Artemis Racing will compete in the Argo Group Gold Cup next month, bringing the number of 2017 America’s Cup challengers among the fleet to two.

Also taking part are Luna Rossa Challenge, the Italian America’s Cup challengers who are also holders of the King Edward VII Gold Cup.

“With the addition of Artemis Racing, we will have two promising America’s Cup challengers represented in Bermuda,” Brian Billings, the race chairman, said.

“Francesco Bruni, Team Luna Rossa helmsman, will return to defend his 2013 title. We hope to see some exciting matches between these two teams.”

Bruni captured a maiden Gold Cup last year after defeating Sir Ben Ainslie in the final in a battle between America’s Cup tacticians.

Two members of the Artemis team, Iain Percy and Christian Kamp, crewed with Ainslie in the previous Gold Cup. Nathan Outteridge, the helmsman, and team-mate Iain Jensen make up the rest of the team.

Australians Outteridge and Jensen won the gold medal in the 49er class at the 2012 Olympics in London.

For Outteridge, sailing in the classic International One Design sloop during the upcoming Gold Cup, which is part of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour (AWMRT), will be a different challenge.

“The classic IOD style of boats is nothing like the foiling machines that I am used to sailing,” he said.

“Having said this, Iain [Percy] has sailed this style of boat quite a bit. I’m sure with his guidance, I will do just fine.”

Outteridge and his team-mates intend to arrive in a Bermuda a few days before the Gold Cup to acclimatise to the IOD, local conditions and to racing together.

“It will be the first time the four of us, Iain, “Goobs” [Iain Jensen], Christian and myself, would have ever raced together,” Outteridge added. “It will be important for us to make the most of the training time.”

As for a potential match-up with rival America’s Cup helmsman Bruni, Outteridge said: “Francesco is a great sailor and I am sure he will be difficult to beat.

“Given the lack of experience I have in match racing, I think I will be on a steep learning curve, and hopefully we can make it through the rounds and into the finals.”

This year’s Gold Cup will feature all of the eight AWMRT cardholders, which include Björn Hansen, of eWork Sailing Team, Taylor Canfield, US One Sailing Team, David Gilmour, Team Gilmour, Mathieu Richard, of Luna Jets, Phil Robertson, of WAKA Racing Team, Keith Swinton, of Alpari Team FX, Ian Williams, of Team GAC Pindar, and Bruni.

Williams, Canfield and Richard are past Gold Cup winners. Another past winner, Johnie Berntsson from the Stena Sailing Team, is among 11 additional teams that have accepted invitations to compete.

Representing Bermuda this year are Somers Kempe, of Raymarine/Ocean Electronics, and Lance Fraser, of Digicel Bermuda.

Kempe, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club commodore, qualified after winning the 2014 National IOD Match Racing Championship, while Fraser, the Island’s top-ranked match racer, received an invite.

This year’s Gold Cup, to be held in Hamilton Harbour from October 21 to 26, will be sailed with the same 20-team format used last year. The format is unique on the AWMRT, as it allows for two ten-team groups.

Skippers in each group are ranked and divided by Tour officials and the organisers at the RBYC. Rankings in the groups are based on AWMRT and ISAF rankings, and other performance factors. Each group will sail a round robin, with the top four teams moving to the knockout stage.