Artemis Racing’s 35th America’s Cup campaign reached another milestone with the launch of the Swedish challenger’s second AC45S test boat in the Great Sound this week.

The launch of Artemis’s second wing-sail foiling catamaran, which is a test platform for the eventual design of the America’s Cup class the team will compete in at next year’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers, also marked the beginning of their two-boat testing programme.

“It was good to have our first two-boat session here in Bermuda, especially given that it was also the first day that we’ve sailed from our new base at Morgan’s Point,” Nathan Outteridge, the Artemis skipper, said.

“We did a few systems checks to start before the other boat came out and with the early forecast looking very light, it was great to be able to get out there.”

Anders Gustafsson, the Artemis grinder, added: “It was a great day for the whole team, to finally see them line up.

“I was on-board T2 [second AC45S], and it was an amazing feeling to look over your shoulder and see the other boat just flying next to you. We came really close and the boats matched up really well together.”

Artemis Racing became the first Challenger to launch an AC45S in Bermuda’s waters last year and are now the first Challenger to train with two prototypes, allowing both for comparison in design, and valuable match racing training.

“To have two boats lined up this far out from the America’s Cup is a big thing for us,” Outteridge, the Olympic gold medal-winner, said.

“It was nice not to have to use another team to check how we were going, we can now start to do that in house.

“You can really see the competition within our sailing team developing, which will make everyone start pushing a little bit harder.”

Artemis are expected to christen their new team base at Morgan’s Point next month.

“Our base on the end of Morgan’s Point gives us a good vantage point to see the sailing,” Outteridge said.

“It’s not just good for the sailors, it’s good for all of the guys in the shed as well. When they are working they can see the boats sailing past.

“This is a huge boost for the team and now we just have to keep doing it.

“We have to keep the boats on the water and keep progressing forward.”

The Swedish team, which represents the Royal Swedish Yacht Club, the fifth oldest yacht club in the world, was founded in 2006 by Torbjörn Törnqvist and named after the Greek goddess Artemis. The team boasts a multinational crew comprising some of the most successful and respected sailors and designers in the world.

Artemis has won numerous competitions worldwide, including the MedCup and TP52 World Championships, RC44 World Championship and last October’s Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda in the Great Sound.

Artemis, who are led by Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy, the team manager and tactician, were the Challenger of Record for the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013.