of the favourites in the Class 40, having just won the Transat Jacques Vabre by a comfortable margin.

The Artemis Transat starts on Sunday 11 May 2008 from Sutton Harbour Plymouth and will finish in Boston, USA.